Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups: Is Michael Busch or Sean Murphy the Better Add?

It's time for another fantasy baseball waiver wire story.

Here, we'll check out some more hitting options - we won't cover anyone who appeared in Monday's article. Check back soon for some pitcher waiver options.

Check out the top fantasy baseball waiver wire options everyday on FantasySP. 

Should You Add Michael Busch?

Busch has racked up six hits over the Cubs' past two games, so it's no surprise to see his own percentage on the rise. He has two doubles and two homers among those knocks, along with four RBIs and five runs scored in that span.

For the season, Busch has a .315 average and .393 on-base percentage across 17 games and 61 plate appearances. He has four doubles, three home runs and a triple among his 17 total knocks. Busch also has 10 RBIs, a stolen base, four walks, 11 runs scored and 15 strikeouts.

Busch's numbers of late are great, and his season numbers are really strong too, but I don't view him as a must-add waiver hitter. For one, the left-handed hitting first baseman isn't starting when a lefty is on the opposing mound. Second, we're bound to see big regression from Busch based on his numbers a season ago.

Busch hit .248 and was on base at a .335 clip across 152 games last season. He had 28 doubles, two triples and 21 homers, along with 65 RBIs, two stolen bases, 63 walks, 73 runs scored and 162 strikeouts.

His average and OBP are likely to drop a good amount, and all his other numbers are likely to fall short of last year given he won't be starting nearly every game. Still, hitting cleanup in a pretty good lineup, Busch has plenty of fantasy value.

I think he should be owned in all deeper leagues at this point. That might not be the case all season, but until he cools off a good bit, Busch should be utilized in those leagues. 

Busch is even a standard league option at this point because of his hot hitting. He's at least a backup option at 1B, or is someone to start at an additional infield or utility spot until he cools off.

Make sure the Cubs aren't lined up to face a bunch of lefties and take advantage of Busch when he's going well at the plate this season.

Should You Add Kyle Stowers?

It's hard to get super excited about a hitter on a bad team like the Marlins, but Stowers has been mashing.

Over 14 games and 61 plate appearances this season, Stowers has a .314 average and .410 OBP. He has three doubles, a triple and a home run among his 16 total hits on the year. Stowers also has 10 RBIs, a stolen base, eight walks and runs scored and 17 strikeouts.

The strikeouts are an issue, but Stowers is hitting well enough to offset the negatives, and then some. He's been especially hot of late, collecting eight hits over the past four contests. Stowers has three doubles and his triple in that span, along with six RBIs, a walk, four strikeouts and five runs scored.

Stowers isn't going to stay that hot at the dish all season, but the 27-year-old outfielder is getting his first crack at consistent playing time, so he might remain at least a decent fantasy asset all season. 

Stowers should be added in some deeper leagues, especially while he's hot at the plate. He's started 10 games in a row and slotted in second or third. Stowers appears to have earned an everyday role, which obviously helps his fantasy cause.

I think Stowers deserves to be owned in a few more leagues at this point, and if he keeps hitting, his own percentage will keep rising. The only way I'd add Stowers in a standard league is if I had a roster spot to play with and was simply looking to take a gamble on a potential high-upside hitter.

I think Stowers is going to top out as a deep-league option over the course of the full season, but he's definitely worth keeping tabs on because we don't have much history to go on with him.

Should You Add Sean Murphy?

Atlanta has had a lot more go wrong than it's had go right this season, but Murphy has been a positive addition since he came off the injured list several days ago.

In his first five games, Murphy has a .263 average and .364 OBP. He has three home runs among his five total hits, along with six RBIs, two walks, four runs scored and eight strikeouts.

He's delivered big results in the past, so to see him get going early is good, especially after he came off an injury-riddled 2024 season and then was banged up to start this season. At a weak fantasy position, Murphy is already a pretty good fantasy asset - he's just not owned in more leagues after starting the year injured.

Murphy is a career .234 hitter with a .330 OBP though, so that average leaves plenty to be desired. He can hit for some power, and be a good run producer in a lineup stacked with talent.

I expect Atlanta's offense to heat up as the season moves along, and that will give anyone in the lineup decent fantasy value. Murphy is going to be in the lineup more often than not, and even if he's hitting in the bottom half of things (he hit cleanup on Monday), there's a chance Murphy can put up good enough fantasy numbers to be a viable option in many fantasy leagues.

Right now, Murphy is a better deep-league option, and given his career marks, he's likely to be a better option in those leagues this season. If he can keep mashing homers though, he's a streaming option in standard leagues during his hot streaks.

I'd be fine giving Murphy some run in a standard league now - that mostly has to do with catcher being a weak position and Murphy being a big home run threat right now.

He's one to keep close tabs on though, as a drop down the lineup again, and worse numbers for average and OBP are going to see his fantasy value dwindle, making him only a decent option in deeper leagues.

Should You Add Kameron Misner?

Misner has been hot at the plate lately, and it's getting him some waiver wire attention.

Misner has played in 14 games and gotten 40 at-bats in the early going. He's got 16 total hits, including three home runs, a triple and four doubles, for a .400 average. Misner also has a .444 OBP, along with three walks, a stolen base and eight runs scored, while striking out just seven times.

Misner has six hits over the past three games, with a double and two of his homers in that span. He's drove in three runs, walked and struck out once each and scored four times.

The 27-year-old outfielder is getting his second taste of the big leagues after playing in just eight MLB games in 2024. We don't really have much history to go on with him in the big leagues, but the numbers are undeniable right now.

He's not starting against most lefties, which hurts his fantasy ceiling a bit. Misner is scorching hot right now, but is owned in just 6% of all synced FantasySP leagues.

He's a better fantasy asset than he appears, and he's pretty undervalued at this point - I wouldn't be surprised to see his own percentage soar in the next couple days, especially if he keeps hitting. I think Misner is someone you can add and start in a good amount of deeper leagues right now.

Regression is coming in his average and OBP, but until he truly slows down, Misner is likely to see his own percentage rise a good amount. He'd need a couple more weeks of strong hitting before getting serious attention in standard leagues.