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.

Alright, so I just looked at a calendar, and apparently, there are only five weeks left in the season. It feels like just a few weeks ago, we were trying to figure out who would be in for a big year based on spring training at-bats, and now we're preparing for the postseason? I suppose time flies when you're having fun, and what could possibly be more fun than gaining a competitive advantage over your friends and family? Exactly... nothing, so let's keep the good times rolling and look at a few more players who will hopefully lead you to a strong finish.

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

Starting Pitcher

Cam Schlittler, New York Yankees (23%)

It's taken Schlittler a bit to settle into the majors properly, but after taking a perfect game into the seventh inning Wednesday against the Rays, the 24-year-old righty now owns a 3.22 ERA and 1.32 WHIP to go with a 38:16 K:BB through 36.1 MLB innings. With a fastball that sits around 98 mph and command that's beginning to improve, Schlittler is likely to continue piling up impressive strikeout totals while limiting runs – especially while facing the Nationals and White Sox next week. FAAB: $3

 Cade Cavalli, Washington Nationals (10%)

Expectations were low for Cavalli when he joined the Nationals' rotation at the beginning of the month after he posted a 6.09 ERA and 1.55 WHIP over 65 innings (15 starts) in Triple-A. However, he's looked strong through three MLB starts with a 2.20 ERA and a 14:4 K:BB across 16.1 frames. He most recently fired seven scoreless innings against a red-hot Phillies offense en route to collecting his first career win in the majors, which bodes well for the 27-year-old's chances of smothering Philadelphia again when he faces them Friday. If he's able to do so, he would gain quite a bit of trust as a streaming option down the stretch while also boosting his chances at cracking the Nats' Opening Day rotation in 2026. FAAB: $2

 Nolan McLean, New York Mets (30%)

McLean earned a nod last week without having ever appeared in an MLB game and then went on to toss 5.1 shutout innings while striking out eight batters and earning a win during his debut against Seattle. That's good enough for another mention in my book. His next outing is set to come Friday against an Atlanta offense that has been trending upward (.755 OPS since Aug. 1), and Tylor Megill's impending return from an elbow injury threatens McLean's job security, but another start similar to his debut may just be enough for the 24-year-old to stick around in Queens for a while longer. FAAB: $2

Relief Pitcher

 Victor Vodnik, Colorado Rockies (18%)

With Seth Halvorsen battling a strained elbow, Vodnik has seemingly taken over as the primary closer in Colorado after converting saves in four of his five appearances since Aug. 12. His 3.43 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 42:21 K:BB don't inspire a lot of confidence that he'll continue to thrive in a ninth-inning role, but as long as the Rockies are still winning games with Vodnik as the preferred closing option, there's enough upside to make him worth a low-cost bid. FAAB: $1

Catcher

 Samuel Basallo, Baltimore Orioles (25%)

Basallo earned the call to Baltimore over the weekend after slashing .270/.377/.589 through 321 plate appearances in Triple-A. He's continued to hit well since joining the O's, going 3-for-10 and driving in five runs through his first three MLB contests. With 23 home runs hit in Triple-A this season, the 21-year-old provides a rare source of power from behind the plate that will be extremely valuable for any team, though the presence of Adley Rutschman will likely cause Basallo to get reps at first base and designated hitter as well. FAAB: $8

 Ben Rice, New York Yankees (46%)

Rice's on-base streak now sits at nine games dating back to Aug. 10, during which he's gone 11-for-34 (.324) with three homers, nine RBI and five runs scored to go with his 7:10 BB:K. The 26-year-old has completely replaced Austin Wells as the No. 1 catcher in the Bronx at this point, and Rice isn't likely to give up that title as long as he continues to produce at his current rate. It certainly helps that he bats second in the lineup in front of Aaron Judge most days, though the amount of offensive talent on the Yankees' roster is enough to give Rice great run/RBI potential no matter where he slots into the batting order. FAAB: $5

 Alejandro Kirk, Toronto Blue Jays (35%)

It had been 57 days between home runs for Kirk, but the 26-year-old now has suddenly hit three homers in the last week, allowing him to reach double-digits for the second time in his career. In addition to his improved power, he sports a .293 batting average that is 40 points higher than the mark he set last season, and he is just seven RBI away from matching the career-high 63 he tallied back in 2022. With plate discipline that rivals the league's best, Kirk is a safe bet to remain an offensive threat during the final month of the season and may really help you out if you're searching for AVG/OBP. FAAB: $2

First Baseman

 Lenyn Sosa, Chicago White Sox (40%)

With four home runs and 10 RBI over his last 10 games, Sosa continues to be one of the most productive members of the White Sox's offense in the month of August, during which he's turned in an .810 OPS through 78 plate appearances. That being said, the 25-year-old has drawn just 14 walks in 110 games this season, so although he's batting .271 and setting career highs in nearly every major statistic, you may want to steer clear of him if your league values OBP. FAAB: $1

Second Baseman

 Jeff McNeil, New York Mets (7%)

McNeil has turned in three multi-hit performances over his last five games, helping him raise his August batting average to .299 through 67 at-bats. He also has a homer, eight RBI and nine runs scored since the beginning of the month and has moved back to primarily playing second base after spending time in center field earlier in the year. The 33-year-old's place at fifth in the Mets' lineup should keep him in a relatively strong spot for RBI, otherwise, most of his value comes from his ability to get on base at an elite rate (.352). FAAB: $1

 Paul DeJong, Washington Nationals (6%)

DeJong is slashing .351/.400/.703 with four home runs, 10 RBI and eight runs scored since starting his nine-game hitting streak, and he boasts a .978 OPS for the entire month of August. The Nationals have been bouncing him around the infield while trying to keep his scorching bat in the lineup, and the team may soon expand the 32-year-old's skill set to include first base now that Nathaniel Lowe is in Boston. Adding another position would certainly give DeJong's fantasy stock a nice boost, though he already carries a bit of value as a hot bat with a fair amount of power. FAAB: $1

Third Baseman

 Miguel Andujar, Cincinnati Reds (37%)

The 30-year-old Andujar hasn't been able to stop hitting since putting on a Reds uniform, as he has slashed .383/.442/.660 with three homers, 11 RBI and nine runs scored over his last 15 games. Batting cleanup for his new squad is sure to keep his RBI totals high, and moving his home games to a stadium as hitter-friendly as Great American Ballpark shouldn't hurt either. Tack on the fact that Andujar also has fantasy eligibility in the outfield, and suddenly there's a lot of value to be had here. FAAB: $7

Shortstop

 Jose Caballero, New York Yankees (27%)

Stop me if you've heard this before, but the Yankees have another player fighting for playing time thanks to some impressive hitting. Caballero made four consecutive starts earlier this week and went 7-for-15 with a pair of homers, four RBI, six runs scored and four stolen bases in the process. With experience at every position in the field other than first base, the 28-year-old has defensive versatility on his side in the battle for at-bats in the Big Apple, and the threat he poses on the basepaths only further elevates his chances of cracking the starting nine. FAAB: $2

 Brooks Lee, Minnesota Twins (10%)

Lee has experienced a jump in playing time since the Twins completely unloaded their roster at the trade deadline, and he's made the most of the extra opportunities, slashing .311/.354/.622 with three long balls, 10 RBI and six runs scored over his last dozen contests. He's currently enjoying a seven-game hitting streak and has seen his standing in the Twins' batting order gradually improve as a result, with him most recently batting third against the Athletics on Wednesday. The 24-year-old's .688 OPS suggests there's a good chance his recent run isn't sustainable, but a hot bat that's beginning to earn the trust of his team seems like something worth getting in on at a low cost. FAAB: $1

Outfielder

 Noelvi Marte, Cincinnati Reds (41%)

Marte arguably has been swinging one of the hottest bats in all of baseball lately, stringing together an 11-game hitting streak that includes eight multi-hit performances, five of which have come in his last five games. The 23-year-old owns a phenomenal 1.213 OPS during that stretch with three home runs, 12 RBI and seven runs scored. We already saw how good Miguel Andujar is doing at third base in Cincinnati, so in order to keep Marte in the lineup, the Reds have moved him out to right field, making him fantasy eligible in the outfield and thereby sending his fantasy value even further upward. I feel comfortable saying he's rebounded from the atrocious season he had last year, and I can't think of many reasons why he should still be available on waivers. FAAB: $12

 Owen Caissie, Chicago Cubs (9%)

After posting a .947 OPS through 406 plate appearances at Triple-A Iowa, Caissie was unable to reach base in his first five MLB plate appearances upon being called up last Thursday. That changed quickly once the Brewers came into town, however, against whom the top prospect has gone 4-for-11 with a homer, four RBI and three runs scored. Manager Craig Counsell's decision to bench the struggling Kyle Tucker provided the opening necessary for Caissie to receive regular playing time, and though it's still unclear how the latter will fit in the starting nine once the former returns to action, Caissie has the hitting tools needed to make an impact in fantasy down the stretch. FAAB: $3

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