RADIO
Bryce Harper Could be a Prime Buy-Low Candidate for Second Half
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper came into this week's All-Star break in a cold spell at the plate, and he didn't make it past the first round in Monday night's Home Run Derby in his home digs at Citizens Bank Park. Harper's fantasy managers could be souring on him going into the second half, which could present the perfect buy-low opportunity. In his first 11 games in July, the 33-year-old former two-time MVP and nine-time All-Star went 6-for-40 (.150) with three doubles, three RBI, three runs scored, eight walks, and 14 strikeouts in 48 plate appearances to drop his season line to .260/.365/.497. However, Harper still has an .862 OPS with 20 home runs, 57 RBI, 59 runs scored, and five stolen bases in his 342 at-bats in 2026 in his 15th big-league season (eighth in Philly). He also has a .278 expected batting average and the eighth-best xwOBA (.391), suggesting we haven't seen the best of Harper yet this year. Harper currently is ranked in the 76th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 72nd percentile in barrel rate, the 93rd percentile in xSLG, and the 97th percentile in xwOBA, so we're not completely sold that his cold spell in July is a sign of an offensive decline to close out 2026.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Aaron Ashby Still Valuable for Vultured Wins, Holds?
Milwaukee Brewers left-handed reliever Aaron Ashby isn't a candidate for saves in Milwaukee, but he remains attractive on the waiver wire in fantasy with a league-high 12 wins and for his ability to contribute strikeouts and holds in high-leverage situations. In addition to his career-high 12 wins -- his previous career high was five victories in 2025 -- the 28-year-old southpaw has a 3.56 ERA (3.24 FIP), 1.44 WHIP, seven holds, 75 strikeouts, and 29 walks in 55 2/3 innings across 45 appearances (one start) in 2026. However, Ashby has met some adversity since the beginning of June, allowing 16 runs (14 earned) on 23 hits for a 6.41 ERA (5.13 FIP), 24 strikeouts, and 11 walks in 19 2/3 innings pitched. He's gone 3-2 in that span with four blown saves and six holds. Ashby has obviously been money for wins for fantasy managers, but you can't hang your hat on that alone in the second half. His career-high 30.6% strikeout rate has also been nice, but Ashby also has a career-high 11.8% walk rate that will continue to get him in trouble in the second half.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Luis Robert Jr. Worth a Waiver-Wire Pickup With Return Looming?
Outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (back) has been just one of the many disappointments for the New York Mets in 2026, having played in just 24 games in his first year in Queens due to a back injury. The 28-year-old Cuban outfielder is now rostered in under half of Yahoo leagues. However, Robert began a minor-league rehab assignment on June 30 and could be making his return to the Mets' outfield sooner rather than later in the early portion of the second half of the season. He went 2-for-6 with an RBI and two runs scored while playing eight innings in center field with Double-A Binghamton on Sunday and has hit .304/.360/.435 in 25 plate appearances in six games with Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse. Barring a setback this week, Robert looks primed to come off the 60-day injured list for New York's first series of the second half against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets will likely ease Robert back in, but eventually, he's expected to settle in as the regular center fielder. Injuries have defined Robert's seven-year big-league career, but his power/speed upside cannot be denied, making him worth a waiver-wire pickup for outfield depth in the second half.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Shane Drohan Impressing as a Rookie, Should Stick in Brewers Rotation
Milwaukee Brewers rookie left-hander Shane Drohan began his MLB career working out of the bullpen for the Brew Crew, but he deserves a much longer look in their starting rotation going into the second half and off the waiver wire in fantasy baseball leagues after his strong start in 2026. In 19 appearances (nine starts) covering 70 innings, Drohan has gone 4-3 with a 3.09 ERA (3.24 FIP) and 1.20 WHIP with 67 strikeouts and 20 walks. The 27-year-old southpaw has a 3.38 ERA (3.78 FIP) with 39 strikeouts and 12 walks in 42 2/3 frames and eight starts since joining Milwaukee's rotation on June 1. Drohan has allowed more than three earned runs in just one of his eight starts up through the All-Star break and has quality starts in three of his eight starts, including in each of his last two appearances. His most recent start on Saturday against the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates was his first start of at least six innings with no walks. Drohan appears primed to stick in the Brewers' banged-up rotation to open the second half of the season, and if he keeps pitching like this, he could stick as a starter for the rest of the year. He's only rostered in 33% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Should Fantasy Managers Sell High on Mason Miller?
San Diego Padres right-handed closer Mason Miller has been as dominant as any reliever we've ever seen in the first half of 2026, which begs the question: Should fantasy managers be selling high? In his 38 appearances (39 2/3 innings) in the first half of his first full season with the Friars, Miller has gone 2-1 with a 0.91 ERA (0.53 FIP), 0.78 WHIP, a National League-leading 25 saves, 72 strikeouts, and 13 walks. The flamethrowing closer is tied with Rays closer Bryan Baker for second in the big leagues in saves, just three behind the leader, Guardians closer Cade Smith. The two-time All-Star has a ridiculous 48.3% strikeout rate and just a 22.2% hard-hit rate. Most of the time when he enters a game, he makes the opposing lineup look silly with his triple-digit fastball and video-game slider. Miller ranks in the 100th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 100th percentile in strikeout rate, the 100th percentile in whiff rate, the 96th percentile in chase rate, and the 97th percentile in barrel rate, so the advanced metrics support his otherworldly dominance. The Padres most likely won't give in and trade Miller at this year's deadline, and fantasy managers should follow suit and hold him.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Is a Second-Half Breakout Coming for Brice Turang?
Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang is hitting .266/.361/.465 with an .826 OPS, 14 home runs, 60 RBI, 66 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases across 91 games and 416 plate appearances at the All-Star break. Turang probably won't ever eclipse the 50 stolen bases he had in his second year in the big leagues in 2024, but there's no question he has become a much more complete power/speed threat for the Brewers and fantasy managers at the keystone. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter was bummed to see the All-Star break come, as he hit .308 (16-for-52) with two home runs, seven doubles, 12 RBI, seven runs scored, and two stolen bases in 12 games in the early portion of July. Turang's expected batting average of .256 and xwOBA of .348 (wOBA of .358) suggest he's pretty much peaked in 2026, but he remains one of the most consistent and high-end offensive producers at second base in fantasy on one of the better teams in the National League. The former first-rounder in 2018 will easily set a new career high in home runs and should produce the first 20-20 campaign of his career. Turang is a firm hold for fantasy managers going into the second half.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Dylan Crews a Second-Half Breakout Candidate to Target on the Waiver Wire?
Since being recalled from Triple-A in mid-May, Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews has hit .211/.270/.343 with six home runs, 18 RBI, 25 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 189 plate appearances. The 24-year-old hit .228 with four home runs and three stolen bases across 107 plate appearances in June, but he struggled to just five hits in 39 plate appearances in July before the All-Star break. Once considered to be one of the top prospects in baseball, Crews owns just a .627 OPS across 643 career MLB plate appearances to this point. However, his underlying metrics suggest that improvement is coming. With a respectable 8.2% barrel rate and 42.5% hard-hit rate, Crews' xBA is .248, and his xSLG is .427. The young outfielder has also posted a respectable 21.7% strikeout rate. While Crews' highest-upside scenarios may no longer be realistic, he could still develop into a balanced five-category compiler. With his value at a low point, Crews is worth targeting on the waiver wire as a potential second-half breakout candidate.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Lane Thomas Emerging as a Balanced Contributor to Target on the Waiver Wire
Kansas City Royals outfielder Lane Thomas got off to a very slow start to the 2026 season, hitting .208 with one home run across his first 125 plate appearances. However, the 30-year-old has begun to turn it on in the summer months, hitting .254 with six home runs across 144 plate appearances since the calendar flipped to June. Thomas owns a strong 12.4% walk rate for the season, which gives him a safe on-base floor and helps keep his bat in the lineup. With Royals outfielder Kyle Isbel (foot) currently on the injured list due to plantar fasciitis, Thomas has emerged as the everyday center fielder in Kansas City. As long as he continues to see regular playing time, Thomas profiles as a useful compiler with some power/speed upside for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Masyn Winn Remains a Viable Deep-League Waiver-Wire Target
Across 357 plate appearances in 2026, St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn is hitting .243/.314/.331 with four home runs, 38 RBI, 39 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. The 24-year-old's underlying quality of contact metrics leave a lot to be desired, as he's logged just a 3.2% barrel rate and a 35.3% hard-hit rate. Winn's plate skills are decent, but his 19.8% strikeout rate does not point to a significant batting average ceiling when paired with his tendency to make weak contact. Still, Winn is an elite defender at shortstop, which guarantees him a safe playing time floor in St. Louis. In deeper league formats, Winn's ability to compile slightly below-average production across all five categories has value. Fantasy managers in need of middle infield depth should consider targeting Winn on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dominic Canzone Has Emerged as a Must-Add Power Bat
Across 254 plate appearances this season, Seattle Mariners outfielder Dominic Canzone is hitting .264/.335/.529 with 15 home runs, 40 RBI, 33 runs scored, and one stolen base. A lefty swinger, Canzone opened 2026 in a big-slide platoon role for Seattle. However, he's logged a .955 OPS in 30 plate appearances against left-handed pitching this season and has recently begun to emerge as an everyday player in the heart of the Mariners lineup. Canzone's splits against lefties could regress over a larger sample size of at-bats. Still, he owns strong underlying contact metrics with a 15.3% barrel rate and a 48.3% hard-hit rate. Canzone also limits swing-and-miss, as he's posted a respectable 20.9% strikeout rate. Now that he's working his way into a full-time role, Canzone profiles as a must-add power bat on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Are Aroldis Chapman's Recent Struggles a Reason for Concern?
Across 28 2/3 innings (30 games) in 2026, Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman has pitched to a 2.20 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 36 strikeouts and 19 saves. The veteran left-hander has not been quite as dominant as he was in his resurgent 2025 season, but he's still posted an impressive 29.8% strikeout rate and has blown just two save chances on the year. However, there may be some underlying reason for concern in Chapman's profile. After allowing just one earned run through his first 18 2/3 innings of the season, Chapman has allowed six earned runs across 10 innings since the start of June. His average fastball velocity is currently a career-low 97.0 miles per hour, and his walk rate has crept back above 10% over the last two months. Additionally, Chapman may be a trade candidate if Boston cannot sustain its current hot streak after the All-Star break. While he could easily remain a closer following a trade, there's no guarantee that Chapman would remain in a ninth-inning role with a new team. Managers should require a major haul in return, but Chapman could be a sell-high candidate ahead of the second half of the season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Should Fantasy Managers Look to Sell High on Zach Neto?
Across 423 plate appearances so far in 2026, Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto is hitting .235/.326/.453 with 19 home runs, 45 RBI, 67 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases. The 25-year-old owns a strong 13% barrel rate and should have a solid chance of reaching 30 home runs for the first time in his career if he stays healthy in the second half of the season. However, Neto's batting average floor could be a concern. His strikeout rate is up to a career-worst 31.4%, and his 22.1-degree average launch angle has led to his hard-hit rate dipping to 39.3%. Neto has also been caught stealing eight times in 20 attempts, which could lead to less aggression on the basepaths going forward. Neto is locked into everyday playing time at the top of the Angels lineup and remains a reliable provider of power and counting stats, making him a very useful fantasy shortstop. Still, fantasy managers may want to consider selling high on Neto at the All-Star break, given the riskiness of his profile.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nick Gonzales Can Help With Infield Depth Off the Waiver Wire
Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman/third baseman Nick Gonzales can be a great fill-in addition off the waiver wire if you need help at multiple infield spots. He has spent most of the year at the hot corner, but has other eligibility as well in most formats. The 27-year-old has been a utility man most of his career, but has taken a nice step forward in a regular role over the past several weeks. Since June 1, Gonzales has been hitting .314 with three homers, 24 runs scored, and 17 RBI in 37 games. He has moved all over the batting order during that span, starting as the leadoff hitter and the cleanup hitter as the Pirates shuffle different combinations. He has a .364 wOBA since June 1 and just a 17.8% K%. His contact numbers and solid counting stats production are good enough to earn him a roster spot in most standard-sized leagues. He doesn't have elite power or stolen base potential, but if you need a batting average booster who can score runs and chip in countable stats, Gonzales is worth a look as long as he remains in an everyday role.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Can Clayton Beeter Be a Big-Time Closer Pickup?
Washington Nationals relief pitcher Clayton Beeter leads his team with seven saves on the season, and he seems to have the job as primary closer under control going into the All-Star break. He did blow a save and take a loss on Saturday, though, allowing two home runs and three hits without recording an out against the Yankees. He entered the game with a one-run lead with one out in the eighth inning and allowed homers to Trent Grisham and Paul Goldschmidt. Before that outing, he had not allowed a hit in five straight appearances, earning a win, a save, and two holds over that stretch. Manager Drew Butera has been very unpredictable in his bullpen usage this season, although he doesn't have many great options to choose from. Beeter is probably the best option in the bullpen, but the situation has been very unpredictable all season. He's one of the best widely available closer options for saves, but he has been a wild ride for fantasy managers all season. Unless the Nats bring in a closer at the Trade Deadline, he'll remain in a high-leverage role with boom-or-bust upside. If you're desperate for saves, he's worth a look, but be ready for some major volatility.
Source: RotoBaller.
Source: RotoBaller.
Is Garrett Whitlock a Must-Stash Closer?
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Garrett Whitlock continues to be very effective for the Red Sox, but his future role has been clouded a little bit by his team's recent success. Before the Red Sox won nine straight games heading into the All-Star break, it seemed inevitable that Whitlock or his fellow reliever Aroldis Chapman would be traded at the deadline, with the Red Sox well out of the playoff race. Now that Boston is back in the battle for a Wild Card spot, there's a greater chance the team holds both relievers through the deadline, which would likely keep Whitlock in a setup role. The 30-year-old has been very effective in his 34 games, posting a 2.18 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in his 33 games with 37 strikeouts and two saves. He has huge potential if he steps in as the closer for the Red Sox or another team, depending on where all the pieces land at the trade deadline. If you can stash Whitlock in deep leagues, he still has an elite ceiling down the stretch if he becomes a full-time closer. Since it now seems less certain that he gets that chance, though, he can be left on the waiver wire in standard-sized leagues until the situation becomes clearer as we near the August 3 MLB Trade Deadline.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
