MLB News

Bubba Chandler • SP • Pirates

Bubba Chandler to Pitch in Bulk Relief on Sunday

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mason Montgomery will presumably serve as the opener in front of right-hander Bubba Chandler for Sunday's series finale against the Atlanta Braves, according to Pirates insider Jason Mackey. It's the first time this year that Chandler won't be used as a traditional starter. The 23-year-old has been inconsistent this year and has lacked length in his outings, going 2-6 for the Bucs with a 5.05 ERA (5.05 FIP) and 1.53 WHIP with 55 strikeouts and a league-high 38 walks in 57 innings pitched. Chandler hasn't gone more than five innings in one of his starts since back on April 17 against the Tampa Bay Rays. He has only given fantasy managers one quality start so far in 2026 in his 12 starts, and he won't be eligible for one on Sunday as he works as the bulk reliever. Chandler is still worth holding in most fantasy leagues for his strikeout upside, but the youngster just hasn't been consistent enough to trust in this matchup against the first-place Braves.

4 hours ago

Rico Garcia • RP • Orioles

Rico Garcia Becoming a Priority Target for Saves?

Baltimore Orioles reliever Rico Garcia continues to build waiver wire value as a late-inning option. The right-hander earned his fourth save Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox, closing out a 4-2 win with two strikeouts. Garcia has been excellent this season, posting a 0.68 ERA, 0.61 WHIP, and a 30:1 K:BB with nine holds across 26 1/3 innings. Garcia's fantasy value is tied directly to saves, but the ratios and strikeout production make the profile even more useful. He has handled ninth-inning work while Ryan Helsley (elbow) remains sidelined, giving fantasy managers a clear reason to act. Rostered in 35% of Yahoo leagues, Garcia should be treated as a priority pickup wherever he is still on the waiver wire, especially for managers chasing saves.

7 hours ago

Zack Gelof • 3B • Athletics

Zack Gelof a Top Pickup for Power-Speed Upside?

Athletics infielder Zack Gelof has played his way back into fantasy relevance after opening the season at Triple-A Las Vegas. Before his April 10 recall, the 26-year-old hit .366/.519/.732 with four home runs in 11 games. He has continued to provide useful category production in the majors, hitting .265 with six home runs, 21 RBI, six stolen bases, and a .743 OPS across 155 at-bats. Gelof still carries some swing-and-miss risk, but his power-speed blend makes him one of the more interesting low-rostered infielders on the waiver wire. The current MLB production is backed by his hot start at Triple-A, giving fantasy managers a reason to buy into the upside. Rostered in 20% of Yahoo leagues, Gelof is a strong pickup for managers looking to add infield help with power, speed, and room for more production.

7 hours ago

Alex Lange • RP • Royals

Alex Lange Earns Third Save, Quickly Entering Must-Roster Status

Kansas City Royals reliever Alex Lange worked a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to close out a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. He allowed one hit and struck out three while recording his third save of the season. Lange now owns a 4.03 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 31 strikeouts, 15 walks, three saves, and one hold across 29 innings. The overall numbers are not spotless, but the recent usage is what matters for fantasy managers. Lange has converted three straight saves with Lucas Erceg struggling, and he has allowed a run in just one of his last 12 outings. During that stretch, he has posted a 0.75 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 11:3 K:BB across 12 innings. Rostered in only 7% of Yahoo leagues, Lange should be treated as a priority waiver wire pickup for managers chasing saves.

7 hours ago

Grant Taylor • RP • White Sox

Grant Taylor Tallies Second Save, Seeing Closer Value Continue to Increase

Chicago White Sox reliever Grant Taylor struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to finish off a 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. The 24-year-old needed just 14 pitches to earn his second save of the season. Taylor now owns a 1.93 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 50 strikeouts, nine walks, two saves, and four holds across 32 2/3 innings and 25 appearances. Taylor's waiver wire value is climbing because Chicago trusted him with the ninth inning after Seranthony Dominguez handled the eighth. That usage matters for fantasy managers chasing saves, especially with Taylor backing it up with a 50:9 K:BB and strong ratios. Rostered in only 14% of Yahoo leagues, Taylor should be treated as a priority pickup while his late-inning role continues to grow.

7 hours ago

Jake Bauers • 1B • Brewers

Jake Bauers is Becoming a Must-Have Player

Milwaukee Brewers first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers is posting strong numbers at the plate recently. Over the last week, Bauers has hit two home runs, eight RBI, and six walks. Overall this season, Bauers is slashing .275/.371/.500 with eight homers and 28 RBI against right-handed pitching. He's crushing the ball right now and is showing no signs of slowing down at the plate. The 30-year-old could very well be headed towards a career-year, assuming he keeps playing at this pace. Fantasy managers in need of a stick should consider adding Bauers before someone else scoops him up off the waiver wire.

19 hours ago

Christian Scott • SP • Mets

Christian Scott is a Popular Add During Breakout Season

New York Mets starting pitcher Christian Scott has looked solid on the mound during most of his outings this season. Scott has locked it in lately with impressive numbers over his last three starts. During that span, Scott has allowed one earned run with 16 strikeouts across 16.1 innings of work. Overall, Scott owns a 2.50 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and a 41:18 K:BB ratio across eight starts this season. The biggest downside to Scott so far has been his inability to work deep into games. Scott has not managed to pitch six full innings in any of his outings this season. Despite that, Scott has posted strong numbers and is someone worth scooping up on the waiver wire right now.

19 hours ago

Jorge Polanco • 1B • Mets

Jorge Polanco is Shut Down from Rehab Assignment

New York Mets infielder Jorge Polanco (Achilles, ankle) had his rehab assignment shut down on Saturday. Polanco was rehabbing an Achilles issue until he suffered an ankle injury on Saturday. The veteran infielder will head to New York to be re-evaluated before the team decides what to do. When healthy, Polanco was struggling with a .179/.246/.286 slash line across 14 games this season. This setback is likely going to push Polanco's timetable to later in June. The 32-year-old remains someone worth holding in deep leagues, but can be dropped in most formats outside of that.

19 hours ago

Tyler Glasnow • SP • Dodgers

Tyler Glasnow Transferred to 60-Day Injured List

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow (back) was transferred to the 60-day Injured List on Saturday. Glasnow has yet to make much progress, so the team will shift him from the 15-day to the 60-day IL. Glasnow was shut down again recently and is still waiting for approval to resume throwing. At this point, Glasnow might not get back to the big league mound until around the All-Star break. Fantasy managers should continue to hold him and hope he can contribute in the second half of the season. In a corresponding move, right-hander Nick Frasso was added to the 40-man roster.

20 hours ago

Will Smith • C • Dodgers

Will Smith Scratched With Neck Stiffness, Expected to Return on Sunday

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (neck) was scratched from Saturday night's game against the visiting Los Angeles Angels with a stiff neck, manager Dave Roberts told Maddie Lee of MLB.com. The skipper expects to have Smith available for the series finale at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, though, and the plan was for him to play in two of the three games in the Freeway Series. Dalton Rushing will do the catching for right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Saturday night and will bat eighth versus Angels right-hander Jack Kochanowicz. The 31-year-old Smith hasn't been nearly as good as he was in 2025 so far this year, as he enters Saturday's contest with a .249/.338/.382 slash line with a .720 OPS, six home runs, 23 RBI, and 23 runs scored across 52 games and 201 plate appearances for the Blue. He has gone 9-for-43 (.209) with two homers, two doubles, four RBI, seven runs, eight walks, and eight strikeouts in his last 13 games, dating back to May 18. Smith's neck injury isn't serious, and hopefully a breather on Saturday will get him going early in June.

21 hours ago

Nolan Schanuel • 1B • Angels

Nolan Schanuel Activated and Starting on Saturday Night

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel (ankle) was activated from the 10-day injured list and is in the starting lineup for Saturday night's game against the hosting Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, starting at first base and batting fifth for the Halos, according to MLB.com. Schanuel is back after spending the minimal amount of time on the IL with left-ankle tendinitis. The 24-year-old former 11th overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft out of Florida Atlantic University provides well below-average production as a first baseman in fantasy, which is why he's rostered in only 11% of Yahoo leagues. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues should continue to leave him to the waiver wire, and we'd suggest avoiding him as a DFS option in his return against Yamamoto. Schanuel is returning to a .262/.313/.387 slash line with a .700 OPS, only four home runs, 24 RBI, and 18 runs scored in 49 games across 208 plate appearances. In his two full seasons in the big leagues with the Angels, Schanuel hasn't topped 13 home runs.

21 hours ago

Pete Crow-Armstrong • CF • Cubs

Pete Crow-Armstrong has Big Day in Win Over Giants on Saturday

Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong came up big in the team's 3-2 walk-off win in 10 innings on Saturday at Wrigley Field against the visiting San Francisco Giants, going 4-for-5 at the plate with two solo home runs to raise his season average to .259 and his OPS to .791. Crow-Armstrong hit his first long ball of the day in the sixth inning and tied the game at two apiece in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the contest to extras. The 24-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder has shown better plate discipline this year after tanking in the second half of his breakout season in 2025, and he's now in the midst of an 11-game hitting streak in which he has delivered five home runs, nine RBI, nine runs scored, and a stolen base. PCA's recent hot stretch has boosted his season slash line to .259/.343/.448, and he's added 11 home runs, 32 RBI, 37 runs scored, and 13 stolen bases across his 272 plate appearances. Crow-Armstrong can be streaky, but he's still a five-category contributor for fantasy managers who is a must-start right now while he's on fire.

21 hours ago

Austin Wells • C • Yankees

Austin Wells Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Cervical Headaches

New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells (head) was placed on the 10-day Injured List ahead of Saturday's game against the Boston Red Sox. Wells will be placed on the shelf due to what the team is calling cervical headaches. Wells has struggled heavily with only one hit over his last five games. He'll now be placed on the IL and hopefully get this situation straightened out soon. In a corresponding move, catcher J.C. Escarra has been recalled from Triple-A. He'll likely split up the time behind the plate with Ali Sanchez. Neither hitter is an ideal fantasy option at the moment.

22 hours ago

Jorge Soler • DH • Angels

Jorge Soler Heading to Injured List With Oblique Strain

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jorge Soler (oblique) was placed on the 10-day Injured List ahead of Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Soler was scratched ahead of Friday's game and now will land on the shelf due to an oblique issue. The timetable for Soler's return is unclear right now, but oblique issues can sometimes be tricky. It wouldn't be shocking to see Soler miss a few weeks, but his status should be updated shortly. In the meantime, Nolan Schanuel has been activated from the Injured List. He'll cover first base with Nick Madrigal serving as the designated hitter on Saturday.

22 hours ago

Max Muncy • 3B • Dodgers

Max Muncy is Returning on Saturday

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (nose) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. Muncy was held out of the lineup on Friday after suffering a nose injury during a collision on Thursday. Luckily, Muncy has avoided any significant injuries and was only forced to miss one game. He'll cover third base and bat fifth versus right-hander Jack Kochanowicz on Saturday. Fantasy managers can safely get Muncy back in their lineups ahead of first pitch.

22 hours ago

Curtis Mead • 1B • Nationals

Curtis Mead an Intriguing Deep-League Add

Washington Nationals infielder Curtis Mead has been quietly putting together solid numbers lately. Over the last two weeks, Mead is slashing .295/.367/.591 with four home runs and 10 RBI. The hot hitting by Mead has earned him the starting third baseman role in Washington right now. The 25-year-old is a former top prospect who appears to be finally putting it all together. His hot hitting has made him worth a look as a waiver wire addition right now. It might not last all season long, so fantasy managers might as well get the value from him while he's hot at the plate.

22 hours ago

Ezequiel Tovar • SS • Rockies

Ezequiel Tovar is Worth Stashing

Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar has hit a cold spell at the plate recently. Over the last week, Tovas is 3-for-21 at the plate with one RBI and one walk. Before that, Tovar was showing off some nice power with three homers during the span of a week. Tovar isn't hitting right now, but does have the potential to do damage at the plate. Fantasy managers in need of a power stick might want to consider scooping up Tovar as a stash option. His cold spell could land him on the waiver wire, but the power potential isn't something to be slept on.

22 hours ago

Josh Jung • 3B • Rangers

Josh Jung Needs to be Added During Hot Streak

Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung has been crushing everything coming his way lately. Over the last two weeks, Jung has had 14 hits, two homers, seven RBI, and three walks. Jung is currently slashing .318/.364/.497 with six homers and 25 RBI against right-handed pitching this season. This is the kind of potential that the Rangers were hopeful to get out of Jung this season. The injury bug has kept him down at times, but he's a solid slugger when he's healthy. Jung is on fire at the plate right now and needs to be rostered in most fantasy formats during this hot stretch at the plate.

22 hours ago

Jacob Wilson • SS • Athletics

Jacob Wilson is Beginning Rehab Assignment on Saturday

Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson (shoulder) is beginning a rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday. Wilson is back in game action after being sidelined since mid-May due to a partial left shoulder dislocation. The A's haven't said how many games they plan on having Wilson play before bringing him back up to the big league club. It shouldn't take too long, so fantasy managers should expect to have Wilson back in the mix at some point next week. Fantasy managers should check back for another update on his status early next week. Wilson is a decent stash option in 12-team formats with his return looming.

22 hours ago

Chris Bassitt • SP • Orioles

Chris Bassitt Throws Bullpen Session on Saturday

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Chris Bassitt (back) threw a successful bullpen session on Saturday. Bassitt was pulled from his most recent start on Wednesday due to a back issue. The successful bullpen session is a positive sign, but it's unclear if Bassitt will be available to make his next scheduled start against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. The O's are likely going to need to make a final decision on his status by the end of the weekend. He owns a 5.27 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, and a 37:22 K:BB ratio across 12 appearances this season. Even when healthy, Bassitt isn't anything more than a deep league option.

23 hours ago

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