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Mariners Draft Third Baseman Ace Reese at No. 24 Overall in the First Round
The Seattle Mariners selected Mississippi State third baseman Ace Reese with the 24th overall pick in the 2026 MLB draft on Saturday, according to MLB.com. Reese was listed as the No. 18 overall prospect coming into this year's draft, so he slipped a little bit to the bottom of the first round, most likely because of his defensive deficiencies at the hot corner. The 21-year-old from Texas impressed with the bat in 2026 at Mississippi State, though, slashing .336/.432/.721 with a 1.152 OPS, 24 home runs, 74 RBI, 73 runs scored, and a stolen base in 62 games and 292 plate appearances in his junior season. Reese hits from the left side, and power is his calling card at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds. After he transferred from the University of Houston following his freshman season, Reese really showed his pop, clubbing 45 long balls in 119 games in the last two years. He has power to all fields and clearly has 30-homer upside at the next level, but his aggressiveness at the plate could become an issue as he climbs the ladder in the Mariners' system. And if Reese struggles to hit, he'll have less room for error without much to fall back on defensively. He profiles as a first baseman/designated hitter type as a pro.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Cubs Select Cade Townsend With 23rd Overall Pick on Saturday
The Chicago Cubs selected Ole Miss right-hander Cade Townsend with the 23rd overall pick in the 2026 MLB draft on Saturday, according to MLB.com. Townsend came into this year's draft ranked as the No. 35 overall prospect by MLB.com. The 21-year-old native of Newport Beach, California, went 5-3 in his sophomore season at Ole Miss with a 3.94 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 88:22 K:BB in 64 innings pitched over 14 starts. It was a big improvement for the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder after he had a 6.35 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and 43:20 K:BB in 34 innings across 15 appearances (eight starts) as a freshman. Townsend is a high-upside arm because of his ability to generate high spin rates, and he's a plus athlete to boot. He features a fastball that can hit the upper-90s and plus secondary offerings in a curveball, cutter, and slider. Townsend took a huge leap in his sophomore season at Ole Miss with improved command. If he can improve his changeup as a pro, Townsend will have a deep arsenal with which to attack hitters and could be a quick mover in Chicago's minor-league system.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Cameron Flukey Falls to Tigers With 22nd Overall Selection in MLB Draft
The Detroit Tigers selected Coastal Carolina right-hander Cameron Flukey with the 22nd overall pick in the 2026 MLB draft on Saturday, per MLB.com. Flukey came into this year's draft ranked as the No. 15 overall prospect, so he fell a bit in the first round. The 21-year-old missed a few months earlier this year with the Chanticleers due to a stress reaction in his rib, although he looked pretty good upon returning in April. The 6-foot-6, 210-pounder needs to improve his secondary pitches and add spin to his game, but he's intriguing for his upper-90s heater and curveball with downward movement. Flukey only ended up making seven starts at Coastal Carolina in his final collegiate season in 2026, going 0-2 with a 4.13 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 31:9 K:BB in 24 innings pitched. Scouts are concerned that his breaking pitches won't have the same effect against pro hitters, but the Tigers liked enough of what they saw to take him in the first round. The good news is he repeats his delivery with ease and hasn't had trouble throwing strikes. Flukey could take the next step if he adds some muscle to his lean frame.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Padres Go With Prep Two-Way Player Coleman Borthwick With 21st Overall Pick
The San Diego Padres selected South Walton High School (Florida) right-handed pitcher Coleman Borthwick with the 21st overall pick in the 2026 MLB draft on Saturday, according to MLB.com. Borthwick, who came into this year's draft as the 43rd-ranked prospect by MLB.com, is the first high-school right-hander taken in the first round. The 18-year-old has the size at 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds and the athleticism -- he was a two-way player in high school. Borthwick is expected to be a pitcher moving forward, though, and he features a fastball that can reach the upper-90s and a plus slider. His slider can miss a ton of bats, and if he can stay healthy, Borthwick has the makings of a future workhorse starter at the top of San Diego's starting rotation. He's committed to play at Auburn, where he could continue his dream of being a two-way player as a pitcher and power-hitting corner infielder. Borthwick is young and raw, but the tools are clearly there for him to be a high-upside arm in the Padres' system if he chooses not to go to college.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Tyler Phillips Starting on Short Rest on Sunday
Miami Marlins pitcher Tyler Phillips will take the ball on short rest during Sunday's series finale against the Cleveland Guardians. Phillips tossed five shutout innings against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday. He'll be asked to take the ball again on three days' rest for what is likely going to be a bullpen game. The expectation is that Phillips isn't going to work deep into Sunday's game, so he probably won't be an ideal streaming option. The right-hander has been solid this season with a 3.28 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and a 55:34 K/BB ratio across 24 games (eight starts) with the Marlins this season. He's worth a look as a deep league option for the second half of the season.
Source: Christina De Nicola
Source: Christina De Nicola
Blake Snell to Begin Rehab Assignment Next Week
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell (elbow) is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment next week, according to Sonja Chen. Snell was able to complete a live bullpen session without any issues on Saturday. It was the first time that Snell had faced live batters since undergoing a left elbow procedure in May. The expectation is that Snell is going to require a handful of rehab starts before he's cleared to return to the Dodgers rotation. His timetable will be determined by how he progresses, but hopefully Snell can contribute again in early August. Fantasy managers who are looking for pitching help should check the waiver wire and stash Snell if he's available.
Source: Sonja Chen
Source: Sonja Chen
Ronel Blanco to Make Another Rehab Start
Houston Astros starting pitcher Ronel Blanco (elbow) is scheduled to make another rehab start at Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday. Blanco was being considered as an option to return for Sunday's series finale against the Texas Rangers. Instead, the Astros will give Blanco at least one more rehab start. His most recent outing was cut short due to the weather, so the Astros want Blanco to build up his pitch count some more before he returns to the team. The right-hander has been working his way back from season-ending right elbow surgery from last year. He should be able to contribute to the Astros rotation during the second half of the season. Blanco could be a possible deep league option in the second half.
Source: Matt Kawahara
Source: Matt Kawahara
Nick Lodolo Removed with Finger Blister
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo (finger) was forced to make an early exit from Saturday's outing against the Chicago Cubs. Lodolo was pulled out of the game in the sixth inning due to a blister on his left finger. He finished this outing allowing two runs on five hits while striking out four batters across five innings of work. Lodolo has dealt with blister issues over the last few seasons, so hopefully this won't result in a trip to the Injured List. He'll get a chance to rest and recover from the All-Star break. Fantasy managers will have a better idea of his status in the coming days. Chase Petty is a candidate to take his spot in the rotation if Lodolo does land on the shelf.
Source: Charlie Goldsmith
Source: Charlie Goldsmith
Jacob Misiorowski Won't Pitch on Sunday
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (fatigue) won't take the ball for Sunday's series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Misiorowski is reportedly dealing with some fatigue following his last start against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday. The plan is for Misiorowski to rest during the All-Star break and be ready to go for the first or second series out of the break. Misiorowski will still travel for the All-Star Game in Philadelphia, but he's not expected to take the mound at all. Fantasy managers shouldn't be worried, as this is likely just the Brewers being cautious with their superstar starter. Robert Gasser will take the ball for Sunday's series finale.
Source: Sophia Minnaert
Source: Sophia Minnaert
Zac Gallen Likely Headed to Injured List
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen (elbow) was scratched ahead of his scheduled start against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Gallen was supposed to take the ball on Sunday for the final game ahead of the All-Star break. Instead, Gallen is likely headed to the Injured List due to left elbow inflammation. The severity of the injury is unknown at the moment, so fantasy managers will need to stay tuned for more updates. Gallen could use some time to rest and regroup after posting a 6.34 ERA across 19 starts this season. Mitch Bratt is expected to take the ball during Sunday's series finale.
Source: Nick Piecoro
Source: Nick Piecoro
Red Sox Select Shortstop Jake Schaffner With No. 20 Pick on Saturday
The Boston Red Sox selected shortstop prospect Jake Schaffner out of North Carolina with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. Entering Saturday's draft, MLB Pipeline ranked the infielder as the No. 75 prospect in this year's class. Schaffner began his college baseball career at North Dakota State before transferring to North Carolina in 2026. While at North Dakota, Schaffner hit 17 home runs in back-to-back seasons while holding a .352 AVG. This past season, Schaffner continued to perform at a high level, holding a .356/.467/.552 slash line with 19 doubles, eight triples and six home runs. While his power production dipped, he swiped a season-best 26 bags. While he was only given a 40-grade power score (on MLB Pipeline's pre-draft scouting report), Schaffner sits with a strong 55-grade hit tool and above-average speed on the basepaths (60-grade). Dynasty managers should monitor his production in the minor leagues, but he is shaping up to be a plus asset for stolen bases, with the potential to chip in double-digit home runs once he reaches the big leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Guardians Select Liam Peterson Out of Florida with 19th Overall Pick
The Cleveland Guardians are selecting right-handed pitcher Liam Peterson out of Florida with the 19th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. Peterson has spent all three of his college seasons with the Gators and has continued to increase his workload. After posting a 6.43 ERA as a first-year, Peterson has since improved in his final two seasons. In 2025, the right-hander tossed 69 1/3 innings with a 96:32 K:BB. This past season, Peterson logged a season-high 84 1/3 innings and struck out an eye-catching 111 batters while posting a career-low 3.8 BB/9. While he possesses a sharp 60-grade fastball, his calling card could be his slider, which was given an elite 65-grade during the pre-draft process according to MLB Pipeline. The other pitch to watch in his profile is his budding curveball, which some scouts have credited as his top secondary pitch. Given his extensive college experience, Peterson may not have to wait long to make his MLB debut.
Source: MLB Pipeline
Source: MLB Pipeline
Justin Lebron Joins Reds With 18th Pick in MLB Draft
The Cincinnati Reds strengthened their infield pipeline by selecting shortstop Justin Lebron with the 18th pick in Saturday's draft. Lebron was a highly regarded prospect on MLB Pipeline, ranked No. 9 overall in this year's class ahead of the draft. Lebron has spent all three of his college seasons at Alabama and has been quite productive in each. While he was more of a contact hitter as a freshman (.338 AVG), he has since begun to tap into his power. In 2026, Lebron hit 16 home runs, posted a .920 OPS, and swiped an elite 42 bags. The year prior, he would hit a season-best 18 long balls. On his scouting report, Lebron was given an elite 70-grade in speed and a high-end 60-grade in power, with his lowest mark coming with a 45-grade in hitting. While he has shown a tendency to chase pitches, his budding power and elite speed make him a prime selection at the top of most first-year player drafts.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Logan Hughes Selected at 17th Overall by Astros
The Houston Astros selected outfielder Logan Hughes out of Texas Tech with the 17th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday afternoon. Entering the draft, MLB Pipeline ranked the outfielder as the overall No. 42 prospect in this year's class. However, on the college diamond, Hughes has shown high-end upside worthy of a pick in the back half of the opening round. Hughes began his collegiate career at Stetson before transferring to Texas Tech in 2025. While in the Big 12, Hughes has showcased high-end power, hitting at least 18 home runs in each season. In 2025, the 21-year-old posted a season-high .375 AVG with a sharp 1.245 OPS. According to his MLB.com scouting report, Hughes is credited with making good swing decisions and has the ability to make contact against all pitch types. While he has the upside to be a 20-HR hitter in the majors, his lack of speed and lower fielding projections could limit his upside.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Rangers Select Top Left-Handed Pitcher Gio Rojas With 16th Overall Pick
The Texas Rangers selected left-handed pitcher Gio Rojas with the 16th overall selection in the 2026 MLB Draft. Rojas entered the pre-draft process as MLB Pipeline's No. 8 overall prospect and the top left-handed pitcher in the class. The 19-year-old left-hander is a graduate of Stoneman Douglas High School (Florida) and has already shown his raw talent on the big stage, leading the way by tossing 11 shutout frames for Team USA in the WBSC U-18 World Cup. His fastball has reached 98 MPH and has been given a 60-grade rating by MLB.com. Rojas mixes in a well-regarded slider (60 grade) that plays off this dominant fastball quite well. The young southpaw has the potential to become a frontline starter, but dynasty managers will need to be patient as he will likely need several seasons of development in the lower levels of the Texas system.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
