2026 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Targets (Week 5): Francisco Alvarez, Casey Mize Highlight Must-Add Pickups
Finding the right fantasy baseball waiver wire targets is still one of the sharpest ways to gain an edge early in the season, and Week 5 offers another intriguing group of players to consider. With plenty of useful names still available in a majority of Yahoo leagues, there’s no shortage of opportunities to add impact pieces while teams continue to adjust lineups, rotations, and bullpen usage.
This week’s fantasy baseball waiver wire targets include hitters taking advantage of favorable matchups and schedules, along with pitchers who line up well for streaming value. There are also a handful of players showing signs of sticking power beyond just a short-term boost. Keeping a close eye on playing time trends, matchup data, and evolving roles can help you turn these adds into both immediate production and potential long-term value as you look to separate from the pack.
Waiver Wonderland: Top 2026 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Targets (Week 5)
Welcome back to Waiver Wonderland, where matchups remain important—but new opportunities are constantly emerging and can turn into longer-term value in a hurry. If you’re on the hunt for fantasy baseball waiver wire targets to strengthen your roster for Week 5, you’re exactly where you need to be.
This week’s fantasy baseball waiver wire targets spotlight hitters in advantageous spots based on upcoming matchups, along with widely available pitchers who profile well as streaming options. There are also a few names beginning to trend upward who could offer more than just a one-week boost. Stay locked in on matchups, keep tabs on evolving roles, and you could land players who provide value well beyond this week’s slate.
Note: All players are under 50% rostered on Yahoo!
HITTERS
Max Muncy, 3B, Los Angeles Dodgers (47% Owned)
Did no one see Max Muncy‘s 3-homer game last week?!?!
Muncy’s ownership is still below 50% despite having 6 homers and an .842 OPS on the young season, and batting in the best lineup in the game. A preseason priority pickup, the days of being able to snag Muncy could be coming to an end soon, so scoop Muncy immediately where available.
Jorge Soler, OF, Los Angeles Angels (45% Owned)
The veteran Jorge Soler has continued to do in 2026 what he has done throughout his career – mashing baseballs.
Despite the inflated 32.9% strikeout rate, Soler is flashing his power with a .277 ISO, .508 slugging percentage, and an elite 14.6% barrell rate. Sure, Soler will hurt you in average (.231), but the counting stats (5 homers, 18 RBI, and 13 runs) more than make up for his average deficiencies.
Francisco Alvarez, C, New York Mets (43% Owned)
Another preseason target, Francisco Alvarez, has been the lone offensive bright spot for the Mets so far this season.
Alvarez is working on his plate discipline in 2026, with his strikeout rate dropping to 16.4% and his walk rate rising to 11.9%, leading to a .273 batting average. And the new approach has not curbed his power as Alvarez has 4 homers and a .509 slugging percentage, backed by a .236 ISO and 17.4% barrel rate. At catcher, he could provide you with elite power numbers, and looks to be amongst the best fantasy baseball waiver wire targets.
Xander Bogaerts, SS, San Diego Padres (38% Owned)
Although Xander Bogaerts only has a 5-game slate in Week 5, Bogaerts has produced solid counting stats across the board (3 homers, 13 RBI, 5 runs, 2 SBs) and gets a 3-game trip to the friendliest hitter environment in the game, Coors Field.
Dillon Dingler, C, Detroit Tigers (37% Owned)
Are we witnessing a mini Cal Raleigh breakout season incoming?!??
Dingler’s surface level stats (.259/.865, 4 homers, 14 RBIs, and 9 runs) are quite good, but his advanced metrics show he could be due for massive positive regression: 91.7 average exit velocity, 18.8% barrel rate, 56.3% hard hit rate, .328 expected batting average, and .694 expected slugging percentage. And his Baseball Savant batted ball profile is as good as it gets.
Josh Bell, 1B, Minnesota Twins (35% Owned)
Josh Bell has been quietly productive to start his Twins career, with 3 homers, 14 RBIs, and 17 runs, slashing a respectable .268/.826. His batted ball profile (11.1% barrel and 48.1% hard hit rate) support the solid raw results, and Bell typically bats cleanup or fifth, a prime run-producing position.
Jake Burger, 1B, Texas Rangers (27% Owned)
Jake Burger could be back to his 30-homer days of old. While the concerningly low walk rate continues to be an issue, Burger is crushing baseball, touting a 11.9% barrel rate and 50.8% hard hit rate, which has produced a solid slash line of .262/.780, 5 home runs, and 17 RBI.
Mickey Moniak, OF, Colorado Rockies (23% Owned)
Another year, another hype train for the former first overall pick Mickey Moniak. To date, Moniak has hit extremely well, with 5 homers and a .916 OPS, and in Week 5, he gets 4 home games to start his week in Coors Field.
Luke Raley, 1B/OF, Seattle Mariners (22% Owned)
Few hitters are hitting the ball better than Luke Raley right now.
A known righty masher, Raley has 5 homers and a 1.012 OPS against right-handers this season, and is on tap to face four in Week 5.
Jake Bauers, 1B/OF, Milwaukee Brewers (19% Owned)
Jake Bauers has taken over the Andrew Vaughn role splendidly since Vaughn landed on the IL.
Bauers has moved up to the 5-slot recently, and the production has been solid with 5 homers, 13 RBIs, 13 runs, 3 SBs, and an .794 OPS. With 5 right-handers on his schedule in Week 5, Bauers looks to continue the good times.
Garrett Mitchell, OF, Milwaukee Brewers (13% Owned)
Fellow Brewer lefty Garrett Mitchell also looks to be in a prime streaming position in Week 5. The lefty, like Bauers, squares off against 5 righties, and looks to improve upon his .277/.878 start.
TJ Rumfield, 1B, Colorado Rockies (10% Owned)
TJ Rumfield typically occupies a top-half, run-producing spot in the Rockies lineup, and gets 3 Padres righties at home to start his week.
Dominic Smith, 1B, Atlanta Braves (10% Owned)
Maybe the hottest hitter on the planet right now, Dominic Smith is slashing a healthy .362/1.040 with 4 homers, 16 RBIs, and 10 runs.
The lefty is destroying right handers to start 2026, and projects to face 6 of them next week.
Evan Carter, OF, Texas Rangers (6% Owned)
Evan Carter projects to face 5 right-handed pitchers at home in Week 5, so he should be a priority hitter streamer. One of my favorite 2026 sleepers, the 2 homers and 3 SBs are nice, but nothing else in his profile screams turnaround. If Carter cannot get it going this week, I will be onto 2027 for Carter’s fantasy prospects.
Jesús Sánchez, OF, Toronto Blue Jays (5% Owned)
A prime buy low target, Jesús Sánchez bats in a prime run producing position in one of the better lineups in baseball.
Gavin Sheets, 1B/OF, San Diego Padres (4% Owned)
Another Padre in Coors Field, the left-handed Gavin Sheets projects to face 3 Rockies right-handers, and is one of the best hitter streaming targets in Week 5.
Edouard Julien, 1B/2B, Colorado Rockies (3% Owned)
Although struggling to start his Rockies career, Edouard Julien gets 4 home games at Coors Field (3 against right-handers) and bats leadoff, so Julien could provide some solid counting stats to start your week.
STARTING PITCHERS
Connelly Early, SP, Boston Red Sox (49% Owned)
Connelly Early flashed real quick in 2025 for the Red Sox, striking out 29 over just 4 starts spanning 19.1 IP. In 2026, the strikeouts have still been there (9.15 K/9), but walks have killed him (4.58 BB/9). He went 6 in his last outing, walking just 2 and allowing just two hits, so give the youngster some time, and you could develop into a reliable fantasy starter by the end of the year.
Andrew Painter, SP, Philadelphia Phillies (47% Owned)
Another young stud, former first round pick Andrew Painter finally made his long-awaited debut in 2026 and has not disappointed to date. Across just 3 starts, Painter boasts a strong 10.05 K/9, 1.88 BB/9, and 1.52 FIP.
The former #8 prospect has an elite command and strikeout combination, and at just 23 years of age the sky is the limit.
Casey Mize, SP, Detroit Tigers (41% Owned)
One of my favorite preseason contract year players, Casey Mize, has improved upon his solid 2025 performance, producing a 9.93 K/9 and 2.78 ERA, with a 3.12 FIP to back the early results.
In Mize’s last start, he dazzled, holding the Red Sox scoreless over 6.2IP, striking out 7 and walking 1, while allowing just 3 hits. Still just 29, Mize is flashing major improvement and could help bolster your rotation.
Reid Detmers, SP/RP, Los Angeles Angels (38% Owned)
The Jekyll and Hyde roller coaster of Reid Detmers‘ season continues! Detmers showed how dominating he can be in his last start in New York, holding the Yankees to just 1 run and 4 hits while striking out 9 and not walking a single batter.
Detmers touts a 10.32 K/9 and has lowered his walk rate to 2.38 BB/9, leading to a 2.52 xERA and 2.46 FIP, demonstrating that his raw numbers could actually improve. It is tough to imagine that Detmers is still just 26 years old, and could finally be blossoming into the ace fantasy managers have long awaited for.
Ryan Weathers, SP, New York Yankees (38% Owned)
The raw results (4.29 ERA) do not match the metrics (2.77 xFIP) because of Ryan Weathers‘ elevated 20.0% HR/FB rate. The strikeouts have been excellent (28 Ks in just 21 innings), and Weathers is recently coming off his best start as a professional where he threw 8 innings of 1-run ball, striking out 7.
The talent is there, and at just 26 years old, Weathers could be on the verge of entering his prime.
Grant Holmes, SP, Atlanta Braves (35% Owned)
Walks have been an issue (4.15 BB/9) and the strikeout rate has been down (7.06 K/9), but Grant Holmes has performed well to date, sporting a 3.32 ERA and near-matching 3.15 xERA. In his two seasons in MLB, Holmes has never had less than a 9 K/9, so I fully expect the strikeouts to start coming in bunches as the season progresses.
Landen Roupp, SP, San Francisco Giants (32% Owned)
Landen Roupp has impressed in his four starts to begin the 2026 season, boasting a 9.53 K/9, 2.38 ERA, 2.56 xERA, 2.20 FIP, and 3.11 xFIP.
Roupp is doing a great job of keeping the contact light, having yet to allow a single barrel this season.
And in Roupp’s last start, he went 6 shutout in Cincinnati, allowing just 1 hit and striking out 6. Roupp profiles as one of the better pitcher fantasy baseball waiver wire targets that is still widely available.
Spencer Arrighetti, SP, Houston Astros (28% Owned)
Where was this Spencer Arrighetti in 2024 and 2025!?!?
Arrighetti spent most of 2025 on the IL with a fractured right thumb and shoulder inflammation, but neither of those bothered him in his season debut, hurling 6 innings of 1-run ball while striking out a whopping 10. Still just 26, Arrighetti could be on the verge of a major breakout in 2026.
Eduardo Rodriguez, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks (26% Owned)
While the 1.96 raw ERA does not match his metrics (4.13 xERA, 4.21 FIP, 4.64 xFIP), Eduardo Rodriguez finds himself in perfect streaming position in Week 5 with a home tilt against the Chicago White Sox and their lowly offense.
Mick Abel, SP, Minnesota Twins (24% Owned)
It was a bumpy start to 2026 for the former first-round pick as Mick Abel allowed 9 runs over his first two starts spanning 7.1 IP. However, Abel has turned a major corner over his last two starts, going 13 scoreless and striking out 16, including an impressive 10-strikeout gem at home against the Red Sox in his last start.
A talented live arm and excellent prospect pedigree, Abel looks poised to anchor the Twins rotation for years to come.
Chad Patrick, SP, Milwaukee Brewers (18% Owned)
One of my favorite sleepers going into the 2026 season, Chad Patrick has performed well to date, allowing just 2 runs across 4 appearances and 3 starts spanning 19 innings. However, Patrick cannot continue having this success if he does not improve his strikeout rate: 4.26 K/9, leading to a 3.97 FIP.
In Patrick’s last start, he allowed just 1 run against the Blue Jays, showing he has the ability to navigate a good lineup. The strikeouts have been there his entire career, so I believe better days are ahead.
Max Meyer, SP, Miami Marlins (13% Owned)
The matching 4.12 ERA and 4.12 BB/9 are not the best indicators of success, but the 9.15 K/9 and 3.78 FIP provide some confidence that Max Meyer can right the ship. And in Week 5, Meyer has a chance to do just that, with a two-start at home against the Cardinals and on the road against the Giants.
Carmen Mlodzinski, SP/RP, Pittsburgh Pirates (7% Owned)
The profile to date (8.85 K/9, 1.77 ERA, 3.09 xERA, 2.48 FIP, 3.57 xFIP) is tantalizing enough for me to buy in, and in Week 5 Mlodzinski has an interesting road two-start against the Rangers and the Brewers.
Kumar Rocker, SP, Texas Rangers (3% Owned)
Kumar Rocker lines up for a tasty home double-step against the Pirates and Athletics, and could provide you double the value with just one claim.
RELIEF PITCHERS
Seranthony Domínguez, RP, Chicago White Sox (42% Owned)
Seranthony Domínguez has not looked great to start the year, but appears to still be the favorite for saves in the White Sox bullpen. If desperate for saves, he should be picked up (I guess).
Jakob Junis, RP, Texas Rangers (32% Owned)
Jakob Junis leads the Rangers with 3 saves and appears to be the favorite at the back of the Rangers bullpen.
Bryan Baker, RP, Tampa Bay Rays (29% Owned)
Griffin Jax still has not really snapped out of his early season funk, and Bryan Baker continues to pile up the saves for the Rays.
Joel Kuhnel, RP, Athletics (16% Owned)
Joel Kuhnel leads the Athletics with 3 saves and currently appears to be the favorite in what projects to be a very convoluted bullpen all year.
Kirby Yates, RP, Los Angeles Angels (14% Owned)
With Kirby Yates starting a rehab assignment and Jordan Romano struggling, I fully expect Yates to be given the opportunity to handle ninth inning duties for the Angels. One of my favorite closer sleepers of 2026, snag Yates now before it is too late.
Enyel De Los Santos, RP, Houston Astros (13% Owned)
With Josh Hader being transferred to the 60-day IL, Enyel De Los Santos appears to be a worthwhile stash after converting back-to-back saves on April 14th and 15th.
Clayton Beeter, RP, Washington Nationals (12% Owned)
Clayton Beeter is clinging to the Nationals role with Gus Varland breathing down his neck. Beeter’s leash is shortening by the day.
Brad Keller, RP, Philadelphia Phillies (11% Owned)
Superstar closer Jhoan Duran landed on the IL with an oblique strain on Saturday, opening the door for Brad Keller to take the reins in the Phillies bullpen as Duran recovers from injury.
Caleb Thielbar, RP, Chicago Cubs (6% Owned)
Like Duran, with news of Daniel Palencia‘s oblique strain there were questions as to who could step into the ninth inning role for the Cubs. And on Saturday we may have got a little insight into the future, with Caleb Thielbar closing the door against the Mets. It is not clear how manager Craig Counsell will deploy his bullpen in late-inning situations while Palencia is on the shelf, but Thielbar successfully navigated the first mission and should be prioritized in Week 5.
Victor Vodnik, RP, Colorado Rockies (6% Owned)
If desperate for saves, Victor Vodnik is widely available and is the closer for the Rockies. But expect major turbulence for your ratios.
Final Thoughts on Top 2026 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Must-Add Players (Week 5)
As you evaluate your roster heading into Week 5, staying proactive with the right fantasy baseball waiver wire targets can continue to provide a real edge. Being adaptable is key—capitalize on favorable matchups, prioritize players gaining momentum, and don’t hesitate to churn the bottom of your roster when upgrades become available.
Some of these fantasy baseball waiver wire targets are geared toward short-term production, while others have the potential to turn into steady contributors if their roles keep growing. Stringing together the right moves each week can add up over time, helping you build consistency and stay competitive as the season unfolds.
