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Bobby Witt Jr. Returns to the Lineup as DH on Friday
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (knee) is serving as the team's designated hitter and will bat second for the Royals in Friday's series opener on the road against the division-rival Chicago White Sox, per MLB.com. Josh Rojas will start at shortstop and bat seventh. While Witt isn't all the way back from a sprained MCL in his knee, he will make his first start since June 18. Even at less than 100%, Witt is better than most players in the league, and he'll return on Friday to a .294/.368/.465 slash line, .833 OPS, 10 home runs, 32 RBI, a league-leading 28 stolen bases, 40 runs scored, and a league-leading 4.3 WAR in 76 games across 337 plate appearances. Fantasy managers will be hoping that Witt's little injury layoff in the last week won't slow him down. In 17 games so far in June, he has gone 21-for-65 (.323) with a homer, four doubles, six RBI, 11 stolen bases, and 12 runs scored in 77 plate appearances. Even as the DH, Witt needs to be returned to all starting fantasy lineups on Friday in traditional formats. If he doesn't suffer a setback with his knee on Friday, expect him to return to the 6 on either Saturday or Sunday.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jackson Holliday Back in Lineup for Series Opener Against Nats
Baltimore Orioles middle infielder Jackson Holliday (groin) is starting at second base and batting eighth for Friday's series opener against the visiting Washington Nationals and left-hander Andrew Alvarez at Camden Yards, according to MLB.com. Holliday didn't start the last four games for the O's while nursing a groin injury, but he'll be back this weekend against the Nats as he looks to finally get his bat going in what has been an injury-plagued season for the former first overall pick. The 22-year-old left-handed hitter didn't make his 2026 season debut until May 19 due to a fractured hamate bone in his hand that required surgery back in spring training. Holliday teased 20-20 upside in 2025 in his first full season in the big leagues with 17 homers and 17 stolen bases, but so far in 30 games (99 plate appearances) in 2026, he's hitting .198 (17-for-86) with four homers, 12 RBI, 11 walks, and 30 stolen bases. There's still plenty of upside, but it's hard to recommend Holliday off the waiver wire with the way he's been swinging it, especially at the bottom of Baltimore's batting order. He's currently rostered in under 30% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Cooper Ingle Batting Fifth in MLB Debut, a Must-Add Ahead of Friday's Contest?
Cleveland Guardians catching prospect Cooper Ingle has been called up from Triple-A Columbus and will serve as the designated hitter while batting fifth in his major-league debut in Friday's series opener against the visiting Seattle Mariners and veteran right-hander Luis Castillo, according to Zack Meisel of The Athletic. The 24-year-old left-handed-hitting backstop is considered the Guards' No. 3 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and he gets the call after hitting .284/.416/.551 with a .967 OPS, 12 home runs, 41 RBI, 33 runs scored, and a stolen base in 51 games at Columbus this year. The former fourth-rounder in 2023 out of Clemson University could also receive playing time in the outfield in Cleveland and is certainly worth a look for fantasy managers desperate for help at the catcher position. Ingle has recently started developing more power at the plate, and he's an intriguing upcoming offensive player due to his excellent discipline at the dish. He's only rostered in 2% of Yahoo leagues right now.
Source: The Athletic - Zack Meisel
Source: The Athletic - Zack Meisel
Shane McClanahan Being Pushed Back for Extra Rest
Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan, who was slated to start on Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, will be pushed back in the starting rotation several days to give him a breather, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The Rays want to monitor McClanahan's workload heading into the end of the first half of the season after he missed the last two-plus seasons due to elbow injuries. Additionally, the 29-year-old southpaw has gone 0-3 with a 5.79 ERA in his last four starts. The good news is that it doesn't appear that McClanahan is dealing with anything physically, so hopefully, a little rest will do him good as the mid-July All-Star break approaches. Overall, the former 31st overall pick in 2018 out of the University of South Florida has gone 6-5 for the Rays in his return in 2026 with a 3.30 ERA (3.40 FIP) and 1.22 WHIP with 73 strikeouts and 28 walks in 73 2/3 innings pitched across his 15 starts. If the two-time All-Star can stay healthy in the second half, he could easily rebound and be a major pitching asset for fantasy managers.
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
James Tibbs III Remains High-End Stash for Home Run Potential
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect James Tibbs III is producing eye-popping numbers this season at Triple-A Oklahoma City. The outfielder has 20 homers and 64 RBI while hitting .291 with 66 runs scored. The 23-year-old is doing everything he can to prove that he is worthy of a call-up, but that is tough on a loaded Dodgers major league roster, competing with the likes of Andy Pages, Kyle Tucker, Alex Call, and Ryan Ward in their current outfield. Tibbs was a first-round pick of the San Francisco Giants in 2024 (No. 13 overall) and was moved to the Boston Red Sox in the trade that sent Rafael Devers to San Francisco. The Dodgers then acquired Tibbs in a trade with Boston, and he has put up very good numbers in the minor leagues since. He makes for a solid stash for fantasy managers in deep leagues that have five-outfielder spots, given the high-end power upside he has flashed at Triple-A. However, the crowded Dodger outfield does limit his appeal in shallower formats.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Tanner Scott is a Must-Add Closer Where Available
After opening 2026 in a setup role, Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Tanner Scott has emerged as one of the better closers in baseball while filling in for injured Dodgers reliever Edwin Diaz (elbow). Across 33 innings (35 games) so far this season, Scott has pitched to a 2.18 ERA and 0.70 WHIP with 40 strikeouts and 11 saves. Dating back to June 11, Scott has converted all five of his save opportunities while allowing just one hit and striking out eight across 5 1/3 scoreless innings. The 31-year-old has struck out 33.1% of the batters he's faced this season while allowing just a 2.5% walk rate. While Diaz is expected to return at some point in 2026, the Dodgers have little reason to rush him back. For the time being, Scott is an absolute must-add relief pitcher in any fantasy league where he remains on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Walker Jenkins Worth Stashing as he Makes Return From Injury?
Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Walker Jenkins has battled injuries this season, but has still managed to put up nice numbers at Triple-A St. Paul with a .258/.400/.409 line, two homers, and five stolen bases in 93 at-bats. The No. 5 overall pick of the Minnesota Twins in 2023, the 21-year-old is a fantasy-worthy name that requires attention as he continues to make his way back from an AC joint sprain that he suffered in May. At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Jenkins is a five-tool prospect who has looked the part as he has progressed through the Minnesota system. The unfortunate injury this season, as well as the emergence of names like Austin Martin and Trevor Larnach alongside Byron Buxton in the Minnesota outfield, has made it difficult for Jenkins to make his way to the big leagues. That doesn't make him any less stash-worthy, however, and it looks like the time is approaching for him to make a big league debut and a big fantasy impact. Managers in deeper five-outfielder leagues with open bench spots should consider stashing this five-category producer ahead of his eventual debut in the second half.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Konnor Griffin Reinstated From Injured List on Friday
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin (forearm) has been activated from the 10-day injured list on Friday ahead of his team's weekend set against the Cincinnati Reds. Griffin has been sidelined since late May due to a flexor strain in his throwing arm. Across 208 plate appearances before the injury, the 20-year-old hit .270/.327/.402 with four home runs, 22 RBI, 30 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases. However, Griffin was starting to come into his own at the plate before going down, hitting .306 with an .820 OPS across 108 plate appearances in May. Griffin appeared in a rehab game at Double-A on Wednesday and looked ready to go, hitting a home run and driving in three runs. As long as the injury is behind him, Griffin profiles as an elite source of speed and a high-upside bat across the other four categories upon his return.
Source: Pittsburgh Pirates
Source: Pittsburgh Pirates
River Ryan Worth Stashing Despite Coming Off Season-Worst Outing?
Los Angeles Dodgers pitching prospect River Ryan had a rough outing last time out at Triple-A Oklahoma City, giving up eight earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. It was by far the worst start for Ryan at Oklahoma City, and the former San Diego Padres draft pick has impressed overall in 2026. Ryan is coming off Tommy John surgery, which kept him out for 2025, and after a right hamstring strain kept him out a good portion of April and into May, he managed to complete three starts in May while allowing just one earned run. The Dodgers' top pitching prospect is still knocking on the door for a big league opportunity despite the recent poor start and the injury setbacks. Right-hander Emmet Sheehan has struggled recently, and two MLB starters, Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell, are both on the injured list, leading to speculation that it could be time for Ryan to get a look in Los Angeles. If he does get a call-up to the Dodgers, Ryan would be in a prime position for success and thus is worth a look in leagues of all sizes.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Roki Sasaki Remains a High-Upside Breakout Candidate to Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 68 innings (13 starts) so far in 2026, Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki has recorded a 3-4 record with a 4.76 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 70 strikeouts. The talented 24-year-old has been frustratingly inconsistent so far this season. After logging a 6.35 ERA through the end of April, Sasaki pitched to a 3.18 ERA with a 19.3% K-BB rate in May. However, his ERA has rocketed back up to 5.29 so far in June. Still, a deeper look at Sasaki's performance this month shows some reasons for optimism. The young right-hander's ERA is inflated by one blowup outing against the White Sox, in which he allowed seven earned runs over 4 1/3 innings. Sasaki's strikeout rate in June is 29%, and his WHIP is 1.12. Sasaki's profile carries risk, but he remains a worthy upside play on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Blue Jays to Call Up Sean Keys, a Top Waiver Target Ahead of Debut?
The Toronto Blue Jays are promoting infield prospect Sean Keys to the big leagues, per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. Keys opened the 2026 season at Double-A and mashed, hitting .285 with 14 home runs across 209 plate appearances. He was promoted to Triple-A in early June and has continued to rake, slashing .284/.409/.619 with seven home runs, 20 RBI, 12 runs scored, and one stolen base across 77 plate appearances. Keys is a left-handed hitter with experience at both corner infield spots, but the Blue Jays have first and third base covered between Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Kazuma Okamoto. While his uncertain playing time outlook could limit Keys' fantasy production, it seems unlikely that Toronto would promote the 23-year-old without a plan to get him in the lineup on a somewhat consistent basis. In deeper leagues, Keys could be a worthy waiver wire target for fantasy managers.
Source: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson
Source: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson
Paul Sewald Remains a Priority Saves Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 29 innings (32 games) in 2026, Arizona Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald has recorded a 2-4 record with a 4.03 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 33 strikeouts, and 18 saves. With an average fastball velocity of 91.3 miles per hour, Sewald no longer profiles as a prototypical high-end closer. However, he's struck out 29.2% of the batters he's faced so far this season while posting just a 7.1% walk rate. Sewald's ERA has been inflated by a few blowup outings and his 63.2% strand rate, which is well below his career mark fo 71%. The 36-year-old looks to be firmly entrenched in the ninth-inning role in Arizona and should be considered a priority target on the waiver wire for fantasy managers in need of saves.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is Ryan Waldschmidt Worth Another Chance on Fantasy Rosters?
Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect Ryan Waldschmidt got a chance to prove what he can do in the major leagues this season. He recorded eight RBI and stole five bases, but did not hit a homer in 112 major league at-bats this season and was recently sent down to Triple-A Reno. Waldschmidt has shown a consistent bat at Reno with a .302 batting average, six home runs, and 27 RBI in 159 at-bats at the Triple-A level this season. Since returning to Triple-A this month, Waldschmidt has been even more impressive, going 11-for-31 with three long balls. The No. 31 overall pick in 2024, Waldschmidt has a solid prospect profile and has shown he could be a stolen-base threat at the major league level. If he can bring some of that consistent hitting to the Diamondbacks, he could be a solid pickup for fantasy managers in the second half. For now, Waldschmidt is worth monitoring in deep leagues for that reason, as he possesses the skill set to be a fantasy contributor during his second MLB stint.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Is Max Clark Stash-Worthy Pending Tigers Call-Up?
Detroit Tigers outfielder Max Clark has the prospect pedigree as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 Draft out of high school. Clark has spent 2026 in Triple-A Toledo and has produced nice numbers with six homers and 30 RBI with 16 stolen bases, while hitting .264. The Franklin, Indiana native has a five-tool profile for fantasy purposes and would deliver such to fantasy managers should he get a call-up to Detroit. But the question is, when will the Tigers take a chance on Clark and bring his skill set up to Comerica Park? The Tigers recently decided to promote a different Triple-A Toledo Mud Hen, Ben Malgeri, and have Parker Meadows and Wenceel Perez on the road to recovery in the outfield as well. So the outfield is a bit crowded right now in Detroit, and the Tigers brass might wait to see a little bit more consistency from Clark in Toledo before bringing him up I-75 to Detroit. For now, Clark remains a strong stash target for those managers in 12+ team, five-outfielder leagues.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Charlie Condon Making Case for Priority Stash With Elite Triple-A Production
Colorado Rockies first base/outfield prospect Charlie Condon is making waves in the Pacific Coast League this season with 15 homers and 50 RBI for the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Triple-A affiliate of the Rockies. The right-handed swinging slugger is putting his name on the stash radar for fantasy managers with a .275 batting average and 62 runs in 255 at-bats at Albuquerque. Condon is just 23 years old, is a former number three overall pick from the 2024 MLB Draft, and could be a legitimate power source for those who take a chance on him in deeper leagues. The Rockies have good depth at first base with TJ Rumfield and Troy Johnston, but Condon could force his way into the conversation. The power numbers with the Isotopes are difficult to ignore, and fantasy managers might want to act sooner rather than later, as he appears more than ready to face MLB pitching.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
