RADIO
Kaelen Culpepper Entering High-End Stash Territory Following Power Surge
Minnesota Twins infield prospect Kaelen Culpepper has begun to climb the stash rankings following an impressive power surge at Triple-A St. Paul. Over his last eight games, the No. 2-ranked prospect in the system, according to MLB.com, has gone deep five times while carrying an impressive .294/.390/.794 slash line. During this dominant stretch, Culpepper has also swiped two bags while holding a 4:5 K:BB. Overall, across 31 games, Culpepper has looked quite comfortable at the Triple-A level, posting a .250/.345/.484 line with an .829 OPS. Last season, the infielder split time between High-A and Double-A and carried an overall .289/.375/.469 slash line with 20 home runs and 25 stolen bases. His five-category upside has made him a priority stash option in all 12-team leagues heading into Week 7 of the fantasy baseball season.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Luis Lara Emerging as Name to Monitor in Milwaukee Pipeline
Milwaukee Brewers outfield prospect Luis Lara is gradually emerging as a potential deep-league stash candidate. Lara is currently ranked as the team's No. 11 prospect on MLB.com but has flashed elite upside in the early going of the Triple-A campaign. Over his first 35 games against Triple-A pitching, Lara has held his own, posting a strong .315/.414/.523 line with four doubles, seven home runs, and 12 stolen bases. During this stretch, the 21-year-old has held a 19:20 K:BB. Last summer, Lara spent his entire campaign at the Double-A level but did not enjoy as much success, hitting only two home runs with a modest .712 OPS. Seeing the young outfielder not only find more consistent success but tap into his raw power against tougher pitching is an excellent sign. Even though Jackson Chourio has returned from injury, Lara remains on track to compete for a mid-season promotion.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Charlie Condon Remains in Elite Stash Territory Despite Cold Stretch
Colorado Rockies first base prospect Charlie Condon remains an elite hitting prospect to stash in all standard leagues ahead of Week 7 despite his cold stretch at the plate. Over his last eight games with Triple-A Albuquerque, Condon has posted a low .188/.333/.219 line with just one extra-base hit and 10:6 K:BB. However, prior to this short skid, Condon was enjoying a strong start to his Triple-A career, carrying a .269/.410/.462 line with three doubles, four home runs, and a 19:17 K:BB, over his first 21 contests of the campaign. Condon was given an opportunity to nearly claim the first base job out of camp but was sent to Triple-A to put the finishing touches on his development. Even though the current starting first baseman, TJ Rumfield, has been able to snap out of his cold skid, Condon possesses far more upside and could be in the mix to debut in the near future, once he finds his footing. His high-end raw power upside makes him a top stash option in all 12-team leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Jack Perkins the Reliever to Roster in Athletics Bullpen
Athletics right-handed reliever Jack Perkins picked up his third save of the season on April 30 and his fourth save opportunity on May 6. He appears to be the front-runner for the closer role for the Athletics for the time being. It is worth noting that Perkins blew his save opportunity on May 6, and this season, he has converted three of his four save opportunities. The Athletics do not have a true closer on their roster, and given the opportunities Perkins has gotten, he appears to be the guy to own out of this bullpen. Especially in deeper leagues where save opportunities are scarce in a season where a handful of relievers have been inconsistent or injured. Perkins overall has been solid on the season, with a 3.68 ERA (3.42 xERA) and 1.16 WHIP with 19 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings pitched. Prior to his first blown save against the Phillies on May 6, he had a 2.70 ERA. Fantasy managers in deep leagues struggling to compete for saves should take a look at Perkins based on his opportunities over the past few weeks.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Robby Snelling Holds Must-Stash Value Ahead of MLB Debut
Miami Marlins left-handed pitching prospect Robby Snelling holds must-stash value ahead of his MLB debut on Friday evening against the Washington Nationals. The southpaw is slated to earn the call to earn the call to the big leagues ahead of their tilt on Friday evening. Snelling has been among the game's top pitchers at the Triple-A level since the 2025 campaign and will make his long-awaited MLB debut. Through 29 innings with Triple-A Jacksonville this season, Snelling has struck out 44 hitters while carrying an elite 1.86 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP. During his first stint with Triple-A during the second half of the 2025 campaign, Snelling looked just as sharp, posting a 1.27 ERA with a 0.99 WHIP over a much larger 63 2/3-inning stint. While Snelling's long-term position in the rotation is not guaranteed, a strong debut could earn him several more opportunities, making him a priority stash target on the waiver wire.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Bryan Baker up to Nine Saves on the Season, Making him a Must-Roster Reliever
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Bryan Baker picked up his ninth save of the season on May 4 against the Toronto Blue Jays, recording the final out of the inning. Baker now has nine saves on the season in 11 opportunities, and currently has the sixth most saves in MLB thus far through the 2026 season. Under the hood, Baker has also looked great, holding hitters to a .169 xBA, striking out 28.6 percent of hitters, and walking only 5.4 percent. All of those metrics rank in the 85th percentile or better in all of baseball. Baker has never been a true closer before, with seven career saves in his previous five seasons, but appears to be the clubhouse leader for the Rays and the preferred option in the highest leverage moments. In a season where saves have been scarce, Baker has worked himself into a top-10 option at the position, making him a must-roster and must-start player in all formats that prioritize saves.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Logan Henderson a Must-Roster Player While Up With the Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Logan Henderson got called up to the big league club after Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) landed on the 15-day IL on April 30 and Jacob Misiorowski (hamstring) tweaked his leg in the same week. Misiorowski is slated to pitch Friday, May 8; however, Woodruff remains on the IL, which allows Henderson another turn, potentially two or three through the rotation to try and earn his spot long-term. Henderson is no stranger to MLB, having been called up in 2025 and starting five games with a 1.78 ERA over 25 1/3 innings for the Brewers. That being said, the Brewers sent him back down to Triple-A, and in his start on May 3 against the Nationals in place of Woodruff, Henderson was excellent, striking out eight batters, allowing two earned runs, three hits, and no walks in six innings pitched. The Brewers historically have been hesitant to give Henderson a long leash to stay in the rotation, but through seven career MLB starts, dating back to last season, he has a 2.43 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 33 1/3 innings pitched, so if Henderson continues to prove that he belongs, the Brewers may have no choice but to keep him up. Regardless, Henderson is a must-add off the wire for the time being, given his success through seven career MLB starts and his top-100 MLB pipeline rank pedigree.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Ben Brown to Start on Friday
Chicago Cubs pitcher Ben Brown is scheduled to make the start against the Texas Rangers on Friday, according to Taylor McGregor. Given all the injuries to this pitching staff, Brown will need to move from his bullpen role and into the rotation. Brown has been excellent with a 2.10 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and a 24/8 K/BB ratio across 12 appearances in the bullpen this season. He has been fantastic in a multi-inning role, but the Cubs need him to step up into the rotation now. The right-hander has already pitched twice this week, so it seems unlikely that he'll pitch deep into Friday's game. He'll likely pitch a few innings, but probably won't stay in the game long enough to warrant looking at him as a streaming option.
Source: Taylor McGregor
Source: Taylor McGregor
Carlos Estevez Shut Down for Three Weeks With Rotator-Cuff Strain
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Carlos Estevez (shoulder) will be shut down for the next three weeks, according to manager Matt Quatraro. Estevez was removed early during his rehab outing on Wednesday after displaying reduced velocity. The right-hander was diagnosed with a right rotator cuff strain on Thursday. Estevez won't throw for three weeks, and then will hopefully begin a rehab assignment after that. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Estevez to be back in the mix for at least a month or so. With that being said, Lucas Erceg should continue to hold down the full-time closer role in Kansas City.
Source: Anne Rogers
Source: Anne Rogers
Cole Ragans is Dealing With Valgus Extension Overload
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans (elbow) is dealing with valgus extension overload, according to manager Matt Quatraro. The southpaw was forced to make an early exit from his start on Wednesday after three innings of work. The Royals are optimistic that Ragans won't require a stint on the Injured List. Ragans is going to rest for the next few days before the team decides how to proceed going forward. For now, Ragans is day-to-day, but fantasy managers shouldn't be shocked if he does end up on the shelf.
Source: Anne Rogers
Source: Anne Rogers
Mookie Betts to Begin Rehab Assignment on Friday
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (oblique) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday. Betts has been sidelined since early April due to a strained right oblique. He suffered a setback in late April, but appears to be ready for game action now. Betts will play both Friday and Saturday in Oklahoma City, which leaves the door open for him to return to the Dodgers on Sunday. Fantasy managers will have to wait and see how Betts is feeling after these two games. If not this weekend, Betts should be able to rejoin the Dodgers by early next week.
Source: Oklahoma City Comets
Source: Oklahoma City Comets
Royce Lewis is Uncertain About Future in Minnesota
Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis is unsure if he has a future with the organization. Recently, Lewis spoke about how he's having difficulty avoiding looking at the big picture. He continued by saying it has been hard for him lately with his career feeling like it's going in a different direction. Lewis has struggled to stay healthy, and he knows that there's always someone waiting in the wings to take your job. So far this season, Lewis is slashing .169/.270/.312 with three home runs and 11 RBI across 23 games. This season marks his fifth year in the big leagues, and Lewis is still trying to establish himself as an everyday player. It remains to be seen how long a leash the Twins will give Lewis if he continues to struggle at the plate.
Source: Dan Hayes
Source: Dan Hayes
Spencer Jones Getting the Call to the Big Leagues, Worth an Add for Power Upside
The New York Yankees are promoting outfield prospect Spencer Jones from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to the major-league roster, sources told MLB reporter Francys Romero. According to MLB Pipeline, Jones is the team's No. 6 prospect, and he'll be making his long-awaited major-league debut at the age of 24 (turns 25 next week). The former 25th overall pick in 2022 out of Vanderbilt is a tall drink of water at 6-foot-7, 240 pounds, and he offers elite power upside with 83 career home runs in his five minor-league seasons. Last year with Triple-A and Double-A Somerset, Jones combined for 35 homers, 80 RBI, and 29 stolen bases. Not only does he have game-changing power from the left side, but he can also run, which is rare for a player of his stature. He'll be taking the spot of Jasson Dominguez (shoulder), who landed on the injured list on Thursday. Giancarlo Stanton (calf) is also on the shelf, so Jones figures to see regular playing time in the Bronx, at least against right-handers. Jones has hit .258/.366/.592 with 11 homers, 41 RBI, and seven steals in 142 plate appearances at Triple-A in 2026. Fantasy managers in need of power and speed should run to the waiver wire and pick up Jones, who is only rostered in 10% of Yahoo leagues at this time.
Source: Francys Romero
Source: Francys Romero
Rhett Lowder Leaves Early on Thursday With Shoulder Discomfort
The Cincinnati Reds announced that right-hander Rhett Lowder (shoulder) left his start early on Thursday against the Chicago Cubs in the fourth inning with right-shoulder discomfort, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. Manager Terry Francona and a trainer came to check on Lowder after he issued back-to-back walks to start the inning. Before departing, Lowder allowed three earned runs on just one hit (a solo homer to Michael Conforto) while walking four and striking out only one in three innings of work at Wrigley Field. It's unclear how serious the 24-year-old's shoulder injury is as of right now, but we wouldn't be surprised if it eventually sends him to the 15-day injured list, given his injury history. The hard-throwing Wake Forest product has had a tough go of it early in 2026, as he entered his start on Thursday with a 5.09 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and 26:14 K:BB in 35 1/3 innings over seven starts. Forearm and oblique injuries sidelined Lowder for the entire 2025 campaign. He's currently rostered in just 17% of Yahoo leagues. UPDATE: Lowder will undergo an MRI exam on Friday.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Sheldon
Source: MLB.com - Mark Sheldon
Luis Castillo, Emerson Hancock in Danger of Moving to Bullpen?
With Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller (oblique) on the verge of being reinstated from the 15-day injured list to make his 2026 season debut at some point next week, one of right-handers Luis Castillo or Emerson Hancock, could be in danger of being bumped from the starting rotation to the bullpen, according to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times. The Mariners could also elect to go with a six-man rotation for the time being. Jude writes that one thing is certain: Hancock has cemented a place on the major-league roster. He's been one of the best starters in the American League so far this year, posting a team-best 2.59 ERA and 46:6 K:BB in 41 2/3 innings pitched. Another possibility is that Castillo is paired with Miller in a piggyback role. The 33-year-old Castillo is most in danger of a demotion to a relief role after starting 2026 0-3 with an ugly 6.29 ERA in seven starts. It's easier said than done, though, as he's never pitched out of the bullpen and is a respected leader in the clubhouse. Castillo is also still owed $24 million next year with a vesting option for the 2028 season.
Source: The Seattle Times - Adam Jude
Source: The Seattle Times - Adam Jude
