Early-Season Fantasy Baseball Standouts: Hitters to Grab Today

Let's go over some of the top fantasy baseball performers through a weekend of play in an effort to identify some more waiver wire options.

That means I'll keep the focus on players not owned in 100% of fantasy leagues. We'll just look at hitters today. Let's get right to it.

Fantasy baseball waiver wire options can be found all season on FantasySP! Use the FantasySP trade analyzer and trade value chart if you are looking to make some trades!

Brandon Lowe - Pittsburgh Pirates

Lowe is rostered in about 85% of fantasy leagues right now.

He was great in the opening series for his new team, cracking three homers across five total hits. Lowe had a double as well, along with four RBIs, three runs scored, two walks and a strikeout.

Lowe started all three games, hitting second against righties and sixth against a lefty. Him being in the lineup daily is a big deal, and there's enough talent in the Pittsburgh lineup to make either spot a decent one for Lowe.

I like the idea of adding the second baseman in all fantasy leagues today. He could be a top-end performer with his new squad. 

Joey Wiemer - Washington Nationals

Wiemer is only rostered in 9% of fantasy leagues right now.

He hit fifth in both of his starts so far, while sitting against the only right-handed starting pitcher the Nats have faced. Wiemer has yet to record an out, collecting six hits and two walks over eight plate appearances.

Wiemer has a triple and two homers among his hits. He has four RBIs, three runs scored and no strikeouts.

I mentioned him in today's waiver wire article as well, and think he's a good deep-league pickup for the time being. He'd need to start against righties to work into standard leagues, and then he'd have to keep producing, which he hasn't done in his big league career consistently yet.

Chase DeLauter - Cleveland Guardians

DeLauter is up to 89% owned after a monster first series.

In four games, he had four homers among his six hits, plus five RBIs and five runs scored. DeLauter had no walks and six strikeouts.

DeLauter has hit second and started each game - Cleveland has only faced right-handed starting pitchers so far, so we'll see where he is in the order when a lefty is out there.

DeLauter was one of the biggest risers in fantasy leagues over the first series, and for good reason. Get him added if he's still available in your league. We'll see if he sticks as a fantasy asset, but after how he's started, he needs to be in all leagues already.

Brendan Donovan - Seattle Mariners

Donovan is rostered in 86% of fantasy leagues right now.

In four games and across 18 plate appearances so far, Donovan has six hits, including two homers and a double. He also has four RBIs and runs scored, a stolen base, two walks and four strikeouts so far.

He's started each game so far, batting first against righties and sixth against the lone lefty the team has faced. As long as he's in the lineup every day, Donovan has the chance to be a season-long fantasy asset, especially if he's delivering at a good clip.

Add him today before it's too late.

Sal Stewart - Cincinnati Reds

Stewart is rostered in about 79% of leagues right now.

In three games so far, Stewart has seven hits, including three doubles and a home run. He has two RBIs and runs scored, three walks and no strikeouts.

He's hit cleanup for every Cincy game so far, which is obviously a great spot to be in. The Reds think the world of Stewart, and I think he's wildly underrated as a fantasy asset right now.

Scoop him up and you might never drop him.

Munetaka Murakami - Chicago White Sox

Murakami is another guy I discussed in the waiver wire article, but he deserves more attention here. He's at 89% owned, so time is running out to add him.

He's homered in all three games he's played in. Murakami has four walks, runs scored and strikeouts as well.

Murakami hit sixth in game one, cleanup in game two and second in game three. I bet he sticks in the top portion of a not-so-great White Sox lineup. There's enough talent around him to make Murakami a decent fantasy asset, and he already has proven he can have fantasy value on his power alone, so add him today if you still can.

Wilyer Abreu - Boston Red Sox

Abreu sits at 66% rostered right now.

In three contests and 13 plate appearances, Abreu has six hits, including two doubles and two home runs. He also has four RBIs, two runs scored, no walks and one strikeout so far.

He's hit fifth or sixth so far. Abreu has started against righties and a lefty so far, so he looks locked into a regular role in Boston.

Abreu has been a fantasy asset in the past, and looks like an underrated option right now. If you need outfield help, consider adding Abreu today.

Nolan Schanuel - Los Angeles Angels

Schanuel is owned in only 31% of fantasy leagues right now.

In four games and over 20 plate appearances so far, Schanuel has five hits, including two long balls. He has five RBIs, three runs scored, four walks and four strikeouts as well.

He's started at first base and hit third in every game so far. The Angels lineup might not be the best, but there's enough talent around him to make Schanuel a decent fantasy asset.

I think he's worth more deep-league adds today, and could sneak into standard leagues with more positive results, so keep tabs on Schanuel.

Jordan Walker - St. Louis Cardinals

Walker is rostered in about 7% of fantasy leagues right now.

He was good in the team's first series, collecting four hits and walking twice over 12 plate appearances. Walker had a home run and two doubles, plus three RBIs, six runs scored and just one strikeout.

Walker has yet to break out after a pretty good showing in his rookie season in 2023. If he breaks out in 2026, maybe the Cardinals can make a little more noise than originally anticipated.

Anyways, Walker is worth some adds in deeper fantasy leagues. His own percentage will keep rising if he keeps delivering at the plate, so be watching his gamelogs to see if he can stay hot.

Walker has hit sixth, seventh and eighth so far. While those aren't great spots for a fantasy hitter to be in, it hasn't stopped him from delivering, and he could move up the order with more positive results.

Luis Robert Jr. - New York Mets

Robert is owned in about 86% of fantasy leagues today.

His first series with the Mets was great. He had five hits, including a home run, over 14 plate appearances. Robert walked three times, drove in five runs, scored three times and struck out twice as well.

He hit fifth in each contest, which sets him up really well after the studs the Mets have atop the order. Robert has failed to live up to expectations over his career, but a new home could unlock his potential.

Adding him now in all leagues makes sense, but be watching his stats closely. If he keeps delivering, keep rostering him. But if he falls off, then we'll treat him more as a better deep-league asset, with standard league streaming upside.

Jonathan Aranda - Tampa Bay Rays

Aranda is owned in 68% of leagues right now.

In three contests, Aranda has six hits, including one double and homer. He also has four RBIs, three runs scored, three walks and three strikeouts so far.

He hit third against a lefty on opening day, then second against two righties. Those are good spots for a fantasy hitter to be in, so I think Aranda is another underrated fantasy asset today.

Add him in any deep leagues he's still available in, and give him consideration in standard leagues. He could be a daily option in those leagues too.