RADIO
Jeremy Pena has Homered Five Times in his Last Six Games
Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena continued his power surge in Sunday's 12-3 blowout loss on the road against the Chicago White Sox, going 2-for-4 out of the leadoff spot with two solo home runs, both against White Sox starter Erick Fedde. The 28-year-old shortstop now has five home runs in his last six games to boost his overall slash line in 2026 to .319/.373/.504 with an .878 OPS, 11 home runs, 30 RBI, 47 runs scored, and eight stolen bases across his 226 at-bats. In his last six games, the Dominican shortstop has gone 13-for-26 (.500) with five dingers, eight RBI, and 10 runs scored. Pena isn't known as a huge power option at the position, but his fantasy managers will take it, especially since he has missed valuable time in 2026 with several different injuries. In a small sample size of 11 games and 47 plate appearances so far in July, Pena is hitting a red-hot .419 (18-for-43) with five home runs, nine RBI, and 13 runs scored for the Astros. He's obviously a must-start in all traditional fantasy baseball leagues while he's rolling offensively.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Kade Anderson Twirls Five-inning Gem at Double-A Arkansas
Seattle Mariners pitching prospect Kade Anderson dealt five scoreless innings in his latest start with seven strikeouts and no hits or walks in his perfect outing at Double-A Arkansas. It was the latest gem from the talented left-hander as he moved his season mark at Arkansas to 9-1 with a 1.27 ERA and 0.64 WHIP with 115 strikeouts in 77 2/3 innings pitched. The video game-like numbers suggest that Anderson has moved beyond Double-A in regards to his skill and development. Triple-A is the next logical step and the Mariners need to make a decision on how they want to deal with their minor-league star. Anderson is now the top ranked Seattle prospect but he might not make the step from Double-A straight to the majors. The Mariners might opt for some time at Triple-A Tacoma. A dynasty league gem, Anderson is a bit of a risky stash for redraft leagues just because he lacks Triple-A experience at this point and his big league debut could be delayed until 2027.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Joshua Baez Continuing to Mash at Triple-A Memphis
St. Louis Cardinals prospect Joshua Baez has surpassed the 30 homer plateau this year at Triple-A Memphis as he continues to make a case for promotion to the big league club. Baez now has 31 homers and 77 homers in 360 at bats while hitting .244 with 69 runs scored and 15 stolen bases. The overall numbers for the former second-round pick are outstanding and now might be the time to stash the right-handed power hitter. In his past two games, Baez has hit homers, making it now or never to make a waiver wire move on the minor-league stud. The batting average in July is only .167 for Baez, but the power numbers have more than made up for it. The Cardinals could use a power boost and Baez can easily provide that given the call. He will have to improve the overall hitting but the power will play at the next level.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Munetaka Murakami Snaps Skid With Two Homers Against Astros
Chicago White Sox corner infielder Munetaka Murakami broke out of a funk at the plate in a big way in Sunday's 12-3 blowout win over the visiting Houston Astros. Murakami went 3-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, six RBI, and three runs scored to boost his season batting average to .239 and his OPS to .921. The 26-year-old left-handed-hitting Japanese slugger was hitting .184 (7-for-38) in 11 games in July since coming off the injured list before his big performance in Sunday's series finale. He's now slashing .239/.378/.543 in his first major-league season with 22 home runs, 48 RBI, 53 runs scored, and a stolen base in 69 games across 299 plate appearances. Murakami has recorded hits in each of his last three games, so fantasy managers are hoping that he is ready to turn things around as we head into August. His power looks to be for real, and he's also walking 18.1% of the time, but he will not be a reliable source of batting average with his 32.4% strikeout rate. He has also struggled mightily against southpaws, batting .194 (14-for-72) against them with only four of his 22 homers and a 33:16 K:BB.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
CJ Abrams has Seven Home Runs in his Last Seven Games
Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams became the first Nationals player since Kyle Schwarber in 2021 to hit seven home runs in a span of seven games after his second multi-homer performance of the season on Sunday in the 10-7 victory over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. Abrams went 3-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI, and a strikeout to boost his season average to .297 and his OPS to .940. The 25-year-old now has four career multi-homer games. In what has been a career year for Abrams, he's now hitting .297/.367/.573 with a career-high 27 home runs, 82 RBI, 17 stolen bases, and 66 runs scored in 102 games across 436 plate appearances in 2026 in his fourth full year in D.C. The former first-rounder in 2019 by the San Diego Padres has been nearly unstoppable in 18 games in July, batting .397 (29-for-73) with a 1.255 OPS, nine home runs, five doubles, 22 RBI, 14 runs scored, and four stolen bases across 81 plate appearances. In his seven-game stretch with seven dingers, Abrams has gone 17-for-30 (.567) with 14 RBI.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
James Wood Hits Two Homers on Sunday for First Multi-Homer Performance in 2026
Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood continued his surge at the plate in July, going 2-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI, a walk, and a strikeout in Sunday's 10-7 win over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks in D.C. It was Wood's first multi-homer game of the 2026 season and the fifth of his career. The 23-year-old All-Star left-handed slugger is now leading the league in walks (82), runs scored (96), plate appearances (498), OPS (.953), and total bases (228) in 106 games played for the Nats in his third year in the league. He is also slashing .271/.396/.557 with 30 home runs, 72 RBI, and 15 stolen bases as one of the best all-around bats in baseball. Wood has been especially productive in 19 games (93 plate appearances) so far in July, going 23-for-74 (.311) with a 1.198 OPS, nine home runs, four doubles, a triple, 20 RBI, 23 runs scored, and two stolen bases. He's an emerging five-category superstar for Washington and is a must-start in all fantasy formats when he's active. Wood has held his own against lefties as well, hitting .265 (40-for-151) against them with nine of his 30 long balls.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jacob Misiorowski Strikes Out 12 in Five Innings on Sunday
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski didn't go long in Sunday's 11-2 blowout victory over the visiting Colorado Rockies, but he was still as dominant as ever. Misiorowski allowed just a solo home run with no walks and 12 strikeouts in five innings for his 11th win of the season. The hard-throwing 24-year-old dealt with right-arm fatigue to close out the first half of the regular season, prompting the Brewers to hold him back entering the second half. As he quickly approaches his career high in innings, Milwaukee figures to continue looking for ways to manage the Miz's innings so that he can be of use and at full strength for the postseason in October. The former second-rounder in 2022 from Crowder College threw 59 of his 83 pitches for strikeouts in what was the ninth time in 2026 in which he's recorded double-digit strikeouts. On the season, he has a dominant 1.58 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and 185:28 K:BB in 120 innings across 20 starts. Misiorowski is still a must-start every time he takes the hill, but his workload restrictions will inevitably lower his fantasy ceiling going forward.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Mickey Moniak Still Worth a Waiver Look for his Power
Colorado Rockies outfielder Mickey Moniak went through a little power slump in July after hitting homers in the first two games of the month, but he's still a viable power option off the waiver wire in mixed leagues, especially at hitter-friendly Coors Field. The 28-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder is slashing .277/.322/.553 on the year with an .875 OPS, 16 home runs, 43 RBI, 35 runs scored, and a stolen base in 69 games across 255 plate appearances in his seventh year in the big leagues and second in Denver. After returning from an injury that caused him to miss most of June, Moniak is batting .323 (20-for-62) with an .876 OPS, three home runs, two doubles, a triple, 11 RBI, and 12 runs scored in 18 games and 67 plate appearances. Moniak isn't perfect by any means, though, as he's hitting just .227 (22-for-97) with three of his 16 homers on the road and .222 (10-for-45) with two of his long balls against left-handed pitchers. In addition, his .225 expected batting average, .301 xwOBA, and fourth percentile chase rate don't bode well for him down the stretch in the second half.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Hogan Harris Pulling Away in A's Closer Committee, Worth a Waiver-Wire Look
Athletics left-handed reliever Hogan Harris appears to be pulling away as the team's preferred option for saves after earning his eighth save on Friday in the 2-0 win over the Minnesota Twins. Since Harris' last blown save on June 21 against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels, he has allowed only one earned run on six hits while walking four and striking out 18 in 9 2/3 innings pitched across 10 appearances, adding two saves. The 29-year-old southpaw has two saves already in his four appearances in the second half of the season and has been pretty reliable for most of the season with a 3-0 record, 3.15 ERA (4.03 FIP) and 1.49 WHIP with 61 strikeouts and 28 walks in 45 2/3 innings across his career-high 49 relief appearances. Chasing a pitcher technically in a closer committee on a struggling team well below .500 on the year isn't ideal, but Harris is certainly worth a league in deeper leagues for fantasy managers who are desperate for saves. Harris is currently rostered in 10% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Raisel Iglesias Charged With Blown Save as Struggles Linger
Atlanta Braves right-handed closer Raisel Iglesias continued to struggle on Sunday in the team's 3-2 extra-inning win over the hosting Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards and was charged with his second blown save of the season. In his inning of work, Iglesias allowed an unearned run with a walk and a strikeout. The blown save was aided by an error from second baseman Ozzie Albies, but this was Iglesias' second blown save in his last eight outings after he locked down his first 17 save chances of the year. The 36-year-old veteran from Cuba is 0-2 on the season with a 2.43 ERA (2.84 FIP), 1.08 WHIP, 21 saves, 43 strikeouts, and eight walks in 37 relief innings in 2026 in his 12th year in the big leagues. Iglesias definitely hasn't been as sharp in 9 2/3 innings in 10 outings in July, allowing seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits (three homers) while walking two and striking out 13, but he probably isn't in any imminent danger of being demoted from the closer role, especially with top setup man Robert Suarez (elbow) currently on the injured list.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Mitch Farris Emerging as Potential Deep-League Saves Source
Los Angeles Angels left-handed reliever Mitch Farris could be emerging as a deep-league waiver-wire option for fantasy managers who are desperate for saves after he picked up his first career save in the team's 4-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Sunday. In two-thirds of an inning at Oracle Park, Farris allowed one hit and struck out one batter to close things out in the Bay Area. The 25-year-old southpaw entered the contest with two runners on base and one out in the ninth inning, and he allowed a two-out double to Luis Arraez, but the runs were not charged to him. The former 14th-round pick by the Atlanta Braves in 2023 out of Wingate University is 0-1 on the year with a 3.53 ERA (4.84 FIP) and 1.41 WHIP with 43 strikeouts and 18 walks in 43 1/3 innings across his 22 relief appearances. The Angels are technically rolling with a closer-by-committee situation that also involves Ryan Zeferjahn, Sam Bachman, and Kirby Yates, so we'd be surprised to see Farris earn many more save chances going forward for one of the worst teams in baseball. Reliever Ben Joyce (shoulder) is getting closer to making his 2026 season debut, too.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Mason Montgomery Earns Second Save as Fantasy Value Continues to Rise
Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Mason Montgomery earned his second save of the season in the team's 8-7 win over the division-rival Chicago Cubs on Sunday, although it didn't come easily. Montgomery allowed two earned runs on two hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out two. The 26-year-old southpaw is getting more run in high-leverage, late-inning situations, and he got the call in the ninth in this one over left-hander Gregory Soto, who has been the team's primary saves option for the majority of the 2026 season. Montgomery is now 3-3 on the season with two saves, a 4.04 ERA (2.92 FIP), 1.23 WHIP, and 65:19 K:BB in 42 1/3 innings across his 43 appearances (five starts) in his third year in the majors (first in Pittsburgh). While the Pirates seem to be trusting Montgomery more now that reliever Dennis Santana is out of the picture, Soto is still the better option for saves in the Pirates' bullpen for fantasy managers. Montgomery is currently rostered in 4% of Yahoo leagues, although he's an option for those desperate in deeper leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Orioles No. 3 Prospect Luis De Leon Earns Call to Triple-A as MLB Debut Looms
Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Luis De Leon is moving up to Triple-A Norfolk and is now just one stop away from joining the MLB roster down the stretch. De Leon is currently viewed as the No. 3 overall prospect in the system and is named to keep a close eye on over the final months of the campaign. The 23-year-old spent the 2025 season in the lower levels before ending his season with a brief taste of Double-A. Over 87 1/3 innings, De Leon posted a 3.30 ERA with a 107:41 K:BB. In 2026, De Leon has spent the entire first half at the Double-A level, where he has logged 81 innings to the tune of a 4.33 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. While his command has raised his WHIP, he has struck out 100 hitters over this noted stretch. If he can improve his command, a late-season cup of coffee with the Orioles is not out of the question.
Source: Andy Kostka
Source: Andy Kostka
Juaron Watts-Brown Earns the Call to Triple-A Norfolk
Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Juaron Watts-Brown is moving up to Triple-A Norfolk. Watts-Brown is viewed as the No. 14 overall prospect in the system on MLB.com, and he will now be just one stop away from the major leagues. Watts-Brown began the 2026 season at the High-A level, where he logged 13 2/3 innings (three starts) to the tune of a near-perfect 0.66 ERA and a 0.59 WHIP, which prompted an early call-up to Double-A. With Chesapeake, Watts-Brown took a step back, posting a much higher 5.91 ERA with a 1.40 WHIP over 59 1/3 innings of work. However, during this stint, he continued to showcase high-end strikeout upside, tallying 74 strikeouts over this stretch. While managers should not expect him to move up to the majors in 2026, he is a name to watch as he could contend for an early call-up to Baltimore next spring.
Source: Andy Kostka
Source: Andy Kostka
Braves Promoting No. 4 Prospect Tate Southisene to Double-A After Stellar First Half
The Atlanta Braves are promoting infield prospect Tate Southisene to Double-A after his impressive first half in the lower levels. The shortstop is a former 22nd overall pick from the 2025 MLB Draft and is quickly climbing the ranks of the system. Southisene made his pro debut shortly after the MLB Draft with Low-A, where he appeared in 15 games. However, in 2026, Southisene began his time with Low-A but needed only another 51 games before earning the call to High-A. Through 89 games shared between both levels this season, Southisene has posted a .279/.408/.469 line with 18 doubles, 12 home runs, and an impressive 45 stolen bases. Even though a 2026 MLB debut is out of the question, Southisene is an emerging prospect to know, as he will likely contend for a 2027 promotion to Atlanta.
Source: Geoff Pontes
Source: Geoff Pontes
