With little time remaining in the 2025 MLB season, the focus continues to be players with favorable upcoming schedules or temporary bumps in playing time for fantasy baseball. There are plenty of names on this list, and hopefully there’s something for everyone.
One more note: don’t be afraid to drop core players in favor of streamers at this point in the season. In the second half of September, having a good week is the only goal. If someone who is typically a lineup lock has a difficult upcoming schedule, they may need to go to waivers.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups
Kyle Manzardo, 1B, Guardians, 23%: Manzardo has emerged as a reliable power source. The slugger provided 10 homers and 27 RBI across July and August and, in September, has gone deep three while posting a 1.126 OPS. The left-handed hitter typically fares best against righties, and starting on Saturday, Cleveland will face right-handers in eight of the next nine games.
Otto Lopez, 2B/SS, Marlins, 34%: Lopez is on a roll, having slashed .344/.382/.531 in September. This is a good time to add him, as the Marlins will open next week at Coors Field against a Rockies pitching staff that has logged a 6.57 ERA at home. Managers in head-to-head matchups will want some shares of Miami’s lineup for that series.
Edmundo Sosa, 2B/3B/SS, Phillies, 2%: Sosa is someone to consider in deep leagues, as he has a respectable .734 OPS this season and has fared well when pressed into a full-time role. With Trea Turner out until the postseason, Sosa will be the Phillies’ starting shortstop for the remainder of the campaign.
Ryan McMahon, 3B, Yankees, 29%: Although McMahon often hits near the bottom of the lineup, a case can be made that hitting anywhere in the Yankees order is better than his previous lot in life as a member of the Rockies. The veteran has posted an unimpressive .692 OPS with New York, but should be able to improve on that number next week, when the Yankees play seven games against teams (Twins, Orioles) who have lacked pitching depth since the trade deadline. It also helps the lefty hitter that New York will face righties in six of the seven games.
Josh Lowe, OF, Rays, 46%: Lowe has hit well of late, posting a .977 OPS since August 30. And he has shown a career-long pattern of faring best against right-handers, against whom he has logged a .784 OPS (.520 OPS vs. lefties). His tendencies put Lowe in perfect position to excel next week, when the Rays face righties in six of their seven games while spending the entire scoring period at their hitter-friendly home park.
Austin Hays, OF, Reds, 16%: Hays is swinging a hot bat (.845 OPS in September) and should continue to rake when the Reds have an advantageous schedule next week. After all, Cincinnati will open the week by facing three mediocre St. Louis starters before spending four games at a hitter-friendly home park against the Cubs.
Kyle Bradish, SP, Orioles, 41%: Bradish has looked great since returning from Tommy John surgery, posting a 2.65 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 21:4 K:BB ratio across three starts. The excellent results shouldn’t be surprising, as the righty logged a 2.83 ERA in 2023 before being sidelined early in 2024. Bradish is easily the best pitcher to add in shallow leagues, as he’s a two-start pitcher next week, and volume is key at this time of year.
Connelly Early, SP, Red Sox, 8%: On Tuesday, Early enjoyed one of the most memorable debuts in recent memory when he struck out 11 Athletics across five shutout innings. The degree of his excellence was surprising, but there is no doubt that Early is regarded as a quality prospect after posting a 2.60 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP in the minors this year. Managers who need to make a late charge in the pitching categories should take a chance that Early can stay hot when he makes two starts next week, against the Athletics and Rays.
Jose Quintana, SP, Brewers, 35%: Quintana has been steady but unspectacular this season (3.88 ERA, 1.28 WHIP) and has benefited from pitching for baseball’s best team (11 wins). His lack of strikeouts (6.1 K/9 rate) is less of a problem in a two-start week, which is the case next week when he makes starts against two teams (Angels, Cardinals) who have fallen out of the postseason race. Quintana is a great option for roto managers who are in a tight race in the wins category.
Yu Darvish, SP, Padres, 42%: Darvish has been mediocre since the beginning of August, allowing at least three runs in five of seven starts. But he should get back on track Saturday, when he works at home against a Rockies lineup that ranks last in baseball by a wide margin in runs scored on the road. Such an advantageous matchup makes Darvish the best pitcher to add for those who are desperate to win a head-to-head matchup this week.
Jordan Leasure, White Sox, 14%: Although some managers will dismiss the idea of adding Leasure because he pitches for a last place team, it’s worth noting that the White Sox are 25-25 since the All-Star break and rank fifth in runs scored over that stretch. Leasure has earned a win and three saves since Sept. 1, which should cement his status as the team’s stretch-run closer.
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