The waiver wire is where fantasy baseball championships are won. Unless you are a psychic and have a perfect draft, the waiver wire is the key to getting those players who will push your team over your opponent each week. Whether it’s a young, talented hitter or a resurgent veteran, here are four perfect waiver wire pickups for your fantasy baseball team in the eighth week of the regular season.
This article is part of a weekly waiver wire series. Check back throughout the season for the latest players to target as fantasy baseball league-winners.
Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 8
Garrett Whitlock
(RP, Boston)
Percent Rostered (Fantrax): 30%
Whitlock had an unconventional career path. After being drafted by the New York Yankees in 2017, he ended up in Boston and debuted in 2021. He’s had a very good career when healthy; after starting for parts of 2023 and 2024, he switched to a full-time bullpen role this year. That shouldn’t turn away fantasy managers, however; he’s logged 21.1 innings this year with a 10.97 K/9 and an excellent 3.38 ERA. Whitlock’s xERA (3.45, per Baseball Savant) and FIP (2.55) also point to sustained success.
The Boston right-hander induces lots of whiffs on his above-average slider. It is graded as a 104 by Stuff+ (according to Fangraphs), a model that evaluates a pitch based on controllable characteristics such as spin rate and velocity.
Moving to the bullpen also coaxed extra velocity from Whitlock’s sinker, which has been significantly better this season than in years past. After averaging just 93.4 MPH last season, his two-seam is up over two ticks to 95.6 MPH. After whiff rates of 17.1% and 16.7% in 2023 and 2024, hitters are coming up empty on 35% of their swings this season. Increased velocity on that offering – as well as his excellent slider – has boosted his overall whiff rate this year to 37.4%. That ranks in the 97th percentile among qualified big leaguers.
Because of its effectiveness this season, Whitlock has upped his slider usage to a career-high 25.1%. His improved arsenal, increased velocity, and new role make him a great pickup for fantasy managers looking for innings and strikeouts from the bullpen.
Graham Ashcraft
(RP, Cincinnati)
Percent Rostered (24%)
Ashcraft, like Whitlock, is a starter-turned-reliever. And despite Whitlock’s excellence, Ashcraft has been even better. The Reds right-hander has outstanding numbers across the board, including a 2.70 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 20 innings. He’s done it with just two pitches – a cutter and slider – that have both been excellent.
It’s no wonder Ashcraft has seen massive success this season after revamping his cutter. The offering has a 113 Stuff+ this year after coming in at a below-average 98 last year. That pitch, paired with a slider that Stuff+ rates as the sixth-best in baseball, has had batters uncomfortable in the box all year long. His chase rate is in the 100th percentile among qualified MLB pitchers, and batters are barreling the ball at just a 3.8% clip.
When he’s not racking up strikeouts, Ashcraft excels at getting ground-ball outs. His ground-ball rate is a sky-high 64.2%, which is among the highest in MLB. Most prolific strikeout artists in baseball today have fly-ball tendencies, which turn into home runs. Ashcraft’s ability to induce weak contact on the ground makes him extra valuable and raises the floor on his fantasy outlook.
Nathan Lukes
(OF, Toronto)
Percent Rostered: 5%
Despite being drafted by Cleveland in 2015, Lukes has only 196 career plate appearances. Although he has a lack of MLB experience, he’s made the most of his playing time this year. Lukes boats a .317/.416/.437 expected slash line that results from three traits he has in spades:
Bat-to-ball skills – Lukes’s whiff rate is a minuscule 16.5%, which is significantly above average. That is an especially impressive feat considering his lack of MLB experience. And he’s got great contact skills against all pitch types, which has helped him withstand different types of attacks from pitchers.
Plate discipline – When pitchers throw the ball in the strike zone, Lukes hits it. When they throw it out of the strike zone, he doesn’t swing. It’s a bad spot to be in as a pitcher, which is a main factor in the outfielder’s excellent on-base percentage. The former 7th-rounder has walked in roughly 12% of plate appearances this season, which provides value in both points and roto leagues.
Barrel control – Lukes doesn’t just hit the ball; he hits the ball hard at the right launch angles. He has a Launch Angle Sweet-Spot rate of 41.2%, which is significantly above the MLB average and has fueled his .317 xBA.
Daniel Schneemann
(INF, Cleveland)
Percent Rostered: 48%
Schneemann – drafted by Cleveland in the 33rd round out of BYU in 2018 – ranks 7th in the big leagues in Barrel rate. His extremely high batted-ball quality has helped him post a .570 xSLG and knock five home runs so far this season.
Schneemann is a bit of a trade-off for fantasy managers because he does come with significant strikeout risk. After striking out over 30% of the time last season, the Guardians infielder still whiffs quite a bit.
Thriving on fastballs has been the secret sauce this year for Schneemann, who has a 5 Run Value on fastballs this season. And despite his whiff rates, he’s getting on base via the walk at a high clip. His 11.4% walk rate is in the top quarter of MLB hitters and helps him post the overall offensive numbers he has so far this season.
Schneemann, Lukes, Ashcraft, and Whitlock all stand a solid chance of being available in deep leagues – not to mention providing significant value to their fantasy managers. Schneemann’s power potential and excellent expected numbers so far this season make him a must-add for anyone looking for power output from infield positions.
Lukes, who is available on 95% of waiver wires, has shown off his bat-to-ball skills at the MLB level this season to great success. And Ashcraft and Whitlock – two starters turned relievers – have been thriving in their new roles. For top-tier fantasy coverage of all sports, click here.