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Shane Bieber Making Another Rehab Start on Thursday
Toronto Blue Jays veteran right-hander Shane Bieber (elbow) will make another minor-league rehab start at Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. It will be Bieber's fourth rehab start as he continues to work his way back from inflammation in his surgically-repaired right elbow. The 31-year-old only made two starts in 2024 in his final season with the Cleveland Guardians and then made seven regular-season starts last year for Toronto, going 4-2 with a 3.57 ERA (4.47 FIP), 1.02 WHIP, and 37:7 K:BB in 40 1/3 innings pitched. In five outings (four starts) in the Jays' run to the World Series, Bieber went 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA (4.26 FIP), 1.45 WHIP, and 18:6 K:BB in 18 2/3 frames. He's hoping to get up to around 70-75 pitches with Buffalo on Thursday, which means his next start could be his 2026 season debut in the big leagues at some point next week. The former American League Cy Young winner is not the same pitcher he was with Cleveland, and he comes with obvious durability concerns, but he's worth taking a shot on for rotation depth in mixed fantasy leagues now that his season debut is right around the corner. Bieber is currently rostered in less than half of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Sportsnet - Ben Nicholson-Smith
Source: Sportsnet - Ben Nicholson-Smith
Braden Montgomery Set to Be Called Up by White Sox?
Matt Snyder of CBS Sports reports that he is "hearing whispers" that Chicago White Sox outfield prospect Braden Montgomery is on the verge of being called up for his MLB debut. The 23-year-old has dominated Triple-A pitching so far in 2026, hitting .314/.422/.548 with 10 home runs, 41 RBI, 52 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 258 plate appearances. He also owns an elite 15.1% walk rate and has posted a 53.8% hard-hit rate this season. Montgomery is considered to be one of the elite prospects in the White Sox system, so it seems unlikely that the team would promote him to the big leagues without a plan to play him every day. Chicago has gotten middling production from the right field combination of Rikuu Nishida, Randal Grichuk, and Derek Hill, which could be where Montgomery slots in at the big-league level. If Montgomery is indeed on his way up to the Majors, he profiles as a high-upside waiver wire target for fantasy managers.
Source: CBS Sports - Matt Snyder
Source: CBS Sports - Matt Snyder
Stephen Kolek Set to Rejoin the Rotation on Tuesday
Kansas City Royals right-hander Stephen Kolek (personal), who was placed on the family medical emergency list last Thursday, is listed as the team's starter for Tuesday's contest against the visiting Texas Rangers, per MLB.com. Kolek could be pitching with a heavy heart, but he'll be available for KC for what will be his seventh start of the year. The 29-year-old former 11th-round pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018 out of Texas A&M University has gone 3-1 with a 3.32 ERA (4.11 FIP) and 0.97 WHIP with 27 strikeouts and only eight walks in 38 innings over his six starts in 2026 in his first full season with the Royals. He gave up four earned runs in five innings for his first loss of the year back on May 29 at the Rangers, but he bounced back nicely his last time out by allowing only two earned runs with a season-high eight strikeouts in seven innings in a no-decision on June 3 against the Cincinnati Reds. Kolek doesn't have much fantasy upside because of his career 17.4% strikeout rate, and he's only fanning 18.1% of the batters he's faced this year, but the Rangers have been a good matchup in 2026 and rank 20th in MLB with a .698 OPS.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Astros Not Talking About Trading Yordan Alvarez
The Houston Astros could surely get a huge haul at this year's trade deadline for outfielder Yordan Alvarez, who leads the majors with a 1.070 OPS and the American League with 22 home runs and 48 RBI, but general manager Dana Brown has shot down speculation that the team might trade Alvarez, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. "We've had zero conversations internally about moving Yordan," Brown said Monday. "Zero." The left-handed slugger is in the fourth year of a six-year, $115 million contract extension that he signed four years ago this week. He's being paid at a bargain at $26 million from 2026-28, considering he's currently the front-runner for the AL MVP. And it's not like the Astros are out of the postseason by any means; they were five games out of first place in the AL West and three games out of an AL wild-card spot going into Monday's contests. Meanwhile, Alvarez is on pace to become the first Astros player since Alex Bregman in 2019 to have 40 homers, and he could make a run at Jeff Bagwell's franchise record of 47 round-trippers in 2000. After being limited to 48 games in 2025 due to injury, Alvarez is having a monster bounce-back campaign.
Source: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
Source: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
Yoendrys Gomez a Must-Add Waiver-Wire Target for Save-Needy Fantasy Managers?
Since being acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in early May, Minnesota Twins right-hander Yoendrys Gomez has emerged as a key piece in his new team's bullpen. Across 14 innings (16 games) with Minnesota, Gomez owns a 0.64 ERA and 0.86 WHIP with 18 strikeouts and three saves. The 26-year-old's average fastball velocity is currently a career-best 95.4 miles per hour, and he's struck out 32.7% of the batters he's faced as a Twin. Gomez's last two appearances for the Twins have both come in the eighth inning as the team continues to operate with a committee approach to the closer role. However, he's been the best reliever in Minnesota since joining the team, and it could be just a matter of time before he emerges as the preferred option in the ninth inning. For fantasy managers in need of saves, Gomez could be worth targeting on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Trevor Megill was Unavailable on Monday Due to "Discomfort"
Milwaukee Brewers right-handed closer Trevor Megill (undisclosed) was battling some "discomfort" and was unavailable to close the door in Monday night's wild 15-14, 12-inning win over the Athletics in Las Vegas, manager Pat Murphy told Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Right-hander Chad Patrick picked up his third save of the year in a scoreless inning of work while walking one and striking out two. Abner Uribe earned his fourth win of the year by pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings with a walk and two strikeouts, and he would be Milwaukee's primary option for saves in the future if Megill's injury turns into something serious that keeps him out beyond Monday. The 25-year-old Uribe is 4-2 on the season with a 3.80 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, five saves, and 25 strikeouts in his 23 2/3 innings of work. He's rostered in 58% of Yahoo leagues already. It's worth noting that Megill dealt with a flexor strain in his right arm late last year and required a platelet-rich plasma injection in the offseason. Fantasy managers speculating on saves may want to add Uribe now.
Source: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
Source: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
Ryan Zeferjahn Emerging as a Sneaky Stash Candidate in Angels Bullpen
Across 30 2/3 innings (25 games) so far this season, Los Angeles Angels right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn has pitched to a 5.28 ERA and 1.40 WHIP with 38 strikeouts and one save. While the 28-year-old's top-line numbers are ugly, he's averaging 97.4 miles per hour on his fastball and has struck out 27% of the batters he's faced. His xERA is 3.92, and his strand rate is a below-average 64.7%, so he may be a victim of some poor luck. Perhaps most importantly for fantasy managers, Zeferjahn may be the leading candidate in the Angels bullpen to assume the closer role from the struggling Kirby Yates. Yates has pitched the ninth inning in eight straight appearances, and in that stretch, he's blown two saves and suffered two losses while allowing four earned runs. Zeferjahn's profile comes with some risk, but he might be the highest-upside reliever in an Angels bullpen that has struggled mightily to fill the closer role in 2026. In deeper fantasy leagues, managers may want to take a chance on Zeferjahn on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyler Soderstrom Continues to Heat Up With Two Homers on Monday Night
Athletics first baseman/outfielder Tyler Soderstrom stayed hot in Monday night's wild 15-14 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in Las Vegas, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two home runs, four RBI, and two walks to boost his season batting average to .237 and his OPS to .790. There was no shortage of offense from either side in this contest, which required 12 innings to complete. His first home run was a three-run shot in the third inning, and he added a solo homer in the seventh inning, with both of his round-trippers coming off left-handed pitchers. The 24-year-old left-handed slugger has been hot for a while now, going 23-for-62 (.371) with five homers, three doubles, a triple, 14 RBI, and seven runs scored in his last 18 games, dating back to May 20. The recent hot stretch at the plate has boosted Soderstrom's overall slash line in 2026 to .237/.333/.457 with 10 home runs, 34 RBI, 29 runs scored, and a stolen base in 63 games across 267 plate appearances. Surprisingly, half of his homers this year have come off southpaws.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Nick Kurtz on a Homer Binge, Goes Deep Twice in Wild Loss
There was no shortage of offense between the Milwaukee Brewers and Athletics on Monday night in Las Vegas, with the Brewers eventually prevailing 15-14 in 12 innings. Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz had a day at the plate, going 3-for-6 with two home runs, three RBI, three runs scored, a walk, and three strikeouts. His first blast was a solo shot in the sixth inning, and he later added a two-run homer in an electrifying back-and-forth game. After a somewhat slow start to his sophomore campaign, the 23-year-old left-handed slugger has now homered three times in the last two games and six times in his last 10 games. With Monday's strong performance to continue his hot streak, Kurtz is now slashing .282/.434/.521 with a .956 OPS, 14 long balls, 48 RBI, 45 runs scored, and seven stolen bases across his 234 at-bats in 2026. The former fourth overall pick in 2024 out of Wake Forest University is one of the best pure slugging options in baseball, let alone at the first base position. Kurtz is a must-start every day in fantasy lineups.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Is Daniel Lynch IV Emerging as a High-End Closer Stash?
Kansas City Royals left-hander Daniel Lynch IV has emerged as a key piece of his team's bullpen in 2026, pitching to a 1.71 ERA and 0.95 WHIP with 29 strikeouts and one save across 26 1/3 innings (26 games). The 29-year-old is averaging a career-high 94.8 miles per hour on his fastball and has struck out 27.1% of the batters he's faced this season. After removing the struggling Lucas Erceg from their closer role, the Royals have opted for veteran right-hander Alex Lange in the ninth inning in recent games. Lange has converted all three of his save chances so far, but he's struggled with command throughout his career and owns a 4.03 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 2026. Should Lange fail to lock down the closer role in Kansas City, Lynch IV could be the next man up. In deeper fantasy leagues, managers may want to consider stashing Lynch IV as a potential source of saves.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jacob Gonzalez Emerging as a Priority Waiver-Wire Target After Hot Start
Since making his MLB debut on May 31, Chicago White Sox infielder Jacob Gonzalez has hit .300/.391/.450 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs scored across 23 plate appearances. With White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami (hamstring) currently on the injured list, Gonzalez has logged everyday playing time at first base since his promotion. The 22-year-old's strong start in the Majors is backed up by his work at Triple-A this season, where he slashed .317/.419/.668 with 19 home runs, 62 RBI, 42 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in just 238 plate appearances. Gonzalez also has the ability to play multiple infield positions, so he could stick in the Chicago lineup even once Murakami returns. Gonzalez profiles as a high-upside waiver wire target who should be prioritized by fantasy managers across all league formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Gus Varland Earns Fifth Save, Emerging as Name to Roster in Washington's Bullpen?
Washington Nationals relief pitcher Gus Varland secured his team's 4-3 win over the Giants on Monday night after Keaton Winn blew the save for San Francisco. After the Nats plated three runs in the top of the ninth, Varland had two strikeouts while allowing a single and a walk on his way to his fifth save of the year. The 29-year-old righty has a 4.01 ERA and 3.23 FIP in his 24 2/3 innings this season and is currently sharing time at the end of games with Clayton Beeter, who earned the win on Tuesday despite giving up two runs before Varland entered. Varland seems to be the slightly better option of the two relievers at this point in the Nationals' bullpen, although both relievers have been shaky this season for fantasy production.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Trey Mancini Racks Up Three Hits in Season Debut, Is He Back on the Fantasy Radar?
Los Angeles Angels first baseman Trey Mancini returned to the majors for the first time since July 31, 2023, and he looked impressive in his first game back. The 34-year-old righty went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in his team's 5-4, extra-inning loss to the Astros. He put up solid numbers in Triple-A last year for the Diamondbacks, hitting .308 with 16 homers and a .389 wOBA before opting out on July 1st. He slashed .273/.377/.464 in 52 games in Triple-A this season with six homers, 40 runs scored, and 29 RBI before returning to the majors on Monday. Mancini could get some playing time with Nolan Schanuel (ankle) battling tendinitis and Vaughn Grissom (oblique) on the injured list. Mancini has hit well enough at Triple-A to be an interesting deep-league pickup and streaming option if he continues to get playing time for the Halos. He doesn't have elite power or an extremely high ceiling, but he has proven that he can make consistent contact and accumulate counting stats.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Is Spencer Schwellenbach a Top Injury Stash?
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) had bone spurs removed from his elbow in February and has begun a throwing progression as he works his way back to the rotation at some point late in the season. Even though he's still a ways from his return and has been limited to throwing from flat ground, it could be time to stash him in deep leagues if you have roster flexibility to do so. He has been one of the most electric young arms in baseball when available, but has been limited to just 17 starts over the past two seasons. For standard-sized leagues, he's still too far away to stash quite yet, but he's definitely someone with enough upside to monitor his return closely as he makes progress over the next few weeks. In deeper leagues with more injury flexibility, though, he has enough late-season potential to be a sneaky add early in his return.
Source: Mark Bowman
Source: Mark Bowman
Kirby Yates Blows Another Save Opportunity, Will He Fall Into a Closer Committee?
Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Kirby Yates couldn't hold on to a one-run lead against the Astros on Monday night, and his team went on to lose in extra innings. To start the inning, Yates walked Jeremy Pena, who stole second and scored on a single by Christian Walker. While he didn't take the loss on Monday, Yates' ERA climbed to 5.23 on the season, and he has allowed a run in three of his last four appearances. The Angels don't have many proven options in the bullpen, or Yates may have already been in a committee, but if they do look to go a different direction, Sam Bachman has been very effective as a setup man. Yates still will likely get save chances for the Angels, but he'll need to turn things around soon if he doesn't want to lose his job. It's hard to have much confidence in him at this point, and better options may be available on your league's waiver wire.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
