RADIO
Nick Lodolo Working on New Breaking-Ball Grip as he Rehabs a Blister
Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger) threw a bullpen session without discomfort on July 22 and another one on July 26, and he has been testing a new grip for his breaking ball and hasn't reported any issues, according to MLB.com. Lodolo landed on the 15-day injured list on July 12 with another blister on his left index finger. There is no specific timetable for his return to the Reds' starting rotation, but he appears to be making good progress. The next step is for Lodolo to face live batters before he's likely sent out on a minor-league rehab assignment. In a best-case scenario, Lodolo might not be back in the majors until mid-August. In his first 12 starts of the season, the former seventh overall pick in 2019 from Texas Christian University went 3-2 with a 4.60 ERA (5.11 FIP) and 1.47 WHIP with 50 strikeouts and 27 walks in 62 2/3 innings. Lodolo's strikeout upside has been intriguing since he entered the league in 2022, but he has a career-low 17.9% strikeout rate in 2026 and a career-high 9.7% walk rate, which is not what you'd want to see from an oft-injured arm.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Zac Thornton Emerging as a Must-Add Starting Pitcher
New York Mets starting pitcher Zac Thornton put together another impressive outing on Monday night, throwing 6 1/3 innings of three-run ball with five strikeouts in his team's 14-3 win over the Atlanta Braves. Since being recalled from Triple-A in mid-July, Thornton has allowed just three earned runs while picking up two wins and 12 strikeouts across 19 1/3 innings (three starts). The 24-year-old is averaging just 92 miles per hour on his fastball and does not profile as a significant source of swing-and-miss, as he's logged just a 20% strikeout rate in the big leagues so far this season. However, the young left-hander has been hard to barrel up, as he's allowed just two home runs across 29 2/3 innings pitched for the Mets in 2026. Given his current hot streak, Thornton profiles as a priority waiver wire target ahead of his next scheduled start against the Miami Marlins on Saturday.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Zack Wheeler Fine Physically After Off Night on Monday
Philadelphia Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said that right-hander Zack Wheeler told him he "felt fine physically" following his rough outing on Monday night in the 8-7 loss to the division-rival Miami Marlins, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. The 36-year-old veteran's velocity was noticeably down, and he lacked command. It was his shortest outing in more than four seasons and featured his second-lowest average velocity on his four-seam fastball. "Just one of those games," said Wheeler, who allowed five runs in those three innings Monday. "One of these days. It just wasn't coming out. I don't know. No excuse, just a bad game." Mattingly noted that Wheeler reported some nausea after his outing, so perhaps he's dealing with a little bug, which could help explain his bad outing against Miami. Despite the poor performance, the three-time All-Star has defied expectations in 2026 after being less than a year removed from a dangerous blood clot that revealed thoracic outlet syndrome, as he's currently 10-2 with a 2.53 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 123:23 K:BB in 103 innings over 17 starts. As long as Wheeler isn't injured, he'll look to bounce back in his next outing.
Source: The Athletic - Matt Gelb
Source: The Athletic - Matt Gelb
Orioles Turn to Rico Garcia for Monday's Save, Remains on Deep-League Radars
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Rico Garcia picked up his fifth save of 2026 on Monday night, throwing a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts in his team's 8-5 win over the Detroit Tigers. With closer Ryan Helsley (elbow) currently on the injured list, Baltimore has been mixing and matching in the ninth inning in recent weeks. Garcia's save on Monday was his first since early June, as fellow Orioles right-handers Tyler Wells and Andrew Kittredge have been seeing more opportunities of late. However, Garcia has excellent numbers for the year overall, as he's pitched to a 2.93 ERA and 0.87 WHIP with 49 strikeouts and four wins across 46 innings (49 games). While he's unlikely to see every save chance for Baltimore going forward, Garcia could still be a worthy deep-league waiver wire target with some upside.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Francisco Lindor Heating Up, Hits Two Homers and Drives in Six on Monday
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor may finally be starting to heat up after an injury-plagued and disappointing first half of the 2026 season. In the Mets' 14-3 drubbing of the division-rival Atlanta Braves in Queens on Monday night, Lindor went 3-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, a triple, six RBI, and a walk to boost his season average to .233 and his OPS to .743. The 32-year-old five-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger winner is still only batting .233/.318/.425 on the year with eight home runs, 23 RBI, 26 runs scored, and two stolen bases across his 193 at-bats, but the Puerto Rican native could be a major asset down the stretch at a premium position. Since the All-Star break, Lindor has gone 12-for-40 (.300) with three home runs, two doubles, a triple, 11 RBI, and four runs scored in 10 games and 46 plate appearances. Lindor isn't going to reach the 30-homer mark for a fourth straight season, but if he's healthy, he could be a difference-maker for fantasy managers to close out the year.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Erik Miller Earns Save for Giants, Emerging as Primary Option in Bullpen
San Francisco Giants left-hander Erik Miller picked up his third save of the season on Monday night, throwing a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts in his team's 3-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. San Francisco has largely operated with a committee approach in the ninth inning so far this season. Still, Miller has a solid case as the team's best relief arm, as he's pitched to a 2.87 ERA and 1.40 WHIP with 44 strikeouts across 31 1/3 innings (36 games). The 28-year-old's command is spotty, as he's surrendered a 16.2% walk rate. However, he's averaging 96.9 miles per hour on his fastball and has struck out 32.4% of the batters he's faced on the year. For deep-league managers who are searching for saves on the waiver wire, Miller could be a name to target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cubs, White Sox Showing Interest in Reid Detmers
The Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox have each shown interest in trading for Los Angeles Angels left-hander Reid Detmers, multiple sources told Russell Dorsey of Yahoo Sports. Detmers has generated plenty of interest around the league as the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaches, and both the Cubs and White Sox need pitching as they look to finish the second half strong. The 27-year-old southpaw is currently 3-7 on the season with a 4.05 ERA (3.28 FIP) and 1.10 WHIP with 136 strikeouts and 37 walks in 120 innings across his 21 starts in his sixth year in the major leagues with the Halos. He has two more years of club control, making him one of the few available starting pitchers with that distinction, and would definitely fit the White Sox's young core as they seek to win the American League Central in 2026. The Cubs, meanwhile, have had an extremely banged-up starting rotation for most of the season. Detmers' teammate, right-hander Jose Soriano, should attract plenty of attention at this year's deadline as well if the Angels are serious about selling and rebuilding.
Source: Yahoo Sports - Russell Dorsey
Source: Yahoo Sports - Russell Dorsey
Curtis Mead Injures Hand in Red Sox Debut
New Boston Red Sox infielder Curtis Mead (hand) was forced from Monday's game early against the Athletics after he was hit by a pitch on his left hand in the fourth inning, per Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. Before being replaced by Anthony Seigler at second base, Mead went 0-for-1 at the plate with a strikeout and the hit-by-pitch. It's a bad start to Mead's tenure with the BoSox after being acquired from the Washington Nationals in a trade involving left-hander Connell Early over the weekend. Mead will most likely be taken for X-rays, at which point we'll have a better idea whether he'll need to miss additional time. The 25-year-old Australian native came out of nowhere to hit a career-high 17 home runs while driving in 48 and stealing six bases in 87 games and 327 plate appearances in Washington before the Red Sox traded for him. Mead previously had career highs of just three homers and 19 RBI from last year with the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago White Sox. He's rostered in just over half of Yahoo leagues now and is slated to play regularly at second in Beantown, as long as he avoids a serious hand injury. Mead has added fantasy value thanks to first base, second base, and third base eligibility. UPDATE: Mead was diagnosed with a bruised left wrist.
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Casey Schmitt Exits With Apparent Knee Injury on Monday
San Francisco Giants infielder/outfielder Casey Schmitt (knee) was removed from Monday's game early against the Milwaukee Brewers after he was shaken up while rounding first base hard and then slamming on the brakes, according to Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News. Schmitt appeared to injure his knee, but we should get an update on his condition either after the game or early on Tuesday. Before being pulled, he went 1-for-1 at the plate. Schmitt was replaced at the hot corner at Oracle Park by Christian Koss. Fantasy managers will be hoping that the 27-year-old's injury isn't serious. He's having his best season easily in the big leagues in 2026, coming into Monday's series opener versus Milwaukee with a .269/.299/.482 slash line with a .781 OPS, and career highs across the board in home runs (21), RBI (55), runs scored (47), and stolen bases (nine) in 97 games across 408 plate appearances. In addition to Schmitt putting up career-best numbers, he's eligible at first base, second base, third base, and the outfield in Yahoo leagues. He's currently rostered in 81% of Yahoo leagues as one of the most-added players off waivers in 2026. UPDATE: Schmitt will undergo an MRI exam on Tuesday after dealing with discomfort in his left knee on Monday, according to NBC Sports' Alex Pavlovic.
Source: The San Jose Mercury News - Justice delos Santos
Source: The San Jose Mercury News - Justice delos Santos
Cade Cavalli Emerging as a Must-Add Starting Pitcher Amidst Recent Surge
Across 110 2/3 innings (22 starts) in 2026, Washington Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli has recorded a 3.58 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 127 strikeouts. The 27-year-old has been particularly hot of late, allowing just four earned runs while notching 22 strikeouts across his last 18 innings (three starts). Cavalli generates a ton of ground balls and does not have a particularly strong defense behind him in Washington, which may continue to lead to a slightly elevated WHIP. Still, Cavalli owns an impressive 26.6% strikeout rate with a 7.1% walk rate. He's also been difficult to take deep, allowing just 0.73 HR/9. In any league where he's not already rostered, Cavalli should be viewed as a must-add waiver wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Garrett Mitchell Remains a Power/Speed Threat to Target on the Waiver Wire
Entering play on Monday, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell had hit .272/.361/.446 with eight home runs, 48 RBI, 46 runs scored, and seven stolen bases across 343 plate appearances. The oft-injured Mitchell has finally managed to stay mostly healthy in 2026, and he's emerged as a steady contributor in Milwaukee. Mitchell's 32.2% strikeout rate is a red flag in his profile, and his batting average has been buoyed by a heavily inflated .403 batting average on balls in play. However, Mitchell makes elite contact, as he's logged a 14.2% barrel rate and a 49.5% hard-hit rate. His ability to consistently hit the ball hard should keep his batting average from completely bottoming out, and Mitchell remains a high-upside power/speed threat to target on the waiver wire as long as he can continue to avoid the injury bug.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Grant Taylor Has Arrived as a Must-Add Reliever
Chicago White Sox right-hander Grant Taylor has been one of the better relievers in baseball so far this season, recording a 2.58 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 74 strikeouts, four wins, and five saves across 52 1/3 innings (39 games). Chicago has been hesitant to deploy Taylor as its full-time closer in 2026, preferring to utilize him in a fireman role. However, the 24-year-old has notched three saves in July and could be securing the team's ninth-inning role. Even if Taylor does not see every save chance for the White Sox the rest of the way, he should remain a valuable reliever for fantasy managers to roster. Taylor is averaging 98.3 miles per hour on his fastball and has posted a 34.9% strikeout rate and a 26.4% K-BB rate. In leagues where he is available on the waiver wire, Taylor profiles as a must-add pitcher.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ian Seymour a High-Upside Starting Pitching Target on the Waiver Wire
After opening 2026 as a reliever, Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Ian Seymour was moved into more of a bulk role in early June. While Seymour has not exclusively operated as a full-time starting pitcher, he's thrown at least three innings in each of his last 10 outings, making six starts in that span. Across those 10 appearances, Seymour has recorded a 3-2 record with a 4.22 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 53 strikeouts. The 27-year-old has posted an impressive 28.1% strikeout rate and a 19.3% K-BB rate for the season. His inflated ERA is a symptom of his abnormally low 66.5% strand rate, which could regress closer to the mean over a larger sample size of innings. Now that he's a threat to rack up wins on a regular basis, Seymour could be worth targeting on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Heriberto Hernandez Emerging as a Priority Power Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 271 plate appearances this season, Miami Marlins outfielder Heriberto Hernandez is hitting .245/.314/.482 with 15 home runs, 41 RBI, 28 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. The 26-year-old has been scorching hot of late, hitting .296 with six home runs across 77 plate appearances in July. Hernandez's batting average upside is limited by his elevated 25.2% strikeout rate. However, the young slugger has posted elite batted-ball metrics this season, logging a 13.2% barrel rate and a 51.1% hard-hit rate. Hernandez has also established an everyday role in left field and in the heart of the Marlins lineup in recent weeks, which should help him rack up counting stats. With his combination of high-end power upside and solid speed, Hernandez profiles as a priority waiver wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tanner Scott Still a Deep-League Waiver-Wire Target Despite Likely Role Shift?
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Tanner Scott has put together an excellent season so far in 2026, pitching to a 2.32 ERA and 0.80 WHIP with 55 strikeouts and 16 saves across 42 2/3 innings (45 games). The 32-year-old took over as the primary closer in Los Angeles early in the season when Dodgers right-hander Edwin Diaz (elbow) landed on the injured list due to elbow surgery. Diaz is scheduled to return from the IL on Wednesday, which could render Scott no longer a useful source of saves for fantasy managers. However, Diaz recorded a 10.50 ERA across seven games before getting hurt and is now attempting to jump back into a pennant race following a major elbow injury. Even if Diaz returns to his usual full-time closer role, Scott should remain an excellent source of ratios and could pick up an occasional save. In deeper fantasy leagues, Scott may still have utility as a waiver wire pickup.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
