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Andy's mid-week fantasy baseball cuts, drops candidates for Week 2 of 2026. Is it time to let go already, and drop these player for a better waiver wire option?
Welcome back, RotoBallers, to the mid-week edition of our Cut List Rankings for fantasy baseball and Week 2 of the 2026 MLB season. Even though the season is still just getting started, many players have underperformed or suffered major injuries, which opens the door for managers to turn to the waiver wire to pick up the emerging breakouts.
This week, fantasy baseball managers saw Cade Horton be shut down for the remainder of the season due to an elbow injury and the struggling Addison Barger be placed on the 10-day injured list.
So, which injured or disappointing players are it time to get rid of for fantasy baseball lineups? Read about our top players to cut for Week 2 of the MLB season. Good luck, RotoBallers!
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Cut List Rankings for Fantasy Baseball: Week 2
The top players to consider cutting for fantasy baseball, in priority order. Players at the top of the list should be dropped first and replaced on the waiver wire:
| Rank | Player Name | Position | Roster% | Baller Move |
| 1 | Cade Horton | SP | 55 | Drop in All Leagues |
| 2 | Shane Smith | SP | 20 | Drop in All Leagues |
| 3 | Jurickson Profar | OF | 10 | Drop in All Leagues |
| 4 | Pablo Lopez | SP | 15 | Drop in All Leagues |
| 5 | Sean Manaea | SP | 30 | Drop in All Leagues |
| 6 | Dylan Crews | OF | 55 | Drop in All Leagues |
| 7 | Chris Paddack | SP | 10 | Drop in All Leagues |
| 8 | Taijuan Walker | SP | 5 | Drop in All Leagues |
| 9 | Masyn Winn | SS | 50 | Drop in All Leagues |
| 10 | Michael McGreevy | SP | 15 | Drop in All Leagues |
| 11 | Cristian Javier | SP | 15 | Drop in All Leagues |
| 12 | Luis Gil | SP | 15 | Drop in All Leagues |
| 13 | Tyler Mahle | SP | 10 | Drop in All Leagues |
| 14 | Brandon Sproat | SP | 20 | Drop in All Leagues |
| 15 | Brayan Bello | SP | 20 | Drop in Most Leagues |
| 16 | Roki Sasaki | SP | 40 | Drop in Most Leagues |
| 17 | Bailey Ober | SP | 15 | Drop in Most Leagues |
| 18 | Chris Bassitt | SP | 35 | Drop in Most Leagues |
| 19 | Max Scherzer | SP | 25 | Drop in Most Leagues |
| 20 | Noelvi Marte | 3B/OF | 45 | Drop in Most Leagues |
| 21 | Cade Cavalli | SP | 15 | Drop in Shallow Leagues |
| 22 | Matthew Liberatore | SP | 35 | Drop in Shallow Leagues |
| 23 | Carlos Estevez | RP | 80 | Drop in Shallow Leagues |
| 24 | Seranthony Dominguez | RP | 50 | Drop in Shallow Leagues |
| 25 | Dennis Santana | RP | 70 | Drop in Shallow Leagues |
| 26 | Griffin Jax | RP | 40 | Drop in Shallow Leagues |
| 27 | Abner Uribe | RP | 65 | Drop in Shallow Leagues (saves only) |
| 28 | Emmet Sheehan | SP | 90 | Drop in Shallow Leagues |
| 29 | Yusei Kikuchi | SP | 35 | Drop in Shallow Leagues |
| 30 | Brenton Doyle | OF | 55 | Drop in Shallow Leagues |
| 31 | Samuel Basallo | C/1B | 30 | Drop in Shallow Leagues |
| 32 | Carson Benge | OF | 25 | Drop in Shallow Leagues |
| 33 | Trent Grisham | OF | 50 | Drop in Shallow Leagues |
| 34 | Cody Ponce | SP | 45 | IL Stash in 15+ Team Leagues |
| 35 | Hunter Greene | SP | 75 | IL Stash in 15+ Team Leagues |
| 36 | Addison Barger | 3B/OF | 55 | IL Stash in 12+ Team Leagues |
| 37 | Alejandro Kirk | C | 45 | IL Stash in 12+ Team Leagues |
| 38 | Jordan Westburg | 3B | 40 | IL Stash in 12+ Team Leagues |
| 39 | Joe Musgrove | SP | 40 | IL Stash in 12+ Team Leagues |
| 40 | Grayson Rodriguez | SP | 15 | IL Stash in 12+ Team Leagues |
| 41 | Shane Bieber | SP | 60 | IL Stash in 12+ Team Leagues |
| 42 | Merrill Kelly | SP | 60 | IL Stash in 12+ Team Leagues |
| 43 | Jackson Holliday | 2B | 60 | IL Stash in All Leagues |
| 44 | Spencer Strider | SP | 90 | IL Stash in All Leagues |
| 45 | Ryan Pepiot | SP | 90 | IL Stash in All Leagues |
| 46 | Kyle Stowers | OF | 95 | IL Stash in All Leagues |
| 47 | Ryan Walker | RP | 75 | Hold |
| 48 | Bryan Abreu | RP | 50 | Hold |
| 49 | Owen Caissie | OF | 25 | Hold |
| 50 | Heliot Ramos | OF | 55 | Hold |
| 51 | Andrew Painter | SP | 55 | Hold |
| 52 | Bryson Stott | 2B | 55 | Hold |
| 53 | Liam Hicks | C/1B | 50 | Hold |
| 54 | Alec Bohm | 3B | 65 | Hold |
| 55 | Ranger Suarez | SP | 80 | Hold |
| 56 | Connelly Early | SP | 60 | Hold |
| 57 | Daulton Varsho | OF | 50 | Hold |
| 58 | Jo Adell | OF | 90 | Hold |
| 59 | Jac Caglianone | OF | 70 | Hold |
| 60 | Jakob Marsee | OF | 85 | Hold |
| 61 | Jorge Polanco | 1B/2B/3B | 55 | Hold |
Fantasy Baseball Player Outlooks
Cade Horton, SP, Chicago Cubs
Cut List Ranking No. 1
Chicago Cubs right-handed starting pitcher Cade Horton (elbow) is set to undergo season-ending elbow surgery. Horton was removed from his second start of the season due to this injury, but will now set his sights on returning to the bump in 2027. Horton made his season debut on April 28 and continued to perform at a high level, tossing 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball en route to picking up the victory over the Washington Nationals.
In his second outing, Horton logged just one inning of work against the Cleveland Guardians before being removed. After a slow start to his MLB career in the first half of the 2025 season, Horton emerged as a league-winner down the stretch, logging 61 1/3 innings to the tune of a dominant 1.03 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, and a 54:15 K:BB.
Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progress, as he may be in danger of missing the start of the 2027 campaign, depending on the extent of the operation. With Horton on the shelf, fantasy managers should expect Javier Assad, Ben Brown, and Colin Rea to continue to see opportunities in the rotation.
Shane Smith, SP, Chicago White Sox
Cut List Ranking No. 2
The Chicago White Sox optioned right-hander Shane Smith to Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday and selected the contract of left-hander Tyler Schweitzer from Charlotte in a corresponding move. Things have unraveled quickly for Smith early in the 2026 season. In his first three starts, he allowed 12 runs (10 earned) on 12 hits (one homer) while walking nine and striking out 11 in 8 1/3 innings pitched.
Although he was the team's Opening Day starter, he'll be sent to the farm to work out some of his issues. Fantasy managers are hoping that Smith is back in Chicago sooner rather than later. For now, Jonathan Cannon could take Smith's starting rotation spot. Smith, 26, was a first-time All-Star in 2025 as a rookie, going 7-8 with a 3.81 ERA (4.10 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 145 strikeouts and 58 walks in 146 1/3 innings over 29 starts. So far, Smith is already off to the dreaded sophomore slump, but there is plenty of time to turn things around.
Sean Manaea, SP/RP, New York Yankees
Cut List Ranking No. 5
New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said he's happy with where his top five starters are at early in the 2026 season, so left-hander Sean Manaea will remain in the bullpen for now, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. The Mets will not move to a six-man starting rotation this week, as they had previously indicated they might. Manaea has looked good in his two appearances out of the Mets' bullpen early on this year, but his fantasy value is basically shot unless he can get back into New York's rotation at some point in 2026.
The veteran left-hander has allowed just one earned run on five hits (one homer) while walking four and striking out four in five innings pitched. He had a late-career resurgence in 2024 in his first year in Queens with a 3.47 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 184:63 K:BB in 32 starts (181 2/3 innings), but the injury bug bit him in 2025, and he made just 12 starts. Manaea's velocity was noticeably down in spring training, and it remains to be seen if he can ever regain his 2024 form.
Addison Barger, 3B/OF Toronto Blue Jays
Cut List Ranking No. 36
Toronto Blue Jays third baseman/outfielder Addison Barger (ankle) was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to April 6. This news comes after Barger suffered a left ankle sprain during Sunday's game against the Chicago White Sox. The Jays are hopeful that it's a minimal stay on the IL for Barger. Jays' manager John Schneider said Barger is trending in the right direction, but he's not eligible to rejoin the team until April 16.
In a corresponding move, infielder Tyler Fitzgerald has been recalled from Triple-A Buffalo. The expectation is that Nathan Lukes and Myles Straw are likely to gain the most playing time while Barger is sidelined.
Alejandro Kirk, C, Toronto Blue Jays
Cut List Ranking No. 37
Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk (thumb) will have left-thumb surgery on Tuesday, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. Kirk is having surgery on his thumb after fracturing it and being placed on the 10-day injured list. It's unclear exactly how long the Blue Jays' starting catcher will be sidelined, but he will most likely miss at least the rest of April.
The 27-year-old Mexican backstop only played in five games for Toronto before suffering the injury, going 3-for-20 (.150) with a homer and two RBI. With Kirk sidelined, the Jays will continue to move forward with Tyler Heineman splitting playing time behind the dish with Brandon Valenzuela. Kirk is only rostered in 39% of current Yahoo leagues after his early-season injury.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Articles
Looking to add a player off the waiver wire? After diving into the cut list rankings, read about some waiver wire pickups to consider instead:
- Midweek Waiver Wire Rankings
- Top 25 Prospects to Stash
- Top 10 Closer, Relief Pitcher Breakouts
- Sneaky Starting Pitchers to Pick Up
- Top 25 Injured Players to Stash
Each week, our MLB team puts out a complete array of fantasy baseball waiver wire articles to compliment our slick Who Should I Pickup? Waiver wire player comparison tool. Bookmark it!
In addition, be on the lookout for our other waiver wire articles all season long. We will be releasing weekly waiver wire articles for each position, FAAB bidding recommendations, streamers, and more throughout the week.
Who Should I Pickup Fantasy Baseball Tool
Trying to decide who to pick up off the waiver wire instead? Check the Who Should I Pickup tool:
Compare up to four players and we'll tell you who to pickup...
2026 Player Decisions. Looking to pickup someone else instead? Today's focus is on specific players like Cam Smith, Jordan Walker, Brandon Marsh, Garrett Mitchel, Jakob Junis, Kyle Harrison. These are some common searches for 2026 fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups.
Using The Tool. This is a simple tool but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player's name. In the second box, search for the second player's name. Compare up to four MLB players at once, and then click the Who To Pickup? button to see who the recommended waiver wire pickups are based on fantasy baseball rankings, projections, and more.
Improvements For Who Should I Pickup? You may have noticed, our Who Should I Pickup? tool has gotten an overhaul. We've added lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win on the waiver wire in 2026. You'll see MLB player tiles with stats, projections, and a slick new interface. We hope you enjoy!
How It Works. Our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy baseball waiver wire rankings and projections based on their research, and updates them constantly throughout the week. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players who are ranked.
Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Pickup
Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Pickup tool for 2026 for players like Cam Smith, Jordan Walker, Brandon Marsh, Garrett Mitchel, Kyle Harrison:
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