MLB News

Luis Rengifo • LF • Padres

Luis Rengifo Re-Emerging as a Viable Deep-League Waiver-Wire Target

San Diego Padres utility man Luis Rengifo got off to a terrible start to the 2026 season while playing for the Milwaukee Brewers, hitting .205/.280/.254 with zero home runs across 209 plate appearances with Milwaukee. However, since being released by the Brewers and catching on with the Padres, Rengifo has turned his season around. Across 138 plate appearances with San Diego, the 29-year-old is slashing .306/.387/.430 with four home runs, 17 RBI, 18 runs scored, and three stolen bases. Rengifo does not profile as much of a power source for fantasy managers, as he owns a career barrel and hard-hit rates of 5.2% and 32.8%, respectively. However, he's struck out in just 14.1% of his plate appearances this season while posting a 9.5% walk rate. Rengifo can also lineup at every infield position other than shortstop and as a corner outfielder, which helps keep him in the San Diego lineup every day. As a depth piece in deeper fantasy leagues, Rengifo has value on the waiver wire.

Aug 27

Dylan Crews • RF • Nationals

Dylan Crews a Second-Half Riser to Target on the Waiver Wire

Across 335 plate appearances in 2026, Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews is hitting .217/.290/.365 with 10 home runs, 30 RBI, 41 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. While the 24-year-old's top-line numbers for the year don't leap off the page, his 9.8% barrel rate and 44.2% hard-hit rate both support higher-level production. Crews has also been better in the second half of the season than he was in the first half, posting a .710 OPS with four home runs and three stolen bases across 146 plate appearances since the All-Star break after logging a .613 OPS with six home runs and five stolen bases across 189 plate appearances before the break. The 24-year-old has a tendency to hit the ball in the air the opposite way, which has led to his actual production lagging behind his expected output. However, if Crews can start to pull the ball more often and hit a few more line drives, he could quickly see improvements in both power and batting average. Fantasy managers should temper their expectations for the former top prospect, but Crews remains a viable waiver wire target with some five-category upside.

Aug 27

Samuel Basallo • C • Orioles

Samuel Basallo a Priority Waiver-Wire Target Following Return from Injury

After suffering a shoulder injury in mid-July, Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo was sidelined for a month. However, the 22-year-old was reinstated from the injured list on August 19, and he immediately jumped back into an everyday role in the heart of the Baltimore lineup. Across 336 plate appearances in 2026, Basallo is hitting .236/.301/.439 with 17 home runs, 48 RBI, and 36 runs scored. While Basallo's 27.4% strikeout rate is a red flag in his profile, his high-end power upside for the catcher position is underscored by his 13.0% barrel rate and 45.1% hard-hit rate. The Orioles' trade of catcher Adley Rutschman to the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline has also cleared the way for Basallo to be the team's primary backstop. Baltimore also remains willing to play Basallo at first base or designated hitter, which should allow him to stay in the lineup even when he needs a day off behind the plate. In leagues where he's available, Basallo should be viewed as a priority waiver wire target.

Aug 27

Josh Bell • DH • Twins

Josh Bell Remains a Steady Source of Power and Run Production

Across 521 plate appearances in 2026, Minnesota Twins first baseman Josh Bell is hitting .253/.317/.423 with 17 home runs, 80 RBI, 67 runs scored, and one stolen base. Bell doesn't stand out in any one category, which may be why he often flies under the radar of fantasy managers. However, the 33-year-old remains a very reliable hitter in his 11th MLB season. Bell's steady power production is supported by his credible 9.8% barrel rate and 41.5% hard-hit rate. His 20.3% strikeout rate on the year is slightly higher than his career norm, but remains manageable. Bell has also been durable and is locked into an everyday role in the heart of the Twins lineup, which should allow him to continue to be an above-average run producer throughout the remainder of the season. For fantasy managers in need of some power and run production, Bell is an appealing waiver wire target.

Aug 27

Brooks Lee • 3B • Twins

Brooks Lee is a Reliable Producer to Target on the Waiver Wire

Across 512 plate appearances in 2026, Minnesota Twins third baseman/shortstop Brooks Lee is hitting .247/.299/.437 with 21 home runs, 70 RBI, 59 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. The 25-year-old has outperformed his underlying batted-ball metrics, as he's posted subpar barrel (4.1%) and hard-hit (32.8%) rates. However, Lee consistently puts the ball in play. He's struck out in just 16.2% of his plate appearances and hits the ball in the air a ton, which gives him opportunities to put it over the fence. Perhaps most importantly for fantasy managers, Lee is locked into everyday playing time in Minnesota and has been both consistent and durable so far this season. With his balanced production profile, Lee can easily fly under the radar but should be a priority waiver wire target in any league where he is available.

Aug 27

Jarlin Susana • RP • Nationals

Jarlin Susana Full of Potential As He Continues His Return From Injury

Washington Nationals pitching prospect Jarlin Susana is fully recovered from a right lat tear and is back pitching with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators. Susana has made just four starts in 2026 with and 0-1 record to go with a 4.00 ERA and 17 strikeouts in nine innings. He's pitched three games for High-A Wilmington and recently made his Harrisburg debut. He pitched 2 2/3 innings in his outing for the Senators with one hit and one walk with no earned runs. He struck out four batters in his solid but shortened outing. Susana continues to work his way back and is the No. 3 overall prospect for Washington with a 70-grade fastball and slider combination that helps give him an excellent strikeout rate. Susana is a Dominican Republic product and is a name to monitor in dynasty leagues with great upside.

Aug 27

Thomas White • SP • Marlins

Thomas White Has Bright Future For Marlins Despite Current Injury

Miami Marlins left-handed pitching prospect Thomas White was shut down for the 2026 season with a left shoulder capsular sprain but is still a big-time fantasy name to remember as he is the top prospect for the Marlins. Before his injury, White made seven starts between two levels of the minors including Triple-A Jacksonville. He went 0-3 with a 4.01 ERA and 1.46 WHIP with 35 strikeouts in 24.2 innings pitched. White possesses a 70-grade slider with a 60-grade fastball and changeup combination. At 21 years old, that elite pitch mix has scouts and fantasy managers drooling and when he comes back fully healthy, he should be a fantasy force. While 2026 was a lost year for White, he could be looking at a 2027 major league debut and would be a very good fantasy addition for leagues drafting next year.

Aug 27

Josue De Paula • CF • Dodgers

Josue De Paula Looks Like Future Five-Category Stud

Los Angeles Dodgers top outfield prospect Josue De Paula is having a very productive August at Double-A Tulsa and is looking like a top-tier dynasty prospect for fantasy leagues. The left-handed hitting outfielder is batting .300 this month with nine homers and 22 RBI to go with 24 runs scored. The 21-year-old is showing why he is valued so highly as he has dominated at Double-A this season. He has a .311 batting average on the season in 113 games at Tulsa with 26 homers and 98 RBI along with 97 runs scored and 29 stolen bases. De Paula has a five-tool skill set, and he has a 65-grade hit tool with 60-grade power. De Paula looks like he might be a year or two away from a big-league debut but looks to be one of the top dynasty league stash prospects in baseball.

Aug 27

Eugenio Suárez • 3B • Reds

Reds Place Slugger Eugenio Suarez on Outright Waivers

The Cincinnati Reds placed third baseman Eugenio Suarez and outfielder T.J. Friedl on outright waivers on Wednesday, people briefed on the process told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. The other 29 MLB teams can claim either player during a 48-hour period before waivers expire, but the likelihood is that both Suarez and Friedl will clear and remain with the Reds, unless the Reds move to cut ties by designating one or both for assignment. The 35-year-old Suarez is owed just less than $3 million for the remainder of the 2026 season, while the 31-year-old Friedl is owed slightly more than $700,000. Neither player was popular at the trade deadline, and they are both not expected to return to Cincy in 2027. Suarez had a grand slam in the team's miraculous seven-run, ninth-inning rally on Wednesday to beat the San Francisco Giants, but the 13-year veteran came into the contest with a .205 average, 18 home runs, 53 RBI, and a career-worst 34.8% strikeout rate. Suarez also missed almost a month earlier this season with a strained left oblique. He still has pop, but he strikes out way too much, and the Reds could save money before the end of the year on a player that isn't going to be part of their future.

Aug 27

Pete Fairbanks • RP • Marlins

Pete Fairbanks Receives Injections for Nerve Irritation

Miami Marlins right-handed closer Pete Fairbanks (hand) received injections for the nerve irritation in his right hand, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. He will stay behind and rehab in Jupiter, Florida, and the Marlins will have a better idea of his timeline in a few days on whether he can begin throwing. For the second time this season, Fairbanks was placed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with a nerve issue in his throwing hand. With time running out in the 2026 regular season and with Fairbanks carrying a lot of baggage for fantasy managers chasing saves, he is not a must-hold while he recovers. In the meantime, the Marlins figure to employ a closer-by-committee situation that will be difficult to navigate for desperate fantasy managers. Calvin Faucher and Michael Petersen seem like the best options for saves for however long Fairbanks is out, but Tyler Zuber and Dax Fulton could also get involved. Fairbanks has 18 saves in 40 1/3 innings in 2026 in his first year in South Beach, but it has come with an ugly 6.02 ERA (4.47 FIP) and 1.31 WHIP with 57 strikeouts and 19 walks in 44 appearances (one start). If Miami falls any further out of the NL wild-card race (currently four games out of the third and final spot), it is possible that Fairbanks is shut down entirely.

Aug 27

Roki Sasaki • SP • Dodgers

Roki Sasaki Heading to Injured List With Blister

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that right-hander Roki Sasaki (finger) will go on the 15-day injured list after leaving his start early on Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves with a blister on his right middle finger, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. Sasaki only went 3 1/3 innings in Atlanta on Wednesday before being pulled, allowing four earned runs on six hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out three in a no-decision. Although he could be ready to rejoin L.A.'s starting rotation in two weeks, the 24-year-old Japanese hurler is not a must-hold in fantasy leagues, especially 12-team leagues. He came into Wednesday's contest with a 5-5 record, 4.42 ERA (4.79 FIP) and 1.30 WHIP with 114 strikeouts and 46 walks in 116 innings pitched across 22 starts in just his second major-league season. Sasaki has boosted his strikeout rate to 23.1% in 2026 and has also lowered his walk rate from 13.7% as a rookie to 9.3% this season. The Dodgers plan to move forward with a six-man rotation, with left-hander Eric Lauer taking Sasaki's spot for at least the next two weeks. In his previous three starts in August, Sasaki had allowed exactly two earned runs in each of his three starts against the Diamondbacks, Brewers, and Rockies while walking seven and striking out 13 in a total of 17 innings.

Aug 27

Michael Massey • 2B • Royals

Michael Massey Carries Waiver-Wire Appeal Amidst August Hot Streak

Across 366 plate appearances in 2026, Kansas City Royals second baseman/outfielder Michael Massey (head) is hitting .274/.308/.441 with 11 home runs, 43 RBI, 46 runs scored, and two stolen bases. The 28-year-old has largely been solid throughout the year, but he's really picked up the pace of late. Across 69 plate appearances in August, Massey is hitting .323 with three home runs. Massey does not profile as a huge source of power for fantasy managers, but he's struck out in just 16.9% of his plate appearances. The lefty-swinging Massey is also hitting .323 against same-handed pitching so far this year, which could help him earn a bit more playing time against left-handed starters down the stretch. With his balanced profile at the plate, Massey profiles as a valuable depth piece to target on the waiver wire in deeper leagues.

Aug 26

George Klassen • SP • Angels

George Klassen Establishing Himself as a Viable Starting Pitcher Streamer

Across 27 innings (six starts) in 2026, Los Angeles Angels right-hander George Klassen has recorded a 2-2 record with a 3.67 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts. The 24-year-old has had major issues with control so far, as he's posted a 16.8% walk rate. However, Klassen has been effective since being promoted from Triple-A to rejoin the Angels' rotation in early August. Across his last 22 1/3 innings (four starts), Klassen has logged two wins while allowing just five earned runs. Klassen has averaged 96.6 miles per hour on his fastball, and he's shown an ability to keep the ball on the ground (51.9% ground ball rate). Klassen has also shown higher-end strikeout stuff in the minors, recording a 27.7% strikeout rate across 108 2/3 minor league innings in 2025. Given his recent hot streak, Klassen deserves some waiver-wire consideration from fantasy managers as a matchup-based streamer.

Aug 26

Alejandro Kirk • C • Blue Jays

Alejandro Kirk a Must-Roster Catcher Amidst Second-Half Resurgence

Across 226 plate appearances in 2026, Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk is hitting .274/.354/.411 with seven home runs, 29 RBI, and 16 runs scored. The first half of Kirk's season was derailed after he suffered a fractured thumb in early April, which caused him to miss over two months. However, the 27-year-old has gotten back on track in the second half. Across 123 plate appearances since the All-Star break, Kirk is hitting .346 with five home runs and has more walks (17) than strikeouts (12). With just an 11.1% strikeout rate on the year, Kirk is one of the better sources of batting average amongst catchers for fantasy managers. He also occupies a prime position in the Blue Jays batting order and can be a run producer when healthy. In any league where he is not already rostered, Kirk should be considered a waiver wire target.

Aug 26

Tim Tawa • 1B • Diamondbacks

Tim Tawa Emerging as a Priority Waiver-Wire Target

Across 248 plate appearances entering play on Wednesday, Arizona Diamondbacks utility man Tim Tawa was slashing .248/.301/.404 with eight home runs, 32 RBI, 26 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. The 27-year-old has emerged as an everyday piece of the Diamondbacks lineup in August, hitting .299 with four home runs and five stolen bases across 96 plate appearances this month. Tawa's underlying batted ball metrics are rock solid, as he's posted a 9.2% barrel rate and a 45.7% hard-hit rate. Tawa has also lowered his strikeout rate to 22.0%, a much more manageable figure than his 28.4% strikeout rate across 225 big-league plate appearances in 2025. With his ability to produce across all categories and his multi-positional eligibility, Tawa profiles as a priority waiver wire target for fantasy managers.

Aug 26

Roki Sasaki • SP • Dodgers

Roki Sasaki Pulled from Wednesday's Start Due to Blister

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki (finger) was removed from his start against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday due to a blister, per an announcement from the team. Sasaki struggled before getting pulled, allowing six hits, two walks, and four earned runs across 3 1/3 innings. The severity of his blister issues is not yet clear, but it would not be surprising if Sasaki requires a short stint on the injured list. Across 119 1/3 innings (23 starts) on the year, the 24-year-old has recorded a 5-5 record with a 4.60 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 117 strikeouts. Sasaki had been in the midst of a hot streak heading into his start on Wednesday, pitching to a 2.31 ERA with 34 strikeouts across his previous 35 innings pitched (six starts). If Sasaki is forced to miss time, Dodgers left-hander Eric Lauer could be a candidate to rejoin the team's rotation.

Aug 26

Bo Bichette • 3B • Mets

Bo Bichette Exits Early on Wednesday with Foot Contusion

New York Mets infielder Bo Bichette (foot) was removed in the fifth inning of his team's 8-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday due to a left-foot contusion, per an announcement from the team. Bichette walked once in two plate appearances before exiting the game. Across 568 plate appearances on the year, Bichette is hitting .264/.312/.393 with 14 home runs, 66 RBI, 64 runs scored, and one stolen base. The 28-year-old has rebounded after a rough start to the season and has looked like his usual self of late, hitting .291 with four home runs and 15 RBI across 153 plate appearances since the All-Star break. However, he may now be facing some missed time. Bichette was replaced at third base on Wednesday by Christopher Morel, who could be in line for more playing time if Bichette requires a trip to the injured list.

Aug 26

Endy Rodríguez • C • Pirates

Endy Rodriguez Has Season-Ending Hip Surgery

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher/first baseman Endy Rodriguez (hip) had season-ending surgery to fix the labrum in his left hip on Wednesday, the team announced. Rodriguez is expected to resume baseball activities within seven to nine months, which will likely delay his start to next season. The 26-year-old switch-hitting Dominican backstop will finish his third year in the majors with a .267/.373/.467 slash line, an .840 OPS, a career-high seven home runs, 20 RBI, 20 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 45 games across 159 plate appearances. In three total seasons with the Pirates, Rodriguez has only played in 120 games while hitting .231 (86-for-373) with 10 homers, 35 RBI, 52 runs, and six steals. His 2024 season ended prematurely, too, after having right-elbow surgery last June. Until Rodriguez can stay healthy and prove himself over a full season, he will be tough to get behind, even in two-catcher fantasy leagues. The Pirates will roll with Henry Davis and Rafael Flores Jr. behind the plate the rest of the way in 2026.

Aug 26

Casey Mize • SP • Padres

Casey Mize Will Start on Friday Against Rays

San Diego Padres right-hander Casey Mize (ankle), who sprained his right ankle in his last outing on Saturday against the Minnesota Twins, came out of his bullpen session this week feeling good and will make the start on Friday on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays, manager Craig Stammen told AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. Overall, Mize has had a strong 2026 season, his sixth in the majors, going 5-7 with a 3.44 ERA (4.15 FIP) and 1.25 WHIP with 95 strikeouts and 26 walks in 104 2/3 innings pitched across 20 starts with the Padres and Detroit Tigers. Injuries have still been an issue, though, and he has not exactly been trustworthy in his first four starts for the Friars since being acquired from the Tigers at the trade deadline at the start of August. Mize has a 7.00 ERA and 1.56 WHIP with 10 strikeouts and seven walks in his first four starts with SD. He will not get an easy matchup coming off an ankle sprain either against the first-place Rays, who hold the sixth-best OPS (.732) in MLB. Mize is rostered in just over half of Yahoo leagues with August nearly over.

Aug 26

Jake Bauers • 1B • Brewers

Jake Bauers Still Resting Swollen Foot

Milwaukee Brewers first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers (foot) will sit out a second straight game on Wednesday on the road in Queens against the New York Mets, per MLB.com. Christian Yelich will serve as the team's designated hitter and will hit cleanup against Mets right-hander Robert Stock at Citi Field. Andrew Vaughn is making another start at first base for Milwaukee and will hit seventh in the batting order. Although Bauers' injury is not considered serious, the Brewers will give him a second straight day off after he fouled a ball off his foot in the Williamsport game on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves. He could be back as soon as Thursday's series finale in New York against the Mets. The 30-year-old Bauers is having a career year in 2026 and is currently hitting .284 (19-for-67) with a .931 OPS, four homers, three doubles, 12 RBI, 11 runs, and a stolen base in 20 games in August. He has not struggled against lefties this year either, batting .280 (30-for-107) against them with six of his career-high 23 home runs. Check back on Thursday to see if Bauers is cleared to start against the Mets.

Aug 26

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