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.

We've officially made it to the first Thursday of September! I won't ask you whether you woke up today more excited for the first week of NFL football or the 26th week of FAAB Factor (because I already know it's the second option), but I will say that this article might end up being the better viewing experience between the two for any fans who live in the Dallas area. You may also want to continue reading if your fantasy team is hurting for pitching, since there are quite a few late-season bloomers listed below whom I like and may just be sitting on your league's waiver wire.

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

Starting Pitcher

Luis Morales, Athletics (43%)

Not many people expected Morales to start his MLB career on a high note after he turned in a 4.40 ERA in 47 innings at Triple-A Las Vegas. Flash forward to a month after his big-league debut, and the 22-year-old righty boasts a 1.59 ERA and 0.99 WHIP to go with a 30:11 K:BB through 28.1 innings. He's gotten there by throwing a fastball that sits just a touch above 97 mph while mixing in three other pitches that have also yielded positive results overall. He still has a bit of work to do with his command, but the results are there for him to deserve a spot on your fantasy squad and possibly the Athletics' 2026 Opening Day rotation. FAAB: $6

 Ryan Bergert, Kansas City Royals (39%)

Bergert extended his stretch of impressive performances with a one-run, five-inning start against the Angels on Wednesday, giving him six consecutive starts with two or fewer runs allowed since joining the Royals. Like I said last week, he seems to be a great option if you need a steady, reliable starter, and he's capable of averaging more than a strikeout per inning in a start (though that's less of a sure thing). To sweeten the pot a little more, the 25-year-old righty is lined up to make two starts next week, the first of which will come against a Guardians offense that has managed just a .559 OPS over their last 15 contests. FAAB: $5

 Payton Tolle, Boston Red Sox (32%)

Tolle began the year at High-A but made quick work of the minor leagues, needing just 20 appearances in the Red Sox's farm system before making his MLB debut in Fenway Park last Friday against Pittsburgh. It helps that he was facing one of the worst offenses in baseball, but the 22-year-old southpaw held his own during his first big-league start, giving up two runs while striking out eight batters in 5.1 innings and averaging 96 mph on his fastball. With Walker Buehler now out of the picture, the door is wide open for Tolle to remain in Boston's rotation for the final month of the season, and he has more than enough upside to warrant an addition to your roster. FAAB: $4

 Jack Leiter, Texas Rangers (49%)

Make it three quality starts in a row for Leiter, who – despite coming away with the loss thanks to an unfortunate lack of run support – gave up two runs in six innings while striking out eight batters during his last outing Wednesday in Arizona. Expanding the sample size a bit, the 25-year-old boasts a strong 2.80 ERA and an exceptional 11.0 K/9 over seven starts since the beginning of August. He might just have enough momentum behind him to get past the formidable Brewers relatively unscathed during his next start, and he's certainly helping his case to remain in the Rangers' rotation plans next year. FAAB: $2

 Shane Smith, Chicago White Sox (19%)

After closing out the first half with an ugly 11.29 ERA over his final five starts before the All-Star break, Smith has done a great job of getting things going back in the right direction. He's put up a 2.67 ERA and 0.95 WHIP with a 31:13 K:BB in 33.2 innings since the beginning of August and is coming off arguably the two best starts of his career, during which he tossed seven shutout frames against the Royals before limiting the high-scoring Yankees to just two runs in 6.1 innings. His early-summer struggles put a damper on his reliability, and the White Sox aren't exactly a gold mine for wins, but Smith's recent body of work is good enough to make him worth a flier for those working on a tight budget. FAAB: $1

Relief Pitcher

 Jose Ferrer, Washington Nationals (26%)

Ferrer's 4.03 ERA and 1.16 WHIP through 67 innings on the year don't quite scream "closer," but he's pitched his way into the role by turning in 13.1 consecutive scoreless innings since Aug. 6, tallying six saves, two wins and a hold in the process. There aren't many better options to take the ninth inning away from Ferrer at this point – especially now that Kyle Finnegan is in Detroit – so look for the 25-year-old southpaw to continue closing games for the Nats as we approach the end of the season. FAAB: $3

 Shawn Armstrong, Texas Rangers (13%)

Robert Garcia currently leads the Rangers' bullpen with nine saves on the season, but it now seems the closer title belongs to Armstrong after he picked up each of the team's last three saves. The 34-year-old has also emerged as the most reliable reliever in Texas' bullpen, as he's surrendered just two earned runs in 22.2 innings (0.79 ERA) while fanning 23 batters since July 9. There's a chance Garcia and Phil Maton step in to take some ninth-inning opportunities away from Armstrong down the stretch, but his ratios are strong enough to provide some insurance to his value. FAAB: $1

Catcher

 Ivan Herrera, St. Louis Cardinals (49%)

Herrera has spent far more time at designated hitter than behind the plate this season, but as long as he has fantasy eligibility as a catcher, there's little reason not to capitalize on his .284/.367/.445 slash line. The 25-year-old has been swinging an even hotter bat as of late, going 9-for-24 (.375) with three homers, six RBI and five runs scored during an eight-game hitting streak that came to an end Wednesday. As long as he continues to bat second in the Cardinals' batting order, Herrera will also be in a good position to continue adding to his career-high 53 RBI and 39 runs. FAAB: $4

First Baseman

Rhys Hoskins, Milwaukee Brewers (23%)

Hoskins has been on the injured list since early July with a sprained left thumb, but he was cleared to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Nashville on Aug. 19. Since then, he's slashed .267/.340/.489 with a pair of homers, six RBI, eight runs scored and two stolen bases in 12 games. Although the Brewers haven't announced a target date for Hoskins' activation, the 32-year-old figures to be closing in on a return to Milwaukee in the near future, and he could receive more playing time at first base than previously expected now that Andrew Vaughn is beginning to look human again. FAAB: $1

Second Baseman

 Blaze Alexander, Arizona Diamondbacks (23%)

Alexander's bat has taken after his first name over the past couple of weeks, as he has slashed .279/.354/.605 with three long balls, eight RBI, nine runs scored and a steal across his last dozen contests. The 26-year-old has also begun picking up starts in the outfield since Lourdes Gurriel's season was cut short by a torn ACL. Time is dwindling for Alexander to pick up outfield eligibility before the end of the season, but if he manages to do so, his value will receive another nice bump upward. FAAB: $2

 Romy Gonzalez, Boston Red Sox (10%)

Gonzalez has gone on a handful of hot streaks this season, and after recording five multi-hit efforts during his seven-game hitting streak, the 28-year-old has propelled his batting average back above the .300 mark (.302, to be exact). Getting hot while batting in the middle of the lineup has allowed him to plate five RBI while scoring two runs himself over the past week – a trend that's likely to continue if he can continue to swing a hot stick. With fantasy eligibility at every infield position, Gonzalez is a versatile, low-cost bat that may be able to help you if one of your current starters isn't getting you enough hits down the stretch. FAAB: $1

Third Baseman

 Josh Jung, Texas Rangers (39%)

After beginning August just 7-for-50 at the plate through 16 games, Jung has turned things around remarkably fast by slashing .419/.432/.651 with two homers, eight RBI and nine runs over his last 11 contests. The 27-year-old has had a few stretches already this year where he catches fire out of nowhere, yet he still carries a .698 OPS for the season, which means he could easily flame out just as quickly. That being said, as we get closer to the end of the season, the long-term consequences of gambling on a streaky hitter begin to matter less and less. FAAB: $2

Shortstop

Ha-Seong Kim, Atlanta Braves (3%)

I'll preface this by saying it's only been two games, but it seems a change of scenery has done Kim some good. He's gone 3-for-8 since being claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay on Monday. One of those three hits was a three-run shot that ended up powering his new team to a win over the Cubs on Wednesday and also represented the first home run hit by an Atlanta shortstop this season. A first impression like that will almost certainly keep him locked in a starting role for the final few weeks of the year, and although Atlanta's offense has underperformed expectations this season, there's still enough talent ahead of Kim in the lineup to give him a bit of RBI appeal. FAAB: $1

Outfielder

 Jeremiah Jackson, Baltimore Orioles (32%)

Wednesday's 0-for-4 effort interrupted what had been a 13-game hitting streak for Jackson, who has been a very pleasant late-season surprise for the O's after beginning the year in Double-A. Since making his MLB debut Aug. 1, the 25-year-old has maintained a batting average well above .300 for the majority of his tenure in the big leagues while mashing four homers, driving in 17 RBI and scoring 15 runs through 29 games. His playing time could take a hit once Tyler O'Neill (wrist) and Jordan Westburg (ankle) are cleared to return from the injured list, though it could be impossible to take Jackson out of the starting nine as long as he continues to rack up hits. FAAB: $2

Andrew Benintendi, Chicago White Sox

It's not a stretch to say that Benintendi hasn't quite been the same player he used to be since joining the White Sox in 2023, but he's shown flashes lately while turning in five multi-hit performances over his last 10 games. He recorded four hits – including two home runs – during Tuesday's win over the Twins, which played a significant part in raising his OPS from .692 to .731 over the course of his hot streak. If he continues to see the ball well, the veteran outfielder could be on track to set a new career high in homers, surpassing the total of 20 he set in 2017 and tied in 2024. FAAB: $1

Find out who to target the rest of the way with RotoWire's MLB Rest of Season Projections!