RADIO
James Tibbs III Continues to Make Case for MLB Debut
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect James Tibbs III continues to produce while biding his time at Triple-A Oklahoma City in wait of an MLB call-up. The Dodgers' ninth-ranked prospect is 9-for-22 (.409) over his last seven games, including a pair of doubles and a 3:2 BB:K. The former first-round draft pick has put together a solid overall campaign, slashing .289/.408/.549 with 21 home runs and a 16.3 percent walk rate, with the second-most RBI (72) and runs scored (75) in the Pacific Coast League. He's gone an uncharacteristic 15 games without a home run, but with average exit velocity, barrel, and hard-hit rates all in the 90th percentile or better, his 22nd round-tripper of the year shouldn't be far off. On any other team, the left-handed hitter likely would have debuted by now, but with a healthy big league outfield and a glut of talented outfield options in the minors who are already on the 40-man roster, Tibbs' debut will have to wait. Still, the 23-year-old is one of the better stash options out there with the bat and the surrounding cast to be productive whenever he gets the call.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Lane Thomas Has Turned Everyday At-Bats Into Mixed-League Value
Kansas City Royals outfielder Lane Thomas is no longer just a platoon bat. Since Kyle Isbel (foot) landed on the injured list June 10, Thomas has hit .262/.331/.524 with seven home runs and 12 doubles across 126 plate appearances. He is playing against righties and lefties now, usually in a prominent lineup spot. The full-season line sits at .240 with nine homers, 34 RBI, 29 runs, and five steals over 250 at-bats. Only 11% of Yahoo leagues have Thomas rostered. That is still low for an everyday outfielder offering some power, a little speed, and enough on-base ability to keep the counting stats moving. Isbel began a rehab assignment Tuesday, so the outfield will get crowded again. Thomas has done too much with the opportunity to simply fall back into a strict platoon. He is a worthwhile mixed-league pickup while the role and production are both working.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Julio Rodriguez Returns to Mariners Lineup on Wednesday
Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez (leg) is serving as the designated hitter and will bat second for the team's game on Wednesday at home against the visiting Cincinnati Reds and right-hander Brady Singer, per MLB.com. Rodriguez was hit in the leg by a throw while running to first base on Monday night in the series opener against the Reds and was held out on Tuesday as a precaution, although he eventually entered the game and homered last night. The 25-year-old Dominican outfielder should be returned to starting fantasy lineups in all leagues now that he's recovered from his minor leg injury. The three-time All-Star and former American League Rookie of the Year in 2022 is currently hitting .258/.321/.426 with a .746 OPS, 15 home runs, 43 RBI, 48 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases in 91 games across 393 plate appearances in 2026. A third 30-30 season might not be in the cards for J-Rod this year due to injuries, but he is still a no-brainer must-start in all leagues when he's active. Rodriguez has struggled so far in July, going 3-for-13 with a homer, three RBI, two runs, two walks, and four strikeouts in just five games played after missing some time while on the concussion injured list.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jacob Webb Remains the Closer to Roster in Chicago
Across 43 1/3 innings (44 games) in 2026, Chicago Cubs right-hander Jacob Webb has recorded a 3-2 record with a 2.91 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 50 strikeouts, and five saves. The 32-year-old has begun to emerge as Chicago's preferred ninth-inning option in July, logging three saves across seven outings so far this month. Cubs closer Daniel Palencia (elbow) is expected to return from his current elbow injury in mid-August, so Webb's fantasy value as a source of saves could be relatively short-lived. Still, he's performed well in the role so far, and his 27% strikeout rate backs up his strong results. For fantasy managers in need of a short-term saves solution, Webb profiles as a priority waiver wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Luke Adams Gets Back on Track With Multi-Hit Performance
Milwaukee Brewers corner infield prospect Luke Adams went 2-for-4 with a run scored on Tuesday, getting back to pre-All-Star-break form. The Brewers' 11th-ranked prospect was 9-for-20 (.450) in the six-game lead-up to the break, but came out of the break just 1-for-11 (.091) before Tuesday night's multi-hit effort. The former 12th-rounder missed over a month earlier this season due to injury, but has been productive when on the field, recording a .952 OPS, .416 wOBA, and 147 wRC+ in the 45 games he's played for Nashville. With 12 home runs on the season and plenty of power metrics ranking in the 84th percentile or better, there's ample fantasy intrigue in his bat, which makes for a potential stash candidate in deeper 14-team and NL-only leagues, but there is no current opening on the MLB roster at the moment, and the 6-foot-4 slugger would have to be added to the 40-man roster ahead of an MLB debut.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Zac Thornton Emerging as a Starting Pitcher Streamer to Target on the Waiver Wire
New York Mets starting pitcher Zac Thornton picked up his first win of the season on Tuesday night, throwing six scoreless innings with two strikeouts in his team's 4-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Thornton has spent most of the 2026 season at Triple-A, where he's recorded a 4.02 ERA across 62 2/3 innings. However, the 24-year-old was recalled by New York on July 12 and has been extremely effective across his last two starts, throwing 13 scoreless innings while allowing just five hits and three walks. Thornton averages just 92 miles per hour on his fastball and has posted a 19.5% strikeout rate in the big leagues this season, so fantasy managers should not expect high-end strikeout upside. Still, the young left-hander has allowed just a 6.9% walk rate, and opposing batters are hitting .173 against him. In the midst of his current hot streak, Thornton profiles as a starting pitcher streamer to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
No Timetable for Garrett Crochet to Resume Throwing
Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder, lat) said on Tuesday that he and the training staff still don't have a timetable for when he will restart his throwing program, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Crochet was initially placed on the injured list on April 29 with inflammation in his left shoulder, but he felt lat tightness two days later while throwing a one-inning simulated game, and he hasn't thrown a baseball since. "Making a lot of progress in the strength department right now," Crochet said. When asked if there was a chance he might not pitch again this season, the ace said, "It's tough to say." He's now on the 60-day IL after originally hoping his IL stint would last the minimum 15 days. Crochet started throwing weighted plyo balls in mid-June but stopped near the start of July. His shoulder injury is the biggest issue, as he called his lat injury "super minor." In shallow-mixed fantasy leagues, we wouldn't blame any managers for cutting the 27-year-old southpaw, as at this point, it's looking more likely that he won't return until September, if at all. Currently, he's still rostered in 94% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
Source: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
AJ Smith-Shawver a Priority Waiver-Wire Stash Ahead of Impending Return
Atlanta Braves right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver (elbow) has yet to pitch in the big leagues in 2026 as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in June 2025. However, the 23-year-old began a minor league rehab assignment in late June and has now made four appearances in the minors, with his two most recent starts coming at Triple-A. Smith-Shawver has pitched well in his rehab outings, recording a 1.98 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP with 16 strikeouts across 13 2/3 innings. Before getting injured last season, the hard-throwing right-hander recorded a 3-2 record with a 3.86 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and 42 strikeouts across 44 1/3 innings (nine starts). With Braves left-hander Martin Perez (forearm) landing on the injured list in early July due to a forearm contusion, Smith-Shawver should immediately have a role in the Atlanta rotation once he's ready to return to the big leagues. Particularly in deeper leagues, fantasy managers should look to stash Smith-Shawver off the waiver wire ahead of his impending return.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Sammy Stafura Stays Red-Hot With Multi-Hit, Multi-Steal Performance
Pittsburgh Pirates infield prospect Sammy Stafura logged yet another multi-hit performance on Tuesday, his 10th multi-hit effort in his last 15 games at High-A, while adding a pair of steals. After an uneven start to the season, which included two stints on the injured list, Stafura is now making up for it. Since June 25, a period of 17 games, the Pirates' 10th-ranked prospect has gone on an otherworldly run of production, hitting .413 with 12 home runs, 36 RBI, 26 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases, good for a .565 wOBA and 227 wRC+ over that period. He's doing so despite an elevated 26.8 percent strikeout rate over that span, although it is an improvement over the 33.3 percent rate he produced at High-A prior to this recent run of success. As a career .251 hitter in the lower levels of the minors, the 21-year-old may have fallen off the dynasty radar, but this type of production shouldn't be ignored, and the former second-rounder may finally be living up to his draft-day potential.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Edwin Diaz More Likely to Return Next Week
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said it's "possible" that right-handed closer Edwin Diaz (elbow) returns from the 60-day injured list this weekend, but the skipper also downplayed Diaz flying to the East Coast for just one series, according to David Vassegh of 570 LA Sports. It sounds like Diaz won't make his return against his old team, the New York Mets, this weekend, but rather early next week back in L.A. for a series against one of his other former teams, the Seattle Mariners. The hard-throwing right-handed reliever has been out since late April after having surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow. While the Dodgers could ease him back into save situations late in games upon his return, they are fully expected to make him their primary closer sooner rather than later, so he should be scooped up off the waiver wire immediately if he's still available in any fantasy leagues. In his four minor-league rehab outings, Diaz has thrown four scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and just one walk. Left-hander Tanner Scott's fantasy stock is about to take a pretty big hit when Diaz returns.
Source: 570 LA Sports - David Vassegh
Source: 570 LA Sports - David Vassegh
Paul Sewald Allows Two Runs in Blown Save as Rough Patch Lingers
Arizona Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald had a rough outing on Tuesday night against the Athletics, allowing two earned runs on two hits for his second blown save of the season. The 36-year-old ranks sixth in baseball with 23 saves, but he's hit a rough patch of late. Across his last eight innings pitched (nine games), Sewald has allowed four home runs and 10 earned runs. The long ball has been a major issue for the veteran right-hander, as he's allowed 2.23 HR/9. Sewald has the advantage of experience on his side, as he's collected 109 saves across 421 career MLB games. He also owns a 28.8% strikeout rate with just a 6.2% walk rate, good for a stellar 22.6% K-BB rate. However, Arizona may be forced to go in a different direction in the ninth inning if Sewald keeps allowing home runs at his current pace.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jonny Farmelo Earns the Call to Double-A
Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Jonny Farmelo earned a promotion to Double-A Arkansas and logged his first game there on Tuesday, collecting a hit and drawing a walk while also stealing a base in the contest. The promotion comes after a solid first half at High-A Everett, where the Mariners' fifth-ranked prospect hit .267 with a .387 on-base percentage thanks to a 15.5 percent walk rate, along with 13 home runs and 26 stolen bases in 83 games. The former first-round draft pick was limited to 75 games total over the last two seasons because of injuries, but now fully healthy, his full tool set has been on display in 2026. The left-handed slugger has a solid hit tool, along with plus power and speed that make him a strong dynasty asset in fantasy so long as he can stay on the field. The 21-year-old could be knocking on the door to the majors sometime next year.
Source: MiLB Central
Source: MiLB Central
Jac Caglianone Out of Wednesday's Lineup
Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (shoulder) is not in the team's starting lineup for Wednesday's series finale against the visiting San Francisco Giants, per MLB.com. Veteran Starling Marte will make the start in right field for the Royals and will bat seventh against Giants right-hander Landen Roupp. Caglianone should be considered day-to-day for now after he was pulled from Tuesday's game early against the Giants after hurting his right shoulder during a diving attempt in the outfield. Fantasy managers need to make sure he's on their benches for Wednesday while checking back on Thursday to see if he's active for the series opener against the division-rival Detroit Tigers. The 23-year-old former sixth overall pick in 2024 out of the University of Florida has come on strong in 2026 after a slow start to his first full season in the majors, and he's now hitting .258/.316/.463 with a .779 OPS, 16 long balls, 37 RBI, 46 runs scored, and three steals in 337 at-bats. Perhaps the most encouraging is that he's hitting .248 (25-for-101) with five of his 16 bombs against left-handed pitchers.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Royals Place Bobby Witt Jr. on Injured List With Back Tightness
The Kansas City Royals announced on Wednesday that they placed shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (back) on the 10-day injured list with lower-back tightness and selected the contract of infielder Andrew Velazquez from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move. Velazquez is starting at shortstop and batting ninth on Wednesday against San Francisco Giants right-hander Landen Roupp, but both Tyler Tolbert and Nick Loftin could fill in at the 6 in KC for however long Witt is sidelined. This will be the first time in Witt's career that he has landed on the IL. He was originally held out of Sunday's series finale against the San Diego Padres with back tightness before returning for Monday's series opener against the Giants, only to be pulled mid-game with more back tightness. It doesn't sound like the Royals are very concerned, though, which means Witt could be back when his 10 days on the IL are up. It could help explain why the three-time All-Star has hit only .196 (11-for-56) with a .536 OPS, one homer, two doubles, three RBI, seven runs, two steals, four walks, and 13 strikeouts in 14 games in the month of July. Witt is a must-hold in all fantasy leagues while he recovers.
Source: Kansas City Royals
Source: Kansas City Royals
Murf Gray's Second Home Run at Double-A was a Grand One
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman prospect Murf Gray was recently promoted to Double-A, his second promotion of the season already, and he's collected a hit in three of the first four games for Altoona, including his second home run at that level on Tuesday, which was a grand slam. Not only that, the Pirates' third-ranked prospect is showing patience, drawing three walks compared to just two strikeouts so far with the Curve. The Fresno State product was a 2025 draft pick, 73rd overall, but is seeing time in professional baseball for the first time this season and has not disappointed. Across all three levels this year, the 6-foot-3 slugger owns a .323/.405/.610 slash line with 25 home runs, and though he tended to chase pitches in college, he is striking out at just a 19.2 percent rate while drawing walks at a 10.5 percent rate, so it looks like he's developed in that area. At this rate, the 22-year-old could be in the mix for an MLB debut next year, and his dynasty arrow is pointing up at the moment.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
