The fantasy seas are rough right now. Injuries have hit like a storm, leaving rosters battered and managers scrambling for anything that floats. With stars sidelined and stat lines springing leaks, it feels like everyone is just trying to stay above water. But there are lifeboats. Players floating on the waiver wire who might be able to keep your season from sinking. It seems like every team is dealing with injuries. The injured list is overflowing. Time to look for reinforcements who can fill the gaps or even offer more. A few names are stepping into bigger roles, flashing potential, or riding hot streaks. These are the kinds of pickups that can help stabilize your roster and maybe give you an edge moving forward. This week’s hitter profiles dig into the gambles work taking off the wire and even a few guys that may be helpful the rest of the season.
Colt Keith
Colt Keith is currently rostered in 41% of CBS leagues, and over his last 13 games since May 1, he has begun to show signs of the hitter many hoped to see out of spring training. During that stretch, he is batting .308 with three home runs and a combined 19 runs and RBI, translating to a 167 wRC+. That is a dramatic improvement from the 79 wRC+ he posted through April, a period that came with several caveats. He was transitioning to second base, an unplanned shift caused by Spencer Torkelson’s continued presence at first, and he was also saddled with a .235 BABIP that did little to help his early confidence. Keith’s recent success is encouraging, especially considering his pedigree as a top-100 prospect with legitimate power upside. However, fantasy managers should be realistic about his rest-of-season outlook. The Tigers have been cautious with his usage, regularly sitting him against left-handed pitching. That tendency to platoon limits his opportunity to build consistent volume and rhythm at the plate, which could keep his fantasy value capped outside of deeper formats.
The power looks real enough to produce 15 or more home runs over a full season, and he could contribute in runs and RBI when placed near the middle of the lineup. But the lack of speed and the uncertainty around his playing time make him more of a middle infield or streaming option than a must-start bat. Keith is best used when Detroit has a stretch of right-handed pitching ahead, where he is most likely to play regularly and do damage. In short, Keith is hot, and the skills are intriguing. Just don’t mistake this for a full breakout. He’s a matchup-dependent contributor, useful when the schedule aligns but difficult to trust in standard mixed leagues as an everyday starter.
Masyn Winn
Masyn Winn’s season began about as poorly as possible, and fantasy managers responded accordingly. Now rostered in just 60% of CBS leagues, Winn looked completely overmatched in spring training, collecting only four hits in 50 at-bats. Despite that rough start, optimism lingers thanks to his 2024 season in which he showed a blend of power and speed with 15 home runs and 11 stolen bases. Since the end of April, Winn has begun to turn the narrative around. He was moved up from the bottom of the order to the second spot in the Cardinals lineup, gaining both plate appearances and better run-scoring opportunities. The Cardinals offense has shown unexpected signs of life, particularly in recent weeks. Winn has been a quiet beneficiary of that improvement. If you remove his first five games of the season, his batting average jumps from .280 to an impressive .330, reflecting both improved contact and situational success.
The primary appeal for fantasy managers targeting Winn is his batting average floor and potential to pile up runs. Since April 2, he has posted a .411 on-base percentage, driven by a patient approach that includes one of the lowest first-pitch swing rates in the league. He is showing signs of maturing at the plate, consistently forcing pitchers to work deeper into counts and giving himself a chance to do damage. While the power remains modest and his stolen base pace has slowed, Winn’s discipline and improved lineup placement make him a valuable asset in leagues that reward runs and on-base skills. He may not have league-winning upside, but his steady contributions could solidify the middle infield for teams needing batting average and OBP stability.
Max Muncy
There are two Max Muncys in Major League Baseball, but this week we are focusing on the veteran version. Max Muncy continues to hit in the heart of the highest-scoring lineup in the league, and while it may feel like he has been around forever, he is still just 34 years old. Despite the prime lineup spot, this season has been a struggle. Muncy is batting .212 with only three home runs and a career-low hard-hit rate of 26 percent. The big news, however, is a potential turning point. Since the beginning of May, Muncy has reportedly made a simple but impactful change: he is wearing glasses. That adjustment appears to be helping him see the ball better and is already showing up in the numbers. Check out the Glasses.
Since May 2, Muncy is hitting .250 with a 137 wRC+ and nearly as many walks as strikeouts. Most notably, his strikeout rate has dropped from 32 percent to just 18 percent, suggesting a much-improved approach with the spectacle addition. Over those 13 games, he has hit two home runs and driven in 12 runs, offering strong production in a relatively short window. With his CBS ownership now below 50 percent, Muncy is shaping up as an appealing add, especially in leagues that value on-base percentage. The batting average may still hover in the lower .200s, but if the improved plate discipline holds, he could return to being a steady contributor in power and RBI, particularly in formats where OBP carries more weight.
