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Francisco Lindor has Not Started Baseball Activities
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (calf) has yet to start baseball activities, according to Tim Britton of The Athletic. Lindor has been sidelined since April 22 with a left-calf strain, and since he hasn't resumed any baseball activities, fantasy managers could potentially be without him for the rest of the first half of the 2026 season. The Mets won't have a timetable for his return until he resumes baseball activities. Although it's extremely frustrating for a Mets team that is looking at a lost season, the 32-year-old Puerto Rican infielder should remain rostered in all fantasy baseball leagues as a difference-maker in multiple categories when he's healthy. The five-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger was hitting a disappointing .226 (21-for-93) with two homers, five RBI, 14 runs scored, and two steals at the time of his injury, too. For the foreseeable future, Bo Bichette will continue to man the 6 in Queens in Lindor's absence, with Brett Baty seeing most of the starts at third base against right-handed pitchers.
Source: The Athletic - Tim Britton
Source: The Athletic - Tim Britton
Sam Antonacci Still Worth a Waiver-Wire Pickup for his Speed
Chicago White Sox rookie outfielder Sam Antonacci has cooled off a bit recently at the plate, but fantasy managers targeting speed should still be considering acquiring him off the waiver wire. The 23-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder has hit .233 (7-for-30) with an RBI, two stolen bases, six runs scored, three walks, and seven strikeouts in nine games since May 15, but he still holds a strong .300/.395/.357 slash line with a .752 OPS, four doubles, four RBI, five stolen bases, and 15 runs scored in 21 contests in May. Antonacci, a former fifth-round selection in 2024 out of Coastal Carolina, has only one home run and won't provide much pop for fantasy managers, but he has held his own in his first 35 big-league games in 2026. He's hitting .273 (30-for-110) with a homer, five doubles, two triples, 10 RBI, five steals, and 20 runs scored across his 132 plate appearances. Making him even more attractive in deeper leagues is the fact that he's eligible at second and third base, in addition to the outfield. He's also widely available in Yahoo leagues, as he's currently rostered in just 16% of leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Jackson Holliday Worth a Pickup Despite Slow Start in 2026?
Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday was rostered in most fantasy baseball leagues going into his third MLB season in 2026 before he suffered a fractured hamate bone in his hand back in February that required surgery. After multiple setbacks during his minor-league rehab assignment, Holliday didn't make his season debut until May 19. The 22-year-old former first overall pick is now rostered in under half of Yahoo leagues (42%), and he has yet to make a start against a left-handed pitcher since coming off the injured list. And in his first five games played this year, Holliday has gone 2-for-11 with a homer, two RBI, two steals, and three runs scored. The son of former MLB star Matt Holliday was a first overall pick for a reason, though, and he was three home runs and three stolen bases shy of a 20-20 campaign in 2025 in his first full year in the big leagues. The upside is evident, and Holliday should slowly start to be trusted in an everyday role once he's further removed from his hand injury. Once he starts to heat up, it might be too late to pick him up off the waiver wire.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Connelly Early a Rising Young Arm to Target on the Waiver Wire
Boston Red Sox left-hander Connelly Early struggled with his control earlier this year, but he has begun to turn it around in that department and remains one of the more intriguing young arms to roster in fantasy baseball leagues. The 24-year-old southpaw is currently 4-2 in his 10 starts in 2026 with a 3.33 ERA (4.73 FIP) and 1.18 WHIP with 50 strikeouts and 19 walks in 54 innings in just his second year in the big leagues. Early picked up his fourth win of the season on May 20 against the Kansas City Royals on the road, allowing three earned runs on six hits (two homers) while walking only one and striking out five in 6 1/3 innings. The former fifth-round pick in 2023 out of Virginia has looked much better since wallowing a season-high five earned runs in four innings against the Houston Astros on May 2. In three starts since then, he has allowed five earned runs on 15 hits (four homers) while walking two and fanning 19 in 18 1/3 frames. Home runs have been an issue, but fantasy managers should feel more comfortable scooping him up off the waiver wire if he continues to limit the walks. Early is rostered in just over half of Yahoo leagues, and he has four quality starts in his last seven outings while giving up more than three earned runs in just one of his 10 starts in 2026.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Ben Brown Worth Considering Off the Waiver Wire in Two-Start Week
Chicago Cubs right-hander Ben Brown has already been trending up in his transition to a starting role in Chicago, and he should be even more attractive in Week 9 of the fantasy baseball season while scheduled for a two-start week versus the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. The 26-year-old has slowly been building up his pitch count in a starting role after opening the 2026 season as a reliever for the Cubbies. In his last outing on May 19 in a loss to the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers, Brown allowed three earned runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out six in five innings of work. He has thrown at least four innings in each of his first three starts, dating back to May 8, and he's racked up 13 strikeouts in his last two appearances. Neither the Pirates nor the Cardinals are exactly excellent matchups for Brown as far as being a streamer, but he becomes more valuable in weekly formats because he's slated to start twice. Despite taking his first loss his last time out, Brown holds a strong 2.09 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 40:12 K:BB in 38 2/3 innings this year, and he's only rostered in 39% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Xander Bogaerts Worth a Waiver-Wire Pickup After Two-Hit Game on Sunday?
San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts hit .292 (26-for-89) in April and also had five home runs, a double, 15 RBI, 14 runs scored, and three stolen bases as one of the team's most consistent hitters. It led to an uptick in fantasy managers picking him up off the waiver wire. Bogaerts had two hits in the team's 5-2 loss in the series finale on Sunday against the Athletics, but he has cooled off considerably at the plate recently and in May. His two hits on Sunday broke a streak of three straight hitless games, and the 33-year-old veteran is hitting only .211 (15-for-71) with two home runs, a double, seven RBI, five steals, and eight runs scored in 21 games in May. Since May 13, Bogaerts has gone 6-for-34 (.176) with an RBI, three steals, three runs, three walks, and eight strikeouts in 10 games played. Overall, the four-time All-Star is slashing a modest .250/.320/.383 with a .703 OPS, seven home runs, 24 RBI, eight steals, and 22 runs across 50 games. At the very least, Bogaerts has been more attractive in deep-mixed fantasy leagues for his uptick in power in 2026, as he had only 11 homers in each of the last two seasons in San Diego.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Jasson Dominguez Could Start a Rehab Assignment Next Week
New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez (shoulder) suffered a left-shoulder AC joint sprain when he crashed into the outfield wall while making a catch on May 7 and was placed on the 10-day injured list a day later. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection on May 11 and advanced from pool and weight-room activities to hitting off a tee on May 20. Dominguez did more tee and toss work on May 22 and could start a minor-league rehab assignment in the first week of June, according to MLB.com. Barring a setback once Dominguez resumes playing in games in the minors, he could potentially be ready to rejoin the major-league roster by the end of next weekend or the following week. Giancarlo Stanton (calf) is going slower in his rehab, so Dominguez could have an opening for some playing time in the Bronx when he's reinstated. The 23-year-old switch-hitting Dominican didn't make the Opening Day roster and has appeared in only nine games this year, going 6-for-30 (.200) with a homer and four RBI. The former top prospect isn't guaranteed anything upon his return, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him go back to the minors, too.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jesus Made Turns in Dominant Week at Double-A, Can He Debut in 2026?
MLB.com's No. 1-ranked prospect Jesus Made turned in an incredible week at Double-A and continues to push Milwaukee's hand for a potential second-half debut. The Brewers' top prospect has had an incredible .371/.395/.600 line with two doubles, two home runs, and three stolen bases over his last seven contests. Overall, Made has looked quite comfortable over his first full season with Double-A Biloxi, posting a .283/.357/.462 line with an .819 OPS. The 19-year-old has gone deep six times and swiped an impressive 18 bags while holding a 30:21 K:BB. Even though Made is currently two stops away from the majors, he could push for a late-season debut, as he looks more than comfortable against Double-A pitching, especially if the Brewers need additional infield depth for the stretch run. For now, he is only worth stashing in deeper 15-team redraft leagues that have several N/A spots.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Joshua Baez Remains Top Stash Target With Five-Category Upside
St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez remains a top hitting prospect to stash, thanks to his elite five-category potential. Even though Baez has seen his contact skills drop at Triple-A this season, he has continued to flash high-end power and elite speed when on the field. Through his first 44 games at the top club of the St. Louis system, the young outfielder has launched 11 long balls while swiping 11 bags. However, his modest .233 AVG has limited his overall upside. He was given a serious opportunity to break camp in spring training despite not even taking a single Triple-A at-bat ahead of the 2026 season, but ultimately fell short in the competition. Even though he was optioned to the minor leagues, he is on the verge of a promotion, especially if he can continue to hit for power. If Baez can continue to turn the corner, he could debut in the coming weeks. His elite five-category skill set makes him a top stash target in all standard category leagues ahead of Week 9.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Giancarlo Stanton Hopes to be Cleared to Run This Week
New York Yankees outfielder/designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (calf) has continued hitting and is doing plyometric exercises. He will undergo imaging this week with hopes of being cleared to run, according to MLB.com. Stanton has been recovering slowly after being placed on the 10-day injured list on April 28 (retroactive to April 25) with a right-calf strain. It's unclear when he exactly he'll be ready to rejoin the Yankees' big-league roster, and it will depend on how quickly he can resume running at full speed. Because of how much time he's missed, the right-handed slugger will almost certainly need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before he's reinstated. Jasson Dominguez (shoulder) is also on the IL, and the Yankees are down to three true outfielders (Aaron Judge, Trent Grisham, and Cody Bellinger) after sending rookie Spencer Jones back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 36-year-old Stanton still has enough power to make a difference in fantasy, but managers have grown tired of dealing with his constant injuries. Stanton is currently rostered in 30% of Yahoo leagues with a TBD return date.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Braden Montgomery Enters Week 9 as No. 1 Prospect to Stash?
Chicago White Sox outfield prospect Braden Montgomery recently moved up to Triple-A and enters Week 9 as an elite stash option among hitting prospects. Even though Montgomery has endured a brief three-game hitless skid, the team's top hitting prospects remain on the verge of an MLB debut. Prior to this short slump, Montgomery enjoyed a dominant start to his Triple-A campaign, posting a .283/.348/.467 line with five doubles, two home runs, and a stolen base over his first 14 games. He opened the season at Double-A Birmingham but needed only 27 games to prove he was ready to face the top pitching in the minor leagues. With Double-A, Montgomery posted a 1.035 OPS with six long balls and two stolen bases. Given that Chicago lacks much depth in their outfield, Montgomery could debut before the end of June, making him a top stash option in all formats.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Edwin Arroyo Not Slowing Down at Triple-A, Remains Elite Stash Target
Cincinnati Reds prospect Edwin Arroyo has remained one of the best hitters throughout all of the minor leagues and remains on the verge of making his MLB debut. Through his first 48 contests at the top club of the minor leagues, Arroyo has posted an incredible .344/.402/.595 with a .997 OPS. Arroyo has launched 10 home runs, tacked on nine doubles, and even swiped eight bases. This is even more impressive, as Arroyo spent his entire 2025 campaign with Double-A Chattanooga. With Double-A last summer, Arroyo was far less productive, holding a .284/.345/.371 line, and went deep just three times over a lengthy 120-game stint. Even though there is no clear spot for him on the MLB roster, the former 48th overall pick remains a must-stash prospect ahead of Week 9.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Carlos Lagrange Firmly Off the Stash Radar After Rough Showing?
New York Yankees right-handed pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange remains in the mix to compete for a late-season MLB debut but has begun to see his short-term stock take a hit. In his most recent outing of the young season on May 22, Lagrange allowed five runs to Lehigh Valley in just five innings of work. This was the second time this season Lagrange allowed at least five runs in a single contest. Overall, the hard-throwing right-hander has posted a high 4.78 ERA with a 1.41 WHIP across 43 1/3 innings of work at Triple-A. While his ratios remain high, he has shown solid strikeout potential, totaling 57, which has kept his fantasy intrigue relevant. However, with Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon both back in action, Lagrange may only be in the mix for a late-season promotion as a reliever, which makes him a low-end stash target in the deepest of redraft leagues for the foreseeable future.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Franklin Arias Extends Power Surge, Remains in Play for Late-Season Debut?
Boston Red Sox top infield prospect Franklin Arias continues to showcase elite upside at the Double-A level and remains in play for a late-season MLB debut. Through his first 36 games with Double-A Portland this season, the team's No. 1-ranked prospect per MLB.com has posted a dominant .346/.422/.662 slash line with a dominant 1.084 OPS. During this stretch, the infielder has launched 11 home runs, swiped four bags, while carrying a 19:15 K:BB. Over his last three games, Arias has launched three of these long balls. Given his incredible start to the campaign, the top prospect remains in serious contention not only to reach Triple-A in the coming weeks but also to debut in the big leagues in the second half. If he maintains this pace, he will find himself near the top of most stash lists in the coming months.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Griffin Jax Emerging as Must-Add Starter Following Role Change
Rays right-hander Griffin Jax has taken a major step forward since transitioning into a starting role in late April, quickly emerging as a high-upside fantasy target. The 31-year-old owns a 2.11 ERA across his last seven appearances after struggling out of the bullpen early in the season. Jax now carries a 3.54 ERA and 1.36 WHIP overall, but his underlying profile has improved significantly as a starter. While his strikeout rate has dipped slightly, he has generated groundballs at over a 50 percent clip, allowing him to work deeper into games and limit damage consistently. Jax appears far more comfortable in the rotation, and fantasy managers should strongly consider adding him before his value rises further.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
