RADIO
Orioles Claim Luis Robert Jr. Off Waivers From Mets
The Baltimore Orioles are claiming outfielder Luis Robert Jr. off waivers from the New York Mets on Monday, multiple people familiar with the situation told Chelsea Janes of SNY. The Mets gave up quickly on Robert after bringing him in to be their center fielder last offseason. He has played in only 58 games in 2026 due to a lumbar spine disc herniation in his back, and he has unsurprisingly struggled to a .223/.303/.399 slash line with a .702 OPS, 10 home runs, 23 RBI, 24 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 218 plate appearances. The Orioles will pay the remaining $5 million in salary that Robert is owed this year, and they will have a $20 million team option for 2027 that comes with a $2 million buyout. The buyout is more likely for the 29-year-old Cuban slugger unless he turns things around drastically in the final month of the regular season in Baltimore. Robert had 38 home runs, 80 RBI, and 20 stolen bases in 2023 with the Chicago White Sox, but that is the only season since debuting in 2020 in which he has capitalized on his power/speed potential. He is currently rostered in 43% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: SNY - Chelsea Janes
Source: SNY - Chelsea Janes
Michael Forret Coming Off Solid Start at Triple-A Norfolk
Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Michael Forret pitched well in his start on Saturday for Triple-A Norfolk and has mixed results in his four starts with his new club after a trade from the Tampa Bay Rays at the trade deadline. Forret picked up the loss on Saturday despite pitching five solid innings of two-run ball with two hits allowed and four walks. He did have six strikeouts as a bright point in the outing. Forret had one dud start for Norfolk, allowing eight runs in five innings in one of his outings. Altogether, he is 0-2 with Norfolk. He is the No. 10 prospect for the Orioles with three 55-grade pitches in his fastball, slider, and changeup. The Orioles will likely look for a bit more consistency from the 22-year-old before calling him up and allowing him to have any fantasy relevance this season.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Pete Alonso is Okay After Leaving Game Early
Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso (head) is expected to be fine despite leaving Sunday's game early after being hit by a pitch in the helmet. Manager Craig Albernaz told Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun that he was already planning to pinch-run for Alonso before he got hit in the helmet. He also noted that Alonso remained in the dugout after exiting and was behaving like his usual self, so there's no cause for concern. Based on Albernaz's comments, we wouldn't be surprised to see Alonso back in the lineup for the Orioles' next game against the Colorado Rockies tomorrow night. The veteran first baseman is slashing .269/.358/.503 with 32 home runs, 91 RBI, an 11.0% walk rate, a 24.4% strikeout rate, and 141 wRC+. He currently ranks as the #5 first baseman in RotoBaller's rest-of-season fantasy baseball rankings.
Source: Matt Weyrich
Source: Matt Weyrich
Samuel Basallo is Held Out on Sunday
Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo (hand) is being held out of the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics. The O's have decided to keep Basallo on the bench for this one due to a hand issue, according to Matt Weyrich. Basallo was removed early from Saturday's game due to a right-hand injury that he suffered while attempting to block a wild pitch. He's considered day-to-day, so fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried at the moment. Pete Alonso will serve as the designated hitter while Carlos Narvaez does the catching during Sunday's contest. Fantasy managers should check back on Monday for another update on his status.
Source: Matt Weyrich
Source: Matt Weyrich
Pete Alonso Remains on Fire at the Plate
Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso has been on another level at the plate recently. Over the last week, Alonso is slashing .429/.448/.893 with four home runs and 10 RBI. It's not just a one-week wonder as Alonso owns a 1.343 OPS over the last 14 days. The 31-year-old is making a statement during his first season with the Orioles. Across 133 games, Alonso is slashing .276/.365/.516 with 32 home runs, a league-leading 91 RBI, and five steals. He has been unbelievable during their current series against the St. Louis Cardinals with two homers and six RBI during the first two games. Fantasy managers need to ride with Alonso and hope he keeps up this pace during the fantasy playoffs.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Anthony Eyanson Continues to Impress With New Club
Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Anthony Eyanson has pitched well for his new organization after coming over in the trade that sent catcher Adley Rutschman to Boston, now with a 2.60 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and an elite 28.4 percent K-BB% through three starts (17 1/3 innings pitched). It has been a continuation of the success he saw earlier in the year, and now for the season, the right-hander owns a pristine 1.58 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and a 26.9 percent K-BB% in 19 appearances between High-A and Double-A. The Orioles' top pitching prospect should get a chance to test his mettle against Triple-A competition in 2027, with a chance to debut in the majors later in the year. As one of the top pitching prospects in baseball (No. 7 RHP per MLB.com), there's a lot to like, and the strikeout potential is real, so managers in redraft leagues will want to keep tabs on his progress in 2027.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Samuel Basallo a Priority Waiver-Wire Target Following Return from Injury
After suffering a shoulder injury in mid-July, Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo was sidelined for a month. However, the 22-year-old was reinstated from the injured list on August 19, and he immediately jumped back into an everyday role in the heart of the Baltimore lineup. Across 336 plate appearances in 2026, Basallo is hitting .236/.301/.439 with 17 home runs, 48 RBI, and 36 runs scored. While Basallo's 27.4% strikeout rate is a red flag in his profile, his high-end power upside for the catcher position is underscored by his 13.0% barrel rate and 45.1% hard-hit rate. The Orioles' trade of catcher Adley Rutschman to the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline has also cleared the way for Basallo to be the team's primary backstop. Baltimore also remains willing to play Basallo at first base or designated hitter, which should allow him to stay in the lineup even when he needs a day off behind the plate. In leagues where he's available, Basallo should be viewed as a priority waiver wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Michael Forret Best Left on Waiver Wires Late in Season
Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Michael Forret has found the going tough with Triple-A Norfolk since he was traded to Baltimore from the Tampa Bay Rays. Forret has three appearances and two starts for Norfolk with an 0-1 record, 7.36 ERA, and 1.91 WHIP. He was tried most recently in a non-start in which he still went five innings, allowing two earned runs. He really struggled mightily with eight earned runs in his previous five-inning start for Norfolk. Forret was solid for Triple-A Durham prior to the trade with a 1-2 record and 4.89 ERA in nine starts. He was excellent at Double-A Montgomery this season with a 6-0 record and 2.15 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings. Baltimore was hoping to see that form but hasn't quite yet. He's the No. 10 prospect for Baltimore and may need some more seasoning before his MLB debut.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Jackson Holliday's Balanced Production Gives Him Waiver Appeal
Across 281 plate appearances in 2026, Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday is hitting .236/.325/.360 with six home runs, 27 RBI, 36 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. The 22-year-old got off to a rough start to the year, as he suffered a fractured hamate bone that delayed his season debut until May 19. Holliday's underlying batted-ball metrics are uninspiring. He's logged just a 6.7% barrel rate and a 34.8% hard-hit rate on the year, both of which currently represent career lows. However, Holliday has boosted his walk rate to a career-best 12.4%, which gives him a stable floor at the plate and has allowed him to move into the leadoff spot in the Baltimore lineup in recent games. Holliday is unlikely to be a standout performer in any one category for fantasy managers, but his balanced profile at the plate gives him deep-league value as a quality middle infield option.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Christian Encarnacion-Strand a Power Bat to Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 104 plate appearances since being promoted to the big leagues in mid-July, Baltimore Orioles infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand has hit .229/.272/.458 with six home runs, 22 RBI, eight runs scored, and one stolen base. Once considered a top prospect in the Cincinnati Reds farm system, Encarnacion-Strand has some clear flaws at the plate. He rarely walks (4.8% walk rate) while also striking out too much (26.9% strikeout rate). The 26-year-old is also only seeing partial playing time at third base in Baltimore, as the team also occasionally deploys infielder Coby Mayo at the hot corner. However, Encarnacion-Strand has posted an excellent 17.1% barrel rate this season, demonstrating his high-end power upside. His work in the big leagues is a continuation of his strong performance in the minors, as he hit 19 home runs across 297 plate appearances at Triple-A this season before being called up. For deeper league managers in need of power, Encarnacion-Strand profiles as a worthy waiver wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Samuel Basallo Reinstated and Starting on Wednesday
The Baltimore Orioles reinstated catcher Samuel Basallo (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list, and he is starting at first base and batting cleanup for the O's in Wednesday's contest against the division-rival New York Yankees and right-hander Will Warren at Camden Yards, manager Craig Albernaz told Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun. Basallo is back in the big leagues after going 1-for-9 with a double in two minor-league rehab games. Wednesday will be his first game action back with Baltimore since July 19. The 22-year-old Dominican backstop will be returning to a .241/.305/.450 slash line with a .756 OPS, 16 home runs, 46 RBI, and 34 runs scored in his 282 at-bats in just his second year in the majors. The left-handed hitter is one of the better young power options at the catcher position, and he is the club's long-term option behind the plate after they traded Adley Rutschman to the Boston Red Sox earlier this month. If you need help at catcher, Basallo should be scooped up off the waiver wire immediately. He is rostered in only 36% of Yahoo leagues right now. Basallo has four hits and an RBI in 10 career at-bats against Warren.
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
Michael Forret Stumbling Lately on the Mound at Triple-A
Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Michael Forret is coming off a tough starting outing in what has been a difficult transition to Triple-A Norfolk in the Orioles' minor-league system. Forret was traded from the Tampa Bay Rays organization to the Orioles in the Tyler Wells deal. In his last outing with Norfolk, Forret allowed eight earned runs and 10 hits in five innings pitched. His only other start for Norfolk was better, with just two runs allowed in 4 2/3 innings pitched. At Triple-A Durham before he was traded, Forret went 1-2 with a 4.89 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. He is now the No. 10 prospect for the Orioles and has three 55-grade pitches in his fastball, slider, and changeup. Unless his results improve quickly with Norfolk, it is likely that he doesn't make his debut until the 2027 season. Baltimore will need to see more before calling him up, making him more of a dynasty-league player.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Cam Sanders Picks Up Back-to-Back Saves Over the Weekend
Baltimore Orioles right-handed reliever Cam Sanders came on to record the final out for the Orioles in their win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, and he picked up a second consecutive save (his third on the year) in Saturday's victory. Yennier Cano was brought in for the ninth on Friday but gave up three runs before the O's called on Sanders to lock it down. The 29-year-old former 12th-round pick by the Chicago Cubs in 2018 out of LSU began the 2026 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. His outing on Saturday was only his sixth appearance with Baltimore, and he's sporting a bloated 6.32 ERA (3.97 FIP), 1.66 WHIP, three saves, and a 19:12 K:BB in only 15 2/3 innings pitched in his second year in the majors. Late-inning relievers Ryan Helsley (elbow) and Felix Bautista (shoulder) remain on the injured list, with the Orioles going with a closer committee involving Cano, Andrew Kittredge, and Rico Garcia. Sanders' save chances over the weekend probably won't become a regular occurrence, and fantasy managers should have better save options to target on the waiver wire.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Andrew Kittredge Remains a Worthy Waiver-Wire Target
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Andrew Kittredge picked up his sixth save of the season on Tuesday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning with a strikeout in his team's 5-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. Across 35 1/3 innings (41 games) in 2026, Kittredge has recorded a 3.57 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with 30 strikeouts. The 36-year-old has been a reliable arm for Baltimore of late, allowing just two earned runs since the start of July. With Orioles closer Ryan Helsley (elbow) on the injured list, Kittredge has also recorded three saves in his last six outings. The Orioles also have right-handers Yennier Cano and Rico Garcia as capable high-leverage arms, so fantasy managers should not expect Kittredge to be the sole closer in Baltimore. Still, Kittredge is worth targeting on the waiver wire in deeper league formats.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Michael Forret Provides Solid First Impression in First Start With New Club
Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Michael Forret had a solid first start with his new club after coming over from the Tampa Bay Rays, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five in 4 2/3 innings of work at Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles' sixth-ranked prospect has now allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of his last seven starts and now owns a 3.32 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and a 16.0 percent K-BB% in 20 starts this season, half of which came at Double-A. The 6-foot-3 hurler could make his major league debut in the coming weeks, but even though the strikeout totals are good (9.86 K/9), the 22-year-old isn't worth stashing in redraft leagues outside of perhaps 15+ team and AL-only leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
