MLB News

Tatsuya Imai • SP • Astros

Tatsuya Imai a Priority Waiver-Wire Pickup After 10-K Outing

Houston Astros right-hander Tatsuya Imai's surface stats still look pretty shaky in his first year in the big leagues, but after a rough start to his first season in the States, the 28-year-old has looked more dominant of late and needs to attract interest on the waiver wire in fantasy baseball leagues. Imai was extremely hard to hit for the second straight outing in Thursday night's 2-1 win over the hosting Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, tossing six shutout innings with only two hits allowed, one walk, and 10 strikeouts to drop his season ERA to 5.36. It was his fifth victory of the year. The Japanese native gave up five earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning on June 12 to the Kansas City Royals, but he has now fanned 21 hitters with only three runs allowed and one walk in 12 innings in his last two starts. Imai was sent to the injured list early in his MLB debut due to a dead arm, and while it hasn't been perfect since his return, he is definitely looking much more like the pitcher the Astros invested in over the offseason. He should be a popular waiver-wire pickup heading into his next scheduled start against the Minnesota Twins. Imai is rostered in 45% of Yahoo leagues.

4 hours ago

Ryan Clifford • 1B • Mets

Ryan Clifford Worth Monitoring as Deep-League Stash Candidate in Mets System?

New York Mets first base/outfield prospect Ryan Clifford has spent the entire first half of the season with Triple-A Syracuse and is expected to compete for a second-half debut, especially if the Mets look to sell off some of their current starters. Through 74 games at Syracuse this season, Clifford, the former 11th-round selection, has held a .197/.282/.401 line with a .683 OPS, 11 doubles, and 14 home runs. While his hefty 36.3% K% is a glaring weakness, Clifford has shown high power upside at times. During the 2025 season, Clifford split his time between Double-A and Triple-A, where he hit a total of 29 home runs (over 139 games) with a .237/.356/.470 line. Managers should continue to monitor his progress at Syracuse, as he should emerge as a viable deep-league stash for power later in the summer.

4 hours ago

Karson Milbrandt • SP • Marlins

Will Karson Milbrandt Debut Early in the Second Half?

Miami Marlins starting pitching prospect Karson Milbrandt has seen his redraft fantasy stock increase substantially over the past few weeks. Milbrandt began the 2026 season in Double-A and was not on the stash radar, as he was behind both Robby Snelling and Thomas White in the system. However, with both of those pitchers now out for the remainder of the season, Milbrandt has a clear path to the MLB roster. After logging 47 innings to the tune of an elite 1.34 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and a 70:17 K:BB at Double-A, Milbrandt was quickly bumped up to Triple-A. At Jacksonville, Milbrandt has continued to produce, posting a 1.20 ERA with a high 1.27 WHIP over his first three starts. While his command has been an issue at Triple-A, the 22-year-old has been able to limit the damage. While he will likely need a few more starts at Triple-A, Milbrandt has put himself in a great position to debut early in the second half of the season, making him a prime pitching prospect to stash in 12+ team leagues.

4 hours ago

Kaelen Culpepper • 3B • Twins

Kaelen Culpepper Quickly Nearing Return to Action, Still the Top Prospect to Stash?

Minnesota Twins infield prospect Kaelen Culpepper was placed on the 7-day injured list earlier in June with a left hip strain. However, since hitting the injured list on June 16, the top-ranked prospect has resumed baseball activity and could return to game action as early as this weekend, according to Theodore Tollefson of Twins Daily. Before hitting the injured list for this minor injury, Culpepper was enjoying a dominant stretch at Triple-A, where he posted a .400/.509/.622 line with two doubles, two home runs, and three stolen bases over his last 12 contests. Overall on the season, the former first-round pick holds a .273/.377/.498 line with 14 home runs and 15 stolen bases. Once he returns to action, Culpepper will have a clear path to at-bats at the MLB level, given Minnesota's lack of success, especially at shortstop. Heading into Week 14, Culpepper continues to carry high-end stash value in all standard leagues as he remains on the doorstep of the major leagues.

4 hours ago

Kade Anderson • SP • Mariners

Kade Anderson Poised for Second-Half MLB Debut?

Seattle Mariners top pitching prospect Kade Anderson has been nothing short of dominant in his first taste of professional action. Since joining the Mariners with the third overall pick in last year's MLB Draft, the former LSU standout was sent to Double-A to begin his professional career at the start of the 2026 campaign. With Double-A, the southpaw has looked incredible, logging 61 2/3 innings (12 starts) with a stellar 1.02 ERA and a 0.65 WHIP. During this stretch, Anderson has struck out 90 hitters while walking just eight. However, Seattle currently has a surplus of starting pitchers, which leaves Anderson without a clear path to debut in the near future. With the team opting to use a "piggyback" schedule to keep all six starters engaged, Anderson appears set to debut later in the second half. While his timeline remains undetermined, his upside on a per-start basis remains the highest out of any of the top prospect pitchers. Managers in leagues with N/A spots should still view the former third overall pick as a must-stash option heading into the first week of July.

5 hours ago

Seaver King • SS • Nationals

Seaver King Entering High-End Stash Territory Amid Impressive Showing at Triple-A?

Washington Nationals shortstop prospect Seaver King was recently promoted to Triple-A and is now firmly on the stash radar. King, the team's 6th-ranked prospect (and No. 99 in the sport) according to MLB.com, began the 2026 season with Double-A, where he posted a stellar .336/.427/.562 line over 35 contests. During this short stint, King hit five home runs and swiped five bags while holding a 31:22 K:BB. This prompted a promotion to Triple-A Rochester, where King has continued to look sharp, holding a similar .296/.344/.487 line with five doubles and three home runs. Even though the Washington infield is crowded at the moment, if King maintains this pace, he should join them in the second half. For now, the former 10th overall pick from the 2024 MLB Draft is a worthy stash target in deep 12+ team leagues, but his value should continue to rise over the coming weeks.

5 hours ago

Joshua Báez • RF • Cardinals

Joshua Baez Slugging his Way to Major Leagues, On the Verge of a Call-Up?

St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez has been among the top power hitters in the minor leagues over the month of June and has put himself on the doorstep of a promotion. Since June 1, the top outfield prospect in the St. Louis pipeline has launched 10 home runs over just 19 contests while holding a .329/.365/.803 line while chipping in an additional two stolen bases. On the season, the No. 65-ranked prospect in baseball according to MLB.com has posted a .273/.343/.626 line with a strong 949 OPS. Even though the Cardinals recently saw Lars Nootbaar return from his lengthy stint on the IL and Nathan Church return to center field, Baez's elite production has put him in must-stash territory. If he maintains this pace, he should debut shortly after the All-Star break and hold high-end five-category potential as soon as he receives the big leagues.

5 hours ago

Carlos Mendoza • 3B • Blue Jays

Mets Fire Manager Carlos Mendoza

The New York Mets have decided to fire manager Carlos Mendoza on Friday morning. This comes on the heels of a four-game sweep at home by the Chicago Cubs. After Thursday's loss, the Mets dropped to 34-47 and are 15.0 games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves in the National League East. Mendoza won nearly 90 games during his first year with the Mets, but wasn't able to replicate the same success. The Mets missed the playoffs after some disastrous play down the stretch last season. Mendoza was given the benefit of the doubt, but the team needed to make a move at some point. Andy Green has been appointed as the interim manager. Green spent four years as the San Diego Padres manager from 2016-2019. He probably can't save the Mets' season, but ultimately, the team needed to make a change in the dugout.

5 hours ago

Dansby Swanson • SS • Cubs

Dansby Swanson is Back on Fantasy Radar After Recent Surge

Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson was in a brutally cold stretch at the plate for what felt like a couple of months. Swanson has seemingly turned a corner over the last two weeks. Over that span, Swanson is 13-for-42 with four home runs, 18 RBI, and four stolen bases. The veteran shortstop has been one of the best hitters in the league over the last two weeks. Given his track record, Swanson will almost certainly come back down to Earth. Fantasy managers should take advantage of his hot play and scoop him up while he's tearing the cover off the ball.

5 hours ago

Ian Seymour • RP • Rays

Ian Seymour Strikes Out Six in Stellar Bulk Outing

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Ian Seymour was dominant on the mound during Thursday's outing against the Kansas City Royals. He came into the game after Casey Legumina retired the first four batters of the game. Seymour would toss 6.2 hitless innings while striking out seven batters along the way. Since moving to the bullpen, Seymour owns a 2.84 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and a 19/5 K/BB ratio in 19 innings. The southpaw figures to remain in this role moving forward. His excellent K/BB numbers in his role make him an appealing fantasy option at the moment. Seymour could be someone worth scooping up in deep leagues at the minimum.

5 hours ago

Mason Barnett • SP • Athletics

Mason Barnett Earns Second Save, Emerging as Committee Option?

Athletics pitcher Mason Barnett was handed the ball with a three-run lead in the ninth inning of Thursday's game against the San Francisco Giants. The A's were trailing this game until scoring four runs in the top half of the ninth inning. They turned to Barnett in the bottom half with an easier assignment given the three-run cushion. He retired all three batters in order, recording a strikeout and earning his second save of the season. Barnett has allowed only two runs while striking out 19 batters across 14.2 big league innings this season. He figures to remain in the mix as a closer, but is more of a deep league option right now.

5 hours ago

Caleb Kilian • RP • Giants

Caleb Kilian Allows Four Runs in Loss, Could he Lose the Closer Role?

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Caleb Kilian was unable to shut the door versus the Athletics on Thursday. He entered the game with a one-run lead in the ninth inning. Kilian gave up a leadoff single, but retired the next two batters. After that, Kilian allowed the next four batters to reach base, which resulted in a four-run outburst for the A's. Kilian would take the loss and suffer his second blown save of the season. This season, Kilian owns a 3.97 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and a 40:17 K:BB ratio with five saves across 34 innings. It was a bad outing, but the Giants don't have many other reliable arms out of the bullpen. They'll likely stick with Kilian and hope this was just a fluke outing.

6 hours ago

Andy Pages • CF • Dodgers

Is Andy Pages' Rough Production in June a Cause for Concern?

Across 343 plate appearances in 2026, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages is hitting .266/.318/.474 with 15 home runs, 58 RBI, 46 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. Even in a Dodgers lineup that has stars at nearly every position, Pages has been one of the team's most important contributors. However, the 25-year-old has hit a rough spell in June, hitting .198 with just two home runs across 101 plate appearances this month. Pages was hitting .294 with 13 home runs through the end of May, which may have been production above his true talent level. Still, fantasy managers should stay patient with Pages through his current cold streak. The young slugger's 8.5% barrel rate is nearly identical to the 8.4% barrel rate he posted while hitting 27 home runs in 2025, and his hard-hit rate has actually jumped from 37.2% to 46%. As long as Pages remains healthy, he profiles as a five-category contributor. In leagues where his value may be dropping, managers should look to buy low.

16 hours ago

Kazuma Okamoto • 3B • Blue Jays

Kazuma Okamoto a Prime Sell-High Candidate?

Across 324 plate appearances in 2026, Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto has hit .241/.324/.469 with 18 home runs, 51 RBI, and 42 runs scored. Okamoto was hitting just .214 through the end of May, but he's surged to a .306/.378/.569 slash line in June. The 30-year-old's power metrics for the season overall are excellent, as he's logged a 14.8% barrel rate and a 50% hard-hit rate. While Okamoto's power looks legit, his batting average improvement this month may be a bit of a mirage. Okamoto owns an elevated 31.5% strikeout rate for the season, and his xBA remains an uninspiring .222. Between swing-and-miss concerns and his lack of speed, Okamoto may ultimately profile as a power-only contributor for fantasy managers. With his value surging during his hot month, Okamoto could be a sell-high candidate for the right price.

16 hours ago

Cody Bellinger • LF • Yankees

Should Fantasy Managers Explore Selling High on Cody Bellinger?

New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger has been a consistent force in the middle of his team's lineup in 2026, hitting .267/.365/.458 with 11 home runs, 49 RBI, 46 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases across 340 plate appearances. The 30-year-old's plate approach has been elite, as he's recorded more walks (47) than strikeouts (46). While Bellinger may not provide high-end value in any one fantasy category, he has shown the ability to produce at an above-average rate across the board. However, fantasy managers may still have reason to explore selling high on Bellinger. The veteran outfielder's underlying contact metrics remain underwhelming, as he's logged a 7.8% barrel rate and 36.7% hard-hit rate. Perhaps more importantly, Bellinger has a spotty health track record that should not be ignored. Across five seasons entering 2026, Bellinger had reached 600 plate appearances just once. With his value potentially at its peak, Bellinger could generate a significant haul for fantasy managers in a trade.

16 hours ago

Cade Smith • RP • Guardians |

Cade Smith • SP • Yankees

Do Fantasy Managers Have a Buy-Low Window on Cade Smith Amidst His Rough June?

Cleveland Guardians closer Cade Smith has been one of the best closers in baseball so far in 2026, recording a 3.22 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 55 strikeouts, and 24 saves across 36 1/3 innings (34 games). However, the 27-year-old has run into some issues in June, pitching to a 5.19 ERA across 8 2/3 innings. Command has been an issue for Smith, whose walk rate has leaped to 13.2% this month. Still, Smith's underlying metrics for the season as a whole remain elite. The hard-throwing right-hander owns a 36.9% strikeout rate and a 30.2% K-BB rate. He's also been victimized by an unusually high opponent batting average on balls in play of .370, which suggests that Smith has experienced some poor luck. In any league where Smith's value may have dipped due to his rough June, fantasy managers should look to buy low.

17 hours ago

James Wood • RF • Nationals

James Wood Has Arrived as an Elite Fantasy Outfielder

Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood has emerged as a fantasy superstar in 2026, hitting .260/.385/.511 with 20 home runs, 49 RBI, 70 runs scored, and 13 stolen bases across 382 plate appearances. Swing-and-miss is an issue for Wood (30% strikeout rate). However, Wood's underlying contact metrics are elite, as he's logged a 23.6% barrel rate and a 60.8% hard-hit rate. The 23-year-old's ability to consistently make hard contact should allow him to maintain a solid floor for his batting average, even with his elevated strikeout rate. As long as he stays healthy, Wood is a near lock to provide elite power and run production numbers and above-average speed for fantasy managers the rest of the way in 2026.

17 hours ago

Cooper Ingle • C • Guardians

Guardians to Promote Top Prospect Cooper Ingle, a Top Add in All Leagues?

According to the team, the Cleveland Guardians are promoting top-ranked catching prospect Cooper Ingle to the major leagues. Ingle is considered the No. 70 overall prospect on MLB.com and the No. 3 overall prospect in the team's system. Ingle is a primary catcher but has recently begun to see time in the outfield, which has opened the door for him to join the major-league roster. With Triple-A Columbus, Ingle has carried a strong .284/.416/.551 line with a stellar .967 OPS. Over this 51-game stretch, Ingle has launched 12 home runs while holding an impressive 50:41 K:BB. With the Guardians, Ingle could quickly carve out a role behind the dish and potentially in the outfield, with Angel Martinez and Chase DeLauter both on the injured list. Given his impressive play at Triple-A this season, Ingle is a worthy pickup in all 12+ team leagues ahead of his MLB debut on Friday night as he should see close to every day at-bats.

18 hours ago

Juan Soto • LF • Mets

Juan Soto Returns From Back Injury on Thursday

New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (back) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting third for the Mets in Thursday's series finale at Citi Field against the visiting Chicago Cubs and left-hander Matthew Boyd, according to MLB.com. MJ Melendez will make another start in left field and will hit eighth. Soto was pulled from Tuesday's loss to the Cubs with left side back tightness, and he both ends of Wednesday's doubleheader versus Chicago. The 27-year-old superstar is back in action on Thursday, though, and even though he's facing a left-hander, he should be returned to starting lineups in all traditional fantasy leagues. The four-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger winner was on the injured list earlier this season with a calf injury, but when healthy, he continues to impress, slashing .299/.395/.570 with a .965 OPS, 17 long balls, 38 RBI, 36 runs scored, and six stolen bases in his 221 at-bats. Soto has faced Boyd eight times in his career and has a solo home run off him while batting .125 with a .722 OPS. He's hitting .278 (22-for-79) against southpaws in 2026 with four of his 17 home runs.

21 hours ago

Ryne Nelson • SP • Diamondbacks

Ryne Nelson Moved to 60-Day Injured List

The Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Thursday that they transferred right-hander Ryne Nelson (elbow) to the 60-day injured list with a strained right elbow. The D-backs initially placed Nelson on the 15-day IL last Friday with a flexor strain in his right elbow, and now he won't be eligible to return to Arizona's starting rotation until mid-August. The 28-year-old former second-rounder in 2019 out of the University of Oregon has gone 3-5 in 2026 in his fifth year in the big leagues with a 4.97 ERA (5.39 FIP) and 1.24 WHIP with 62 strikeouts and 22 walks in 83 1/3 innings pitched across his 15 starts. Nelson's numbers haven't been all that impressive, and he had more than three strikeouts just once in his last six starts for the Snakes. Nelson certainly isn't a must-hold in mixed fantasy leagues while he recovers from his injury, and he won't have much time left in 2026 to make an impact late in the second half if he even makes it back to the D-backs' rotation. Nelson is rostered in 37% of Yahoo leagues right now.

22 hours ago

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