MLB FAAB Factor: Top Fantasy Baseball Waiver Targets

This FAAB article is in addition to the AL and NL FAAB articles that run Sunday. Bids are based on a $100 FAAB budget. Throughout the season, this column will have two goals:

1. Identify FAAB targets for fantasy managers in leagues with Thursday FAAB.

2. Offer a preview of FAAB targets ahead of Sunday's columns.

Just like that, we are officially one month away from the end of the 2026 MLB regular season, which comes to a close Sept. 27. It feels like just last week we were taking a look at sleeper picks that had the potential to propel your team above your league-mates' team. It's probably because that's exactly what we did last week and have been doing every week for the past five months, although I still remember writing about Jake Bauers when he was rostered in just one percent of leagues coming out of spring training. But enough bragging about my early-season finds; it's the late-season performers that matter now, and something tells me there could be another player listed below that ends up being a difference-maker during the final weeks of the season...

The number in parentheses represents the player's rostership rate in Yahoo leagues.

Starting Pitcher

 Jacob Lopez, Athletics (29%)

Lopez has quietly been one of baseball's most consistent pitchers this summer. He's allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last seven outings, turning in a 2.33 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 47:13 K:BB across 38.2 innings in that span. He's fanned eight or more batters in three of those starts, which is especially impressive for someone who ended the first half with just a 7.0 K/9. Opposing hitters haven't had much luck when they put the ball in play against Lopez either, as his AEV allowed of 84.4 mph ranks among the lowest marks in all of baseball. The 28-year-old lefty hasn't been able to pick up a win since July 24, and the A's losing Nick Kurtz (thumb), Tyler Soderstrom (hip), Jacob Wilson (shoulder), Brent Rooker (knee) and possibly Shea Langeliers (knee) for the rest of the season won't make it easier for Lopez to do so. However, he could still act as an effective ratio stabilizer at the very least. FAAB: $3

Grayson Rodriguez, Los Angeles Angels (13%)

Rodriguez's 6.03 ERA for the season isn't pretty, but his 4.63 FIP tells you something about how often he's been the victim of some rotten luck, and his 2.93 ERA and 1.16 WHIP across 27.2 innings in the month of August tell you something about how much better he's performed on the mound recently. The 26-year-old sat out the entire 2025 campaign and the first month-plus of 2026 due to various injuries, so it makes sense that his performance has improved as his health issues have grown farther away in the rearview mirror. His 9.4 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 this month are both improvements over his season numbers as well (8.3 K/9, 4.1 BB/9), further adding to the hidden value that Rodriguez may provide down the stretch. FAAB: $2

 Andrew Painter, Philadelphia Phillies (19%)

Another young arm who ran into some early trouble this year, Painter suddenly finds himself in the middle of a stretch of starts that's seen him concede two runs or fewer in four of his last five outings. Much like the guy listed right above him, Painter boasts a fastball that travels at an above-average speed of 96 mph, but unlike Rodriguez, Painter is more effective at getting batters to chase pitches outside the zone while limiting hard contact. He also benefits from a Phillies offense that is far more capable of providing the run support needed to record a win, as he has in two of his last three appearances. FAAB: $2

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Relief Pitcher

 Elvis Alvarado, Athletics (3%)

Seven different pitchers have recorded multiple saves for the Athletics this season, but Alvarado seems to be the team's preferred option at the moment. He began the second half by allowing three earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning but has since conceded just two runs over his last 16 frames while sending 18 batters down on strikes. He's recorded a save in each of his last three outings, and although team saves leader Hogan Harris is healthy and likely still in the mix, I think the A's continue to ride the hot hand going forward. FAAB: $2

 Calvin Faucher/Michael Petersen, Miami Marlins (7%/5%)

The Marlins are looking for other options to work in the ninth inning following Pete Fairbanks' move to the injured list Tuesday with nerve irritation in his right hand, and Faucher and Petersen seem to be the top two candidates for the job. Faucher recorded the team's most recent save Saturday and led the Marlins with 15 saves last season, so he already has plenty of experience in high-leverage spots. However, Petersen has outperformed him this year with a 3.46 ERA and 1.12 WHIP across 54.2 innings, so the Marlins could simply prefer the more effective option going forward. Both relievers are likely to receive opportunities based on availability, and with every last save mattering at this stage in the fantasy season, either one is worth taking a chance on. FAAB: Both $1

Catcher

 Mickey Gasper, Boston Red Sox (11%)

The switch-hitting Gasper has been unconscious since coming up from Triple-A last weekend. He swatted a home run in each of his first three games back in the big leagues, and he added two more during Tuesday's win over Miami. His appeal takes a hit when you consider the fact that Adley Rutschman is now off the injured list and Roman Anthony (finger) is expected to return from the 60-day IL as well within the next few days, but Gasper's nine-game stretch of batting .417 with a 1.742 OPS and 7:1 BB:K will make it very hard for Boston to leave him out of the starting nine. FAAB: $1

First Baseman

 Connor Norby, Colorado Rockies (2%)

Make it 11 consecutive games in which Norby has recorded a hit, and five consecutive games where he's contributed to the scoreboard by way of an RBI or a run scored. He added to both streaks Wednesday by smacking a 402-foot grand slam off Luis Perales in the seventh inning – the first time Norby has gone yard with the bases loaded in his MLB career. The 26-year-old was sent down to the minors in June after putting up a .638 OPS with the Marlins and was dealt to Colorado at the trade deadline. Since returning to the big leagues Aug. 10, he's slashed .310/.408/.571 while recording nine RBI and nine runs scored over 14 games and has started at second base in each of the Rockies' last three contests. FAAB: $1

Second Baseman

 Nick Sogard, Boston Red Sox (27%)

Sogard added 124 points to his OPS within the span of seven games by going 12-for-27 (.444) with two homers, five RBI, eight runs scored and five multi-hit performances between August 17 and 24. The 28-year-old doesn't have much to offer in terms of power, as those are the only two home runs he's hit through 354 career MLB plate appearances. However, his .267 batting average is right on par with his career average of .266, and a 15.2 percent walk rate will help to keep him atop the Red Sox's batting order against right-handers. His starting job at second base will be threatened once Curtis Mead (wrist) is cleared to return from the IL, but Sogard's ability to play all four infield spots and the corner outfield positions gives him numerous avenues to playing time. FAAB: $2

Third Baseman

 Pedro Ramirez, Chicago Cubs (4%)

Dansby Swanson's (oblique) placement on the injured list last weekend opened up a path to regular playing time in the Cubs' infield for Ramirez. The 22-year-old has looked very comfortable while facing major-league pitching this season, batting .286 while adding 21 RBI, 24 runs and seven steals across his first 58 games in the bigs. He's begun to hit especially well within the past week, going 7-for-20 with six ribbies and four runs over his last five contests. Swanson isn't expected back for at least another couple of weeks, so there is still time to make use of Ramirez's skill set if you're looking to pick up more hits and steals down the stretch. FAAB: $1

Shortstop

 Mauricio Dubon, Atlanta Braves (37%)

The 32-year-old utility man fell victim to a 1-for-19 stretch between August 11 and 18, but Dubon's bat has once again caught fire now that he's tallied a hit in each of his last seven games – four of which saw him collect multiple knocks. He's also added two RBI, three runs and a steal during his recent hot streak. Now batting .270 on the year with an OPS above .700 for the first time since 2023, Dubon's role as a regular starter with a spot in the middle third of Atlanta's order should enable him to continue driving in runs at an elevated rate, much like he's done all year while logging a career-high 63 RBI (and counting). FAAB: $2

 Andres Gimenez, Toronto Blue Jays (12%)

Gimenez hasn't been much of an offensive threat all season, but he's been seeing the ball very well as of late, batting .310 (18-for-58) while collecting eight RBI, five runs and six steals over his last 16 games. He missed a few games over the weekend while dealing with some hamstring tightness but picked up right where he left off after returning to action Tuesday, collecting two hits and reaching base a third time on a HBP. If his bat begins to cool off, the 27-year-old is still capable of providing value via his legs, as he's just one steal shy of his fourth 20-steal campaign and has been caught just three times in 22 attempts. FAAB: $1

Outfielder

 Tristan Peters, Chicago White Sox (18%)

A five-game hitting streak is usually already enough to give someone the "hot" tag, but a five-game homer streak? That's when you have to break out the "historic" label. In addition to sending the ball over the fence in five consecutive games, Peters has notched nine RBI and seven runs while flirting with a cycle in each of his last two games, falling just a triple short each time. What's even crazier is that he isn't even the first White Sox rookie to have this kind of a power surge this season, as Munetaka Murakami also homered in five straight contests back in April. Peters' power doesn't quite match up to that of Murakami, but Peters' .282/.346/.475 slash line playing every day in the American League's highest-scoring offense is too good to leave on waivers. FAAB: $5

 Luis Robert, New York Mets (48%)

Robert initially struggled to find his rhythm at the plate after coming off the injured list in July, and his OPS sank as low as .587 on Aug. 5 as a result. Fortunately, he appears to have since rediscovered his swing and has slashed .333/.387/.685 with six home runs, 11 RBI and nine runs scored in 62 plate appearances across his last 17 games. Although I'm not quite ready to say we've finally gotten 2023 Robert back, his recent success is a welcome sight and could bode well for future seasons if it carries on through the end of the year. For now, it's a pleasant surprise that could help any fantasy managers in need of some extra thump as the season draws to a close. FAAB: $4

 Spencer Jones, New York Yankees (29%)

The Yankees have been waiting for Jones' major-league breakthrough since they promoted him from Triple-A in early May. It might have taken a bit longer than some expected, but the 25-year-old rookie has begun to live up to the hype while slashing .298/.340/.532 with two homers, eight RBI, nine runs scored and four steals over 50 plate appearances across his last 13 games. All of this recent success comes with the obvious red flag that is the 38 percent strikeout rate he's posted during his hot streak, which suggests that the good times may not last much longer. That said, fantasy managers chasing power and/or speed on the bases could do much worse than gambling on Jones, especially since the Yankees still don't have a clear idea of when Aaron Judge (ribs) will be cleared to return from his lengthy IL stint. FAAB: $4

 Dylan Beavers, Baltimore Orioles (2%)

If any of the aforementioned outfielders have already been scooped up or are a bit too pricey for your budget, Beavers presents as a lower-cost option who has also been flexing his muscles recently, blasting a home run in three consecutive contests from August 19 to 21. His homer streak is no longer active, but he's remained effective while going 5-for-12 with four RBI and two runs scored over the four games that have followed. The 25-year-old's hot bat earned him the opportunity to take on a left-handed starter Tuesday – something he rarely does – and Beavers responded by collecting a pair of hits during the game. Whether he continues to face southpaws going forward remains to be seen, but he's been productive enough to warrant a look even as a strong-side platoon player. FAAB: $1