Mid-Week Waiver Wire Rankings: Top Pickups
The MLB All-Star Game is officially in the books, and the second half of the season kicks off for Thursday night baseball. At RotoBaller HQ, we are back with more waiver wire advice in our mid-week fantasy baseball waiver rankings for Week 16—July 13 through July 19 — to help navigate the waiver wire in […]
2nd Half Breakouts: Nick Mariano's "My Guys"
The All-Star break affords us a chance to press pause and take stock of our strengths, weaknesses, and potential avenues to success. Some years, I take a wide stance with this column and include an aggressive number of players who are rostered in a healthy swath of leagues, but we're going to zoom in a […]
Is Jeff Hoffman a Sneaky Stash Based on Underlying Metrics?
Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Jeff Hoffman had a brutal start to the year and lost his job as the team's closer, with the emergence of Louis Varland as an elite bullpen option. He has put together a few strong weeks, though, and could return to fantasy relevance at some point after the All-Star break. […]
Fantasy Baseball Closer Breakout Candidates
We've reached the hypothetical halfway point of the season as we hit the All-Star break this week. At this point, you should know where you stand in most leagues and what you might need to add this week before the sprint to the finish line of the season. We try to dig a little deeper […]
6 Must-Add Waiver Wire Pickups: Mid-Week Adds
Welcome back to baseball, RotoBallers. The All-Star break was a nice respite from the grind of the season, but the second half of the fantasy baseball calendar requires your full attention. To get things started, here is a new mid-week edition of Must-Add Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 16 of fantasy baseball. This week’s list […]
The Top First-Half Waiver Wire Gems
Every season, fantasy players look for those guys who go late in drafts or are totally undrafted. We pride ourselves on finding "our guys" that other people might not believe in, or guys they have misapplied value to in their preparation. There have been a handful of waiver-wire players who have turned into fantasy superstars. […]
Ben Joyce a Top Stash Option for Late-Season Saves?
Los Angeles Angels right-hander Ben Joyce (shoulder) has yet to pitch in the big leagues this season as he works his way back from the shoulder surgery that has kept him out since May 2025. However, the 25-year-old began a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League before the All-Star break, so he could be […]
Michael Petersen Emerging as a Potential Saves Source in Miami?
Across 39 innings (41 games) so far this season, Miami Marlins right-hander Michael Petersen (hamstring) has pitched to a 3.07 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 48 strikeouts and one save. Petersen exited early from Miami's final game before the All-Star break on Sunday with a hamstring injury, so fantasy managers should monitor for his health […]
Pitching Prospect Yunior Tur Getting the Call to the Big Leagues
The Athletics selected the contract of right-handed pitching prospect Yunior Tur from Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday, according to Jason Burke of Inside the A's. Tur will make his major-league debut to begin the second half of the 2026 season after posting a 4.41 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 64:26 K:BB in 51 innings pitched across […]
Daniel Lynch IV a High-End Closer to Stash in Royals Bullpen?
Right-handed reliever Alex Lange is the current closer for the Kansas City Royals, but left-hander Daniel Lynch IV could be worth stashing for fantasy managers in deeper leagues who are speculating on saves in the second half. Lynch, a former first-rounder in 2018 out of the University of Virginia, began his MLB career as a […]
Hogan Harris a Saves Target Despite the WHIP Risk?
Athletics relief pitcher Hogan Harris reached the break with six saves, a 3.43 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, and 56 strikeouts in 42 innings. The save total catches the eye. The timing does not. Harris has not converted one since June 12, and 27 walks have made nearly every inning feel heavier than it should. He is […]
Jordan Romano Worth a Deep-League Saves Gamble?
Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Jordan Romano grabbed two saves in his first four appearances with the club, then nearly gave one away on July 10. He walked three, allowed a run, and left the bases loaded before Juan Mejia recorded the final out. Romano still came out of the first half as Colorado's listed closer, […]
Elvis Alvarado Still in the Mix for Saves in Sacramento
Athletics right-handed reliever Elvis Alvarado may not have the best numbers in his second season in the big leagues, but he's still in the late-inning mix in Sacramento for the A's, making him worth a look in deep fantasy leagues for managers desperate for saves. The 27-year-old Dominican hurler went 3-3 with a 4.94 ERA […]
Bryan Baker Is Now a High-End Fantasy Closer
Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Bryan Baker hit the break with 25 saves, a 1.73 ERA, and a 0.83 WHIP, then recorded the final out of the American League shutout in the July 14 All-Star Game. The spring committee talk feels ancient now. Baker is tied for second in the majors in saves, opponents are […]
2nd Half Breakouts: Thunder Dan's "My Guys"
The All-Star break is here, bringing us to the unofficial halfway point of the season. In reality, teams have completed around 60% of their games, and the second half of the fantasy baseball season is significantly shorter, and the time to make meaningful additions to your teams, whether via trades or the waiver wire, is […]
Top Closer Handcuffs: Pickups and Stashes
The 2026 All-Star break has finally arrived, which means the trade deadline is quickly approaching. While it may be a bit too early to tell who will be traded, rumblings have begun to surface, especially around teams that had their sights set on competing but have fallen short in the first half. In this piece, […]
2nd Half Breakouts: Frank's "My Guys"
Every fantasy baseball season, you have to come up with a list of "My Guys." These are your favorite targets. The players you're willing to reach past ADP to ensure they're on your teams. This season, some of "My Guys" were major hits, like Munetaka Murakami and Jordan Walker, or huge misses, like Ronald Acuna […]
Fantasy Baseball Risers and Fallers: Week 16
Welcome, everyone, to another edition of RotoBaller’s Fantasy Baseball Risers and Fallers article series for Week 16 of the 2026 season! Today, I'll check in on players like Kyle Karros, Jesus Luzardo, Francisco Lindor, and more. Keeping up with the latest hitter and pitcher trends is a key component of a successful season, and RotoBaller […]
6 Upside Closers and Relievers Breaking Out?
During the first half of the season, fantasy managers saw many closers gradually emerge and solidify themselves as must-start players like Jacob Latz and Bryan Baker. Below, we will look at six relief pitchers whose value as fantasy options has surged over the past week and determine whether managers should pick them up. So, should […]
2nd Half Breakouts: Andy's "My Guys"
The 2026 MLB All-Star Break is just days away. Through the first half of the season, we have seen players like Jordan Walker enjoy a long-awaited post-hype breakout campaign while pitchers such as Parker Messick and Kyle Harrison are looking like the early-season waiver-wire wonders. In this piece, I will spotlight six players I want […]
2nd Half Breakouts: Joey's "My Guys"
There are always unexpected players who break out in the second half of the fantasy season. These players then go on to become league winners for your fantasy baseball team. Remember Cade Horton's ascension to fantasy stardom last year, or Ben Rice's rise from a middle-tier fantasy catcher to one of the best over the […]
Edwin Diaz Throws Clean Inning in Rehab Start on Tuesday
Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed closer Edwin Diaz (elbow) had two strikeouts and no hits allowed in a clean inning of work in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Tuesday in his second minor-league rehab outing. Diaz gave up a hit in a scoreless inning for Single-A Ontario to start his rehab assignment on Sunday in […]
Raisel Iglesias Remains a High-End Closer Despite Recent Struggles
Across 32 1/3 innings (31 games) in 2026, Atlanta Braves closer Raisel Iglesias has pitched to a 2.23 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with 36 strikeouts and 19 saves. Iglesias owns a stellar 22.8% K-BB rate, and he's blown just one save chance on the year. The 36-year-old ran into some trouble in July before the […]
Will Jhoan Duran Face Regression in the Second Half?
Philadelphia Phillies right-handed closer Jhoan Duran heads into this week's All-Star break with eight straight successful save conversions and a 1.38 ERA (1.08 FIP), 0.92 WHIP, 24 saves, 50 strikeouts, and six walks in 32 2/3 innings out of the bullpen in his first full season with the Phillies. The 28-year-old Dominican hurler also was […]
Aaron Ashby Still Valuable for Vultured Wins, Holds?
Milwaukee Brewers left-handed reliever Aaron Ashby isn't a candidate for saves in Milwaukee, but he remains attractive on the waiver wire in fantasy with a league-high 12 wins and for his ability to contribute strikeouts and holds in high-leverage situations. In addition to his career-high 12 wins -- his previous career high was five victories […]
Shane Drohan Impressing as a Rookie, Should Stick in Brewers Rotation
Milwaukee Brewers rookie left-hander Shane Drohan began his MLB career working out of the bullpen for the Brew Crew, but he deserves a much longer look in their starting rotation going into the second half and off the waiver wire in fantasy baseball leagues after his strong start in 2026. In 19 appearances (nine starts) […]
Should Fantasy Managers Sell High on Mason Miller?
San Diego Padres right-handed closer Mason Miller has been as dominant as any reliever we've ever seen in the first half of 2026, which begs the question: Should fantasy managers be selling high? In his 38 appearances (39 2/3 innings) in the first half of his first full season with the Friars, Miller has gone […]
Are Aroldis Chapman's Recent Struggles a Reason for Concern?
Across 28 2/3 innings (30 games) in 2026, Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman has pitched to a 2.20 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 36 strikeouts and 19 saves. The veteran left-hander has not been quite as dominant as he was in his resurgent 2025 season, but he's still posted an impressive 29.8% strikeout rate […]
Can Clayton Beeter Be a Big-Time Closer Pickup?
Washington Nationals relief pitcher Clayton Beeter leads his team with seven saves on the season, and he seems to have the job as primary closer under control going into the All-Star break. He did blow a save and take a loss on Saturday, though, allowing two home runs and three hits without recording an out […]
Is Garrett Whitlock a Must-Stash Closer?
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Garrett Whitlock continues to be very effective for the Red Sox, but his future role has been clouded a little bit by his team's recent success. Before the Red Sox won nine straight games heading into the All-Star break, it seemed inevitable that Whitlock or his fellow reliever Aroldis Chapman […]
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