RADIO
Luke Keaschall's Speed Makes him a Strong 12-Team Waiver Pickup
Minnesota Twins infielder/outfielder Luke Keaschall is batting .258/.353/.342 with four home runs, 30 RBI, 51 runs, and 13 stolen bases through 388 plate appearances. His 15.5% strikeout rate and 10.3% walk rate help him reach base often enough to contribute in runs and steals, while regular work at second base and both outfield spots keeps his bat in the lineup. Power remains the obvious weakness. Keaschall has produced an 84.6 mph average exit velocity, 28.3% hard-hit rate, and 2.9% barrel rate, and his .231 expected average adds some risk to the current batting average. Still, speed and 2B/OF eligibility give him a useful fantasy floor. Keaschall is rostered in 57% of Yahoo leagues and ranks 42nd in RotoBaller's Week 18 waiver rankings, with an add recommendation for 12-team formats. Managers seeking runs and steals should consider him a strong addition.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Christian Scott's Strikeout Upside Makes Him a Priority Waiver Addition
New York Mets starting pitcher Christian Scott has turned his first season back from Tommy John surgery into a useful source of strikeouts. The 27-year-old owns a 3.13 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 78 strikeouts across 63 1/3 innings, while his 28.8% strikeout rate is up sharply from 19.8% as a rookie in 2024. Scott's four-seam fastball has climbed from 94.2 mph to 95.4 mph, and opponents are batting .211 with a 34.1% whiff rate against his sweeper. The workload and control still create some risk. Scott has not completed six innings in any of his 14 starts, carries a 10.7% walk rate, and owns a 4.01 expected ERA. He also lasted only 3 2/3 innings against Milwaukee on July 22, allowing three runs and three walks. Even so, he remains available in 72% of Yahoo leagues and ranks 52nd in RotoBaller's Week 18 waiver rankings. Scott is a priority strikeout addition in 12-team leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Zach Neto, Freddy Peralta Drawing Trade Interest From Rays
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto and New York Mets starting pitcher Freddy Peralta are among the players drawing trade interest from the Tampa Bay Rays. The Angels are listening on Neto but have placed a high asking price on the 25-year-old, who is batting .235/.326/.440 with 19 home runs, 46 RBI, 71 runs, and 13 steals in 104 games. Peralta has struggled in New York, going 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and 113 strikeouts across 113 2/3 innings over 22 starts. He can become a free agent after the season, while Neto remains under club control through 2029. Tampa Bay is considering another starter to help manage its rotation workloads, but neither player appears close to being moved. Their fantasy outlooks remain unchanged for now.
Source: Fansided
Source: Fansided
Carlos Lagrange Resumes Throwing After Shoulder Injury
New York Yankees right-handed pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange (right shoulder) has resumed throwing after a capsular sprain shut him down, according to Greg Joyce of the New York Post. Lagrange last pitched for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on June 25 and went on the seven-day injured list July 2. The Yankees initially expected him to stop throwing for approximately six weeks, so this is an encouraging step. There is still no timetable for mound work or a return to game action. The 23-year-old has a 4.55 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 83 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings this season. Lagrange remains a dynasty-league hold, but he has no immediate redraft value while his return date and possible path to the Yankees bullpen remain uncertain.
Source: Greg Joyce
Source: Greg Joyce
Shane Drohan Is More Than a Matchup Streamer
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Shane Drohan has a 3.51 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 82 strikeouts against 23 walks through 82 innings. The left-hander has remained in the rotation for 10 consecutive starts since June 1, and his underlying numbers support more than short-term streaming value. Drohan owns a 3.33 expected ERA, 24.0% strikeout rate, and 6.7% walk rate. Drohan did allow five earned runs over six innings against the Colorado Rockies on Friday, July 24, so he is not an automatic start in every matchup. Even so, one poor outing does not erase the stable role, solid ratios, and strikeout-per-inning production. Roughly two-thirds of Yahoo leagues still have Drohan available, while RotoBaller ranks him 71st among its current waiver options with a recommendation for 12-team formats. He belongs on rosters in standard mixed leagues, even if managers remain selective with tougher matchups.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Braves-Mets Game Postponed on Tuesday
The game on Tuesday between the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets in Queens has been postponed due to inclement weather, the Mets announced. The contest will be made up as part of a split doubleheader on Wednesday, July 29. Left-hander Chris Sale was scheduled to start on the mound for the Braves, and he was set to be opposed by Mets right-hander Christian Scott. The 37-year-old Sale has been awesome for fantasy managers in 2026 and has managed to stay healthy, going 11-6 with a 2.19 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 134 strikeouts in 111 innings across his 19 starts. Since the All-Star break earlier this month, he has allowed just three earned runs with 17 strikeouts and just one walk in 13 innings. Sale is a no-brainer must-start for Wednesday against the Mets. Scott, 27, has also looked good this year in his return from Tommy John surgery, going 3-2 with a 3.13 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 78 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings across his 14 starts. However, he has not completed six innings in any of his starts this year as the Mets ease him back into the starting fold. In his first start against Atlanta on the road on July 3, Scott allowed three earned runs with four walks and seven K's in just four frames for his first loss of 2026.
Source: New York Mets
Source: New York Mets
Esmerlyn Valdez Day-to-Day With Hand Contusion
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez (hand) is considered day-to-day with a left-hand contusion after tests showed no fractures, according to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com. Valdez was forced from Monday's series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks early after he was hit on the left hand by a pitch. Thankfully, the 22-year-old has avoided a serious injury, but he might be held out of action on Tuesday for the second game of the series. The right-handed-hitting Dominican outfielder has been one of the hottest waiver-wire pickups in fantasy baseball since his MLB debut earlier this year, as he's tearing the cover off the baseball with a .290/.386/.702 slash line with a 1.088 OPS, 14 home runs, 36 RBI, and 26 runs scored in only 38 games and 145 plate appearances. In 21 games and 91 plate appearances in July, Valdez has gone 21-for-76 (.276) with a 1.043 OPS, eight homers, three doubles, a triple, 24 RBI, and 16 runs for the Bucs. Check back later to see if he's ready to return to Pittsburgh's starting nine against Arizona.
Source: MLB.com - Alex Stumpf
Source: MLB.com - Alex Stumpf
Oneil Cruz Having "Good Days of Late," Rehab Assignment Could Come Soon
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said that center fielder Oneil Cruz (hand) has had "good days of late," according to Dominic Campbell of Sports Illustrated. Cruz seems to be past the soreness of where his fractured hand is on contact, and his bones are healing. His next step is to ramp up his baseball activities before going on a minor-league rehab assignment. Cherington thinks that Cruz could be ready to come off the 60-day injured list during the early window of eligibility to return, which will come on Aug. 7. The 27-year-old Dominican has been sidelined with a fractured left hand since June 8. Cruz has been swinging a bat for a few weeks and is improving, so fantasy managers are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel for his return. With one of the fastest bat speeds in baseball, Cruz can be a five-category game-changer down the stretch if he's fully healthy. Before his hand injury, he was slashing .264/.350/.472 with an .822 OPS, 14 home runs, 44 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 45 runs scored across his 250 at-bats.
Source: Sports Illustrated - Dominic Campbell
Source: Sports Illustrated - Dominic Campbell
Corey Seager to Start a Rehab Assignment on Tuesday
Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (back) is scheduled to start a minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco on Tuesday night, according to Jeff Wilson of DLLS Sports. Seager has been cleared to play in games down on the farm after taking batting practice over the last couple of days. The veteran shortstop has been out for almost a month with inflammation in his back, but he could be ready to rejoin the major-league roster by the weekend or early next week, barring a setback. The 32-year-old five-time All-Star and two-time World Series MVP has had a disastrous season in 2026 due to injuries, playing in only 51 games (219 plate appearances) while slashing .182/.292/.374 with a career-worst .667 OPS, 10 home runs, 25 RBI, 28 runs scored, and a stolen base. Seager is still rostered in 80% of Yahoo leagues because of his reputation as one of the better fantasy shortstops, but injuries have taken their toll, leaving us to wonder if he'll be a high-end power asset down the stretch for the Rangers in 2026.
Source: DLLS Sports - Jeff Wilson
Source: DLLS Sports - Jeff Wilson
Gabriel Moreno a Must-Add Catcher Where Available
Five years into his MLB career, Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno has had difficulty staying healthy for an entire season. However, the 26-year-old has managed to avoid major injury so far in 2026 and looks to be on pace to crack 400 plate appearances in a season for the first time. Moreno has also been highly productive, hitting .310/.393/.451 with seven home runs, 41 RBI, 43 runs scored, and four stolen bases across 326 trips to the plate. With just a 7.7% barrel rate, Moreno is unlikely to provide fantasy managers with plus power. Still, he owns a respectable 42.6% hard-hit rate and has struck out in just 15% of his plate appearances, which allows him to be the rare catcher who is a true batting average asset. Moreno also profiles as a quality run producer due to his spot in the heart of the Diamondbacks lineup. In any league where he remains available, Moreno should be viewed as a priority waiver wire target for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kyle Karros Emerging as a Quality Deep-League Waiver-Wire Target
Across 356 plate appearances in 2026, Colorado Rockies third baseman Kyle Karros is hitting .262/.362/.426 with nine home runs, 37 RBI, 51 runs scored, and three stolen bases. After struggling to a .585 OPS across 156 plate appearances after making his MLB debut in 2025, the 24-year-old appears to be emerging as a quality big leaguer in his second season. Karros' underlying contact metrics are solid but unspectacular, as he's logged an 8.2% barrel rate and a 42.5% hard-hit rate. However, Karros owns an impressive approach at the plate, as he's walked in 12.6% of his plate appearances while posting just a 20.6% strikeout rate. He's also posted plus defensive metrics at third base and has the advantage of playing his home games in the hitter-friendly environment of Coors Field, both of which should help him stay in the lineup every day and maximize his skill set. Particularly in deeper leagues, Karros profiles as a quality corner infield option to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Clayton Beeter Establishing Himself as the Preferred Closer Option in Washington
Across 31 2/3 innings (33 games) so far in 2026, Washington Nationals right-hander Clayton Beeter has recorded a 3.69 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 33 strikeouts, and 10 saves. While Washington has not deployed Beeter as its sole closer for the entirety of the season, he's the only reliever on their current active roster with more than two saves. The 27-year-old has also seen more traditional closer usage of late, as he's logged three saves in his last four appearances out of the pen. Beeter's command remains a red flag in his profile, as he's logged a 14.7% walk rate this year and owns a 15.3% walk rate across 60 2/3 career MLB innings. However, he's recorded a 57.7% ground-ball rate this season and has strikeout upside, as he's struck out 27.8% of the batters he's faced as a big leaguer. While Beeter may not provide fantasy managers with high-end closer ratios, he's clearly the preferred option in the ninth inning for the Nationals right now and profiles as a worthy deep-league source of saves.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Michael Soroka Throws Simulated Game on Monday
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Michael Soroka (glute) threw a two-inning simulated game, consisting of 35 pitches, on July 25, according to MLB.com. He also threw a bullpen session on July 27 and is scheduled to pitch in a camp game on July 30. Soroka is rehabbing a left-glute strain that landed him on the 15-day injured list back on June 20. Barring a setback as he ramps up his throwing program, he should be back in Arizona's major-league starting rotation by early August. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues may want to consider picking the 28-year-old Canadian up off the waiver wire soon if they're still searching for starting-pitching upgrades. Soroka has had a resurgent season in 2026 with the Snakes, going 8-3 with a 3.07 ERA (2.94 FIP) and 1.08 WHIP with 79 strikeouts and 17 walks in 82 innings pitched across his 15 starts in his seventh year in the majors. At the very least, he should be a matchup-based streaming option down the stretch in deep-mixed formats. Soroka is currently rostered in 67% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Nick Lodolo Working on New Breaking-Ball Grip as he Rehabs a Blister
Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger) threw a bullpen session without discomfort on July 22 and another one on July 26, and he has been testing a new grip for his breaking ball and hasn't reported any issues, according to MLB.com. Lodolo landed on the 15-day injured list on July 12 with another blister on his left index finger. There is no specific timetable for his return to the Reds' starting rotation, but he appears to be making good progress. The next step is for Lodolo to face live batters before he's likely sent out on a minor-league rehab assignment. In a best-case scenario, Lodolo might not be back in the majors until mid-August. In his first 12 starts of the season, the former seventh overall pick in 2019 from Texas Christian University went 3-2 with a 4.60 ERA (5.11 FIP) and 1.47 WHIP with 50 strikeouts and 27 walks in 62 2/3 innings. Lodolo's strikeout upside has been intriguing since he entered the league in 2022, but he has a career-low 17.9% strikeout rate in 2026 and a career-high 9.7% walk rate, which is not what you'd want to see from an oft-injured arm.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Zac Thornton Emerging as a Must-Add Starting Pitcher
New York Mets starting pitcher Zac Thornton put together another impressive outing on Monday night, throwing 6 1/3 innings of three-run ball with five strikeouts in his team's 14-3 win over the Atlanta Braves. Since being recalled from Triple-A in mid-July, Thornton has allowed just three earned runs while picking up two wins and 12 strikeouts across 19 1/3 innings (three starts). The 24-year-old is averaging just 92 miles per hour on his fastball and does not profile as a significant source of swing-and-miss, as he's logged just a 20% strikeout rate in the big leagues so far this season. However, the young left-hander has been hard to barrel up, as he's allowed just two home runs across 29 2/3 innings pitched for the Mets in 2026. Given his current hot streak, Thornton profiles as a priority waiver wire target ahead of his next scheduled start against the Miami Marlins on Saturday.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
