RADIO
Jared Jones Nearing his Return to MLB Rotation?
Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones (elbow) will make his next minor-league rehab start on Saturday for Triple-A Indianapolis, according to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. General manager Ben Cherington said on Sunday that Jones would make "at least one" more rehab start, so Saturday could be his last rehab outing before rejoining the Pirates' major-league starting rotation. He will be eligible to come off the 60-day injured list after that. Despite missing all of the 2025 season due to elbow surgery, Jones is one of the best arms to stash in fantasy baseball leagues, and he's only rostered in 37% of Yahoo leagues right now. He got up to 52 pitches and 4 1/3 innings in his last rehab start, and he's looked solid in his four starts with Indy, Single-A Bradenton, and Double-A Altoona, posting a 1.88 ERA and 0.98 WHIP with 18 K's and only three walks in 14 1/3 frames. Jones was a second-round pick in 2020 and impressed in his first 22 major-league starts as a rookie in 2024 with 132 punchouts and 39 walks in 121 2/3 innings pitched.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
Tarik Skubal Throws 35-Pitch Bullpen, Very Enthusiastic About his Progress
Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal (elbow) threw a 35-pitch bullpen session on Thursday morning, according to Evan Woodbery of MLive.com. Skubal said he treated it more like a "start" than a between-start bullpen, and he increased the intensity and hit the velocity target he set at the end. The back-to-back American League Cy Young winner didn't have any symptoms following surgery on his left elbow to remove loose bodies, and he continues to be very enthusiastic about his progress. Manager A.J. Hinch shot down rumors that Skubal could skip a minor-league rehab assignment altogether and return to the team's starting rotation next week. However, Skubal has now thrown off a mound three times since having surgery two-plus weeks ago, so it wouldn't be entirely impossible for him to start a rehab assignment at some point late next week if he's feeling good. The 29-year-old southpaw is making excellent progress, and in a best-case scenario, he might come off the 15-day injured list in early June. Skubal has added incentive to make it back as soon as possible to try to increase his trade value before August's deadline. He signed a one-year, $32 million deal with Detroit in February of this year, so he'll be a free agent at the end of the 2026 season.
Source: MLive.com - Evan Woodbery
Source: MLive.com - Evan Woodbery
Noelvi Marte Back on the Stash Radar Amid Dominant Run at Triple-A?
Even though Cincinnati Reds third baseman/outfielder Noelvi Marte is still in the minors, he should be attracting some interest off the waiver wire due to a recent hot stretch at Triple-A Louisville. In his last 25 games with the Bats, Marte has gone 41-for-103 (.398) with six home runs, 22 RBI, and eight stolen bases. The 24-year-old Dominican is hitting .383/.436/.583 overall at Louisville with a 1.019 OPS, six home runs, 22 RBI, eight steals, and 24 runs scored in 30 games across 133 plate appearances. The Reds sent Marte down to the minors in the middle of April after he went 4-for-29 (.138) with two walks and 10 strikeouts in his first 11 games in Cincy. Based on how he's hitting currently on the farm, the Reds are probably considering calling Marte back up to the big-league club. In a career-high 90 games in Cincy last year, Marte hit .263 (89-for-339) with 14 homers, 51 RBI, and 10 steals. Fantasy managers in need of some power and speed in deeper leagues should consider adding Marte, who is only rostered in 28% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.
Source: Milb.com
Source: Milb.com
Lucas Erceg Still the Reliever to Roster for Saves in KC
Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever Lucas Erceg has by no means been excellent at the back end of the team's bullpen so far in 2026, but he remains the best option for saves with veteran right-hander Carlos Estevez (foot, shoulder) still sidelined. Erceg blew his third save of 2026 on May 15 against the St. Louis Cardinals, but he rebounded with his 11th save (tied for sixth in the majors) on May 17 against the Cardinals, throwing a scoreless inning with one walk. The 31-year-old former second-round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2016 out of Menlo College has been more reliable in May as well, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits while walking three and striking out seven for a win, four saves, and one blown save. His most recent save against St. Louis was his first save since May 5. Overall, Erceg has a 3-1 record, 3.26 ERA (3.37 FIP), 1.45 WHIP, 11 saves, 17 strikeouts, and 13 walks in 19 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. He should deserve more waiver-wire consideration -- he's rostered in 60% of Yahoo leagues -- and he could even continue to pick up save chances when Estevez comes off the injured list.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Yainer Diaz Worth a Stash While on the Injured List?
Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz (oblique) is currently on the 10-day injured list due to a left-oblique strain, but fantasy managers looking for an upgrade at the catching position may want to consider picking him up off the waiver wire as he nears a return. When healthy, the 27-year-old Dominican backstop is Houston's starting catcher. Diaz lacks plate discipline -- he sports a 3.5% walk rate in his four-plus seasons in the majors -- but he's also displayed above-average power at the position over the last three seasons. From 2023 to 2025, Diaz hit .279/.306/.455 with a .761 OPS, 59 home runs, and 214 RBI in 395 regular-season games across 1,563 plate appearances. In 26 contests before injuring his oblique muscle this year, Diaz had gone 24-for-101 (.238) with two long balls, 14 runs scored, and seven runs scored over 106 plate appearances. He's not the best target in leagues that count on-base percentage, but at least in two-catcher leagues, Diaz has value. He's currently rostered in 44% of Yahoo leagues and is worth a look on the waiver wire as he nears a return to the big leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Jackson Holliday Worth Picking Up Now That he's Healthy?
Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday suffered a fractured hamate bone in his hand back in February and required surgery, putting him on the injured list to start the 2026 regular season in late March. The 22-year-old former first overall pick in 2022 then had multiple setbacks while on a minor-league rehab assignment, which is why he didn't make his season debut until this week against the Tampa Bay Rays. Holliday has gone hitless in his first four plate appearances with the O's with three strikeouts, and he also struggled while in the minors, slashing .176/.291/.284 with a homer, five RBI, six runs, one steal, 10 walks, and 23 strikeouts in 22 rehab games with High-A Frederick, Double-A Chesapeake, and Triple-A Norfolk. Fantasy managers shouldn't forget that Holliday came three home runs and three steals shy of a 20-20 season in 2025 in what was his first full year in the big leagues. He's still a developing young player with plenty of power/speed upside; it might just take him a bit to get back in a rhythm. Holliday is worth stashing for his upside as Baltimore's starting second baseman, and he's only rostered in 40% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Alex Vesia a Prime Waiver-Wire Target in Holds Leagues?
Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed reliever Alex Vesia allowed three earned runs in just one-third of an inning in a loss to the division-rival San Francisco Giants on May 11, but in four appearances since then, he's bounced back by throwing 3 2/3 scoreless innings with one hit allowed, one walk, six strikeouts, and a hold. The 30-year-old veteran southpaw has only been scored on in two of his 21 appearances out of the Dodgers' bullpen so far this season, and he currently holds a 2.65 ERA (1.81 FIP) and 0.94 WHIP with 23 strikeouts, eight walks, and four holds. Vesia has also locked down two saves, although his last save came back on April 14. He clearly has manager Dave Roberts' trust in high-leverage situations, and more save opportunities could come with closer Edwin Diaz (elbow) out for an extended period of time. At the very least, Vesia is worth a look in deeper fantasy leagues that count holds, as he will continue to be deployed in late-inning, high-leverage spots. He's only rostered in 21% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Tarik Skubal Will Need a Minor-League Rehab Assignment
Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that left-hander Tarik Skubal (elbow) will need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before he comes off the 15-day injured list following surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow, according to Jason Beck of MLB.com. "That's not true," Hinch said when responding to a claim that Skubal could be back next week without a rehab assignment. "That's ridiculous." The two-time Cy Young winner had a minimally invasive Nano-Scope procedure on his elbow, which cuts down his recovery time, but Hinch basically shut down any rumors that the talented left-hander would be back in the Tigers' starting rotation by next week. However, Skubal has already thrown a bullpen session and could be ready to start a rehab assignment by next week, so barring a setback, he might be back from the IL in early June. Before having elbow surgery, Skubal was 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings across seven starts. He's still one of the best pitchers in baseball and should not have been dropped in any fantasy leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Jason Beck
Source: MLB.com - Jason Beck
Rays Attempted to Acquire Shohei Ohtani in Potential Blockbuster
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal writes that the Tampa Bay Rays attempted a blockbuster trade to acquire two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani before the 2023 trade deadline, according to people briefed on the conversations. The potential deal would have sent third baseman Junior Caminero to the Los Angeles Angels. The trade obviously didn't go down, with owner Arte Moreno deciding for the second straight year to keep Ohtani, only to lose him in free agency to the crosstown-rival Los Angeles Dodgers four months later. The other prospect who would have been sent to Anaheim in that proposed blockbuster deal was shortstop Carson Williams, who was then a 20-year-old in High-A. Before the 2022 trade deadline, the Angels discussed an Ohtani trade with the San Diego Padres that would have brought them a comparable, or perhaps even better, package than the one the Padres ultimately sent to the Washington Nationals for outfielder Juan Soto. The Dodgers have won back-to-back World Series championships after signing Ohtani to a mega-deal in free agency.
Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
Kyle Harrison has Second Straight Scoreless Outing, Strikes Out 11
Left-hander Kyle Harrison has looked like a completely different pitcher in 2026 in his first year with the Milwaukee Brewers. The 24-year-old southpaw completely shut the division-rival Chicago Cubs down on Wednesday at Wrigley Field in the team's 5-0 win, tossing seven shutout innings while allowing only two hits, walking one, and striking out 11 to improve to 5-1 on the year. Harrison retired 15 straight hitters at one point and generated a 41% whiff rate in the impressive outing. It was his second straight scoreless appearance as well after shutting out the San Diego Padres for five innings while striking out seven in his previous start on May 14. Harrison now has two double-digit strikeout performances in 2026 and is currently sporting a strong 1.77 ERA (2.50 FIP) and 1.07 WHIP with 59 strikeouts and 14 walks in 45 2/3 innings pitched across his nine starts for the Brew Crew. He's only rostered in 74% of Yahoo leagues, too. That number should be rising.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Josh Lowe Blasts Fifth Home Run, Showing Signs of Improvement at the Plate?
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Lowe connected on his fifth long ball of the year in the second inning off Aaron Civale in his team's extra-inning loss on Wednesday night. Lowe went 1-for-4 with two RBI and two strikeouts and is still hitting only .182 on the year with a 29.2% K%. However, he has been much more productive lately. In his last 10 games, he is 8-for-24 (.333) with a 47.1% hard-hit rate and a .379 wOBA. He has a .215 BABIP on the season, which is well below league average, and if more of his contact starts falling in, his average could climb in the next few weeks. The lefty remains in a platoon but does have a high ceiling despite his low batting average and high strikeout rate. If you're in a deep league, Lowe has shown enough signs over the last 10 games to watch him closely moving forward or try to get ahead of a surge with a speculative pickup. His power potential is clearly intriguing if he can continue his current momentum.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
TJ Rumfield Stays Hot at the Plate, Emerging as Must-Add Slugger?
Colorado Rockies first baseman TJ Rumfield has been a huge addition to his team's offense, and he can give your fantasy lineup a boost if you're looking for some power production at first base from the waiver wire. Rumfield was acquired from the Yankees in a trade late in spring training and earned the starting 1B job with a big spring. He has lived up to his potential through 200 plate appearances this season, hitting .275 with six homers, 20 runs scored, and 25 RBI. He has a .349 wOBA and a .433 SLG, with just a 15.5% K%. Rumfield has been especially hot lately, going 2-for-4 on Wednesday against the Rangers and hitting .321 with three homers and a .414 wOBA over his last 15 games. The Rockies are in Arizona for a four-game series this weekend at Chase Field before heading to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers next week. Rumfield is a solid waiver wire pickup even as the Rockies go on the road, though, since he has produced great batting average and power numbers as a key part of the heart of Colorado's lineup.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jose A. Ferrer Grabs Third Save, Seeing Value Increase in Deeper Leagues?
Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Jose A. Ferrer struck out the side in the ninth inning on Wednesday to close out his team's 5-4 win over the White Sox. He allowed a home run to Randal Grichuk to lead off the inning before fanning Munetaka Murakami, Derek Hill, and Colson Montgomery to end the game. Ferrer has allowed five earned runs in his 23 2/3 innings this season for a 1.90 ERA and 2.56 FIP to go with his 22 strikeouts. The young lefty has established himself as one of the team's top setup options in front of Andres Munoz, who pitched on both Monday and Tuesday. Ferrer also pitched in both those contests but needed only four pitches Tuesday before giving the ball to Munoz, who was charged with a blown save. While Munoz is one of the top closers in the game and will likely get a long leash, Ferrer is a very effective setup option who can step in and close if needed. In deep leagues where setup men have value, Ferrer is definitely one of the better widely available options to consider from the waiver wire.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Louis Varland Stumbles En Route To Sixth Save, Remains Top Option for Blue Jays?
Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Louis Varland wasn't perfect on Wednesday night in New York, but he did enough to get the job done and secure his team the victory. He entered the ninth inning with a 2-0 lead after a brilliant performance from Trey Yesavage. After striking out Aaron Judge, he allowed a double, a single, and a groundout to plate one run and place the potential tying run in scoring position. He was able to strike out Amed Rosario, though, to end the game and secure the win. Varland still has an impressive 0.70 ERA and 1.28 FIP with 37 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings this season. He still seems locked in as the Blue Jays closer moving forward, as long as Wednesday's issues don't develop into a bigger problem. He should be owned in almost all formats and makes a great closer addition if available.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Hogan Harris Earns Another Save, Emerging as Primary Closer for Athletics?
Athletics relief pitcher Hogan Harris closed out the team's comeback victory over the Angels on Wednesday night, preserving a one-run lead in the 10th inning to earn his fourth save of the year. Harris issued two walks (one intentional), but he forced Jorge Soler to ground out to second to end the game with the bases loaded. Harris has secured the team's two most recent saves and has a 3.00 ERA and 4.65 FIP in his 24 innings this season. The lefty has not allowed a run in six of his last seven appearances and seems to be the preferred closer option with a slight advantage over righties Jack Perkins and Joel Kuhnel. Perkins and Kuhnel did not appear in the A's 10-inning win on Wednesday after all three relievers pitched on Tuesday. The A's close out their four-game set in Anaheim on Thursday before heading to San Diego for three games this weekend. Harris is a solid big-picture closer pickup in deep leagues, although he may not get the call on Thursday after pitching two straight games. The A's closer committee will continue to be an important situation to monitor, but for now, Harris seems to be the first option.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
