Working the Waiver Wire: June 12

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  • By Nathan Baker

    Last Updated on June 22, 2026 8:57 pm by Anthony Kates | Published: June 22, 2026

    Our four pickups today feature a trio of undervalued starting pitchers, alongside an every day outfielder rostered in just two percent of leagues.

    Lane Thomas – OF – Royals – 2% Rostered

    The career of Lane Thomas has been on a straight downward trajectory since his 2024 deadline move to the Guardians, where he eventually became a platoon player, and struggled so badly in 2025 that he had to settle for a one year, $5.25 million deal with the Royals in the off-season. His role with Kansas City was also in a platoon situation at first, but injuries and improved performance are now giving him the chance to play every day.

    He’s already hit four home runs in June with an .893 OPS, still utilizing his terrific plate discipline to get into hitters counts. He’s managed to pull the ball in the air at a 5% higher clip than last season, which would be the highest rate of any full season in his MLB career, which comes at an opportune time with the fences being moved in at Kauffman Stadium. With Vinny Pasquantino and Kyle Isbel on the shelf, expect Thomas to get some significant runway, making him a worthwhile pickup in 12 team leagues, or 10 teams to play just against lefties; his greatly improved strikeout rate really helps in those points leagues.

    Walbert Ureña – SP – Angels – 43% Rostered

    Walbert Ureña’s too low ownership percentage still persists, and I can’t exactly figure out why. Sure, he plays for one of the worst teams in baseball, so he’s not a great candidate for wins, and while the strike out to walk ratio isn’t exactly sparkling, he’s limited damage at tremendous rate, and enjoyed even more tremendous results despite being just 22 years old. The walks have some room to improve, but with his velocity and repertoire, there is a sustainable profile as a solid MLB pitcher here.

    While it’s unlikely he’s traded given the years of remaining team control, the Angels could also greatly boost his fantasy value by dealing him to a contender for a large package at the deadline, which always has to be an outside possibility for a team not close to the postseason. Even as an Angel, Ureña is worth rostering just about everywhere.

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    June 22, 2026, 8:57 pm