MLB News

Max Scherzer • SP • Blue Jays

Max Scherzer Going Back on Injured List With Back Spasms

The Toronto Blue Jays announced on Wednesday that they placed veteran right-hander Max Scherzer (back) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to June 14) with back spasms and recalled right-hander Chad Patrick from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move. Scherzer was scheduled to pitch on Wednesday evening at Fenway Park against the division-rival Boston Red Sox, but right-hander Braydon Fisher will now get the nod. The 41-year-old three-time Cy Young winner just came off the IL last week due to a right-forearm injury, so it's obviously a frustrating development for the future Hall of Famer. Scherzer has only made six starts in 2026 with Toronto and has gone 1-4 with an ugly 10.23 ERA (8.78 FIP) and a 1.73 WHIP with 14 strikeouts and 11 walks in 22 innings pitched. At this point in his career, he just has not been able to stay off the injury report with a long list of different ailments. He most likely will not be back from the IL before the mid-July All-Star break, and at this point, Scherzer returning in the second half as a starter won't be a lock.

4 hours ago

Shane Bieber • SP • Blue Jays

Shane Bieber Hit Hard in Rehab Start on Wednesday at Triple-A

Toronto Blue Jays veteran right-hander Shane Bieber (elbow) was hit around a little bit in his latest minor-league rehab start on Wednesday with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, allowing five earned runs on seven hits (two homers) while walking four and striking out two in five innings pitched. Bieber threw only 48 of his 80 pitches for strikes, but the good news is that he was sitting at 92 mph with his fastball in what is expected to be his final rehab start before he rejoins the Blue Jays' starting rotation for his 2026 season debut. The 31-year-old former American League Cy Young winner shouldn't be limited from a pitch-count perspective whenever his first start for the Jays comes, but he'll be a pretty risky fantasy streamer after his command was spotty on Wednesday. The former fourth-round pick in 2016 by the Cleveland Guardians out of the University of California, Santa Barbara, only made two starts in 2024 in his final season in Cleveland before needing Tommy John surgery. Bieber made only seven starts in his first year in Toronto last season, but he had a 4-2 record, 3.57 ERA (4.47 FIP), 1.02 WHIP, and 37:7 K:BB in 40 1/3 innings. He might need to shake off a little rust, and he's no longer a fantasy ace, but Bieber should have streaming appeal in mixed leagues based on matchups. He's rostered in just under half of Yahoo leagues right now.

4 hours ago

Teoscar Hernández • LF • Dodgers

Teoscar Hernandez Could Start Rehab Assignment Early Next Week

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez (hamstring) is scheduled to take at-bats in a live batting practice session on Thursday, according to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. Hernandez could go on a minor-league rehab assignment early next week, according to manager Dave Roberts. As long as the veteran outfielder doesn't suffer a setback on his rehab assignment, he could be back in the Dodgers' lineup late next week/weekend. The 33-year-old Dominican has been out for over two weeks with a strained left hamstring. At the time of his injury, the two-time All-Star was hitting .276/.348/.436 with a .785 OPS, seven home runs, 31 RBI, 30 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 51 games across 204 plate appearances in 2026. Hernandez had picked things up offensively in May, batting .325 (27-for-83) with three home runs, four doubles, 14 RBI, 14 runs, and a stolen base in 24 contests. When healthy, Hernandez is excellent in points leagues for his run production in the heart of the Dodgers' stacked batting order. He's rostered in 86% of Yahoo leagues and should not be floating around on the waiver wire anywhere.

5 hours ago

Griffin Jax • SP • Rays

Griffin Jax Seeing Waiver Value Soar Amid Impressive Stretch

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitcher Griffin Jax is becoming a more useful fantasy option as he settles into a starting role. Across 44 innings, the 31-year-old owns a 1-5 record, 3.68 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts. The overall WHIP is not ideal, but Jax has been better since moving into the rotation, posting a 3.00 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 27 strikeouts over his last seven starts. Over his last two outings, Jax has been even sharper, not allowing an earned run with a 1.00 WHIP (across 10 frames). The former high-leverage reliever also brings high-end whiff potential after recording 99 strikeouts out of the bullpen last season. Workload remains the main caveat, as Tampa Bay has been careful while stretching him out, which may limit his win upside in the short term. The 32% Yahoo roster rate keeps the door open in many leagues, making Jax a viable deeper-format target for managers looking for rotation help with emerging strikeout appeal.

5 hours ago

Noah Cameron • SP • Royals

Noah Cameron Still Carries Waiver Appeal After Recent Stumble?

Kansas City Royals left-handed pitcher Noah Cameron remains a useful waiver-wire option for fantasy managers searching for pitching depth. Across 70 innings, the 26-year-old has a 3-4 record, 4.11 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 64 strikeouts. The season-long ERA is not especially exciting, but Cameron has been much better over his last seven starts, posting a 3.05 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 36:6 K:BB across 38 1/3 innings. The caveat is his latest outing, when he allowed four earned runs on seven hits, including two home runs, over 4 1/3 innings against the Houston Astros. That start adds some short-term risk, but Cameron's recent stretch keeps him above the standard streamer tier in deeper leagues. His 42% Yahoo roster rate leaves enough room for fantasy managers to act where steadier back-end rotation help is needed.

5 hours ago

Spencer Jones • RF • Yankees

Spencer Jones Worth Adding Ahead of Power Breakout?

New York Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones is starting to showcase his upside on the MLB level. The club's No. 6 prospect is hitting .239 with two home runs, seven RBI, four runs, one stolen base, and a .731 OPS over 46 major-league at-bats. However, Jones has been more productive since re-joining the Yankees in June, posting a .318/.423/.636 slash line with one double and two home runs. The power upside is the selling point. Jones posted a .949 OPS with 13 home runs, 48 RBI, and nine stolen bases over 156 at-bats at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before getting a longer look with New York. The strikeout risk is substantial, so he is not a safe batting-average play. Still only 8% rostered on Yahoo, Jones is a worthwhile deeper-league pickup for fantasy managers willing to chase impact power before it fully arrives. With Aaron Judge, Trent Grisham, and Giancarlo Stanton on the injured list, Jones should see stable at-bats in this lineup, making him a worthy target for those in five-outfielder leagues, looking for power production.

5 hours ago

Cade Cavalli • SP • Nationals

Cade Cavalli Emerging as Sneaky Waiver Target Amid Improving Command

Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Cade Cavalli is building a stronger waiver-wire case behind his improving strikeout production and command. Across 74 2/3 innings, the 27-year-old owns a 4-4 record, 3.98 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and 81 strikeouts. The season-long WHIP remains a concern, but Cavalli has been steadier over his last seven starts, posting a 3.83 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts over 40 innings. Cavalli's walk rate keeps him from being a completely safe ratio play, and he has not worked beyond five innings in any of his last three outings. However, over these last seven starts, Cavalli has walked just eight hitters (1.8 BB/9), compared to the much higher 4.4 BB/9 he posted over his first 34 2/3 innings, suggesting he is taking major strides forward. With his Yahoo roster rate at 33%, Cavalli remains widely available to managers looking for a pitcher trending in the right direction and possesses solid strikeout upside.

5 hours ago

Kirby Yates • RP • Angels

Is Kirby Yates Still the Closer to Roster in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles Angels right-handed pitcher Kirby Yates remains a speculative waiver-wire option for fantasy managers chasing saves, but the role is not completely stable. Over 13 1/3 innings, the 39-year-old has one save, a 4.05 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 17 strikeouts. The season-long ratios are not ideal, but Yates has settled down recently with three straight scoreless appearances, allowing no hits and one walk while striking out four over three innings. The main issue is role clarity. Ryan Zeferjahn and Sam Bachman remain part of the late-inning picture, and Zeferjahn recently earned his second save of the season on June 12. Still, Yates has the most closing experience in the group and remains firmly in the mix if Los Angeles continues rotating ninth-inning chances. At 28% rostered on Yahoo, he is a reasonable short-term pickup for fantasy managers who need saves and can tolerate some bullpen uncertainty.

6 hours ago

Ryne Nelson • SP • Diamondbacks

Ryne Nelson Offers Reliable Pitching Depth Off the Waiver Wire

Arizona Diamondbacks right-handed pitcher Ryne Nelson is back on the waiver radar for fantasy managers looking for rotation depth. Through 83 1/3 innings, the 28-year-old owns a 3-5 record, 4.97 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 62 strikeouts. Those season-long ratios are not especially exciting, but Nelson has been better since the start of May, posting a 3.75 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 57 2/3 innings. Nelson also rebounded from a rough outing against the Miami Marlins by holding the Los Angeles Angels to two earned runs over seven innings in his latest start. The strikeout ceiling is modest, so he is not the same type of waiver target as a high-upside bat-misser. Still rostered in just 51% of Yahoo leagues, Nelson remains available enough to help fantasy managers in deeper formats who need innings, matchup flexibility, and steadier back-end rotation production.

6 hours ago

Will Smith • C • Dodgers

Will Smith "Unlikely" to Come Off the Injured List on Friday

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that catcher Will Smith (neck) is "unlikely" to come off the 10-day injured list when he's eligible on Friday, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. Smith went through a full day of work on Tuesday, but his neck is still bothering him. Roberts said the team is trying to get him to a place where he won't regress before rejoining the major-league roster. In the meantime, the Dodgers will continue to roll with Dalton Rushing as their primary backstop. The 25-year-old left-handed hitter has been solid behind Smith this year, slashing .262/.353/.508 with an .861 OPS, eight home runs, 21 RBI, and 21 runs scored in his 122 at-bats. In comparison, Smith is batting .249/.338/.382 this season with a .720 OPS, six long balls, 23 RBI, and 23 runs scored in his 173 at-bats in his eighth year in the big leagues. The three-time All-Star should remain rostered in most fantasy baseball leagues as the Dodgers' starter when healthy. Smith is rostered in 84% of Yahoo leagues while he's on the IL.

6 hours ago

Shohei Ohtani • DH • Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani Still Managing Knee Inflammation

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani's left-knee inflammation is not behind him, and manager Dave Roberts told 570 LA Sports' David Vassegh that it will be managed moving forward. Ohtani was held out of a game last week with knee inflammation, but he started the last four games at designated hitter for the Dodgers. The four-time All-Star is making his scheduled start on the mound on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays, but he won't be in the lineup as the DH. It appears to be a day-to-day situation for the Japanese All-Star, with his next chance to return to the batting order coming on Friday against the visiting Baltimore Orioles after a scheduled off day on Thursday. The 31-year-old veteran left-handed slugger hasn't looked compromised at the plate at all lately, going 18-for-49 (.367) with five home runs, three doubles, a triple, 11 RBI, and 14 runs scored in 13 games in June. Ohtani has also gone deep five times in his last nine games. We think he'll be alright, and he's obviously a must-start as both a hitter and pitcher when he's active in fantasy.

6 hours ago

Casey Mize • SP • Tigers

Casey Mize Activated and Starting on Wednesday in Houston

The Detroit Tigers announced on Wednesday that they activated right-hander Casey Mize (groin) from the 15-day injured list and placed infielder Gleyber Torres (oblique) on the 10-day IL with a left-oblique strain in a corresponding move. Mize is returning from an adductor strain that has kept him sidelined since May 27. In his only minor-league rehab start, the 29-year-old went five innings and threw only 55 pitches last Tuesday, so we'd advise against using him as a streamer on Wednesday, even in the favorable matchup at Daikin Park. The former first overall pick in the 2018 MLB draft out of Auburn University has kept the positive momentum going this year after being named a first-time All-Star in 2025 in his fifth year in the majors. Mize is returning to a 2-3 record, career-best 2.27 ERA (2.40 FIP), 0.96 WHIP, 49:12 K:BB, and career-high 26.5% walk rate in 47 2/3 frames over his nine starts. He is rostered in 62% of Yahoo leagues and is worth a pickup off the waiver wire for additional rotation depth in mixed leagues.

7 hours ago

Gleyber Torres • 2B • Tigers

Gleyber Torres Going Back on Injured List With Oblique Injury

Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres (oblique) is going back on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a left-oblique strain, according to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. Torres reinjured his oblique on Monday in the series opener against the Houston Astros and was held out of the starting lineup the last two days. He will now miss even more time, and this is the second time he's been on the IL this year with the same injury. Torres missed over a month last time around, so fantasy managers should expect the middle infielder to miss at least that much time again. Hao-Yu Lee has started at the keystone for Detroit the last two games with Torres out, and he should share time at the position with utility infielder Zach McKinstry through the mid-July All-Star break. It's a tough time for the 29-year-old Torres to get hurt again, as he was hitting .341 (14-for-41) with two homers, four doubles, seven RBI, and eight runs scored in 11 games since returning from the IL the first time on June 2. Torres is a strong source of average and on-base percentage when he's healthy, but he might not be back until late July or early August.

7 hours ago

Joshua Báez • RF • Cardinals

Joshua Baez Goes Nuclear on Tuesday at Triple-A With Four Homers

St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez continues to rake at Triple-A Memphis while pushing towards a debut in the big leagues in 2027. In a 12-5 win over the Triple-A Nashville Sounds on Tuesday, Baez went 4-for-5 at the plate with four home runs and seven RBI to boost his season batting average to .282 and his OPS to .976. The 22-year-old former second-round pick in 2021 is now hitting .282/.345/.631 with 23 home runs, 58 RBI, 12 stolen bases, and 52 runs scored in 62 games and 281 plate appearances with Memphis in 2026. It's hard to ignore what the 6-foot-3, 220-pound outfielder has done in the minors this year after hitting 20 bombs a year ago. Baez has been especially hot lately, clearing the fences 12 times in his last 18 games played. Per MLB Pipeline, he's St. Louis' No. 3 prospect, behind left-hander Liam Doyle and catcher Rainiel Rodriguez. Baez's raw power and 30-homer potential at the big-league level make him an obvious stash candidate now, perhaps even in mixed redraft formats.

7 hours ago

Luis Lara • CF • Brewers

Luis Lara Remains High on Stash Rankings Despite Power Skid

Milwaukee Brewers outfield prospect Luis Lara has yet to return to his early-season power production, but he remains firmly in the mix to debut in the coming weeks. Lara agreed to a seven-year extension with the Brewers earlier in June, suggesting the team views him as a major piece of the roster going forward. The outfielder began the 2026 season with Triple-A, marking his first taste of the top level in the minor leagues. Following a hot start, Lara has seen his power production gradually decline as he has carried a .286/.406/.357 line with no home runs (and only two doubles) over his last 16 games of action. Before this skid, Lara held a .506 SLG with seven home runs over his first 47 games. Power was never a strong component of his profile, but if he can return to this early-season level of play, Lara could make a strong push to join the Brewers ahead of the All-Star break. His five-category potential makes him a priority outfield prospect to stash in 12+ team leagues.

7 hours ago

Jaxon Wiggins • SP • Cubs

Jaxon Wiggins Back on the Stash Radar Amid Return to Action?

Chicago Cubs starting pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins (elbow) began his rehab stint in the Arizona Complex League this week. Wiggins has been on the shelf since April 4 due to an elbow injury but has been cleared to take the next steps in his recovery. While the right-hander still has a lengthy rehab assignment ahead of him, managers should continue to monitor his production as he may quickly emerge as a top pitcher to stash given his clear path to the majors. In his first pitching appearance in nearly two months, Wiggins logged two innings of two-run ball (one earned) with a 2:1 K:BB. Last summer, Wiggins, the team's No. 3-ranked prospect, spent most of his time at Double-A, where he posted an elite 1.93 ERA with a 52:17 K:BB. With several Chicago starters on the shelf, Wiggins could compete for an MLB debut early in the second half if he is able to move past this injury. For now, managers in deeper leagues should monitor his status as he progresses through the system on this rehab assignment.

7 hours ago

Carlos Lagrange • SP • Yankees

Carlos Lagrange Sharp in Move to Bullpen, On Verge of MLB Promotion?

New York Yankees right-handed pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange has been quite productive in his transition to the bullpen and is quickly approaching his MLB debut much sooner than anticipated. The hard-throwing right-hander began the 2026 season in the team's Triple-A starting rotation, but endured some growing pains facing the top hitters in the minor leagues. Over 49 innings of work, Lagrange posted a 4.41 ERA with a modest 1.33 WHIP. However, since moving to a relief role, the No. 73-ranked prospect on MLB.com has looked quite comfortable, logging 9 2/3 innings (three outings) to the tune of a 2.79 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, with a 15:3 K:BB. While he will likely not compete for save opportunities in the Bronx, he could emerge as a go-to high-leverage option and hold high-end upside in holds leagues. For now, Lagrange is a worthy stash target in deeper 12+ team leauges that reward holds as he could debut ahead of the All-Star break.

7 hours ago

Abimelec Ortiz • 1B • Nationals

Abimelec Ortiz Still on the Stash Radar Amid Triple-A Slump?

Washington Nationals first base prospect Abimelec Ortiz has flashed high-end talent at the Triple-A level throughout his minor league career, but has hit a bit of a cold streak at the dish. Over his last 10 contests with Rochester, Ortiz has posted a modest .205/.279/.359 line with a low .638 OPS. During this stretch, he has hit just one home run. However, prior to this brief skid, Ortiz carried a much higher .266/.368/.532 line with an .899 OPS, 12 doubles, and an impressive 10 long balls. Last summer, Ortiz spent most of his time with Double-A but did earn a brief taste of Triple-A in the second half, where he posted a high .953 OPS over a 41-game stint. While this slump has slightly limited his short-term stash upside, Ortiz remains in play to compete for an MLB debut in the coming weeks. Managers in deep leagues should monitor his status as he could re-emerge as a top stash candidate once he turns the corner.

7 hours ago

Ralphy Velazquez • 1B • Guardians

Ralphy Velazquez Turning the Corner at Triple-A, Holding Sneaky Stash Upside?

Cleveland Guardians first base prospect Ralphy Velazquez has begun to break out of his early slump at Triple-A Columbus. Velazquez began the 2026 season with Double-A, but a hot start propelled him to the top club in the minor leagues. Over his last 20 games with Columbus, Velazquez has posted a solid .225/.295/.450 line with four home runs and a home run. This is a notable improvement compared to the .205/.279/.282 line he posted during his first 10 games at Columbus. Earlier in the campaign, Velazquez was flashing high-end talent at Akron, holding a .317/.414/.566 line with a stellar .980 OPS and seven long balls (over just 36 games). Given that the Guardians have lacked consistent production at their first-base position, Velazquez could push for an early-second-half debut if he were to maintain this pace at Triple-A.

7 hours ago

Walker Jenkins • CF • Twins

Walker Jenkins Enjoying Power Binge, Re-Entering Top Stash Territory?

Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Walker Jenkins (shoulder) recently began his rehab assignment in the lower levels of the Twins system and has been quite productive in his return to action. Earlier this week, he played one game in Low-A, going 4-for-5 with a double and a home run. On Tuesday evening, Jenkins moved up to High-A Cedar Rapids, where he went 2-for-5 with another home run. Jenkins has been on the shelf for over a month of action, but given how comfortable he has looked in his rehab outings, he could rejoin Triple-A in the immediate future. Before suffering this injury, Jenkins carried a .256/.396/.389 line with six doubles, two home runs, five home runs, and an 18:19 K:BB at St. Paul. While this injury delayed his potential MLB debut, Jenkins will find himself back on the verge of a promotion once he returns to the top club. If he faces no setbacks, he could compete for a promotion in July, making him a viable stash option in deeper 12+ team leagues.

8 hours ago

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