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Juan Soto Says He's "100 Percent" Will Play Again This Year
New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (calf) said he's "100%" expects to play again this year, according to Chelsea Janes of SNY. Soto added that he thinks he's young enough to recover quickly while taking things day to day after the Mets placed him on the 10-day injured list over the weekend due to a Grade 2 strained left calf. The 27-year-old Dominican and five-time All-Star doesn't have a clear timetable for a return, though, so fantasy managers are going to have to be patient with the left-handed slugger as we head into August this weekend. At the very least, Soto is expected to miss three weeks of action after also spending time on the IL in the first half of the season with a right-calf strain. Until he can return, rookie outfielder A.J. Ewing is expected to be New York's primary left fielder. Soto has missed time this year due to injury, but when healthy, he has been his typical high-end fantasy self, slashing .283/.408/.539 with a .947 OPS, 21 home runs, 52 RBI, 46 runs scored, and seven stolen bases across his 293 at-bats. Keep him stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues, even though it might not be until late August when Soto is back.
Source: SNY - Chelsea Janes
Source: SNY - Chelsea Janes
Jonathan Santucci Moving up to Triple-A as Late-Season MLB Debut is in Reach
New York Mets left-handed pitching prospect Jonathan Santucci is moving up to Triple-A Syracuse and is now just one stop away from Queens. Santucci is currently considered the No. 7 overall prospect in the system per MLB.com. Santucci joined the Mets in the 2024 MLB Draft in the second round out of Duke. In 2025, Santucci split his time in the lower levels, logging stints at both Low-A and High-A. Through 117 2/3 total innings, the southpaw held a 3.06 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, with a 138:41 K:BB. At Double-A this season, Santucci continued to flash high-end strikeout talent, totaling 120 over just 90 2/3 innings while carrying a 3.57 ERA. Managers in deeper redraft leagues should continue to monitor Santucci as he could earn a brief taste of MLB action, especially if the Mets were to trade current starters like Freddy Peralta and Sean Manaea ahead of the deadline.
Source: MiLB Central
Source: MiLB Central
Mets Place Juan Soto on Injured List With Calf Strain
The New York Mets announced on Saturday that they placed outfielder Juan Soto (calf) on the 10-day injured list with a strained left calf and recalled infielder Eric Wagaman from Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move. Soto, who already spent time on the IL in the first half of the season with a right-calf strain, has been bothered by his left calf since the first game after the All-Star break, and he was pulled from Friday's series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers with more discomfort in his left calf. An MRI exam showed a Grade 2 strain, and interim manager Andy Green said that Soto will miss more than the two weeks that he missed in April with his right-calf strain. It's a major bummer for fantasy managers, as the five-time All-Star has hit 21 homers and 52 RBI in only 84 games this season. Soto must be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues while he heals. With Soto sidelined, the switch-hitting Jorge Polanco figures to be the Mets' primary designated hitter.
Source: New York Mets
Source: New York Mets
Juan Soto Going for Imaging on his Calf on Saturday
New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (calf) will get imaging done on his nagging left calf on Saturday after he was pulled from Friday's contest early against the Los Angeles Dodgers, interim manager Andy Green told Tim Britton of The Athletic. Green isn't ruling out a trip to the injured list for Soto. "This has nagged him for a week," Green said. "Anytime you get an image, you're concerned." The Mets haven't released their lineup for Saturday's contest at Citi Field against the Dodgers, but Soto almost certainly will not be in it. The 27-year-old Dominican All-Star spent time on the IL earlier this year with a right-calf strain, and he's been dealing with issues in his left calf since the first game following the All-Star break earlier this month. Since then, he has mostly served as the Mets' designated hitter to keep him off his feet as much as possible. Fantasy managers need to prepare for the possibility that Soto will miss more time going forward. In his ninth year in the league, he's hitting .283 (83-for-293) with league highs in on-base percentage (.408) and OPS (.947) while adding 21 homers, 52 RBI, 46 runs scored, and seven steals.
Source: The Athletic - Tim Britton
Source: The Athletic - Tim Britton
Juan Soto Exits with Calf Soreness
New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (calf) was forced to make an early exit from Friday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Soto was lifted for a pinch-runner in the sixth inning of this game. The team is saying that Soto was pulled from the contest due to left calf soreness. It's the same calf that gave Soto trouble last week, so this is something fantasy managers should monitor. Before leaving the game, Soto was hitless with two walks during Friday's loss. Interim manager Andy Green confirmed that Soto will undergo an MRI on Saturday. Fantasy managers should consider Soto as day-to-day, but should get a better timetable soon.
Source: Anthony DiComo
Source: Anthony DiComo
A.J. Ewing Remains a High-Upside Speed Threat on the Waiver Wire
Since being called up for his MLB debut in mid-May, New York Mets outfielder A.J. Ewing is hitting .274/.345/.426 with seven home runs, 25 RBI, 27 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases across 251 plate appearances. The 21-year-old has struck out in 27.1% of his plate appearances, which is a bit of a concern for fantasy managers. However, Ewing owns elite speed, which allowed him to consistently run a high batting average on balls in play throughout his time in the minor leagues. Across 124 minor league games in 2025, Ewing hit .392 on balls in play and stole 70 bases. Ewing has also drawn walks in 9.6% of his big league plate appearances, which should continue to help him make an impact on the bases. In leagues where he's not already rostered, fantasy managers should target Ewing as a speed threat with upside on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Carson Benge Still Begging for More Waiver Attention
New York Mets outfielder Carson Benge has quietly been one of the more productive rookie bats in 2026 for the last-place Mets. Going into the weekend, he is slashing .263/.324/.397 with a .720 OPS, 11 home runs, 13 doubles, 40 RBI, 16 stolen bases, and 52 runs scored as a lineup regular through 99 games and 408 plate appearances in his first year in the big leagues. The return of Luis Robert Jr. from the injured list recently has made New York's outfield a bit more crowded, but the 23-year-old former 19th overall pick from Oklahoma State University in 2024 has earned consistent playing time the rest of the way in what has become a lost season for the Mets. Benge can contribute across the board for fantasy managers and has stayed hot in 16 games in July, going 18-for-61 (.295) with an .805 OPS, two home runs, three doubles, eight RBI, five stolen bases, and eight runs scored across his 69 plate appearances. Fantasy managers are slowly catching on, but Benge is still rostered in just over half of Yahoo leagues, so he remains widely available.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Jack Wenninger Falling Off Stash Radar
New York Mets pitching prospect Jack Wenninger needed 78 pitches to get through three innings in his latest start, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out two. After a strong start to the season in which he posted a 1.08 ERA (3.63 FIP), 1.11 WHIP, and 38 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings pitched, the right-hander has posted a 5.29 ERA (6.34 FIP), 1.58 WHIP, and just 41 strikeouts in 49 1/3 IP over his last 11 appearances. The Mets' fourth-ranked prospect seemed to be on the verge of making a major league debut earlier this year, but it looks like he needs a bit more development. If he can get back on track, a debut later this season could still be in the cards, but with a high walk rate (12.7 percent) and averaging less than a strikeout per inning (8.6 K/9), there is little reason to stash him in fantasy.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Brett Baty Heating Up in July, Re-Emerging as a Viable Streaming Option
New York Mets utility man Brett Baty has had a rough season overall in 2026, hitting .223/.295/.331 with six home runs, 33 RBI, 38 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 343 plate appearances. However, the 26-year-old has begun to turn it on in July, hitting .281 with three home runs, 11 runs scored, and two stolen bases across 60 plate appearances so far this month. Baty has shown he can be a productive big-league hitter in the past, hitting .254 with 18 home runs and eight stolen bases across 432 plate appearances in 2025. The lefty swinger profiles more as a platoon bat, as he owns a .535 OPS across 297 career plate appearances against left-handed pitching. Still, Baty can be a useful streamer for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire, particularly given his multi-positional eligibility.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Luke Weaver a Top Closer Handcuff to Stash
New York Mets right-hander Luke Weaver has arguably been his team's top reliever in 2026, recording a 1.98 ERA and 0.80 WHIP with 43 strikeouts, 14 holds, two wins, and one save across 41 innings (39 games). The 32-year-old owns a stellar 20.4% K-BB rate, and opposing batters are hitting just .152 against him. Weaver's path to saves with the Mets is currently blocked off by established closer Devin Williams. However, Williams has struggled to a 4.54 ERA this season and has allowed four earned runs across his first 5 1/3 innings pitched in July. The Mets may also be looking to move Williams at the upcoming trade deadline if they can find an interested buyer. If Williams is removed from New York's closer role for either reason, Weaver profiles as a logical choice to assume the job. He has experience in the ninth inning, recording eight saves as a member of the New York Yankees in 2025. Particularly in deeper leagues, Weaver could be worth stashing off the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Zac Thornton Emerging as a Starting Pitcher Streamer to Target on the Waiver Wire
New York Mets starting pitcher Zac Thornton picked up his first win of the season on Tuesday night, throwing six scoreless innings with two strikeouts in his team's 4-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Thornton has spent most of the 2026 season at Triple-A, where he's recorded a 4.02 ERA across 62 2/3 innings. However, the 24-year-old was recalled by New York on July 12 and has been extremely effective across his last two starts, throwing 13 scoreless innings while allowing just five hits and three walks. Thornton averages just 92 miles per hour on his fastball and has posted a 19.5% strikeout rate in the big leagues this season, so fantasy managers should not expect high-end strikeout upside. Still, the young left-hander has allowed just a 6.9% walk rate, and opposing batters are hitting .173 against him. In the midst of his current hot streak, Thornton profiles as a starting pitcher streamer to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ryan Clifford's Game Solid Despite Low Batting Average
New York Mets prospect Ryan Clifford has put together a nice season at Triple-A Syracuse, but his batting average remains very low. His productivity is solid with 16 homers and 47 RBI to go with 48 runs scored and seven stolen bases, but he is hitting just .192. Clifford has continued to produce, but hit just .099 in the month of June over 81 at-bats. The first base/outfielder is the No. 2 overall prospect in the Mets' system but will likely need to improve his overall hitting before receiving a shot at a big league debut. The 23-year-old left-handed hitter grades out at just a 45 hit tool, but does boast 60 grade power. So the low batting average might come as part of the package with Clifford. He is the top position player in the Mets' farm system, so he could get a look this season depending on New York's moves. Fantasy managers may have to deal with a low batting average as part of Clifford's game, but he does have good upside in other categories.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Mets Reinstate Luis Robert Jr. From 60-Day Injured List
The New York Mets announced on Monday that they reinstated outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (back) from the 60-day injured list and optioned infielder Eric Wagaman to Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move. It's unclear yet whether Robert will be back in New York's starting lineup for Monday's series opener on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, but if he is, fantasy managers in traditional leagues and DFS should fade Robert. Now that he's back, the 28-year-old Cuban will likely split his time between designated hitter and center field. He'll be returning for the first time since late April. Before his injury, Robert struggled with a .224 average (19-for-85) with two homers, eight RBI, 10 runs scored, and two stolen bases across his 24 games and 98 plate appearances. Robert has mostly teased power/speed upside in his MLB career, but he did hit 38 homers, drive in 80, and steal 20 bags in 2023 with the Chicago White Sox. For the power/speed possibility alone if he can stay healthy in the second half, Robert is worth a look off the waiver wire in fantasy leagues. He's currently rostered in under half of Yahoo leagues.
Source: New York Mets
Source: New York Mets
Jack Wenninger a Potential Stash Option in the Second Half
New York Mets pitching prospect Jack Wenninger could make his major league debut in the second half, especially if the Mets deal one of their rotation pieces before the trade deadline. The Mets' fourth-ranked prospect has shown flashes of dominance at times this season at Triple-A Syracuse, most notably in the early going when he posted a 1.08 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and struck out 38 batters in the first 33 1/3 innings pitched this year. Overall, the right-hander owns a 3.50 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and a 9.6 percent K-BB%, so some shine has come off his stash status for fantasy, and a 5.28 FIP suggests the results could have been even worse. However, if the 6-foot-4 hurler can return to his early-season form, he could certainly be useful for fantasy. The 24-year-old hasn't pitched since before the All-Star break, so his arm should be fresh for the second half. If he starts dealing coming out of the break, he could become a worthy stash option in very deep and NL-only leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Nolan McLean Dominates the Phillies on Sunday
New York Mets right-hander Nolan McLean had a dominant performance over the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies in Sunday's 6-1 victory on the road at Citizens Bank Park, throwing six shutout innings with only two hits allowed, two walks, and a season-high 10 strikeouts to pick up his seventh victory of the 2026 season and drop his ERA to 3.34 on the year. The 24-year-old is now 7-6 on the season with a 1.09 WHIP, 135 strikeouts, and 41 walks in 113 1/3 innings pitched across his 20 starts in his first full MLB season after he went 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 57:16 K:BB in 48 innings over his first eight starts last year. Since surrendering six earned runs to the Chicago Cubs on June 24, McLean has righted the ship, going 3-1 with a 0.75 ERA (1.81 FIP), seven walks, and 29 strikeouts in his last 24 innings pitched over his last four starts. The former third-rounder in 2023 out of Oklahoma State University will have a tough challenge to keep his strong run of form going in his next scheduled outing versus the Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend. He pitched well in his first meeting with L.A. on April 14, though, allowing just one earned run with two walks and eight strikeouts in seven innings for a no-decision.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
