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Nicklaus' H2H points fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters in Week 2 (2025) - April 7 through April 13. Free-agent hitters to add in points leagues.
Welcome, RotoBallers, to our H2H points fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters for Week 2 of the 2025 season. These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of April 7 - April 13, looking at players below ~50% rostered on ESPN or Yahoo points leagues.
We'll be doing this points league roundup every week here at RotoBaller because we know points players get neglected, and we're here to help. Player values can vary wildly from platform to platform, so we'll highlight where players are the best and worst fits, with waiver-wire targets being evaluated in terms of the different scoring systems on ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, Fantrax, and NFBC.
Position eligibility is taken from Fantrax, and players are grouped by their most valuable fantasy position, using a hierarchy of C > 2B > OF > 3B > 1B > SS. Stats and rankings are calculated using games through Saturday, April 5.
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Waiver Wire Caveats and APR Explanation
Roster% Thresholds
We use a combination of Roster% to assess who is in our target pool, relying mostly on Yahoo and ESPN. For some players, you'll notice a wide discrepancy between the two. This is because ESPN's Roster% is heavily weighted by points players, with guys who don't do well in their system (often because of an inflated strikeout rate) lagging behind the Yahoo Roster%.
For this reason, you'll sometimes see players (especially early) who might make you question my sanity in including them in a waiver-wire article, but don't worry, it's just a necessary glitch for coverage purposes.
APR stands for "Average Platform Rank" and is the average hitter rank between the four major point platforms: ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, and Fantrax. All player data is from FanGraphs and Baseball Savant, with injury information pulled from the Roster Resource section on the former.
Fantasy Baseball First Base Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Spencer Torkelson, DET, 1B (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 25%) - We're just barely into the season, but when also factoring in how good Torkelson looked in spring training, it's hard not to wonder whether the former No. 1 overall pick has actually turned a corner. Torkelson is the No. 35 hitter headed into Sunday and gets six games in Week 2 (vs NYY, @MIN), with two LHPs on the schedule.
Rhys Hoskins, 1B, MIL (Yahoo: 42%, ESPN: 13%) - Hoskins has been best-choice bust this week but I'm happy to try and ride the lightning again in a week that sees the Brewers go to Coors Field for three games to face the likes of Kyle Freeland, Antonio Senzatela, and Ryan Feltner.
Nolan Schanuel, LAA, 1B (Yahoo: 10%, ESPN: 8%) - These Roster%'s are starting to make me think Schanuel is in the driver's seat for my favorite, "Hey! This guy really shouldn't be on the wire, people!". Don't worry, these guys definitely don't turn me into an irrational, crazy person. Any-who, Schanuel and his points-friendly profile are the No. 42 hitter this week, headed into Sunday, and gets six games (@TB, @HOU) in Week 2, with none of his fellow lefties currently scheduled to face him.
Next Choices
Carlos Santana, 1B, CLE (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 16%) - Santana continues doing Santana things, IE be a never-aging points god. He has an 86 APR in the early season, and while his old bones might not have as many "Wow!" weeks in him, his profile remains delicious in point leagues, particularly when there are lefties on the menu. There'll be two LHP on the menu in Week 2, with the Guardians playing six games at home against the White Sox and Royals.
Wilmer Flores, SF, 1B (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 24%) - Wilmer Flores being a top-25 player is shocking, but having done it with just seven plate appearances vs LHP is even more surprising. He'll get a couple of lefties in Week 2 (Nick Lodolo, Carlos Rodon), with the Giants set for three games at home vs CIN before going on the road for a set against the Yankees.
Flores isn't going to be a top-25 player all season, but keep in mind that he's always had a very points-friendly profile that tends to play pretty well whenever he actually gets full-time at-bats.
Desperate Choices
Michael Busch, CHC, 1B (Yahoo: 27%, ESPN: 16%) - He has a top-100 APR early, but don't turn Busch into a points star, just yet, especially in leagues with a strikeout penalty. Busch has a 21 percent strikeout rate that is well down from the 28 percent-30 percent range he generally lives in, but a 12.6 percent swinging-strike rate says he's still the whiffer he's always been. The Cubs have six games in Week 2 (vs TEX, @LAD), with just one LHP on the schedule.
Ben Rice, 1B, NYY (Yahoo: 27%, ESPN: 18%) - Rice has two home runs, two stolen bases, and eight runs scored so far in the young season, currently running 39 APR. Week 2 is looking dicey (@DET, vs SF), though, with two tough LHP (Tarik Skubal, Robbie Ray), as well as Jack Flaherty, Logan Webb, and Jordan Hicks from the right side.
Fantasy Baseball Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Michael Massey, KC, 2B (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 1%) - Oh baby -- the Royals have seven games (vs MIN, @CLE) with zero LHP scheduled, so you know it's Massey time. Massey has started every game for the Royals, even getting the nod today with an LHP on the mound.
Available almost everywhere, Massey will usually be a good option when there aren't any LHP scheduled, but if the Royals are finally going to commit to him getting more regular time against them, he could turn into a very valuable points asset.
Otto Lopez, MIA, 2B (Yahoo: 51%, ESPN: 34%) - It's getting too late to still grab him, but my guy Otto continues to hit, even if he is only the No. 100 hitter this week, instead of No. 16 like he finished the week prior. Keep in mind, though, luck hasn't even been on his side -- Lopez has a .270 AVG but it's backed by a .349 xBA, with just a .258 BABIP. The Marlins have six games in Week 2 (@NYM, vs WAS), with one LHP scheduled.
Next Choices
Luis Rengifo, LAA, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 13%) - Rengifo has always had a great scoring profile in most systems and is starting to warm up, currently with a 59 APR headed into Sunday. The Angels have six games in Week 2 (@TB, @HOU), with nothing but RHPs on the schedule.
Jorge Polanco, SEA, 2B (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 7%) - When healthy, Polanco has always had a great points profile, but he's starting off with a bang in 2025, currently sitting as the No. 71 hitter in the early season. The Mariners have six games in Week 2 (vs HOU, vs TEX), with only one LHP, but that lefty is Framber Valdez, so I wouldn't count on Polanco starting.
Desperate Choices
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, PIT, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 16%) - It's rarely sexy, but IKF will get you points when he's playing every day; they just generally come slowly, drip by drip. The schedule looks decent in Week 2, though, with just the substandard pitching of the Cardinals and Reds on the docket.
Colt Keith, DET, 2B (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 9%) - Keith just kept improving his stock as a points asset as the year went on last season and has gotten right back to his points-friendly ways in 2025. He will have some tough matchups in Week 2 (vs NYY, @MIN) and with two LHP, but Keith is going to be a high-floor option in a lot of leagues.
Fantasy Baseball Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Joey Ortiz, MIL, 3B (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 9%) - Ortiz has been fairly awful early, but nothing fixes the hitting blues like a trip to Coors Field. Ortiz and the Brewers get three games in Colorado to start the week before heading to Arizona to face the Diamondbacks, with two LHP currently scheduled.
Ke'Bryan Hayes, PIT, 3B (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 4%) - If you play every day and rarely strike out, there's a good chance you have a decent points profile. Which Hayes generally has been -- when healthy, that is. He's healthy now and has been a top-50 hitter in Week 1, and gets six games in Week 2 (vs STL, @CIN).
Next Choices
Luis Rengifo, LAA, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 13%) - Rengifo has always had a great scoring profile in most systems and is starting to warm up, currently with a 59 APR headed into Sunday. The Angels have six games in Week 2 (@TB, @HOU), with nothing but RHPs on the schedule.
Miguel Vargas, CHW, 3B (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 1%) - It's too early to draw strong conclusions, but it sure seems like Vargas has figured out how to hit the ball harder -- or, at least, not to hit the ball like Billy Hamilton. The increase in exit velocities hasn't brought many good results yet, though, and never forget that he also plays for the White Sox, AKA the fantasy graveyard. Chicago gets six games in Week 2 (@CLE, vs BOS), but three of them will come vs LHP for the right-handed Vargas.
Desperate Choices
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, PIT, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 16%) - It's rarely sexy, but IKF will get you points when he's playing every day; they just generally come slowly, drip by drip. The schedule looks decent in Week 2, though, with just the substandard pitching of the Cardinals and Reds on the docket.
Josh Smith, TEX, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 52%, ESPN: 19%) - Smith keeps playing (and hitting), currently with a top-50 APR for the week. Week 2 looks tougher, though, with two of his six coming (@CHC, @SEA) vs LHP, as well as a really tough slate of righties with the Mariners (Bryan Woo, Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert).
Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Jacob Wilson, ATH, SS (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 12%) - I told you last week I was going to hype Wilson until he proved me really, really wrong, so you better believe I'm going to keep that train rolling while he's currently sitting as the No. 15 hitter for period. Wilson's profile is about as points-friendly as it gets and should continue to provide value even while playing for the A's.
The nomads have six games in Week 2 (vs SD, vs NYM), with only one LHP on the schedule.
Trevor Story, BOS, SS (Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 9%) - I was confused why Story was so lightly rostered last week, so you know I'm still perplexed as to why his Roster% hasn't gone up while currently in the middle of a top-75 week. His health history means you probably shouldn't count on him too much, but Story definitely shouldn't be on the wire.
The Red Sox have seven games this week (vs TOR, @CHW), with two coming vs LHP.
Next Choices
Geraldo Perdomo, ARI, SS (Yahoo: 13%, ESPN: 15%) - Perdomo loves exceeding points expectations, and he did it again in a week with three lefties on the starting schedule, currently sitting as the No. 21 hitter headed into Sunday. There aren't any LHP scheduled in Week 2 (vs BAL, vs MIL), but Perodomo is usually one of the guys you need to ride while hot.
Desperate Choices
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, PIT, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 16%) - It's rarely sexy, but IKF will get you points when he's playing every day; they just generally come slowly, drip by drip. The schedule looks decent in Week 2, though, with just the substandard pitching of the Cardinals and Reds on the docket.
Josh Smith, TEX, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 52%, ESPN: 19%) - Smith keeps playing (and hitting), currently with a top-50 APR for the week. Week 2 looks tougher, though, with two of his six coming (@CHC, @SEA) vs LHP, as well as a really tough slate of righties with the Mariners (Bryan Woo, Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert).
Fantasy Baseball Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Byron Buxton, MIN, OF (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 17%) - Quick! Pick him up before a sneeze shatters all of his vertebrae! Buxton is healthy (surprise!) and hitting (no surprise!), so he should be picked up until his inevitable injury. Sigh.
Victor Scott II, STL, OF (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 24%) - Last call for Victor Scott; last call. Considering Scott has a top-50 APR for the year and is playing every day, I wouldn't expect him to be hanging around any waiver wires for much longer. The Cardinals have six games in Week 2 (@PIT, vs PHI), with only one LHP on the board for Scott, the leftie.
JJ Bleday, ATH, OF (Yahoo: 28%, ESPN: 36%) - Ignore the boringness of Bleday at your own peril, but there's a good chance that he and his points-friendly profile will again be a top-100 hitter a year after finishing in the top-60. Remember, sometimes you just have to forget the name/team and trust the profile/PAs.
Next Choices
Sal Frelick, MIL, OF (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 11%) - Arguably the last standard-bearer for Sal's around the world, Frelick continues to rack points, currently sitting at a 58 APR for the year. Frelick has started every game, even against his fellow lefites (whom he's handled well during those scant 17 PA) and gets half of his games in Colorado next week, as well as three in Arizona.
TJ Friedl, CIN, OF (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 8%) - Friedl is the No. 35 hitter this week, and while the leftie is still struggling against his fellow right-handers, he at least usually starts against them these days. The Reds have six games this week (@SF, vs PIT), with two LHP (Bailey Falter, Andrew Heaney) scheduled.
Michael Conforto, LAD, OF (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 13%) - Conforto has a top-50 APR in Week 1, but don't count on him starting every game next week with the Dodgers scheduled to face three LHP in their six games (@WSH, vs CHC).
Jordan Walker, STL, OF (Yahoo: 16%, ESPN: 8%) - The (delayed) Jordan Walker hype-train is still accepting passengers. Walker has been flashing toolsy-ness early, slashing .318/.423/.455 through his first 26 PA, with 1 HR and 2 SB. The upside is still a good thing to bet on, but the pitching matchups this week are not.
The Cardinals have six games (@PIT, vs PHI) and will face the trio of Philly studs after opening the week against Paul Skenes.
Desperate Choices
Andrew Benintendi, CHW, OF (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 8%) - You, my dear readers, know I love to talk trash on the White Sox -- but I also at least recognize how useful Benintendi (and his brother-in-mediocrity, Andrew Vaughn) can be in points, under the right system. Exciting? No. But useful(ish)? Sure! Maybe not this week, though.
Benintendi gets six games in Week 2 (@CLE, vs BOS) with three coming against his fellow lefties.
Trent Grisham, NYY, OF (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 2%) - Grisham is lava, currently sitting at No. 9 in Week 1 but while he will slow down, it is interesting that he's now started four games in a row (including today), with the two most recent coming vs LHP. Back when he was an everyday player, Grisham could always put up solid scoring under most systems, so we should continue to monitor his playing time.
The Yankees have six games in Week 2 (@DET, vs SF), with two scheduled vs tough LHPs in Tarik Skubal and Robbie Ray.
Jonny DeLuca, TB, OF (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 2%) - Jonny DeLuca SZN??? Okay, probably not, but DeLuca has the kind of low strikeout that can make him useful in points for the right system if playing a lot. Or, at least it can be if he doesn't go back to his sub-.300 OBP days of last season. The Rays have six games in Week 2 (vs LAA, vs ATL), with two scheduled vs LHP.
Fantasy Baseball Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Hunter Goodman, COL, C (Yahoo: 31%, ESPN: 15%) - Goodman has been a top-100 hitter in Week 1 and gets three games at Coors in Week 2 (vs MIL, @SD). That's more than enough if you're looking to stream a catcher this week, but Goodman might also be good enough to keep on your roster.
Ivan Herrera, STL, C (Yahoo: 50%, ESPN: 41%) - If still available in your league, he won't be for long because there is nothing the world loves more than a red-hot player from the positional blackhole on the waiver wire.
Herrera is the No. 7 hitter in Week 1, headed into Sunday's action, but has a tough Week 2 on the horizon - the Cardinals start the week on the road against Paul Skenes and have a weekend series at home against Philadelphia (Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler).
Next Choices
Carson Kelly, CHC, C (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 7%) - Have yourself a week, Carson Kelly. Kelly started the period with the first cycle of 2025 on Monday against the A's and had another two-hit game on Saturday, including another home run. If you're looking to jump on a hot hand, this is it, but there is some possible doom on the horizon, as the Cubs have the Rangers at home for three games before going on the road to face the Los Angeles Juggernauts.
Desperate Choices
Alejandro Kirk, TOR, C (Yahoo: 13%, ESPN: 37%) - Kirk hasn't done anything of note so far in 2025, but he should get enough PAs in Week 2 to justify a shot. The Blue Jays have seven games this week (@BOS, @BAL), and are scheduled to face five RHP and two LHP.
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