Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Hop on the Lane Train

We’re past the All-Star break and in the dog days of summer. At this point in the season, you know what to do: attack the categories where you can make gains in the standings. Working the fantasy baseball waiver wire is crucial in this effort. Whether you need power, speed, or strikeouts, the waiver wire is your friend.

Most of the players listed below are rostered in 70% or fewer of Fantrax leagues. All recommended targets bring skillsets to the table that can boost your fantasy squad. With that, let’s take a look at the Week 19 fantasy baseball waiver wire targets.

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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Targets

Lane Thomas, OF, Royals (38%)

Lane Thomas became an everyday fixture in the Royals lineup in mid-June. It took him a couple of weeks to get going, but once the calendar flipped to July, he took off. Over his last 17 games, Thomas boasts a .308/.366/.615 slash line with four home runs and two steals. He also tacked on eight doubles in that stretch and walloped the ball with a 15.6% barrel rate and 96.3 mph average EV.

Thomas has leaned into his pull-side power since getting everyday playing time, and his 27.4% pulled-air rate ranks 30th among qualified batters. Overall, Thomas offers a nice blend of pop and speed — he averaged 22 homers and 26 steals between his 2023 and 2024 seasons. Now that he’s seemingly healthy, fantasy baseball managers should take notice. Thomas hits out of the top four spots in the lineup and should be a solid five-category contributor moving forward.

Steven Kwan, OF, Guardians (76%)

Up until recently, Steven Kwan was having a season to forget and was dropped in many leagues. But he’s turned things around over the last month, and given his track record, fantasy managers should be on alert. In his last 24 games, Kwan is slashing .368/.448/.474 with three steals and a 165 wRC+; it’s a far cry from the .206/.321/.255 slash line and 70 wRC+ he maintained up until that point.

Much of Kwan’s resurgence stems from hitting more line drives. His 37.3% LD% over the past month is up from 21.9%, which has fueled a higher on-base percentage. With Kwan back in the leadoff spot, that should lead to more runs scored and steal opportunities. Combine that with an improved batting average (.266 xBA), and Kwan shapes up as a nice three-category contributor for the second half. His rostership is rising, but pick him up wherever you can.

Ty France, 1B, Padres (33%)

Ty France was on a hot streak heading into the All-Star break, and he’s since picked up where he left off. In his last 10 games, he’s 15-for-38 at the plate, including six multi-hit efforts, five long balls and 11 RBI.

The veteran has found his power stroke over the last month, racking up nine of his 15 homers in his last 25 games. Across those 103 plate appearances, France is hitting .326 with 14 runs scored and 22 RBI. He’s also sporting a 1.096 OPS and .382 ISO in that span. France’s underlying metrics back up his power surge, as his 12% barrel rate and 92.3 mph average EV on the year are career-best marks. If you’re in the market for more power, consider France. He recently moved into the cleanup spot and is an undervalued asset right now. Take advantage while your leaguemates are asleep at the wheel.

Nick Gonzales, 2B/3B, Pirates (70%)

Nick Gonzales has dialed things up a notch in July. Across 17 games this month, he’s hitting .397/.461/.618 with three home runs, 14 runs scored and 11 RBI. Sure, he’s riding a .444 BABIP in that stretch. But Gonzales has been a strong hitter all season, maintaining a batting average above .300 to go with a .786 OPS and 118 wRC+.

Gonzales is mainly a batting average play, given his six homers and four steals on the year. But he can be helpful in points leagues or OBP formats where he can occupy the MI/CI slot. Gonzales recently moved near the top of the order, making him a sneaky-good asset in runs scored on a potent Pirates team.

Christian Scott, SP, Mets (63%)

Christian Scott stumbled in his last outing against the Brewers (3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K in 3.2 IP). But he’s still been impressive overall since returning from a hip injury. In those five starts, he’s sporting a 3.18 ERA (3.26 xFIP) and 1.10 WHIP across 22.2 frames. Combine that with a 22.6% K-BB% and 13.7% SwStr%, and you’re looking at one of the best strikeout arms available on the wire. Scott is lined up for two starts at home next week (vs ATL, MIA), and his K upside makes him a must-add in all leagues.

Zac Thornton, RP, Mets (53%)

Sticking with the Mets, fellow starter Zac Thornton should also be on your fantasy radar. He’s carrying a sub-1.00 ERA and WHIP in his last three outings with 14:4 K:BB in 19 innings. The low Ks aren’t ideal, but Thornton also earned quality starts in all contests — and against formidable opponents, to boot (PHI, BOS, @MIL). While luck factors have suppressed his ratios, a 19.5% K% and 14.7% K-BB% are serviceable in deeper leagues. Thornton doesn’t offer as much upside as Scott, but he’s still worth considering if you need rotation help.