RADIO
Troy Melton a Strong Waiver-Wire Add for Ratio Help?
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Troy Melton has given fantasy managers enough reason to stop treating him as a one-start streamer. The 25-year-old blanked the Yankees for 6 1/3 innings on Wednesday, July 1, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out seven. It was his third straight quality start. Over that stretch, Melton has surrendered only two earned runs and five hits with an 18:4 K:BB across 18 1/3 innings. He is now 4-1 with a 2.05 ERA and 0.80 WHIP through 44 frames. Melton is not overpowering, as his 19.2% strikeout rate sits below league average, and seven home runs allowed help explain his 3.07 xERA. Still, a 6.0% walk rate and 35.0% hard-hit rate give the strong results some substance. RotoBaller's Week 14 rankings list him at 42% rostered and recommend an add in 12-team leagues. That is the right range, particularly with a projected home matchup against the Athletics next.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Keider Montero Continues Dominant Run, Emerging as Worthy Pitcher to Pick Up?
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher/relief pitcher Keider Montero pitched two shutout innings out of the bullpen to earn a win on Wednesday against the Yankees. It was his first appearance since moving to the bullpen after the return of Jack Flaherty last Sunday. The win helped Montero improve to 5-5 with a 3.31 ERA and 3.80 FIP in his 17 games, 15 of which were starts. He has a 1.52 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings in his last five games and has been very effective at limiting damage. Montero doesn't have a spot in the rotation right now, but he's worth a look in deep leagues since he has worked so well in multiple roles recently. He will be a top pickup option in most standard formats if he moves back to the rotation at some point later in the season.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Troy Melton Forcing his Way onto 12-Team Rosters?
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Troy Melton has settled right back in after missing his June 15 start with lower-back tightness. He is 4-1 with a 2.39 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and 25 strikeouts over 37 2/3 innings across six starts. Melton has completed at least five innings each time out and allowed only two runs over 12 innings in his first two starts after his back issue. Against the Houston Astros on June 25, he carried a perfect game into the sixth before finishing with one run and six strikeouts over six frames. His strikeout ceiling is the clear concern, with Melton averaging only 5.97 strikeouts per nine innings. His next start against the New York Yankees is a tougher test. Still, his ratios and steady workload are difficult to ignore. Melton carries a 41% Yahoo roster rate, leaving him available in most leagues. He is a worthwhile addition in 12-team formats, though fantasy managers should remain selective with his matchups.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Casey Mize Bounces Back With Dominant Outing Against Yankees
Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize was in top form on Monday night in the Bronx in the team's 7-3 win over the hosting New York Yankees. Mize cruised through seven shutout innings with only one hit allowed, no walks, and a season-high 10 strikeouts to lower his season ERA to 2.63 and pick up his third win of the 2026 season. It was nice to see from Mize, who had allowed seven earned runs on 14 hits (two homers) while walking two and striking out nine in only 10 1/3 innings in his last two starts against the Houston Astros and Yankees. The 29-year-old former first overall pick out of Auburn University in 2018 has kept the good times rolling in 2026 after making his first All-Star squad in 2025. Mize is now sporting a 2.63 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 68:14 K:BB in 65 innings across his 12 starts, and he also has a career-high strikeout rate in his sixth year in the big leagues. Fantasy managers should be leaving Mize in their starting lineups for his next scheduled outing against a banged-up Texas Rangers club.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Keider Montero Moving to Tigers Bullpen
Detroit Tigers right-hander Keider Montero will shift to his team's bullpen "for now," per Jason Beck of MLB.com. The 25-year-old has made 16 appearances (15 starts) for Detroit so far this season, recording a 4-5 record with a 3.39 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 56 strikeouts across 87 2/3 innings. With just a 16.1% strikeout rate, Montero has not provided much swing-and-miss value for fantasy managers. Still, he's limited free passes (5.2% walk rate) and hard contact (7.7% opponent barrel rate). The Tigers have multiple veterans in their current starting rotation who may not be with the team after the trade deadline, which could open the door for Montero to return to a fantasy-relevant role. However, he currently projects for a bulk relief role and can likely be dropped in shallower leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Jason Beck
Source: MLB.com - Jason Beck
Jack Flaherty to Officially Return on Sunday Against Astros
Detroit Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty (ankle) will officially come off the 15-day injured list to start on Sunday in the series finale against the Houston Astros at Comerica Park, manager A.J. Hinch told Jared Ramsey of the Detroit Free Press. Flaherty has been sidelined since June 13 with an injury to a tendon in his ankle. The 30-year-old veteran has had a frustrating season to this point, leading the league with eight losses while posting a 5.35 ERA (4.09 FIP) and 1.57 WHIP with 78 strikeouts and 34 walks in 65 2/3 innings pitched over his 15 starts in his second year in Detroit. Flaherty sits in just the fourth percentile in hard-hit rate this year, but he's in the 73rd percentile in strikeout rate and didn't allow more than three earned runs in any of his last five starts before going on the IL with his ankle injury. His xERA (4.64) and xwOBA (.334) suggest he's had some bad luck in the first half as well, so Flaherty shouldn't just be blindly avoided in fantasy leagues because of his eight losses and ERA over 5.00.
Source: Detroit Free Press - Jared Ramsey
Source: Detroit Free Press - Jared Ramsey
Jack Flaherty on Track to Return on Sunday Against Astros
Nothing is official yet, but Detroit Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty (ankle) is on track to be activated from the 15-day injured list to start against the Houston Astros on Sunday, according to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. The Tigers might roll with six starting pitchers for at least one turn through the rotation. The Tigers saw enough after Flaherty allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings while striking out seven in his minor-league rehab start on Tuesday at Double-A Erie. He threw 83 pitches in that outing, so he shouldn't be facing any workload restrictions in his likely return to Detroit's rotation this weekend against Houston. The 30-year-old's scheduled matchup on Sunday isn't a bad one, but fantasy managers in deeper leagues aren't in any hurry to throw Flaherty back into their starting lineups after he went 1-8 with a 5.35 ERA ( 4.09 FIP) and 1.57 WHIP with 78 strikeouts and 34 walks in 65 2/3 innings across his first 15 starts in 2026. But if Flaherty can get his walk rate down going into the second half of the year, he could be a positive regression candidate to target on the waiver wire. Flaherty is currently rostered in 42% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: The Detroit News - Chris McCosky
Source: The Detroit News - Chris McCosky
Jack Flaherty Fans Seven in Minor-League Rehab Game
Detroit Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty (ankle) looked good in his minor-league rehab start on Tuesday at Double-A Erie, allowing two earned runs on three hits while walking just one and striking out seven in 5 2/3 innings of work, according to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. Flaherty threw 58 of his 83 pitches for strikes in his first rehab start since landing on the 15-day injured list with a left-ankle injury. All signs are pointing to the veteran right-hander coming off the IL when he's eligible to be reinstated on June 28, barring a setback during a between-starts bullpen session. Fantasy managers won't be in any hurry to add the 30-year-old former 34th overall pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2014 when he's ready to return, as he went on the IL with a 1-8 record, 5.35 ERA, and 1.57 WHIP with 78 strikeouts and 34 walks in 65 2/3 innings over his first 15 starts in 2026 in his second year in Motown. Flaherty's 11.1% walk rate isn't ideal, but he also doesn't have a terrible 25.5% strikeout rate, and the underlying metrics suggest he has been a bit unlucky in the first half so far. He's currently rostered in under half of Yahoo leagues.
Source: The Detroit News - Chris McCosky
Source: The Detroit News - Chris McCosky
Jack Flaherty to Make a Rehab Start on Tuesday
Detroit Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty (ankle) will make a minor-league rehab start on Tuesday at Double-A Erie, according to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. Reports coming out of Flaherty's bullpen session were all positive, so he could be cleared to return from the 15-day injured list after making only one rehab start in the minors. Fantasy managers probably are in no rush to pick the 30-year-old veteran starter back up off the waiver wire, though, after he went 1-8 with a 5.35 ERA (4.09 FIP) and 1.57 WHIP with 78 strikeouts and 34 walks in 65 2/3 innings pitched over his first 15 starts before injuring his ankle. The former first-round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2014 allowed three runs or fewer in each of his last five starts, though. If Flaherty can improve his command in the second half of the year in Detroit -- he currently has an 11.1% walk rate -- positive regression should follow. While he's recovering from his ankle injury, Flaherty is rostered in 42% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Cody Stavenhagen
Source: The Athletic - Cody Stavenhagen
Jack Flaherty to Throw a Bullpen on Saturday
Detroit Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty (ankle) will throw a bullpen session on Saturday, according to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. Flaherty will be throwing off a mound for the first time this weekend since a strained left peroneal muscle in his ankle landed him on the 15-day injured list last week. Barring a setback as he begins to ramp back up, Flaherty has a chance to return to the Tigers' starting rotation before the All-Star break in mid-July. He's eligible to come off the IL on June 28. The 30-year-old veteran is leading the league in losses (eight) in 2026 for the second straight season in Detroit and has a bloated 5.35 ERA (4.08 FIP) and 1.57 WHIP with 78 strikeouts and 34 walks in 65 2/3 innings across his 15 starts. Flaherty hasn't pitched as poorly as his underlying metrics suggest, but fantasy managers don't have a whole lot of incentive in shallow-mixed leagues to keep him stashed for the time being. He's currently rostered in only 43% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Cody Stavenhagen
Source: The Athletic - Cody Stavenhagen
Tigers Scratch Justin Verlander From his Start on Sunday
The Detroit Tigers have scratched veteran right-hander Justin Verlander (hip, hamstring) from his scheduled start on Sunday against the division-rival Chicago White Sox with a left-hamstring injury after he threw a bullpen session on Wednesday in Houston, according to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. The Tigers expect Verlander's recovery to be "a matter of weeks." It's a tough blow for the future Hall of Famer and three-time Cy Young winner, as Verlander was on track to come off the 60-day injured list to start on Sunday after spending almost three months on the shelf with inflammation in his left hip. Now the 43-year-old is dealing with a hamstring ailment that will keep him on the IL for another couple of weeks. Right-hander Keider Montero is expected to replace Verlander in the series finale against Chicago on Sunday. Verlander has had an amazing run in his 21 years in the big leagues, but he's struggled to stay healthy towards the end and doesn't have much juice left.
Source: The Athletic - Cody Stavenhagen
Source: The Athletic - Cody Stavenhagen
Troy Melton Remains a Starting Pitcher Streamer to Target on the Waiver Wire
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Troy Melton (back) was scratched from his start on Monday against the Houston Astros due to lower back tightness. However, the 25-year-old is listed as Detroit's probable starter on Saturday against the Chicago White Sox and appears to have avoided a trip to the injured list. Melton missed time to start the season with elbow inflammation, but he's been effective since returning to the Tigers' rotation on May 24. Across 25 2/3 innings (four starts), Melton has recorded a 3-0 record with a 2.81 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts. Melton's 13.7% strikeout rate is unimpressive, but he posted a 32.4% strikeout rate across 75 1/3 minor league innings in 2025. As he gets more MLB innings under his belt, Melton could emerge as more of a swing-and-miss threat. In deeper leagues, Melton profiles as a worthy waiver wire target for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Casey Mize Activated and Starting on Wednesday in Houston
The Detroit Tigers announced on Wednesday that they activated right-hander Casey Mize (groin) from the 15-day injured list and placed infielder Gleyber Torres (oblique) on the 10-day IL with a left-oblique strain in a corresponding move. Mize is returning from an adductor strain that has kept him sidelined since May 27. In his only minor-league rehab start, the 29-year-old went five innings and threw only 55 pitches last Tuesday, so we'd advise against using him as a streamer on Wednesday, even in the favorable matchup at Daikin Park. The former first overall pick in the 2018 MLB draft out of Auburn University has kept the positive momentum going this year after being named a first-time All-Star in 2025 in his fifth year in the majors. Mize is returning to a 2-3 record, career-best 2.27 ERA (2.40 FIP), 0.96 WHIP, 49:12 K:BB, and career-high 26.5% walk rate in 47 2/3 frames over his nine starts. He is rostered in 62% of Yahoo leagues and is worth a pickup off the waiver wire for additional rotation depth in mixed leagues.
Source: Tigers PR
Source: Tigers PR
Justin Verlander to Return on Sunday, Worth Rostering in Fantasy?
Detroit Tigers veteran right-hander Justin Verlander (hip) will come off the 60-day injured list to start on Sunday against the division-rival Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park, according to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. It will be Verlander's second start of the 2026 season after he gave up five earned runs on six hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out one in 3 2/3 innings on March 30 against the Arizona Diamondbacks before being placed on the IL. The 43-year-old future Hall of Famer was deemed ready to rejoin Detroit's starting rotation after throwing a 66-pitch, four-inning simulated game on Monday. The three-time Cy Young winner and former MVP had a decent 3.38 ERA and 1.08 ERA in 10 2/3 innings pitched during his minor-league rehab assignment at Triple-A Toledo. Verlander will probably be limited in his first start back this weekend in what is a bad matchup against the suddenly potent White Sox's lineup. Despite the news that Verlander is set to return from the IL this weekend, he's still rostered in less than 5% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: The Detroit News - Chris McCosky
Source: The Detroit News - Chris McCosky
Justin Verlander Throws Sim Game on Monday
Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander (hip) threw a simulated game on Monday instead of returning to the starting rotation to face his former team, the Houston Astros, according to the Detroit Free Press' Evan Petzold. In four innings during his sim game, Verlander threw 66 pitches while facing Hao-Yu Lee, Jake Rogers, and Wenceel Perez. The 43-year-old future Hall of Famer isn't a lock to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list to rejoin the Tigers' starting rotation next, so he could be asked to throw another simulated game or make a minor-league rehab start first. If he does make his next start in the big leagues, it would likely come this Saturday against the division-rival Chicago White Sox in what would be a clear matchup to stay away from. The nine-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young winner, and former MVP doesn't have much left in the tank at this point in his outstanding career, and fantasy managers should have plenty of better upside options available off the waiver wire. Even with Verlander nearing a return to Detroit, he's only rostered in 4% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
Source: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
