Fantasy baseball waiver wire targets highlight key players, according to CR Today.
As injuries impact rosters, fantasy baseball enthusiasts are looking to the waiver wire for strategic pickups. Several players have emerged as top targets this week, including Noelvi Marte of the Cincinnati Reds and Cam Smith of the Houston Astros. These additions may bolster teams during the mid-season crunch.
What happened
In recent weeks, both Marte and Smith have shown potential worth noting. Marte, a 24-year-old infielder, has a chance to elevate his performance, showcasing impressive stats from the minors with a .369 batting average and significant speed. “He’s one of the few potential league-winning hitters still floating around,” the report stated.
Meanwhile, Smith, who was drafted 14th overall in 2024, has made strides in reducing his strikeout rate while demonstrating an increase in power metrics. After a rocky start, he recorded several key hits during a road trip, leading to a rebound in performance. “I believe the adjustment has been made, and it’s wheels up rest-of-season for Smith,” the article noted.
Why it matters
The fluctuating landscape of injuries in the league highlights the importance of roster management for fantasy teams. With 148 different pitchers recording saves this season, navigating the waiver wire is critical for teams aiming for strong finishes. Acquiring players who can capitalize on existing opportunities may determine playoff success.
Background
On May 20, 2026, the fantasy community began noticing the rise of several players as key contributors due to injuries to starting players. The trend forced managers to seek alternatives. The ongoing injury woes are not new, as each week seems to bring more surprises.
What’s next
Young Gon Kim is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of CR Today. Trained as a computer scientist in South Korea, he built CR Today to create an influential news outlet that pairs automated content production with human editorial oversight. He designs the editorial systems behind the site — source whitelist curation, search-intent title rewriting, and automated fact-source attachment — and is accountable for the publication's editorial policies, corrections, and AI usage disclosures.