Fantasy Baseball Week 17 Waiver Wire Picks and Week 18 Two‑Start Pitcher Outlook

For Week 17 of the 2026 MLB season, fantasy analysts recommend targeting Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio, who is batting .276 with power and speed, and Washington Nationals infielder Curtis Mead, who has hit a career‑high 17 home runs and is posting a .439 average in July. Both players are suggested for FAAB bids of roughly 5‑8% of a budget, with Rocchio highlighted for his recent walk‑off homer and Mead for his strong offensive stretch.

Looking ahead to Week 18, the focus shifts to pitchers scheduled for two starts. Top‑rated options include Zack Wheeler (Philadelphia) and Chris Sale (Atlanta), both projected at 99% roster ownership, followed by Chase Burns (Cincinnati) and Gavin Williams (Cleveland). The list continues with a range of pitchers such as George Kirby, Gerrit Cole, and Sandy Alcantara, each with varying roster rates and matchups against teams with high strikeout rates. These insights aim to help managers optimize lineups and FAAB spending for the upcoming week.