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Padres Promote Outfield Prospect Jase Bowen to Major Leagues, Worth a Speculative Add?
San Diego Padres outfield prospect Jase Bowen is being promoted to the major leagues, according to Kiley McDaniel of ESPN. Bowen is currently ranked as the team's No. 23 prospect on MLB.com but has put together a strong start to the Triple-A regular season. The first 11th round pick from the 2019 MLB Draft has posted an impressive .292/.362/.600 slash line with a .962 OPS. During this 49-game stint, Bowen has tallied 11 doubles, 13 round-trippers, and swiped seven bags. This is a major improvement when looking at the .802 OPS he carried in the upper minors during the 2025 campaign. Fantasy managers should monitor his usage as he could eventually carve out a role in the San Diego outfield, given his hot start. For now, he is worth a look in deeper 12+ team leagues with five outfielder spots.
Source: Kiley McDaniel
Source: Kiley McDaniel
Carlos Lagrange a High-Strikeout Pitcher to Stash?
New York Yankees starting pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange has emerged as a top fantasy stash heading into June. Lagrange has an iffy 4.41 ERA, but we're very impressed by his 11.57 K/9. He has maintained strikeout rates north of 10+ K/9 for all of his minor league career, and he should keep up that pace once he reaches the majors. With that being said, he'll need to lower his walk (4.59 BB/9) and home run (1.47 HR/9) rates going forward, as these are likely some of the main reasons why his ERA is on the higher side. The right-hander is an impressive prospect in terms of makeup. He checks in at 6-foot-7 and throws a 99 mph fastball, touching triple-digits at times. He has five distinct pitches, and all of them are average or above-average offerings. In addition to the four-seamer, he throws a sweeper, slider, changeup, and sinker. The changeup complements the heater nicely, inducing a .188 xwOBA and 37% whiff rate. Managers should consider stashing Lagrange now, because it'll be too late once he starts racking up strikeouts in the majors.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kaelen Culpepper a Priority Addition Ahead of Week 10?
Minnesota Twins shortstop prospect Kaelen Culpepper continues to demonstrate an impressive blend of power and speed in the minors, and he's getting even closer to his MLB debut now that he has played 50+ games at Triple-A. The 23-year-old is slashing .256/.361/.473 with 12 homers, 12 steals, a 12.7% strikeout rate, a 19.7% walk rate, and 113 wRC+ so far. The underlying metrics are equally encouraging, as he owns a 95.2 mph median exit velocity (91st percentile), a 51.3% hard-hit rate (90th percentile), and a 89.4% zone contact rate (85th percentile). He can get overly aggressive at times, resulting in some chase, but for the most part, he's a well-rounded hitter with an encouraging defensive profile on the left side of the infield. He's nearly a lock to make his MLB debut this summer, and with his power/speed combo, fantasy managers should consider stashing him before his promotion. He ranks #2 among all prospects in RotoBaller's latest redraft fantasy baseball rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Reds Promote Top Infield Prospect Edwin Arroyo, Viewed as Priority Pick Up Ahead of MLB Debut
The Cincinnati Reds are promoting top infield prospect Edwin Arroyo to the major leagues. In a corresponding move, the Reds are placing superstar shortstop Elly De La Cruz on the 10-day injured list with a right-hamstring injury. Arroyo currently stands as MLB.com's No. 98-ranked prospect and is viewed as the team's No. 3 prospect. Arroyo has enjoyed a dominant start to the Triple-A regular season and is expected to see a major role in his first taste of the major leagues. With Triple-A, the infielder has posted an impressive .323/.383/.562 line with a stellar .945 OPS. During this 53-game stretch, Arroyo hit nine doubles, 11 home runs, and swiped nine bags. With De La Cruz now on the injured list, Arroyo should see near every day at-bats in this offense. His five-category potential makes him a priority target in all standard leagues.
Source: Charlie Goldsmith
Source: Charlie Goldsmith
Elly De La Cruz Placed on IL with Right Hamstring Tightness
Cincinnati Reds superstar Elly De La Cruz (hamstring) has been placed on the 10-day injured list with right hamstring tightness, per Charlie Goldsmith of FOX19. The Reds called up top shortstop prospect Edwin Arroyo in a corresponding move. De La Cruz felt the issue rounding first base on a leadoff single in the fifth inning of Sunday's win over the Braves and was pulled right away. He's scheduled for an MRI on Monday to get a clearer timeline to determine the severity of his hamstring issue. In the meantime, Matt McLain and the newly called-up Arroyo will handle shortstop, with Spencer Steer sliding around the infield for flexibility. Deeper-league managers chasing speed and upside should strongly consider adding Arroyo as a nice temporary boost. Before getting the call to the show on Monday, Arroyo slashed .323/.383/.562 with 11 home runs and nine stolen bases across 248 plate appearances for Triple-A Louisville.
Source: Charlie Goldsmith
Source: Charlie Goldsmith
Cade Cavalli Must-Add on the Waiver Wire After Third Straight Quality Start?
Washington Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli is really starting to look like the pitcher a lot of fantasy managers have been waiting for. The 27-year-old just threw his third straight quality start on Tuesday, allowing one run over six innings with seven strikeouts in a win over the Guardians. Across his last three outings, he's posted a 2.79 ERA with 24 punchouts in 19 1/3 innings, and for the season he sits at (3-3) with a 3.62 ERA and 68 Ks in 59 2/3 innings. His stuff is still nasty, as his K% has increased from 18.3% last year to 25.4% in 2026. He's finally putting it all together without the old command issues popping up as much. With favorable matchups against the Marlins and Diamondbacks coming up, fantasy managers should look to add Cavalli (50% rostered in Yahoo Fantasy leagues) in most leagues and continue to stream him while he's pitching well.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nick Pivetta Emerging as Top Waiver Wire Stash Candidate?
San Diego Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta (forearm) is starting to show some real progress in his recovery and could be worth stashing on the waiver wire right now in deeper leagues. The 33-year-old Opening Day starter landed on the IL back in mid-April with right forearm inflammation/flexor strain. He took a big step forward on Friday when he threw on flat ground for the first time since the injury. The 33-year-old is expected to keep building up from there over the next couple of weeks, and the Padres have been cautiously optimistic about his timeline. Pivetta was having a solid start to 2026 before going down, posting a 1.38 ERA and 0.68 WHIP over his previous 13 innings. He's always had the stuff to be a reliable rotation piece when healthy. If Pivetta keeps progressing smoothly, he should be back sometime this summer with a chance to help fantasy teams down the stretch. Fantasy managers in leagues with an IL spot should continue to stash Pivetta for now.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rico Garcia Priority Target for Saves on the Waiver Wire?
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Rico Garcia notched the save in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Athletics. Garcia allowed one walk while striking out over a scoreless inning to earn his third save of the year. The 32-year-old keeps rolling and looks like one of the best relief pitchers on the waiver wire right now. He has been absolutely filthy in 2026, posting a ridiculous 0.71 ERA and 0.63 WHIP with 28 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings. Garcia has allowed basically no hard contact all year (including a historic stretch with just one hit over his first 64 batters faced) and already picked up three saves while sharing high-leverage work. With Ryan Helsley (elbow) on the IL, Garcia has been handling the majority of the save chances for the Orioles. Fantasy managers chasing saves should look to add Garcia, as he's only rostered in 35% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Matt McLain Worth Stashing on Waiver Wire as a Bounce-Back Candidate?
Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain has been one of the bigger disappointments of the first two months, but he might be worth grabbing right now while he's slumping. The 26-year-old is hitting just .196 with five homers, 20 RBI, 22 runs, and seven steals across 56 games. He's been especially ice cold lately (1-for-26 in his last eight games), and he was out of the lineup on Sunday. Still, he showed some signs of life with a three-homer stretch in May, and he came in as a pinch-runner and played shortstop after Elly De La Cruz (hamstring) was removed from Sunday's game against the Braves. McLain is still viewed as the primary second baseman long-term and has the tools for a legit 15-20 HR, 15+ SB season once he gets going. Deeper-league managers should consider stashing him on the waiver wire (rostered in 38% of Yahoo leagues) while the price is this low. Update: McLain should see an uptick in at-bats now that De La Cruz was placed on the 10-day Injured List Monday.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Grant Taylor Worth Targeting on the Waiver Wire Ahead of Potential Ninth-Inning Takeover in Chicago?
Chicago White Sox right-hander Grant Taylor has arguably been his team's top relief option so far in 2026, recording a 2.12 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 44 strikeouts across 29 2/3 innings (23 games). The 24-year-old has recorded just one save on the year, as the White Sox have primarily utilized veteran reliever Seranthony Dominguez in the ninth inning. However, Dominguez owns an 11.3% walk rate and a 1.99 HR/9 on the season, a combination that makes him prone to blow-up innings. With an average fastball velocity of 98.5 miles per hour and a 28.7% K-BB rate, Taylor profiles as the closer of the future in Chicago. If the White Sox continue to hang around the playoff picture in the American League, the team could make the switch to Taylor sooner rather than later. For deeper-league managers in need of saves, Taylor could be worth stashing off the waiver wire ahead of his possible emergence as the preferred ninth-inning option in Chicago.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Troy Melton Emerging as a Breakout Candidate to Target on the Waiver Wire
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Troy Melton had the start of his 2026 season delayed by an elbow injury. However, the 25-year-old made his return to the MLB mound on May 24 and has impressed in his first two starts of the year, allowing just two earned runs across 12 2/3 innings pitched. Melton's production in 2026 is a continuation of his strong 2025 performance, as he recorded a 2.76 ERA and 1.01 WHIP across 16 games (four starts) after making his MLB debut in late July. With a 17.4% career strikeout rate, the young right-hander has struggled to generate whiffs at the big-league level so far. Still, he's consistently found a way to get outs and showed more strikeout upside in the minors, recording a 32.4% strikeout rate across 75 1/3 innings split between Double and Triple-A in 2025. Melton should have an extended runway to establish himself as a rotation fixture in Detroit and profiles as a breakout candidate for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Angel Martinez Expected to Make Quick Return from Foot Injury, Remains a Top Waiver Wire Target
Cleveland Guardians outfielder Angel Martinez (foot) is currently considered day-to-day as he battles a mid-foot strain that forced him to exit early from his team's game against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday. However, Martinez is not expected to require a trip to the injured list and could be ready to go for the start of Cleveland's three-game set with the New York Yankees on Tuesday. The 24-year-old is in the midst of a breakout season so far in 2026, hitting .243/.281/.449 with nine home runs, 29 RBI, 24 runs scored, and eight stolen bases across 200 plate appearances. While Martinez's 3.0% walk rate brings his plate skills into question, he's made up for it by raising his barrel rate from 3.5% in 2025 to 8.1% this season. As a switch-hitter, Martinez has established himself as an everyday staple in the Guardians outfield, which should allow him to continue to rack up counting stats and stolen bases. Particularly in deeper leagues, Martinez profiles as a valuable compiler who should be a priority on the waiver wire for fantasy managers.
Source: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
Source: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
Zack Gelof a Top Waiver Wire Target Ahead of Possible Breakout Season
After opening 2026 in Triple-A, Athletics infielder/outfielder Zack Gelof earned a promotion to the big leagues in mid-April and has since established himself as his team's everyday third baseman. Across 150 plate appearances so far this season, the 26-year-old is hitting .259/.304/.432 with six home runs, 19 RBI, 21 runs scored, and six stolen bases. Gelof battled major swing-and-miss issues in his previous MLB stints, logging a 34.4% strikeout rate across 547 plate appearances in 2024 and striking out in 45.5% of his 101 plate appearances in 2025. However, the former top prospect has lowered his strikeout rate to 24.7% in 2026. As long as Gelof can continue to keep the whiffs under control, his combination of power and speed makes him an appealing option for fantasy managers. Gelof also has the advantage of playing his home games in the A's hitter-friendly home environment in Sacramento, which should allow him to maximize his abilities at the plate. Gelof profiles as a priority waiver wire target with upside ahead of a possible breakout season in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ryan Ward Launches First Career Home Run, Will He Carve Out a Full-Time Role?
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder/first baseman Ryan Ward picked up his first career home run on Sunday during his team's 9-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Ward was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday after the Dodgers placed veteran outfielder Teoscar Hernandez (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list with a hamstring strain. The 28-year-old Ward has been in the Dodgers farm system since 2019 and recorded back-to-back minor league seasons with at least 34 home runs and 104 RBI in 2024 and 2025. The lefty-swinging Ward could be in a position to play on the big side of a platoon in left field with Dodgers outfielder Alex Call until Hernandez returns from the IL. With regular playing time, Ward's power could provide a nice lift for fantasy managers in deeper leagues. The Dodgers' depth brings Ward's playing time into question, but he may still be worth targeting on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Sam Moll Earns One-Out Save for Reds, Worth an Add in Deeper Leagues?
Cincinnati Reds left-hander Sam Moll picked up his first save of the season on Sunday, recording the final out in his team's 6-4 win over the Atlanta Braves. Moll came on in relief of right-hander Tony Santillan, who started the ninth inning but exited after two hits, a walk, and an earned run. With closer Emilio Pagan (hamstring) on the 15-day injured list and top setup man Graham Ashcraft on the 60-day IL, the Reds are currently without a primary option in the ninth inning. Moll has pitched well so far in 2026, recording a 2.49 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 26 strikeouts across 25 1/3 innings (28 games). The 32-year-old has just two career saves and averages 92.3 miles per hour with his fastball, so he does not profile as a prototypical closer. Still, given Cincinnati's current situation, Moll could be a worthy saves target on the waiver wire for deep-league fantasy managers.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
