RADIO
Bradley Beal Draws Heat and Celtics Interest
Free-agent guard Bradley Beal has drawn interest from the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics on a veteran minimum deal, per Evan Sidery. Beal, 33, declined his Clippers player option after a lost season, appearing in six games before undergoing season-ending surgery for a left hip fracture. The three-time All-Star averaged just 8.2 points, 1.7 assists, and 0.8 rebounds with Los Angeles, a long way from his peak scoring years in Washington. Miami may offer a cleaner path to bench offense next to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, while Boston would likely view him as a low-minute scorer. His fantasy appeal depends almost entirely on health and role, leaving him as a late flier rather than a draft priority.
Source: Evan Sidery
Source: Evan Sidery
Daylen Lile Extends Hitting Streak by Blasting Two Home Runs on Thursday
Washington Nationals outfielder Daylen Lile has been hot lately, and it continued in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the division-rival Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Lile went 2-for-4 at the plate with two solo home runs to extend his modest six-game hitting streak. He also raised his batting average on the year to .248 and his OPS to .717. Believe it or not, it was Lile's third multi-homer game of the 2026 campaign, but he's hitting a modest .248/.299/.418 with 13 home runs, 54 RBI, 10 stolen bases, and 56 runs scored in his 452 plate appearances in 108 games in his second year in the majors. As a rookie in 2025, Lile had a .299/.347/.498 slash line with an .845 OPS, nine home runs, 41 RBI, 51 runs, and eight stolen bases in 91 games and 351 plate appearances. Lile is still very young and has an intriguing power/speed profile, especially since he doesn't strike out a lot. And the Nationals seem committed to the former second-rounder. Lile is definitely worth a roster spot as a depth outfielder, and he's gaining waiver-wire interest during his current hot streak. He's rostered in 59% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Sean Burke on a Roll, Fans 10 Hitters for Second Straight Outing
Chicago White Sox right-hander Sean Burke continued to roll in Thursday's 2-1 walk-off victory over the visiting New York Yankees in 11 innings. Burke was credited with a no-decision, but fantasy managers were still plenty happy with his performance, as he threw six shutout innings with three hits allowed, two walks, and 10 strikeouts for the second straight start to lower his ERA on the year to a sharp 3.04. Not only does the 26-year-old have back-to-back 10-K performances, but Thursday was his fifth straight quality start. The former third-rounder in 2021 from the University of Maryland is having a breakout in 2026 and now sports a 1.10 WHIP with 140 strikeouts and 37 walks to go with his 3.04 ERA in 124.1 innings pitched. Burke's swing-and-miss stuff has been impressive. He got swings and misses on 18 of his 95 pitches on Thursday against the Yanks, and he currently ranks fifth in the American League in strikeouts. Burke will face the Boston Red Sox for the first time this year in his next outing. They'll be a challenging matchup as one of the hottest teams in baseball in July, and they also don't strike out a ton as a team.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Cam Little Remains a High-End Kicker Option Entering 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little put together a rock-solid season in 2025, converting 30 of his 34 field goal attempts and 50 of his 51 extra-point tries. Little also has one of the most powerful legs in the NFL, as he made eight field goals from 50-plus yards out and connected on an NFL-record 68-yard field goal in early November. The 22-year-old finished 2025 as the fifth-best kicker in terms of overall fantasy scoring. Entering 2026, Little should be in a strong position for another high-end fantasy season while playing alongside the high-powered Jacksonville offense. In both redraft and dynasty formats, Little has a strong case to be viewed as an elite kicker.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kenyon Sadiq "Heavily Featured" in Training Camp Practice on Thursday
New York Jets rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq was "heavily featured" in training camp practice on Thursday, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Rosenblatt reports that New York lined Sadiq up all over its offensive formations and that the 21-year-old "made a few plays." The 16th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Sadiq recorded 51 catches for 560 yards and eight touchdowns across 14 games for the University of Oregon in 2025. He projects as an elite athlete for the tight end position in the NFL and could ultimately see heavy usage from the slot in New York. The Jets' uncertain quarterback situation and the presence of fellow tight end Mason Taylor in New York are both potential limiting factors for Sadiq in his rookie season. Still, he could end up undervalued by his current redraft ADP of TE23.
Source: The Athletic - Zack Rosenblatt
Source: The Athletic - Zack Rosenblatt
Kenneth Walker III Poised to Shine in Chiefs' Screen Game?
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III scored a long touchdown on a screen pass in training camp practice on Thursday and brings a new element to the team's screen game in 2026, according to Matt McMullen of Chiefs.com. Walker III is entering his first year in Kansas City after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Seattle Seahawks. Across 17 games with Seattle in 2025, the 25-year-old recorded 1,309 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 252 touches. Walker III's fantasy upside with the Seahawks was limited due to his shared workload with Seattle back Zach Charbonnet (knee). However, Kansas City appears set to deploy Walker III as a true three-down workhorse. His explosive ability in space could pair especially well with the Chiefs' screen game, which is operated by superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes and designed by Hall of Fame play-caller Andy Reid. Walker III carries high-end RB1 upside in redraft leagues entering 2026.
Source: Chiefs.com - Matt McMullen
Source: Chiefs.com - Matt McMullen
Lions Coaches Excited by Sam LaPorta's Health Status
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said "it's pretty exciting" when discussing the status of tight end Sam LaPorta (back) as he works his way towards a return from back surgery, per Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. Pouncy reports that Campbell said LaPorta is "ready to go" and "a big piece of our offense." LaPorta recorded 40 catches for 489 yards and three touchdowns on 49 targets across nine games last season before suffering a season-ending back injury. The 25-year-old has proven he has high-end fantasy TE1 upside when healthy, as he recorded over 1,600 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns across his first two NFL seasons in 2023 and 2024. While the back injury and the Lions' deep core of talented pass-catchers are both potential limiting factors for LaPorta's fantasy value, it appears as though Detroit is encouraged by their tight end's status at the start of training camp. RotoBaller currently ranks LaPorta as the TE8 for redraft leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Colton Pouncy
Source: The Athletic - Colton Pouncy
Dante Pettis Signs With Bills
Veteran wide receiver Dante Pettis has been signed by the Buffalo Bills, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Across eight games with the New Orleans Saints in 2025, Pettis recorded nine catches for 127 yards on 11 targets. The 30-year-old has played in 66 NFL games across seven seasons, but his contributions have mostly come on special teams. Pettis has not recorded more than 19 catches or 245 receiving yards in a season since his rookie year in 2018. While the Bills are searching for reliable receiver talent behind DJ Moore and Khalil Shakir, Pettis is unlikely to play a significant role as a pass-catcher in Buffalo. Fantasy managers in both redraft and dynasty leagues should avoid Pettis.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
49ers Work Out Trio of Veteran Running Backs
The San Francisco 49ers worked out veteran running backs Khalil Herbert, Raheem Blackshear, and Owen Wright, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. San Francisco has superstar back Christian McCaffrey firmly in place atop its depth chart at the position, but it appears the team could be looking to add some additional bodies to an RB2 competition that already contains 2025 fifth-rounder Jordan James and 2026 third-rounder Kaelon Black. Herbert recorded over 2,000 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns across his first three NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears, but he's played for three teams and logged just 36 total carries since the start of the 2024 season. Blackshear did not appear in an NFL game in 2025 after spending three seasons with the Carolina Panthers from 2022-2024. Wright logged three carries across three games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Tristan Peters has Interesting Deep-League Value
Chicago White Sox outfielder Tristan Peters has come out of nowhere and put together an excellent season in 2026. The 26-year-old earned himself a selection to the All-Star Game during his rookie season. Through 103 games, Peters is slashing .272/.328/.428 with six home runs, 37 RBI, and five stolen bases. It has been a slow start for Peters out of the break, but he'll hopefully turn it around soon. This slump might've put Peters on the waiver wire in some leagues. Fantasy managers in deep leagues seeking outfield help should consider scooping up Peters. He has shown the ability to contribute in multiple ways and could be a useful option in deeper leagues down the stretch of the season.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Ryan Jeffers is Picking up Steam
Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers is one of the most talked-about players at his position heading into the trade deadline. Jeffers is on a one-year deal and is expected to be moved at the upcoming trade deadline. This season, Jeffers is slashing .294/.397/.531 with nine home runs and 35 RBI across 47 games. He has been crushing left-handed pitching and could be a real game-changer for a contending team down the stretch of the season. The assumption is that a trade would likely only increase his fantasy value. In theory, Jeffers would land in a better lineup and get more opportunities to play. Fantasy managers who are seeking help at the catching position should consider snagging Jeffers ahead of the deadline.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Harrison Bader Won't Return This Season
San Francisco Giants outfielder Harrison Bader (foot) will miss the rest of the 2026 season, according to Giants manager Tony Vitello. Bader continues to battle with a plantar fasciitis issue that has kept him sidelined since late May. Bader underwent imaging, including an MRI, and met with specialists as well. Despite all that, Bader remains without a timetable and apparently won't play again for the Giants this season. Through 30 games, Bader slashed .170/.198/.358 with five home runs and 14 RBI with the Giants this season. His continued absence won't impact the Giants, with the team already playing without him for multiple months. He signed a two-year, $20.5 million deal with the Giants during the offseason. We'll see what kind of role he has with the team next season. Bader can safely be dropped in all redraft formats.
Source: Alex Pavlovic
Source: Alex Pavlovic
Kyle Harrison Throws 5 2/3 Scoreless Innings in Rehab Outing
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Kyle Harrison (forearm) took the mound for a rehab start with High-A Wisconsin on Thursday. The southpaw looked stellar as he threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings while allowing one hit and striking out five batters. Harrison is working his way back from a left forearm issue that has sidelined him since July 11. He looked stellar during his outing, so Harrison might be activated from the Injured List after only one rehab start. Harrison has been excellent this season and deserves to be rostered in most fantasy formats. Fantasy managers should stay tuned to see if Harrison needs another rehab start or makes his next outing with Milwaukee.
Source: milb.com
Source: milb.com
Curtis Mead has Non-Displaced Wrist Fracture
Boston Red Sox infielder Curtis Mead (wrist) is dealing with a non-displaced wrist fracture and will be reimaged in four weeks, according to Ian Browne. Mead was placed on the 10-day Injured List on Wednesday after getting hit by a pitch in the hand during his team debut on Monday. The original timetable was 6-to-8 weeks for Mead, but maybe he'll be able to beat that. Fantasy managers still won't get anything out of him during August. We'll see if the Red Sox add another bat at the trade deadline or wait for Mead to make his return.
Source: Ian Browne
Source: Ian Browne
Chase Claypool Works Out With the Colts
The Indianapolis Colts worked out free-agent wide receiver Chase Claypool on Thursday. Claypool is attempting an NFL comeback after not playing in the league since 2023. He last suited up for the Miami Dolphins during the 2023 campaign. He finished with eight receptions for 77 yards and one touchdown in 12 games with Miami. The 28-year-old was a former second-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020. He hasn't really done anything meaningful on the football field since leaving the Steelers during the 2022 season. Even if he lands with the Colts, Claypool would likely only be depth and have a minimal role.
Source: Mike Garafolo
Source: Mike Garafolo
Hornets Waive Mouhamadou Gueye
The Charlotte Hornets waived forward/center Mouhamadou Gueye, the team announced, after acquiring him from Chicago in the July 10 four-team deal that also involved Minnesota and Brooklyn. Gueye was included largely for transaction mechanics, and his non-guaranteed 2026-27 salary made him an expected cut with Charlotte facing an offseason roster crunch. The 28-year-old has appeared in 13 NBA games, including two with Chicago last season, and averaged 15.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks across 34 regular-season G League games for Windy City. Valencia Basket has already announced a deal with Gueye through June 30, 2027, so there is no NBA fantasy fallout here.
Source: Brett Siegel
Source: Brett Siegel
Anthony Richardson Sr. Competing for QB2 Job
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. is reportedly in competition for the backup role ahead of the 2026 season. Daniel Jones is the clear starter in Indy, but the backup gig is still up for grabs. JJ Stankevitz is reporting that Richardson and Riley Leonard are "neck and neck" for the QB2 job. The team plans to continue to rotate the two quarterbacks between the second and third-team offense throughout camp. Richardson hasn't actually played meaningful football since the 2024 season. Leonard threw for 415 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions in five games last season. Whoever wins the backup job could have some stash value with Jones coming back from an Achilles injury.
Source: colts.com
Source: colts.com
Jamir Watkins Could Miss 2026-27 After ACL Surgery
Washington Wizards guard/forward Jamir Watkins (knee) underwent successful surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee, the team announced. Watkins, 25, suffered the injury during Washington's Summer League opener against the Jazz on July 9 and could miss the entire 2026-27 season. The 43rd pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Florida State averaged 7.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.1 steals across 50 games as a rookie after Washington acquired him from Utah on draft night. He only had deep-dynasty appeal before the injury, and the possible season-long absence removes him from redraft consideration while slowing his development. His absence should leave more reserve wing minutes available for Bilal Coulibaly and Will Riley.
Source: Josh Robbins
Source: Josh Robbins
Derrick Henry is Not Thinking About Retirement
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry has been one of the top players at his position for many years. Despite his stellar performance, fantasy managers need to start thinking about when Henry might decide to retire. The 32-year-old is entering his 11th season in the NFL. Despite his age, Henry recently said that he's not thinking about retirement right now. He is focused on being the best player possible and helping the Ravens win football games. Henry has finished in the top-8 or better in each of the last four seasons. At some point, you would think age regression would play a factor, but Henry is apparently a different animal. He's currently ranked as the RB13 in redraft leagues heading into the season.
Source: Jeff Zrebiec
Source: Jeff Zrebiec
Nikola Kusturica Trains With Giannis Antetokounmpo
Serbian forward Nikola Kusturica, a projected lottery pick in the 2028 NBA Draft, recently trained with Miami Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and shared a photo of the session, per Eurohoops. The 17-year-old called Antetokounmpo a "big player, even bigger person," marking another notable moment in a fast-moving summer for one of Europe's top prospects. Kusturica starred at the FIBA U17 World Cup, averaging 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while earning Best Defensive Player honors. He has since left Barcelona and committed to UCLA, where he will spend the next stage of his development before becoming draft-eligible in 2028. For fantasy, he carries no redraft relevance yet, but he is already a name for devy and future-draft watchers.
Source: Eurohoops
Source: Eurohoops
Deebo Samuel Returning to the 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers signed free-agent wide receiver Deebo Samuel on Thursday. According to Jordan Schultz, they've agreed on a one-year, $7 million deal for the upcoming 2026-2027 campaign. It was rumored that the two sides were interested in a reunion after Samuel left for the Washington Commanders last season. The 49ers are in need of reinforcements after the news that fellow wideout Ricky Pearsall (knee) could miss the entire season. Samuel figures to immediately slot alongside Mike Evans as the No. 2 wideout on this roster. The expectation is that rookie De'Zhaun Stribling and Christian Kirk will compete for the third wideout spot, assuming Pearsall is truly out for the year. Samuel is coming off a 72-catch season with the Commanders in 2025. He should be able to offer around top-30 upside at his position.
Source: Jordan Schultz
Source: Jordan Schultz
Neemias Queta Won't Spend $100K on Training
Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta joked that he would not spend $100,000 per week on private training with Hakeem Olajuwon in an interview with A Bola. The comment came after the 27-year-old signed a four-year, $56 million extension, locking him into Boston after a breakout season. Queta averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks while starting 75 of 76 games, a major jump from 5.0 points and 3.8 rebounds the year before. The contract gives him stability, but Mitchell Robinson's arrival keeps the center rotation worth watching. For fantasy, Queta remains a rising rebounds, blocks, and field-goal percentage target, though his ceiling depends on minutes.
Source: Eurohoops
Source: Eurohoops
Jadarian Price Operates as RB1 During First Full Scrimmage
Seattle Seahawks rookie running back Jadarian Price was operating as the top back during the team's first full scrimmage on Thursday. The expectation is that Price is going to split the first-team reps with George Holani during training camp. Price has more upside and carries higher expectations after being taken 32nd overall by the Seahawks during this year's draft. Zach Charbonnet (knee) is still working his way back from an ACL injury he suffered in January. With a solid performance in camp, Price could be the RB1 heading into Week 1. Rotoballer currently has Price ranked as the RB26 in redraft formats. His status could rise here shortly if he continues getting RB1 reps.
Source: Tacome New Tribune
Source: Tacome New Tribune
Pelicans Could Pursue an Offer Sheet for Bennedict Mathurin
The New Orleans Pelicans' interest in restricted free-agent guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin could produce an offer sheet, per Evan Sidery. To get there, they would need to clear enough room by moving Jordan Hawkins' expiring $7 million contract. That path could let New Orleans offer Mathurin more than $15 million annually, giving the Clippers a two-day window to match. Mathurin, 24, averaged 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 26 games for Los Angeles, but his three-point shooting cratered to 20.7 percent. A move to New Orleans could give him more scoring chances and raise his fantasy ceiling. Still, his shaky efficiency and limited defensive stats keep him from being a clean category-league target.
Source: Evan Sidery
Source: Evan Sidery
Tyler Allgeier Getting the Majority of Reps with the First-Team Offense
Through eight days of training camp, Arizona Cardinals running back Tyler Allgeier has been getting the majority of the carries with the first-team offense, with rookie running back Jeremiyah Love getting the rest, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. Allgeier signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Cardinals this offseason and is expected to have a key role in what could be a run-heavy offense in Arizona. The 26-year-old has had a solid start to his career despite backing up star running back Bijan Robinson. He averaged 4.3 yards per carry in four years with Atlanta and averaged 2.9 yards after contact last season. The Cardinals are likely easing Love into the offense, but the No. 3 overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft projects to be the leader of the team's backfield. Arizona also has James Conner (knee) and Trey Benson as well, making this a very crowded backfield. Allgeier is currently RotoBaller's RB50, but that stock could rise if he continues to work with the first-team offense in most of training camp.
Source: Josh Weinfuss of ESPN
Source: Josh Weinfuss of ESPN
Roman Anthony Starts Swinging a Bat
Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said on Thursday that outfielder Roman Anthony (finger) has started swinging a bat, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. "Off a tee, short flips, there's some of that action going on. It's mainly up to about 30 swings at this time, and he's doing well. He began swinging yesterday. There's no clear next steps yet," Tracy added. "He just started doing it. It's probably going to remain that way for a little while and see how he's feeling. And then if that continues to go well, then we'll start talking about building out a progression to more stuff. But he at least has a bat in his hand swinging." The former top outfielder prospect has been a bust in 2026, having played in only 30 games due to a torn tendon in his right ring finger. The 22-year-old has been out since early May, and there's no clear timetable for his return. Anthony is still rostered in 72% of Yahoo leagues for his power/speed upside, but it might not be until late August or early September until we see him back with the Red Sox's big-league club.
Source: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
Source: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
Rome Odunze Says his Foot Feels Great
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (foot) made comments back in June about his injured foot being the "new normal," which led many to believe he'd never be the WR the team envisioned he'd be when they took him ninth overall in 2024 from the University of Washington. The 24-year-old third-year wideout clarified his "new normal" comments from earlier in the offseason by saying on Thursday that "wasn't really what he meant." What he meant was that he was injured last year, suffering a stress fracture in his foot that limited him in the second half. Odunze had 20 catches for 296 yards and five touchdowns through the first four weeks before catching 24 passes for 365 yards and one TD in the final eight regular-season games. He said his "foot feels great" and "amazing" now and that his foot issue from a year ago isn't a "chronic" injury. Fantasy managers shouldn't be avoiding Odunze in upcoming drafts, especially with DJ Moore now in Buffalo. All the offseason hype has been on second-year wideout Luther Burden III, potentially making Odunze an excellent value pick with WR2 upside in 2026.
Source: CHGO Bears
Source: CHGO Bears
Shohei Ohtani Out as DH on Thursday With Knee Soreness
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee) reported soreness in his knee on Thursday, manager Dave Roberts told Maddie Lee of The Los Angeles Times, and the team decided to give him the day off against the Seattle Mariners. Roberts said he's very confident Ohtani will be back in the starting lineup as a hitter for Friday's series opener against the visiting Boston Red Sox. With Ohtani out in Thursday's series finale against Seattle, outfielder Teoscar Hernandez is serving as the DH and will bat seventh against Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo. Ohtani's bothersome left knee has kept him from pitching since facing the San Diego Padres back on July 3, and there's no timetable for him to return to the mound. The Dodgers continue to say that they are being ultra-cautious with the four-time MVP. Ohtani has five home runs in 21 games in July, but he's also hitting just .265 (22-for-83) with eight walks and 21 strikeouts in 92 plate appearances. They may continue to give him days off here and there as he continues to manage his knee injury, with the ultimate goal being to have Ohtani as healthy as possible for the playoffs.
Source: The Los Angeles Times - Maddie Lee
Source: The Los Angeles Times - Maddie Lee
Nick Kurtz Back in A's Lineup on Thursday
Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (forearm) is back at first base and is leading off on Thursday against the visiting Boston Red Sox and right-hander Sonny Gray, per MLB.com. Kurtz was pulled from Wednesday's game early in Sacramento after being hit by a pitch on his forearm, but X-rays and an MRI exam came back negative, and he won't have to miss any time. Fantasy managers in all traditional leagues will want to get the left-handed slugger back into their lineups immediately, even though he's been a bit cold at the plate lately. The 23-year-old former fourth overall pick in 2024 from Wake Forest University is hitting .260/.399/.491 on the year with an .890 OPS, 21 homers, 69 RBI, 62 runs scored, and seven stolen bases across his 346 at-bats after clubbing 36 homers and driving in 86 in just 117 games as a rookie in 2025. Kurtz offers elite power, regardless of position, but July hasn't been his best month, as he's gone 5-for-38 (.132) with a .485 OPS, two homers, five RBI, three runs, two walks, and 19 Ks in 12 games during the month. He has never faced Gray in his MLB career.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Cardinals Top Prospect Quinn Mathews to Make MLB Debut on Saturday
St. Louis Cardinals left-handed pitching prospect Quinn Mathews will be called up from Triple-A Memphis to make his major-league debut and start on Saturday in Toronto against the Blue Jays, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The 25-year-old 6-foot-5, 188-pounder should immediately be in play as a waiver-wire pickup for fantasy managers in all league formats as the Cardinals' No. 7 overall prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The former fourth-round pick in 2023 from Stanford University is getting the call to the Show after going 5-3 with a 3.13 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 111:52 K:BB in 92 innings across 19 starts at Memphis this year. Mathews has been particularly effective since June, posting a sharp 1.55 ERA in his 52 1/3 innings. He features a fastball, sinker, slider, and a changeup, and he'll occasionally mix in a curveball for good measure. Mathews has plenty of strikeout upside with an 11.5 K/9 in his three minor-league seasons, but mechanical issues have hurt his command/control at times. He could have a strong MLB debut this weekend against a Blue Jays offense with the second-worst OPS (.684) in all of baseball in 2026.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
