RADIO
Edwin Diaz Won't be Activated This Weekend
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed on Friday that right-handed closer Edwin Diaz (elbow) will not be activated from the 60-day injured list for this weekend's series against his former team, the New York Mets, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. Diaz will make one more minor-league rehab outing on Sunday at Triple-A Oklahoma City before coming off the IL next week. It looks like the hard-throwing Puerto Rican will make his return against another one of his former teams, the Seattle Mariners, early next week at Dodger Stadium. Diaz has looked good in his five rehab innings, allowing just one run while striking out nine batters. The three-time All-Star could not have gotten off to a worse start earlier in 2026 to begin his Dodgers tenure, posting an ERA over 10.00 with four saves in just six innings before needing surgery to remove loose bodies in his right elbow. But now that Diaz is on the verge of a return, he should immediately be scooped up anywhere he's available as the Dodgers' primary closer.
Source: The California Post - Jack Harris
Source: The California Post - Jack Harris
Sam Antonacci's Five-Category Value Makes Him a Must-Add
Chicago White Sox infielder/outfielder Sam Antonacci has already made himself useful across all five standard fantasy categories. He is batting .278/.370/.408 with seven home runs, 30 RBI, 52 runs, and 13 stolen bases through 284 at-bats. The power is not a carrying tool, but it does not have to be when Antonacci is reaching base, running, and scoring this often. His .287 expected average and 15.5% strikeout rate also support the batting-average contribution. Antonacci has continued to lead off while moving between second base and left field, and Yahoo eligibility at second base, third base, and outfield makes him easy to fit into a fantasy lineup. He is still sitting on the waiver wire in 54% of Yahoo leagues. RotoBaller ranks him 27th among its current waiver options and recommends him for leagues of 10 teams or deeper. Antonacci should be treated as a must-add wherever his blend of average, speed, runs, and positional flexibility is still available.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Caleb Durbin Is a Strong Power-Speed Target
Boston Red Sox third baseman Caleb Durbin has worked his way into mixed-league relevance with a useful blend of power and speed. He is batting .236/.299/.400 with 10 home runs, 42 RBI, 42 runs, and 11 stolen bases across 92 games. Durbin does not hit the ball especially hard, but his 13.6% strikeout rate helps him stay involved and keeps the floor from falling apart when the power cools. The 26-year-old has also settled into regular work at third base and carries second-base eligibility in Yahoo leagues, giving managers more ways to fit him into a lineup. His 84.9 mph average exit velocity, 29.2% hard-hit rate, and 2.7% barrel rate make another major power surge unlikely, so the appeal is the overall category mix rather than a breakout. Durbin remains available in 59% of Yahoo leagues and ranks 25th in RotoBaller's latest waiver rankings. He belongs in the 10-team mix.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Heliot Ramos Is a High-End Power Target
San Francisco Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos is hitting .268/.304/.455 with nine home runs, 31 RBI, and 33 runs through 260 plate appearances. The home-run total undersells how well he has squared up the ball. His 92.4 mph average exit velocity, 15.7% barrel rate, and 50.3% hard-hit rate support the power case, and his .491 expected slugging percentage is 36 points higher than his actual mark. Ramos is not a five-category player. He has yet to steal a base, and a 26.6% strikeout rate adds batting-average risk. The power is real, though, and he has remained in the lineup since returning from a right quad strain, including recent starts in both the fifth and leadoff spots. Ramos is rostered in 42% of Yahoo leagues and ranks 23rd in RotoBaller's latest waiver rankings, with an add recommendation for 10-team leagues and deeper. He is one of the better power bats still available in more than half of Yahoo leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Max Meyer Won't Throw for Two Weeks
Miami Marlins right-hander Max Meyer (neck) will not throw for two weeks after he was placed on the 15-day injured list on Monday with a neck injury, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. It means that Meyer won't be ready to return from the IL when he's eligible on Aug. 4. Fantasy managers should be stashing him in the meantime due to the success he's had in 2026 in his fourth year in the big leagues. Meyer was a first-time All-Star after going 9-1 with a career-best 2.68 ERA (3.51 FIP) and 1.13 WHIP with 121 strikeouts and 41 walks in 111 innings over his 20 starts. The 27-year-old former third overall pick from the University of Minnesota has not allowed more than two earned runs since his final start in May, when he gave up five earned runs with three walks and six strikeouts in a no-decision to the New York Mets. Meyer is no stranger to injuries in his career, but he had finally taken the next step this year with a career-high 26.2% strikeout rate before injuring his neck. He's currently rostered in 85% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
Source: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
Griffin Jax Is Back on Track as a Mixed-League Rotation Add
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Griffin Jax bounced back from a rough outing with six strong innings against Toronto on Wednesday, July 22. He allowed one run on three hits and one walk, struck out five, and earned his sixth win. Jax had been tagged for seven earned runs by Boston in his previous start, but the response brought his season line to a 3.89 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 82 strikeouts over 81 innings. The move from the bullpen has stuck, with Jax now up to 16 starts in 27 appearances. He also carries SP/RP eligibility, making those innings easier to fit into fantasy lineups. Jax appears on 53% of Yahoo rosters, while RotoBaller ranks him as a 10-team addition. One blowup should not erase the larger body of work. Jax should not remain available in competitive mixed leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Curtis Mead Undervalued Despite 17-Homer Breakout
Washington Nationals third baseman Curtis Mead is batting .258 with 17 home runs, 48 RBI, 48 runs, and six steals across 279 at-bats. He went 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored Monday at Colorado before going hitless Tuesday and sitting Wednesday. Even with the quiet finish to the series, Mead is 22-for-55 (.400) with three homers in July. Mead's Yahoo roster rate has climbed to 52%, but that still leaves him available in nearly half of leagues. He also qualifies at first and second base, giving managers several ways to fit his bat into the lineup. RotoBaller ranks Mead 15th among its latest waiver options, first at third base, and recommends him in 10-team formats. The breakout is no longer speculative. Mead should be rostered wherever he remains available.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Michael Arroyo Heating Up in Quest to Make Big-League Debut
Seattle Mariners second base/outfield prospect Michael Arroyo was recently promoted from Double-A Arkansas to Triple-A Tacoma and is producing with two homers and 13 RBI in just 12 games with Tacoma. Altogether in the month of July, between the two levels, Arroyo is hitting .395 with four homers, 19 RBI, and 19 runs scored. Arroyo, the No. 5 prospect in the Mariners' system, can play second base or outfield, so he offers some positional flexibility for a potential call-up to Seattle. The Mariners are well stocked at the big league level with Cole Young manning second base and boast a loaded outfield. But Arroyo, the talented right-handed hitter out of Colombia, is producing in his age-21 season, and fantasy managers would be wise to add the talented youngster whose 55-power and 55-hit tool could be on display before the end of the season.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
TJ Rumfield a High-Floor Batting-Average Asset to Target on the Waiver Wire
Colorado Rockies first baseman TJ Rumfield has been one of the breakout success stories of the 2026 season, hitting .297/.381/.476 with 13 home runs, 52 RBI, and 45 runs scored across 409 plate appearances. The 26-year-old's underlying batted-ball metrics are underwhelming, as he's logged just a 5.3% barrel rate and a 28.2% hard-hit rate. However, Rumfield has struck out in just 14.2% of his plate appearances on the year. Between his propensity to put the ball in play and his hitter-friendly home environment in Colorado, Rumfield profiles as one of the safer sources of batting average and run production available to fantasy managers on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Yohandy Morales Racking Up Power Numbers at Triple-A Rochester
Washington Nationals corner-infield prospect Yohandy Morales continues to hit for power at Triple-A Rochester and is making a case for a potential promotion. The No. 26 overall prospect for the Nationals, Morales has been consistently producing all season at Triple-A with 21 homers, 62 RBI, and 66 runs scored with a .294 batting average. The numbers beg the question if Morales deserves a shot with the Nationals, a team with a lineup loaded with young talent. Morales was a second-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, and his 55-grade power makes him an option as he can play either corner infield position. Morales could be worth a look in deep leagues as a sleeper stash, as his power bat would be a welcome addition to a deep Washington lineup at the big-league level.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
A.J. Ewing Remains a High-Upside Speed Threat on the Waiver Wire
Since being called up for his MLB debut in mid-May, New York Mets outfielder A.J. Ewing is hitting .274/.345/.426 with seven home runs, 25 RBI, 27 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases across 251 plate appearances. The 21-year-old has struck out in 27.1% of his plate appearances, which is a bit of a concern for fantasy managers. However, Ewing owns elite speed, which allowed him to consistently run a high batting average on balls in play throughout his time in the minor leagues. Across 124 minor league games in 2025, Ewing hit .392 on balls in play and stole 70 bases. Ewing has also drawn walks in 9.6% of his big league plate appearances, which should continue to help him make an impact on the bases. In leagues where he's not already rostered, fantasy managers should target Ewing as a speed threat with upside on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Angel Genao Continues to Impress During Red-Hot July Stretch
Cleveland Guardians infield prospect Angel Genao is tearing up the International League at Triple-A Columbus during the month of July with a .426 batting average, two homers, nine RBI, and 12 runs scored. The No. 2 prospect in the Guardians' system, Genao has split time this year between Double-A Akron and Columbus with a combined .296 batting average and 11 homers with 44 RBI and 60 runs scored. With Travis Bazzana manning second base at the major league level and with Brayan Rocchio at shortstop, Genao is blocked a bit by talent at the major league level, but he continues to produce at Triple-A. He is looking like a nice addition even in shallow leagues as he is likely to make his big league debut at some point this season. When he does, his 60-grade hit tool should make him a mainstay in fantasy lineups down the stretch.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Isaac Paredes Heating Up in July, Emerging as a Priority Waiver Wire Target
Across 410 plate appearances in 2026, Houston Astros infielder Isaac Paredes is hitting .263/.354/.438 with 14 home runs, 54 RBI, and 42 runs scored. The 27-year-old's overall line is solid, but he's really started to heat up in July. Across 71 plate appearances so far this month, Paredes is hitting .323 with three homers and nine RBI. Paredes has never had elite batted-ball metrics, and he's posted subpar barrel (6.1%) and hard-hit (30.4%) rates once again this season. However, the righty slugger maximizes his power by pulling the ball in the air at a high rate, which is a perfect approach for Houston's short left field. Paredes is also tough to strike out (15.1% strikeout rate), which helps keep his batting average floor high. For fantasy managers in need of power and run production, Paredes is a logical waiver-wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
George Lombard Jr. Heating Up After Returning From Injured List
In his last five games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, New York Yankees shortstop prospect George Lombard Jr. has nine hits and a home run, and he homered twice in his rehab assignment with the FCL Yankees in the two games prior. To say the Yankees' top overall prospect has been red-hot would be an understatement. His hot streak makes the shouts louder and louder from Yankees fans for a promotion, but nothing is official as of this moment. Fantasy managers, however, would be wise to add the 21-year-old now. Lombard Jr. is a five-tool prospect and has put up good numbers between three minor league teams this season. He has 11 homers and 29 RBI in 253 at-bats with 12 stolen bases, all while hitting .281. He has 55-grade power and 55-grade speed, so he could be looked to for elite numbers in the power categories, all while contributing to the stolen base category as well. Now is the time to add the youngster.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Kevin McGonigle Could Be on the Verge of Fantasy Superstardom
Across 443 plate appearances this season, Detroit Tigers shortstop/third baseman Kevin McGonigle is hitting .281/.388/.422 with nine home runs, 35 RBI, 61 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases. The 21-year-old does not profile as a significant value-add in the power categories for fantasy managers, as he owns just a 7.6% barrel rate and a 38% hard-hit rate. However, McGonigle offers an elite plate approach, especially for a rookie. He's logged a 14.2% walk rate while striking out in just 13.8% of his plate appearances. McGonigle's ability to get on base has allowed him to cement himself as the near-everyday leadoff hitter in Detroit, which should keep him near the top of the runs-scored leaderboard for the rest of 2026. He also offers managers quality production in the batting average and speed categories. If McGonigle can hit for even slightly more power in the final few months of the season, he could emerge as a true five-category contributor.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
