Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Top Pickups Ahead of Opening Day

The MLB regular season starts up on Wednesday, and every team is scheduled to play by Friday. A lot of fantasy baseball drafts have been done, so I wanted to check out some waiver wire options instead today.

We'll discuss five players, giving each guy their own section.

Fantasy baseball waiver wire options can be found all season on FantasySP!

Carson Benge - New York Mets

Benge is rostered in 41.33% of fantasy leagues right now. That's up 13.81% from yesterday.

Yesterday, we discussed Benge in an injury-related article. Mike Tauchman has a knee injury that opened a roster spot, and Benge will take that spot.

Benge is expected to be part of a platoon in right field for the Mets, likely in that platoon with Tyrone Taylor. It's an unfortunate way to get Benge to the big leagues, but the Mets' No. 2 prospect will try to make the most of the opportunity.

In just two years of minor league ball, Benge has a .280 average and .389 on-base percentage over 131 games. He has 139 total hits, including 28 doubles, 17 homers and seven triples. Benge also has 81 RBIs, 97 runs scored, 79 walks, 25 stolen bases and 106 strikeouts.

He's a top-end prospect for a reason, and if he excels in the big leagues, he might stick there permanently, and not be sent down when the Mets are healthier.

I'd be adding Benge in deeper leagues today. He's one to keep an eye on in standard leagues, especially if he's playing regularly and producing. I don't quite think he's worth an add in standard leagues yet, but that could change in a hurry.

Brenton Doyle - Colorado Rockies

Doyle has been added in 11.09% of fantasy leagues, bringing his overall mark to 74.67%.

He's an established MLB outfielder, and gets to hit in hitter-friendly Colorado. Doyle is projected to start daily in center field for the Rockies, but he's also projected to hit lower in the order.

Doyle struggled in 2025, posting a .233 average and .274 OBP over 138 contests. He had a .260 average and .317 OBP in 149 games in 2024. That makes him a bounceback candidate for 2026.

He should already be owned in all deeper leagues, and if he bounces back, Doyle will be owned in all standard leagues eventually too. Until he shows that he's bounced back, I'd hold off on adding him in too many standard leagues.

I'm just not sold on Doyle after what happened last year. Let's see if he can flip the script and deliver like he did in 2024.

Colton Cowser - Baltimore Orioles

Cowser is owned in 30.67% of leagues after a 10.54% bump up today.

Cowser seems like he's been one of the players I've written about most when it comes to waiver wire/drops over the past couple years. It's only fitting that he's part of the first waiver wire story of the year then.

He is projected to hit eighth in a good Orioles' lineup. Cowser is projected to be in a platoon in center field, and as a left-handed hitter, he should get enough starts for some fantasy relevance.

Cowser also struggled in 2025, hitting .196 and getting on base at a .269 clip over just 92 games. He's another bounceback candidate, after he had a .242 average and .321 OBP (along with 24 doubles and homers) in 2024.

I like the Orioles to bounce back as a whole, and a good season from Cowser could really help out the team. Even if he's hitting in the bottom third of the lineup, he could deliver enough to own in a lot of fantasy leagues.

Right now, he's just a deep-league fantasy asset until he proves that he can deliver higher marks. Keep tabs on Cowser in standard leagues, but only consider adding him in deeper leagues for the time being.

Spencer Schwellenbach - Atlanta Braves

Schwellenbach has been added in 9.03% of leagues, which brings his overall mark to 62.67%.

This is an interesting pickup to me, as Schwellenbach is out at least 60 days with an elbow injury. That's a good portion of the season, but if you have an IR spot to stash him in, he could be worth stashing.

He made his MLB debut in 2024, posting a 3.35 ERA over 21 starts. Schwellenbach made 17 starts in 2025, posting a 3.09 ERA. He has 235 strikeouts over 234 1/3 innings so far.

Injuries have slowed his career, and they will slow his 2026. I have no problem stashing him on an IR spot in standard leagues, or stashing him in deeper leagues with bigger rosters. He's a great fantasy asset when healthy - now we just have to hope he gets in a bunch of starts after coming off the 60-day IL.

J.J. Wetherholt - St. Louis Cardinals

Wetherholt is up 8.67% and is sitting at 46.67% overall now.

He is the team's top prospect, and it was announced that he made the MLB roster out of spring training. The 23-year-old is projected to hit leadoff and play second base every day for St. Louis.

In two minor league seasons, Wetherholt had a .304 average and .418 OBP over 138 games played. He had 156 total hits, including 33 doubles, 19 homers and two triples, plus had 79 RBIs, 100 runs scored, 25 stolen bases, 88 walks and 88 strikeouts.

St. Louis has a depleted roster after trading away several big-time players this offseason. It opened the door for new players to step in, and Wetherholt gets one of the available starting spots. We'll see if he takes advantage of the opportunity.

I'd be adding him in deeper leagues today, and also considering him in standard leagues. If you aren't ready to add him today, be ready to pounce if he starts the season hot.