RADIO
Kyle Schwarber Starting to Heat up at the Plate of Late
Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber is starting to heat up at the plate of late after a slow start to the season. Over the past seven games, he has been slashing .258/.281/.774 with five home runs and seven RBI. He has now improved his overall season line to a .227 average with a .950 OPS. The power has never been the issue for Schwarber; it's mostly been his average and strikeout rate, as it normally is with him, but he was pacing to revert back to his 2023 numbers, where he hit .197 prior to this nice stretch. Schwarber sitll remains one of the best power hitters in the game, and must-start in all formats, but fantasy managers should know that the highs will be high and the lows can be low, making him a better player in rotisserie formats over head to head formats, and especially points leagues, considering he is normally known as someone with around a 30 percent strikeout rate (28.5 percent career strikeout rate and 32.8 percent in 2026). That makes him liable in some points leagues that take points away for strikeouts. Up next for Schwarber and the Phillies are a few road matchups in Boston and Pittsburgh in Week 8.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Colt Emerson Remains Elite Stash Target in Week 7
Seattle Mariners infield prospect Colt Emerson remains an elite option to stash among hitting prospects ahead of Week 7 of the fantasy baseball season. The team's top hitting prospect has continued to swing a hot bat at the Triple-A level and is inching closer toward his eventual MLB debut. Over his last 13 games with Triple-A Tacoma, the former 22nd overall selection in the 2023 MLB Draft has posted an elite .273/.328/.545 line with a double, four home runs, and two stolen bases. Overall, the 20-year-old has enjoyed a stellar start to the Triple-A regular season, holding a .254/.338/.475 slash line with seven doubles, six home runs, and eight stolen bases. Even though there is no clear opening for Emerson on the MLB roster, he remains an elite stash option given his five-category upside.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Cody Bellinger Putting Together One of the Most Impressive Seasons of His Career
New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger is slashing .292/.393/.507 with five stolen bases, 28 RBI, five home runs, three triples, 10 doubles, and 25 runs scored through 173 plate appearances. His plate discipline also remains strong, as evidenced by his 13 percent strikeout rate, 14.2 percent walk rate, and 18.1 percent whiff rate. To go along with his surface line numbers, he also has a .299 xBA and .385 xwOBA, suggesting that what he is doing at the plate is not just luck. At 30 years old, batting in the center of this potent Yankees lineup, Bellinger is positioned to have one of the best seasons of his career, even dating back to his 2019 MVP season, where he hit .305 with a 1.035 OPS. The home run numbers may not be pacing compared to that MVP season, but most of his other numbers are. Bellinger remains a must-start in all fantasy formats moving forward, and looks like a steal based on his ADP during draft season.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Eduardo Rodriguez Impressing in 2026, a Must-Roster Player in Fantasy?
Arizona Diamondbacks left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez is putting together one of the better seasons of his 11-year career so far in 2026, with a 2.25 ERA and 1.21 WHIP through eight starts (48 innings pitched) and 33 strikeouts. In his recent start on Sunday, he went 8 1/3 innings and held the New York Mets to one run. While Rodriguez has had an impressive run, most of his underlying metrics suggest series regression, as evidenced by his 4.70 xFIP, 4.59 xERA, and 5.02 SIERA. Now, that is not to suggest he can't be useful in fantasy; however, it should also suggest that fantasy managers who are viewing him as one of the best fantasy arms in baseball should temper expectations. His 5.9 percent SwStr% and 17.2 percent strikeout rate are very concerning as well, as he clearly doesn't have any of his swing-and-miss stuff going right now, limiting his overall upside in the long run. Up next for Rodriguez is a start at Coors Field over the weekend, making him a risky start in Week 8.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Sam Antonacci Should be Rostered in All Formats With Five-Category Upside
Chicago White Sox ninth overall-ranked prospect Sam Antonacci has been very consistent throughout his first 87 plate appearances at the MLB level, slashing .268/.376/.394 with two stolen bases, six walks, nine RBI, one home run, two triples, and 12 runs scored. More impressively, his plate discipline has been rock solid, striking out only 10.8 percent of the time (95th percentile), whiffing 17.1 percent of the time (85th percentile), and chasing 23.7 percent of the time (82nd percentile). His xBA is also .322, which showcases that even after the impressive start, he could be in line for additional positive regression. Additionally, Antonacci hit .291 in the minors last year and has hit at nearly every stop of his career, showcasing an overall track record of success that should give fantasy managers confidence he will provide value in most categories. Due to his lack of power, Antonacci remains a better points player than a categories player, but is still useful in all formats and should be rostered across all types of leagues.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Gus Varland Looking to Rebound After Rough Stretch in Washington
Washington Nationals right-hander Gus Varland has struggled in recent outings, posting a 7.11 ERA across his last seven appearances. His season ERA has climbed to 4.80 during his first year in Washington, and his role in the back end of the bullpen may begin to shrink. Varland is still 4-for-6 in save opportunities and has added four holds this season, showing the confidence the Nationals coaching staff initially placed in him during high-leverage situations. The 28-year-old is now on his fourth MLB organization after not appearing in a major league game during 2025. Varland will need to limit damage more consistently if he hopes to maintain a steady role in the struggling Nationals bullpen.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jake Burger Off to Slow Start, Power Still Worth Monitoring
Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger has struggled through the early portion of the 2026 season, slashing .208/.242/.362 with a .604 OPS across 38 games. The power remains present for Burger, as he has already launched six home runs, but his 27.4 K% has continued to hurt his overall offensive production. Burger has not appeared in a game since Friday and could be receiving additional time away from the lineup to reset at the plate. The 30-year-old is now in his second season with Texas and has yet to fully recapture the form he showed in 2023, when he posted a .827 OPS with 34 home runs.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Cam Smith Looking to Rebound Amid Astros Outfield Competition
Houston Astros outfielder Cam Smith has cooled off after a strong start to the season, slashing .151/.237/.226 across his last 15 games. Smith now owns a .642 OPS with four home runs through 40 games in 2026. The 23-year-old has flashed the offensive tools needed to succeed at the major league level, but consistency has remained an issue during his second MLB season. Smith could also face increased competition for playing time, with Joey Loperfido, Jake Meyers, and Taylor Trammell all targeting returns later this month. The former first-round pick still carries intriguing upside, but he will need to rediscover his early-season rhythm moving forward.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
JJ Bleday Breaking Out With Reds, Emerging as High-End Power Source
Cincinnati Reds outfielder JJ Bleday has enjoyed an early breakout in his first season with the Reds. Bleday, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft by the Miami Marlins, has bounced around the majors after struggling to find the consistent success many expected early in his career. He appears to have found his stride in Cincinnati, slashing .262/.392/.643 with a 1.035 OPS and four home runs through 13 games. Bleday was called up from Triple-A Louisville on April 25 and has made the most of his opportunity, flashing impressive power in early action with the Reds. The 28-year-old is quickly gaining attention as a strong fantasy source for power production.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Caleb Kilian Emerging as Favorite for Giants Saves Opportunities?
San Francisco Giants right-hander Caleb Kilian could be in line for increased save opportunities after the club optioned struggling reliever Ryan Walker to Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday. Walker opened the season with inconsistent results and was unable to secure the closer role for San Francisco. Kilian has emerged as one of the Giants' most dependable bullpen arms, posting a 1.50 ERA and 1.17 WHIP across 17 appearances. He also earned the first save of his MLB career earlier this season. The Giants have recorded just seven saves through 40 games, leaving the ninth inning unsettled as Kilian's consistency makes him a strong speculative add for fantasy managers searching for saves.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Seth Hernandez Promoted to High-A Greensboro After Dominant Start in Single-A
The Pittsburgh Pirates have promoted right-hander Seth Hernandez to High-A Greensboro after a dominant six-start run in the Single-A Florida State League. Hernandez, the No. 19 prospect in baseball and the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, logged 28 innings and allowed just three earned runs while piling up 50 strikeouts. The 19-year-old has showcased elite swing-and-miss stuff early in his professional career, using his 6-foot-4 frame to overpower opposing hitters. It is still an early step in his development, but Hernandez has already flashed frontline starter potential. If the right-hander continues to miss bats at this level, his rise through the Pirates organization could move quickly.
Source: Kody Duncan
Source: Kody Duncan
Is Kyle Finnegan the Top Closer Handcuff Available on the Waiver Wire?
Detroit Tigers right-hander Kyle Finnegan has gotten results so far in 2026, pitching to a 1.53 ERA and 1.47 WHIP with 13 strikeouts and one save across 17 2/3 innings (18 games). Finnegan is currently blocked off from save opportunities in Detroit by veteran Tigers closer Kenley Jansen, who remains the team's preferred option in the ninth inning. However, Jansen has pitched to a 5.40 ERA with three blown saves across 11 appearances so far this season. Should Detroit choose to alter its late-inning mix, Finnegan could step in as the new closer. The 34-year-old has 113 career saves across 365 MLB appearances. While Finnegan's 0.0% K-BB rate does not exactly scream typical closer dominance, he's proven the ability to close games in the past. For fantasy managers in need of saves, Finnegan could be worth stashing off the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Carlos Cortes Earning More Playing Time, Emerging as a Priority Waiver-Wire Target
Athletics outfielder Carlos Cortes is off to an excellent start to the 2026 season, hitting .355/.408/.570 with four home runs, 15 RBI, 11 runs scored, and one stolen base across his first 103 plate appearances of the season. Entering play on Sunday, Cortes owned an 11.1% barrel rate and had walked (eight) nearly as many times as he had struck out (nine). The 28-year-old is a bit of a late bloomer, but he posted similarly strong numbers (.866 OPS) across 99 plate appearances after making his MLB debut in 2025. The lefty-swinging Cortes appears to have worked his way into an everyday role in the corner outfield for the Athletics, at least against right-handed starting pitching. Particularly given his hitter-friendly home park in Sacramento, Cortes profiles as a viable hitting streamer for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jorge Soler Remains an Impact Power Bat Worth Targeting on the Waiver Wire
Across 157 plate appearances so far in 2026, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jorge Soler is hitting .226/.325/.451 with eight home runs, 28 RBI, and 19 runs scored. With a 31.2% strikeout rate, Soler is unlikely to help fantasy managers in the batting average category. However, the 34-year-old remains a legitimate power bat even as he enters his mid-30s. Soler currently owns a 12.9% barrel rate, marking his eighth consecutive season with a barrel rate north of 12%. He's also managed to stay healthy this season after groin and back injuries limited him to just 315 plate appearances in 2025. As long as Soler can stay on the field in 2026, he should see every day playing time in the middle of the Angels lineup and could threaten 30 home runs. For fantasy managers searching for power on the waiver wire, Soler could be worth targeting.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Randy Vasquez Emerging as a Must-Add Waiver-Wire Target
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Randy Vasquez turned in another strong performance in his team's 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, throwing six innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts while picking up the win. The 27-year-old has been excellent so far this season for San Diego, recording a 4-1 record with a 3.05 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 42 strikeouts across 44 1/3 innings. Vasquez's strikeout rate currently sits at a career-best 23.2%, and his walk rate is down from 9.1% in 2025 to 7.2%. Vasquez's 80.6% strand rate may not be fully sustainable, but his strong 0.81 HR/9 helps him avoid blow-up innings and keeps his ERA down. Vasquez's average fastball velocity is also up to 94.8 miles per hour, a significant increase from his mark of 93.5 miles per hour in 2025. Particularly in deeper leagues, Vasquez should be scooped up off the waiver wire by fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
