Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Moisés Ballesteros looks like a top hitting streamer this week

Once we have two months of advanced data, we will likely start to weigh 2026 more than 2025. That’s mainly because there have been significant changes in 2026, including injuries, skill changes and luck factors impacting team pitchers. A good example of this involves the Dodgers and Rangers ranking in the top 12 in the average adjusted score. However, the Dodgers and Rangers have single-digit K-BB% and awful WHIPs.

Meanwhile, the Cubs have been unlucky via their BABIP and strand rates. However, the expected ERA and SIERA indicate the Cubs have skilled pitchers, so we should trust the skills more. Like the Cubs, the Padres, Tigers and Mariners have high-end ERA estimators via xERA and SIERA, suggesting they have strong pitching staffs and can be challenging for opposing hitters.

I believe in Chase Dollander (hopefully) being an outlier for the Rockies, as he contributes to the improved K-BB% in 2026, though it’s still low as a team. We targeted the Cardinals, White Sox and Athletics pitching staffs, given their poor adjusted scores and weaker pitching. However, those three teams have shown a better K-BB% and SIERA in 2026. Don’t sleep on the Marlins’ pitching staff, generating one of the biggest improvements in K-BB% in 2026 with strong skills, ERA estimators and favorable luck factors (BABIP and strand rate).

Seven-Game Slates

• Orioles (1 at NYY, 3 at MIA, 3 vs. ATH)

• Red Sox (3 at DET, 4 vs. TB)

  • Be cautious with any right-handed hitters in a platoon for the Red Sox since they face four right-handed starting pitchers in Week 7. In weekly leagues, we might want to sit Jarren Duran and Marcelo Mayer.

• Cubs (4 vs. CIN, 3 at TEX)

• Reds (4 at CHC, 3 vs. HOU)

  • Six of seven right-handed starting pitchers will be on the slate in Week 7. It might be more challenging earlier in the week against the Cubs’ pitching staff, and then the Reds face a depleted Astros’ rotation of Mike Burrows, Spencer Arrighetti and Kai-Wei Teng. TJ Friedl should be the biggest beneficiary for volume, though the Reds’ hitters have juicy matchups against the Astros.

• Guardians (4 at KC, 3 vs. MIN)

  • The Guardians project to face four of seven right-handed starting pitchers in Week 7. Besides Cole Ragans, the Royals’ pitching staff could be targeted in Week 7 (Michael Wacha, Noah Cameron and Seth Lugo). Travis Bazzana initially projected as a strong-side platoon option, but played against the only lefty they faced since he was called up.

• Royals (4 vs. CLE, 3 vs. DET)

  • Royals’ hitters face five of seven right-handed starting pitchers in Week 7. Michael Massey, Jac Caglianone and Kyle Isbel take the biggest hit against lefties. However, Massey started against three out of the past four left-handed starting pitchers since the middle of April.

• Marlins (1 vs. PHI, 3 vs. BAL, 3 vs. WSH)

  • Miami projects to face right-handed starting pitchers in four of seven games. Besides Jesús Luzardo in the first game, the Marlins will face mostly underwhelming pitchers on the Orioles and Nationals. A reminder that the Orioles and Nationals pitchers were in the bottom five in the adjusted team pitcher scores, meaning that’s hitter-friendly. That makes five of six friendly pitcher matchups for the rest of Week 7 if you’re a believer in Cade Cavalli like me.

• Yankees (1 vs. BAL, 3 vs. TEX, 3 at MIL)

  • It’s a mixed bag for the Yankees’ hitters. Though the Rangers’ pitching staff hasn’t looked great in the advanced stats, New York will face Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and MacKenzie Gore. Then the Yankees will face Kyle Harrison, Chad Patrick and Brandon Sproat. Harrison has been balling out, but fantasy managers can’t sit many regular hitters on the Yankees.

• Phillies (1 at MIA, 3 vs. ATH, 3 vs. COL)

• Padres (3 at SF, 4 vs. STL)

  • San Diego has six of seven right-handed starting pitchers on the slate, with Matthew Liberatore as the only lefty projected for Week 7. Logan Webb looks like the best starting pitcher going against the Padres, so stream Padres’ hitters in Week 7. Gavin Sheets and Jake Cronenworth project as strong-side platoon options. However, the playing time for Sheets has been unpredictable, with Cronenworth playing mostly every day in the bottom third of the lineup.

• Cardinals (3 vs. MIL, 4 at SDP)

• Rays (3 vs. TOR, 4 at BOS)

Shallow- to Medium-League Waiver Pickups

Moisés Ballesteros, Cubs (31% Rostered)

With a heavy dose of right-handed starting pitchers, Ballesteros should smash in Week 7. Ballesteros showed strong plate discipline with above-average contact rates (80.2%) and a solid 9.9% swinging-strike rate. That can help Ballesteros be an asset in on-base and points leagues with a career walk rate in the double digits.

Ballesteros boasts strong power skills, evidenced by barrel rate per plate appearance at 8% and 101.1 mph EV50 (No. 88) in 2026. Maybe it’s a small sample, but Ballesteros has improved his launch angle, positively impacting his home run potential. Ballesteros’s groundball went from 62.2% in 2025 to 43.1% in 2026. The 2026 groundball and flyball rates were similar to his averages in the minors.

Ballesteros typically batted in the middle of the Cubs’ lineup, but batted in the two-spot over the past week. If fantasy managers need power, look toward Ballesteros in shallow and medium leagues in most formats, especially points.

Carlos Cortes, Athletics (26% Rostered)

Cortes projects as the Athletics’ strong-side platoon option in the outfield. The Athletics face five of six right-handed starting pitchers in Week 7. He has been a favorite of fantasy analysts in deeper formats because of playing time and tools. When a hitter like Cortes rocks a better walk than strikeout rate, it usually indicates they’re strong assets in points and OBP formats. Meanwhile, Cortes’ .391 BABIP has been fueling his massive .387 batting average in 2026.

He has elite plate discipline, with a 85.7% contact rate. Strong plate discipline paired with Cortes’ legitimate power makes him a fantasy-friendly hitter. That’s evidenced by a 101.5 mph EV50 (No. 73) and 10.7% barrel rate per plate appearance in 2026. Target Cortes in shallow and medium-sized leagues of all types (batting average, OBP and points).

Bryson Stott, Phillies (27% Rostered)

We discussed how the Phillies have favorable matchups in Week 7. Unfortunately, the Phillies’ hitters have been below average, with an 85 wRC+ (No. 27). The Phillies project to face five right-handed starting pitchers out of seven games. Stott has been pulling the ball more often (44.7%) in 2026, over 11 percentage points above his career average. That coincides with Stott’s pulled air rate jumping to 19.7% in 2026.

Though fantasy managers don’t typically target Stott for power, there have been intentional changes of pulling the ball into the air. However, stolen bases have been Stott’s strong suit. It’s early, but Stott has been rocking a 30% stolen base opportunity rate, up from 21% throughout his career. He converted 100% of his stolen base chances with a high career success rate (87%).

Pick up Stott to stream for stolen bases in Week 7.

Deep-League Waiver Pickups (Around 20% rostered or Lower)

Cole Young, Mariners (20% Rostered)

Many like myself have been clamoring for Colt Emerson. However, Cole Young doesn’t want us to forget about him, playing every day at second base in the bottom third of the Mariners’ lineup. Though Young’s .322 BABIP fuels his .267 batting average, he typically ran higher BABIPs in the minors.

Young boasts strong plate discipline with a 79.4% contact rate and 9.6% swinging-strike rate. Interestingly, Young has been more aggressive with his swing rates, especially in the zone (67.4%), a four-point jump from 2025.

Travis Bazzana might be a hot waiver add in most leagues at 2B, if he isn’t picked up already, but Young should be better throughout Week 7 and most of the 2026 season.

Brandon Marsh, Phillies (16% Rostered)

Marsh was out of the lineup with an elbow issue on Saturday, but returned to the lineup on Sunday. He has been a source of power and speed, providing strong batting averages and on-base skills. Interestingly, Marsh’s contact rate (81.5%) jumped to a career high, nearly seven points above his career average. Meanwhile, Marsh was more aggressive via his swing (51.4%) and chase rates (38.3%). For context, Marsh’s chase rate increased by over 10 points with a 6-7 point jump in the overall swing rate.

Since the Phillies have hitter-friendly matchups in Week 7, Marsh could be a deep league waiver wire addition in Week 7.

Nathaniel Lowe, Reds (4% Rostered)

Since Eugenio Suárez hit the injured list, Nathaniel Lowe’s playing time became more consistent. From April 21 and beyond, Lowe has 5 HR, a .333 BA and a 230 wRC+ across 36 plate appearances. It’s an early, small sample, but Lowe has shown higher bat speed (74.4 mph) and a 9.7% barrel rate per plate appearance, both of which would be career bests.

Lowe should have at least another week or two of production and regular playing time until Suárez returns.