MLB News

Jacob Webb • RP • Cubs

Jacob Webb Remains the Closer to Roster in Chicago

Across 43 1/3 innings (44 games) in 2026, Chicago Cubs right-hander Jacob Webb has recorded a 3-2 record with a 2.91 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 50 strikeouts, and five saves. The 32-year-old has begun to emerge as Chicago's preferred ninth-inning option in July, logging three saves across seven outings so far this month. Cubs closer Daniel Palencia (elbow) is expected to return from his current elbow injury in mid-August, so Webb's fantasy value as a source of saves could be relatively short-lived. Still, he's performed well in the role so far, and his 27% strikeout rate backs up his strong results. For fantasy managers in need of a short-term saves solution, Webb profiles as a priority waiver wire target.

5 hours ago

Luke Adams • 3B • Brewers

Luke Adams Gets Back on Track With Multi-Hit Performance

Milwaukee Brewers corner infield prospect Luke Adams went 2-for-4 with a run scored on Tuesday, getting back to pre-All-Star-break form. The Brewers' 11th-ranked prospect was 9-for-20 (.450) in the six-game lead-up to the break, but came out of the break just 1-for-11 (.091) before Tuesday night's multi-hit effort. The former 12th-rounder missed over a month earlier this season due to injury, but has been productive when on the field, recording a .952 OPS, .416 wOBA, and 147 wRC+ in the 45 games he's played for Nashville. With 12 home runs on the season and plenty of power metrics ranking in the 84th percentile or better, there's ample fantasy intrigue in his bat, which makes for a potential stash candidate in deeper 14-team and NL-only leagues, but there is no current opening on the MLB roster at the moment, and the 6-foot-4 slugger would have to be added to the 40-man roster ahead of an MLB debut.

5 hours ago

Zac Thornton • SP • Mets

Zac Thornton Emerging as a Starting Pitcher Streamer to Target on the Waiver Wire

New York Mets starting pitcher Zac Thornton picked up his first win of the season on Tuesday night, throwing six scoreless innings with two strikeouts in his team's 4-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Thornton has spent most of the 2026 season at Triple-A, where he's recorded a 4.02 ERA across 62 2/3 innings. However, the 24-year-old was recalled by New York on July 12 and has been extremely effective across his last two starts, throwing 13 scoreless innings while allowing just five hits and three walks. Thornton averages just 92 miles per hour on his fastball and has posted a 19.5% strikeout rate in the big leagues this season, so fantasy managers should not expect high-end strikeout upside. Still, the young left-hander has allowed just a 6.9% walk rate, and opposing batters are hitting .173 against him. In the midst of his current hot streak, Thornton profiles as a starting pitcher streamer to target on the waiver wire.

5 hours ago

Garrett Crochet • SP • Red Sox

No Timetable for Garrett Crochet to Resume Throwing

Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder, lat) said on Tuesday that he and the training staff still don't have a timetable for when he will restart his throwing program, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Crochet was initially placed on the injured list on April 29 with inflammation in his left shoulder, but he felt lat tightness two days later while throwing a one-inning simulated game, and he hasn't thrown a baseball since. "Making a lot of progress in the strength department right now," Crochet said. When asked if there was a chance he might not pitch again this season, the ace said, "It's tough to say." He's now on the 60-day IL after originally hoping his IL stint would last the minimum 15 days. Crochet started throwing weighted plyo balls in mid-June but stopped near the start of July. His shoulder injury is the biggest issue, as he called his lat injury "super minor." In shallow-mixed fantasy leagues, we wouldn't blame any managers for cutting the 27-year-old southpaw, as at this point, it's looking more likely that he won't return until September, if at all. Currently, he's still rostered in 94% of Yahoo leagues.

5 hours ago

AJ Smith-Shawver • SP • Braves

AJ Smith-Shawver a Priority Waiver-Wire Stash Ahead of Impending Return

Atlanta Braves right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver (elbow) has yet to pitch in the big leagues in 2026 as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in June 2025. However, the 23-year-old began a minor league rehab assignment in late June and has now made four appearances in the minors, with his two most recent starts coming at Triple-A. Smith-Shawver has pitched well in his rehab outings, recording a 1.98 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP with 16 strikeouts across 13 2/3 innings. Before getting injured last season, the hard-throwing right-hander recorded a 3-2 record with a 3.86 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and 42 strikeouts across 44 1/3 innings (nine starts). With Braves left-hander Martin Perez (forearm) landing on the injured list in early July due to a forearm contusion, Smith-Shawver should immediately have a role in the Atlanta rotation once he's ready to return to the big leagues. Particularly in deeper leagues, fantasy managers should look to stash Smith-Shawver off the waiver wire ahead of his impending return.

5 hours ago

Sammy Stafura • SS • Pirates

Sammy Stafura Stays Red-Hot With Multi-Hit, Multi-Steal Performance

Pittsburgh Pirates infield prospect Sammy Stafura logged yet another multi-hit performance on Tuesday, his 10th multi-hit effort in his last 15 games at High-A, while adding a pair of steals. After an uneven start to the season, which included two stints on the injured list, Stafura is now making up for it. Since June 25, a period of 17 games, the Pirates' 10th-ranked prospect has gone on an otherworldly run of production, hitting .413 with 12 home runs, 36 RBI, 26 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases, good for a .565 wOBA and 227 wRC+ over that period. He's doing so despite an elevated 26.8 percent strikeout rate over that span, although it is an improvement over the 33.3 percent rate he produced at High-A prior to this recent run of success. As a career .251 hitter in the lower levels of the minors, the 21-year-old may have fallen off the dynasty radar, but this type of production shouldn't be ignored, and the former second-rounder may finally be living up to his draft-day potential.

5 hours ago

Edwin Díaz • RP • Dodgers

Edwin Diaz More Likely to Return Next Week

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said it's "possible" that right-handed closer Edwin Diaz (elbow) returns from the 60-day injured list this weekend, but the skipper also downplayed Diaz flying to the East Coast for just one series, according to David Vassegh of 570 LA Sports. It sounds like Diaz won't make his return against his old team, the New York Mets, this weekend, but rather early next week back in L.A. for a series against one of his other former teams, the Seattle Mariners. The hard-throwing right-handed reliever has been out since late April after having surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow. While the Dodgers could ease him back into save situations late in games upon his return, they are fully expected to make him their primary closer sooner rather than later, so he should be scooped up off the waiver wire immediately if he's still available in any fantasy leagues. In his four minor-league rehab outings, Diaz has thrown four scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and just one walk. Left-hander Tanner Scott's fantasy stock is about to take a pretty big hit when Diaz returns.

5 hours ago

Paul Sewald • RP • Diamondbacks

Paul Sewald Allows Two Runs in Blown Save as Rough Patch Lingers

Arizona Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald had a rough outing on Tuesday night against the Athletics, allowing two earned runs on two hits for his second blown save of the season. The 36-year-old ranks sixth in baseball with 23 saves, but he's hit a rough patch of late. Across his last eight innings pitched (nine games), Sewald has allowed four home runs and 10 earned runs. The long ball has been a major issue for the veteran right-hander, as he's allowed 2.23 HR/9. Sewald has the advantage of experience on his side, as he's collected 109 saves across 421 career MLB games. He also owns a 28.8% strikeout rate with just a 6.2% walk rate, good for a stellar 22.6% K-BB rate. However, Arizona may be forced to go in a different direction in the ninth inning if Sewald keeps allowing home runs at his current pace.

5 hours ago

Jonny Farmelo • OF • Mariners

Jonny Farmelo Earns the Call to Double-A

Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Jonny Farmelo earned a promotion to Double-A Arkansas and logged his first game there on Tuesday, collecting a hit and drawing a walk while also stealing a base in the contest. The promotion comes after a solid first half at High-A Everett, where the Mariners' fifth-ranked prospect hit .267 with a .387 on-base percentage thanks to a 15.5 percent walk rate, along with 13 home runs and 26 stolen bases in 83 games. The former first-round draft pick was limited to 75 games total over the last two seasons because of injuries, but now fully healthy, his full tool set has been on display in 2026. The left-handed slugger has a solid hit tool, along with plus power and speed that make him a strong dynasty asset in fantasy so long as he can stay on the field. The 21-year-old could be knocking on the door to the majors sometime next year.

5 hours ago

Jac Caglianone • RF • Royals

Jac Caglianone Out of Wednesday's Lineup

Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (shoulder) is not in the team's starting lineup for Wednesday's series finale against the visiting San Francisco Giants, per MLB.com. Veteran Starling Marte will make the start in right field for the Royals and will bat seventh against Giants right-hander Landen Roupp. Caglianone should be considered day-to-day for now after he was pulled from Tuesday's game early against the Giants after hurting his right shoulder during a diving attempt in the outfield. Fantasy managers need to make sure he's on their benches for Wednesday while checking back on Thursday to see if he's active for the series opener against the division-rival Detroit Tigers. The 23-year-old former sixth overall pick in 2024 out of the University of Florida has come on strong in 2026 after a slow start to his first full season in the majors, and he's now hitting .258/.316/.463 with a .779 OPS, 16 long balls, 37 RBI, 46 runs scored, and three steals in 337 at-bats. Perhaps the most encouraging is that he's hitting .248 (25-for-101) with five of his 16 bombs against left-handed pitchers.

5 hours ago

Bobby Witt Jr. • SS • Royals

Royals Place Bobby Witt Jr. on Injured List With Back Tightness

The Kansas City Royals announced on Wednesday that they placed shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (back) on the 10-day injured list with lower-back tightness and selected the contract of infielder Andrew Velazquez from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move. Velazquez is starting at shortstop and batting ninth on Wednesday against San Francisco Giants right-hander Landen Roupp, but both Tyler Tolbert and Nick Loftin could fill in at the 6 in KC for however long Witt is sidelined. This will be the first time in Witt's career that he has landed on the IL. He was originally held out of Sunday's series finale against the San Diego Padres with back tightness before returning for Monday's series opener against the Giants, only to be pulled mid-game with more back tightness. It doesn't sound like the Royals are very concerned, though, which means Witt could be back when his 10 days on the IL are up. It could help explain why the three-time All-Star has hit only .196 (11-for-56) with a .536 OPS, one homer, two doubles, three RBI, seven runs, two steals, four walks, and 13 strikeouts in 14 games in the month of July. Witt is a must-hold in all fantasy leagues while he recovers.

6 hours ago

Murf Gray • 3B • Pirates

Murf Gray's Second Home Run at Double-A was a Grand One

Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman prospect Murf Gray was recently promoted to Double-A, his second promotion of the season already, and he's collected a hit in three of the first four games for Altoona, including his second home run at that level on Tuesday, which was a grand slam. Not only that, the Pirates' third-ranked prospect is showing patience, drawing three walks compared to just two strikeouts so far with the Curve. The Fresno State product was a 2025 draft pick, 73rd overall, but is seeing time in professional baseball for the first time this season and has not disappointed. Across all three levels this year, the 6-foot-3 slugger owns a .323/.405/.610 slash line with 25 home runs, and though he tended to chase pitches in college, he is striking out at just a 19.2 percent rate while drawing walks at a 10.5 percent rate, so it looks like he's developed in that area. At this rate, the 22-year-old could be in the mix for an MLB debut next year, and his dynasty arrow is pointing up at the moment.

6 hours ago

Alex Lange • RP • Royals

Alex Lange Bounces Back on Tuesday, Tallies Save in Scoreless Frame

Kansas City Royals right-hander Alex Lange recorded his ninth save of the season on Tuesday night, pitching a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts in his team's 3-2 win over the San Francisco Giants. Lange had struggled in July leading up to his outing on Tuesday, allowing eight earned runs across 3 2/3 innings (four games) this month. However, it appears as though Kansas City is sticking with him as its primary option in the ninth inning. Although he's recorded a 6.15 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP across 41 innings so far this year, Lange has converted a respectable nine out of 11 save chances. Fantasy managers should be aware of the damage he might do to their ratios, but Lange remains a viable source of saves to target on the waiver wire.

6 hours ago

CJ Abrams • SS • Nationals

CJ Abrams Continues Breakout Campaign With Two More Home Runs

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams stayed red-hot at the dish in Tuesday night's 8-7 loss to the hosting Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, going 2-for-3 at the plate with two home runs, four RBI, and a walk to raise his season batting average to .279 and his OPS to .892. Both of Abrams' blasts in the thin air in Denver were two-run shots, and the 25-year-old All-Star has now homered in three straight games. During that stretch, he has four home runs and eight RBI, which makes him one of the hottest hitters in baseball this week. It hasn't just been limited to this week, though, as the former sixth overall pick in 2019 by the San Diego Padres is having a fantastic 2026 season, slashing .279/.354/.538 with an .892 OPS, 24 home runs, 76 RBI, 15 stolen bases, and 61 runs scored across his 366 at-bats in his fourth full season in D.C. The two-time All-Star is having his best month yet in July, hitting .309 (17-for-55) with six homers, three doubles, 16 RBI, nine runs, and two stolen bases in 14 games played. Abrams is obviously a must-start fantasy shortstop.

6 hours ago

Jordan Romano • RP • Rockies

Jordan Romano Emerging as Closer to Roster in Colorado

Colorado Rockies right-hander Jordan Romano picked up his seventh save of the season on Tuesday night, pitching a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts in his team's 8-7 win over the Washington Nationals. Romano opened the 2026 season with the Los Angeles Angels and got off to a brutal start, recording a 10.13 ERA across eight innings (11 games). However, the 33-year-old has been significantly better since catching on with the Rockies, posting a 1.59 ERA with eight strikeouts and three saves across 5 2/3 innings (six games). Romano has appeared in the ninth inning in all six of his outings with Colorado, recording saves in three out of his last five appearances. For fantasy managers in need of saves, Romano profiles as an obvious waiver wire target.

6 hours ago

Manny Machado • 3B • Padres

Manny Machado Heating Up Again, Hits Two Homers Against Braves

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado went hitless in the first three games out of last week's All-Star break over the weekend, but he's turned things around so far this week and had another big game offensively in Tuesday's 8-3 win over the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Machado went 2-for-5 at the plate with two solo home runs and a strikeout to raise his season average to .204 and his OPS to .727. The 34-year-old veteran and seven-time All-Star has been a disappointment average-wise and with a .294 on-base percentage, but he's now up to 22 home runs on the year and has added 59 RBI, 50 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 413 plate appearances, so he has still been an asset in counting stats and for his power. Machado also homered in Monday's series opener in Atlanta, so he's gone deep three times in the last two days after going 0-for-9 over the weekend in the series in Kansas City against the Royals. So far in 16 games and 69 plate appearances in July, Machado is hitting .281 (16-for-57) with a 1.005 OPS, six home runs, a double, 13 RBI, 10 runs, and a steal. Fantasy managers who bought low on him have been pleased.

6 hours ago

Max Clark • CF • Tigers

Max Clark Blasts Leadoff Home Run as MLB Debut Approaches

Detroit Tigers outfield prospect Max Clark belted a leadoff home run for the Mud Hens on Tuesday in a two-hit night as he continues to make the case for a major-league debut. The Tigers' top-ranked prospect is hitting .306 in 13 games at Triple-A in July, with four doubles, three home runs, three steals, and an impressive 11:10 BB:K. For the season, the left-handed slugger is slashing .268/.356/.415 with nine home runs and 20 steals while boasting an 84th percentile strikeout rate (15.4 percent). The organization has made it clear they are in no hurry to rush Clark to the majors, but it shouldn't be long now, as the Tigers look like sellers ahead of the trade deadline, which could open up an opportunity for playing time for the former third-overall draft pick. The 21-year-old remains one of the top stash candidates in fantasy for his potential to be a multi-category contributor.

7 hours ago

Caleb Bonemer • SS • White Sox

Caleb Bonemer Still Trending Upward as He Settles in at Double-A

Chicago White Sox infield prospect Caleb Bonemer was promoted to Double-A Birmingham in mid-June and is holding his own despite being one of the younger players at that level. The 20-year-old is slashing .250/.365/.409 with four home runs and three steals in 24 games, although the bulk of that production has come in the last 12 games alone. During that 12-game stretch, Chicago's top-ranked prospect is hitting .302 with all four of his home runs (including one in his latest game on Tuesday) and two of his three steals coming in that span, so he certainly appears to be getting more comfortable there. There has also been a notable drop in strikeout rate upon his promotion, with the right-handed hitter going from a 29.1 percent K% at High-A to a more palatable 23.1 percent K% at Double-A. The former second-round draft pick's stock has increased quite a bit year-over-year, with the 6-foot-1 slugger moving from No. 11 to No. 1 in Chicago's system and from outside the top 100 per MLB Pipeline to No. 16 overall. Though a major league debut likely won't come until sometime next season at the earliest, with a solid all-around skill set, he's become a coveted dynasty asset.

7 hours ago

Tommy Edman • LF • Dodgers

Tommy Edman Emerging as Priority Waiver-Wire Target During Hot Streak

Los Angeles Dodgers utility man Tommy Edman did not make his 2026 season debut until mid-June due to offseason ankle surgery. However, the veteran switch-hitter has been on fire since making his return to the lineup, entering play on Tuesday slashing .354/.440/.519 with two home runs, 14 RBI, 15 runs scored, and two stolen bases across 93 plate appearances. Edman's current .433 batting average on balls in play is well above his career mark of .294, so his numbers are likely to regress over a larger sample size of trips to the plate. Still, the 31-year-old's strong start at the plate could be a sign that he's healthier than he's been in recent seasons. At his best, Edman offers a well-rounded profile that is without any major fantasy weaknesses. His ability to play multiple positions also helps keep him in the Dodgers lineup consistently. Particularly in deeper league formats, Edman profiles as a priority depth piece to target on the waiver wire.

18 hours ago

Jose Corniell • RP • Rangers

Jose Corniell Placed on 10-Day Injured List Due to Arm Troubles

Texas Rangers right-hander Jose Corniell (elbow/forearm) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday due to a flexor/elbow issue, per Jeff Wilson of DLLS Sports. Wilson characterizes the injury as "discouraging," given that Corniell already underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024. The 23-year-old put together an impressive minor league season upon his return from Tommy John surgery in 2025, posting a 1.89 ERA across 38 innings (13 games). However, it's been a struggle for Corniell in 2026. He's allowed 10 earned runs across 4 1/3 MLB innings and pitched to a 6.37 ERA with just a 16.4% strikeout rate across 35 1/3 innings at Triple-A. His average fastball velocity is also down from 95.9 miles per hour in 2025 to 94.4 miles per hour so far this year. Pending further news around this latest setback, Corniell could be headed for another extended absence.

18 hours ago

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