Nick Martinez and Hayden Birdsong Among Monday's Top Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitcher Pickups

A new week is here, so it's time to dive into some fantasy baseball waiver wire options.

We'll start with some pitching options in this story, then look at hitters in a bit. We won't cover any pitchers who appeared in the daily streaming article.

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

Should You Add Ryan Yarbrough?

Yarbrough is rostered in 11.73% of leagues, but was added in 7.68% of leagues today.

He has made three starts and gotten 11 total appearances in 2025. Yarbrough is 1-0 with a 3.38 earned run average. He's allowed 11 runs on 24 hits and 10 walks, while striking out 28 batters.

All of Yarbrough's starts have come in May. He faced the Rays, Athletics and Rangers. Yarbrough covered four innings against the Rays, then five frames against the Athletics and Rangers.

Over those starts, Yarbrough is 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA, allowing four runs on 10 hits and four walks. He's struck out 12 batters along the way.

Yarbrough is a streaming option on Monday. He will start against the Angels. He has not faced them at any point in 2025, but it's a fairly favorable matchup on paper at least.

As you can tell by his own percentage, Yarbrough is a better deep-league fantasy asset. He could be started in a few more leagues though in this matchup. His ceiling isn't super high, but he's also pitched well enough in his starts to use in a pinch. Check out the other available options and see if Yarbrough is maybe worth starting in your leagues.

Should You Add Nick Martinez?

Martinez is up 5.48% of leagues today, bringing his overall mark to 58.78%.

He's been pretty good as a fantasy asset in 2025 so far. Across 10 starts, Martinez has a 3.43 ERA. His 2-5 record is more a reflection of the team he's backed by then how he's actually pitched so far.

Martinez has allowed 23 runs (22 earned) on 53 hits and 13 walks. He has struck out 43 batters over 57 2/3 innings.

He posted a 3.10 ERA across 16 starts and 42 appearances last season, so I think maintaining his current ERA is doable. His win-loss record might not be great, but his WHIP is solid, meaning he's a decent fantasy asset. 

Martinez doesn't boast big strikeout numbers, and that's unlikely to change, but low walk and hit totals against him allow him to limit runs. If he can eat innings, which he's done a nice job of so far, Martinez can be an asset for more fantasy teams than it might originally appear.

I like Martinez in his Monday start against the Royals. He hasn't faced them this season, but with only five runs allowed over 25 innings in four May starts, I'm willing to start Martinez in all leagues.

He might not ever be rostered in 100% of leagues with his lower strikeout marks, but don't overlook him completely either. There's a good amount of fantasy value in Martinez's numbers this season. Check out your team and see if he's a better option moving forward.

Should You Add Hayden Birdsong?

Birdsong was in a waiver wire story I did last week, and he's back on it as he prepares for a start against the Tigers on Monday. Birdsong was added in 5.36% of leagues today and is up to 41.49% overall.

Birdsong has made 12 total appearances this season. He joined the rotation for his last start, and turned in five quality innings. Birdsong allowed an unearned run on five hits and no walks, while striking out four batters. He took on the Royals.

His matchup against the Tigers is pretty similar to that one. He will oppose Keider Montero, so Birdsong has a decent chance of winning. Birdsong hasn't pitched against Detroit this season.

After his promising first start this season, I'd be willing to at least stream Birdsong in deeper redraft leagues for his Monday start. Birdsong had some solid fantasy results while in the Giants' rotation last season, so it's not like we're talking about a brand new MLB starter here.

You can stream Birdsong with some confidence. He might be limited a bit by throwing less innings, but he has some strikeout potential to take advantage of, and if he limits runs, he can definitely deliver some positive results. 

Use FantasySP's improved AI Waiver Advice inside the Fantasy Assistant to see which waiver wire targets might fit your team best. 

Should You Add Randy Vasquez?

Vasquez is rostered in 15.43% of leagues after a 6.29% increase today.

He has made 10 starts so far this season. Vasquez is 3-4, but has a strong 3.49 ERA. He's allowed 20 runs (19 earned) on 44 hits and 26 walks, while striking out 27 over 49 innings.

Vasquez will start Monday against the Marlins, which is another favorable fantasy matchup. He has not faced Miami this season.

Vasquez has been really good since allowing six runs to the Tigers on April 21. He hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his five starts since, and he's only allowed six runs over 21 2/3 innings in May. Vasquez has 17 strikeouts and a 2-1 record over that span.

Vasquez is flying a bit under the radar as a fantasy asset. I'm not saying he's an elite talent, but his numbers are solid enough to roster in some more leagues. Only having six of his starts reach at least five innings holds him back a touch overall.

Vasquez is worth streaming in deeper leagues today, and I'd prefer him over Yarbrough. He has a touch higher ceiling because he might pitch deeper into today's game. Vasquez doesn't have massive strikeout totals, but having at least four Ks in three straight outings offers a bit of upside, especially in a more favorable matchup.

Again, check the waiver wire and see who else is available. Vasquez is available to a lot of you, and he could deliver some pretty solid results in a streaming start today.

Should You Add Edward Cabrera?

Cabrera is the first waiver wire option in this story who isn't a streaming option on Monday. He pitched on Sunday, so he's on the rise for the results he posted in that contest.

Cabrera is rostered in 17.55% of leagues after a 5.65% increase today.

Cabrera earned a win against the Angels on Sunday. He worked 5 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out 10 batters along the way. Cabrera allowed three hits and two walks, and needed just 87 pitches to get through his outing.

He's now made eight starts this season. Cabrera sits with a 1-1 record and 4.73 ERA so far. He's allowed 21 runs on 40 hits and 16 walks, while striking out 43 batters over 40 innings.

His ERA isn't the best, and he's not going to win a ton of games while pitching for a bad Marlins' team, but his strikeout work is solid.

Cabrera is likely to make his next start against the Giants, who are not the best pitching matchup for a streaming option. He has not faced San Fran in a start this season.

I'm fine utilizing Cabrera in some deeper leagues, but that's the extent I like him right now. His next start is not a very favorable one, so I won't be streaming him in standard leagues. He's an OK starting option in deeper leagues, but is more a name to keep an eye on for his more favorable starts coming up later in the season.