Masataka Yoshida and JP Sears Among Thursday's Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Targets

It's time for another fantasy baseball waiver wire story, our fourth of the week.

We won't cover any waiver options who were discussed in stories on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. We also won't cover any streaming pitchers from Thursday's story.

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

Should You Add Masataka Yoshida?

Yoshida is sitting at 10.31% owned after a 2.18% increase today so far.

He was activated from the injured list on Wednesday and played in his first game. Yoshida was the team's designated hitter and batted sixth against a right-handed pitcher.

Yoshida got four plate appearances and reached base three times, all on hits. He doubled once and singled twice. Yoshida had an RBI and run scored as well.

It was a great season debut for a player who can be a real fantasy asset. He has a .287 average and .344 on-base percentage over his first 249 major league games. Yoshida played in 140 games in 2023 and then 108 last season.

Injuries are an issue, but Yoshida can be a positive fantasy player when he's healthy. He has a little pop, but his most notable stats are his average and OBP.

That's likely going to hold him back from ever being rostered in all fantasy leagues. At the very least, Yoshida can be a really good deep-league asset.

I'd already be adding Yoshida in a fair amount of deeper leagues. One problem is that he might only be eligible at designated hitter, which might lead to some owners not being able to add him. If you are in need of another hitter though, Yoshida is a fine pickup.

He's not going to record three hits a game, but a high average and OBP accompanied by lower strikeout totals means Yoshida can be a good fantasy hitter for those of you in deeper leagues, and maybe a few standard leagues eventually.

Should You Add JP Sears?

Sears is up 2.19% and is owned in 25.94% of leagues.

He will make a start on Thursday against the Braves, so he's another streaming option. Sears hasn't faced them this season.

Sears has made 18 starts, with the Athletics going 9-9 in those contests. He's 7-7 with a 4.76 earned run average over 92 2/3 innings pitched. Sears has allowed 49 runs on 94 hits and 24 walks, while also striking out 73 batters.

Sears has pitched well of late, not allowing a run over his past two starts, which covered 11 2/3 innings. He faced the Yankees and Giants in those games, which are tougher, or at least similar matchups to facing the Braves.

Before these past two starts, Sears allowed three runs over five innings against the Guardians, so he's been in a positive groove of late.

I like his matchup today and think he's a good streaming option on a lighter day of MLB action. I like him best in deeper leagues, but would at least consider him in standard leagues. Hopefully he's able to keep things rolling.

Should You Add Jac Caglianone?

Caglianone has been added in 1.44% of leagues and is rostered in 42.19% overall.

He's homered in back-to-back games, so it's easy to see why he's on the rise a bit. Caglianone has just four hits over his past 11 games and 44 plate appearances though, so the back-to-back homers is really driving his positive move in own percentage.

Caglianone has played in 32 games and logged 127 plate appearances so far. He has a .151 average and .205 OBP, along with seven RBIs, seven runs scored, a stolen base, five walks and 28 strikeouts. Among his 18 total hits, Caglianone has four doubles and four home runs.

Caglianone continues to start every day, batting sixth and playing right field most often. More struggles might eventually lead to a demotion, but the Royals are also desperate for more hitting, so they might let the youngster figure things out in the big leagues. Maybe the homers in back-to-back games will get him going.

I personally think Caglianone is owned in too many leagues still. It made sense to add or stash him when he got called up, but now after weeks of struggles, it's time to move on in a bunch of leagues.

Caglianone needs to remain rostered in dynasty/keeper leagues of course. He's still a guy to roster in some deeper redraft leagues, but not all of them. I'd look elsewhere for help in standard leagues right now, but still keep an eye on Caglianone in case he's starting to figure things out.

Should You Add David Peterson?

Peterson has been added in 1.57% of leagues and is rostered in 83.13% overall.

Peterson is another streaming option for Thursday. He will take on the Orioles in a morning tilt. He has not faced Baltimore this season.

Peterson has made 17 starts, and the Mets are 10-7 in those contests. He's 6-4 with a 3.18 ERA over 102 innings. Peterson has allowed 40 runs (36 earned) on 93 hits and 37 walks, while striking out 87 batters.

He had been in a rough stretch, but got back on track by allowing just two runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks in his last start against the Brewers. Peterson worked 6 2/3 innings, striking out four and getting the win.

Peterson allowed five runs in the two starts he made before that, and didn't reach five innings in either game. He has a career 3.92 ERA, so a little more regression is likely coming this season.

The matchup is right for Peterson to deliver a good fantasy score tonight. He's owned in that many leagues because he has solid season results. After he bounced back in his last start, I'd be all for starting Peterson today.

He's close to being a must-start pitcher in standard leagues, and definitely is a must-start guy in deeper setups.

Should You Add Jonathan Aranda?

Aranda is up to 79% owned - he was at 76% this past Sunday.

Aranda is on a five-game hitting streak, collecting 10 knocks over that stretch. He has a homer and three doubles among the hits, along with four RBIs and runs scored, a walk and three punchouts.

He's been good across 88 games and 345 plate appearances this season. Aranda has a .327 average and .403 OBP. Across his 99 total hits, Aranda has 19 doubles and 11 home runs. He also has 49 RBIs, 47 runs scored, 33 walks and 80 strikeouts this season.

Aranda plays first base and does some DHing for the Rays. He usually pinch hits when he's not in the lineup, which isn't too often.

He's moved up to second in the batting order of late, after previously hitting cleanup. Either spot is favorable for his fantasy outlook, but a few more at-bats at the No. 2 spot is probably a bigger thing for his fantasy asset, even if his RBIs slightly go down. Really, Aranda just needs to keep racking up hits and getting on base to be a fantasy asset. 

He's at a stacked fantasy position, otherwise he'd probably be owned in 100% of leagues. Aranda is just outside the top 10 fantasy first basemen in points leagues so far, so his own percentage makes more sense.

I still think he's undervalued a bit and could be added as an extra infielder or utility hitter. He's having a special season and isn't showing any signs of slowing down. Utilize him for as long as he's going good at the plate.