RADIO
Drew Rasmussen Is a Buy-Low After Yankees Blowup
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen gave fantasy managers a sour finish to an otherwise excellent first half, allowing six runs on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings against the Yankees on July 9. That one start raised his ERA from 2.78 to 3.26. The rest still looks clean: a 0.95 WHIP, 98 strikeouts in 99 1/3 innings, and only 17 walks. The new changeup is doing real work. Rasmussen barely used it last season, but the pitch is up to 12.2% usage with a .178 xwOBA and 38.9% whiff rate. His strikeout rate has climbed from 21.7% to 25%, while the walk rate has dropped from 6.3% to 4.3%. The elbow history and likely 170-inning cap remain the concern, not what he is doing on the mound. If the Yankees blowup softened the price, buy.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kade Anderson Leading the Way in Minors, Top Pitcher to Stash?
Seattle Mariners pitching prospect Kade Anderson capped off a spectacular first half of 2026 with a one-inning start in the All-Star Futures Game, facing four batters in the contest with his only blemish coming via a base hit yielded to MLB's No. 1 overall prospect, Jesus Made. The left-hander earned the start for the AL after posting a 1.36 ERA, 0.69 WHIP, and an elite 37.5 percent K-BB% in 72 2/3 innings pitched, all ranking best in the minors among pitchers with at least 60 innings pitched. The former third-overall draft pick looks poised to see some time at Triple-A in the second half and should have a good shot at making his major league debut later in the year. Given his workload, his 108 strikeouts equate to a fantasy-friendly 13.38 K/9, and although his debut is not imminent, the 22-year-old's stuff warrants stash consideration in all leagues with an NA spot for managers looking for pitching help.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Cal Raleigh's Power Collapse is More Than Bad Luck
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hit the break at .169/.271/.310 with nine home runs in 65 games, a brutal drop after last year's 60-homer season. The oblique strain explains some of it. Raleigh missed 33 days, returned June 16, and has not looked right for long stretches. Still, the underlying damage goes beyond a low average. His hard-hit rate has fallen from 49.6% to 32.5%, his barrel rate from 19.5% to 11%, and the strikeout rate is up to 32.5%. Statcast gives him only a .179 expected average and .356 expected slugging percentage. Seattle has kept him in the heart of the order, so the opportunity is not going anywhere. The old ceiling makes him tempting as a buy-low. Just don't pay for 2025. This version of Raleigh has real second-half risk.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
George Lombard Jr. Homers in First Rehab Game, Time to Stash?
New York Yankees shortstop prospect George Lombard Jr. (finger) began a rehab assignment on Monday with the team's Florida Complex League affiliate and quickly made his presence felt. The Yankees' top-ranked prospect garnered three plate appearances, drawing a walk in one at-bat and homering in another. He also attempted a stolen base, and although he was caught, it was promising to see him kicking off the rust from his month-long layoff. The former first-rounder is working his way back from a sprain in two of his fingers, and with a successful rehab assignment, he should be on track to rejoin Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre by next week. The 6-foot-2 slugger had begun to find his footing with the RailRiders just before the injury, going 12-for-34 (.353) during a nine-game hit streak, including seven doubles, a pair of home runs, and two stolen bases. The 21-year-old looks primed to make his major league debut later in the second half and should be considered a worthy stash option in deeper 12-team leagues for his potential to impact multiple fantasy categories.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Nico Hoerner's Slump Creates a Second-Half Buying Window
Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner limped into the All-Star break at .233/.305/.326, but his fantasy line was not empty. He still produced 37 runs, 38 RBI, and 14 steals in 94 games, and his 7.9% strikeout rate remained absurdly low. Hoerner appeared in 94 of Chicago's 96 games, though he spent the final week mostly batting sixth. The average is the reason to buy. Hoerner's .284 expected batting average sits 51 points above the real number, while his .243 BABIP is nowhere near last season's .313 mark. He is still making contact on 96.1% of pitches in the strike zone. Just do not pay for a power jump that probably is not coming. A 28% hard-hit rate and 0.9% barrel rate tell that story. Managers frustrated by the first-half slide may move him cheaply, and the average-steals rebound is worth chasing.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Garrett Mitchell Becomes Second-Half Waiver Target After Strong First-Half Finish
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell is a trendy waiver-wire pickup this week thanks to a strong finish to his first half. In 13 games so far in July, he's gone 18-for-47 (.383) with two home runs, six doubles, a triple, six RBI, and eight runs scored to boost his season slash line to .274/.362/.459 with an .822 OPS in 310 plate appearances. The 27-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder has hit eight home runs, driven in 44 runs, scored 42 runs, and stolen six bases across 86 games in his fifth year in the big leagues through the first half in 2026. At the very least, fantasy managers looking for outfield upgrades should look Mitchell's way to begin the second half in hopes that he can continue his hot streak for the rest of the month. The oft-injured former first-rounder out of UCLA currently ranks in the 91st percentile in hard-hit rate and 89th percentile in barrel rate, but he also sits way at the bottom with a second percentile strikeout rate (32.9%) despite the fact that he's in the 90th percentile in chase rate. Strikeouts will continue to be a problem, but if Mitchell can stay healthy, he should be of use for power and speed the rest of the way. Mitchell is rostered in only 22% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Will Jhoan Duran Face Regression in the Second Half?
Philadelphia Phillies right-handed closer Jhoan Duran heads into this week's All-Star break with eight straight successful save conversions and a 1.38 ERA (1.08 FIP), 0.92 WHIP, 24 saves, 50 strikeouts, and six walks in 32 2/3 innings out of the bullpen in his first full season with the Phillies. The 28-year-old Dominican hurler also was rewarded with his first All-Star appearance as one of the most dominant closers in the game in the first half. But should fantasy managers be worried about regression in the second half? The answer is no. Duran sports a 39.7% strikeout rate (100th percentile) and a career-best 4.8% walk rate. Although he's in just the sixth percentile in hard-hit rate, he sits in the 88th percentile in barrel rate, the 100th percentile in whiff rate, the 90th percentile in chase rate, and the 99th percentile in xwOBA, which proves he's still one of the most dominant relief arms in baseball on one of the better teams in the league. And if Duran can stay healthy in the second half, he should easily set a new career high in saves after reaching 32 saves with the Phils and the Minnesota Twins last year. Since his last blown save on June 9 against the Toronto Blue Jays, Duran hasn't allowed a run in 11 innings while picking up eight saves, striking out 17, and walking only one.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Bryce Harper Could be a Prime Buy-Low Candidate for Second Half
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper came into this week's All-Star break in a cold spell at the plate, and he didn't make it past the first round in Monday night's Home Run Derby in his home digs at Citizens Bank Park. Harper's fantasy managers could be souring on him going into the second half, which could present the perfect buy-low opportunity. In his first 11 games in July, the 33-year-old former two-time MVP and nine-time All-Star went 6-for-40 (.150) with three doubles, three RBI, three runs scored, eight walks, and 14 strikeouts in 48 plate appearances to drop his season line to .260/.365/.497. However, Harper still has an .862 OPS with 20 home runs, 57 RBI, 59 runs scored, and five stolen bases in his 342 at-bats in 2026 in his 15th big-league season (eighth in Philly). He also has a .278 expected batting average and the eighth-best xwOBA (.391), suggesting we haven't seen the best of Harper yet this year. Harper currently is ranked in the 76th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 72nd percentile in barrel rate, the 93rd percentile in xSLG, and the 97th percentile in xwOBA, so we're not completely sold that his cold spell in July is a sign of an offensive decline to close out 2026.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Aaron Ashby Still Valuable for Vultured Wins, Holds?
Milwaukee Brewers left-handed reliever Aaron Ashby isn't a candidate for saves in Milwaukee, but he remains attractive on the waiver wire in fantasy with a league-high 12 wins and for his ability to contribute strikeouts and holds in high-leverage situations. In addition to his career-high 12 wins -- his previous career high was five victories in 2025 -- the 28-year-old southpaw has a 3.56 ERA (3.24 FIP), 1.44 WHIP, seven holds, 75 strikeouts, and 29 walks in 55 2/3 innings across 45 appearances (one start) in 2026. However, Ashby has met some adversity since the beginning of June, allowing 16 runs (14 earned) on 23 hits for a 6.41 ERA (5.13 FIP), 24 strikeouts, and 11 walks in 19 2/3 innings pitched. He's gone 3-2 in that span with four blown saves and six holds. Ashby has obviously been money for wins for fantasy managers, but you can't hang your hat on that alone in the second half. His career-high 30.6% strikeout rate has also been nice, but Ashby also has a career-high 11.8% walk rate that will continue to get him in trouble in the second half.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Luis Robert Jr. Worth a Waiver-Wire Pickup With Return Looming?
Outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (back) has been just one of the many disappointments for the New York Mets in 2026, having played in just 24 games in his first year in Queens due to a back injury. The 28-year-old Cuban outfielder is now rostered in under half of Yahoo leagues. However, Robert began a minor-league rehab assignment on June 30 and could be making his return to the Mets' outfield sooner rather than later in the early portion of the second half of the season. He went 2-for-6 with an RBI and two runs scored while playing eight innings in center field with Double-A Binghamton on Sunday and has hit .304/.360/.435 in 25 plate appearances in six games with Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse. Barring a setback this week, Robert looks primed to come off the 60-day injured list for New York's first series of the second half against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets will likely ease Robert back in, but eventually, he's expected to settle in as the regular center fielder. Injuries have defined Robert's seven-year big-league career, but his power/speed upside cannot be denied, making him worth a waiver-wire pickup for outfield depth in the second half.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Shane Drohan Impressing as a Rookie, Should Stick in Brewers Rotation
Milwaukee Brewers rookie left-hander Shane Drohan began his MLB career working out of the bullpen for the Brew Crew, but he deserves a much longer look in their starting rotation going into the second half and off the waiver wire in fantasy baseball leagues after his strong start in 2026. In 19 appearances (nine starts) covering 70 innings, Drohan has gone 4-3 with a 3.09 ERA (3.24 FIP) and 1.20 WHIP with 67 strikeouts and 20 walks. The 27-year-old southpaw has a 3.38 ERA (3.78 FIP) with 39 strikeouts and 12 walks in 42 2/3 frames and eight starts since joining Milwaukee's rotation on June 1. Drohan has allowed more than three earned runs in just one of his eight starts up through the All-Star break and has quality starts in three of his eight starts, including in each of his last two appearances. His most recent start on Saturday against the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates was his first start of at least six innings with no walks. Drohan appears primed to stick in the Brewers' banged-up rotation to open the second half of the season, and if he keeps pitching like this, he could stick as a starter for the rest of the year. He's only rostered in 33% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Should Fantasy Managers Sell High on Mason Miller?
San Diego Padres right-handed closer Mason Miller has been as dominant as any reliever we've ever seen in the first half of 2026, which begs the question: Should fantasy managers be selling high? In his 38 appearances (39 2/3 innings) in the first half of his first full season with the Friars, Miller has gone 2-1 with a 0.91 ERA (0.53 FIP), 0.78 WHIP, a National League-leading 25 saves, 72 strikeouts, and 13 walks. The flamethrowing closer is tied with Rays closer Bryan Baker for second in the big leagues in saves, just three behind the leader, Guardians closer Cade Smith. The two-time All-Star has a ridiculous 48.3% strikeout rate and just a 22.2% hard-hit rate. Most of the time when he enters a game, he makes the opposing lineup look silly with his triple-digit fastball and video-game slider. Miller ranks in the 100th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 100th percentile in strikeout rate, the 100th percentile in whiff rate, the 96th percentile in chase rate, and the 97th percentile in barrel rate, so the advanced metrics support his otherworldly dominance. The Padres most likely won't give in and trade Miller at this year's deadline, and fantasy managers should follow suit and hold him.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Is a Second-Half Breakout Coming for Brice Turang?
Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang is hitting .266/.361/.465 with an .826 OPS, 14 home runs, 60 RBI, 66 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases across 91 games and 416 plate appearances at the All-Star break. Turang probably won't ever eclipse the 50 stolen bases he had in his second year in the big leagues in 2024, but there's no question he has become a much more complete power/speed threat for the Brewers and fantasy managers at the keystone. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter was bummed to see the All-Star break come, as he hit .308 (16-for-52) with two home runs, seven doubles, 12 RBI, seven runs scored, and two stolen bases in 12 games in the early portion of July. Turang's expected batting average of .256 and xwOBA of .348 (wOBA of .358) suggest he's pretty much peaked in 2026, but he remains one of the most consistent and high-end offensive producers at second base in fantasy on one of the better teams in the National League. The former first-rounder in 2018 will easily set a new career high in home runs and should produce the first 20-20 campaign of his career. Turang is a firm hold for fantasy managers going into the second half.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Dylan Crews a Second-Half Breakout Candidate to Target on the Waiver Wire?
Since being recalled from Triple-A in mid-May, Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews has hit .211/.270/.343 with six home runs, 18 RBI, 25 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 189 plate appearances. The 24-year-old hit .228 with four home runs and three stolen bases across 107 plate appearances in June, but he struggled to just five hits in 39 plate appearances in July before the All-Star break. Once considered to be one of the top prospects in baseball, Crews owns just a .627 OPS across 643 career MLB plate appearances to this point. However, his underlying metrics suggest that improvement is coming. With a respectable 8.2% barrel rate and 42.5% hard-hit rate, Crews' xBA is .248, and his xSLG is .427. The young outfielder has also posted a respectable 21.7% strikeout rate. While Crews' highest-upside scenarios may no longer be realistic, he could still develop into a balanced five-category compiler. With his value at a low point, Crews is worth targeting on the waiver wire as a potential second-half breakout candidate.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Lane Thomas Emerging as a Balanced Contributor to Target on the Waiver Wire
Kansas City Royals outfielder Lane Thomas got off to a very slow start to the 2026 season, hitting .208 with one home run across his first 125 plate appearances. However, the 30-year-old has begun to turn it on in the summer months, hitting .254 with six home runs across 144 plate appearances since the calendar flipped to June. Thomas owns a strong 12.4% walk rate for the season, which gives him a safe on-base floor and helps keep his bat in the lineup. With Royals outfielder Kyle Isbel (foot) currently on the injured list due to plantar fasciitis, Thomas has emerged as the everyday center fielder in Kansas City. As long as he continues to see regular playing time, Thomas profiles as a useful compiler with some power/speed upside for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
