RADIO
JJ Bleday a Must-Add Waiver-Wire Target Amidst Breakout Season
Cincinnati Reds outfielder JJ Bleday has emerged as a key piece of his team's lineup in 2026, hitting .270/.363/.568 with 11 home runs, 29 RBI, 23 runs scored, and two stolen bases across 171 plate appearances. The lefty-swinger has absolutely mashed right-handed pitching this season, logging a 1.019 OPS in 124 plate appearances against righties. He's been less effective against southpaws, but his .703 OPS against left-handers has been good enough for him to move from a platoon to an everyday role in recent weeks. Bleday's 12.8% barrel rate and 47% hard-hit rate are both the best marks of his career, and he has the additional benefit of playing his home games in Cincinnati's hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. Bleday profiles as a must-add outfielder across all fantasy formats ahead of a potential breakout season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is Hector Rodriguez the Next Reds Prospect to Debut?
Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect Hector Rodriguez has enjoyed a strong start to the Triple-A regular season and could be the next top prospect called up from the Reds system to make an impact in the majors. Earlier in June, the Reds turned to their top infield prospect, Edwin Arroyo, who joined several young and emerging players on the MLB roster, including Sal Stewart. Rodriguez is currently the team's No. 5-ranked prospect in the system on MLB.com, but has been among the best hitters at the Triple-A level this season. Across 62 games at Louisville, the outfielder has posted a strong .273/.352/.470 line with 10 doubles, 11 home runs, and four stolen bases. Over his last 28 games, Rodriguez has carried a higher .509 SLG with an .862 OPS. While there may not be a clear spot for him at the moment, his high-end production could force the team's hands shortly after the All-Star break. For now, he is a viable outfielder to stash in deeper 12+ team, five-outfielder leagues with multiple N/A spots.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Spencer Steer a Must-Add with Five-Category Potential
Cincinnati Reds first baseman/outfielder Spencer Steer has gone hitless in three straight games, but his overall production still keeps him on the waiver-wire radar. The 28-year-old is hitting .266 with nine home runs, 24 RBI, 38 runs scored, and 12 doubles with a 50:25 K:BB across 218 at-bats. Steer has also chipped in three stolen bases and shown solid upside on the base paths earlier in his career, swiping double-digit bags in two of his previous three seasons. He showcased his overall upside on Tuesday, June 2, against the Kansas City Royals, going 2-for-4 with two home runs, three runs scored, and two RBI. Steer's appeal comes from his ability to help in power and runs while offering useful lineup flexibility. He continues to bat in the heart of the Cincinnati lineup, which will keep him in a prime position to bolster his counting stats. Rostered in 57% of Yahoo leagues, Steer is worth adding wherever he remains available for managers looking for corner-infield or outfield help across the five standard categories.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Noelvi Marte a Priority Waiver-Wire Target After Being Recalled by Reds
After spending nearly two months in the minor leagues, Cincinnati Reds third baseman/outfielder Noelvi Marte was recalled by the big league club on Wednesday. The 24-year-old got off to a miserable start to his 2026 season after breaking camp with Cincinnati, hitting .138/.219/.138 with a 31.9% strikeout rate across 38 plate appearances. However, Marte has absolutely crushed Triple-A pitching since being sent down, slashing .369/.409/.575 with eight home runs, 27 RBI, 31 runs scored, and nine stolen bases across 176 plate appearances. The former top prospect has had MLB success as recently as 2025, when he posted a .748 OPS with 14 home runs and 10 stolen bases across 360 plate appearances. He may also now have a chance to work his way into everyday playing time in Cincinnati, as Reds third baseman/designated hitter Eugenio Suarez has posted a .645 OPS with a 30.3% strikeout rate across 142 plate appearances so far this season. A chance to reset himself in the minors may have been just what Marte needed, and he profiles as a must-roster waiver wire target now that he's back in the big leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
JJ Bleday Continues to Perform, a Must-Add Player Off the Waiver Wire?
Cincinnati Reds slugger JJ Bleday has had a breakout season in 2026 since getting called up to the Reds on April 26. On the season, he is slashing .289/.383/.620 with 10 home runs, one stolen base, 19 runs scored, and 27 RBI in 121 at-bats. Over the past seven days, he has been hitting .348/.400/.826. Bleday has cemented himself as a must-add player across all formats due to his strong stretch of play, especially in five-outfield formats. Under the hood, most of the data support his breakout, with a strong exit-velocity average (90.6 mph) and xBA (.284) and xwOBA (.399) all elite, each in the 87th percentile or better. The only concern with Bleday is that he will occasionally sit against left-handed pitching, but as long as he continues to produce against right-handed pitching, his counting stats and ratios should be just fine. If available in your league, Bleday is a must-add player.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Reds Send TJ Friedl to Triple-A
The Cincinnati Reds announced on Wednesday that they optioned outfielder TJ Friedl to Triple-A Louisville. Friedl has really struggled at the plate in 2026 in his sixth year in the big leagues with the Reds, slashing .179/.259/.256 with a career-worst .515 OPS, two home runs, six doubles, eight RBI, five steals, 15 runs scored, 13 walks, and 42 strikeouts in 47 games and 178 plate appearances. His struggles led to a drop in the batting order this year after Friedl mostly served as the Reds' leadoff man a year ago. For now, he'll go down to the farm to work on his approach at the plate before most likely rejoining the big-league squad at some point down the road in 2026. Fantasy managers looking for upgrades to their outfield room may want to consider Noelvi Marte, who is also eligible at third base. He has been raking at Louisville since his demotion to the minors back in April and has more power/speed upside than Friedl. Friedl is only rostered in 12% of Yahoo leagues and should be on the waiver wire in mixed formats, especially now that he's on his way to Triple-A.
Source: Cincinnati Reds
Source: Cincinnati Reds
Noelvi Marte Returns to Big Leagues, Re-Entering Must-Roster Territory?
The Cincinnati Reds announced on Wednesday that they have called up third baseman/outfielder Noelvi Marte from Triple-A Louisville after a hot stretch at the plate in the minors. Marte was sent to the minors early this season after going 4-for-29 (.138) with two walks and 10 strikeouts. The 24-year-old Dominican has earned his way back to the big leagues after slashing .369/.409/.575 with a .984 OPS, eight home runs, 27 RBI, 31 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in 40 games played for the Bats. It's unclear how much Marte will play for the Reds now that he's back in the majors, but he's certainly worth a look off the waiver wire in at least deep-mixed leagues for his power/speed abilities, and he has eligibility at both third base and the outfield. As of right now, Marte is rostered in just 30% of Yahoo leagues. In a career-high 90 games for Cincy in 2025, Marte hit .263/.300/.448 with 14 home runs, 51 RBI, 10 stolen bases, and 45 runs scored across his 360 plate appearances.
Source: Cincinnati Reds
Source: Cincinnati Reds
Noelvi Marte Emerging as a Top Stash Target Amid Dominant Play at Triple-A
Cincinnati Reds third baseman/outfielder Noelvi Marte went 3-for-5 with a double and three runs scored in Friday's game against Triple-A St. Paul. He has now logged multi-hit efforts in seven of his last 12 games, while slashing .438/.451/.792 with five home runs, 14 RBI, 10 runs, and a stolen base with Triple-A Louisville. The 24-year-old continues to make a case in the minors for another promotion after being optioned by the Reds in mid-April. Marte struggled mightily with a .138 (4-for-29) in 11 games in the big leagues this season before being optioned, but could force the issue if he continues to wield a hot bat in Triple-A. Fantasy managers with a NA spot or searching for a 3B/OF to stash should target Marte off the waiver wire as he's currently only rostered in 30% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
JJ Bleday Homers Again, Emerging as a Must-Add In All Leagues
Cincinnati Reds outfielder JJ Bleday went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Friday's 8-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves. Bleday blasted his eighth home run of the season off Braves starter Grant Holmes in the bottom of the fourth inning on Friday. His home run traveled 393 feet with an exit velocity of 108.6 mph. He has now homered in two of his last four games. Overall, the 28-year-old is now slashing .287/.392/.604 with eight home runs, 22 RBI, 17 runs, and a stolen base in 28 games this season. He has homered seven times over 111 plate appearances in May while posting a 13.5 BB% and .968 OPS in 25 contests. Bleday is rostered in 40% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues and is emerging as a must-add off the waiver wire in all leagues.
Source: MLB
Source: MLB
Noelvi Marte Emerging as Stash Target Following Dominant Stretch in Minor Leagues
Reds outfielder Noelvi Marte was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on April 13 and has responded with a dominant stretch at the plate in the minor leagues. The 24-year-old is hitting .374 with a 1.016 OPS and seven home runs in 33 games, continuing to re-establish himself as one of the Reds' most intriguing young bats. Marte struggled during his short stint with Cincinnati earlier this season, slashing .138/.194/.138 in 11 games before the demotion. However, his recent production has become increasingly difficult for the organization to overlook. With his power beginning to return and his confidence trending upward, Marte is emerging as a worthwhile stash candidate in deeper fantasy formats before an expected return to the major league roster.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
JJ Bleday a Priority Option for Power Upside?
Cincinnati Reds outfielder JJ Bleday has emerged as a solid power-hitting option for fantasy managers on the waiver wire. Over his last seven games, Bleday is 9-for-29 with two home runs, eight RBI, one walk, and five strikeouts. In total this season, he owns a .299/.402/.636 slash line with six homers, 20 RBI, a 15.2% walk rate, a 15.2% strikeout rate, and 178 wRC+. He's having the best season of his career (by far), but fantasy managers haven't quite come around, as he's still rostered in just 40% of leagues. That means that managers in 60% of leagues have the opportunity to add Bleday and his impressive bat off the waiver wire. It's a worthwhile move, as Bleday has been consistently productive all year long. He has a decent schedule coming up, too, with three games against the Cardinals, whose pitchers have the 12th-worst ERA and the second-fewest strikeouts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Noelvi Marte Back on the Stash Radar Amid Dominant Run at Triple-A?
Even though Cincinnati Reds third baseman/outfielder Noelvi Marte is still in the minors, he should be attracting some interest off the waiver wire due to a recent hot stretch at Triple-A Louisville. In his last 25 games with the Bats, Marte has gone 41-for-103 (.398) with six home runs, 22 RBI, and eight stolen bases. The 24-year-old Dominican is hitting .383/.436/.583 overall at Louisville with a 1.019 OPS, six home runs, 22 RBI, eight steals, and 24 runs scored in 30 games across 133 plate appearances. The Reds sent Marte down to the minors in the middle of April after he went 4-for-29 (.138) with two walks and 10 strikeouts in his first 11 games in Cincy. Based on how he's hitting currently on the farm, the Reds are probably considering calling Marte back up to the big-league club. In a career-high 90 games in Cincy last year, Marte hit .263 (89-for-339) with 14 homers, 51 RBI, and 10 steals. Fantasy managers in need of some power and speed in deeper leagues should consider adding Marte, who is only rostered in 28% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.
Source: Milb.com
Source: Milb.com
JJ Bleday a Top Source for Power?
Something has clicked for outfielder JJ Bleday since joining the Cincinnati Reds. In 16 games with the team, Bleday has gone 17-for-53 (.321) with six home runs, 18 RBI, 10 runs scored, one steal, 13 walks, and 10 strikeouts across 66 plate appearances. In his first four MLB seasons with the Miami Marlins and Athletics, the left-handed-hitting outfielder slashed just .215/.307/.394 with a .702 OPS and 49 home runs across 404 games played. The 28-year-old's assault on opposing pitchers continued in Thursday's 15-1 rout of the Washington Nationals, when he went 3-for-5 at the plate with two more home runs and six RBI. Bleday, a former fourth overall pick out of Vanderbilt, is red-hot right now with Cincy and will continue to play regularly in a hitter-friendly home environment as long as he continues to produce. Fantasy managers who need power production should be looking his way, if even for just a short amount of time until he cools off. Bleday is currently rostered in only 27% of Yahoo leagues. He's gone 7-for-13 with 11 RBI in the last four games.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
JJ Bleday Continues to Thrive With Reds, Homers Twice on Thursday
Cincinnati Reds outfielder JJ Bleday has looked like a different hitter since joining the Reds this year, as he came into Thursday's action with a .292/.443/.646 slash line, a 1.088 OPS, four home runs, 12 RBI, and eight runs scored in just 15 games played. The former fourth overall pick by the Miami Marlins in 2019 out of Vanderbilt kept it going in Thursday's 15-1 blowout win over the visiting Washington Nationals, going 3-for-5 at the plate as the designated hitter with two home runs, six RBI, and a strikeout to raise his season average to .321 and his OPS to 1.210. The left-handed-hitting outfielder now has six long balls in his first 52 at-bats since joining Cincy, which should have fantasy managers taking notice in all formats. Bleday won't be able to keep this pace up all season, but his pedigree as a top draft choice makes him more intriguing as a potential waiver-wire star in 2026 who is clicking with a change of scenery in a very hitter-friendly home ballpark. Bleday is only rostered right now in 18% of Yahoo leagues and should deserve more attention.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
JJ Bleday Breaking Out With Reds, Emerging as High-End Power Source
Cincinnati Reds outfielder JJ Bleday has enjoyed an early breakout in his first season with the Reds. Bleday, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft by the Miami Marlins, has bounced around the majors after struggling to find the consistent success many expected early in his career. He appears to have found his stride in Cincinnati, slashing .262/.392/.643 with a 1.035 OPS and four home runs through 13 games. Bleday was called up from Triple-A Louisville on April 25 and has made the most of his opportunity, flashing impressive power in early action with the Reds. The 28-year-old is quickly gaining attention as a strong fantasy source for power production.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
