RADIO
Devin Fitz-Gerald Settling in at Double-A
Washington Nationals infield prospect Devin Fitz-Gerald scuffled in his first taste of Double-A pitching, slashing .179/.248/.225 with one home run, a 27.3 percent strikeout rate, and a 5.5 percent walk rate over his first 38 games with Harrisburg. However, since then, the Nats' fifth-ranked prospect has slashed .364/.442/.591 with three home runs in his last 12 games, and lowered the strikeout rate to a more palatable 23.1 percent with a 9.6 percent walk rate. The 21-year-old still has time to develop and remains on track to see some time at Triple-A next year. If he can stay on course, a late-season debut in 2027 is possible; otherwise, look for the switch-hitter to have an impact in the big leagues in 2028. For now, he's simply a name to monitor in redraft leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Caleb Bonemer Showing Off Power Stroke in 2026
Chicago White Sox infield prospect Caleb Bonemer is not only fitting in at Double-A Birmingham, he's excelling, too. Chicago's second-ranked prospect is hitting .268, which is 30 points higher than his average was at High-A, while reducing his strikeout rate by more than four percent and drawing a few more walks. It has resulted in a .962 OPS with 16 home runs in 55 games for the Barons, and combined with his 18 home runs from High-A, the former second-rounder has now blasted 34 home runs on the season, including four in his last six games. While he isn't known for his speed, the 6-foot-1 slugger has also tallied 16 steals between both levels, providing strong all-around production. The right-handed hitter should see time at Triple-A in 2027 and could be in the mix for a second-half call-up to the majors, so redraft managers should be familiar with the name.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Cade Smith Still an Elite Source of Saves in Cleveland
Despite allowing a run in two of his last three appearances, Cleveland Guardians right-handed closer Cade Smith has locked down five saves since his last blown save on Aug. 5 against the New York Mets. In 10 appearances (10 innings pitched) in August, Smith has allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits with six walks, 14 strikeouts, five saves, and one blown save. The 27-year-old Canadian earned his first All-Star nod this year and has really stepped up at the back end of the Guards' bullpen in 2026, going 3-1 with a 2.40 ERA (2.52 FIP), 1.08 WHIP, a career-high 35 saves, 84 strikeouts, and 20 walks in 60 relief innings. His 35 saves trail only Tampa Bay Rays closer Bryan Baker for the lead in MLB, and his 84 strikeouts are tied with Brent Headrick and Grant Taylor for fifth in baseball among all relievers. The former 16th-round pick by the Minnesota Twins in 2017 has picked up a save in each of his last four appearances out of the bullpen, and he's not slowing down at all as we approach the final month of the regular season in September.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Rainiel Rodriguez Surging at Double-A Springfield
St. Louis Cardinals catcher prospect Rainiel Rodriguez took some time settling in at Double-A Springfield after his promotion in early May, hitting just .182 with two extra-base hits over his first 21 games there. However, since then, the Cardinals' top-ranked prospect has caught fire, hitting .368 with 20 doubles and 18 home runs in just 53 games, good for a 1.134 OPS during that time. That type of production is impressive on its own merit, but the right-handed hitter is doing all of this as one of the youngest players in Double-A at age 19. The youngster is in position to begin 2027 at Triple-A and has a shot to debut next year despite his age, though it is crowded at catcher in St. Louis with Ivan Herrera, Pedro Pages, and fellow catching prospect Leo Bernal, so it will be interesting to see how it shakes out. Rodriguez (and Bernal, for that matter) has played some first base this year, and with his power potential, designated hitter is always an option as well, which gives him multiple paths to the majors. The 5-foot-10 Dominican should be on redraft managers' radar in 2027, and his dynasty arrow is pointing way up.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Mike Sirota Closing in on Triple-A Amid Productive 2026 Campaign
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect Mike Sirota has had a productive campaign between High-A and Double-A this year, which included an impressive 72-game streak in which he got on base at least once via hit, walk, or hit-by-pitch. Despite moving up a level, he's maintained similar statistics (i.e., strikeout, walk rate, OBP) even in the face of stiffer competition. At Double-A alone, the Dodgers' second-ranked prospect is slashing .299/.452/.502 with 10 home runs and five steals through 66 games at Tulsa. With Triple-A in sight, the former third-round draft pick will be knocking on the door to the majors next year, and with a solid all-around skill set in what will presumably be a formidable Dodger lineup, the 23-year-old has a chance to be a productive fantasy asset whenever he gets the call.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Jesus Made Cools Off, Eyeing 2027 Debut
Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect Jesus Made has cooled off at Double-A over the past few weeks, now 12-for-69 (.174) over his last 18 games without a single multi-hit game or home run during that time. It shows how hot he was earlier this year; despite the slowdown, the switch-hitter is still batting .273 with a solid .348 on-base percentage, 13 home runs, and 33 steals through 110 games at Biloxi. MLB's No. 1 overall prospect is also striking out at just a 14.5 percent rate at Double-A, and he's doing all of this as one of only a handful of players still under the age of 20 at that level. A 2026 debut was a long shot anyway, but between the slowdown and having yet to play a single game at Triple-A, it's almost certain that it won't happen at this point. Look for the talented Dominican to make a run at a debut next year, and with a strong combination of hit, power, and run tools, expect him to be one of the top stashes in redraft fantasy leagues as his debut draws nearer.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Eugenio Suarez Clears Waivers, Staying With Reds
Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez and outfielder TJ Friedl have both cleared waivers and will be with the team in Chicago on Friday for their series opener against the division-rival Cubs at Wrigley Field, team sources told C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. The Reds placed Suarez and Friedl on outright waivers on Wednesday night, but they have gone unclaimed and are likely to finish out the 2026 season with the Reds before moving on as free agents this winter. Suarez, 35, has 19 home runs in 361 at-bats in 2026, including a big grand slam in an improbable comeback win over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, but he's also hitting just .208/.295/.410 with a .705 OPS and a career-high 34.9% strikeout rate in his 13th year in the big leagues. The Reds were hoping another team might take Suarez and his $3 million salary the rest of the way off their hands as they look to save a little money going into the offseason. Suarez will remain with Cincy for just over a month left in the season, where he'll provide fantasy managers with some pop but little else.
Source: The Athletic - C. Trent Rosecrans
Source: The Athletic - C. Trent Rosecrans
Ben Rice Showing Signs of Life Amidst Second-Half Slump
New York Yankees catcher/first baseman Ben Rice has had an incredible third season in the big leagues (second full season) in 2026, slashing .251/.350/.529 with an .878 OPS, a career-high 35 home runs, 83 RBI, 83 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 127 games played across 546 plate appearances. The 27-year-old left-handed slugger went 1-for-2 at the plate with his 35th homer of the year, three runs scored, and three RBI in Wednesday's 9-3 win over the Houston Astros in the Bronx, and he now has three home runs in his last nine games. Only Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez has more home runs than Rice in the American League. Although Rice has heated up of late, overall in August he has struggled, going 12-for-77 (.156) with a .633 OPS, four home runs, a double, 10 RBI, 13 runs scored, a stolen base, 15 walks, and 25 strikeouts. Since the All-Star break, he is slashing only .179/.295/.351 with a .646 OPS, six home runs, five doubles, 15 RBI, 19 runs scored, one steal, 20 walks, and 45 strikeouts in 36 games and 156 plate appearances. Fantasy managers who have reaped the benefits of Rice's 2026 breakout should not be selling now.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Nathan Eovaldi Resumes Playing Catch
Texas Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (elbow) is still not throwing off a mound as he works his way back from elbow inflammation, but he resumed playing catch this week in Chicago, and it will be another 10-12 days before he takes that step, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. "Knowing Evo, he's going to want to push," manager Skip Schumaker said. "That's also a fine line because he's the one guy that is not going to be just the status quo. He's going to try to do whatever he can to get back." The Rangers would love to have Eovaldi back in their starting rotation sooner rather than later as they push for a playoff spot in the American League, but they are not going to rush the 36-year-old veteran. He was placed on the 15-day injured list on Aug. 10, and it is looking more likely that he might only offer fantasy managers a handful of starts down the stretch in September in the final month of the regular season. In his 15th year in the league in 2026 (fourth year in Texas), Eovaldi has gone 10-9 with a 4.21 ERA (4.25 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP with 137 strikeouts and 32 walks in 132 2/3 innings across his 22 starts.
Source: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
Source: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
James Wood Doing Some Running on Thursday
Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood (oblique) was seen doing some running at Nationals Park on Thursday, according to Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. On Monday, Wood was able to extend his flat-ground throwing to 120 feet and resumed hitting off a tee, so he is making concrete progress from a strained left oblique that he suffered three weeks ago. It is unclear if the 23-year-old left-handed slugger will be required to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before returning from the 10-day injured list, but he is certainly getting closer to a return to the Nats. Wood should be stashed in all fantasy baseball leagues while he recovers, as he's one of the best all-around outfielders in the game and was hitting .265/.393/.535 with a .928 OPS, 30 home runs, 73 RBI, 17 stolen bases, and 100 runs scored in 437 at-bats at the time of his injury. The two-time All-Star still has time left in the 2026 season to make a significant impact for fantasy managers in the final month of the regular season in September.
Source: The Atheltic - Spencer Nusbaum
Source: The Atheltic - Spencer Nusbaum
Tommy Edman Remains a Worthy Deep-League Waiver Wire Target
Across 213 plate appearances in 2026, Los Angeles Dodgers utility man Tommy Edman is hitting .271/.351/.420 with five home runs, 27 RBI, 30 runs scored, and five stolen bases. The start of Edman's 2026 campaign was delayed by offseason ankle surgery, which delayed his season debut until mid-June. However, the versatile 31-year-old has been productive since his return and has settled in as the Dodgers' primary second baseman in recent weeks. Edman's production may not stand out in any one category, but he doesn't have any major weaknesses and should put up quality counting stats while playing a near-everyday role in the potent Dodgers lineup. He's also been more aggressive as a baserunner this season now that he's fully recovered from his ankle issues, as he's attempted seven stolen bases in 56 games in 2026 after logging just four attempts across 97 games in 2025. As a deep-league depth piece, Edman carries clear value on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Luis Rengifo Re-Emerging as a Viable Deep-League Waiver-Wire Target
San Diego Padres utility man Luis Rengifo got off to a terrible start to the 2026 season while playing for the Milwaukee Brewers, hitting .205/.280/.254 with zero home runs across 209 plate appearances with Milwaukee. However, since being released by the Brewers and catching on with the Padres, Rengifo has turned his season around. Across 138 plate appearances with San Diego, the 29-year-old is slashing .306/.387/.430 with four home runs, 17 RBI, 18 runs scored, and three stolen bases. Rengifo does not profile as much of a power source for fantasy managers, as he owns a career barrel and hard-hit rates of 5.2% and 32.8%, respectively. However, he's struck out in just 14.1% of his plate appearances this season while posting a 9.5% walk rate. Rengifo can also lineup at every infield position other than shortstop and as a corner outfielder, which helps keep him in the San Diego lineup every day. As a depth piece in deeper fantasy leagues, Rengifo has value on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dylan Crews a Second-Half Riser to Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 335 plate appearances in 2026, Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews is hitting .217/.290/.365 with 10 home runs, 30 RBI, 41 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. While the 24-year-old's top-line numbers for the year don't leap off the page, his 9.8% barrel rate and 44.2% hard-hit rate both support higher-level production. Crews has also been better in the second half of the season than he was in the first half, posting a .710 OPS with four home runs and three stolen bases across 146 plate appearances since the All-Star break after logging a .613 OPS with six home runs and five stolen bases across 189 plate appearances before the break. The 24-year-old has a tendency to hit the ball in the air the opposite way, which has led to his actual production lagging behind his expected output. However, if Crews can start to pull the ball more often and hit a few more line drives, he could quickly see improvements in both power and batting average. Fantasy managers should temper their expectations for the former top prospect, but Crews remains a viable waiver wire target with some five-category upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Samuel Basallo a Priority Waiver-Wire Target Following Return from Injury
After suffering a shoulder injury in mid-July, Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo was sidelined for a month. However, the 22-year-old was reinstated from the injured list on August 19, and he immediately jumped back into an everyday role in the heart of the Baltimore lineup. Across 336 plate appearances in 2026, Basallo is hitting .236/.301/.439 with 17 home runs, 48 RBI, and 36 runs scored. While Basallo's 27.4% strikeout rate is a red flag in his profile, his high-end power upside for the catcher position is underscored by his 13.0% barrel rate and 45.1% hard-hit rate. The Orioles' trade of catcher Adley Rutschman to the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline has also cleared the way for Basallo to be the team's primary backstop. Baltimore also remains willing to play Basallo at first base or designated hitter, which should allow him to stay in the lineup even when he needs a day off behind the plate. In leagues where he's available, Basallo should be viewed as a priority waiver wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Josh Bell Remains a Steady Source of Power and Run Production
Across 521 plate appearances in 2026, Minnesota Twins first baseman Josh Bell is hitting .253/.317/.423 with 17 home runs, 80 RBI, 67 runs scored, and one stolen base. Bell doesn't stand out in any one category, which may be why he often flies under the radar of fantasy managers. However, the 33-year-old remains a very reliable hitter in his 11th MLB season. Bell's steady power production is supported by his credible 9.8% barrel rate and 41.5% hard-hit rate. His 20.3% strikeout rate on the year is slightly higher than his career norm, but remains manageable. Bell has also been durable and is locked into an everyday role in the heart of the Twins lineup, which should allow him to continue to be an above-average run producer throughout the remainder of the season. For fantasy managers in need of some power and run production, Bell is an appealing waiver wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
