Austin Lowell | Sat, Sep 21st 2024, 3:05pm EDT

Top 10 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 26 (2024)

We’re down to the final seven days of the season. While we can’t all roster Shohei Ohtani, we can seek out those who will maximize their efforts over the closing week. These last few games are just a formality for the majority of the league, but there are still plenty of players with a great deal on the line. Players on teams fighting for a playoff spot will have some extra incentive. As will those hoping to make a lasting impression to help secure their role for next season. These are the guys we want in our lineup this week so we’ll be targeting many of them.

For those of you who made it this far, congratulations. It’s no easy task remaining in contention after six months straight. It’s been a blast serving you. Hopefully, I’ll be back again next season to help you with all those tough waiver wire decisions. While most turn their attention to fantasy football, yours truly will continue to study roster moves and Statcast data to try and gain every bit of an edge heading into next season. There’s always plenty of new prospect data to shuffle through as well, so a lot of my work is just beginning once the season ends.

Well, enough about me. Let’s get to those waiver wire pickups. Without further ado, here are your final top waiver wire pickups for the 2024 regular season. Thank you again for a wonderful season.

Top 10 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 26)

Parker Meadows (OF – DET): 22%

The Tigers have a shot at a playoff berth for the first time in 10 years and their upcoming schedule couldn’t be much better. Parker Meadows and company have the luxury of playing at home against the abysmal Chicago White Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays. While the Rays have been known to possess top-tier pitching in the past, this season they are lucky to reach the middle of the pack in most statistical categories. They also perform much better at home. The White Sox, meanwhile, have a chance at the all-time loss record. While trying to avoid that title may give them an extra incentive, they’re still arguably the worst team we’ve seen this century.

Meadows leads off against righties and bats ninth against lefties. He has hit both well this season and has been a boon since returning to the big league club on August 3rd. Since his arrival, the former prospect has produced a .303/.344/.526 triple slash line. He’s been a table-setter for the baby Tigers and I fully expect him to do the same as the season comes to a close. Add Meadows in all league types for his five-category production as he helps lead Detroit into the playoffs.

Kerry Carpenter (OF – DET): 52%

I like Kerry Carpenter for many of the same reasons as Meadows. Carpenter is the glue that holds the lineup together. He’s also arguably their most feared offensive weapon. In limited playing time this season (due mostly to injury), Carpenter has produced a .912 OPS with 15 home runs and 50 RBI (242 at-bats). He’s been great in the clutch and now gets to face Chris Flexen, Sean Burke and Jonathan Cannon in the final three games of the season. If that doesn’t give fantasy managers butterflies, nothing should. Start Carpenter this week in what will be the most important series of his career.

Reese Olson (SP – DET): 23%

In his first game back in over two months, Reese Olson didn’t get the results the Tigers were hoping for. But a deeper look into the numbers tells you it wasn’t as bad as it seems. The 25-year-old righty lasted just two innings while surrendering four earned runs. He also struck out three and walked one. While his ERA for the game was 15.43, his xFIP was 3.83. Olson was the unfortunate recipient of plenty of bad luck and fluke plays not going his way. Olson did give up a homer but after a long layoff, it’s hardly surprising the results weren’t all favorable.

Now with the season on the line, Olson gets to face Chris Flexen and the White Sox. Considering his above-average numbers for the season and his career 2.16 ERA against the boys in black and white, I am all in on Olson this week. Keep an eye on his outing against the Orioles on Saturday. If he has a decent showing, consider him a must-start for the week.

Pavin Smith (1B, OF – ARI): 21%

The Diamondbacks are hot and it couldn’t have come at a better time. With the defending National League champs fighting for a playoff berth, the surge will need to continue if they’re going to hold off the Atlanta Braves (who just got Ozzie Albies back). Pavin Smith has been one of their best offensive weapons of late, mashing eight extra-base hits over his last nine games.

For the season, the former seventh overall pick in the draft has registered a .296 batting average with a .378 on-base percentage (OBP) and a .578 slugging rate (SLG). His wOBA currently sits at .405 and his wRC+ is remarkably 161. Smith is an afterthought in a lineup full of big names, but the Diamondbacks outfielder is a sneaky play for the final week of the season.

Trevor Story (SS – BOS): 20%

Trevor Story is back and he’s doing Trevor Story-type things. Looking to finish the season on a high note, Story has registered two homers and four steals since being activated not even two weeks ago. Story’s injury woes are well documented but when healthy he can contribute to your fantasy squad. He’s started every game but one since September 7th and has hit .263 with five runs and four RBI over 38 at-bats (he’s hitting .350 over the last week).

His value comes from his power/speed combination and the fact he now hits fifth in the lineup. After missing most of the season, Story will do all he can to prove to management and the fan base he’s still got it. He’s worth a look in most league types.

Victor Robles (OF – SEA): 29%

The Seattle Mariners aren’t out of the playoffs either. Trailing the Tigers and Twins by just two games for the Wild Card, the M’s are going to be all in during the final week. Unfortunately, Robles was hit in the hand by a pitcher earlier in the week but all signs point towards the outfielder’s return this weekend. Before the injury, the Mariners table-setter was on fire. The speedy center fielder had racked up eight steals and 19 hits over his last 45 at-bats (.422 batting average). Robles now has 21 steals (on 22 attempts) and a .329 average since joining the Mariners roster earlier this season.

Sometimes it just takes a change of venue to get things going again and Robles has been the prototype for such an example. He’s set to face Houston (who’s already clinched the division) and Oakland in the coming week. Expect Robles to do everything he can to help the Mariners make a last-ditch effort for the playoffs.

Byron Buxton (OF – MIN): 59%

Don’t count the Twinkies out just yet. While Detroit seems to have all the momentum, the Twins still arguably boast the more talented roster. There’s a good chance Buxton is already rostered in your league. However, if you happen to play in one of the 41% of leagues he’s available in, you may just want to check in on the dynamic, oft-injured superstar.

Buxton returned from the injured list (IL) with a bang going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI on Tuesday. He even stole a base last night, help proving his health. Buxton may be hard to trust over the final week of the season because he doesn’t play every day. But with the season on the line, you have to believe Minnesota will want their best players out there as much as possible.

Another positive for Buxton is he is set to face the Marlins, who just gave up 20 runs to the Dodgers. He’ll then take on the Orioles, who by that point will have cemented their Wild Card standing. Buxton’s had a good season, slashing .274/.332/.520 with 17 home runs. The renowned outfielder has come up clutch before and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him do it again in the final week of the season.

Tylor Megill (SP – NYM): 17%

Tylor Megill is scheduled to take on the Brewers on the final Saturday of the season, which should be a meaningless game for Milwaukee. The Mets on the other hand, could be fighting for their playoff lives. Megill has been excellent over his last two starts, blanking the Blue Jays and Nationals through six innings each. The power righty gave up a total of three hits over the two games and hasn’t surrendered a home run in five starts. Megill has also struck out better than a batter per inning over his last five outings. With the Brewers likely resting some of their starters and the Mets with everything on the line, look for Megill to turn in another fine outing and hopefully earn you another win as the season comes to a close.

Hunter Goodman (C, 1B, OF – COL): 18%

The Rockies aren’t playing for anything, but Hunter Goodman is staking his claim for a starting spot next season. The slugging catcher/outfielder has been a man among boys of late. Over his last eight games, Goodman has launched five home runs, while recording 10 RBI and seven runs scored. The 24-year-old former Memphis Tiger has always mashed in the Minor Leagues, producing a career .575 SLG. He had eight homers in 31 games in Triple-A this season and now has 13 at the big league level in fewer than 200 at-bats. If you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck from the catcher position, Goodwin’s six scheduled games at Coors are enticing.

Otto Lopez (2B, SS – MIA): 20%

Otto Lopez doesn’t care if the Marlins stink, he’s out to prove he belongs in the Major Leagues. Lopez has been on fire for most of the month, ranking as the fourth-most productive fantasy player since Sept 5th. I had mentioned Otto earlier in the year as a fine sleeper and he’s finally making me look good. Over the last two weeks, Lopez has registered 10 runs, 10 RBI, three home runs and three stolen bases. The Dominican second baseman also scattered 20 hits over 50 at-bats (.400 batting average). Lopez always hit well in the Minor Leagues, as he regularly maintained an average above .300 while stealing a decent number of bases. Now rounding into form, the soon-to-be 26-year-old looks like a solid addition to fantasy squads everywhere.

Austin Lowell is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Austin, check out his archive.

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