RADIO
Hurston Waldrep Likely to Enter Braves Starting Rotation?
MLB.com's Mark Bowman writes that "there's reason to be excited" about what Atlanta Braves right-hander Hurston Waldrep "might offer over the next few weeks." In his season debut on Friday against the San Francisco Giants in relief, Waldrep walked four in two innings. He also walked six in 7 2/3 innings at Triple-A Gwinnett before being called up, but four of those came in a rain-soaked, three-inning outing on June 16. Bowman thinks that Waldrep has the higher upside than right-hander Reynaldo Lopez, who made the start for the Braves on Friday. Lopez is starting Wednesday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals, so Waldrep could pitch in relief at some point that night. With Bryce Elder potentially being skipped in Atlanta's rotation due to a recent rough stretch, Waldrep could be the top candidate to make a start or multiple starts before the All-Star break in July. The 24-year-old figures to be a rotation option in the second half after 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 over 10 outings (nine starts) for the Braves last year. Waldrep is absolutely an upside arm for savvy fantasy managers to stash now. He's rostered in only 5% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Bryce Elder's Velocity Down, to be Skipped in Rotation?
The Atlanta Braves are expected to alter their starting rotation again this week after right-hander Bryce Elder lasted only four innings on Saturday and allowed five earned runs in his most recent outing against the San Francisco Giants, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Elder's velocity was down roughly one mph with each of his pitches. He has a 2.70 ERA in nine starts on regular rest and a 5.56 ERA in his other eight starts in 2026. But his drop in velocity over the weekend will likely lead the Braves to give him extra rest before his next appearance, per Bowman. The 27-year-old's ERA has risen from 1.97 to 4.01, and he's surrendered 29 earned runs in his last 30 innings for an 8.70 ERA. But from Aug. 24 of last year until May 22 of this year, Elder had a 2.30 ERA, which was the fifth-best ERA during that span. There's still reason to believe that Elder can turn things around after his recent rough stretch. If the Braves push Elder back, right-hander Hurston Waldrep is the top candidate to make a start for the Braves.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Hunter Greene Expects to Make Season Debut on Friday or Saturday
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene (elbow) said he expects to come off the 60-day injured list to rejoin the team's starting rotation on either Friday or Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles to make his 2026 season debut, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer. The 26-year-old is finally ready to rejoin the Reds' starting rotation after having surgery on March 11 to remove bone chips from his right elbow. In his three minor-league rehab starts, Greene looked great, tossing 14 1/3 shutout innings with three hits allowed, two walks, and 13 strikeouts. He got up to 82 pitches in his final rehab appearance on Sunday at Triple-A Louisville, so he should not be limited at all pitch-count-wise this weekend against the O's. Greene will most likely return on the Fourth of July, and fantasy managers who have been holding him all year will be hoping he can provide fireworks immediately. Greene needs to be rostered in all fantasy formats for his high-strikeout, ace upside at the top of Cincy's rotation. He's currently rostered in 73% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Gordon Wittenmyer
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Gordon Wittenmyer
Trent Grisham Will be Activated on Friday
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone told the Talkin' Yanks podcast that outfielder Trent Grisham (hamstring) and third baseman Ryan McMahon (illness) will play in a minor-league rehab game with Double-A Somerset on Wednesday and then be activated from the 10-day injured list on Friday for the start of their series at home against the Minnesota Twins. Grisham has been sidelined since the middle of June with a strained right hamstring, but he will be back this weekend as the team's starting center fielder, barring a setback during his rehab game on Wednesday. The 29-year-old former 15th overall pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2015 can provide some pop in the outfield for fantasy managers seeking depth. Through 66 games and 264 plate appearances in 2026 in his third year with the Yanks, Grisham is hitting .232/.341/.406 with a .747 OPS, eight homers, 35 RBI, six steals, and 40 runs scored. Nobody should be expecting him to repeat his career year in 2025, when he hit 34 homers and drove in 74, but Grisham can still be an asset in mixed fantasy leagues when he faces right-handed pitchers.
Source: Talkin' Yanks
Source: Talkin' Yanks
Jazz Chisholm Jr. Won't Start on Tuesday Against Tigers
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone told the Talkin' Yanks podcast that infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. (head) won't be in the starting lineup for Tuesday's clash against the visiting Detroit Tigers after he collided with outfielder Jasson Dominguez in Monday's loss. However, Boone hopes Chisholm is available off the bench. Chisholm took an elbow to his head on Monday night and was put in the concussion protocol. The fact that the 28-year-old might be available off the bench a day later suggests that he might have avoided a concussion and won't land on the seven-day concussion list as we head into July. If Chisholm avoided a concussion, he could be back in action as early as Wednesday's game against Detroit. The two-time All-Star is batting just .222 (63-for-284) on the season with an on-base percentage just over .300 and a 28.7% strikeout rate, but his power (12 homers) and speed (24 stolen bases) make him enticing as a fantasy second baseman in the Bronx. Check back on Wednesday to see if he's back on the field. UPDATE: MLB.com's Bryan Hoch reports that Chisholm passed all of his concussion tests and should be available off the bench on Tuesday.
Source: Talkin' Yanks
Source: Talkin' Yanks
Cam Smith Continues to Leave the Yard, has Two-Homer Game Against Twins
Houston Astros outfielder Cam Smith continued his power binge in Monday night's 5-4 loss at home to the visiting Minnesota Twins at Daikin Park, going 2-for-4 at the plate with two solo home runs to raise his season batting average to .222 and his OPS to .685. The 23-year-old former 14th overall pick by the Chicago Cubs in 2024 out of Florida State University is batting only .222 (63-for-284) on the year with an on-base percentage under .300 and a strikeout rate of 25.3% in 85 games (320 plate appearances), but he has already set a new career high in home runs, and four of his last six hits have cleared the fences. It was good to see Smith flex his muscles again after missing Sunday's series finale against the Detroit Tigers due to a sore foot. Although there is a lot of swing and miss in Smith's game, his current xBA sits at .247, and he also has a .332 xwOBA (.294 wOBA), suggesting that positive regression is due in the second half of his sophomore campaign. Smith sits in the 71st percentile in hard-hit rate and the 80th percentile in barrel rate, so when he is making contact, it has been loud. Fantasy managers seeking power should consider Smith off the waiver wire, and he's widely available, as he's rostered in only 11% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Cole Young Stays Hot in June, Hits Two Home Runs on Monday
Seattle Mariners second baseman Cole Young continued to swing the bat well in the team's 6-2 win over the division-rival Los Angeles Angels at T-Mobile Park on Monday, going 3-for-3 with two home runs and three RBI to boost his season average to .260 and his OPS to .713. It was the 22-year-old's first multi-homer game of his young career. Although Young's season line might not impress anyone, he has picked things up in June and has gone 30-for-102 (.294) with five home runs, two doubles, 11 RBI, and 11 runs scored in 26 games and 107 plate appearances during the month. The young middle infielder is now slashing .260/.321/.392 on the season with nine long balls, 40 RBI, 37 runs scored, and two stolen bases in his 311 at-bats in his first full year in the majors in Seattle. With an expected batting average of .277 and an xwOBA of .329 (wOBA of .304), Young's batted-ball profile suggests that his improvement in June is no fluke. If you need middle-infield help in deep-mixed fantasy leagues, you could do much worse than Young, who is only rostered in 11% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Pete Fairbanks Allows a Run in Non-Save Situation
Miami Marlins relief pitcher Pete Fairbanks was brought in in the ninth inning at Coors Field against the Rockies on Monday, and the 32-year-old veteran gave up a run on two hits with a strikeout. It hasn't been smooth sailing for Fairbanks lately, as he has allowed four runs on five hits, including a pair of homers, in his last three games. He has an alarming 6.84 ERA with a 1.36 WHIP on the year, although he has converted 12 saves with just two blown saves. He still seems to be the team's best option at the end of games for now, since they would have to turn to a combination or committee of Anthony Bender, Calvin Faucher, Michael Petersen, and John King in his place. Bender is the only pitcher in the group with more than one save this season, and he'd likely be the top option if Fairbanks continues to falter.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Garrett Whitlock Earns his First Save of the Season, is he a Top Stash for Saves?
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Garrett Whitlock could be a great source of saves, depending on where all the pieces land at the MLB trade deadline in a few weeks, and he delivered his first save of the season on Monday night in Boston as the Red Sox won their fifth straight game. Whitlock had two strikeouts and gave up one hit while he was filling in the closer role for Aroldis Chapman, who had pitched in three of the last four games, throwing at least 20 pitches in each appearance. Chapman is still an elite closer and will keep the job in Boston if he stays there, but if he's moved at the deadline, Whitlock could become Boston's primary closer. If you're in a deep league and looking to get ahead of the possible reshuffle, Whitlock is a solid stash for saves since he has a 2.60 ERA, 2.85 FIP, and 32 strikeouts in his 27 2/3 innings this season.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Christopher Morel Agrees to Minor-League Contract With the Mets
Free-agent first baseman/outfielder Christopher Morel will be headed to Triple-A Syracuse after agreeing to a minor-league deal with the New York Mets. The deal includes multiple opt-outs for Morel, who is looking to establish his value and get back to the majors. The 27-year-old righty had back-to-back seasons with over 20 homers for the Cubs and Rays in 2023 and 2024, but he only hit .219 last year with 11 homers, and this season he struggled even more with the Miami Marlins. He was limited to 22 games and hit just .162 with no homers and one stolen base to go with his .198 wOBA. Morel was outrighted to Triple-A last week but opted to become a free agent instead. He'll try to re-establish his value and get back to the majors with the Mets or another team later this season. He's worth keeping an eye on, but can be left on the waiver wire in all formats at this point.
Source: Will Sammon
Source: Will Sammon
Paul Sewald Holds On for Save No. 19, Still a Viable Option?
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Paul Sewald made it an adventure, but he navigated through some trouble on Monday to still close out his team's 5-4 win over the Giants. He earned his 19th save of the season, but allowed two runs on three hits. Heliot Ramos led off the ninth with a home run, and Bryce Eldrige singled and later scored on a single by pinch-hitter Drew Cavanaugh. Sewald got the final two outs with Eldridge stranded on first base as the potential tying run. The 36-year-old veteran has hit a bit of a rough patch, allowing six runs on eight hits in his last 3 2/3 innings across four appearances. If he continues to scuffle, Jonathan Loaisiga and Brandyn Garcia are candidates to step in and pick up some saves. Sewald did get the job done and still seems to be the top option for now, but his struggles definitely make this an important closer situation to monitor.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Gregory Soto Struggles in Eighth-Inning Opportunity
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Gregory Soto entered Monday's game against the Phillies in the bottom of the eighth inning with a three-run lead. He started his outing with a strikeout of Bryce Harper, but then allowed a home run to Brandon Marsh and a single to Bryson Stott, who later came around to score as well. Soto was charged with two runs on two hits in 2/3 of an inning. He did earn his seventh hold of the season, but he has allowed at least one run in five of his last eight games. He has a 14.85 ERA in those eight outings, and his season ERA is up to 4.37. As evidenced by his entry in the eighth inning, he seems to have lost his closer role to Dennis Santana and Mason Montgomery. Montgomery finished the game on Monday night in a non-save situation and seems to be the reliever to own in Pittsburgh at this point in the season.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Byron Buxton Day-to-Day With Hip Impingement
An MRI exam on Monday showed that Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (hip) is dealing with a right-hip impingement, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Manager Derek Shelton said that Buxton is day-to-day. It explains why Buxton was held out of Monday's series opener in Houston against the Astros. The 32-year-old veteran center fielder doesn't appear to be dealing with a very serious injury, but fantasy managers should not be surprised if he's out for a second straight game in the second game of the series at Daikin Park on Tuesday. The two-time All-Star and 12-year veteran currently leads the American League with 25 home runs in 73 games across 329 plate appearances after clubbing a career-high 35 round-trippers, driving in 83, and stealing 24 bags in 126 games played in 2025. In addition to his 25 homers this year, Buxton has slashed .268/.325/.573 with an .898 OPS, 43 home runs, 56 runs, and seven steals for the Twins. His xBA of .249 and xwOBA of .351 (wOBA of .382) point to regression, but Buxton remains a must-hold in all fantasy formats. Hopefully, his hip injury won't lead him to the injured list just before the All-Star break in July.
Source: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
Source: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
Jeremy Pena Headed to Injured List With Mild Calf Strain
Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (calf) will head to the 10-day injured list with a mild left-calf strain, manager Joe Espada told Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Espada said it should be a "minimum stint" on the IL. The Astros held Pena out of their starting lineup in Monday's series opener against the visiting Minnesota Twins, and now we know why. The good news is that the 28-year-old Dominican's injury isn't serious, and he could be back on July 10, just before the All-Star break next month, to face the Texas Rangers. Until then, both Nick Allen and Brice Matthews could split time at the 6 in Houston. Pena will head to the sidelines sporting a strong .295/.356/.443 slash line, .799 OPS, six home runs, 21 RBI,34 runs scored, and eight stolen bases across his 183 at-bats. It's been a trying 2026 season injury-wise, but when healthy, Pena has been consistent for fantasy managers, and he deserves to be stashed in most leagues while he rehabs. Pena's underlying metrics have been solid as well, as he sports a 37.6% hard-hit rate, 4% barrel rate, .297 xBA, and .345 xwOBA.
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Brandon Marsh Continues Power Binge With Two More Homers on Monday
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh has been flexing his muscles all month, and that continued in Monday night's 11-7 loss to the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park. Marsh went 2-for-5 at the plate with two home runs and also struck out three times in the contest. The 28-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder is now up to 14 homers on the season -- he's just three home runs shy of a new career high -- and he's up to a whopping nine round-trippers in June. In addition to his 14 homers, Marsh has 44 RBI in 80 games played and has become a must-add off the waiver wire for fantasy managers seeking more pop in their lineup. The former second-round selection by the Los Angeles Angels in 2016 came into Monday's contest against Pittsburgh with a .321/.353/.510 slash line, .863 OPS, 12 homers, 42 RBI, 46 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. Fantasy managers should expect some regression since he's basically playing every day and being exposed to more left-handed pitchers, but regardless, he's now rostered in nearly 80% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
