RADIO
Curtis Mead Injures Hand in Red Sox Debut
New Boston Red Sox infielder Curtis Mead (hand) was forced from Monday's game early against the Athletics after he was hit by a pitch on his left hand in the fourth inning, per Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. Before being replaced by Anthony Seigler at second base, Mead went 0-for-1 at the plate with a strikeout and the hit-by-pitch. It's a bad start to Mead's tenure with the BoSox after being acquired from the Washington Nationals in a trade involving left-hander Connelly Early over the weekend. Mead will most likely be taken for X-rays, at which point we'll have a better idea whether he'll need to miss additional time. The 25-year-old Australian native came out of nowhere to hit a career-high 17 home runs while driving in 48 and stealing six bases in 87 games and 327 plate appearances in Washington before the Red Sox traded for him. Mead previously had career highs of just three homers and 19 RBI from last year with the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago White Sox. He's rostered in just over half of Yahoo leagues now and is slated to play regularly at second in Beantown, as long as he avoids a serious hand injury. Mead has added fantasy value thanks to first base, second base, and third base eligibility. UPDATE: Mead was diagnosed with a bruised left wrist.
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Casey Schmitt Exits With Apparent Knee Injury on Monday
San Francisco Giants infielder/outfielder Casey Schmitt (knee) was removed from Monday's game early against the Milwaukee Brewers after he was shaken up while rounding first base hard and then slamming on the brakes, according to Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News. Schmitt appeared to injure his knee, but we should get an update on his condition either after the game or early on Tuesday. Before being pulled, he went 1-for-1 at the plate. Schmitt was replaced at the hot corner at Oracle Park by Christian Koss. Fantasy managers will be hoping that the 27-year-old's injury isn't serious. He's having his best season easily in the big leagues in 2026, coming into Monday's series opener versus Milwaukee with a .269/.299/.482 slash line with a .781 OPS, and career highs across the board in home runs (21), RBI (55), runs scored (47), and stolen bases (nine) in 97 games across 408 plate appearances. In addition to Schmitt putting up career-best numbers, he's eligible at first base, second base, third base, and the outfield in Yahoo leagues. He's currently rostered in 81% of Yahoo leagues as one of the most-added players off waivers in 2026. UPDATE: Schmitt will undergo an MRI exam on Tuesday after dealing with discomfort in his left knee on Monday, according to NBC Sports' Alex Pavlovic.
Source: The San Jose Mercury News - Justice delos Santos
Source: The San Jose Mercury News - Justice delos Santos
Cade Cavalli Emerging as a Must-Add Starting Pitcher Amidst Recent Surge
Across 110 2/3 innings (22 starts) in 2026, Washington Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli has recorded a 3.58 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 127 strikeouts. The 27-year-old has been particularly hot of late, allowing just four earned runs while notching 22 strikeouts across his last 18 innings (three starts). Cavalli generates a ton of ground balls and does not have a particularly strong defense behind him in Washington, which may continue to lead to a slightly elevated WHIP. Still, Cavalli owns an impressive 26.6% strikeout rate with a 7.1% walk rate. He's also been difficult to take deep, allowing just 0.73 HR/9. In any league where he's not already rostered, Cavalli should be viewed as a must-add waiver wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Garrett Mitchell Remains a Power/Speed Threat to Target on the Waiver Wire
Entering play on Monday, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell had hit .272/.361/.446 with eight home runs, 48 RBI, 46 runs scored, and seven stolen bases across 343 plate appearances. The oft-injured Mitchell has finally managed to stay mostly healthy in 2026, and he's emerged as a steady contributor in Milwaukee. Mitchell's 32.2% strikeout rate is a red flag in his profile, and his batting average has been buoyed by a heavily inflated .403 batting average on balls in play. However, Mitchell makes elite contact, as he's logged a 14.2% barrel rate and a 49.5% hard-hit rate. His ability to consistently hit the ball hard should keep his batting average from completely bottoming out, and Mitchell remains a high-upside power/speed threat to target on the waiver wire as long as he can continue to avoid the injury bug.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Grant Taylor Has Arrived as a Must-Add Reliever
Chicago White Sox right-hander Grant Taylor has been one of the better relievers in baseball so far this season, recording a 2.58 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 74 strikeouts, four wins, and five saves across 52 1/3 innings (39 games). Chicago has been hesitant to deploy Taylor as its full-time closer in 2026, preferring to utilize him in a fireman role. However, the 24-year-old has notched three saves in July and could be securing the team's ninth-inning role. Even if Taylor does not see every save chance for the White Sox the rest of the way, he should remain a valuable reliever for fantasy managers to roster. Taylor is averaging 98.3 miles per hour on his fastball and has posted a 34.9% strikeout rate and a 26.4% K-BB rate. In leagues where he is available on the waiver wire, Taylor profiles as a must-add pitcher.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ian Seymour a High-Upside Starting Pitching Target on the Waiver Wire
After opening 2026 as a reliever, Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Ian Seymour was moved into more of a bulk role in early June. While Seymour has not exclusively operated as a full-time starting pitcher, he's thrown at least three innings in each of his last 10 outings, making six starts in that span. Across those 10 appearances, Seymour has recorded a 3-2 record with a 4.22 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 53 strikeouts. The 27-year-old has posted an impressive 28.1% strikeout rate and a 19.3% K-BB rate for the season. His inflated ERA is a symptom of his abnormally low 66.5% strand rate, which could regress closer to the mean over a larger sample size of innings. Now that he's a threat to rack up wins on a regular basis, Seymour could be worth targeting on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Heriberto Hernandez Emerging as a Priority Power Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 271 plate appearances this season, Miami Marlins outfielder Heriberto Hernandez is hitting .245/.314/.482 with 15 home runs, 41 RBI, 28 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. The 26-year-old has been scorching hot of late, hitting .296 with six home runs across 77 plate appearances in July. Hernandez's batting average upside is limited by his elevated 25.2% strikeout rate. However, the young slugger has posted elite batted-ball metrics this season, logging a 13.2% barrel rate and a 51.1% hard-hit rate. Hernandez has also established an everyday role in left field and in the heart of the Marlins lineup in recent weeks, which should help him rack up counting stats. With his combination of high-end power upside and solid speed, Hernandez profiles as a priority waiver wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tanner Scott Still a Deep-League Waiver-Wire Target Despite Likely Role Shift?
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Tanner Scott has put together an excellent season so far in 2026, pitching to a 2.32 ERA and 0.80 WHIP with 55 strikeouts and 16 saves across 42 2/3 innings (45 games). The 32-year-old took over as the primary closer in Los Angeles early in the season when Dodgers right-hander Edwin Diaz (elbow) landed on the injured list due to elbow surgery. Diaz is scheduled to return from the IL on Wednesday, which could render Scott no longer a useful source of saves for fantasy managers. However, Diaz recorded a 10.50 ERA across seven games before getting hurt and is now attempting to jump back into a pennant race following a major elbow injury. Even if Diaz returns to his usual full-time closer role, Scott should remain an excellent source of ratios and could pick up an occasional save. In deeper fantasy leagues, Scott may still have utility as a waiver wire pickup.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyler Glasnow to Throw at Least One More Live Bullpen Session
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow (back) threw around 25 pitches, with his fastball sitting at 95-97 mph, during a live bullpen session at Dodger Stadium on Friday, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. Glasnow will throw at least one more live session before he goes on a minor-league rehab assignment. The 32-year-old veteran hasn't pitched with the Dodgers since May 6 due to lower-back issues. He is getting closer, but Glasnow will most likely need around two or three rehab starts before the Dodgers feel comfortable returning him to their starting lineup for the stretch run. Remember, the Dodgers' primary goal is to have all their injured stars ready for the playoffs in October, so they will not rush Glasnow back. In a best-case scenario, he might be back for fantasy managers in early September. Before getting hurt, the former All-Star was looking great with a 3-0 record, 2.72 ERA (3.26 FIP), a 0.83 WHIP, and a 49:13 K:BB in 39 2/3 innings over just seven starts. Glasnow is being stashed in an IL spot in 88% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Katie Woo
Source: The Athletic - Katie Woo
Maikel Garcia Starting Rehab Assignment on Tuesday
Kansas City Royals infielder/outfielder Maikel Garcia (hand) will start a minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Tuesday, the team announced on Monday. Barring a setback with his hand injury, Garcia could be ready to rejoin the big-league roster this weekend or early next week. He's been out for over a month with a muscle strain in his left hand, which has limited him to 69 games in his fifth year in the majors with KC. After Garcia was a first-time All-Star in 2025, he has disappointed in 2026 with a .261/.320/.373 slash line, .693 OPS, only three home runs, 30 RBI, 32 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 294 plate appearances. He was just four home runs away from his first 20-20 campaign last year, though, and his power/speed abilities have kept him rostered in 81% of Yahoo leagues despite his lengthy IL stay. Garcia has had at least 23 stolen bases in each of the last three seasons with the Royals, so fantasy managers are hoping that he'll start to run more the rest of the way after he's activated.
Source: Kansas City Royals
Source: Kansas City Royals
Esmerlyn Valdez Leaves Early on Monday After Being Hit in Wrist Area
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez (wrist) left Monday's game early against the Arizona Diamondbacks after he was hit by a pitch in the left wrist area in the fourth inning, according to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com. Before leaving the contest early, Valdez went 0-for-1 at the plate. He was replaced in right field by Tyler Callihan, who moved from first base. Valdez will almost certainly go for X-rays on his hand/wrist to determine if he's dealing with any cracked bones. The 22-year-old Dominican outfielder has burst onto the scene in the Steel City in 2026 in his first year in the big leagues, as he came into Monday's series opener with a .293/.385/.707 slash line, 1.092 OPS, 14 home runs, 36 RBI, and 26 runs scored in 37 games across 143 plate appearances. His strong start to his MLB career has earned him an everyday role and has made him one of the most popular recent waiver-wire pickups in fantasy baseball leagues. For now, we'll consider Valdez day-to-day until we know more about his hand/wrist injury. UPDATE: Valdez is expected to undergo more imaging on Tuesday, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Kevin Gorman.
Source: MLB.com - Alex Stumpf
Source: MLB.com - Alex Stumpf
Joc Pederson Becoming a Waiver Priority After Two-Homer Game
Texas Rangers outfielder/designated hitter Joc Pederson continued his strong month of July on Monday in the team's 7-3 win over the division-rival Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field, going 2-for-4 as the team's leadoff hitter with two home runs, four RBI, and a strikeout to boost his season average to .254 and his OPS to .856. The 34-year-old left-handed slugger's damage came early, as he hit a leadoff homer against right-hander George Kirby before blasting a three-run homer in the second inning. Pederson now has two multi-homer games in 2026 and 22 in his career. The two-homer performance extended his current hitting streak to 10 games, during which he's gone 14-for-36 (.389) with five home runs, nine RBI, and a stolen base. Pederson is now slashing .254/.343/.513 with 19 home runs after the two-time All-Star hit just nine homers in 96 games played in 2025 in his first year with the Rangers. For his power stroke from the left side, Pederson needs to be considered as a waiver-wire pickup in more mixed leagues. He's currently rostered in only 5% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Reds-Guardians Game Postponed on Monday
The contest between the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians on Monday in Cincinnati has been postponed due to inclement weather and will be made up as the first game of a split doubleheader on Tuesday, July 28, according to the Reds. Reds right-hander Chase Burns and Guardians right-hander Slade Cecconi will both most likely be pushed back to start Game 1 of Tuesday's twin bill. The 23-year-old Burns has been a must-start in all fantasy baseball leagues in 2026 in his first full year in the majors after going 12-1 with a 2.42 ERA (3.34 FIP) and 1.10 WHIP with 124 strikeouts and 39 walks in 107 2/3 innings pitched across his 19 starts. In his three starts in July, Burns has allowed only five earned runs in 16 innings, but he also has 10 walks and 12 strikeouts, so he hasn't been exactly as sharp as earlier in the season. Still, he should be started everywhere on Tuesday. Cecconi is 4-7 with a 4.60 ERA (4.48 FIP), 1.45 WHIP, and 82:34 K:BB in 103 2/3 frames and 20 starts in his fourth year in the majors. We'd recommend fading him after he allowed 15 runs (11 earned) on 22 hits (three homers) in 13 1/3 innings in his three starts in July.
Source: Cincinnati Reds
Source: Cincinnati Reds
Cody Bellinger Expected to Miss 4-6 Weeks With Hamstring Strain
New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger (hamstring) has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 strained left hamstring and is expected to miss four to six weeks, manager Aaron Boone told Brendan Kuty of The Athletic. Bellinger injured his hamstring in Saturday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies and was placed on the 10-day injured list on Sunday. The 31-year-old former MVP and three-time All-Star won't be back anytime soon, but he's stash-worthy in all fantasy leagues until he fully recovers. The Yankees still have outfielders Aaron Judge (ribs) and Giancarlo Stanton (calf) on the IL as well, so rookie outfielder Spencer Jones was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre again on Sunday, and he will see regular playing time against right-handed pitchers in New York's outfield going forward. Bellinger was an All-Star in 2026 for the third time in his career (first with the Yankees) and is currently slashing .259/.350/.420 with a .770 OPS, 11 home runs, 53 RBI, 52 runs scored, and 10 steals across 102 games and 434 plate appearances.
Source: The Athletic - Brendan Kuty
Source: The Athletic - Brendan Kuty
Shea Langeliers to Have Knee Surgery on Tuesday
Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (knee) was seen by Dr. Banffy in Los Angeles on Monday, and he recommended surgery for Langeliers' torn meniscus in his right knee. He will undergo surgery on Tuesday morning, which is likely to be season-ending. The news of Langeliers' torn meniscus surfaced on Sunday. The A's haven't announced anything officially that the 28-year-old backstop is out for the year, but that's the likely outcome, especially with the A's currently sitting nine games back of the final American League wild-card spot entering a new week. It's a tough blow for the A's and Langeliers' fantasy manager, as he has once again been one of the best-hitting catchers in baseball in 2026. In 93 games and 416 plate appearances before injuring his knee, Langeliers hit .263/.332/.497 with an .829 OPS, 23 home runs, 51 RBI, 55 runs scored, and two stolen bases. With Langeliers likely out for the rest of the year, the lefty-hitting Jonah Heim will now step in and take over as the A's primary catcher down the stretch.
Source: Inside the A's - Jason Burke
Source: Inside the A's - Jason Burke
