Top Fantasy Waiver Wire Picks This Week

Zebby Matthews – Twins Starter Ready for Easy Slate

Zebby Matthews is still rostered in 13 percent of Yahoo leagues, making him a viable short‑term option for mixed owners. He lines up Friday at home against an injury‑riddled Oakland lineup and follows with back‑to‑back games against the Royals. The A’s are missing Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker and others, and they rank last in road runs scored. Kansas City’s bats are not fully healthy, and the Royals rarely produce homers even when they’re hitting well.

Matthews posted a 5.56 ERA in 16 starts last year despite a solid 24.9 percent strikeout rate and a 6.8 percent walk rate. This year he struggles with a 5.40 ERA, allowing 15 home runs in 70 innings while his strikeout rate fell to 19.5 percent. His velo slipped just over one mile per hour and his once‑sharp slider is now only average. He retains good command, but it isn’t enough against quality lineups.

Nolan Schanuel – Angels Infielder on Hot Streak

Nolan Schanuel appears in 10 percent of Yahoo leagues after a slow start due to an ankle injury that limited him early in the season. The Angels brought him back after just 13 days on the injured list, and he finally turned a corner around June 19. Since then he’s batted .352/.430/.477 with two homers and five doubles in 23 games.

Schanuel’s surge is partly driven by a .374 xwOBA, ranking 28th among 196 players with 75+ plate appearances. He’s striking out just 11 percent of the time, well below his previous rates. His hard‑hit rate sits at 33 percent, up from 29 percent last year and 25 percent in 2024, while his line‑drive rate of 25.3 percent leads the majors. He now plays every day, hitting third against right‑handers and offering steady runs and RBIs.

Ryan Zeferjahn – Angels Relief Ace Resurfaces

Ryan Zeferjahn is rostered in only two percent of Yahoo leagues but has emerged as the Angels’ new ninth‑inning staple. He recorded his third save of the season on Sunday, retiring the Tigers’ Riley Greene on a home run but still closing out the win after Kirby Yates earlier lost a save. Zeferjahn’s recent stretch shows a dramatic control improvement.

Since July 8 he’s worked five straight outings without a walk or a hit batter, striking out seven over 5⅓ innings. In contrast, his previous 35 appearances saw 31 walks (including three intentional) and seven hit batters in 40 ⅔ innings. His stuff remains reliable: a high‑90s fastball and a mid‑80s slider give him a 32 percent strikeout rate in 2025 and a career 4.05 ERA over 120 innings. Ben Joyce’s rehab and a possible trade could challenge his role, but for now Zeferjahn remains a solid closer.

Quick Hits – White and Montgomery

Tommy White, newly promoted to the A’s, is a 2024 second‑round pick who brings some power but tends to hit the ball on the ground, keeping his value at league‑average levels seen at Triple‑A Las Vegas. He’s filling the void left by Nick Kurtz and deserves attention in deep leagues.

Mason Montgomery, the Pirates’ former All‑Star reliever, earned his first save before the break and now opens the second half against Cleveland. He’s currently the Pirates’ most reliable option in the ninth inning, and a couple more save opportunities could quickly turn him into a smart Waiver Wire pickup.