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Gus Varland the Preferred Option For Saves in Washington?
Washington Nationals' 29-year-old right-handed pitcher out of Concordia University in Minnesota is having a decent 2026 season, with a 4.32 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with four saves in six save opportunities to go along with five holds on the season. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, Varland is not always used late in games solely to close; at times, he has been deployed in higher-leverage situations in the eighth or seventh inning rather than guaranteed the ninth inning with the lead on the line. Varland has never been in situations where he has closed out games in his three-year MLB career, and if he hopes to keep the role, he needs to pitch a bit better and allow fewer base runners, evident by his high WHIP. All that said, during a season when Riley O'Brien is leading MLB in save opportunities, injuries, and underperforming closers, saves have been hard to come by in category leagues. In deeper fantasy leagues, Varland should be viewed as the top option in Washington and an add in deeper formats.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Anthony Volpe Back in the Yankees Lineup, Worth a Waiver Wire Add?
New York Yankees 25-year-old shortstop Anthony Volpe returned to the Yankees lineup on May 13 after Jose Caballero (finger) landed on the 10-day injured list on May 12. Yankees manager Aaron Boone has come out and stated that Caballero is expected to reclaim the team's starting shortstop job when he returns, making Volpe a fill-in shortstop for the time being, and probably not someone fantasy managers should be spending a ton of FAAB on. Volpe has had his opportunities to be the Yankees' shortstop, and has underwhelmed overall with a .222/.285/.378 slash line with 52 home runs, 195 RBI, and 218 runs scored through four MLB seasons. Additionally, Volpe is considered one of the worst shortstops in the game with a negative six Range (OAA) fielding, which ranks in the 8th percentile. That said, Volpe is a former first-round pick and, at one point, did have the prospect pedigree, but unless he flips a switch quickly, it appears his time in the Bronx may be coming to an end. From a fantasy standpoint, he does not appear to be the team's preferred shortstop option in 2026 when everyone is healthy.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Hunter Greene a Priority Add as a Top Injured Player to Stash
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on May 26, and if all goes well, he is tentatively slated to return to the Reds' rotation in July, most likely after the All-Star break. Greene underwent surgery in mid-March to remove bone chips in his right elbow. From a fantasy standpoint, Greene could be a potential league winner down the stretch, as he was being drafted (prior to the injury in March) as a top-20 starting pitcher in most fantasy formats. Through four MLB seasons, he has a career 3.65 ERA and 1.14 WHIP, and has improved every season since his first call-up in 2022. Greene profiles with one of, if not the best, four-seamers in the game, a 99.5 mph average fastball velocity (99th percentile), and elite swing and miss stuff. His four-seamer is right up there with Jacob Misiorowski as one of the best in the game. Fantasy managers with an open IL spot who see Hunter Greene on their waiver wire should look to add him now, before his hype increases through July. Additionally, fantasy teams that are comfortably at the top of their leagues may want to look to buy low on Greene now if the team that has him is struggling or needs production immediately.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Sean Burke Worth a Waiver-Wire Add in Week 9 in Seattle?
Chicago White Sox right-handed pitcher Sean Burke has a 4.10 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts through 48 1/3 innings pitched on the season. While the strikeout rate per nine is not all that impressive, his ratios in the ERA and WHIP categories can be useful in deeper leagues, especially when he has matchups that aren't all that daunting. In Week 9, he lines up to pitch in Seattle to take on the Mariners on Wednesday, which is a solid matchup, especially with the Mariners missing two of their top four hitters in the lineup, Cal Raleigh (oblique) and Brendan Donovan (groin). Burke has made up for his lack of strikeouts with elite control (5.4 percent, 91st percentile), which has helped keep his WHIP ratio serviceable in fantasy. With a lot of pitching injuries happening, it never hurts to have depth at the position, and Burke is a name worth adding to give you decent ratios.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Jhostynxon Garcia Expected to Join the Pirates on Tuesday
Sports Columnist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Noah Hiles, reported on Monday morning that Jhostynxon Garcia is expected to join the Pirates on Tuesday in St. Louis. "The Password" is heading to the major leagues. Garcia is a 23-year-old right-handed hitter and the Pirates' No. 5-ranked prospect in their organization. The Pirates acquired him via trade in December of 2025 from Boston. So far in 2026, Garcia is slashing .242/.291/.463 with six home runs, 15 runs scored, 13 RBI, and no stolen bases. His BB/K ratio sits at 0.25. Last season, which spanned Double-A and Triple-A, Garcia slashed .267/.340/.470. Garcia projects well within the Pirates organization; however, from a fantasy standpoint, he is more of a wait-and-see prospect than a must-add. Garcia figures to work in right field to replace Jared Triolo or Jake Mangum from time to time. Garcia profiles elite raw power and high exit velocities to go with a strong arm in the outfield.
Source: Noah Hiles
Source: Noah Hiles
Connor Prielipp's Fantasy Stock Rising Despite Weekend Loss
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Connor Prielipp was handed the loss on Saturday, but he still looked like a fantasy star in the making. In his fifth MLB start, Prielipp went six innings, allowing two runs (one earned), three hits, two walks, and striking out eight. The rookie now has a 1-2 record with 29 strikeouts, a 2.88 ERA, and 0.96 WHIP. With starters Mick Abel (elbow/triceps) and Taj Bradley (pectoral) still on the injured list, Prielipp's spot in Minnesota's rotation is secure for the time being. The Twins are going to be careful with their fifth-ranked prospect, as the 25-year-old peaked at 82.2 IP in the minors last season, and his May 16 start was only the second time he has lasted six innings. Still, the youngster offers plenty of strikeout potential on a slider-fastball combo that generated a 13.0% swinging strike rate in Triple-A this season before his promotion.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Ryan Zeferjahn Rising In Angels Bullpen?
Los Angeles Angels reliever Ryan Zeferjahn is looking like the favorite for ninth-inning duties as of late. The 28-year-old locked up the Halos' most recent save back on May 5, and has been one of the team's only effective arms out of the bullpen this season. Zeferjahn has taken his share of lumps already this season and currently sports a 4.15 ERA, but in his last four appearances has allowed zero runs, one hit, and three walks to eight strikeouts. The hard-throwing righty is striking out batters at a 32.2% clip, and he has excelled at limiting hard contact. Save opportunities for the Angels will come few and far between, but Zeferjahn could be of use for fantasy managers needing help in the category.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
J.P. Crawford Leaves Early After Hit-by-Pitch
Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford (arm) left Sunday's contest against the Padres early after getting hit by a pitch in the third inning. San Diego pitcher Lucas Giolito caught Crawford with a 92 MPH fastball on the right tricep. Crawford stayed in the game but was pulled ahead of the fifth inning and replaced at shortstop by Leo Rivas. Per Daniel Kramer, Crawford was left with a contusion that made extending his arm difficult. So far this season, Crawford has been lagging behind his expected stats, hitting just .216 compared to his xBA of .263. If he misses time, Rivas doesn't have much more to offer fantasy managers, as he is slashing a meager .131/.263/.172.
Source: Daniel Kramer
Source: Daniel Kramer
Brendan Donovan Returns To Injured List With Groin Strain
Seattle Mariners infielder Brendan Donovan (groin) was placed on the 10-day injured list on May 17 due to a left groin strain. Donovan only recently returned from a stint on the injured list, also due to a groin strain, that lasted from April 20 to May 5. Per Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times, Donovan will be receiving two PRP injections, one in his groin and one in his adductor muscle, to aid in his recovery, and the Mariners hope to see him back in two to three weeks. Donovan's presence in the lineup will be missed. In 24 games played this season, he has a healthy triple-slash of .274/.386/.452 with three home runs. His absence clears the way for star prospect Colt Emerson to operate as Seattle's primary third baseman. Emerson was promoted and made his MLB debut on Sunday, going 0-for-2 with a walk and one run scored.
Source: Ryan Divish
Source: Ryan Divish
Corey Seager Heading to See Back Specialist
Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (back) was absent from the starting lineup for the third straight game on Sunday. The team is still calling the injury minor, but Seager did undergo an MRI over the weekend. Seager is now heading back to Arlington to see a back specialist about his injury. With that being said, Seager won't be available for the first game of the series in Colorado, starting on Monday. Ezequiel Duran has made multiple starts at shortstop and figures to continue holding down the fort until Seager is ready to return. Fantasy managers will need to check back for another update on Seager, but he'll likely still miss a few more games.
Source: Jeff Wilson
Source: Jeff Wilson
Masyn Winn Exits with Knee Discomfort
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn (knee) was forced to make an early exit from Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals. Winn appeared to tweak his knee while running out a fielder's choice in the seventh inning. He was pulled out of the game for a pinch-hitter and will undergo further testing. Winn finished the day going 1-for-2 at the plate with a single and a hit by pitch. If Winn does end up missing any action, Cesar Prieto would likely get a chance to play some shortstop. Fantasy managers will need to check back for another update on Winn's status.
Source: Jeff Jones
Source: Jeff Jones
Kyle Teel Suffers Setback During Rehab Game
Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel (hamstring, knee) suffered a setback during a rehab game at Triple-A Charlotte on Saturday. Teel reportedly tweaked his knee while taking a swing during Saturday's game. He appeared to be nearing his season debut, but will now need a few more games to ramp up. The White Sox plan to re-evaluate him on Tuesday, so fantasy managers should get a better idea of his timetable after that. The hope is that he'll be back in the mix on the South Side by the end of May. Teel hasn't played this season due to injury, but is worth a look in deep leagues once he's ready to play in the big leagues.
Source: Scott Merkin
Source: Scott Merkin
Roman Anthony to Begin Swinging the Bat on Monday
Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (wrist) is scheduled to begin swinging the bat by hitting flips on Monday, according to Jen McCaffrey. This is the first time that Anthony has swung the bat since landing on the 10-day Injured List earlier this month. The expectation is that he'll need to face live pitching before he's cleared to return to the Red Sox roster. The team should give a better timetable on his return as he makes progress. The hope is that Anthony can return before the end of May, but fantasy managers should check back later in the week for another update on his status.
Source: Jen McCaffrey
Source: Jen McCaffrey
Jacob Misiorowski Expected to Start on Tuesday
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (quad) is listed as the probable starter for Tuesday's game against the Chicago Cubs. This is great news for fantasy managers after Misiorowski was forced to exit his last start due to quad tightness. It sounds like Misiorowski will be ready in time for his next start. This has been an ongoing issue for the right-hander, but it hasn't impacted his performance on the mound. The right-hander holds a 2.12 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and a 80:17 K:BB ratio across nine starts this season. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable plugging Misiorowski into their lineups ahead of Tuesday's start.
Source: Adam McCalvy
Source: Adam McCalvy
Lucas Giolito Making Season Debut With Padres on Sunday
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Lucas Giolito has been recalled to make his season debut against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. After making four minor league starts, Giolito is ready for big league action. He built up to 74 pitches during his final rehab start with Double-A San Antonio. With that being said, Giolito shouldn't have much of a workload restriction during his first big league start this year. Last season, Giolito posted a 3.41 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and a 121:56 K:BB ratio across 145.0 innings with the Boston Red Sox. The right-hander should offer at least deep league value. In a corresponding move, right-hander Alek Jacob has been optioned to Triple-A El Paso to clear a roster spot for Giolito.
Source: San Diego Padres
Source: San Diego Padres
