RADIO
Will Vest Locks Down Four-Out Save, a Worthy Handcuff Closer to Stash?
Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Will Vest closed out the Yankees on Monday night to earn his second save of the season. The 31-year-old righty impressed by closing out the eighth inning with a strikeout of Jasson Dominguez with two runners on base and then working a 1-2-3 ninth inning with another strikeout to end the game against Amed Rosario. Vest is currently the Tigers' top setup option in front of Kenley Jansen, but he has been very effective, allowing a run in just one of his last seven outings. If you are looking for a handcuff stash for the veteran Jansen or trying to get ahead of a potential shift in a deep league, Vest's recent run deserves a look since he could continue to get high-leverage looks for the Tigers and even more chances to close out games if Jansen struggles or gets injured again.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Alex Lange Sharp En Route to Earning Sixth Save, Remains a Must-Roster Closer?
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Alex Lange has emerged from a crowded committee to be the team's go-to option at the end of the game, and the 30-year-old righty picked up another save on Monday. He came on in the ninth inning of a one-run game against the Rays and retired the side in order with one strikeout. On the season, he has a 3.86 ERA and 3.76 FIP, and he has earned all six of his saves in his 10 outings in June while allowing two earned runs and striking out 12 in 10 innings. Lange seems to have a firm grasp on the closer job for now in Kansas City, making him a great pickup from the waiver wire if you need saves in the short-term. In the long term, he could end up as an available arm on the open market if the Royals decide to sell, or he could also lose his role to Carlos Estevez (shoulder), who is on the 60-day IL and working his way back from a shoulder injury. For now, though, Lange is one of the best options for saves on most leagues' waiver wires.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Is Clayton Beeter the Closer to Roster in Washington?
Washington Nationals relief pitcher Clayton Beeter closed out his team's 4-1 victory over the Phillies on Monday night by working a clean ninth inning with one hit allowed and one strikeout. Beeter entered with a three-run lead and gave up a leadoff single to Bryce Harper, who was erased on a double-play ball before Beeter struck out pinch-hitter Justin Crawford to end the game. The 27-year-old righty has successfully converted back-to-back save chances and has not allowed a run in four of his last five outings with eight strikeouts, a 1.00 WHIP and 1.70 FIP. He remains the team's top closing option, and should be available on Tuesday after needing just six pitches to earn his sixth save of the season on Monday. He's a solid end-of-game option if you need saves from your fantasy bullpen, and he should continue to get opportunities for the surprising Nats.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Sam Antonacci a Must-Add Waiver-Wire Target Ahead of Second-Half Breakout?
Across 235 plate appearances in 2026, Chicago White Sox outfielder Sam Antonacci has hit .291/.391/.422 with four home runs, 22 RBI, 37 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases. The 23-year-old does not project to provide fantasy managers with much power, as he owns a 36.4% hard-hit rate and slugged just five home runs across 519 minor league plate appearances in 2025. Still, Antonacci has established himself as the near-everyday leadoff hitter in an underrated White Sox lineup. He's also struck out in just 15.7% of his plate appearances. Between his ability to hit for average and steal bases, Antonacci has a clear use case for deeper league fantasy managers. In leagues where he remains available, Antonacci profiles as a potential breakout candidate to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Alejandro Kirk Remains a Priority Waiver-Wire Target
Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk was one of the key cogs in his team's lineup in 2025, posting a .769 OPS with 15 home runs and 76 RBI across 506 plate appearances. However, the 27-year-old's 2026 season was disrupted after he suffered a fractured and dislocated left thumb in early April. Kirk missed over two months due to the injury, but he was activated by the Blue Jays on June 12. Kirk hasn't gotten going at the plate yet, as he owns a .205/.265/.318 slash line with one home run, six RBI, and three runs scored across 49 plate appearances. Still, Kirk profiles as one of the better sources of batting average for fantasy managers at the catcher position. In 2025, he logged a 50.8% hard-hit rate while striking out in just 11.7% of his plate appearances. In any league where Kirk is still on the waiver wire, he should be considered a priority pick-up for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chase DeLauter Progressing, Could Return During Upcoming Guardians Homestand
Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said that outfielder Chase DeLauter (rib) is progressing and has a chance to return during the team's upcoming homestand, which begins on Friday. The 24-year-old has been on the 10-day injured list since June 14 due to a fractured rib. Across 270 plate appearances before the injury, DeLauter hit .263/.337/.408 with seven home runs, 34 RBI, 24 runs scored, and two stolen bases. Injuries have been a major issue for DeLauter, who has already set career-high marks in plate appearances and games played as a professional this season. DeLauter's lack of power (5.8% barrel rate) has been a bit of a surprise after he posted a 12.5% barrel rate and 51.9% hard-hit rate across 177 Triple-A plate appearances in 2025. However, his 10.4% walk rate and 13.3% strikeout rate indicate high-end plate skills. If DeLauter can find his power stroke in the second half of the season, he could emerge as a breakout fantasy outfielder.
Source: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
Source: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
Mickey Moniak Reinstated from 10-Day Injured List on Monday
Colorado Rockies outfielder Mickey Moniak (ankle) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list ahead of his team's game against the Boston Red Sox on Monday. The 28-year-old had been on the IL since May 22 due to right ankle tendinitis. Moniak was off to a strong start to the season before the injury, hitting .280/.335/.607 with 12 home runs, 28 RBI, 21 runs scored, and one stolen base across 164 plate appearances. Moniak has emerged as a fantasy-relevant platoon bat since signing with the Rockies, as he hit 24 home runs and stole nine bases across 461 plate appearances with Colorado in 2025. His 13.5% barrel rate in 2026 is right in line with the 13.8% barrel rate he posted during his breakout campaign a season ago. Managers in need of a power boost should consider targeting Moniak on the waiver wire.
Source: Colorado Rockies
Source: Colorado Rockies
Kyle Tucker Exits Early on Monday Due to Lower-Back Spasms
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker (back) exited early from his team's game against the Minnesota Twins on Monday due to lower-back spasms. Tucker walked in his lone plate appearances before being replaced in right field by Alex Call. Tucker has struggled in his first season in Los Angeles, hitting .234/.333/.374 with six home runs, 40 RBI, 44 runs scored, and six stolen bases across 318 plate appearances. The 29-year-old's 39.3% hard-hit rate is the worst mark of his career, and his barrel rate (5.2%) is in the single-digits for the first time since the shortened 2020 campaign. Tucker has managed to stay largely healthy this season, but he may now be facing a stint on the injured list if this back issue does not resolve itself quickly. Should Tucker indeed miss time, Call could move into an everyday role in the Dodgers' outfield.
Source: Los Angeles Dodgers
Source: Los Angeles Dodgers
Dalton Rushing Exits Early on Monday with Possible Concussion
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing (head) exited early from his team's game against the Minnesota Twins on Monday to "rule out a concussion," per an announcement from the team. The 25-year-old took a foul tip off his face mask in the first inning of the game. Entering play on Monday, Rushing was hitting .254/.342/.485 with eight home runs, 22 RBI, and 21 runs scored. With star Dodgers catcher Will Smith (neck) on the injured list with neck inflammation, Rushing has gotten his first chance to earn everyday playing time at the big-league level in June. If Rushing is now forced to miss time, Dodgers catcher Chuckie Robinson would likely see the majority of the playing time behind the plate for Los Angeles.
Source: Los Angeles Dodgers
Source: Los Angeles Dodgers
Jorge Soler Reinstated and Starting on Monday Night
The Los Angeles Angels announced on Monday that they reinstated outfielder Jorge Soler (oblique) from the 10-day injured list and designated infielder Nick Madrigal for assignment in a corresponding move. Infielder Trey Mancini was also outrighted to Triple-A Reno, but he elected free agency. Soler is serving as the designated hitter and will bat third for the Halos in his return on Monday in the series opener against the visiting Baltimore Orioles and right-hander Kyle Bradish. Soler has been out since June 6 with a strained left oblique, and he didn't go on a minor-league rehab assignment, so fantasy managers may want to expect the right-handed slugger to be knocking off quite a bit of rust. The 34-year-old Cuban outfielder already swings and misses often, but with nine home runs in 214 at-bats before his injury, he can also still provide useful power for managers searching for pop on the waiver wire. With that said, RBI opportunities might be few and far between for Soler on one of the worst teams in baseball. He's rostered in only 15% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Angels PR
Source: Angels PR
Max Scherzer Throws Successful Bullpen Session on Monday
Toronto Blue Jays veteran right-hander Max Scherzer (back) threw a bullpen session on Monday that went well, manager John Schneider told Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. Scherzer has been recovering from back spasms that sent him to the 15-day injured list last week. Even though the future Hall of Famer has failed to stay healthy towards the end of his career, the Blue Jays believe he could return from his back injury sooner rather than later. Our best guess is that Toronto will take things slowly with the three-time Cy Young winner and hold him out beyond the All-Star break in mid-July. The 41-year-old eight-time All-Star has not pitched well when healthy in 2026 in his second year with Toronto, going 1-4 with a career-worst 10.23 ERA (8.79 FIP) and 1.73 WHIP with 14 strikeouts and 11 walks in 22 innings in just six starts. Given his inability to stay healthy the last two years for the Jays, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Scherzer shifted to a relief role in the second half. He's rostered in only 4% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Sportsnet - Ben Nicholson-Smith
Source: Sportsnet - Ben Nicholson-Smith
Addison Barger Set to Start Rehab Assignment on Thursday
The hope is that Toronto Blue Jays third baseman/outfielder Addison Barger (elbow) will start a minor-league rehab assignment on Thursday, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. Barger will need around a week of rehab games before he is reinstated from the 10-day injured list to rejoin Toronto's major-league roster. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter has appeared in only nine games for the Blue Jays in 2026 due to elbow and ankle injuries, and he had just one hit in 28 plate appearances with two RBI, five walks, and seven strikeouts. He has been out since the middle of May with inflammation in his right elbow. Barring a setback on his rehab assignment, Barger should return to action in the big leagues before the All-Star break next month. Barger should be a lineup regular against righties when fully healthy, giving him some waiver-wire appeal in deeper fantasy leagues for his power from the left side of the plate and eligibility at both third base and in the outfield. He's currently rostered in only 20% of Yahoo leagues, but don't forget that he clubbed 21 homers and drove in 74 in 135 regular-season games last year before helping to lead the Jays to the World Series in the postseason.
Source: The Athletic - Mitch Bannon
Source: The Athletic - Mitch Bannon
Yordan Alvarez Won't Take Part in Home Run Derby
Houston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez, the front-runner for MVP in the American League this year, said he will not participate in this year's Home Run Derby. "I'm still open," Alvarez said on Sunday, "but not this year." Alvarez hit his 25th home run of the year in Sunday's 2-1 win over the visiting Cleveland Guardians at Daikin Park, and he trails only Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber for the major-league home run lead. Alvarez had an invitation to take part in the 2022 Home Run Derby at Dodger Stadium, but he went on the injured list with a right-hand injury right before the All-Star break. He also missed the 2023 All-Star game due to an oblique injury. The Astros haven't had a competitor in the Home Run Derby since third baseman Alex Bregman did it in both 2018 and 2019. Alvarez is set to compete in his fourth career All-Star game next month in Philly. He's currently slashing .322/.428/.640, and his 1.068 OPS and .640 slugging percentage lead all of baseball. After an injury-plagued 2025 campaign that limited him to only 48 games, the former AL Rookie of the Year has bounced back in a huge way in 2026.
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Bobby Witt Jr. Still Out With Knee Injury
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (knee) remains out of the starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the hosting Tampa Bay Rays, according to MLB.com. Maikel Garcia is starting at shortstop and batting second, with Nick Loftin starting at the hot corner and batting eighth against Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen. The Royals believe that Witt will avoid going on the injured list, but he has yet to play since being pulled from last Thursday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals with a Grade 1 MCL sprain in his right knee. The longer the All-Star shortstop remains out, the greater the chance that he will go on the IL to close out the month of June. The 26-year-old two-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger can do it all on the baseball field and is one of the best five-category contributors in the game. He's currently slashing .294/.368/.465 with an .833 OPS, 10 home runs, 32 RBI, 28 stolen bases, and 40 runs scored in 76 games played and 337 plate appearances. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Tuesday to see if he can return to the starting nine for the Royals. UPDATE: According to MLB.com's Brian Murphy, Witt hit in the batting cages, fielded grounders, and ran the bases before Monday's game against Tampa.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Astros Place Reliever Bryan Abreu on the Restricted List
The Houston Astros announced on Monday that they placed right-handed reliever Bryan Abreu on the restricted list and recalled right-hander Logan VanWey from Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move. It's unclear exactly why Abreu has landed on the restricted list, but it could be due to visa issues with the team playing in Toronto for a series this week. If the 29-year-old Dominican is dealing with a visa issue, we probably won't see him back with the team until their series opener on Thursday versus the Detroit Tigers. Abreu had a shot to lock down the team's closer duties to begin the 2026 season with left-hander Josh Hader on the injured list, but he got off to a rough start and is currently carrying a 6.39 ERA (6.78 OPS), 1.82 WHIP, five saves, 33 strikeouts, and 24 walks in 25 1/3 innings out of the bullpen this year for the Astros. Now that Hader is back from his biceps injury and locked in as the team's unquestioned closer, Abreu is less attractive in fantasy baseball. He's currently rostered in only 22% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Houston Astros
Source: Houston Astros
