Weekly Waiver Wire Roundup — May 11, 2026

Max Meyer is the add of the week, and it's not particularly close. The Marlins right-hander has surged to 57% ownership after a 35-point jump in seven days, backed by a 1.85 FIP, a 27.3% strikeout rate that's trending up from his 25.8% 30-day mark, and 12.0 innings of work over the past week with a tidy 1.50 ERA and 9.0 K/9. He's the headliner in a week that produced 80 rising signals across the fantasy landscape — a surge concentrated heavily in the bullpen arms and outfield bats, with several intriguing buy-low names that patient managers should be targeting right now before the ownership numbers catch up to the underlying data.

Top 5 Adds of the Week

Max Meyer (SP, MIA) — 57% Owned (+35% 7d)

Meyer is no longer a speculative add — he's a must-roster arm. His 1.85 FIP and rising strikeout rate (27.3% over the last seven days, up from 25.8% over 30 days) suggest the surface-level 1.50 ERA and 9.0 K/9 from the past week are legitimate. With 12.0 innings pitched in the last seven days, he's locked into a full workload in Miami's rotation. The ownership spike is justified: if he's still available in your league, the window is closing fast. This is still an early signal at five games, but the combination of swing-and-miss stuff and elite run prevention makes him a priority claim.

Sean Burke (SP/RP, CWS) — 22% Owned (+16% 7d)

Burke's week was absurd by any measure. A 34.8% strikeout rate over seven days — doubled from his 17.5% 30-day rate — paired with a minuscule 0.93 FIP. Yes, it's only 6.0 innings and an early five-game signal, but the magnitude of the strikeout spike is the kind of breakout indicator that demands immediate action. At just 22% ownership and surging, Burke has the look of a pitcher whose stuff has clicked into another gear. His SP/RP eligibility adds roster flexibility. Don't wait for a larger sample to confirm what the swing-and-miss data already tells you.

JJ Bleday (OF, CIN) — 13% Owned (+12% 7d)

Bleday's surface numbers this week — a .222 average — don't scream "add me," but the underlying quality of contact absolutely does. His 58.3% hard-hit rate and 93.9 mph average exit velocity are elite-tier indicators, and a .365 wOBA over the past week confirms that the damage is real even when the batting average doesn't cooperate. Two home runs in 31 plate appearances over five games and consistent playing time make him a compelling outfield add at 13% ownership. Bleday is a textbook case of the process being ahead of the results — the results will follow.

Brandon Marsh (OF, PHI) — 24% Owned (+11% 7d)

Marsh went on a tear this week, posting a .480 average and a scorching .509 wOBA that leaped from his already-strong .388 mark over 30 days. His strikeout rate is declining (18.5% vs. 19.5% over 30 days) while his walk rate ticked up (3.7% vs. 3.4%), and he logged 27 plate appearances to confirm the playing time is steady. The 87.6 mph exit velocity is the one flag — the batted ball quality isn't elite, which means some regression is likely — but a hitter with a .509 wOBA and a declining K-rate in Philadelphia's lineup is a priority add at 24% ownership. Ride the hot hand while the underlying plate discipline trends remain strong.

Samuel Basallo (C, BAL) — 31% Owned (+8% 7d)

Basallo continues to emerge as one of the most exciting young catchers in fantasy. His .431 wOBA is trending up from .381 over 30 days, fueled by a 56.7% hard-hit rate and a blistering 95.0 mph average exit velocity. The strikeout rate is dropping (18.2% vs. 19.0%) and he's posted a .381 average over 22 plate appearances this week. At 31% ownership in a position as barren as catcher, Basallo should be rostered in virtually all formats. The exit velocity and hard-hit data suggest there's power production lurking here even beyond the zero home runs this week — it's only a matter of time.

Biggest Risers in Ownership

Max Meyer — +35% to 57%

The biggest mover of the week, and completely justified. A 1.85 FIP, 27.3% K-rate, and 12.0 innings of work in seven days is the kind of profile that warrants a rush to the wire. The ownership surge is the market catching up to a legitimate top-tier pitching add.

Sean Burke — +19% to 25%

Burke's ownership spiked in two distinct waves this week, ultimately climbing 19 points. A 0.93 FIP and 34.8% strikeout rate over seven days support the move. The only caveat is the small 6.0 IP sample — but at this ownership level, the risk-reward calculus overwhelmingly favors adding.

JJ Bleday — +12% to 13%

Bleday's jump was the third-largest of the week, driven by his hard-hit quality and power output. At 13% ownership, he's still widely available and the underlying exit velocity data (93.9 mph) supports further gains. The pickup is justified.

Brandon Marsh — +11% to 24%

Marsh's .509 wOBA week got managers' attention. The 11-point ownership climb is warranted by the production and plate discipline trends, though the relatively modest 87.6 mph exit velocity means the batting average likely corrects somewhat. Still a strong add given the lineup context.

Samuel Basallo — +8% to 31%

Basallo's steady climb reflects growing recognition of his elite batted-ball profile at the catcher position. A 95.0 mph exit velocity and .431 wOBA at 31% ownership is one of the best value propositions on this entire list. He should be rostered much more broadly.

Buy Low Candidates

This is where the real alpha lies. The following players carry "Watch" designations and sit at rock-bottom ownership, but their underlying metrics suggest they're producing quality contact and making process improvements that haven't yet translated to widespread fantasy attention.

José Tena (2B, WSH) — 0% Owned

Tena might be the most intriguing deep-league add on this list. An 86.7% hard-hit rate and 98.6 mph average exit velocity are elite by any standard, and his .530 wOBA over seven days (up from .382 over 30 days) reflects genuine damage. His strikeout rate dropped from 29.4% to 22.2% while his walk rate doubled from 5.9% to 11.1%. At 0% ownership, he's essentially free. The five-game sample is tiny, but that exit velocity demands attention.

Michael Conforto (OF, CHC) — 1% Owned

Conforto's week was quietly monstrous: a .600 average, .802 wOBA, 83.3% hard-hit rate, and 99.8 mph average exit velocity. These are absurd numbers, even in a small early-signal window. At 1% ownership, the market clearly doesn't believe it yet, but that exit velocity is the highest among all players flagged this week. Worth a speculative roster spot to see if this quality of contact sustains.

Zack Gelof (2B/3B/OF, ATH) — 2% Owned

Gelof has been a frustrating own in the past, but the underlying data this week is hard to ignore. A 77.8% hard-hit rate, 96.7 mph exit velocity, .523 wOBA, and two homers over five games represent the kind of power surge that made him a top prospect in the first place. His walk rate rose to 10.5% from 5.3% over 30 days, suggesting improved selectivity. At 2% ownership, he's a near-zero-cost lottery ticket with legitimate upside.

Evan Carter (OF, TEX) — 5% Owned

Carter's strikeout rate plummeted from 20.6% to 16.0% over the last seven days while his walk rate surged to 24.0% from 15.7%. The .410 wOBA (up from .278 over 30 days) and two home runs suggest the plate discipline improvements are translating to production. At 5% ownership, Carter remains widely available despite the process metrics screaming breakout. The 45.8% hard-hit rate and 89.7 mph EV are the main concerns, but the discipline trends outweigh the batted-ball profile for now.

Mark Vientos (1B/3B, NYM) — 6% Owned

Vientos' .491 wOBA this week was a massive leap from his .276 mark over 30 days. Two homers, a 58.3% hard-hit rate, 94.5 mph exit velocity, and a walk rate that jumped from 5.2% to 12.5% all point to a hitter who may have turned a corner. At 6% ownership in a premium lineup, Vientos is one of the most under-owned power bats in fantasy right now.

Isaac Collins (OF, KC) — 1% Owned

Collins' week featured a .444 wOBA, a dramatic strikeout rate drop from 30.1% to 18.5%, a 68.3% hard-hit rate, and 95.2 mph exit velocity across 27 plate appearances. That's a substantial sample showing elite batted-ball quality paired with a massive plate discipline improvement. The Royals outfielder is one of the best-kept secrets on the wire at 1% ownership.

Curtis Mead (1B/2B/3B, WSH) — 1% Owned

Mead's multi-position eligibility and underlying profile make him a compelling stash. A 75.0% hard-hit rate, 93.6 mph exit velocity, .388 wOBA, and a strikeout rate that dropped to 13.0% from 14.8% are all trending in the right direction. His walk rate of 21.7% is particularly notable. At 1% ownership with 23 plate appearances this week, he's a low-risk, high-ceiling add.

Brady House (3B, WSH) — 4% Owned

House's strikeout rate cratered from 29.3% to 11.8% — the kind of week-over-week improvement that can signal a real mechanical or approach adjustment. His .427 wOBA, one home run, and .333 average across a solid five-game sample support the narrative. At 4% ownership, he's a strong speculative add at the hot corner.

Braden Shewmake (2B/3B/SS, HOU) — 0% Owned

A .664 wOBA, 0.0% strikeout rate, 94.5 mph exit velocity, two home runs, and a .500 batting average. In a Houston lineup. At 0% ownership. Yes, it's an early signal in a small sample, but Shewmake's week was extraordinary by every measure. If he keeps getting plate appearances, this ownership number will look absurd in hindsight.

Jasson Domínguez (OF, NYY) — 21% Owned

Domínguez's ownership actually ticked down slightly this week, making him a classic buy-low. His 5.0% strikeout rate over seven days (down from 10.7%) and .383 wOBA (up from .305) indicate a hitter heating up in one of baseball's best lineups. The 45.4% hard-hit rate and 92.5 mph EV are solid, and consistent playing time (20 PA) suggests the Yankees are committed to him. At 21% ownership with these trends, he's undervalued.

Position Scarcity Report

The relief pitcher position dominated this week's signals with 18 RP signals, reflecting the volatile and opportunity-driven nature of bullpen roles. Managers hunting saves and holds have a deep pool to fish from, though separating signal from noise in reliever data requires caution given inherently small samples.

Outfield (11 signals) was the second-most active position group, featuring several compelling buy-low options like Isaac Collins, Evan Carter, and Jake McCarthy in addition to the top-5 adds. OF depth on the wire is healthy this week.

Catcher produced 7 signals — a notable surge for the league's thinnest position. Samuel Basallo leads the group, but Adrian Del Castillo (95.7 mph EV, 68.8% hard-hit rate), Joey Bart (.418 wOBA, 75.0% hard-hit rate), Bo Naylor (94.5 mph EV, rising wOBA), and Miguel Amaya (97.2 mph EV, 75.0% hard-hit rate) all showed improved underlying metrics. If you're streaming catchers or stuck with a dead roster spot, this is a rare week of abundance at the position.

Starting pitching (3 SP signals plus 6 SP/RP dual-eligible) was relatively quiet beyond Max Meyer and Sean Burke. Managers needing rotation help may need to look to the SP/RP group or explore two-start options, as the wire is thin for pure starters this week.

Middle infield and corner infield combined for scattered signals across various multi-position designations. The most intriguing names — José Tena, Braden Shewmake, Curtis Mead, and Nolan Gorman (73.3% hard-hit rate, two homers, 27 PA) — all carry Watch designations but offer multi-position flexibility that adds extra value in deeper formats.

Looking Ahead

The catcher signal cluster is the trend to monitor most closely. Seven signals at a historically barren position suggests either a genuine wave of young catching talent arriving — Basallo, Del Castillo, Amaya, Naylor — or a coincidental hot-streak cluster that will regress. If even two of these names sustain their batted-ball improvements, it reshapes catcher rankings for the rest of the season. On the pitching side, Sean Burke's strikeout rate explosion (17.5% to 34.8%) deserves a second week of confirmation before we crown a breakout — but the early returns are tantalizing enough that waiting another week to add him may cost you. The signal volume remains elevated at 80 detections; expect the waiver wire to stay active heading into mid-May.