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Abner Uribe Emerging as Primary Closer, a Must-Add in Fantasy Leagues?
Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Abner Uribe has emerged as the team's go-to option in save situations, and he remains one of the most appealing closers on the waiver wire in fantasy baseball. Uribe and Trevor Megill opened this year competing for save situations, and while both players have underperformed expectations, manager Pat Murphy has been turning to the former in leverage spots. In the Brewers' most recent save situation on Tuesday, Megill pitched the seventh and earned the hold, while Uribe got the save in the ninth. Through 20 games (18.1 innings) this year, Uribe owns a 3.59 FIP with 9.33 K/9, 3.44 BB/9, 0.98 HR/9, and a 43% ground ball rate. Compared to last year, his strikeouts and ground balls are down, while his walks and home runs are up. With that being said, his 3.48 xFIP is lower than his ERA, xERA, and FIP, suggesting he's been a bit unlucky and is due for some better luck going forward. He has five saves this year, and we expect him to build on that number in no time, especially with the Brewers winning 62% of their games. Still available in 44% of leagues, Uribe should be a priority target for closer-needy managers in fantasy baseball leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jared Jones Carries Elite Stash Upside Ahead of Looming Activation
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones (elbow) holds must-stash upside in all standard leagues ahead of his looming return from the 60-day injured list. Jones has not been on an MLB mound since his 2024 rookie season after undergoing an internal brace procedure last season. However, Jones has recently moved his rehab assignment up to Triple-A Indianapolis, which puts him on the verge of returning to the big leagues. Jones began his rehab assignment in the lower levels, where he tossed 10 innings with a near-perfect 0.90 ERA and an 11:1 K:BB. In his first rehab outing with the top club in the system, Jones tossed 4 1/3 innings while striking out seven hitters. Jones is set to make his fifth rehab outing on Saturday, which could set him up to return to the big leagues as early as next week. He should be viewed as a must-stash candidate in all formats ahead of Week 9.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Matt Shaw Placed on Injured List with Back Tightness
Chicago Cubs utility player Matt Shaw (back) has been placed on the 10-day injured list with mid-back tightness, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com. Shaw is expected to miss several weeks. In a corresponding move, top infield prospect Pedro Ramirez was promoted to the majors. Shaw owns a modest .242/.291/.400 slash line with three homers this year, but he had been struggling lately with a 0-for-14 skid. The 24-year-old has mostly come off the bench this season, playing a variety of positions. So far this year, he has played all three outfield spots, as well as first, second, and third base. The right-handed hitter was rostered in just 5% of fantasy leagues before his injury, and his roster share could decrease if managers aren't willing to wait for him to return from the IL.
Source: Jesse Rogers
Source: Jesse Rogers
Cubs Promote Prospect Pedro Ramirez to Majors, Worth an Add Off Waiver Wire?
Chicago Cubs infield prospect Pedro Ramirez has been recalled from Triple-A Iowa. Ramirez has been on the 40-man roster since last November, but he hasn't appeared in a big-league game yet, so his next appearance will be his MLB debut. Signed out of Venezuela in 2021, Ramirez is a 22-year-old infielder capable of playing second and third base. Prior to his promotion, he owned an impressive .312/.395/.547 slash line with nine homers, 40 RBI, 19 steals, a 10.7% walk rate, a 16.3% strikeout rate, and 136 wRC+ across 43 games at Triple-A. He was recently listed as a hitter honorable mention in RotoBaller analyst Eric Cross' list of prospects to stash in fantasy baseball redraft leagues. As a switch-hitter, Ramirez could find his way into the lineup against pitchers of either handedness. That gives him an advantage for playing time and, paired with his power/speed combo, makes him an intriguing waiver wire target in fantasy baseball.
Source: Jesse Rogers
Source: Jesse Rogers
JJ Bleday a Priority Option for Power Upside?
Cincinnati Reds outfielder JJ Bleday has emerged as a solid power-hitting option for fantasy managers on the waiver wire. Over his last seven games, Bleday is 9-for-29 with two home runs, eight RBI, one walk, and five strikeouts. In total this season, he owns a .299/.402/.636 slash line with six homers, 20 RBI, a 15.2% walk rate, a 15.2% strikeout rate, and 178 wRC+. He's having the best season of his career (by far), but fantasy managers haven't quite come around, as he's still rostered in just 40% of leagues. That means that managers in 60% of leagues have the opportunity to add Bleday and his impressive bat off the waiver wire. It's a worthwhile move, as Bleday has been consistently productive all year long. He has a decent schedule coming up, too, with three games against the Cardinals, whose pitchers have the 12th-worst ERA and the second-fewest strikeouts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Louis Varland a Must-Roster Closer in Toronto?
Toronto Blue Jays right-handed reliever Louis Varland allowed a run in his most recent appearance on Wednesday against the New York Yankees for the first time since April 25 against the Cleveland Guardians, but he still held on for his sixth save of the season and struck out two hitters in an inning of work. The 28-year-old has been reliable for manager John Schneider in the closer's role since taking over for Jeff Hoffman, going 2-1 with a 0.70 ERA (1.27 FIP), 1.17 WHIP, his first six career saves, 37 strikeouts, and nine walks in 25 2/3 relief innings for the Blue Jays. Although Varland gave up a run to the Yankees this week, he has given up just two earned runs in his 25 2/3 frames all year and should be attracting more interest off the waiver wire in fantasy leagues from managers who need more saves. Right now, Varland is available in 31% of Yahoo leagues and is firmly entrenched as Toronto's ninth-inning arm.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
A.J. Ewing a Top Source for Five-Category Potential
New York Mets rookie outfielder A.J. Ewing, the team's top prospect per MLB Pipeline, has gotten his MLB career off to a nice start in Queens, hitting .276 (8-for-29) with a homer, a triple, four RBI, six runs scored, two stolen bases, eight walks, and 11 strikeouts in his first 10 games across 39 plate appearances. The 21-year-old left-handed hitter not only offers five-category upside for fantasy managers short and long term, but he also has eligibility at outfield and second base in Yahoo leagues, making him an even more attractive prospect to roster in 2026 and beyond. The 5-foot-10, 160-pounder could develop more power eventually, but right now, that's probably where he's the weakest. Ewing excels at making contact at the plate, though, and he's a plus-plus runner on the basepaths and in the outfield. Ewing can spray the ball all over the field and will continue to play regularly in New York's outfield with Luis Robert Jr. (back) not any closer to a return from the injured list. Ewing is currently rostered in 41% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Tanner Scott Deserves to be Rostered in More Fantasy Leagues
Even though Will Klein picked up the save on Tuesday in a 5-4 win over the division-rival San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Tanner Scott is still the closer to roster in L.A. with Edwin Diaz (elbow) out for the foreseeable future. Scott picked up his first win of the year on Tuesday against the Friars, throwing 1 1/3 scoreless and hitless innings while walking one and striking out two. The 31-year-old southpaw hasn't allowed a run since April 24 against the Chicago Cubs and has thrown 8 1/3 scoreless innings since then with two hits allowed, two walks, 11 strikeouts, one sin, and three saves. Scott was used in a critical moment before the ninth inning in his most recent outing on Tuesday with the game on the line in a 4-4 ballgame, so he's not in any danger of falling out of favor for save chances for the Dodgers. Diaz isn't close at all to a return, so Scott is going to get plenty more save opportunities for one of the best teams in baseball. Somehow, he's only rostered in 47% of Yahoo leagues. Scott had a rough first year in L.A. in 2025, but he has a 1.37 ERA, 0.61 WHIP, four saves, and a 20:3 K:BB in his 19 2/3 innings in 2026.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Travis Bazzana Holding his Own, Worth a Look on the Waiver Wire
Cleveland Guardians rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana debuted to plenty of fanfare on April 28 after the Guards took the Australian infielder first overall in 2024 out of Oregon State, and the highly-regarded prospect has quickly made his mark in the majors. The 23-year-old left-handed-hitting second baseman has gone 21-for-73 (.288) in his first 21 big-league contests, adding two home runs, nine RBI, seven stolen bases, and 10 runs scored across 88 plate appearances. Bazzana isn't going to be a major asset for fantasy managers in the power department, but his advanced approach at the plate is already paying dividends as Cleveland's starting second baseman of the future. The 5-foot-11, 199-pounder has been especially hot in his last eight games, going 13-for-32 (.406) with a homer, three RBI, and three runs scored in his 33 plate appearances. Fantasy managers in need of a boost in on-base percentage at the second base position should look no further than Bazzana, who is currently available in over half of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Twins to Promote Gabriel Gonzalez to Majors, Worth an Add Ahead of Debut?
The Minnesota Twins are calling up outfield prospect Gabriel Gonzalez to the majors on Friday, according to Milb Central. Gonzalez is considered the Twins' No. 7 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and he'll come up from Triple-A St. Paul to temporarily take the roster spot of infielder Tristan Gray, who is on paternity leave. The 22-year-old Venezuelan outfielder gets his first big-league call-up despite hitting just .216 (38-for-176) with a .294 on-base percentage, .392 slugging percentage, .686 OPS, eight home runs, 21 RBI, and 27 runs scored in 44 games across 197 plate appearances with the Saints this year. Gonzalez has walked 18 times and struck out 39 times. The 5-foot-10, 165-pounder has plenty of improvement to do as far as his plate discipline goes, needing to cut back on his chase rate at the plate. Fantasy managers should ignore Gonzalez for now, even in AL-only leagues, since there is a good chance he'll be sent back to St. Paul in a few days when Gray returns from paternity leave.
Source: Milb Central
Source: Milb Central
Quinn Priester Gives Up Five Runs in Latest Rehab Start
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Quinn Priester (shoulder) was hit around again during his minor-league rehab outing on Thursday with Triple-A Nashville, giving up five earned runs on five hits while walking three and striking out two in three innings of work to take his third loss in the minors for Nashville. In his previous rehab appearance at High-A Wisconsin last weekend, Priester surrendered seven runs in just 1 1/3 innings pitched. Although he was a bit better on Thursday, his velocity was still down a few ticks as he tries to work his way back from thoracic outlet symptoms in his hand and shoulder. It's unclear how many more rehab starts Priester will need before potentially coming off the 15-day injured list for his 2026 season debut with the Brewers, but right now, he doesn't appear to be close to being major-league-ready. The 25-year-old former first-rounder by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019 had his best year in the big leagues in 2025 in his first year in Milwaukee, but he doesn't appear to be the same pitcher right now. Priester is rostered in only 17% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Milb.com
Source: Milb.com
Luis Severino Bounces Back With 10-Strikeout Outing Against Angels
Athletics right-hander Luis Severino had a get-right matchup on tap on Thursday night against the floundering last-place Los Angeles Angels, and he took advantage of it. Although Severino came away with a no-decision in the team's 3-2 win, he had a strong performance on the mound, allowing only two earned runs and three hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out a season-high 10 for a quality start to lower his season ERA to 4.23. The 32-year-old veteran hurler induced 18 swings and misses on the night at Angels Stadium and reached seven innings for just the second time this year. The only runs that Severino allowed came on a two-run home run to Nolan Schanuel in the first frame. It was a nice bounce-back performance after he gave up a season-high five earned runs and 10 hits in six innings his last time out on May 16 against the San Francisco Giants. Severino now has three quality starts in 2026 and has given up two or fewer runs in five of his last six starts. His next matchup is scheduled to come against the division-rival Seattle Mariners, who rank 20th in MLB in OPS (.694).
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Kyle Stowers Extends Hitting Streak to Five Games With Two-Homer Performance
Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers extended his hitting streak to five games in Thursday's 9-3 loss to the division-rival Atlanta Braves by going 2-for-4 with two solo home runs to boost his season average to .228 and his OPS to .694. It was Stowers' first multi-homer game of the 2026 campaign after he did it an astonishing five times during his breakout 2025 season. The 28-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder has gone 6-for-18 (.333) with two homers, a double, five RBI, and five runs scored during his current five-game hitting streak, and fantasy managers are really hoping that this is the start of Stowers hitting more like he did last season. So far in his second full season in Miami, the former second-rounder of the Baltimore Orioles in 2019 out of Stanford has struggled to a .228/.328/.366 slash line with a .694 OPS, only three home runs, eight RBI, 15 runs scored, and a stolen base in his 101 at-bats.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Michael Harris II has Third Straight Multi-Hit Game, Clubs Two Homers
Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II had his third straight multi-hit game on Thursday in the team's 9-3 win over the division-rival Miami Marlins, going 2-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI, and a strikeout to raise his season average to .298 and his OPS to .848. It was Harris' eighth career multi-home run game, and his second already this season. In 18 games and 68 plate appearances so far in May, he has gone 18-for-67 (.269) with five home runs, a double, nine RBI, 11 runs scored, and a stolen base. Fantasy managers have to love what they've seen from the 25-year-old former third-rounder in 2019 after he had his first 20-20 campaign with a career-high 86 RBI in 160 games played in 2025 in his fourth year in the big leagues. Harris had a career-worst .678 OPS last year despite hit 20-20 season, but so far in 2026, he has an .848 OPS with 11 total home runs, 29 RBI, 22 runs scored, and three steals in 48 games played across 176 plate appearances. Keep riding him during his current hot streak as the team goes into a series this weekend against the division-rival Washington Nationals.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Is Kade Anderson Still the Top Pitching Prospect to Stash After Season-Worst Outing?
Seattle Mariners pitching prospect Kade Anderson remains an elite option to stash among pitchers despite his recent five-run showing. On May 15, Anderson's near-perfect start to his professional career came to a halt as he allowed a season-worst five runs and six hits to Northwest Arkansas. However, prior to this showing, the former LSU superstar was on an incredible pace at Double-A and was making a case to join the majors much sooner than anticipated. Over his first 30 frames, the lefty struck out 47 hitters while walking five batters with a dominant 0.60 ERA and a 0.67 WHIP. However, the only concern for Anderson's redraft value is his path to the majors. While his upside remains high, he has a difficult path to joining the MLB roster, pitching on a deep Seattle team that already has six proven starters on the MLB roster. Since he will likely have to wait for multiple injuries to earn the call, he is best left for 12-team leagues that have several N/A spots.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
