RADIO
Tony Santillan the New Closer to Roster in Cincinnati?
Cincinnati Reds reliever Tony Santillan appears to be getting the bulk of the save situations, making him an intriguing closer option in fantasy baseball. The Reds continue to use Santillan in leverage scenarios, and while it has backfired with a blown save and a loss in his last two games, he still appears to be the frontrunner for the role. The Reds used Graham Ashcraft in a save situation on Wednesday, but he blew it, too. Outside of a minor rough patch, Santillan has been effective, posting a 2.87 ERA with 9.19 K/9. He does need to work on limiting walks (5.17 BB/9) and loud contact (1.72 HR/9 and 35.9% GB%). With Emilio Pagan out until late June, it seems like the Reds will just roll with Santillan as their de facto closer. He has jumped to #32 among relievers in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Shota Imanaga Continues Strong Season With 10-Strikeout Performance
Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga continued his masterful 2026 season in Thursday's 8-3 victory over the division-rival Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field to win his fourth game of the season. Imanaga allowed just one earned run on six hits (one homer) while walking three and striking out 10 in six innings of work. It was the second time this year that he reached double-digit strikeouts. With the strong effort against the Reds on Thursday, the 32-year-old Japanese native is 4-2 with a 2.28 ERA (2.82 FIP), a 0.93 WHIP, and a 53:13 K:BB in 47 1/3 innings pitched. The only run that Imanaga allowed in the outing was a solo shot by infielder Sal Stewart, who has been one of the best all-around hitters in the majors so far in 2026. Imanaga will have a difficult test his next time out against the Atlanta Braves on the road, but he's become a must-start for fantasy managers with the way he's been pitching so far this year.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Padres Move Joe Musgrove to 60-Day Injured List
The San Diego Padres announced on Thursday that they transferred right-hander Joe Musgrove (elbow) to the 60-day injured list. Musgrove had Tommy John surgery late in the 2024 season and missed the entire 2025 campaign as a result. The 33-year-old veteran was working his way back in the offseason for a potential return to San Diego's starting rotation for the start of this season, but he just has not recovered as expected, and now he won't be eligible to make his 2026 season debut until at least late May. It's unclear exactly where he's at in his throwing program to build his arm strength back up, but we'd be surprised to see Musgrove back with the Padres in the first half of the season at this point. It's becoming harder and harder to recommend holding Musgrove in single-year fantasy leagues. He's currently rostered in 22% of Yahoo leagues. The Padres could really use the rotation boost, but Musgrove's return to a big-league mound is not imminent.
Source: San Diego Padres
Source: San Diego Padres
Garrett Crochet Resumes Throwing, Red Sox Not Rushing him
Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder), who was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 29 with left-shoulder inflammation, has resumed throwing from 60 feet and is continuing to make progress in his strength program, interim manager Chad Tracy told Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald. Crochet is eligible to come off the IL on Tuesday, but the Red Sox want to make sure he's fully built back up before activating him. Whether or not Crochet requires a minor-league rehab assignment will depend on how long he's out, according to Tracy. The talented southpaw should return by mid-May, but it won't be by next Tuesday. Despite an inconsistent start to the 2026 season, Crochet should be held in all fantasy leagues. Rookie left-hander Jake Bennett has made his first two big-league starts in Crochet's place so far. The 26-year-old Crochet has gone 3-3 with a 6.30 ERA (4.34 FIP) and 1.47 WHIP with 37 strikeouts and 11 walks across 30 innings over his first six starts with the BoSox this year. He was an All-Star each of the last two seasons and finished second in the American League Cy Young voting in 2025.
Source: Boston Herald - Mac Cerullo
Source: Boston Herald - Mac Cerullo
Ryan Waldschmidt Back in Action in Minors After Injury Scare
Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect Ryan Waldschmidt (head) had an injury scare while at Triple-A Reno on Tuesday when he was hit square in the helmet by a pitch. Waldschmidt initially stayed in the game before eventually being pulled, and he was held out of Wednesday's lineup as a precaution. The 23-year-old was back on the field for Thursday's game at Triple-A, though, and he went 2-for-5 at the plate with an RBI for the Aces. Arizona's top prospect, per MLB Pipeline, has struggled at the dish of late, hitting just .105 with two doubles, two RBI, five runs scored, and two stolen bases in his last five games, but overall, he's still hitting a strong .289/.400/.477 with an .877 OPS, three home runs, 22 RBI, six stolen bases, and 30 runs scored in 34 games on the farm. Despite being rostered in only 4% of Yahoo leagues, Waldschmidt remains one of the top young outfield stashes in fantasy baseball, and he should be up in the big leagues in 2026 sooner rather than later. The 6-foot, 205-pounder is intriguing for his above-average raw power from the right side of the plate.
Source: Sports Illustraded - Alex D'Agostino
Source: Sports Illustraded - Alex D'Agostino
Rico Garcia a High-End, Short-Term Option for Saves
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Rico Garcia locked down his second save of the season on Wednesday against the Miami Marlins and continues to be a high-end short-term option for the Orioles while Ryan Helsley (elbow) remains on the injured list. Garcia has been one of the go-to Orioles late-inning, high-leverage relievers coming into the season, as he has six holds on the season, and is 3-0 with a 0.53 ERA and 0.41 WHIP with 19 strikeouts in 17 innings pitched. The two saves Garcia has picked up this season have been the first two saves in his six-year career, and through 18 appearances on the season, Garcia is pitching the best he has in his entire career. The underlying metrics are supporting Garcia's breakout, with a 1.91 xERA, .156 xBA, and 33.3 percent strikeout rate. While Garcia's value as someone to pick up saves will be short-lived, in deeper, head-to-head formats, Garcia should be looked at as a top option. Helsley is tentatively expected back on May 15, so fantasy managers have a chance to secure a few more saves from Garcia until then.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Is Spencer Jones a Must-Stash Candidate Ahead of His MLB Debut?
New York Yankees outfield prospect Spencer Jones is set to join the MLB roster ahead of Friday's contest against the Milwaukee Brewers. With Giancarlo Stanton on the injured list and Jasson Dominguez slated to join him on the shelf with a shoulder injury, the team's top outfield prospect is set to make his MLB debut. Throughout his time in the minor leagues, the slugger has showcased high-end power but has often struggled to make consistent contact. This season, across 33 games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Jones has launched 11 home runs while holding a .258/.366/.592 line. However, he has struck out a hefty 46 times. Last summer, Jones went deep 35 times while swinging 29 bags over a 116-game stint. While his strikeout tendencies do hinder his upside in points leagues, Jones is a priority stash option in standard leagues given his five-category skill set. He could carve out a starting role in the short term, given the numerous injuries in the Yankees' starting nine.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Is Max Clark Still Worth Stashing Amid Triple-A Skid?
Detroit Tigers outfield prospect Max Clark has hit a bit of a skid at Triple-A, which could slightly delay his MLB debut. Over his last 13 games, the team's top-ranked prospect has posted a modest .140/.232/.160 line with a low .392 OPS. During this stretch, Clark has yet to go deep while swiping three bags with an 11:6 K:BB. However, over his first 19 games of the campaign, Clark looked like a completely different hitter, posting an elite .351/.416/.519 line with a stellar .935 OPS. He launched one home run while adding eight doubles, six stolen bases, and a strong 10:10 K:BB. Last season, Clark spent most of his time with High-A before moving up to Double-A in the second half. While Clark's track record at Triple-A is not overly lengthy, a hot stretch could push him to the majors ahead of the All-Star break.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Connelly Early Still a Must-Roster Player?
Boston Red Sox left-hander Connelly Early has been inconsistent so far this season after getting called up on March 29 to replace Johan Oviedo (elbow), pitching to a 3.79 ERA and 1.32 WHIP with 31 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings pitched. He entered the 2026 season as a consensus top-65 MLB prospect, and although his surface stats look acceptable, the underlying metrics do not support them (5.33 xERA, 4.72 xFIP, and 4.64 SIERA). In addition to the expected numbers, his strikeout rate (20.5 percent) and walk rate (11.3 percent) are the worst marks of his career, dating back to his five starts with the Red Sox in 2025 and his career Minor League stats. All that being said, the season is still early, and the young left-hander is still only 24 years old and has the upside to turn it around quickly. At this time, Early remains a must-roster player in deeper formats or points leagues, but not necessarily in shallower category formats.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
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
