RADIO
Marcus Semien Starts Rehab Assignment on Sunday
New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (hip) started his minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton and went 2-for-3 at the plate with a three-run home run and a strikeout. Semien wasn't expected to begin a rehab assignment until after the All-Star break this week, but apparently the Mets had a change of plans. He played five innings at second base before being pulled. The 35-year-old veteran and three-time All-Star could have a chance to make it back before August after being placed on the 10-day injured list on June 25 with a Grade 3 left-hip flexor strain. If Semien doesn't encounter any setbacks with his hip when he moves to Triple-A Syracuse this weekend, he could come off the IL to rejoin the Mets at some point next week. Fantasy managers won't be in a rush to pick Semien up off the waiver wire, though, after he hit just .214/.271/.341 with a .613 OPS, nine home runs, 29 RBI, 30 runs scored, and six stolen bases across his 290 at-bats in the first half. Semien is rostered in only 36% of Yahoo leagues as a fading fantasy asset in his 14th year in the big leagues.
Source: Milb.com
Source: Milb.com
Alex Lange Worth the Ratio Risk for Saves?
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Alex Lange entered the break with eight saves, but the 5.92 ERA and 1.53 WHIP make him a tough reliever to trust. He had converted seven straight save chances before July, then allowed five earned runs in two-thirds of an inning against the Mets on July 8. That outing was not a blown save, though, and Lange remains the leading option for the ninth. The walks are still a problem. Lange has issued 22 in 38 innings, leaving little room when balls start falling in. Carlos Estevez (right rotator cuff strain) is not expected back until August, while Lucas Erceg and the rest of Kansas City's bullpen remain alternatives if Lange slips again. At 19% rostered on Yahoo, he is a saves gamble rather than a set-and-forget closer. RotoBaller ranks him 44th for Week 16 and recommends him in 12-team leagues. Managers chasing saves can make the add, but the ratios may hurt.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Yoendrys Gomez a Long-Term Saves Source Off Waivers?
Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Yoendrys Gomez picked up his 11th save Saturday, working around a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth against the Angels. He has yet to blow a save and owns a 1.71 ERA with a 0.99 WHIP over 26 1/3 innings since coming over from Tampa Bay. Despite all that, Gomez is rostered in only 28% of Yahoo leagues. Minnesota has stopped short of naming one permanent closer, but Gomez is getting most of the chances. Andrew Morris earned a two-inning save Sunday after Gomez threw 18 pitches the previous night, so this is not a completely exclusive arrangement. The larger concern is a modest 38:20 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 43 2/3 innings overall. Saves carry the profile. RotoBaller recommends Gomez in 12-team leagues, and managers short in that category should treat him as more than a short-term stream.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jack Wenninger is a Sneaky Stash as Second Half Rolls Around
New York Mets starting pitching prospect Jack Wenninger has turned in two strong starts in July and has made a case for a promotion to the big leagues. In July, Wenninger is 1-0 with a 1.54 ERA over two starts, with nine strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings. Overall at Triple-A Syracuse, Wenninger is 4-5 with a 3.50 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 79.2 innings. The 6-foot-4 right-hander has made 14 starts and 17 total appearances this season for Syracuse and could be second in line for a promotion into the rotation behind Jonah Tong, who has already seen time in New York. At 24 years old, Wenninger is the No. 4 prospect in the Mets' system and could be a sneaky stash in deeper formats, as he appears to be in line for an MLB debut in the second half. An early move on the waiver wire could pay off for fantasy managers seeking pitching depth down the stretch.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
AJ Smith-Shawver to Make Another Rehab Start
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Ken Sugiura reports that Atlanta Braves right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver (elbow) will need at least one more minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Gwinnett before becoming a candidate to join the team's starting rotation in the second half of the season. Smith-Shawver has posted a 2.89 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and 11:3 K:BB in his three rehab starts to this point across 9 1/3 innings with Gwinnett and Single-A Augusta as he finishes up his rehab from Tommy John surgery. The former seventh-round pick in 2021 has only appeared in 16 games (15 starts) for Atlanta since debuting in 2023, but he's been solid with a 4-2 record, 3.77 ERA (4.79 FIP), and 1.29 WHIP with 66 strikeouts and 34 walks in 74 innings pitched at the major-league level. In his first start with Gwinnett on Saturday, Smith-Shawver allowed two runs while walking three in 2 1/3 innings, but he topped out at 98.7 mph on the radar gun. Barring a setback with his elbow, he should be an option for the Braves' rotation in early August. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues should consider stashing Smith-Shawver now. He's currently rostered in 14% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Kein Sugiura
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Kein Sugiura
Kerry Carpenter a Power Threat Worth Adding?
Detroit Tigers right fielder Kerry Carpenter reached the break at .222/.297/.458 with 13 home runs and 36 RBI in 203 at-bats. July did him no favors. He went 3-for-24 without an extra-base hit and struck out 11 times, which helps explain why he is still only 38% rostered on Yahoo. There is enough thump here to live with the rough average, at least when Detroit is facing a right-hander. Carpenter has hit all 13 of his homers in those matchups, backed by a 90.6 mph average exit velocity, 48.5% hard-hit rate, and 11.4% barrel rate. Lefties are another story. He has seen only 24 plate appearances against them and may not start. RotoBaller puts Carpenter 39th for Week 16, in the 12-team range. Managers who can move him in and out of the lineup should get more than enough home-run help to justify the spot.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Joshua Baez Still Worth a Stash Despite Decreased Power Output?
St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez remains a priority name to monitor in fantasy circles even as his batting average has taken a bit of a dive in July, along with his power output. Nonetheless, Baez still has 28 homers and 69 RBI for Triple-A Memphis this season, despite a July in which he hit just .147 over 34 at-bats with two homers, both of which came in the same game. The slow July has come as a bit of a surprise to Baez, who has consistently hit with power at Memphis all season. Baez has posted an OPS of .894, the best of his minor league career, and remains a name worth paying attention to over the second half of the season. The Cardinals outfield of Jordan Walker, Nathan Church, and Lars Nootbaar is pretty steady, but Baez, the Cardinals' No. 3 overall prospect, could add some depth and punch to the lineup. If and when Baez gets the call to the big leagues, the power and speed should translate for fantasy managers, making him a priority stash in all standard leagues.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Astros Promoting Shortstop Prospect Xavier Neyens to High-A
The Houston Astros are promoting top shortstop prospect Xavier Neyens to High-A Asheville at the All-Star break, a source told Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Neyens, the 21st overall pick in last year's draft out of Mount Vernon High School in Washington, gets the promotion at the halfway point after hitting .240/.449/.462 with a .911 OPS, 14 home runs, 38 RBI, 16 stolen bases, and 52 runs scored in 68 games and 305 plate appearances with Single-A Fayetteville at just 19 years old. Per MLB Pipeline, he's the Astros' second-ranked prospect. Neyens has displayed plenty of pop at the lower level of the minors, but also plenty of swing and miss, as he's sporting a 30.2% strikeout rate early on. The left-handed hitter has a big frame at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, which gives him plenty of leverage for plus-plus raw power at a premium position. Neyens is expected to eventually be moved to third base because of his fringy speed and quickness. There's a lot of upside here, but more development is needed, and he won't be a realistic option for a big-league call-up for another couple of years.
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Jake Burger a Viable Power Target in Fantasy Baseball?
Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger has a .240/.304/.423 slash line with a .727 OPS, 16 home runs, 58 RBI, 41 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 92 games across 372 plate appearances in 2026 at the halfway point. If he stays healthy the rest of the way, Burger could reach the 30-homer mark for the second time in his career, yet he's only rostered in 24% of Yahoo leagues. He hit .270 (24-for-89) with four home runs, three doubles, 15 RBI, nine runs scored, and a steal in 26 games in June, but in nine games in July before the All-Star break, Burger hit .118 (4-for-34) with two homers, six RBI, three runs, two walks, and 12 strikeouts. The former 11th overall pick by the Chicago White Sox in 2017 out of Missouri State University has a 26.3% strikeout rate, which is his highest mark since 2023 with Chicago and the Miami Marlins. Burger's swing-and-miss tendencies aren't going to help fantasy managers' average or on-base percentage, but the power is still real. He sits in the 77th percentile in hard-hit rate, 65th percentile in barrel rate, and 48th percentile in xSLG.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Josh Bell Still a Cheap Source of Power Off the Waiver Wire
Minnesota Twins first baseman Josh Bell, 33, doesn't have the high-end upside that most fantasy managers are looking for when targeting players off the waiver wire, but he can still help those in need of power as we head into the second half of the 2026 season later this week. The veteran switch-hitter is batting .248/.307/.429 with a .735 OPS, 13 home runs, 60 RBI, 48 runs scored, and a stolen base in 343 at-bats this year in his first season with the Twins. The former second-rounder by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011 out of Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas was hot going into the break, too, going 13-for-47 (.277) with four home runs, five doubles, nine RBI, and seven runs scored in his last 12 games. Bell has been better average-wise (.264) as a righty against lefties, but most of his power comes from the left side (10 of his 13 homers). Most of his power production this year has also come away from Target Field, with nine of his long balls coming on the road. Bell isn't an elite power bat, but for those in deeper leagues scrounging for power, Bell is widely available (25% rostered in Yahoo leagues).
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Rookie Travis Bazzana Still Worth a Roster Spot for Speed?
Cleveland Guardians rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana, the first overall pick from Oregon State University in 2024, was hitting .294/.389/.450 with an .838 OPS, three homers, eight doubles, 11 RBI, eight stolen bases, and 13 runs scored in his first 30 games after debuting with Cleveland on April 28. Since June 2, though, he has hit just .193 (26-for-135) with four homers, six doubles, a triple, 17 RBI, 17 runs scored, five steals, 17 walks, and 37 strikeouts in 35 games to drop his overall line to .238/.330/.389 in his first 282 MLB plate appearances. Bazzana goes into this week's All-Star break hitting .200 (8-for-40) with three doubles, three RBI, four runs, a stolen base, five walks, and 13 K's in 10 games in July. The 23-year-old left-handed-hitting Aussie is known for his advanced plate discipline, and he has backed that up with a walk rate in the 75th percentile and a chase rate in the 71st percentile. However, his xOBP is in just the 40th percentile thanks to a hard-hit rate in the 27th percentile and a barrel rate in the 18th percentile. Bazzana has the plate skills, but he's not squaring the ball up enough consistently yet at the big-league level. Still, he's useful for his speed (13 steals) in deeper fantasy formats going into the second half.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Kody Clemens Still a Waiver Target for Power Going into Second Half
Minnesota Twins infielder/outfielder Kody Clemens heads into this week's All-Star break only four home runs shy of a new career high in that category. The 30-year-old veteran has a .243/.303/.482 slash line with a .785 OPS, 16 home runs, 46 RBI, 45 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 301 at-bats at the halfway mark in what has turned out to be a career year in his first full season in Minnesota (fifth in the majors). The former third-round pick by the Detroit Tigers in the 2018 MLB draft out of the University of Texas at Austin homered in three straight games to begin the month of July and had a span of five home runs and 12 RBI in eight games from June 26 through July 4. Clemens went hitless in 17 plate appearances with an RBI, a run scored, a walk, and seven strikeouts across four games going into the All-Star break, but that shouldn't take away from the fact that he's a sneaky waiver-wire addition for power-hungry fantasy managers going into the second half of the season. Clemens is rostered in just under half of Yahoo leagues, so he's widely available. Making him more attractive is the fact that he's eligible at first base, second base, and the outfield in those same formats.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Rookie Outfielder Cole Carrigg Still Worth Rostering During Cold Spell?
Colorado Rockies rookie outfielder Cole Carrigg, who is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the team's No. 6 prospect, has been one of the more intriguing power/speed prospects to stash in fantasy baseball this year, but he's in a bit of a slump going into the All-Star break. Carrigg went 27-for-85 (.318) with four homers, six doubles, three triples, 21 RBI, 23 runs scored, and two stolen bases in his first 26 major-league games after debuting with Colorado on June 9. He's fallen into a funk offensively going into this week's All-Star break, though, going hitless in his last 18 plate appearances with an RBI, two walks, and seven strikeouts in his last five games to drop his season slash line to .273/.356/.515 with an .871 OPS in 119 plate appearances. The midway point of the season is coming at a good time for the 24-year-old switch-hitter, who was a second-round pick in 2023 out of San Diego State University. Going into the second half, Carrigg is still a fine upside outfielder to roster in mixed fantasy leagues, although he has struggled away from hitter-friendly Coors Field, batting .208 with two of his homers, eight walks, and 15 strikeouts.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Garrett Crochet Still hasn't Been Cleared to Throw
Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) still has not been cleared to throw, interim manager Chad Tracy told MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo. Instead, Crochet is still playing catch with weighted plyometric balls as he tries to recover from inflammation in his left shoulder. The talented southpaw was put on the injured list way back on April 29 with shoulder inflammation before he had a setback with a low-grade lat strain while facing hitters at the end of May. The 27-year-old two-time All-Star has essentially recovered from his lat strain but now needs to get over the hump with his shoulder injury. The fact that Crochet hasn't resumed throwing essentially rules out a return before the end of July, and with a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment now probably necessary, fantasy managers may not see him again until mid-to-late August. It's been a frustrating development in 2026 for those who have Crochet rostered after he finished second in the American League Cy Young voting last year. In his six starts with Boston this year before going down, he struggled to a 6.30 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 37:11 K:BB in 30 innings. Crochet's high-end upside makes him stash-worthy in all fantasy leagues, though.
Source: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
Source: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
Roman Anthony to Continue to Rehab in Florida
Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy confirmed that outfielder Roman Anthony's (finger) follow-up appointment with Dr. Gary Lourie in Georgia revealed no new information about the finger/hand injury that has kept Anthony on the injured list since May 5, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Anthony will continue to build up strength at the team's spring training complex in Fort Myers, Florida. "Everything's healing, going the way it should, so he'll go down to Florida and continue to do his thing so we can get ramped up quicker," Tracy said. The 22-year-old former top prospect has been out since May 7 due to a partially torn tendon in his right ring finger. Anthony is quickly developing an injury-prone label after he was shut down late last season due to injury. Although there is no clear timetable for Anthony's return, this might be the perfect time to buy low on him in dynasty/keeper leagues. When healthy, Anthony still has one of the best power/speed profiles of any young outfielder in the game, and he'll be a lineup regular for the BoSox whenever he returns to action in the second half. Anthony was hitting .229 (25-for-109) with a homer, five RBI, 12 runs, and two stolen bases before going down earlier this year.
Source: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
Source: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
