Waiver Wire: The Fantasy Baseball Call-Up You Need Right Now
With the MLB All-Star break creeping up next week, planning ahead for the final charge toward a fantasy baseball league championship becomes crucial.
From well-known prospects to afterthoughts who could fill team gaps, fantasy players must mine for treasure at all levels of the player pool.
Unfortunately, one intriguing young player has let the secret out on his potential to help for the rest of the season, but many fantasy managers may still have time to pick him up ahead of Week 15 waiver wire runs.
Here's why you should check your waiver wire today for Luis Lara, plus top hitters and pitchers you can add right now to lock in your shot at a fantasy trophy.
Track the best fantasy baseball pickups at Lindy's Sports all season.
Best prospect call-up to pick up in fantasy today
Luis Lara, OF, Brewers (30% rostered in CBS Sports leagues)
Many players in deeper fantasy leagues have already stashed the 21-year-old before Milwaukee called him up for Tuesday's doubleheader.
Luis Lara, who hit .321/.432/.470 in 346 plate appearances at Triple-A Nashville this year, started Game 2, batting second and finishing 1-for-4 with a single, two RBIs, and a memorable trip around the diamond.
It wasn't a homer, and he didn't steal a bag, but this run he scored from first base on a double will tease the stolen-base help he could offer:
My goodness, Luis Lara can FLY. pic.twitter.com/ZegpDn2XrP
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) July 8, 2026
Not surprising, given his seasonal MiLB swipe totals:
- 2023: 30 in 397 PA (A & High-A)
- 2024: 45 in 489 PA (High-A)
- 2025: 44 in 612 PA (Double-A)
- 2026: 24 in 346 PA (Triple-A)
However, the biggest growth in his game at Triple-A has been his power: Lara has clubbed nine homers this year, after topping out at 4 in 2024.
At 5-foot-7, 169 pounds, fantasy players should remain skeptical of how much more he can offer than maybe 20 over a full season. On the plus side, despite playing pitcher-friendly on the whole, American Family Field ranks tied for 11th out of the 30 MLB stadiums with a 103 HR park factor, putting it slightly above average.
Skills growth aside, will the Brew Crew find a place for Lara in the lineup every day moving forward?
Their recent signing of Lara to a seven-year, $31 million deal shows a long-term commitment -- but not necessarily one to blindly toss him in as a starter immediately.
Following a solid 12-homer, 19-steal 2025 that included a .288/.351/..405 slash, right fielder Sal Frelick has dipped this year (.242/.311/.332 with just three homers) and could start losing at least part of his starting work to Lara.
Related: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Post-Trade Deadline Adds Nobody's Picked Up Yet
Though his path to everyday work and maybe even his time in the majors remain uncertain, you must take the chance on a speed maven prospect who could at minimum tilt your league's stolen base standings in your favor.
Occupying a potential top-3 lineup spot in the loaded Brewers 9 should supply useful run and RBI potential, and if the power gains continue, that'll be a welcome bonus.
More top Week 15 fantasy baseball hitter adds
- Kyle Karros, 3B, Rockies (28%)
- Javier Sanoja, 2B/3B/SS/OF, Marlins (33%)
- Anthony Seigler, 2B/3B, Red Sox (6%)
These three bats may not provide the highest upside (maybe besides Karros) but can deliver short-term help, at least.
Kyle Karros, the 23-year-old son of former Dodgers masher Eric Karros, hasn't shown the big power that could've run in his family. However, he's churned out a 12.8 BB% that's helped produce a .364 OBP in 297 plate appearances with the big club this season. Starting opportunities at home in Coors Field elevate him to at least a streamer utility in many mixed leagues.
Meanwhile, Sanoja seems to have won every day work for the suddenly competitive Fish, and the already contact-happy stick has cut his K% by nearly 3% (12 last year to 9.3 in 2026).
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Finally, Seigler looks to have seized Boston's leadoff role. Following a .290/.409/.435 stint at Triple-A Worcester, he's churning out a 10% walk rate versus big-league pitching that should keep him in a spot friendly for scoring runs, even atop Boston's uneven lineup.
(Plus, Boston is going to squeeze the most out of the 27-year-old, who was a piece in the return for trading away 2026 breakout SP (and All-Star snub) Kyle Harrison to the Brewers.)
Best pitchers to pick up from the waiver wire
- Reynaldo Lopez, SP, Braves (45%)
- Dean Kremer, SP, Orioles (30%)
- Jordan Romano, RP, Rockies (5%)
In three outings since returning to the Braves' rotation, Lopez has posted a sparkling 2.08 ERA with a 12:3 K:BB, recapturing some of his magic from 2024 (1.99 ERA). Just like that year, he's overperforming a bit, and his relief numbers have helped him overachieve. But now that his curveball appears to be working again and he's rounding back into form after 2025 shoulder inflammation and surgery, mixed-league players should trust him again.
Kremer has been forgotten but has now returned following a nearly three-month absence due to a quadriceps strain.
The righty twirled six innings of one-run ball in his July 1 return on the back of four strikeouts, one walk, and just one walk against the White Sox. Mixed players should put him back on their radar for at least streamer potential.
Saves often come with ugly numbers, and in Romano's case, a closer role once again comes with disgusting team context. Coors Field SVOs will be stressful enough besides Romano's walk and homer rates, but after being designated for assignment by the Angels, the righty, who does have 118 career saves, has locked one down in each of his past two Colorado appearances.
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This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 9:43 AM.