RADIO
Ben Brown Making Seamless Transition to Starting Role
Chicago Cubs right-hander Ben Brown has been excellent as both a reliever and starter so far in 2026 for the Cubbies, but he should be attracting more interest off the waiver wire from fantasy managers now that he's stretched out and pitching well. The 26-year-old is currently 2-2 with a 1.92 ERA (2.23 FIP) and 0.93 WHIP with 53 strikeouts and 15 walks in 51 2/3 innings pitched across 17 appearances (five starts). He even has one save for good measure as a reliever. Since moving to a starting role on the North side in Chicago, Brown has become even more attractive in fantasy, allowing only five earned runs on 15 hits while walking seven and fanning 29 over 26 innings of work. Most recently, he went a season-high seven innings and gave up just one earned run with a walk and six K's for his second win of the season against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals on May 30. Brown has had quality starts in each of his last two times out and continues to gain steam in what is shaping up as a breakout campaign. The best part is that he's available in just over 40% of Yahoo leagues, too. Grab him and start him this weekend against the San Francisco Giants.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Paul Sewald Still the Player to Roster in Arizona for Saves
Arizona Diamondbacks veteran right-handed reliever Paul Sewald isn't flashy by any means, but he's still the best option for saves in the desert, and he has been pretty reliable of late for the Snakes. Sewald picked up his second win of the year in Thursday night's walk-off win over the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers, tossing a scoreless inning while allowing one hit, walking none, and striking out two. The 36-year-old's overall numbers aren't outstanding, but he has blown just one of his 16 save chances on the year and has registered a scoreless outing in 21 of his 26 appearances on the season. Since his first blown save of 2026 on May 15 on the road against the Texas Rangers, Sewald has allowed just one earned run while walking one and striking out seven in eight innings while also winning two games and recording six saves in eight outings. He is currently tied for fourth among all MLB relievers with the Cardinals' Riley O'Brien with 15 saves. At least until left-hander A.J. Puk (elbow) returns from the injured list, Sewald is the man to roster for the D-backs if you're looking for saves. He's currently rostered in only 65% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Travis Bazzana a Must-Add Off Waiver Wire in On-Base-Percentage Leagues?
Cleveland Guardians rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana has absolutely looked like he belongs in the big leagues through his first 33 games with the Guards. While mostly serving as Cleveland's leadoff hitter and thriving atop the batting order, the 23-year-old left-handed-hitting Aussie has hit .273 (33-for-121) with three home runs, 15 RBI, eight stolen bases, and 13 runs scored across his first 139 big-league plate appearances. Bazzana was curiously dropped to the cleanup spot in Thursday's loss to the New York Yankees, but it was likely only because the Yanks had a tough left-hander on the mound. The former first overall pick out of Oregon State University in 2024 should return to the leadoff spot this weekend, where he has looked very comfortable despite his first taste of major-league pitching. Bazzana isn't going to offer a ton of power from the left side at the keystone, but he's an extremely patient hitter who will get on base frequently and take advantage of his plus speed. In OBP leagues, he should be scooped up now. Bazzana is somehow still available in just over half of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Hunter Greene Still a Ways From Returning, But he Should be Stashed
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene (elbow) has not pitched yet in 2026 after having surgery in mid-March during spring training to remove bone chips from his right elbow. However, the hard-throwing 26-year-old ace threw a successful bullpen session on May 26 and is slowly ramping back up for a potential return to Cincy's starting rotation at some point in July. Even though Greene still has a lot of boxes to check before he's back in the big leagues, fantasy managers looking to bolster their rotation for the second half should already be considering picking him up off the waiver wire and stashing him in an injured list spot. The former second overall pick in the 2017 draft out of high school in California is one of the hardest-throwing starters in baseball when he's healthy, and he had an ERA under 3.00 in each of his last two seasons with the Reds, going 16-9 with a 2.76 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 301:83 K:BB in 258 innings across 45 starts. Greene has the potential to be a fantasy ace when he's healthy, and he's currently rostered in only 63% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Kody Clemens Stays Hot With Two-Homer Performance on Thursday
Minnesota Twins utility man Kody Clemens remained hot at the dish in Thursday night's 8-6 loss to the division-rival Kansas City Royals at Target Field, going 2-for-4 with two solo home runs out of the three-hole in the batting order. The strong effort at the plate raised his season batting average to .236 and his OPS to .771. Both of the 30-year-old's homers came off Royals veteran starter Seth Lugo, and this was the second multi-homer game of his career. The son of former All-Star hurler Roger Clemens is now hitting .236/.311/.460 with a .771 OPS, eight home runs, 20 RBI, 23 runs scored, and five stolen bases across his 174 at-bats in his first full season with the Twins. In his last 11 games since May 24, Clemens has gone 11-for-44 (.250) with four home runs, a double, two triples, eight RBI, and seven runs scored. There isn't much of a fantasy ceiling to be had here, but Clemens has been swinging the bat well of late and is eligible at first, second, and the outfield in Yahoo leagues, where he is rostered in 4% of leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Can Kade Anderson Debut During the 2026 Season?
Seattle Mariners top prospect Kade Anderson continues to showcase elite upside at the Double-A level and is seeing his value increase as a stash candidate. After joining the Mariners with the third overall pick in last year's MLB Draft, the southpaw has spent his professional career in Double-A and has looked very comfortable. Through his first nine outings with Arkansas, Anderson has logged 44 innings of work to the tune of a 1.43 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP. During this stretch, the left-hander has struck out an impressive 67 hitters while serving up just seven total walks. Additionally, Anderson has allowed one run or fewer in eight of these outings. Despite this incredible production, Anderson remains somewhat far from his MLB debut, given Seattle's pitching depth. With six capable starters on the MLB roster, the No. 6-ranked prospect in the sport will likely have to wait for several injuries or a potential trade to earn the call. However, those in leagues with N/A spots should still view the left-hander as an elite stash target given his upside on a per-start basis.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Rangers Activate Corey Seager From the Injured List
The Texas Rangers activated shortstop Corey Seager (back) from the 10-day injured list on Friday before their series opener at home at Globe Life Field against the Cleveland Guardians and left-hander Parker Messick, according to MLB.com. Seager is back with the Rangers after going 1-for-5 on a short minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco. The 32-year-old has been sidelined since the middle of May due to inflammation in his lower back, but he'll return to starting shortstop duties and will hopefully give Texas an offensive boost on the infield. The five-time All-Star was hitting just .179 (28-for-156) before his back injury landed him on the IL and had gone hitless in his last 25 at-bats, but he did have seven home runs and has had at least 21 home runs in each of the last four seasons since coming to the Rangers in 2022. Seager could be a bit rusty upon his MLB return and could be eased back in by the Rangers this weekend, but he should still be rostered in all fantasy baseball leagues despite his slow start in 2026.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Is Braden Montgomery On the Verge of His MLB Debut?
Chicago White Sox top hitting prospect Braden Montgomery has enjoyed an impressive campaign with Triple-A Charlotte and is knocking on the MLB door. Given the team's lack of depth in the outfield, Montgomery may not need to wait much longer before making his MLB debut. This season, during his first 26 games at the Triple-A level, the outfielder has held his own, posting a .298/.373/.462 line with a .835 OPS. The former first-round pick began the season in Double-A but needed only another 27 games at that level before earning the call to the top club in the minor leagues. With Chicago already turning to several of their top prospects at Triple-A, such as Jacob Gonzalez and Sam Antonacci, Montgomery's promotion may be in the near future, and his current play at Triple-A suggests he may not endure many growing pains on the South Side.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Cole Carrigg Carries High-End Stash Upside When Looking for Stolen Bases
Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Cole Carrigg has enjoyed an impressive start to the Triple-A regular season and remains a top hitting prospect to stash ahead of Week 11. After spending the entire 2025 season at the Double-A level, Carrigg was given the green light to begin the 2026 season with the top club in the minor leagues and has performed quite well. Through his first 54 games at the level, Carrigg has held a dominant .338/.413/.521 slash line with 14 doubles, five triples, five home runs, and 29 stolen bases. Last season, Carrigg shipped 46 bags over his 123 games with Double-A. With several starting outfielders on the MLB roster on the shelf due to injury, including Brenton Doyle and Mickey Moniak, Carrigg has a clear path to make an impact in the first half. His elite speed potential makes him a prior target for those in category leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Luis Lara Maintaining Stash Value Amid Power Slump?
Milwaukee Brewers outfield prospect Luis Lara has enjoyed a remarkable start to the Triple-A regular season and has emerged as a top stash candidate in the opening months of the season. Through his first 33 games of the season (and at the Triple-A level in his career), the young outfielder has gone deep seven times while carrying a .341/.438/.562 line with a .998 OPS. During this stretch, Lara also showcased high-end speed, stealing 12 bags while holding a 19:17 K:BB. However, over his last 23 games, Lara has not hit a home run but maintained a high .346/.476/.420 line. As he progressed through the lower levels, power was never his strong suit, as he hit just two home runs over 136 games at Double-A in 2025. If Lara can find his power upside in June, he could compete for a first-half MLB debut and carry high-end five-category upside when he earns the call.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Is River Ryan Still a Top Stash Target Following Four-Run Showing?
Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitcher River Ryan hit his first speedbump at the Triple-A level on Thursday evening. After enjoying a near-perfect stretch since returning from injury, the right-hander allowed a season-high four runs and six hits to Round Rock. In this contest, Ryan also served up a season-high three walks and only struck out four hitters. However, prior to this rough showing, Ryan was on the verge of returning to the majors, carrying an impressive 0.60 ERA, 0.60 WHIP, and a 19:1 K:BB over his last 15 frames since returning from his minor injury. Ryan made his MLB debut during the 2024 campaign and looked quite comfortable in his first stint, holding a 1.33 ERA over 20 1/3 innings. With several Dodger starters on the injured list, including Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, Ryan continues to hold high-end stash upside, as his path to the big leagues remains very clear, despite his underwhelming showing on Thursday evening.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Kaelen Culpepper on Verge of MLB Debut Amid 11-Game Hitting Streak
Minnesota Twins top infield prospect Kaelen Culpepper remains on the verge of his MLB debut and should be viewed as a top stash candidate in all standard formats. The infielder is currently carrying an impressive 11-game hitting streak as he knocks on the MLB door. During this stretch, Culpepper has posted a .333/.444/.600 line with a 1.044 OPS. Across these contests, Culpepper has hit four home runs while swiping three bags and carrying a 9:9 K:BB. Overall, Culpepper has looked very comfortable during his first taste of Triple-A action, posting a .266/.372/.468 line with an .858 OPS. Over these 54 contests with St. Paul, Culpepper has hit 13 home runs and stolen 13 bases. Given his five-category upside and clear path to MLB at-bats, Culpepper should remain stashed in all standard leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
JJ Bleday Continues to Perform, a Must-Add Player Off the Waiver Wire?
Cincinnati Reds slugger JJ Bleday has had a breakout season in 2026 since getting called up to the Reds on April 26. On the season, he is slashing .289/.383/.620 with 10 home runs, one stolen base, 19 runs scored, and 27 RBI in 121 at-bats. Over the past seven days, he has been hitting .348/.400/.826. Bleday has cemented himself as a must-add player across all formats due to his strong stretch of play, especially in five-outfield formats. Under the hood, most of the data support his breakout, with a strong exit-velocity average (90.6 mph) and xBA (.284) and xwOBA (.399) all elite, each in the 87th percentile or better. The only concern with Bleday is that he will occasionally sit against left-handed pitching, but as long as he continues to produce against right-handed pitching, his counting stats and ratios should be just fine. If available in your league, Bleday is a must-add player.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Payton Tolle Continues to Dominate, a Must-Roster Player in All Formats
Boston Red Sox top pitching prospect out of TCU, Payton Tolle, has dominated since his call-up to the Red Sox on April 23, as he has now made eight starts and has a 3-2 record, 2.28 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 51 strikeouts in 47 1/3 innings pitched. More impressively, his underlying data fully support his breakout (2.31 xERA). After a cup of coffee with the Red Sox last season, pitching in seven games, Tolle has taken full advantage of his opportunity in 2026. While he isn't generating an elite ground ball rate, all of his other metrics rank in the 65th percentile or better. Tolle also provides fantasy managers with strong strikeout upside, as evidenced by his 27.3 percent strikeout rate, and is a WHIP specialist, thanks to his solid command (7 percent walk rate) and .191 xBA, which keeps the bases fairly empty and contributes to that category as well. While his wins are down a bit, that is more a testament to the Red Sox offense than to his production. Fantasy managers should continue to start Tolle with confidence, and if he is on the waiver wire in shallower formats, he is a must-add player.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Caleb Kilian Earns Fourth Save, Has he Fully Claimed Giants Closer Job?
San Francisco Giants right-hander Caleb Kilian earned the save on Thursday against the Milwaukee Brewers and has now converted on four of his five save opportunities on the season with a 1.19 WHIP and 3.58 ERA with 30 strikeouts and 14 walks through 27 2/3 innings pitched. While the Giants' closer role has been frustrating to figure out all season, Kilian appears to be taking control of that job, as his surface stats, stuff, and recent save opportunities appear to point in that direction. Additionally, Ryan Walker, who is leading the team with six save opportunities, was sent down to Triple-A on May 10, so he is not a threat to compete with Kilian for the time being. Kilian does not have any prior closing experience, so while he appears to be in the driver's seat for the job, his leash will be short; however, in formats where saves are scarce, Kilian is worth a waiver-wire add in deeper formats.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
