In Week 4 of the 2025 fantasy baseball season, several hitters are primed for waiver wire consideration. Rhys Hoskins of the Milwaukee Brewers stands out with a 23% K-rate and a solid performance against right-handed pitchers, making him a valuable first base option. Gavin Sheets of the San Diego Padres has been crushing righties and is expected to continue his hot streak with favorable matchups. Tyler Fitzgerald is emerging as a must-add second baseman for the San Francisco Giants, while Jorge Polanco and Jonathan India offer steady contributions at second and third base, respectively.

Outfielders TJ Friedl and Sal Frelick are also on the radar, with Friedl benefitting from Coors Field's hitter-friendly environment. Catcher Hunter Goodman is another name to watch, especially with good matchups against left-handed pitchers. As injuries continue to plague the league, these players present opportunities to improve your roster and capitalize on favorable matchups this week.

Gavin Sheets, once with the Chicago White Sox, now plays for the San Diego Padres, who are currently on a seven-game win streak. Reflecting on the struggles of the 2024 Sox, Sheets recalled a significant game marked by a dramatic rain delay that led to a legendary loss. Meanwhile, the Sox are mired in their own eight-game losing streak, with injuries compounding their issues. As Sheets transitions to a more favorable environment in San Diego, he is performing well with a .303 average and .769 OPS. In contrast, his former teammate, Garrett Crochet, has also found success after signing with the Boston Red Sox, boasting a 1.45 ERA in his initial starts. The White Sox's inability to retain young talent, especially pitchers, remains a puzzling aspect of their strategy, as they struggle to find stability in their roster and remain in a rebuilding phase.

The San Diego Padres have kicked off their 2025 season with an impressive eight-game winning streak, showcasing their offensive prowess against the Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Guardians. Key players Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Gavin Sheets, and Jackson Merrill have all contributed significantly, with Merrill recently securing a nine-year, $135 million contract extension. This streak breaks their previous longest run of seven games from 2024.

As the Padres prepare to face the Chicago Cubs, the team looks to continue this momentum and potentially challenge for the best start in MLB history, a record set by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2023. Fans are eager to see if the Padres can maintain their hot streak and keep pace with the equally strong Los Angeles Dodgers, also off to an 8-0 start.

The Cleveland Guardians (2-2) faced a tough challenge against the undefeated San Diego Padres (5-0) in Game 2 of their series. Despite a solid start by Logan Allen, the Guardians fell short, losing 7-2. Gavin Sheets shone in the game with two crucial two-run doubles, racking up four RBIs, while Kyle Hart secured his first MLB win by allowing just two runs over five innings. José Ramírez and Austin Hedges each hit home runs, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Padres' offensive power.

As the teams prepared for their next matchup, the Guardians aimed to improve their betting odds, pegged at +137 on the moneyline against the Padres' -162. Key player performances were highlighted, with José Ramírez batting .300 early in the season and Fernando Tatis Jr. boasting a .450 average. Guage betting trends and projections suggest a potential shift in fortunes for the Guardians, especially as they look to cover the spread after failing to do so in their previous game.

The San Diego Padres achieved a franchise milestone with a 7-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians, marking their first 5-0 start in history. An explosive second inning saw them score four runs, followed by another three in the fifth, effectively sealing the game. Padres designated hitter Gavin Sheets had a standout performance, going 3-for-3 with four RBIs and scoring twice. Manny Machado also shone with three hits, while Fernando Tatis Jr. contributed two hits. For Cleveland, José Ramírez returned to action with a solo homer and a strong 3-for-4 outing, complemented by Austin Hedges' first home run of the season against his former team.