RADIO
Brice Matthews Still Worth Targeting Off the Waiver Wire?
Houston Astros outfielder Brice Matthews has been quiet at the plate in May and may no longer be worth holding in mixed fantasy leagues. In 16 games in May, Matthews has gone 11-for-55 (.200) with two home runs, five RBI, six runs scored, a stolen base, three walks, and 14 strikeouts across 59 plate appearances. He has not homered since May 6 and is barely over the Mendoza Line (.204) on the year with four long balls, 13 RBI, 12 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 39 games in just his second season in the big leagues. Matthews also struggled in a small sample size of 13 games in his first taste of major-league pitching in 2025, going 7-for-42 (.167), although he did hit four home runs while driving in nine, scoring six runs, and stealing one base. Three of the 24-year-old's home runs so far in 2026 came during a nine-game stretch, but outside of that, he just hasn't been consistent enough to warrant a roster spot in mixed leagues. Matthews is currently rostered in only 3% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Cade Cavalli Should be Drawing More Attention on the Waiver Wire
Washington Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli won his second game of the 2026 season on Saturday in the team's 13-3 blowout win over the Baltimore Orioles. Cavalli picked up his third quality start of the year by allowing three earned runs on eight hits (two home runs) while walking none and striking out eight in 6 1/3 innings pitched. The home runs that the 27-year-old allowed were the first of the season for him. He threw 68 of his 96 pitches for strikes. Cavalli has now struck out at least eight batters in three of his last five starts. In back-to-back outings against the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets on May 23 and May 29, Cavalli had 20 total strikeouts with only four earned runs in 11 innings. After his performance over the weekend against Baltimore, the former first-rounder in 2020 out of Oklahoma sits at 2-2 on the year with a 4.05 ERA (3.37 FIP) and 1.54 WHIP with 52 strikeouts and 18 walks in 46 2/3 innings across his 10 starts for the Nats. He has a rematch against the division-rival Mets in his next outing, making him a clear streaming option for fantasy managers, even though the Mets have picked things up of late.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Sal Frelick Heating Up at the Plate, Widely Available in Fantasy Leagues
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick doesn't have game-changing power or speed, and he got off to a slow start offensively in 2026. However, Frelick has been showing signs of life at the plate recently and has gone 7-for-25 (.280) with a double, three RBI, two stolen bases, and two runs scored in his last six games, dating back to May 12. He is hitting just .250 (13-for-52) with a double, four RBI, two steals, and four runs scored across 14 games in May, but it's still a big improvement over his .219/.298/.315 slash line with two homers, seven RBI, 12 runs scored, and a stolen base in 24 games (87 plate appearances) in April. Overall, Frelick is batting .224 with a weak .614 OPS, three long balls, 13 RBI, and 19 runs scored in 161 plate appearances as Milwaukee's starting right fielder. His double on Sunday was his first extra-base hit of the month. The ceiling isn't very high for Frelick, but in deeper leagues, he might be worth a pickup if he continues to swing the bat well. Frelick is rostered in only 10% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Spencer Schwellenbach Worth an Add Amid Looming Return?
Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow), who is currently on the 60-day injured list after having surgery to remove bone spurs from his right elbow, is reportedly close to starting a throwing program and is worth a look on the waiver wire as a pitcher to stash. The 25-year-old is currently rostered in only 30% of Yahoo leagues. Schwellenbach won't be an option to rejoin Atlanta's starting rotation until after the All-Star break in mid-July, but for his upside alone, he's worth stashing in fantasy leagues if you have the room. The former second-rounder in 2021 out of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has gone 15-11 in his two seasons with the Braves with a 3.23 ERA (3.27 FIP), 1.01 WHIP, and 235:41 K:BB in 234 1/3 innings pitched across 38 starts. There's plenty of risk, though, as Schwellenbach has already had Tommy John surgery and has yet to throw a full season in the Braves' big-league rotation.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Bailey Ober Picks Up Second Straight Win, Worth a Look on Waivers
Minnesota Twins right-hander Bailey Ober wasn't nearly as good on Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers as he was his last time out on May 12, when he threw a complete-game shutout with only two hits allowed and seven strikeouts against the Miami Marlins. Ober didn't even have a quality start on Sunday in the team's 5-4 win, but he did earn his fifth win of the year by limiting the Brewers to three earned runs on six hits (two homers) while walking two and striking out one. The damage that the 30-year-old allowed came on long balls to outfielders Garrett Mitchell and Christian Yelich. Ober doesn't throw hard and has limited long-term fantasy upside because of his lack of swing-and-miss stuff, but you can't ignore the fact that he's given up two runs or less in four of his last six appearances for the Twins. Overall, he's 5-2 with a 3.63 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with just 40 punchouts in 57 innings across his 10 starts. Ober is worth a look on the waiver wire -- he's rostered in just under 50% of Yahoo leagues -- and will be a streaming option in his next outing against a Boston Red Sox team that ranks second-to-last in OPS (.666).
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Gavin Sheets on Fire at the Plate, Hits Two More Homers in Seattle
San Diego Padres outfielder/first baseman Gavin Sheets is one of the hottest hitters in baseball right now. The 30-year-old left-handed slugger carried the Friars' offense on Sunday as they finished off another three-game sweep of the hosting Seattle Mariners in an 8-3 win, going 3-for-3 at the plate with two home runs, four RBI, and two walks to raise his season average to .262 and his OPS to .896. Both of Sheets' long balls at T-Mobile Park came off right-handed starter George Kirby. It was the second straight day that Sheets cleared the fences in Seattle, and he extended his current hitting streak to six games after starting May pretty cold offensively. During his six-game hitting streak, Sheets has gone 10-for-16 (.625) with four homers, a double, eight RBI, six runs scored, and a stolen base. He continues to produce for fantasy managers with outfield and first base eligibility, and he's now slashing .262/.340/.556 with nine total home runs, 10 doubles, 21 RBI, 19 runs scored, and three stolen bases in his 141 plate appearances in 2026.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Kyle Manzardo Doubles his Homer Total in One Game on Sunday
Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo continues to heat up offensively in May. In the team's 10-3 win at home on Sunday against the visiting Cincinnati Reds, Manzardo went 2-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI, and two strikeouts to raise his season batting average to .223 and his OPS to .663. Manzardo wasn't the only Cleveland batter feeling good in the series finale, as the Guards totaled six home runs on the day. The 25-year-old Manzardo may not have gotten off to a strong start at the plate in 2026, but he has been heating up in May, hitting .295 (13-for-44) with three long balls, two doubles, a triple, nine RBI, and 12 runs scored in 14 games played across 49 plate appearances. He is now slashing .223/.301/.362 with four doubles, four home runs, 16 RBI, and 15 runs scored in his 146 plate appearances for Cleveland. Fantasy managers will want to continue to ride the left-handed-hitting first baseman while he's hot.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Corbin Carroll Extends Hitting Streak With Two-Homer Game
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll is heating up at the plate and extended his hitting streak to six games in Sunday's 8-6 win over the division-rival Colorado Rockies in the thin air in Denver at Coors Field, going 2-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI, three runs scored, one walk, and two strikeouts to raise his season average to .278 and his OPS to .933. It was the 25-year-old's ninth career mult-home run game, and he now has seven home runs in his 43 games played in 2026. During his six-game hitting streak, the former National League Rookie of the Year has gone 8-for-19 (.421) with two homers, three doubles, four RBI, eight runs scored, and two stolen bases. He's still only hitting .245 (13-for-53) in May with three homers, six RBI, 11 runs, and two stolen bases, but he's picking things up offensively. Fantasy managers have to be stoked with what they are seeing of late out of Carroll, and that he keeps it up moving forward.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jonah Tong a Priority Stash Ahead of Looming Return to Major Leagues?
New York Mets right-handed pitching prospect Jonah Tong could be in the mix to join the starting rotation in the major leagues in the near future. Earlier this week, the Mets placed starting pitcher Clay Holmes on the 15-day injured list with a fractured fibula, which will keep him on the shelf for at least six weeks. While the team has yet to announce a replacement, the former 209th-overall pick will likely be considered a potential option. Tong was in the mix to begin the campaign in the starting rotation but was instead optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. While Tong has struggled to find consistency at Triple-A, he has often flashed immense strikeout potential, totaling 55 over a short 38-inning stint. Tong made his MLB debut late in the second half of the 2025 season but posted a high 7.71 ERA. Given the team's open role, Tong could be given a longer leash during his second stint, which makes him a solid stash option among pitching prospects.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Is Kade Anderson Entering Must-Stash Territory?
Seattle Mariners top pitching prospect Kade Anderson has fully put himself in must-stash territory, given his incredible start to his first professional campaign. Last year's No. 3 overall pick was sent to Double-A to begin his professional career and has been nothing short of incredible. With Arkansas, the southpaw has flashed incredible upside, logging 34 innings to the tune of a 1.85 ERA and a 0.76 WHIP. During this dominant start to his career, the left-hander has struck out 51 hitters while walking just five total batters. Over his first 30 frames, Anderson held a near-perfect 0.60 ERA before surrendering a season-high five runs in his most recent outing on May 15. The lone concern for Anderson is that the current MLB roster has a full rotation without a clear opening for Anderson. However, in the event of an injury, the former LSU superstar could get the call and become a must-start option for fantasy. For now, he is an elite stash option in all 12-team leagues ahead of Week 8.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Joshua Baez Soaring in the Stash Rankings Amid Power Binge
St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez has enjoyed an impressive power surge over the past week at Triple-A Memphis and is quickly climbing to the top of the stash rankings among both hitters and pitchers. Over his last six contests, the outfielder has launched four home runs while swiping one base. Overall, Baz has shown high-end power and speed upside during his first look at the Triple-A level, going deep 11 times and swiping seven bags over a short 39-game stint. However, the No. 76-ranked prospect in the sport on MLB.com has struggled to produce consistently, posting a low .232/.304/.497 slash line. While Baez was under consideration to break camp with the MLB roster, his recent power surge could push their hand in the immediate future. Given his recent surge at the dish, managers should view Baez as a priority stash option in all category formats ahead of Week 8 of the fantasy season.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
River Ryan a Must-Stash Candidate with Clear Path to Starting Role?
Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitching prospect River Ryan has seen his stash value skyrocket over the past week. Not only has Ryan returned from a lengthy stint on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A, but he now has a clear path to a role on the MLB roster. Blake Snell recently joined Tyler Glasnow on the injured list, leaving a clear role for Ryan on the big-league roster. In his first start at Triple-A in nearly a month, the right-hander looked quite comfortable, logging four innings of one-run ball with two hits, one walk, and four punchouts. He made his MLB debut during the 2024 campaign and posted a stellar 1.33 ERA over 20 1/3 innings. However, after undergoing Tommy John surgery, Ryan was on the shelf for the entirety of the 2025 season. With him back to full strength and two open spots in the rotation, Ryan has quickly entered must-stash territory in all standard leagues, as a return to Los Angeles could come in the immediate future.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Luis Lara Knocking on MLB Door Ahead of Week 8
Milwaukee Brewers outfield prospect Luis Lara has enjoyed a dominant start to the Triple-A campaign and is quickly knocking on the MLB door. Lara is considered the team's No. 11-ranked prospect on MLB.com and was not given much consideration to begin the regular season with the MLB roster during spring training. In 2025, he spent his entire campaign with Double-A, but his production soared during his first stint with Triple-A Nashville. With the Sounds, the outfielder has posted a dominant .335/.449/.510 slash line with a .919 OPS. During this 42-game stint, Lara has launched seven home runs and swiped 16 bags. His seven long balls have already set a career high. With his raw power slowly growing, Lara could be in the mix to debut in the majors in the coming weeks and holds solid stash upside in all 12+ team formats.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Colt Emerson Holds Must-Add Value Ahead of Full-Time Role in Seattle
Seattle Mariners infield prospect Colt Emerson was recently promoted to the MLB roster ahead of Sunday night's contest and is set to become the primary third baseman with Brendan Donovan on the shelf. In his MLB debut on Sunday night, Emerson was placed in the nine-hole and scored one run and drew a walk while going 0-for-2 at the dish. Emerson was in contention to break camp with the MLB roster but was instead optioned to the top club in the Seattle system to put the finishing touches on his development. Through his first 38 games with Tacoma this summer, Emerson has posted a strong .255/.347/.469 slash line with eight doubles, seven home runs, and 10 stolen bases. However, since the start of May, Emerson has seen his production soar, posting a .288 AVG and .840 OPS. While it may take the team's No. 1-ranked prospect time to adjust to MLB pitching, he should be given nearly an everyday role, which makes him a priority target in all standard leagues ahead of Week 8, given his five-category skill set.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Gus Varland the Preferred Option For Saves in Washington?
Washington Nationals 29-year-old right-hander Gus Varland is having a decent 2026 season with a 4.32 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with four saves in six save opportunities to go along with five holds on the season. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, Varland is not always used late in games solely to close; at times, he has been deployed in higher-leverage situations in the eighth or seventh inning rather than guaranteed the ninth inning with the lead on the line. Varland has never been in situations where he has closed out games in his three-year MLB career, and if he hopes to keep the role, he needs to pitch a bit better and allow fewer base runners, evident by his high WHIP. All that said, during a season when Riley O'Brien is leading MLB in save opportunities, injuries, and underperforming closers, saves have been hard to come by in category leagues. In deeper fantasy leagues, Varland should be viewed as the top option in Washington and an add in deeper formats.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
