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Luis Lara Emerges as Appealing Stash Candidate with Multi-Category Potential
Milwaukee Brewers outfield prospect Luis Lara continues to make his case for a promotion to the big leagues, going 3-for-5 with a walk and two steals in his latest game for Triple-A Nashville. The effort pushed his batting average to .329 on the season, with a strong 13.7 percent walk rate contributing to a robust .429 on-base percentage. Impressively, the Brewers' 11th-ranked prospect's walk rate is higher than his strikeout rate (11.9 percent), he's already swiped 15 bags after a 44-steal season in 2025, has scored 35 runs in 38 games, and has seven home runs after hitting two in 136 games at Double-A last year. There is plenty to like in the 21-year-old's profile for fantasy, and an MLB debut could happen in the coming weeks, so fantasy managers in deeper leagues should consider picking up the switch-hitter ahead of a call-up.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Mets Place Francisco Alvarez on Injured List With Torn Meniscus
The New York Mets announced on Wednesday that they placed catcher Francisco Alvarez (knee) on the 10-day injured list due to a right meniscus tear and recalled catcher Hayden Senger from Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move. Alvarez tore the meniscus in his right knee on a swing in the sixth inning of Tuesday's win over the visiting Detroit Tigers. If Alvarez requires surgery on his knee, which is likely, he'll probably be out for around four to six weeks in a best-case scenario, another major blow to the last-place Mets. Before his injury, the 24-year-old Venezuelan backstop was hitting .241 (27-for-112) with four home runs, 10 RBI, and 12 runs scored in his first 37 games of 2026. Injuries continue to be the story for Alvarez, who hasn't played in more than 123 games in his four seasons in the majors. Luis Torrens will now be New York's primary catcher with Alvarez injured, with Senger serving as the backup in Queens. Alvarez is not a must-hold in fantasy baseball leagues, and he's only rostered in 22% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: New York Mets
Source: New York Mets
Max Fried Dealing With Left Elbow Posterior Soreness
Updating a previous report, New York Yankees left-hander Max Fried (elbow) left his start early on Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards with left elbow posterior soreness, the team announced. Fried will be looked at by team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad and will undergo imaging in New York on Thursday. The 32-year-old three-time All-Star just did not look like himself before leaving, allowing five hits and three earned runs while walking one and striking out two in three frames before departing. He threw 61 pitches in the outing. It's unclear exactly how serious Fried's injury is, but it doesn't sound good. At the very least, fantasy managers should expect Fried to miss a couple of starts going forward. The good news for the Yankees is that former Cy Young winner, right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow), is nearing a return to the team's starting rotation and could be ready in a couple of weeks. Fried, who has been an All-Star in each of the last two seasons, is a must-start in fantasy lineups when he's healthy, so he should be stashed everywhere if he lands on the injured list. Stay tuned for an update on him on Thursday.
Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
With Potential June Return, Time to Consider Stashing Jordan Lawlar?
Arizona Diamondbacks infielder/outfielder Jordan Lawlar (wrist) has yet to start swinging a bat as part of his rehab from a fractured right wrist, but with a potential return in June, fantasy managers need to start considering snatching him back up off the waiver wire ahead of time. The former sixth-overall draft pick had a strong season at Triple-A in 2025 (.313/.403/.564) and was off to a good start for the D-backs this season, going 6-for-18 (.333) with a home run and a stolen base in his first six games before going down with injury. While staying on the field has been an issue for him, the fractured wrist was a result of getting hit by a pitch, so it is not a recurring type of injury, and hopefully, he can remain healthy for the remainder of the season once he returns. The former top prospect has decent pop, plenty of speed, and should be able to hit for a decent average, giving him some all-around fantasy appeal to go along with positional versatility on Yahoo!, where he is rostered in just six percent of leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Willson Contreras Back From Hand Injury on Wednesday
Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (hand) is back in the starting lineup and is batting cleanup for Wednesday's game at Fenway Park against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander Andrew Painter, according to MLB.com. Contreras was held out of the last couple of games due to a bruised right hand, but he's back in there and in the heart of the order. The 34-year-old Venezuelan is returning to a .259/.380/.467 slash line with an .846 OPS, eight home runs, 23 RBI, 19 runs scored, and a stolen base in his first 39 games of the 2026 season. In nine games so far in May, Contreras has been pretty average, batting .250 (7-for-28) with a homer, a double, three RBI, three runs scored, one stolen base, six walks, and 11 strikeouts. In traditional fantasy setups, get Contreras back into your starting lineups now that he's active again. Contreras has never faced Painter in his MLB career.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Alex Bregman Homers Tuesday, Getting Out of Skid?
Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman has been struggling at the plate lately, but he could be getting back on track with a home run Tuesday and an active three-game hitting streak. In his first season with the Cubs, Bregman is slashing .233/.326/.350 with four home runs, an 11.8% walk rate, and a career-worst 16.6% strikeout rate. His power and run creation have also hit new career-low marks, as he owns a .117 ISO and 94 wRC+. Tuesday's solid performance could be a sign that he's finding his groove at the plate, and while the counting stats still aren't great, it's worth noting that he has managed to reach base safely in eight consecutive games. As it stands, he ranks #12 among third basemen in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Edwin Arroyo Entering Stash Territory with Torrid Stretch at Triple-A
Cincinnati Reds infield prospect Edwin Arroyo is one of the hottest hitters in the minors right now, with four multi-hit games in his last five games, including two four-hit performances. During this recent five-game stretch, he is 14-for-25 (.560) with two doubles, a triple, and four home runs, but the Reds' sixth-ranked prospect has been hitting well all season, recording 15 multi-hit efforts out of his 39 games played. The former second-round draft pick is now the author of a robust .342/.408/.590 slash line with eight home runs and five steals, along with a low 15.2 percent strikeout rate. Despite having logged time at second base, third base, and shortstop so far in 2026, there is no room for the switch-hitter at the major league level at the moment (although there are some glaring underperformers on offense), so hopefully he can continue to rake until the Reds decide to give him a chance. The 22-year-old offers a little pop and plenty of speed to go along with a decent bat (.301 AVG, 16.8 percent K% between Double and Triple-A), so he is a name for fantasy managers in deep leagues to consider stashing as he could offer plenty of fantasy appeal with positional versatility (2B, SS) to boot.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Is Charlie Condon Still Worth Stashing Amid Power Outage?
Colorado Rockies corner infield/outfield prospect Charlie Condon has slowed considerably from his hot early-season start, seeing his batting average fall from .339 on April 17 down to where it currently stands at .234. Even while his bat was cooling, though, he was still drawing walks, with 13 of them in a 13-game span from April 19 to May 5. However, those have dried up, too, now with zero walks and 10 strikeouts (41.7 percent K%) in the five games since then. The former third-overall draft pick seemed to be making strides in that respect this season, but seeing such a large spike in strikeouts may push his MLB debut out a bit further, especially since there is also no sign of his main fantasy attribute, now having gone 22 consecutive games without a home run. Still, with power potential like his, managers in deeper leagues who are in dire need of home runs should consider stashing the 6-foot-5 slugger, as once he gets going again, a quick call to the majors could be in store, and Coors Field should give him an additional power boost.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Josh Naylor Enjoying Success at the Plate in May
Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor has been hitting the ball quite well in the month of May. He has registered a base hit in 10 of 11 games this month, and he owns an impressive .333/.362/.444 slash line with one home run, four steals, and just six strikeouts. This hot streak has helped to improve his season-long stats, which weren't in the best place at the end of April. Now, through 40 games this year, he's slashing .247/.306/.367 with five home runs, eight steals, a 7.5% walk rate, a 15.6% strikeout rate, and 95 wRC+. His advanced metrics indicate that he's still slightly below average at the plate, but trending in the right direction. That should be refreshing news for fantasy managers, who have been patiently waiting for Naylor to regain his steady fantasy relevance. As it stands, he ranks #11 among first basemen in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jackson Merrill Remains a Stolen Base Threat
San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill is off to a subpar start to the season at the plate, but he has been able to salvage his fantasy value by stealing bases. The 23-year-old has swiped eight bags this year, so he's already halfway to his career-high mark of 16. He's also taking more free passes, as his walk rate has jumped from 6.8% in 2025 to 8.7% in 2026. The bad news is that he's slashing just .221/.294/.351 with four home runs, a career-high 23.8% strikeout rate, and a career-low 84 wRC+. The steals can only help him so much in fantasy baseball, and managers would love to see him get back on track at the plate. There's hope that he'll be able to bounce back, as the Padres' everyday center fielder still checks in as the #24 outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Max Fried Exits After Just Three Innings
New York Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried (undisclosed) exited early during Wednesday's start against the Baltimore Orioles. He lasted just three innings but threw a total of 61 pitches. Bryan Hoch of MLB.com speculated that Fried could be dealing with a blister because his command was shaky. The star pitcher had thrown just 55.7% strikes before departing, and he was hit around for three runs on five hits. Fried has dealt with blisters in the past, but there wasn't any clear indication that he was experiencing discomfort until he exited on Wednesday afternoon. Presumably, the Yankees will provide an update on his status this afternoon or evening. Fans and fantasy managers will hope for good news, as losing Fried for any period of time is problematic. The 32-year-old southpaw entered today with an impressive 2.73 FIP, 7.36 K/9, 2.76 BB/9, and 0.15 HR/9 across nine starts.
Source: Bryan Hoch
Source: Bryan Hoch
Max Clark Still a Solid Stash Option Despite Cooling at Triple-A
Detroit Tigers outfield prospect Max Clark has cooled off at Triple-A, but he is still holding his own, having hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games. In a sign that perhaps he's about to get hot again, the Tigers' second-ranked prospect belted his first extra-base hit this past Saturday after going nine games without one. His extra-base hit on Saturday was nearly a grand slam but was ruled a double after the umpires determined there was fan interference. Nevertheless, the left-handed slugger is hitting a solid .268 with a .342 on-base percentage thanks to a 10.6 percent walk rate, while he's still putting the bat on the ball at a good clip with just a 14.9 percent strikeout rate. With nine stolen bases as well, the former third-overall draft pick can be a multi-category producer at the major league level whenever he gets the call. His time will likely come by midseason, so managers in deeper leagues should consider stashing the 21-year-old ahead of his call-up, as there aren't many prospects on the verge of a debut that can match his potential to contribute across categories.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Austin Riley Finding His Stride at the Plate
Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley got off to a relatively slow start at the plate this season, but he has turned the corner lately with improved contact and power production. Riley has put together a four-game hitting streak, during which he is 6-for-16 with one home run, one double, three RBI, one walk, and four strikeouts. He has improved his season-long slash line to .220/.290/.377 with six homers, an 8.0 walk rate, a 26.7% strikeout rate, and 88 wRC+. Those walk and strikeout rates are essentially on par with his previous single-season marks, so now we'd just like to see him produce more base hits and find a little power. His 2026 ISO has fallen to a career-low .157, which is nearly 100 points lower than his career-best .255 mark in 2022. Given his recent success at the plate, Riley could be an intriguing buy-low candidate in fantasy baseball trades going forward.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Max Muncy Still Not Doing Baseball Activities
Athletics third baseman Max Muncy (hand) is still being held out of all baseball activities, and there is no timetable for his return, per MLB.com. Muncy was placed on the 10-day injured list on April 26 with a left-hand fifth metacarpal fracture. The 23-year-old third baseman was originally hit by a pitch on his hand on April 23. Before landing on the IL, the former 25th overall pick in 2021 had gone 22-for-92 (.239) at the plate with two home runs, seven RBI, 15 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 26 games in 2026. In his first taste of big-league pitching last year, Muncy slashed .214/.259/.379 with a .638 OPS, nine home runs, 23 RBI, 17 runs scored, and a stolen base across 63 contests and 220 plate appearances. Since he has yet to resume baseball activities, Muncy might not be ready to return to the A's lineup until June. Recently, Zack Gelof has taken advantage of the open playing time at the hot corner in Sacramento for the A's. Muncy is currently rostered in only 12% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Francisco Alvarez Going for MRI on his Knee
New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (knee) is heading for an MRI exam on Wednesday after leaving Tuesday's 10-2 win over the Detroit Tigers with a right-knee injury in the sixth inning, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. "We've just got to wait," manager Carlos Mendoza said. "It didn't look good on that swing, obviously. We saw it right away. He came out, but we've got to wait." Fantasy managers should expect Alvarez to be out of the starting lineup for Wednesday's contest against Detroit in Queens, and there's a good possibility that Alvarez will require a stint on the 10-day injured list. Luis Torrens replaced him behind the dish on Tuesday and would take over starting duties at catcher in New York if Alvarez is forced to miss extended time. Hayden Singer would likely be called up from Triple-A Syracuse to serve as the No. 2 catcher for the banged-up Mets. The 24-year-old, who has hit .241 with a .710 OPS in 37 games in 2026, has had trouble staying healthy in his career. Alvarez is currently rostered in only 23% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
