Jul 2, 2026, 3:17 PM ET

Baltimore Orioles reliever Rico Garcia is back in the saves conversation, though fantasy managers should not assume he is next in line. Ryan Helsley (elbow) felt discomfort while warming for the ninth inning on Wednesday, and Andrew Kittredge ended up handling the inning instead. That leaves the Orioles bullpen unsettled, with Garcia among several relievers who could get a look for save opportunities. He has pitched well enough to remain involved, posting a (3-1) record, 2.52 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 39 strikeouts, four saves, and 11 holds over 35 2/3 innings. At 22% rostered on Yahoo, Garcia makes the most sense in 15-team formats and leagues that use the category solds. Kittredge may receive the first opportunity, while Tyler Wells, Yennier Cano, and Grant Wolfram are also in the picture. If Helsley lands on the IL, Garcia is more of a watch-list name than a priority pickup in 12-team leagues until Baltimore shows its hand.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 2, 2026, 3:05 PM ET

Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect James Tibbs III has done plenty to earn a promotion at Triple-A Oklahoma City. The 23-year-old is batting .289/.413/.571 with 21 home runs, 68 RBI, 70 runs, and three stolen bases across 301 at-bats. His power has held up over a full first half, while the strong on-base percentage gives him more fantasy appeal than a one-dimensional slugger. The problem is finding him regular at-bats in Los Angeles. RotoBaller ranks Tibbs 13th among its current redraft prospect stashes and now projects an August arrival so that managers may need patience. His Yahoo roster rate is 5%, making him widely available in leagues. Tibbs is worth stashing in leagues with an NA spot or deep-league formats, especially those using five outfielders. Shallower mixed leagues can wait for a clearer path to promotion.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 2, 2026, 2:54 PM ET

Miami Marlins catcher Joe Mack has homered in back-to-back games, following a two-run shot on Tuesday, with a pinch-hit inside-the-park homer against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday. The two-game burst gives him six homers in 133 at-bats. Mack is slashing .256/.313/.429 with 22 RBI and 22 runs, and five of those long balls came during a strong June. Liam Hicks returned from the injured list Wednesday, but Mack is still expected to handle most of the work behind the plate, especially against right-handed pitching, where he is slashing .260/.325/.442 vs. righties in 114 plate appearances. Hicks will also see time at first base and designated hitter, while Brian Navarreto serves as the third catcher. Mack is not listed among RotoBaller's current Week 14 catcher pickups, so he should not be treated as a priority in standard one-catcher leagues. Yahoo currently puts him at a 4% roster rate, making him a sensible add in two-catcher formats.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 2, 2026, 2:48 PM ET

Colorado Rockies first base/outfield prospect Charlie Condon is forcing his way into the promotion conversation. The 23-year-old ripped two home runs and a triple for Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday, giving him five homers over his last three games. Condon is now slashing .293/.418/.612 with 20 home runs, 59 RBI, 71 runs, and five steals across 273 at-bats. He has also walked 49 times, so the recent power binge is not the result of an all-or-nothing approach. Colorado has not announced a call-up, but RotoBaller ranks Condon third among its current redraft prospect stashes and projects a July arrival. Yahoo managers have pushed his roster rate to 7%, leaving him available in most leagues despite the growing buzz. Condon is a priority stash in 15-team formats and should be considered in shallower leagues with an NA spot. The uncertain timeline keeps him from being a universal must-add.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 2, 2026, 2:41 PM ET

Detroit Tigers outfield prospect Max Clark is holding his own in his first Triple-A season. MLB Pipeline's No. 7 overall prospect is hitting .261 with six home runs, 32 RBI, 50 runs, and 17 stolen bases through 295 at-bats for Toledo. Clark has also kept his strikeout rate below 15%, which matters for a 21-year-old whose speed could make an immediate fantasy difference once Detroit calls him up. The only real question is timing. RotoBaller's latest redraft stash rankings place Clark fifth with an August ETA, and the Tigers do not have an obvious everyday opening waiting for him. Clark has reached 8% rostered on Yahoo, but he remains a must-stash in most formats for now, especially leagues with an NA spot.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 2, 2026, 1:59 PM ET

In what was considered a down year by his own lofty standards, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen still finished as the fantasy QB1. His 3,668 yards through the air and 25 passing touchdowns both marked his lowest totals since 2019, but his unmatched rushing upside allowed him to top the final rankings as he has now done in four of the past six seasons, never slipping below QB2 in that time. Allen leads all quarterbacks with 41 rushing touchdowns over the past three seasons, with Jalen Hurts the only other quarterback to top 20 scores over that stretch. With former offensive coordinator Joe Brady taking over as head coach in 2026, the Bills offense can expect a sense of continuity behind an offensive line that returns four of five starters from a year ago, and with the team sending a second-round pick to acquire veteran receiver DJ Moore, Allen now has arguably his most dangerous weapon since he was regularly topping 4,200 passing yards with Stefon Diggs as his primary receiver. Unsurprisingly, Allen is RotoBaller's QB1 for 2026 and should be the expected 1.01 in most superflex drafts.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 2, 2026, 1:50 PM ET

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry was the TE7 in half-PPR formats in 2025, and with one of the league's most efficient offenses from a season ago potentially taking another step forward, he projects as one of the most mispriced tight ends in 2026 drafts. Frequently going undrafted outside of deep best ball formats, Henry's current ADP is stuck at TE19, which would represent his lowest end-of-season finish since 2022. With the Patriots allowing Austin Hooper to depart in free agency, they signed blocking specialist Julian Hill to a three-year deal and spent a third-round pick on Notre Dame's Eli Raridon. Since then, Hill tore his ACL during organized team activities, and the rookie looked noticeably slender compared to the rest of the position group and could take time to develop the play strength needed to earn an every-down role in what projects to be one of the more physical offenses in the league. Head coach Mike Vrabel specifically pointed to tight end as a position where he'd like to find additional depth, but it's unlikely that anyone added to the roster at this point would pose a serious threat to Henry's role after he paced all New England pass catchers in 2025 with more than 1,000 snaps across the regular season and playoffs. A trusted big-body target for Drake Maye in both the middle of the field and the red zone, Henry should provide a usable weekly floor at a position where that is often enough for fantasy, but he also boasts multi-touchdown upside and is a player who should not be fully dismissed in the late rounds of 2026 drafts.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 2, 2026, 1:48 PM ET

Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer began his Sooners career with a bang, tallying 1,221 passing yards, 190 rushing yards, and 11 total touchdowns through his first four games. However, he suffered a broken thumb on his throwing hand in the fourth game of the season against Auburn, which required surgery. Over his next six games, he averaged just 174.2 passing yards per game and threw just six touchdowns. His thumb injury seemed to impact Oklahoma's offense significantly, but the team also saw a step up in competition during Mateer's cold streak. Despite this, Brent Venables' defense led Oklahoma to the College Football Playoff. Expectations remain high for that unit in 2026, but can a healthy Mateer engineer an offense worthy of competing for a CFP National Championship, or was his start to last season the outlier? Mateer's performance is one of the biggest storylines in this year's SEC and CFP race.--Jackson Sparks - RotoBaller
Source: ESPN

Jul 2, 2026, 1:44 PM ET

Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez (shoulder) suffered a setback with his shoulder after throwing a bullpen session on June 27. He received an injection on Wednesday and will be shut down for the rest of the week before being re-evaluated, according to MLB.com. Estevez initially went on the 15-day injured list on April 1 with a left-foot contusion, but he suffered a right rotator-cuff strain while rehabbing and was transferred to the 60-day IL on June 15. The 33-year-old veteran Dominican hurler only made one appearance this year for the Royals before getting injured, and he allowed six earned runs in just one-third of an inning. Estevez had a career- and league-high 42 saves in his first season with the Royals in 2025, but in addition to his injuries this year, his velocity was noticeably down in spring training. He easily has the most closing experience of anyone in KC's bullpen, but it could be a choppy ride for fantasy managers who are stashing him whenever he returns in the second half of 2026. Estevez is rostered in only 39% of Yahoo leagues now.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jul 2, 2026, 1:38 PM ET

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt is entering his first season in Lane Kiffin's offense after two strong years at Arizona State. The rising junior started 20 games for the Sun Devils, totaling 4,513 passing yards, 749 rushing yards, and 44 touchdowns. He led the program to a Big 12 title and a College Football Playoff appearance as a freshman in 2024. Given those credentials, expectations are sky-high for him in Baton Rouge. Kiffin's quarterbacks have often been prolific, especially since his tenure at Alabama under Nick Saban. If Leavitt can pick up his system quickly, he has the dual-threat skills and talent around him to make a real run at the Heisman Trophy in 2026. The Tigers will likely have to win at least 10 games for him to be considered, but that is in the range of outcomes given LSU's talent profile and coaching upgrades this offseason.--Jackson Sparks - RotoBaller
Source: Sports Reference CFB

Jul 2, 2026, 1:36 PM ET

With Zach Charbonnet tearing his ACL in the Seahawks' divisional round win over the 49ers, Seattle bumped 2024 undrafted running back George Holani into a primary backup role behind Kenneth Walker III for the rest of its Super Bowl-winning playoff run. While Walker would go on to win the Super Bowl MVP and earn a top-of-market deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, Holani saw a combined five carries for 10 yards in the Conference Championship and Super Bowl, and while early offseason rumblings had him in play for a potential starting role in 2026, he's now far more likely to continue serving as little more than an NFL depth piece and special teams contributor. Seattle spent its first-round pick on Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price, and Charbonnet is reportedly progressing well, even seen on the field performing a light workout in the final practice of minicamp. At RotoBaller's RB106, Holani has little chance of carving out any true dynasty relevance, and he should be viewed as a non-factor in 2026 redraft leagues.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 2, 2026, 1:25 PM ET

After three years of sharing a backfield with one of the nation's best players, 2026 first-round pick Jadarian Price could find himself again splitting work for the Seattle Seahawks. The obvious difference is that, while he was the clear second option behind Doak Walker Award winner and third overall pick Jeremiyah Love, the torn ACL sustained by incumbent Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet during the team's Super Bowl run has left the door open for Price to claim lead back responsibilities to begin his rookie season, and perhaps caused too steep a rise in his ADP. While sharing time with eventual Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III in 2025, Charbonnet finished sixth in the league with 12 rushing touchdowns and was one of the NFL's most active backs near the goal line. With reports indicating that he is progressing well in his recovery, he could be back earlier than expected to reclaim the bulk of the team's most high-value touches and harm Price's chances of living up to his lofty expectations. With Charbonnet in the final year of his rookie deal, there is plenty to be excited about in Price's dynasty future, but with the veteran's uncertain status to begin the year creating what could prove to be too wide a gap in their ADPs, Price is at risk of being overdrafted in 2026. One year after Walker finished as the RB22 with Klint Kubiak running the offense, Price heads into his rookie season as RotoBaller's RB24.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 2, 2026, 1:24 PM ET

Indiana wide receiver Charlie Becker flashed in the second half of his sophomore season and into the College Football Playoff, collecting 27 receptions for 522 yards and three touchdowns over his final seven games. He averaged 20 yards per reception on 34 catches over the full season. With Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Surratt off to the NFL, Becker could command more volume in 2026 next to Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh. Becker is a 6'4" big-play threat, and new Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover is a down-field gunslinger. The pairing is potentially perfect for Becker to make a big junior leap and rise on 2027 NFL Draft boards. The Nashville native is one of the top wideouts in the Big Ten to watch this season as the Hoosiers look to defend their 2025-26 College Football Playoff National Championship.--Jackson Sparks - RotoBaller
Source: ESPN

Jul 2, 2026, 1:17 PM ET

Oregon tight end Jamari Johnson, who transferred from Louisville ahead of the 2025 season, tallied 32 receptions for 510 yards and three touchdowns in his first campaign with the Ducks. With first-round NFL Draft choice Kenyon Sadiq off campus, Johnson could be in for a splash season as Dante Moore's clear TE1. Johnson is already viewed as one of the top tight end prospects in the 2027 NFL Draft, so his potential breakout campaign won't come as a surprise. As always at Oregon, there is plenty of talent in the wide receiver room, so if he can earn targets and produce this season in a crowded pass-catching group, he will prove he is the real deal in 2026.--Jackson Sparks - RotoBaller
Source: ESPN

Jul 2, 2026, 1:16 PM ET

Chicago White Sox corner infielder Munetaka Murakami (hamstring) is on the road trip with the team and is considered "day-to-day," but there is no timetable for him to begin a minor-league rehab assignment, according to manager Will Venable. Murakami landed on the 10-day injured list on May 30 with a strained right hamstring, and with no rehab assignment on the horizon, fantasy managers probably shouldn't expect him to return before the mid-July All-Star break. He's making progress, though, with Venable saying last week that Murakami was sprinting around "85 percent" intensity. In his first year in the States, the 26-year-old left-handed slugger has been a major value for fantasy managers, clubbing 20 home runs, driving in 41 runs, and scoring 43 bases in 200 at-bats while slashing .240/.378/.560 with a .938 OPS. Until he's able to return, Jacob Gonzalez should continue to see most of the playing time at first base for the Pale Hose.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jul 2, 2026, 1:13 PM ET

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (knee) continues to recover from the ACL tear he suffered in the team's divisional round win over the 49ers, and by all accounts, he is progressing well. Charbonnet was spotted doing light work on a side field during the final practice of minicamp, and a scheduled check-up on the knee in late July could provide the green light for a more extensive workload at the start of training camp. The Seahawks spent their 2026 first-round pick on Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price, but Charbonnet is no stranger to backfield competition. Sharing work with last season's eventual Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, Charbonnet touched the ball more than 200 times and was given many of the team's most high-value opportunities. His 50 red-zone carries in 2025 were the ninth most in the league, while only four players had more attempts from within the five-yard line, helping him to finish the year with 12 rushing touchdowns. If he can return to anything close to full health, there is no reason to believe he couldn't handle an even larger role in this offense, and with an ADP currently outside the top 45 at the position, Charbonnet is a player to target in the late rounds of 2026 drafts, particularly in leagues with IR spots.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 2, 2026, 1:01 PM ET

Minnesota Twins shortstop prospect Kaelen Culpepper (hand) is likely day-to-day at Triple-A St. Paul while he awaits X-ray results on his left hand, according to Theodore Tollefson. Culpepper, the team's No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was held out of the Saints' lineup on Wednesday with a left-hand injury after he was hit by a pitch in his first at-bat on Tuesday. The 23-year-old former 21st overall pick in 2024 out of Kansas State University recently missed over two weeks with a strained left hip as well, so he's been banged up quite a bit of late. Despite the recent injuries, Culpepper is one of the top infield prospects to stash in fantasy baseball, as his first MLB call-up could be coming sooner rather than later. In 63 games and 295 plate appearances at St. Paul in 2026, Culpepper is slashing .272/.376/.492 with an .868 OPS, 14 home runs, 43 RBI, 15 stolen bases, and 54 runs scored. The 5-foot-10, 185-pounder makes a lot of contact and has intriguing power/speed upside, but he does tend to chase out of the zone.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Theodore Tollefson

Jul 2, 2026, 12:50 PM ET

Chicago Cubs right-hander Javier Assad will rejoin the team's starting rotation on Sunday in the series finale against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals, according to Jared Wyllys of CHGO Sports. Assad has been a valuable swing man for Chicago's banged-up starting rotation this year, going 6-1 with a 4.53 ERA (5.24 FIP) and 1.12 WHIP with 31 strikeouts and 13 walks in 51 2/3 innings pitched across 13 appearances (six starts). The 28-year-old Mexican native has been slightly better in a starting role with a 4.18 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 20:7 K:BB in 32 1/3 frames. Assad was hit around a bit in his last outing on June 30 against the San Diego Padres, allowing four earned runs on five hits while walking two and striking out just one in 2 2/3 innings out of the 'pen. And in his last three outings, he has given up nine earned runs on 15 hits (six homers) while walking four and fanning seven in 13 1/3 innings. Assad could continue to make starts for the Cubbies going into the second half, but once the rotation gets healthier, he's likely ticketed for more of a long-relief role in Chicago.--Keith Hernandez
Source: CHGO Sports - Jared Wyllys

Jul 2, 2026, 12:43 PM ET

The New York Yankees announced on Thursday that they reinstated right-handed closer David Bednar from the paternity list. Bednar will return to the back end of New York's bullpen after he missed the entire three-game series against the Detroit Tigers to begin the week as he welcomed his child into the world. The Yankees have a scheduled day off on Thursday, but Bednar will be available if a save situation arises in Friday's series opener against the visiting Minnesota Twins. The 31-year-old veteran is in his first full season with the Yankees in 2026 and has gone 2-3 with a 3.09 ERA (2.68 FIP), 1.23 WHIP, 16 saves, 40 strikeouts, and 12 walks in 35 innings out of the bullpen. Bednar is currently tied with Aroldis Chapman and Raisel Iglesias for ninth among relievers in MLB in saves this season. He didn't allow a single run in nine appearances in June, with his last earned run coming in a save against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays on May 18. Bednar needs to be returned to all starting fantasy lineups with the holiday weekend approaching.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Yankees PR Department

Jul 2, 2026, 12:25 PM ET

The Colorado Rockies are calling up right-handed pitching prospect Gabriel Hughes from Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday in a surprising move, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com. The Rockies' top pick in 2022 and their No. 16 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, has allowed zero runs and only four hits while walking five and striking out 16 in 15 2/3 innings in three starts since rejoining the Isotopes' starting rotation following a left-oblique injury. The 24-year-old is 2-1 overall with a 5.31 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 48:11 K:BB in 40 2/3 innings over nine outings (seven starts) at Triple-A this year. The 6-foot-4, 238-pounder out of Gonzaga University had Tommy John surgery in 2023 and also dealt with a shoulder injury last year, but his stuff is starting to come back now that he's healthy again. Hughes doesn't overpower hitters, but his ground-ball tendencies and solid offspeed stuff could play well at hitter-friendly Coors Field. At least initially, Hughes is expected to pitch out of the bullpen, so fantasy managers in single-year leagues can likely hold off for now.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com - Thomas Harding

Jul 2, 2026, 12:15 PM ET

Atlanta Braves right-hander Grant Holmes will return to the starting rotation for Friday's series opener to take on the division-rival New York Mets, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. The Braves skipped Holmes' last turn through the starting rotation, and he tossed four scoreless innings with no walks and four strikeouts out of the bullpen on June 27 against the San Francisco Giants in his most recent outing. The 30-year-old will make another start against the last-place Mets in an enticing matchup this weekend, but after that, it seems the Braves prefer to move him to the bullpen on a more permanent basis for the second half of the season now that right-hander Hurston Waldrep is back in the picture. Holmes will be a pretty intriguing fantasy streamer against the Mets on Friday, but length could be an issue. He's gone 4-4 this year with a 3.96 ERA (5.19 FIP) and 1.36 WHIP with 69 strikeouts and 37 walks in 77 1/3 innings pitched across 16 appearances (15 starts). Holmes has a career-low 20.7% strikeout rate in 2026 in his third year in the league and a career-high 11.1% walk rate.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman

Jul 2, 2026, 12:08 PM ET

Atlanta Braves right-hander Hurston Waldrep will make his first start for the Braves this year in Thursday's series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals at Truist Park, according to MLB.com. Waldrep had surgery to remove bone spurs from his right elbow in February and didn't make his 2026 debut in the majors until last weekend out of the bullpen in Atlanta. The 24-year-old former 24th overall pick in 2023 out of the University of Florida will now temporarily take the rotation spot of the struggling Bryce Elder, but there's a good chance Waldrep will become a rotation staple for the Braves in the second half. In his lone appearance over the weekend in relief, Waldrep threw two scoreless innings with four walks and three strikeouts. He went 6-1 with a 2.88 ERA (3.21 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 55 strikeouts and 22 walks in 56 1/3 innings across his 10 appearances (nine starts) in 2025, making him an intriguing upside pickup off the waiver wire in all fantasy baseball leagues. For DFS purposes, Waldrep won't be ideal on Thursday, though, and will likely be on a pitch count as he continues to get stretched out. The Georgia native is rostered in only 9% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jul 2, 2026, 12:00 PM ET

Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto is showing his age (35) in his 13th year in the big leagues in 2026. The three-time All-Star is currently hitting .201/.286/.319 with a career-worst .604 OPS, five home runs, 25 RBI, 22 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 61 games played across 231 plate appearances. He hit just .176 (13-for-74) with eight walks and 20 strikeouts in 21 games in June, but he also had three of his five home runs, five doubles, 16 RBI, 11 runs scored, and two of his three steals in 85 plate appearances. Realmuto is no longer in his prime and has been showing signs of decline at the plate for the last several seasons, but is he really as bad as his current surface stats suggest? Under the hood, Realmuto's expected batting average of .248 and xwOBA of .316 (wOBA of .274) point to a second-half resurgence. But still, he's ranked in the 38th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 22nd percentile in barrel rate, and the 34th percentile in chase rate. There's very little upside here, which is why Realmuto is now rostered in less than 20% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jul 2, 2026, 11:38 AM ET

Los Angeles Angels infield prospect Denzer Guzman was called up in early June to give the Halos some infield reinforcements, and the 22-year-old Dominican has hit .268/.325/.437 with a .761 OPS, three home runs, 13 RBI, seven runs scored, and a stolen base in 18 games and 77 plate appearances. He appeared in 13 games in his major-league debut in 2025 and went 8-for-42 (.190) with two long balls, three RBI, and four runs scored. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound right-handed hitter has mostly been serving as the Angels' third baseman when he finds his way into the starting lineup, but he also has experience at shortstop and is eligible at both positions in fantasy leagues. Guzman got the call to the Angels this year after hitting .336/.403/.571 with a .974 OPS, 12 homers, 57 RBI, 45 runs, and nine steals in 58 games at Triple-A Salt Lake in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. His raw power from the right side makes him intriguing in deeper fantasy leagues, but the Angels' No. 7-ranked prospect (per MLB Pipeline) has had issues making consistent contact at the plate. Guzman is worth a look off the waiver wire in deep fantasy leagues for infield depth. He's rostered in only 4% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

Jul 2, 2026, 11:27 AM ET

The Los Angeles Angels are near the bottom of the league in the standings and aren't the ideal place to search for saves, but veteran right-handed reliever Kirby Yates remains in the mix for saves in Anaheim and is an option off the waiver wire for desperate fantasy managers. The struggling Angels are currently employing a closer-by-committee that involves Yates, Sam Bachman, and Ryan Zeferjahn. Left-hander Samy Natera Jr. picked up the team's most recent save on Sunday, but Yates had his second save of the year before that on Saturday, June 27. The 39-year-old is a two-time All-Star and is by far the Angels' most experienced reliever when it comes to saves, with an even 100 saves in his 11-plus years in the big leagues. He's gone 0-3 in 2026 with a 3.06 ERA (3.28 FIP), 0.96 WHIP, two saves, 25 strikeouts, and seven walks in 17 2/3 innings. Yates' numbers are pretty solid, but save opportunities in Anaheim have been few and far between. In 10 1/3 innings in June, Yates allowed just four runs (three earned) while walking three and fanning 15 with three losses, a save, and a blown save. He's rostered in 6% of Yahoo leagues, so he's widely available if you're scrounging for saves near the halfway point in 2026.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

Jul 2, 2026, 11:18 AM ET

Miami Marlins catcher Agustin Ramirez hit only .231 (124-for-537) in 136 games and 585 plate appearances in his rookie season in the big leagues with the Fish in 2025, but he added an impressive 21 home runs, 67 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. Fantasy managers were justifiably excited about Ramirez's prospects in his sophomore campaign, but he was sent to Triple-A Jacksonville after going 26-for-113 (.230) with two homers, 14 RBI, 13 walks, and 28 strikeouts across 31 games, and he has yet to return to the Show. The 24-year-old Dominican backstop has slashed .250/.327/.453 with seven home runs, 24 RBI, 11 stolen bases, and 26 runs scored in 40 games in 2026 with the Jumbo Shrimp. There is still plenty of power and speed upside with Ramirez, but the Marlins aren't forcing his return to the majors with Liam Hicks and Joe Mack holding down the catching spot just fine right now. The Marlins want Ramirez to improve his work behind the plate before he gets another shot at the big-league level. It seems like a reasonable bet that he'll be back with the Fish at some point in the second half, but fantasy managers may be running out of patience. Ramirez is rostered in 34% of Yahoo leagues currently.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

Jul 2, 2026, 11:11 AM ET

Cleveland Guardians catching prospect Cooper Ingle, who is ranked as the team's No. 3 prospect by MLB Pipeline, was recalled from Triple-A Columbus last week after he hit .284 (50-for-176) with 12 homers, 41 RBI, and 33 runs scored in 51 games in the minors. The 5-foot-8, 190-pound left-handed-hitting backstop has the power upside and plate discipline to become Cleveland's catcher of the future after he was selected in the fourth round in 2023 out of Clemson University. Fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues should be stashing him, but should managers in redraft leagues be doing the same? The 24-year-old North Carolina native has been slow to adjust to big-league pitching so far in his first four games, going 1-for-11 at the plate with two RBI, a run scored, three walks, and seven strikeouts, and he also had a brain fart in the outfield on Tuesday and forgot how many outs there were. That's not going to help his cause for more playing time with manager Stephen Vogt. Still, Ingle has the kind of offensive upside you don't find often in catchers, making him at least a watch-list candidate in deeper single-year leagues going into the second half of the season if he remains with the Guards. Ingle is rostered in just 2% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

Jul 2, 2026, 10:30 AM ET

Chicago Cubs outfielder Michael Conforto joined in on the Home Run Derby at Wrigley Field on Wednesday in the team's 23-3 mauling of the San Diego Padres to complete their three-game sweep. In a game in which the Cubs hitters cleared the fences a franchise-record eight times, Conforto went 3-for-4 at the plate with two homers, four RBI, four runs scored, and a walk to boost his season average to .248 and his OPS to .847. It was the 33-year-old veteran's first multi-homer game of the year. In his first year in Chicago in 2026 after a disastrous one-year stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, Conforto has primarily been a left-handed bat off the bench. But with Matt Shaw (hand) currently on the injured list, Conforto's playing time is trending up to close out the first half of the season. In 56 total games across 140 plate appearances, he's slashing .248/.343/.504 with seven home runs, 21 RBI, 19 runs scored, and a stolen base. He's a short-term waiver-wire candidate in deeper leagues for those looking for outfield depth.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jul 2, 2026, 10:29 AM ET

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Meleek Thomas signed a four-year, $9.3 million deal, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The No. 34 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft gets the first three years fully guaranteed for $6.4 million, a strong commitment for an early second-rounder. Thomas averaged 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals at Arkansas while shooting 41.6 percent from three. His off-ball shooting gives him a clean developmental path, but Cleveland's veteran backcourt led by Donovan Mitchell and James Harden makes early fantasy value unlikely unless the rotation opens up.--Brian Dailisan
Source: Michael Scotto

Jul 2, 2026, 10:24 AM ET

Minnesota Twins right-hander Taj Bradley kept the good times rolling on Wednesday night at Daikin Park against the hosting Houston Astros in the team's 8-3 victory, allowing just one earned run on four hits while walking three and striking out a season-high 11 batters in five innings for his seventh win of the 2026 season. The 25-year-old former fifth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018 is now 7-3 on the year in his first full season with the Twins and has recorded a 3.86 ERA (3.92 FIP) and 1.29 WHIP with 102 strikeouts and 38 walks across his 88 2/3 innings and 16 starts. After giving up at least four earned runs in four straight starts from May 29 to June 14, Bradley has straightened things out in his last three starts against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, and Astros, allowing just five earned runs on 10 hits while walking eight and striking out 22 in 17 innings. Bradley is set to face the Cleveland Guardians next week in his final start before the All-Star break, and he should be a nice streaming option against a team that ranks 28th in OPS (.677).--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com