RADIO
Dustin May to be Limited to Around 65 Pitches on Monday
St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Dustin May (ankle) has been cleared to make his start on Monday against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers, but he will be held to around 65 pitches due to his workload over the last few weeks, according to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News. The 28-year-old has had a couple of injury scares of late, most recently being pulled from his most recent start last Thursday against the Atlanta Braves after just two-thirds of an inning, when he was hit by a comebacker in his right ankle. Thankfully, X-rays came back negative, but he'll be on a short leash after having not thrown more than 44 pitches in a start in three weeks. Not only is May's matchup to begin the week a bad one, but a limited pitch count will take him off the streaming radar. May should have a more regular workload this weekend in a rematch against the Braves, but he won't be very intriguing in that matchup either. May has been up and down in 2026 in his first year in St. Louis, going 5-6 with a 4.80 ERA (3.37 FIP) and 1.27 WHIP with 78 strikeouts and 24 walks in 84 1/3 innings over his 16 starts.
Source: Belleville News - Jeff Jones
Source: Belleville News - Jeff Jones
Jazz Chisholm Jr. Back in Yankees Starting Lineup
New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. (toe) was included in the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener in Tampa against the division-rival Rays, according to MLB.com. Chisholm is starting at second base and is batting sixth versus Rays right-hander Griffin Jax. The Yankees pulled Chisholm from Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Twins early due to discomfort in his right big toe, but X-rays came back negative, and he ended up not missing a start at all. The 28-year-old left-handed slugger has elite power/speed upside for a position player eligible at second base in fantasy, but he's not without his issues. Chisholm has a strikeout rate that sits at 28.9% and a .307 on-base percentage in his 85 games across 336 plate appearances. But he enters Monday's action with 12 home runs, 33 RBI, 26 stolen bases, and 43 runs scored in his second full season with the Yankees. Chisholm has hit .200 (9-for-45) with a homer, a double, two RBI, five stolen bases, four runs, two walks, and 16 strikeouts in his last 14 games since June 20.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Walbert Urena a Rookie Strikeout Arm to Add Now?
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Walbert Urena has worked his way into the 12-team waiver mix with a 3.03 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 75 strikeouts through 77 1/3 innings. The 22-year-old held Seattle to one run and one hit over 5 2/3 innings on July 2, bouncing back after Oakland tagged him for seven runs in his previous start. The walks are the part that can still make this frustrating. Urena has issued 41 free passes, and his 12.2% walk rate shows up in the WHIP even with the strong ERA. Still, a 3.26 xERA and 33.2% hard-hit rate support most of what he has done so far. RotoBaller lists Urena at 34% rostered in Yahoo formats and recommends him in 12-team leagues. He is worth adding for managers who need innings and steady strikeout help.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Charlie Condon Firmly in "Must-Stash" Territory Ahead of All-Star Break
Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Charlie Condon is mashing at Triple-A Albuquerque this season, and with his prospect pedigree, it could be a matter of time before he forces his way to Coors Field. Condon, who can play first base or the outfield, is hitting .294 this season with Albuquerque, with 20 homers and 60 RBI to go with five stolen bases. The former No. 3 overall pick is on the verge of his first big league look, and fantasy managers should act accordingly. Now is the time to roster Condon as a stash, and despite a deep outfield at the big-league level, with TJ Rumfield manning first base, he looks ready to force his way into a roster spot with Colorado. Condon could prove to be a second-half difference-maker in fantasy leagues, and the race to roster him could be on.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Curtis Mead a Must-Add for Power Help?
Washington Nationals third baseman Curtis Mead is not going to help every roster the same way, but the power is getting harder to ignore. Mead is batting just .232 through 237 at-bats, so there is some batting-average risk here. He has still supplied 14 home runs, 39 RBI, 38 runs, and five steals, which is a useful return for a player available in most leagues. The appeal gets better because Mead qualifies at first base, second base, and third base in RotoBaller's rankings. His 10.9% barrel rate and 41.9% hard-hit rate also suggest the power is not just empty box-score noise. Fantasy managers should not treat him like a safe average play, and the profile can be streaky. Still, Mead is only 18% rostered on Yahoo, and RotoBaller recommends him in 12-team leagues. That makes him a reasonable power add for corner or middle-infield spots.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Luke Adams Worth a Look in Deep Leagues Amid Clear Path to MLB At-Bats
Milwaukee Brewers third base prospect Luke Adams is producing in the minor leagues in the midst of an injury-plagued season. Adams is hitting .252 with 13 homers and 32 RBI in 131 at-bats this season, to go with five stolen bases between two levels, including Triple-A Nashville. The Brewers' No. 12 overall prospect, Adams suffered a wrist injury early this season but returned to post strong numbers in Nashville and offer a glimpse of his upside at third base. David Hamilton mans the hot corner at the big league level for the Brewers at the moment, but Adams, a right-handed bat, is providing some evidence that he could be ready for a look at the major leagues and could be a platoon partner for the left-handed-hitting Hamilton. Savvy fantasy managers in deep leagues may want to look into Adams and give him a chance at a roster spot ahead of the All-Star break.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Willi Castro a Useful Waiver Add Despite Playing-Time Risk?
Colorado Rockies second baseman Willi Castro still offers enough category help and roster flexibility to stay in the waiver mix, but this is not a clean must-add. Castro is batting .269 with six home runs, 38 runs, 35 RBI, and six steals through 268 at-bats. He has also gone 33-for-116 (.284) with four homers, 16 runs, 17 RBI, and three steals over his last 30 games, even with a colder stretch mixed in. The concern is playing time. Castro has gone just 4-for-27 over his last seven games, and Colorado has started sitting him more often against right-handed pitching. His eligibility at first base, second base, third base, shortstop, and outfield still gives fantasy managers several ways to use him. With his Yahoo roster rate down to 40%, Castro fits as a 12-team bench option for managers who need flexibility, not as a priority pickup.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kade Anderson's Elite Double-A Production Makes him a Priority Stash
Seattle Mariners pitching prospect Kade Anderson suffered his first loss at Double-A Arkansas following his July 3 start. He only allowed two earned runs to pick up his first loss of the season in his 8-1 overall record. His numbers look video game worthy with a 1.36 ERA and 0.69 WHIP with 108 strikeouts in 72 2/3 innings pitched. The No. 3 overall draft pick out of LSU has dominated the minors in his first season of professional baseball. Before a stop in Seattle and a spot in the Mariners rotation, Anderson would likely need some seasoning at Triple-A. So while his numbers call out for a stash for fantasy managers, some patience is required. Managers in mid-size leagues would be smart to use a roster spot now on Anderson and wait to see if it pays off. The prospect pedigree looks elite for Anderson, and it's worth using an early roster spot to acquire his services.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Dylan Crews Showing Signs of a Post-Hype Breakout?
Washington Nationals right fielder Dylan Crews still has not fully broken through, but the fantasy case is getting easier to see. He is batting .232 with six home runs, 18 RBI, 23 runs, and five steals through 155 at-bats. That line is still uneven, but Crews has gone 18-for-58 with two homers, 12 runs, four RBI, three steals, and six walks over his last 15 games. This is more upside bet than finished product. Crews is hitting the ball hard, with a 90.9 mph average exit velocity, 44.2% hard-hit rate, and 9.2% barrel rate, and his speed gives him another path to fantasy value. The .232 average and low walk rate are real concerns, so this should not be framed as a safe five-category breakout yet. Crews is rostered in 35% of Yahoo leagues and belongs in 12-team formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rockies Outfield Prospect Zac Veen on the Verge of a Promotion?
Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Zac Veen continues to impress at the Triple-A level this season, and his latest demonstration is a two-homer game for Albuquerque on July 5. Veen is about as solid as it comes as a minor league hitter for the Rockies. The 24-year-old is hitting .323 with 16 homers and 58 RBI in Albuquerque this season, along with 14 stolen bases. The five-tool product is worth a speculative roster spot on most fantasy rosters, as he could enjoy a great deal of success if promoted to the Rockies and able to play his home games at Coors Field. Veen is the No. 13 prospect on the Rockies' top prospects list, but he is putting up some of the best numbers in the system at the moment. Stashing him now might be the right move for managers to make in preparation for his call-up, as he could provide immense upside once he returns to the majors. Jake McCarthy, Cole Carrigg, and Mickey Moniak are performing well in the outfield now for Colorado, but the prospects of Veen are nonetheless very enticing for the big league club.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Tatsuya Imai Worth a Waiver Claim for Strikeouts?
Houston Astros starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai is a tough player to trust, but the strikeouts keep him on the waiver-wire radar. The 28-year-old is 5-4 with a 6.14 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 60 strikeouts through 48 1/3 innings. He struck out 11 over six innings against Cleveland on June 19 and followed with 10 strikeouts over six scoreless innings at Detroit on June 25. Then came the reminder of why he is still available. Imai lasted only 1 1/3 innings against Minnesota on July 1, allowing five runs and walking five. His 27.9% strikeout rate is useful, but a 14.0% walk rate and 46.3% hard-hit rate explain the ugly ratios. Imai is rostered in 40% of Yahoo leagues, and RotoBaller lists him as an add in 12-team formats. He fits teams chasing strikeouts, not managers protecting ERA and WHIP.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nick Gonzales a Must-Add While the Bat Is This Hot?
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Nick Gonzales is making it harder to explain why he is still available in so many leagues. He is batting .312 with four home runs, 49 runs, 40 RBI, and four steals through 317 at-bats, and the bat has stayed hot into July. Gonzales is 13-for-27 over his last seven games and 22-for-54 with two homers, 11 runs, and seven RBI over his last 15. The appeal is not just one hot week. Gonzales qualifies at second base, third base, and shortstop in RotoBaller's rankings, which makes the production easier to fit into fantasy lineups. The power is still more useful than exciting, with a 2.8% barrel rate, so managers should not add him expecting a home-run surge. But a .300-plus bat with runs, RBI, a few steals, and that much eligibility should be rostered. Gonzales is at 30% on Yahoo and belongs in 12-team leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Top Boston Prospect Franklin Arias Not Quite Worth a Roster Stash
Boston Red Sox shortstop prospect Franklin Arias is impressing at Double-A this season, but he could be a long way away from making an impact in fantasy leagues. Double-A Portland has been good to the 20-year-old, as he has amassed 17 homers and 47 RBI while hitting .332 with five stolen bases. The numbers are mighty impressive for Boston's top overall prospect, but at just 20 years old, he would likely need a lengthy look at Triple-A before he would make his major league debut. Arias ranks as the No. 4 prospect in the minors at shortstop, but the Venezuelan is most likely to make his debut in Boston next year. He continues to impress in the minors but is likely not worth using a roster spot this season. His name is one to definitely file away as he continues to progress, but next year might be his time to shine on fantasy teams.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Do Joshua Baez's Elite Power Numbers Make Him the Top Stash Target?
St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez continues to show off his power with another multi-home run game in the bag already in July. Baez gained notoriety when he hit four home runs in a June game for Triple-A Memphis and has yet to slow down. His overall power numbers at Memphis are elite and some of the best power numbers across all levels of the minor leagues. In all, he is hitting .263 with 28 homers and 69 RBI and has added 14 stolen bases. The numbers seem to scream promotion, but the Cardinals are being extremely patient with the 23-year-old. With the likes of Jordan Walker, Nathan Church, and Lars Nootbaar manning the outfield positions, St. Louis is in good hands at the major league level. They can afford to be patient, but there is not much more to see from Baez before believing he is ready for the next level. Fantasy managers in mid-to-deep leagues would be wise to use a roster spot on Baez now and could potentially reap the rewards later.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Braves Promote Top Pitching Prospect Owen Murphy, a Top Add in All Leagues?
The Atlanta Braves announced on Monday that they selected the contract of right-handed pitching prospect Owen Murphy from Triple-A Gwinnett and placed left-hander Martin Perez (forearm) on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move with a left-forearm contusion. Murphy, the team's No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline, gets his first major-league call-up after going 5-7 with a 4.44 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 92 strikeouts and 38 walks in 81 innings in 16 starts this year with Double-A Columbus and Gwinnett. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder is reportedly set to be a long man out of Atlanta's bullpen to close out the first half of the season, so fantasy managers in redraft leagues can hold off on spending money to pick him up off the waiver wire. In addition, pitching prospect JR Ritchie is back in the big leagues and will continue to feature in a relief role. Murphy's control has been impressive after returning from Tommy John surgery, and he has all the ingredients to be a long-term starting asset for the Braves, but that might not happen full-time until 2027.
Source: Atlanta Braves
Source: Atlanta Braves
