Nearing the three-week mark of the 2026 MLB season, we finally have a meaningful sample size to evaluate potential fantasy baseball waiver wire targets.
Injuries have created new opportunities, adjustments at the plate are starting to show up in the numbers, and improved pitch profiles are translating into early results for several arms.
Adrian Houser
Don’t be deterred by the low strikeout rate. Houser benefits from pitching half his games in a pitcher-friendly park and owns a 114 Pitching+ driven by near-elite command.
His 3.61 xFIP is equally encouraging. San Francisco’s offense may limit his win potential in formats where that matters, but Houser is certainly more than a serviceable streaming option.
Noah Schultz
A top-100 prospect, Schultz is expected to make his debut for the Chicago White Sox this week. At 6-foot-10, he brings a high-velocity fastball and a wipeout slider, and he’s struck out more than 40% of hitters in the minors this season.
The contact he allows has also been weak at the upper levels. If the slider, curveball, and cutter all grade as well as Stuff+ models indicate, the towering left-hander has real ace upside.
Josh Bell
Walking nearly 16% of the time, lifting the ball with authority, and producing even against a run of left-handed starters, it’s a good time to jump on the Josh Bell bandwagon.
Be warned that the switch-hitting first baseman is notoriously streaky, so this isn’t necessarily a long-term solution, but he fits in most leagues if you need help at first base or in a utility spot.
Jakob Junis
Junis has unexpectedly taken over as the Rangers’ primary ninth-inning option. Each of his last three appearances has come in a save situation, and he’s converted all three.
The strikeout ceiling is limited, and there’s no guarantee he holds the role, but he still has use in leagues where saves are prioritized over holds.
Garrett Mitchell
The early results are extreme in both directions. Mitchell is rostered in under 15% of leagues, and the downside is clear with a 40% strikeout rate.
That said, he ranks 10th in bat speed across the league and sits in the 86th percentile in xwOBA despite the inconsistent contact. He’s also drawing walks at a solid clip and holding his own defensively in the outfield. The fantasy appeal is clear if the contact rate improves.
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