MLB News

Gage Jump • SP • Athletics

Gage Jump Proving Worthy of a Waiver-Wire Pickup Despite Inexperience?

Athletics rookie left-hander Gage Jump, who is considered the team's No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has more than held his own in his first four major-league starts. The 23-year-old former second-round pick in 2024 out of Louisiana State University has gone 2-1 with a 3.09 ERA (2.51 FIP) and 1.11 WHIP with 19 strikeouts and six walks in 23 1/3 innings pitched. The young southpaw allowed four earned runs in five innings to the Seattle Mariners in his MLB debut on May 26, but he followed that up with two quality starts versus the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros. At the hitter-friendly minor-league venues of Sacramento and Las Vegas, Jump has surrendered seven runs in 10 innings in two starts, while he's been much better on the road. In shallow-mixed fantasy leagues, fantasy managers should keep an eye on Jump, while in deeper leagues, he's worth considering off the waiver wire as a matchup-based streamer. He has pitched well enough so far to keep his rotation spot once Aaron Civale (shoulder) returns from the injured list.

4 hours ago

Jared Jones • SP • Pirates |

Jared Jones • 1B • Pirates

Jared Jones Should be Rostered in More Fantasy Baseball Leagues

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones got a late start to the 2026 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery that knocked him out for the entire 2025 campaign. The 24-year-old former second-round pick in 2020 made his season debut on May 29 and was a bit rusty, allowing five earned runs on seven hits (two homers) in 4 1/3 innings, but he also had six strikeouts against the Minnesota Twins. Jones has made only three starts so far and has yet to get into the sixth inning, posting a 4.73 ERA (4.08 FIP) and 1.42 WHIP with 14 strikeouts and five walks in 13 1/3 innings pitched. He is still getting stretched out in his return from elbow reconstruction, but the good news is that his control has been solid. In his rookie season for the Bucs in 2024, Jones impressed with a 4.14 ERA (4.00 FIP), 1.19 WHIP, and 132:39 K:BB in 121 2/3 innings over 22 starts. Fantasy managers are going to need to be patient here, but the upside is absolutely worth taking a flier on for starting rotation depth for the second half of the season. Jones is widely available on the waiver wire, too, as he's rostered in 43% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.

4 hours ago

Spencer Strider • SP • Braves

Spencer Strider's MRI Exam Rules Out Ligament Damage in his Elbow

Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider's (elbow) MRI exam did not show any ligament damage, just inflammation, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. It's excellent news for a pitcher who made only two starts in 2024 and eventually needed an internal-brace procedure on his right elbow. There aren't any current concerns that Strider will need another elbow surgery. The 27-year-old's visit on Monday with Dr. Keith Meister, who performed his surgery in 2024, was just to indicate what Strider's next steps will be. By Tuesday, Bowman says that we will have a better idea of when Strider could resume throwing. There was definitely some concern that Strider would need another season-ending elbow injury after his velocity plummeted and he was pulled from his start early on June 12 against the New York Mets. He is on the 15-day injured list and most likely won't rejoin Atlanta's starting rotation before the mid-July All-Star break, but he will return this season. Fantasy managers need to hang onto the former fourth-rounder in 2020 out of Clemson University. Strider has gone 4-2 this year with an elevated 5.31 ERA (5.36 FIP) and 1.36 WHIP, but his 27.9% strikeout rate gives hope for fantasy managers.

4 hours ago

Cal Raleigh • C • Mariners

Cal Raleigh Expected to Return on Tuesday

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (oblique) is expected to be reinstated from the 10-day injured list before Tuesday's series opener in Seattle against the Baltimore Orioles, according to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times. In addition to Raleigh, the M's are expected to activate shortstop J.P. Crawford (hand) from the IL before Tuesday's tilt. The 29-year-old Raleigh, who finished second in the American League MVP voting in 2025 after hitting a league-high 60 home runs and driving in 125 in 159 regular-season games, has been one of the biggest busts in fantasy baseball so far in 2026. Through 41 games (181 plate appearances) before straining his oblique, the left-handed slugger hit .161/.243/.317 with a .560 OPS, seven home runs, 18 RBI, and a 31.5% strikeout rate. The good news is that he's healthy again and went 7-for-17 at the plate with five home runs during a five-game minor-league rehab assignment with High-A Everett and Triple-A Tacoma. Fantasy managers can only hope that he's ready to turn things around now that he's past his oblique issue. With Raleigh sidelined, the Mariners had been mixing and matching behind the dish with Mitch Garver and Jhonny Pereda.

4 hours ago

Kerry Carpenter • RF • Tigers

Kerry Carpenter Can Provide Pop Off the Waiver Wire

Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter hit just .216 (22-for-102) with a .299 on-base percentage, 11 walks, and 40 strikeouts in his first 37 games of the 2026 season before getting hurt and landing on the injured list. But since rejoining the big-league squad on May 31, the left-handed-hitting outfielder has gone 10-for-33 (.303) with three home runs, a double, nine RBI, and four runs scored in 38 plate appearances for the Tigers. The 28-year-old former 19th-round selection in 2019 out of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University had a career-high 26 home runs and 62 RBI in a career-high 130 regular-season games for Detroit last year, and he also reached the 20-homer mark in 2023 in his first full season in the big leagues. Carpenter has a weak .321 career on-base percentage, and he has struck out over 30% of the time so far in 2026, but he has 79 home runs in 414 major-league games to this point and has enough power to help carry fantasy squads for stretches when he's locked in at the plate. He's currently rostered in 41% of Yahoo leagues and is worth a pickup for fantasy managers who need power.

4 hours ago

Samuel Basallo • C • Orioles

Samuel Basallo Worth a Pickup After Recent Injury Scares?

Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo has been a little banged up lately, first missing time with an abdominal issue and then sitting out a few games last week due to wrist discomfort that was the result of a bony growth on his left hand. The 21-year-old left-handed-hitting backstop has since returned to action, though, and he has a hit in three straight games. Basallo hasn't had the greatest month of June, going 5-for-35 (.143) with a homer, a double, four RBI, four runs scored, three walks, and 10 strikeouts, but overall on the season, he has actually outproduced fellow catcher Adley Rutschman. In 60 games and 215 plate appearances in his first full season at the big-league level with Baltimore, Basallo is slashing .258/.321/.469 with a .790 OPS, 10 home runs, nine doubles, a triple, 29 RBI, and 27 runs scored. As long as his wrist issue doesn't worsen throughout the rest of the year, Basallo can provide above-average pop while also providing a stable average at the weakest position in fantasy baseball, and he's rostered in just over half of Yahoo leagues.

5 hours ago

Travis Bazzana • 2B • Guardians

Travis Bazzana Still Worth Rostering After Recent Cold Stretch?

In his first 30 major-league games since being called up on April 28, Cleveland Guardians second base prospect Travis Bazzana, the first overall pick in 2024 out of Oregon State University, went 32-for-109 (.294) with three home runs, eight doubles, 11 RBI, eight stolen bases, 13 runs scored, 15 walks, and 24 strikeouts in 126 plate appearances. The Aussie has been in a bit of a rough stretch since the calendar flipped to June, though, going 6-for-42 (.143) with a homer, a double, a triple, six RBI, three runs scored, three steals, five walks, and 11 strikeouts in 11 games played to drop his season slash line to .252/.345/.404 in his first 174 plate appearances. At one point, the 23-year-old left-handed hitter had a stretch of zero hits in 17 at-bats. Nobody was expecting Bazzana to light up the league like a seasoned vet from start to finish in 2026. The good news is that he's still only striking out at a 20.1% clip while walking 11.5% of the time. Plate discipline and patience have always been a strong suit for Bazzana, who is still worth rostering in deeper fantasy leagues that count on-base percentage. He's rostered in only 42% of Yahoo leagues.

5 hours ago

Colt Emerson • 3B • Mariners

Colt Emerson Showing More Power in Second Month in the Big Leagues

Seattle Mariners infield prospect Colt Emerson, who is ranked as the team's top prospect at MLB Pipeline, has delivered a .237/.310/.566 slash line, .875 OPS, six home runs, 14 RBI, 12 runs scored, six walks, and 24 strikeouts in 84 plate appearances across his first 23 games in the majors. At the shortstop position, MLB Pipeline has Emerson ranked at No. 4, behind only the Brewers' Jesus Made, the A's prospect Leo De Vries, and Nationals shortstop prospect Eli Willits. Emerson, the 22nd overall pick in 2023, doesn't turn 21 until late July. He has plenty of maturing to do as a hitter, especially since he's not an elite athlete. However, Emerson showed in the minors that he can provide a strong hit tool while also developing his power. He hit .244 (10-for-41) with two homers and seven RBI in 13 games in May, and he's gone 8-for-35 (.229) so far in June with four homers, two doubles, and seven RBI in 10 games played. Even with regular shortstop J.P. Crawford (hand) expected to return from the injured list this week, Emerson should play regularly at third base in Seattle, and his emerging power from the left side of the plate makes him an attractive young infield target in deeper fantasy leagues. The 6-foot, 195-pounder is currently rostered in only 24% of Yahoo leagues.

5 hours ago

Braden Montgomery • RF • White Sox

Will Braden Montgomery be a Fantasy Asset in his Rookie Season?

Chicago White Sox outfield prospect Braden Montgomery debuted to plenty of fanfare last week, and he turned plenty of heads in his MLB debut against the Atlanta Braves, going 2-for-5 at the plate, including a walk-off home run. The White Sox's No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, followed up his noteworthy debut with a 2-for-4 performance last Wednesday with two doubles in a win over the Braves. The 23-year-old switch-hitter and former 12th overall pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2024 out of Texas A&M University has gone 5-for-19 with a homer, four RBI, and four runs scored in his first 20 plate appearances in the big leagues for a rising young White Sox club. Before getting the call to the South Side of Chicago, Montgomery hit an impressive .314/.422/.548 with a .970 OPS, 10 homers, 13 doubles, three triples, 41 RBI, 52 runs scored, and five steals in 56 games with Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte. He should see regular playing time in his rookie campaign, and he can contribute for fantasy managers in multiple categories right away. There aren't many better young outfielders with this amount of upside than Montgomery, and he's available in more than 60% of Yahoo leagues.

5 hours ago

Noelvi Marte • RF • Reds

Noelvi Marte Homers Again on Sunday, Worth a Look on the Waiver Wire

Cincinnati Reds third baseman/outfielder Noelvi Marte was sent to the minors early on in 2026, he's played in just 20 games this year, and his surface stats definitely don't raise any eyebrows with a .218/.271/.400 slash line, .671 OPS, three home runs, three RBI, four stolen bases, and seven runs scored in 59 plate appearances. But since rejoining the major-league squad on June 3, the 24-year-old Dominican has gone 8-for-26 (.308) with all three of his home runs, a double, three RBI, three steals, and five runs scored in nine games played. All three of his homers on the year have come in the last three games, and he has seen more playing time in the outfield in Cincy this time around. In a career-high 90 games with the Reds in 2025, Marte hit .263 (89-for-339) with 14 home runs, 51 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 360 plate appearances. With improved plate discipline since his return to the Reds, Marte is putting up better numbers. With both third base and outfield eligibility, fantasy managers need to consider adding Marte off the waiver wire. He's rostered in only 40% of Yahoo leagues.

6 hours ago

Emilio Pagán • RP • Reds

Emilio Pagan to Throw Another Bullpen on Monday

Cincinnati Reds right-handed reliever Emilio Pagan (hamstring), who has been on the 15-day injured list since May 6 with a strained left hamstring, threw a bullpen session on Saturday and is expected to throw another on Monday, according to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. He could face live hitters as soon as Friday in New York. If the 35-year-old veteran makes it through his bullpen on Monday and a live bullpen session on Friday without any setbacks with his hamstring, he should be cleared to start a minor-league rehab assignment. It all means that Pagan could be back with the Reds' major-league roster by late next week or the weekend. Before injuring his hamstring at Wrigley Field in early May, Pagan had six saves in 15 appearances out of the bullpen, but he was also sporting an ugly 6.43 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 14 innings pitched. However, the Reds' bullpen has been extremely unreliable in his absence, so manager Terry Francona is expected to immediately reinsert Pagan into the closer's role when he returns. Fantasy managers desperate for saves should take notice and stash Pagan now. He's rostered in only 62% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.

6 hours ago

Hagen Smith • SP • White Sox

Is Hagen Smith the Next Top Pitching Prospect to Debut?

Chicago White Sox left-handed pitching prospect Hagen Smith has turned the corner at Triple-A Charlotte and appears to be the next high-end pitching prospect to earn the call. The former fifth overall pick endured some growing pains at the beginning of the regular season when he posted a rough 4.54 ERA with a 1.46 WHIP over his first 33 2/3 innings of work. During this stretch, Smith struggled to command his pitches, allowing a high 7.2 BB/9. However, since this slump, the southpaw has quickly rounded into form, posting a 2.37 ERA with a 1.05 WHIP over his next three games. While he took a step back in his most recent outing, serving up eight runs (seven earned), seeing his command continue to improve is a very positive sign for his long-term outlook. While the 22-year-old will likely need to show this success over a longer period, he has a clear path to join a Chicago rotation that lacks much depth. The young left-hander has established himself as a top pitching prospect to stash in Week 12.

6 hours ago

Zac Veen • LF • Rockies

Zac Veen Emerging as Top Prospect to Stash?

Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Zac Veen has spent the entire 2026 campaign with the top club in the minor leagues, but has looked rather impressive and is making a strong case to rejoin the MLB roster. During the 2025 season, Veen made his MLB debut and posted a low .118/.189/.235 slash line with one home run and one stolen base over a short 12-game stint. Most of his campaign was spent at Triple-A. This season, Veen has performed at a high level at Albuquerque and is making a strong case to join a Colorado outfield that has been decimated by injuries. So far, Veen has launched 10 home runs and swiped 13 bags while carrying an elite .322/.414/.559 line. Even though the Rockies turned to fellow outfield prospect Cole Carrigg last week, Veen still has a clear path to join the majors with Mickey Moniak, Jordan Beck, and Brenton Doyle all on the shelf. Given his five-category potential, Veen is emerging as a top outfield prospect to stash in standard leagues.

6 hours ago

Franklin Arias • SS

Can Franklin Arias Compete for a 2026 MLB Debut?

Boston Red Sox top shortstop prospect Franklin Arias has been among the top hitting prospects across the entire minor leagues this season. Through 52 games with Double-A Portland, the No. 10-ranked prospect in the sport (according to MLB.com) has posted an impressive .318/.397/.579 line with a stellar .976 OPS. During this 52-game stretch, Arias has hit 10 doubles, 13 home runs, swiped four bags, and carried a 29:22 K:BB. Last summer, Arias split his time across Low-A, High, and Double-A, with much of his time being spent at Greenville, where he carried a low .265/.329/.380 line over an 87-game stint. Seeing him continue to show higher upside while facing tougher pitching is an excellent sign for his outlook. Fantasy managers should expect Arias to earn the call to Triple-A Worcester in the coming weeks, which could set him up for a late second-half MLB debut. For now, the infielder is only worth stashing in deep 12+ team redraft leagues that have multiple N/A spots.

6 hours ago

Brody Hopkins • RP • Rays

Brody Hopkins Still on the Stash Radar Following Six-Run Showing?

Tampa Bay Rays top pitching prospect Brody Hopkins was enjoying a productive stretch at Triple-A while pitching out of the bullpen, but he was recently moved back to the starting rotation. In his return to the rotation, Hopkins unfortunately took a step back in his production as he served up a hefty six earned runs with a 4:6 K:BB across two innings of work. However, before this game, Hopkins logged 10 straight shutout innings (all out of the bullpen) with a stellar 16:3 K:BB. Hopkins began the Triple-A regular season pitching out of the starting rotation, where he held a modest 3.98 ERA with a rough 46:42 K:BB, which encouraged Durham to move him to a long-relief role. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the production, as it appeared Hopkins' clearer path to the majors was through the bullpen. If the No. 81-ranked prospect in baseball quickly returns to form, he could re-emerge as a deep-league stash target later in June. For now, he is only worth stashing in deep 15-team redraft leagues.

6 hours ago

Walker Jenkins • CF • Twins

Walker Jenkins Back on the Stash Radar Amid Rehab Assignment

Minnesota Twins top outfield prospect Walker Jenkins (shoulder) recently began his rehab assingment wth Low-A Fort Myers and is progressing toward a return to Triple-A. Jenkins has been on the shelf since the start of May with this shoulder injury, but is now not only back on the field, but is showing his elite upside. In his first rehab outing with Low-A, Jenkins went 4-for-5 with a double and a home run. Prior to the injury, Jenkins appeared in 25 games at St. Paul and posted a .256/.396/.389 line with two home runs, five stolen bases, and an 18:19 K:BB. While his bat is still adjusting to Triple-A pitching, the young outfielder has continued to showcase his elite eye at the dish. While the 21-year-old will likely need another week of rehab action before re-joining St. Paul, he will quickly climb the stash rankings as he should compete for an MLB debut early in the second half.

6 hours ago

Willson Contreras • 1B • Red Sox

Willson Contreras Keeps Up Hot June, Homers Twice on Sunday

Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras has been lights-out at the plate so far during the 2026 season, but he's been even more productive so far in June, and that continued in Sunday night's 6-4 loss to the visiting Texas Rangers at Fenway Park. Contreras went 3-for-4 at the plate with two solo home runs and a strikeout to raise his season average to .304 and his OPS to .966. The 34-year-old former catcher and three-time All-Star has been excellent in his first year in Boston, slashing .304/.396/.570 with a .966 OPS, 16 home runs, 43 RBI, 34 runs scored, and a stolen base in 67 games across 278 plate appearances. In 11 games in June, the Venezuelan has gone 16-for-41 (.390) with five long balls, five doubles, 10 RBI, and eight runs scored in 46 plate appearances. Contreras' underlying metrics -- .273 xBA, .391 xwOBA, .519 xSLG -- point to regression in the future, but he's still a must-start first baseman with the way he's been swinging the bat in 2026.

6 hours ago

Yohandy Morales • 3B • Nationals

Yohandy Morales Not Slowing Down at Triple-A, On the Verge of Joining MLB Roster?

Washington Nationals first base/third base prospect Yohandy Morales has not slowed down at Triple-A this season and has put himself in a great position to debut before the end of June. Over his last 11 contests with Triple-A Rochester, Morales has carried an impressive .304/.373/.652 line with a 1.025 OPS. During this 11-game stretch, Morales has hit five home runs while carrying an 11:5 K:BB. Overall, the team's No. 28-ranked prospect (per MLB.com) has looked quite comfortable at the Triple-A level this season, carrying a .336/.411/.587 line with 11 doubles, 15 home runs, and a 61:26 K:BB across 60 games. Seeing him take a massive step forward, based on the modest .731 OPS he held at Triple-A last summer, is an excellent sign. While Curtis Mead's emergence has halted a debut, Morales' current production should put him in the mix to reach D.C. in the coming weeks.

6 hours ago

Bryce Eldridge • 1B • Giants

Bryce Eldridge Continues to Produce, a Must-Add Option Off the Waiver Wire

San Francisco Giants consensus top-30 MLB prospect Bryce Eldridge, who was called up on May 3, is dominating at the plate of late, slashing .455/.556/.955 with three home runs, eight RBI, and five runs scored over the past seven days (10-for-22). On the season, he is now hitting .317 with a .953 OPS with five home runs, 18 runs scored, and 14 RBI. Most impressively, his plate discipline has been rock-solid for Eldridge, as he has a 21.4 percent strikeout rate, 27.6 percent chase rate, and a 22.1 percent whiff rate. In Triple-A, Eldridge demonstrated his power, but had a 29.9 percent strikeout rate, and that was ultimately the biggest knock on Eldridge: the swing and miss. Considering he has improved on that, and when you look at his quality of contact, power, and prospect pedigree, Eldridge is a must-add player for fantasy baseball. The only downside for him is that, depending on your league format, he may only be DH eligible, but he has played five games at first base, so he is working his way to first base and corner infield eligibility. Eldridge has league-winning upside at the plate, so fantasy managers should act fast and invest in the young slugger.

7 hours ago

Didier Fuentes • RP • Braves

Didier Fuentes Worth Adding Ahead of Potential Role Increase?

Atlanta Braves right-hander Didier Fuentes has been pitching well out of the bullpen for the Braves of late. In May, he posted a 1.32 ERA over 12 games (13 2/3 innings), and so far in June, over five games (5 1/3 innings), he has a 0.00 ERA and six strikeouts. He has not allowed a run since his outing in Cincinnati on May 31, and before that, it was May 6 against the Mariners. He is primarily being used as the seventh-inning guy behind closer Raisel Iglesias and setup man Robert Suarez. Because of that, although Fuentes was able to convert on a recent save on June 7, there are no signs that Iglesias or Suarez are in jeopardy of losing their job, as they've both been spectacular on the season, meaning Fuentes is going to remain in a position where his only value is leagues that reward holds (SVH). For leagues that do not, he is not worth rostering; however, for leagues that do, you could make a case for Fuentes, as he has been extremely sharp out of the bullpen, and his ratios have been phenomenal.

7 hours ago

MLB News

LEGEND