Tallison Teixeira Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Tallison Teixeira suffered a first-round knockout loss to Sergei Pavlovich on the main card of UFC Macau on Saturday. This was a good opportunity for Teixeira to fly up the heavyweight rankings, but unfortunately for Teixeira, the fight lasted only 39 seconds as Pavlovich knocked out Teixeira with a vicious combination. In 39 seconds of action, Teixeira wasn't able to land any significant strikes. With the loss, Teixeira has now dropped to 2-2 in the UFC.
Source: UFC
Source: UFC
Myles Garrett and Jared Verse Swap Teams in Blockbuster Deal
The Cleveland Browns are finalizing a deal that would send two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for two-time Pro Bowler Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, and additional compensation that is still being negotiated, as reported by NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Garrett's 23 sacks in 2025 broke the NFL record and helped him earn his second DPOY Award in the past three seasons. He will join a Rams defense that already added Pro Bowl cornerback Trent McDuffie in exchange for a package of picks that included their 2026 first-rounder. With MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford leading the offense and two significant splashes made on defense, the Rams will undoubtedly be an early Super Bowl favorite heading into 2026.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Padres Promote Outfield Prospect Jase Bowen to Major Leagues, Worth a Speculative Add?
San Diego Padres outfield prospect Jase Bowen is being promoted to the major leagues, according to Kiley McDaniel of ESPN. Bowen is currently ranked as the team's No. 23 prospect on MLB.com but has put together a strong start to the Triple-A regular season. The first 11th round pick from the 2019 MLB Draft has posted an impressive .292/.362/.600 slash line with a .962 OPS. During this 49-game stint, Bowen has tallied 11 doubles, 13 round-trippers, and swiped seven bags. This is a major improvement when looking at the .802 OPS he carried in the upper minors during the 2025 campaign. Fantasy managers should monitor his usage as he could eventually carve out a role in the San Diego outfield, given his hot start. For now, he is worth a look in deeper 12+ team leagues with five outfielder spots.
Source: Kiley McDaniel
Source: Kiley McDaniel
Carlos Lagrange a High-Strikeout Pitcher to Stash?
New York Yankees starting pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange has emerged as a top fantasy stash heading into June. Lagrange has an iffy 4.41 ERA, but we're very impressed by his 11.57 K/9. He has maintained strikeout rates north of 10+ K/9 for all of his minor league career, and he should keep up that pace once he reaches the majors. With that being said, he'll need to lower his walk (4.59 BB/9) and home run (1.47 HR/9) rates going forward, as these are likely some of the main reasons why his ERA is on the higher side. The right-hander is an impressive prospect in terms of makeup. He checks in at 6-foot-7 and throws a 99 mph fastball, touching triple-digits at times. He has five distinct pitches, and all of them are average or above-average offerings. In addition to the four-seamer, he throws a sweeper, slider, changeup, and sinker. The changeup complements the heater nicely, inducing a .188 xwOBA and 37% whiff rate. Managers should consider stashing Lagrange now, because it'll be too late once he starts racking up strikeouts in the majors.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Sergei Pavlovich Scores First-Round Knockout Win
Sergei Pavlovich extended his win streak by finishing Tallison Teixeira via first-round knockout loss on the main card of UFC Macau on Saturday. Pavlovich came out aggressively, and he needed just 39 seconds to earn one of the fastest finishes on the card. Following the win, Pavlovich called for a title shot. In 39 seconds of action, Pavlovich landed seven significant strikes. With the win, Pavlovich improved to 21-3 as a pro and is now 9-3 in the UFC.
Source: UFC
Source: UFC
Kaelen Culpepper a Priority Addition Ahead of Week 10?
Minnesota Twins shortstop prospect Kaelen Culpepper continues to demonstrate an impressive blend of power and speed in the minors, and he's getting even closer to his MLB debut now that he has played 50+ games at Triple-A. The 23-year-old is slashing .256/.361/.473 with 12 homers, 12 steals, a 12.7% strikeout rate, a 19.7% walk rate, and 113 wRC+ so far. The underlying metrics are equally encouraging, as he owns a 95.2 mph median exit velocity (91st percentile), a 51.3% hard-hit rate (90th percentile), and a 89.4% zone contact rate (85th percentile). He can get overly aggressive at times, resulting in some chase, but for the most part, he's a well-rounded hitter with an encouraging defensive profile on the left side of the infield. He's nearly a lock to make his MLB debut this summer, and with his power/speed combo, fantasy managers should consider stashing him before his promotion. He ranks #2 among all prospects in RotoBaller's latest redraft fantasy baseball rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cameron Smotherman Suffers Third Loss In A Row
Cameron Smotherman suffered a first-round knockout loss to former Rizin bantamweight champion Kai Asakura on the main card of UFC Macau on Saturday. Smotherman was pressured by Asakura from the opening bell, and it didn't take long for the former Rizin champion to stun Smotherman with a crushing right hand. Asakura then landed a follow-up left hook that knocked Smotherman out cold. In 1:50 of action, Smotherman landed three significant strikes. Smotherman has now lost three straight after winning his UFC debut.
Source: UFC
Source: UFC
Reds Promote Top Infield Prospect Edwin Arroyo, Viewed as Priority Pick Up Ahead of MLB Debut
The Cincinnati Reds are promoting top infield prospect Edwin Arroyo to the major leagues. In a corresponding move, the Reds are placing superstar shortstop Elly De La Cruz on the 10-day injured list with a right-hamstring injury. Arroyo currently stands as MLB.com's No. 98-ranked prospect and is viewed as the team's No. 3 prospect. Arroyo has enjoyed a dominant start to the Triple-A regular season and is expected to see a major role in his first taste of the major leagues. With Triple-A, the infielder has posted an impressive .323/.383/.562 line with a stellar .945 OPS. During this 53-game stretch, Arroyo hit nine doubles, 11 home runs, and swiped nine bags. With De La Cruz now on the injured list, Arroyo should see near every day at-bats in this offense. His five-category potential makes him a priority target in all standard leagues.
Source: Charlie Goldsmith
Source: Charlie Goldsmith
Kai Asakura Earns His First UFC Win
Former Rizin bantamweight champion Kai Asakura earned his first win in the UFC by finishing Cameron Smotherman via first-round knockout on the main card of UFC Macau on Saturday. Asakura was pressuring Smotherman from the opening bell, and it didn't take long for the former Rizin champion to land a thunderous right hand, forcing Smotherman to back up. It was a follow-up left hook that knocked out Smotherman. In 1:50 of action, Asakura landed nine significant strikes. With the win, Asakura improved to 22-6 as a pro and is now 1-2 in the UFC.
Source: UFC
Source: UFC
Elly De La Cruz Placed on IL with Right Hamstring Tightness
Cincinnati Reds superstar Elly De La Cruz (hamstring) has been placed on the 10-day injured list with right hamstring tightness, per Charlie Goldsmith of FOX19. The Reds called up top shortstop prospect Edwin Arroyo in a corresponding move. De La Cruz felt the issue rounding first base on a leadoff single in the fifth inning of Sunday's win over the Braves and was pulled right away. He's scheduled for an MRI on Monday to get a clearer timeline to determine the severity of his hamstring issue. In the meantime, Matt McLain and the newly called-up Arroyo will handle shortstop, with Spencer Steer sliding around the infield for flexibility. Deeper-league managers chasing speed and upside should strongly consider adding Arroyo as a nice temporary boost. Before getting the call to the show on Monday, Arroyo slashed .323/.383/.562 with 11 home runs and nine stolen bases across 248 plate appearances for Triple-A Louisville.
Source: Charlie Goldsmith
Source: Charlie Goldsmith
Mason Taylor's Dynasty Value Takes a Hit for Now
New York Jets tight end Mason Taylor saw his dynasty value drop this past offseason. The Jets spent a first-round pick on Kenyon Sadiq, who projects to be the Jets' primary tight end from Day 1. That leaves Taylor, who was a second-round pick in 2025, in a backup role. Although there's still a possibility for Taylor to carve out standalone value, managers should temper expectations. First of all, the Jets had the 10th-fewest snaps in 12 personnel last year, which means we didn't see them use two tight ends a lot. They should roll out 12 personnel more often this year now that they have both Sadiq and Taylor, but we question whether it'll happen more than the league-average rate. Additionally, this offense is not set up to support two fantasy-relevant tight ends at once. It's very challenging for any NFL offense to achieve that, and the Jets probably aren't up for the challenge in a rebuild year with Geno Smith under center. Taylor is a solid handcuff in case Sadiq gets hurt, but he's falling out of favor in most fantasy leagues. He has dropped to TE23 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Denny Hamlin Earns the first Nashville Cup Series Victory of his Career on Sunday
Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing won for the first time at Nashville Superspeedway in the NASCAR Cup Series on Sunday Night in the Cracker Barrel 400. It did not come easily, however, as Hamlin jumped the initial restart and had to do a pit road pass-through penalty, sending him to the back of the pack from the start. It would not be until lap 103 in the second stage that Hamlin would regain a position in the top 10. Even then, Hamlin quietly made effective use of pit strategies and had a fast enough car to make it back to fifth by the end of the second stage. In the final stage, he finally recovered to the lead after staying off pit road during the stage break and led the race until being passed by his teammate, Christopher Bell, on lap 245. Hamlin then went to pit road early before Bell on lap 257, hoping to use fresher tires to beat Bell, but was not fast enough to beat him without a caution that came up on lap 293, leading to the race's final restart on lap 297. Hamlin faced off with Bell and their other teammate, Chase Briscoe, in the closing laps, but it was on the final lap that Hamlin cleared both Bell and Briscoe to get his second victory of the 2026 season. This win kept Hamlin second in the regular season standings behind Tyler Reddick, but cut the gap between them to 97 points with 14 races completed.
Source: NASCAR.com
Source: NASCAR.com
Cade Cavalli Must-Add on the Waiver Wire After Third Straight Quality Start?
Washington Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli is really starting to look like the pitcher a lot of fantasy managers have been waiting for. The 27-year-old just threw his third straight quality start on Tuesday, allowing one run over six innings with seven strikeouts in a win over the Guardians. Across his last three outings, he's posted a 2.79 ERA with 24 punchouts in 19 1/3 innings, and for the season he sits at (3-3) with a 3.62 ERA and 68 Ks in 59 2/3 innings. His stuff is still nasty, as his K% has increased from 18.3% last year to 25.4% in 2026. He's finally putting it all together without the old command issues popping up as much. With favorable matchups against the Marlins and Diamondbacks coming up, fantasy managers should look to add Cavalli (50% rostered in Yahoo Fantasy leagues) in most leagues and continue to stream him while he's pitching well.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Zachariah Branch a Steal in the Second Round of Rookie Drafts?
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Zachariah Branch has emerged as a very intriguing target in 2026 rookie drafts. A third-round pick out of Georgia, Branch stays local as he joins a Falcons roster that desperately needed a wide receiver upgrade this offseason. Drake London is the clear alpha here, but there weren't any flashy names behind him leading up to the draft. Branch should compete for the No. 2 role right away, as he could have more of an immediate impact than players like Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus. Atlanta will enter the season with some combination of Michael Penix Jr. (knee) and Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback. Both passers (especially Tagovailoa) have shown that they can support multiple fantasy-relevant receivers in years past. Branch's skill set fits well with these quarterbacks, too, because he's a speedy receiver who can get open deep downfield and haul in passes from the strong arms of either Penix or Tagovailoa. He projects as an early second-round pick in most rookie drafts, and he ranks as the WR63 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings. Not only does he have impressive long-term upside, but there's the potential for him to contribute as a relevant option in 2026 redraft leagues, too.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Christopher Bell Finishes as the Runner-Up at Nashville
Joe Gibbs Racing's Christopher Bell had the fastest car of the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway, but could not translate the speed into a victory on Sunday night. Bell started the race from fourth and ran inside the top five through most of the first stage. The No. 20 Toyota driver fought with Tyler Reddick, Shane Van Gisbergen, and Kyle Larson for the lead at various points in the stage, but was unable to make it to the front. Bell ended the first stage in 20th after he was shuffled to the back of the pack after pit stops on lap 72 and could not make up ground from drivers who took no or two tires on pit road. In the second stage, Bell worked his way up through the pack over time on track and through pit stops, but only made it up to eighth, earning three stage points. The first half of the final stage saw Bell chase down his teammates, Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe, for the lead. He was able to successfully get by both of them by lap 245 and even maintained the lead through pit stops until the race's final restart on lap 297. Bell raced side-by-side with Hamlin and Briscoe all the way to the final lap, but Hamlin cleared Bell to win the race, leaving Bell as the runner-up for the second week in a row. With his best career finish at Nashville, Bell moves to seventh in the regular season standings after 14 races.
Source: NASCAR.com
Source: NASCAR.com
Chase Briscoe Earns First Career Podium Finish at Nashville
Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing was one of the main contenders for the win in the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on Sunday night. Briscoe started the race from 31st position after qualifying was canceled on Saturday and spent the first stage trying to move up through the pack. Thanks to the top-notch speed of his car and some pit strategies, Briscoe went from 31st all the way to eighth by the end of the first stage. In the second stage, Briscoe finally advanced to the lead past Kyle Larson on lap 127 until he went for a green flag pit stop for tires and fuel on lap 140. Due to a caution a couple of laps later, however, Briscoe got shuffled back in the pack as he fell off the lead lap. After taking the wave around, he spent the rest of the stage recovering positions, but only made it up to ninth by the end of the stage. In the final stage, Briscoe made it back to the top five and spent the first half of the stage chasing down his teammate Denny Hamlin for the lead. Briscoe was unable to pass Hamlin, and his other teammate, Christopher Bell, also passed them both. Briscoe then passed Hamlin for second, but then went to pit road on lap 259 after Hamlin pitted two laps prior. Despite running ahead of Hamlin after pit stops, Briscoe then went to chase Bell until the race's final restart on lap 297. On the final lap, Briscoe attempted to go three-wide with Bell and Hamlin for the win, but was unable to move his car past his teammates and settled for third. This was a new career-best finish for Briscoe at Nashville, and he is now 14th in the regular season standings after 14 races.
Source: NASCAR.com
Source: NASCAR.com
Ryan Blaney Scores A Solid Top-10 Finish at Nashville
Team Penske's Ryan Blaney ended with a solid finish of eighth at the end of the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway. Blaney started seventh in the race and quietly ran inside the top 10 through the entire first stage. On lap 72, the No. 12 Ford driver made a call to get two tires instead of four for a caution to gain track position. The call worked as Blaney then competed for the stage win alongside A.J. Allmendinger and Kyle Larson, but fell behind both of them to end the stage in third and score eight stage points. In the second stage, Blaney started from second, but lost a few positions to be in the back half of the top five until a caution on lap 146 shuffled him back to the lead. Blaney lost the lead again after pitting during a lap 173 caution and put himself further back in the pack. The No. 12 Ford driver tried regaining positions, but only made it up to 14th and failed to earn further stage points at the end of the second stage. In the final stage, Blaney quietly rode around the top 15 until he went to pit road on lap 217 during another caution. From here, Blaney attempted to save fuel and make it to the end without pitting, which worked until lap 274, when he went to pit for tires and fuel. After one last pit stop on lap 292, Blaney charged from the back to the front and made it up to his eventual finishing position of eighth. This was Blaney's fourth career top-10 finish at Nashville, and it helped move him to third in the regular season standings after 14 races.
Source: NASCAR.com
Source: NASCAR.com
Eli Stowers Worth Targeting Now Before Eventual Breakout?
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Eli Stowers is an intriguing target in dynasty leagues ahead of his rookie season. The Eagles spent a second-round pick on Stowers, and while he won't have immediate fantasy relevance since Dallas Goedert is still under contract, the Vanderbilt product does project as the tight end of the future in Philadelphia. Goedert is expected to leave the Eagles after 2026, which means Stowers could earn a large snap share this season in anticipation of him taking on the starting role in 2027. Because he's behind Goedert right now, he can be acquired at a discount before taking on top-12 upside next year and beyond. He's a very intriguing target for dynasty managers near the end of the first round in rookie drafts. At the moment, he ranks as the overall TE12 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kyle Larson's Top-10 Streak at Nashville Ends after Late Flat Tire Spin
Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports had a disappointing finish of 23rd in the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on Sunday night despite running well for most of the event. Larson began the race from the fifth position and had one of the fastest cars in the field in the first stage, as he went from fifth to the lead by halfway through the stage. Larson kept leading the race until a lap 72 caution that caused him to get four tires and fall a few positions behind the pack. The No. 5 Chevrolet driver recovered to finish second at the end of the first stage behind A.J. Allmendinger and earn nine stage points. In the second stage, Larson continued to lead until he was passed by Chase Briscoe on lap 127, then he went to pit road on lap 139. A couple of laps later, another caution occurred for Austin Dillon spinning, which put Larson behind other drivers, as some did not pit during green flag pit stops. Larson spent the rest of the stage regaining positions, but only made it up to 15th, and he failed to score further stage points. In the final stage, Larson reached back out to the top 10, where he ran for most of the stage and was about to reach the top five until he had a flat tire that caused him to spin on lap 299. The flat tire turned a potential top-10 run into a lackluster finish outside of the top 20, causing Larson's perfect streak of top-10 finishes at Nashville to end. After the 14th race of the season at Nashville, Larson is now sixth in the regular season standings.
Source: NASCAR.com
Source: NASCAR.com
Nick Pivetta Emerging as Top Waiver Wire Stash Candidate?
San Diego Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta (forearm) is starting to show some real progress in his recovery and could be worth stashing on the waiver wire right now in deeper leagues. The 33-year-old Opening Day starter landed on the IL back in mid-April with right forearm inflammation/flexor strain. He took a big step forward on Friday when he threw on flat ground for the first time since the injury. The 33-year-old is expected to keep building up from there over the next couple of weeks, and the Padres have been cautiously optimistic about his timeline. Pivetta was having a solid start to 2026 before going down, posting a 1.38 ERA and 0.68 WHIP over his previous 13 innings. He's always had the stuff to be a reliable rotation piece when healthy. If Pivetta keeps progressing smoothly, he should be back sometime this summer with a chance to help fantasy teams down the stretch. Fantasy managers in leagues with an IL spot should continue to stash Pivetta for now.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rico Garcia Priority Target for Saves on the Waiver Wire?
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Rico Garcia notched the save in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Athletics. Garcia allowed one walk while striking out over a scoreless inning to earn his third save of the year. The 32-year-old keeps rolling and looks like one of the best relief pitchers on the waiver wire right now. He has been absolutely filthy in 2026, posting a ridiculous 0.71 ERA and 0.63 WHIP with 28 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings. Garcia has allowed basically no hard contact all year (including a historic stretch with just one hit over his first 64 batters faced) and already picked up three saves while sharing high-leverage work. With Ryan Helsley (elbow) on the IL, Garcia has been handling the majority of the save chances for the Orioles. Fantasy managers chasing saves should look to add Garcia, as he's only rostered in 35% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Germie Bernard Expected to Require Some Patience in Dynasty Leagues
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Germie Bernard has an encouraging draft stock as a second-round pick and has drawn praise from the coaching staff, but his position on the depth chart could prevent him from having immediate fantasy relevance. Managers may need to exercise a little patience in dynasty leagues, as Bernard projects to open 2026 as the Steelers' No. 3 receiver behind DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. That's not to say that he should be avoided in dynasty leagues, though. Metcalf has missed at least two games in each of the last two seasons, so injuries could strike at any time and result in Bernard taking on a larger role. Plus, as a second-rounder from Alabama, we know he's a talented player who could earn more playing time simply by producing this summer and early in his rookie season. Managers may have to be a little patient, but the upside is very encouraging. Bernard is a solid target at the end of the first round or start of the second round in 2026 rookie drafts. He ranks as the WR60 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Matt McLain Worth Stashing on Waiver Wire as a Bounce-Back Candidate?
Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain has been one of the bigger disappointments of the first two months, but he might be worth grabbing right now while he's slumping. The 26-year-old is hitting just .196 with five homers, 20 RBI, 22 runs, and seven steals across 56 games. He's been especially ice cold lately (1-for-26 in his last eight games), and he was out of the lineup on Sunday. Still, he showed some signs of life with a three-homer stretch in May, and he came in as a pinch-runner and played shortstop after Elly De La Cruz (hamstring) was removed from Sunday's game against the Braves. McLain is still viewed as the primary second baseman long-term and has the tools for a legit 15-20 HR, 15+ SB season once he gets going. Deeper-league managers should consider stashing him on the waiver wire (rostered in 38% of Yahoo leagues) while the price is this low. Update: McLain should see an uptick in at-bats now that De La Cruz was placed on the 10-day Injured List Monday.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Denzel Boston a First-Round Target in Dynasty Rookie Drafts
Cleveland Browns rookie wide receiver Denzel Boston has intriguing short-term and long-term upside in dynasty fantasy football leagues. Boston projects as the Browns' No. 2 receiver of the future alongside KC Concepcion, and he could ascend into that role (while leapfrogging Jerry Jeudy on the depth chart) as early as this year. The second-round pick has shown that he's pretty close to pro-ready after catching 125 passes for 1,715 yards and 20 touchdowns over his final two years at school. The biggest question mark for Boston is the Browns' quarterback situation, with Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders in the mix to start Week 1. Neither is a terrific passer, so Boston could have trouble converting targets into catches, yards, and touchdowns right away. With that being said, his skill set made him a borderline first-round pick, and he should overcome any quarterback challenges pretty quickly. He projects as a first-round pick in 2026 rookie drafts, and he ranks as the overall WR49 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Grant Taylor Worth Targeting on the Waiver Wire Ahead of Potential Ninth-Inning Takeover in Chicago?
Chicago White Sox right-hander Grant Taylor has arguably been his team's top relief option so far in 2026, recording a 2.12 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 44 strikeouts across 29 2/3 innings (23 games). The 24-year-old has recorded just one save on the year, as the White Sox have primarily utilized veteran reliever Seranthony Dominguez in the ninth inning. However, Dominguez owns an 11.3% walk rate and a 1.99 HR/9 on the season, a combination that makes him prone to blow-up innings. With an average fastball velocity of 98.5 miles per hour and a 28.7% K-BB rate, Taylor profiles as the closer of the future in Chicago. If the White Sox continue to hang around the playoff picture in the American League, the team could make the switch to Taylor sooner rather than later. For deeper-league managers in need of saves, Taylor could be worth stashing off the waiver wire ahead of his possible emergence as the preferred ninth-inning option in Chicago.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Troy Melton Emerging as a Breakout Candidate to Target on the Waiver Wire
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Troy Melton had the start of his 2026 season delayed by an elbow injury. However, the 25-year-old made his return to the MLB mound on May 24 and has impressed in his first two starts of the year, allowing just two earned runs across 12 2/3 innings pitched. Melton's production in 2026 is a continuation of his strong 2025 performance, as he recorded a 2.76 ERA and 1.01 WHIP across 16 games (four starts) after making his MLB debut in late July. With a 17.4% career strikeout rate, the young right-hander has struggled to generate whiffs at the big-league level so far. Still, he's consistently found a way to get outs and showed more strikeout upside in the minors, recording a 32.4% strikeout rate across 75 1/3 innings split between Double and Triple-A in 2025. Melton should have an extended runway to establish himself as a rotation fixture in Detroit and profiles as a breakout candidate for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Angel Martinez Expected to Make Quick Return from Foot Injury, Remains a Top Waiver Wire Target
Cleveland Guardians outfielder Angel Martinez (foot) is currently considered day-to-day as he battles a mid-foot strain that forced him to exit early from his team's game against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday. However, Martinez is not expected to require a trip to the injured list and could be ready to go for the start of Cleveland's three-game set with the New York Yankees on Tuesday. The 24-year-old is in the midst of a breakout season so far in 2026, hitting .243/.281/.449 with nine home runs, 29 RBI, 24 runs scored, and eight stolen bases across 200 plate appearances. While Martinez's 3.0% walk rate brings his plate skills into question, he's made up for it by raising his barrel rate from 3.5% in 2025 to 8.1% this season. As a switch-hitter, Martinez has established himself as an everyday staple in the Guardians outfield, which should allow him to continue to rack up counting stats and stolen bases. Particularly in deeper leagues, Martinez profiles as a valuable compiler who should be a priority on the waiver wire for fantasy managers.
Source: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
Source: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
Zack Gelof a Top Waiver Wire Target Ahead of Possible Breakout Season
After opening 2026 in Triple-A, Athletics infielder/outfielder Zack Gelof earned a promotion to the big leagues in mid-April and has since established himself as his team's everyday third baseman. Across 150 plate appearances so far this season, the 26-year-old is hitting .259/.304/.432 with six home runs, 19 RBI, 21 runs scored, and six stolen bases. Gelof battled major swing-and-miss issues in his previous MLB stints, logging a 34.4% strikeout rate across 547 plate appearances in 2024 and striking out in 45.5% of his 101 plate appearances in 2025. However, the former top prospect has lowered his strikeout rate to 24.7% in 2026. As long as Gelof can continue to keep the whiffs under control, his combination of power and speed makes him an appealing option for fantasy managers. Gelof also has the advantage of playing his home games in the A's hitter-friendly home environment in Sacramento, which should allow him to maximize his abilities at the plate. Gelof profiles as a priority waiver wire target with upside ahead of a possible breakout season in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ryan Ward Launches First Career Home Run, Will He Carve Out a Full-Time Role?
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder/first baseman Ryan Ward picked up his first career home run on Sunday during his team's 9-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Ward was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday after the Dodgers placed veteran outfielder Teoscar Hernandez (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list with a hamstring strain. The 28-year-old Ward has been in the Dodgers farm system since 2019 and recorded back-to-back minor league seasons with at least 34 home runs and 104 RBI in 2024 and 2025. The lefty-swinging Ward could be in a position to play on the big side of a platoon in left field with Dodgers outfielder Alex Call until Hernandez returns from the IL. With regular playing time, Ward's power could provide a nice lift for fantasy managers in deeper leagues. The Dodgers' depth brings Ward's playing time into question, but he may still be worth targeting on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Sam Moll Earns One-Out Save for Reds, Worth an Add in Deeper Leagues?
Cincinnati Reds left-hander Sam Moll picked up his first save of the season on Sunday, recording the final out in his team's 6-4 win over the Atlanta Braves. Moll came on in relief of right-hander Tony Santillan, who started the ninth inning but exited after two hits, a walk, and an earned run. With closer Emilio Pagan (hamstring) on the 15-day injured list and top setup man Graham Ashcraft on the 60-day IL, the Reds are currently without a primary option in the ninth inning. Moll has pitched well so far in 2026, recording a 2.49 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 26 strikeouts across 25 1/3 innings (28 games). The 32-year-old has just two career saves and averages 92.3 miles per hour with his fastball, so he does not profile as a prototypical closer. Still, given Cincinnati's current situation, Moll could be a worthy saves target on the waiver wire for deep-league fantasy managers.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
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