RADIO
Zac Thornton Logs Sixth Quality Start on Tuesday, Remains a High-End Starting Pitcher Streamer
New York Mets starting pitcher Zac Thornton put together another solid outing in his team's 3-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday, allowing one earned run while striking out four across six innings of work. The 24-year-old is in the midst of an impressive rookie season, as he's recorded a 3-4 record with a 2.88 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 40 strikeouts across 56 1/3 innings (10 starts). Thornton is averaging just 91.9 miles per hour on his fastball and has posted just a 17.9% strikeout rate, limiting his high-end fantasy upside. Still, the crafty lefty limits free passes (6.3% walk rate), and his ability to pitch to contact has allowed him to work deep into games. He's allowed three earned runs or fewer in nine out of his 10 appearances and has already logged six quality starts. As a matchup-dependent streamer, Thornton offers clear appeal on the waiver wire for deep-league fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Henry Bolte a High-End Speed Source to Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 341 plate appearances since making his MLB debut in mid-May, Athletics outfielder Henry Bolte is hitting .276/.351/.379 with six home runs, 26 RBI, 37 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases. The 23-year-old has established himself as the A's everyday center fielder and has now batted in the leadoff spot in his team's lineup in 10 out of his last 11 games. Bolte's elevated 27.6% strikeout rate is a potential red flag in his profile. However, he's logged a stellar 47.4% hard-hit rate and has logged a 63.3% ground ball rate. His tendency to hit the ball on the ground limits his power upside, but when combined with his speed, it should allow him to continue producing an elite batting average on balls in play. Bolte's BABIP across 488 minor league plate appearances in 2025 was .407, and he's logged a .379 BABIP in the big leagues in 2026. For fantasy managers in need of speed, runs scored, and some batting average, Bolte offers clear waiver wire appeal.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Parks Harber Makes Push for Late-Season Promotion
San Francisco Giants infield/outfield prospect Parks Harber's strong campaign at Triple-A continued on Tuesday, with a three-hit game that included a double, a walk, two RBI, and two runs scored. The effort pushed his slash line to a robust .313/.401/.492 with five home runs in 32 games for Sacramento. The Giants' 13th-ranked prospect earned the promotion to Triple-A after a strong showing at Double-A to begin the year, and now finds himself on the doorstep of the majors. There is a chance the 6-foot-3 slugger makes his MLB debut this season, however, he is not on the 40-man roster and was not one of the three players recalled from Triple-A this past Sunday, so he'll have to wait a bit longer. The ability to play both infield (1B, 3B) and all over the outfield gives him versatility and multiple pathways to the majors. The 24-year-old strikes out more than average, but has shown a propensity to hit for a high average throughout his minor league career, and with 17 home runs across both levels this year, there is enough power to make him interesting for fantasy. Even so, he's realistically only stashworthy in very deep 15+ team leagues or NL-only leagues, and outside of those, you could likely snag him off the waiver wire if he were to be called up.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Spencer Jones Establishing Himself as a Priority Waiver-Wire Target
Across 182 plate appearances in 2026, New York Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones is hitting .233/.313/.429 with seven home runs, 22 RBI, 21 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. The 25-year-old remains a potential batting average liability due to his swing-and-miss tendencies, as he's struck out in 35.2% of his trips to the plate. However, Jones' underlying batted-ball metrics are elite, as he's posted a 15.2% barrel rate and a 57.6% hard-hit rate. The lefty slugger is also in the midst of a hot streak at the plate, recording seven hits and two home runs in his last 19 plate appearances. There was some thought that Jones would be sent down when Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger returned from the injured list on Sunday. Instead, Jones has remained on the roster and looks to be on the big side of a platoon in right field for the Yankees with outfielder Heliot Ramos. With his immense power/speed upside, Jones should be a priority waiver wire target for fantasy managers in leagues where he's not already rostered.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nick Sogard Emerging as a Deep-League Target Amidst August Hot Streak
Across 160 plate appearances in 2026, Boston Red Sox infielder Nick Sogard is hitting .275/.389/.405 with two home runs, 10 RBI, and 20 runs scored. The 28-year-old has spent much of the season in the minors, logging 224 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A. However, Sogard appears to have taken over a near-everyday role as Boston's leadoff hitter in recent weeks. Sogard's carrying tool is his ability to get on base, as he's posted a 15.6% walk rate in the big leagues and logged a 19.3% walk rate during his time at Triple-A. While Sogard is unlikely to provide much power production for fantasy managers, he profiles as an asset in both batting average and runs scored, as long as he continues to set the table for Boston's potent lineup. In deeper leagues, Sogard has value on the waiver wire as a versatile depth piece.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
River Ryan Still Without Clear Return Timeline
Detroit Tigers pitching prospect River Ryan (hamstring) has yet to progress beyond bullpen sessions as he works his way back from a hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined since mid-June. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch acknowledged the bullpen sessions over a week ago, but there hasn't been any update on his status since then. Hinch mentioned that Ryan's velocity looked "great" and the 28-year-old is recovering well, but he's yet to face live hitters. Once he does, a clearer picture should emerge as to when the right-hander will return, but whether that is this season or next remains a mystery. If the 6-foot-2 hurler can take the next step in the progression soon, there is still time for him to make it back this season, though it may be too late to help fantasy managers hoping to get to the playoffs. The Tigers' top-ranked pitching prospect boasted a 22.2 percent K-BB% at Triple-A in his eight starts before the injury and has the stuff to be successful at the major league level, but at this point, he's a speculative stash (preferably in an NA spot) in hopes he returns this season.
Source: Cody Stavenhagen
Source: Cody Stavenhagen
Josue Briceno Off Stash Radar With Slow Start at Triple-A
Detroit Tigers catcher/first base prospect Josue Briceno has yet to find his footing since being promoted to Triple-A Toledo, now 7-for-41 (.171) with zero home runs and a 31.3 percent strikeout rate through his first 12 games for the Mud Hens. The Tigers' fifth-ranked prospect had a delayed start to the 2026 campaign due to wrist surgery he underwent before the season got underway, but hit .297 with eight home runs in 17 games for Double-A Erie before earning the promotion to the minors' highest level. The 2024 Arizona Fall League MVP looks like a long shot to crack the majors in 2026, but with a patient approach (career walk rate of 12.8 percent), along with highly rated hit (50) and power tools (60), there is a good chance he'll have an impact in 2027.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
James Tibbs III a Speculative Stash for Late-Season Call-Up
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect James Tibbs III has put his best foot forward in 2026, batting .302 with 27 home runs (third-most at Triple-A), 94 RBI (second-most), and 94 runs scored (second-most). His 16.8 percent walk rate has buoyed a phenomenal .423 on-base percentage, and his OPS of .982 is second-highest among qualified hitters, yet the Dodgers' seventh-ranked prospect hasn't been able to break through to the major league level thus far. When Andy Pages (hand) was recently placed on the injured list, it was Alek Thomas who was recalled from Oklahoma City, not Tibbs, as Thomas was already on the 40-man roster, as is fellow OKC Comet Ryan Ward, who has been recalled to L.A. twice already this season, so it is a crowded talent pool. Even so, Tibbs may still get his opportunity when rosters expand in September, and were he to find himself getting regular playing time, the 23-year-old would become very fantasy relevant in that offense, but for now he's just a speculative stash in deeper 14+ team leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Max Anderson Making the Case for MLB Debut
Detroit Tigers infield prospect Max Anderson is heating up again following a short slump at Triple-A Toledo, now 9-for-23 (.391) over his last six games with a pair of doubles and a 3:3 BB:K. The performance has pushed his season-long slash line to .305/.388/.494 with 13 home runs through 87 games for the Mud Hens. The Tigers' 11th-ranked prospect showed well in limited time at Triple-A last season (.267/.327/.422) and was coming off a fantastic showing in the 2025 Arizona Fall League (.447/.609/.809), so this year's success isn't exactly a surprise. A low 11.6 percent strikeout rate (93rd percentile) shows he can put the bat on the ball extremely well, and there's enough power to make him interesting for fantasy; the problem is that he isn't on the 40-man roster and there is currently no place to put him on the major league infield. The former second-rounder deserves a shot in the big leagues -- and may get his opportunity in September -- but without a clear path to regular at-bats, there is little reason to stash the 24-year-old in redraft leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Jhostynxon Garcia Not a Stash Consideration Amid IL Stint
Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia (undisclosed) was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Indianapolis with an undisclosed injury on August 20, so he could return to action this weekend if his stay on the IL is a short one. Even so, it doesn't give the Pirates' 13th-ranked prospect much time to get rolling again in order to get another shot in the majors this season. The right-handed hitter has held his own at Triple-A this season, slashing .270/.337/.419 with seven home runs in 61 games for the Indians, but has done little with his opportunities in the big leagues this year, batting .167 (8-for-48) with zero home runs and a 32.0 percent strikeout rate (2.0 percent walk rate) in 50 plate appearances for the Bucs. Whether he spends the minimum amount of time on the injured list or not, the 23-year-old doesn't offer much intrigue for fantasy at this point and should not be considered a stash option for the fantasy stretch run.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Alec Bohm a Priority Waiver-Wire Target Amidst August Hot Streak
Across 513 plate appearances this season entering play on Tuesday, Philadelphia Phillies infielder Alec Bohm was hitting .246/.302/.387 with 14 home runs, 76 RBI, 49 runs scored, and two stolen bases. The 30-year-old got off to a rough start to the season, hitting .151 with one home run across 119 plate appearances through the end of April. However, Bohm has rebounded and largely produced at his established levels since the start of May. Bohm has been particularly hot in August, hitting .359 with 17 RBI across 85 trips to the plate this month. With just a 13.6% strikeout rate, Bohm's ability to put the ball in play keeps his batting average floor high and helps him rack up run production while playing an everyday role in the heart of the Phillies lineup. As long as he stays healthy the rest of the way, Bohm has a chance to top 90 RBI for the third time in the last four seasons. Especially amidst his current hot streak, Bohm is a worthy waiver wire target in leagues where he is not already rostered.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jackson Holliday's Balanced Production Gives Him Waiver Appeal
Across 281 plate appearances in 2026, Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday is hitting .236/.325/.360 with six home runs, 27 RBI, 36 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. The 22-year-old got off to a rough start to the year, as he suffered a fractured hamate bone that delayed his season debut until May 19. Holliday's underlying batted-ball metrics are uninspiring. He's logged just a 6.7% barrel rate and a 34.8% hard-hit rate on the year, both of which currently represent career lows. However, Holliday has boosted his walk rate to a career-best 12.4%, which gives him a stable floor at the plate and has allowed him to move into the leadoff spot in the Baltimore lineup in recent games. Holliday is unlikely to be a standout performer in any one category for fantasy managers, but his balanced profile at the plate gives him deep-league value as a quality middle infield option.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Carson Whisenhunt Suffers UCL Tear, Surgery Recommended
San Francisco Giants left-hander Carson Whisenhunt (elbow) has suffered a torn UCL in his left elbow and has been recommended for surgery, per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. It's not yet clear whether Whisenhunt will undergo Tommy John surgery or an internal brace procedure. Either way, he is now likely facing an extended absence and could miss the entire 2027 season as well as the remainder of 2026. Across 34 2/3 innings (eight starts) before getting hurt, Whisenhunt recorded a 3-4 record with a 6.49 ERA, 1.79 WHIP, and 26 strikeouts. Despite his rough numbers in the big leagues this season, the 25-year-old is considered to be one of the top young arms in the Giants' system and could have been in line for a spot in the team's starting rotation in 2027. With Whisenhunt now sidelined, Giants' pitching prospect Matt Wilkinson could be a candidate to be recalled from Triple-A to rejoin the team's rotation.
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
J.P. Crawford Reinstated from 10-Day Injured List on Tuesday
The Seattle Mariners reinstated infielder J.P. Crawford (wrist) from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, optioning infielder Leo Rivas to Triple-A Tacoma as the corresponding move. Crawford had been sidelined since late July due to left wrist inflammation. Across 364 plate appearances on the year, the 31-year-old is hitting .212/.330/.345 with 10 home runs, 30 RBI, 38 runs scored, and one stolen base. Crawford's 6.4% barrel rate and 35.3% hard-hit rate are both subpar, but his stellar 13.7% walk rate provides him with a relatively stable floor at the plate. With Mariners infielders Brendan Donovan (concussion) and Colt Emerson (wrist) both on the injured list, Crawford should also be in line for everyday playing time on the left side of the infield. He's starting at third base and batting eighth on Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Sal Frelick Reinstated from Injured List on Tuesday
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick (shoulder) was activated from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Frelick has been sidelined since mid-July due to a shoulder injury. The 26-year-old was having a rough season before getting hurt, slashing .236/.301/.330 with four home runs, 34 RBI, 33 runs scored, and six stolen bases. Frelick does an excellent job of limiting swing-and-miss, as he's struck out in just 9.9% of his plate appearances this season. His low batting average is a symptom of his unlucky .250 batting average on balls in play, which is significantly below his career mark of .296. However, Frelick has also posted just a 2.0% barrel rate and a 27.1% hard-hit rate on the year. Now that he's healthy, the lefty-swinging Frelick will likely form the big side of a platoon with outfielder Luis Lara in right field for the Brewers.
Source: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
Source: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
