Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Cortes and Cavalli are Calling

May is here, and even though it’s still early in the baseball season, we should always be looking to improve our fantasy squads. Between call-ups, mounting injuries, and the ever-changing closer landscape, combing the fantasy baseball waiver wire and making weekly moves is imperative.

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Turning to the Week 7 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire, Carlos Cortes headlines the hitter targets. We also highlight a couple of young starting pitchers who should provide nice value if you need rotation help, as well as a must-add closer. With that, let’s look at the fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for the week.

Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups

Carlos Cortes (OF – ATH) – 58% Rostered

Carlos Cortes has hit the ground running while filling in for Brent Rooker. Since April 10, he has popped four home runs and collected 11 RBI over 17 games, while hitting a lofty .400 with a 1.168 OPS. Cortes also logged more walks than strikeouts in those 61 plate appearances. A .383 BABIP is helping the cause, but Cortes is pummeling the baseball and making a ton of zone contact. His 17.6% barrel rate in that span is an 8-point improvement from 2025, and his 92.8 mph average EV is a 3 mph uptick.

Cortes’ hot play has earned him more playing time, even if it’s as a strong-side platoon bat. However, that won’t come into play this upcoming week, as the Athletics are expected to face RHP in all six of their games. This is a great week to pick up Cortes.

Masyn Winn (SS — STL) – 69% Rostered

Masyn Winn has been a hitting machine of late. He reached base safely in 11 of his last 14 games, including six multi-hit efforts, three doubles, and a triple. In that 14-game stretch, Winn is slashing .327/.377/.473 with a 139 wRC+. He also contributed across the board with one home run, eight runs, 12 RBI and two steals. Overall, Winn offers a nice blend of pop and speed with 15/15 upside. He’s batting sixth in a Cardinals offense that has come to life recently, scoring the seventh-most runs over their last 14 games. Winn isn’t flashy, but his balanced profile should come in handy in most 12-teamers.

Casey Schmitt (1B/2B/3B — SFG) – 43% Rostered

Casey Schmitt is quietly getting it done in San Francisco. He’s 10-for-39 in his last 10 games, including three doubles and three home runs. He’s also sporting a 20.6% barrel rate in that stretch. Encouragingly, the loud quality contact has been consistent throughout the season. For the year, Schmitt has a 15.2% barrel rate, 48.5% hard-hit rate, and 90.5 mph average EV — all career-best marks.

Schmitt’s gains have resulted in a .286/.337/.524 slash line with four homers, 10 runs, 13 RBI, and one steal across 92 plate appearances this season. He’s better suited for 15-teamers, but Schmitt can still be an asset in shallower formats thanks to his improved contact skills.

Hyeseong Kim (2B/SS/OF — LAD) – 44% Rostered

If you’re in the market for a steals option who won’t drag down your batting average (who isn’t?!), Hyeseong Kim is your man. Since the Dodgers called up Kim on April 5, he’s done nothing but hit and swipe bags. Across 21 games, Kim is 5-for-6 on the basepaths while hitting .296/.371/.389 with a 117 wRC+. Kim stole a combined 27 bases across Triple-A and the majors in 2025 (108 games), and he should continue to be a speed asset, at least while Mookie Betts is on the mend. If Kim continues to hit, it’s possible he could play himself into a longer role with the club once Betts returns. Either way, take advantage now.

Cade Cavalli (SP — WAS) – 60% Rostered

After a slow start to 2026, Cade Cavalli looks to have found his footing. He’s fresh off back-to-back 10-strikeout starts, allowing two earned runs apiece and a combined two walks across 11 innings. His 40% strikeout rate in this stretch is backed by a 16.5% SwStr%. In addition to increased Ks, Cavalli has cut down on free passes. In his last three starts, he issued a combined two walks, compared to 12 over his first four starts.

Cavalli is good at limiting hard contact, and if he can maintain his improved control, his season could kick up a notch. Up next, Cavalli has a pair of friendly matchups against the Twins and at the Marlins. Both clubs are bottom-five in runs scored over the last two weeks, making Cavalli a solid waiver wire pickup.

Connor Prielipp (SP — MIN) – 48% Rostered

Connor Prielipp has strung together a couple of solid starts since filling in for Mick Abel. He combined for four earned runs across nine innings with an 11:3 K:BB (22.2% K-BB). In that short stretch, Prielipp has a 4.00 ERA (3.60 xFIP) and 0.89 WHIP with a 12% SwStr%. The southpaw’s best pitch is his slider, which he throws 47% of the time. It has a 31.7% whiff rate and accounts for seven of Prielipp’s 11 punchouts.

Looking ahead, Prielipp has a favorable upcoming schedule. The Blue Jays are a bottom-eight offense against lefties (.634 OPS), while the Guardians maintain a better — but not scary — .722 OPS against them. If Prielipp continues to pitch well, he could stick in the rotation once Abel returns, especially if Simeon Woods Richardson continues to struggle. Prielipp is worth picking up in 15-teamers if you need pitching help.

Bryan Baker (RP — TBR) – 65% Rostered

Bryan Baker has emerged as the Rays’ go-to arm since Griffin Jax faltered earlier in the season. He picked up seven of the team’s nine saves since April 6, and has a 3.18 ERA (2.65 xFIP) and 1.06 WHIP on the year to go with a 21.7% K-BB across 11.1 innings. Baker’s changeup and four-seamer keep batters on their toes, and those pitches combine for over 91% of his arsenal. He does a good job of generating weak contact and inducing grounders at a 50% clip. That should help keep Baker getting the nod in the ninth. Moreover, his seven saves tie for fourth-most among relievers. Baker needs to be picked up ASAP.