RADIO
Mason Montgomery Worth a Look in Evolving Pirates Bullpen?
Pittsburgh Pirates left-handed reliever Mason Montgomery and right-hander Dennis Santana have risen up the closer depth chart in Pittsburgh with lefty Gregory Soto struggling of late. Montgomery was afforded a couple of save opportunities in June, but the problem is he blew both of his save chances and struggled to a 6.52 ERA (3.00 FIP) with seven earned runs allowed on 11 hits (one homer) while walking six and striking out 16 in 9 2/3 innings with a 1-2 record, two blown saves, and a hold. Overall in 2026, the 26-year-old former sixth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021 out of Texas Tech University has gone 2-3 with a 4.68 ERA (3.35 FIP), 1.41 WHIP, and 46:16 K:BB in his 32 2/3 innings pitched across 33 outings (four starts) for the Bucs. While Montgomery is a late-inning option for the Pirates in their constantly evolving bullpen, he just hasn't been consistent enough in high-leverage situations for fantasy managers to trust as a source of saves in mixed leagues. Montgomery is rostered in just 1% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Red Sox Place Connelly Early on Injured List With Elbow Inflammation
The Boston Red Sox announced on Wednesday that they placed left-hander Connelly Early (elbow) on the 15-day injured list with left-elbow inflammation and recalled left-hander Alec Gamboa from Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move. Early threw four shutout innings with two walks and five strikeouts on Tuesday night against the visiting Washington Nationals before the BoSox pulled him early with elbow discomfort. The 24-year-old southpaw will now miss at least the next two weeks and won't be able to rejoin the Red Sox's starting rotation until after the All-Star break in late July, in a best-case scenario. Once Early undergoes tests, we'll have a better idea of whether he'll be ready to return from the IL when eligible after the break. In his first full year in the majors, Early has gone 7-5 with a 3.44 ERA (4.61 FIP) and 1.25 WHIP with 93 strikeouts and 34 walks across 91 2/3 innings and 17 starts. He's had a decent 23.8% walk rate and 8.7% walk rate, but he ranks in the 15th percentile in barrel rate and has allowed 15 homers in his 17 starts.
Source: Boston Red Sox
Source: Boston Red Sox
Noah Schultz Back in Chicago's Rotation, Worth a Waiver-Wire Pickup?
The Chicago White Sox announced that they reinstated rookie left-hander Noah Schultz (knee) from the injured list to start Wednesday's series finale against the Baltimore Orioles. Schultz will make his return to Chicago's starting rotation after missing over a month with right-knee patellar tendinitis. The White Sox's No. 3 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, made three minor-league rehab starts and shouldn't face any pitch-count limitations on Wednesday against an Orioles team that has the third-most strikeouts in baseball. Schultz was inconsistent in his first eight major-league starts covering 38 2/3 innings before his knee injury, going 2-4 with a 5.82 ERA (4.76 FIP), 1.34 WHIP, and 33:22 K:BB. The 6-foot-10, 240-pounder's bread and butter is a nasty slider that can dominate both lefties and righties, and he complements it with a mid-90s heater. The hulking left-hander has plenty of upside, but he's still a work in progress at the big-league level, and he'll need to lower his 13.1% walk rate to find more success. In deeper leagues, Schultz is worth stashing for his upside.
Source: Chicago White Sox
Source: Chicago White Sox
Justin Wrobleski Caps Off Excellent June With 11 Punchouts
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski dominated the hosting Athletics at hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park on Tuesday night to finish off an excellent month of June on the mound. Wrobleski allowed three earned runs on seven hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out a season-high 11 batters in seven innings for his 10th win of 2026 in the team's 9-3 victory in Sacramento in the final game of the series. The 25-year-old southpaw is now 10-2 in his third year with the Dodgers and has posted a sharp 2.80 ERA (3.47 FIP) and 1.01 WHIP with 64 strikeouts and 18 walks in 93 1/3 innings across 15 appearances (14 starts). In five starts in June over 30 2/3 innings pitched, Wrobleski had a 2.64 ERA (3.63 FIP) with 24 strikeouts, only four walks, and three wins. Wrobleski has won three straight starts for L.A. and hasn't been in the loss column since late May. It's been a breakout season for the former 11th-rounder in 2021 out of Oklahoma State University, but with a 4.25 expected ERA and below-average 17.3% strikeout rate, he's a clear sell-high candidate with the first half of the season coming to an end soon.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Dansby Swanson Stays Hot With Two-Homer Game in Win Over Padres
After a rough start to his 2026 season, Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson is beginning to heat up with the weather. In the Cubs' 9-7 win over the visiting San Diego Padres on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field, Swanson went 3-for-4 at the plate with two home runs and three RBI to continue his recent hot stretch offensively. The 32-year-old veteran's big game boosted his season slash line to .203/.296/.395 with a .691 OPS, 13 home runs, 49 RBI, 10 stolen bases, and 51 runs scored across his 276 at-bats. In his last 12 games, Swanson has gone 16-for-47 (.340) with six home runs, three doubles, a triple, 21 RBI, 12 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 51 plate appearances. He finished off the month of June with a .247 average (21-for-85) with six long balls, five doubles, a triple, 22 RBI, 17 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 25 games played. Swanson's recent hot stretch has been nice, but his xBA of .206 and xwOBA of .295 say that it won't last. He ranks in the 57th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 46th percentile in barrel rate, and just the 24th percentile in expected slugging.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Cade Cavalli Dominates BoSox With Career-High 13 Strikeouts
Washington Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli had his swing-and-miss stuff working in Tuesday night's 8-1 win over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Cavalli allowed just an unearned run on one hit while walking none and striking out a career-high 13 batters in seven innings to pick up his fifth win of the year and lower his ERA to 3.69. He's now sporting a 3.22 FIP and 1.33 WIHP with 102 strikeouts and 29 walks in 90 1/3 innings across his career-high 18 starts in just his third big-league season. Cavalli also leads the majors with 12 hit-by-pitches. The 27-year-old former first-round pick in 2020 out of the University of Oklahoma retired the last 19 batters he faced and generated 25 whiffs on his 100 pitches. It was the first time this season that Cavalli didn't allow an earned run, and he's held the opponent to three runs or fewer in all but two of his 18 starts in 2026. Cavalli had a 3.82 ERA (3.56 FIP) with 34 strikeouts and eight walks in 30 2/3 innings in his six starts in June, and he should be trusted in fantasy lineups for his next scheduled outing against the Houston Astros.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Riley Greene Continues Strong Season With Two Homers on Tuesday
Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene continued to swing the bat well this year in Tuesday's 9-3 victory on the road against the New York Yankees, going 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and a strikeout to boost his season average to .288 and his OPS to .828. The talented 25-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder is now up to 11 home runs, 37 RBI, 43 runs scored, and a stolen base on the year while posting a .378 on-base percentage and .450 slugging percentage in his 309 at-bats in 2026. It was the two-time All-Star's first multi-home run game of the season in his fifth year in the league. Greene closed out the month of June in style and finished with a .258 average (24-for-93) with seven home runs, two doubles, 12 RBI, and 13 runs scored in 25 games and 109 plate appearances. He doesn't have much upside on the basepaths, with just 15 steals in four-plus MLB seasons, but he has a solid floor everywhere else, and it's encouraging that he's dropped his strikeout rate from a career-high 30.7% last year to 26.9% this year. Continue to roll him out there every day in fantasy lineups.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jacob Latz Emerging as Elite Waiver-Wire Relief Option
Texas Rangers left-hander Jacob Latz continues to deliver elite production out of the bullpen, flying under the radar in most leagues. The 30-year-old has posted a 1.71 ERA and 0.62 WHIP with 18 saves across 33 appearances. His xERA and expected batting average sit at .245 and .182 respectively, both ranking in the 97th percentile across Major League Baseball. The underlying metrics point to a dominant pitch mix, and his season-long consistency has been somewhat overlooked. Latz is still only rostered in 60 percent of leagues and profiles as an elite waiver wire target. Fantasy managers should act quickly to add him before his rostered rate climbs further.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
A.J. Ewing Breaking Out as Dynamic Waiver-Wire Pickup
Mets outfielder A.J. Ewing has caught fire in his rookie campaign, hitting .409 with a .727 slugging percentage over his last seven games. The Mets No. 1 prospect has flashed multiple tools early, pairing strong offensive production with 98th percentile sprint speed that immediately changes games on the bases. He is slashing .275/.360/.412 with a .772 OPS while adding 8 stolen bases across 46 games this season. Ewing's speed and improving contact profile have helped him carve out a consistent role as he continues to adjust to major league pitching. Fantasy managers should view him as an elite dynasty pickup and a waiver wire option in all formats.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jake Burger Reclaiming Power Form, Maintaining Waiver-Wire Value
Rangers first baseman Jake Burger has maintained the strong production he found in May, slashing .270/.359/.438 in June while adding four home runs. His season numbers now sit at .253/.316/.438 with a .754 OPS, a significant improvement from his 2025 campaign in his first year with the Rangers. After a dip in power last season, Burger's 14 home runs suggest a return to his expected production, with his pull fly ball rate rising from 13.5 percent in 2025 to 24.1 percent in 2026. The 30-year-old has also improved his plate discipline with an 8.1 BB%. The underlying numbers support continued success, making Burger a strong power target for fantasy managers.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
George Klassen Getting Back on Track, Will He Return to the Majors Soon?
Los Angeles Angels pitching prospect George Klassen has begun to right the ship at Triple-A, pitching to a 2.67 ERA and 1.38 WHIP over his last six starts. The walk rate remained elevated over that time at 14.5 percent, but the right-hander was able to strand runners at an 85.7 percent rate thanks to an opponent batting average of just .205. The season-long numbers don't look as good, with a 4.94 ERA (5.71 FIP), 1.70 WHIP, opponent batting average of .265, and a lowly 5.9 percent K-BB%, but things look like they are headed in the right direction. The Angels' fourth-ranked prospect debuted with the team back in April of this year, but was roughed up for six earned runs in 4 2/3 innings pitched (11.57 ERA) and he walked more batters (10) than he struck out (six), so the team may want to see some additional development in his command before another promotion. Nevertheless, the 24-year-old should be in the mix for another shot in the second half, and managers in deep 12+ team leagues could begin to consider stashing him ahead of that time.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Josh Hader Dominating Again, Re-Establishing Himself as Elite Relief Arm
Houston Astros left-hander Josh Hader continues to dominate opposing hitters and lock down games from the Astros bullpen, delivering another scoreless inning on Tuesday while striking out two batters. Over his last six appearances, Hader has allowed no runs while striking out 10 batters. After missing the beginning of the season due to injury, the 32-year-old has quickly returned to the elite form that has made him one of baseball's premier relievers for years. Hader owns a 0.69 ERA and a 0.54 WHIP with 21 strikeouts across 13 innings. His elite 14.54 K/9 showcases his dominant pitch mix, with just one run allowed all season. Expectations are always high for Hader, but he has surpassed them and remains one of the top fantasy relief arms in baseball.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Franklin Arias Surging at Double-A, 2026 Debut Back in Play?
Boston Red Sox shortstop prospect Franklin Arias' bat has come back to life in a big way after a short slump. From June 11 through June 19, Boston's top-ranked prospect went just 2-for-20 (.100) over a six-game span, but in the nine games since, he's 18-for-38 (.474) with five doubles, three home runs, and a 4:5 BB:K. The surge has raised his season-long slash line at Double-A to .328/.407/.594 with 16 home runs, five steals, and a fairly even split between walks (29) and strikeouts (36). A promotion to Triple-A could be on the way in the near future, and with his abilities, a late-season debut in the majors could be in the cards. The 20-year-old just rose all the way to No. 8 on MLB.com's most recent refresh of the Top 100 prospects list, and fantasy managers will want to put him on their radar as the young Venezuelan could become a worthy stash candidate in deeper leagues in the coming months.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Riley O'Brien Ties NL Lead With 21st Save
St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Riley O'Brien picked up his 21st save of the season on Tuesday, marking his third save in as many appearances. O'Brien worked a clean inning while allowing one hit to seal the win over the Atlanta Braves. The save tied him for the National League lead as he continues to emerge as one of the premier ninth-inning options in MLB. The 31-year-old now owns a 3.82 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP with 34 strikeouts across 35 ⅓ innings. After a difficult stretch in early June, O'Brien has put together a strong run of appearances and appears to be regaining his early-season form. He remains a high-end closer option in all fantasy formats.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Fernando Tatis Jr. Nearly Doubles Home Run Total in Loss to Cubs
San Diego Padres second baseman/outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr.'s lack of power has been one of the bigger storylines in 2026. The 27-year-old Dominican entered Tuesday's clash against the hosting Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field with only three home runs in 319 at-bats. He flipped the narrative for at least one night, though, going 2-for-5 at the plate with two solo home runs and a strikeout as the Padres' leadoff hitter. Tatis is now hitting a strong .284 on the season with a .728 OPS and five home runs. He went deep off starter Matthew Boyd in the first inning on Tuesday, followed by another solo shot off reliever Javier Assad later in the game. Tatis' underlying metrics have always been hinting at a power surge eventually in 2026, and his buy-low window might already be shut. The three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner ranks in the 96th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 80th percentile in xwOBA, the 67th percentile in barrel rate, and the 66th percentile in xSLG. After coming into June with just one homer, Tatis homered four times in June, and many more could be coming in the second half.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
