MLB News

Kyle Schwarber • DH • Phillies

Kyle Schwarber Out With Gastrointenstinal Issue on Tuesday

Philadelphia Phillies All-Star outfielder Kyle Schwarber (illness) is out of Tuesday's lineup against the division-rival Miami Marlins due to a gastrointestinal issue that is similar to something he dealt with earlier this year, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. The Phillies are hoping Schwarber will only be out for a day or two. With Schwarber under the weather on Tuesday, first baseman Bryce Harper is serving as the designated hitter and is batting third, with Alec Bohm playing first base and hitting cleanup against Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara. Edmundo Sosa is at the hot corner and is batting sixth for the Phils. The 33-year-old Schwarber is a must-start fantasy asset when he's healthy for his elite power from the left side of the plate and his high on-base percentage despite striking out 34.4% of the time. Going into Tuesday's action, Schwarbs still leads baseball in both home runs (33) and strikeouts (157) in 103 games across 457 plate appearances. He's carrying a modest five-game hitting streak right now that has seen him go 6-for-18 with two doubles, an RBI, and four runs scored.

5 hours ago

Esmerlyn Valdez • RF • Pirates

Esmerlyn Valdez Returning to the Lineup on Tuesday

Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez (hand) will be back in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander Brandon Pfaadt, according to Jason Mackey. Valdez will return to action a day after he was hit by a pitch on his left hand, which caused him to be removed from Monday's game early. Thankfully, tests on Valdez's hand came back negative for any fractures. The 22-year-old Dominican has been excellent in his first 124 major-league at-bats in 2026, slashing .290/.386/.702 with a 1.088 OPS, 14 home runs, 36 RBI, and 26 runs scored across his 38 games and 145 plate appearances. Valdez has been one of the most popular waiver-wire pickups for his power. Although he still has a 1.043 OPS in 21 games in July, Valdez has cooled off of late, going 3-for-16 with eight strikeouts in his last six games. Fantasy managers will be hoping that he can turn things around in his return on Tuesday at PNC Park.

5 hours ago

Shea Langeliers • C • Athletics

Shea Langeliers Undergoes Meniscectomy, Not Officially Ruled Out for the Year

Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (knee) had a successful medial meniscectomy on Tuesday as well as a platelet-rich plasma injection in his knee, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. There is no timetable for Langeliers' return, but he has yet to be officially ruled out for the rest of the season. Langeliers didn't have a full repair of his torn meniscus, so there's a chance he could be back for the A's in three to six weeks. Fantasy managers should continue to stash the elite power-hitting catcher for now, but keep in mind that the A's will be in no rush to bring Langeliers back, especially if they are even further from playoff contention later in the second half. In the meantime, the lefty-hitting Jonah Heim will operate as the team's primary backstop, giving him fantasy value in two-catcher leagues for his pop from the left side. Langeliers' injury is a major blow to the A's and fantasy managers, as he was already at 23 home runs with a .263/.332/.497 slash line and .829 OPS through his 376 at-bats in 2026.

6 hours ago

Kody Clemens • 1B • Twins

Kody Clemens' Power Belongs on 12-Team Rosters

Minnesota Twins infielder/outfielder Kody Clemens is batting .243/.299/.488 with 18 home runs, 49 RBI, and seven stolen bases across 338 at-bats. He needs one more homer to match the career-high 19 he set last season, and the underlying contact supports the power. Clemens owns a 92.7 mph average exit velocity, 47.1% hard-hit rate, and 12.2% barrel rate, so this is more than a brief hot streak. A .250 expected average suggests his current mark is reasonable, although a 23.0% strikeout rate can still lead to uneven stretches. Clemens has appeared at first base, second base, and all three outfield positions, with Yahoo eligibility at 1B/2B/OF. Yahoo managers have passed on him in 61% of leagues, while RotoBaller ranks him 59th in its Week 18 waiver rankings with an add recommendation for 12-team formats. Managers seeking power and lineup flexibility should roster him at that depth.

6 hours ago

Tommy Edman • LF • Dodgers

Tommy Edman Is a Must-Add in 12-Team Leagues

Los Angeles Dodgers infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman has hit his way back into mixed-league relevance since returning from right ankle surgery. He is batting .337/.414/.490 with two home runs, 17 RBI, 17 runs, and three stolen bases through 113 plate appearances. A .413 BABIP warns that the average will cool, but a .317 expected average, 89.4 mph average exit velocity, and 40.5% hard-hit rate show he has not simply been getting lucky. Edman's 2B/3B/OF eligibility makes him easy to keep active even as Los Angeles moves him around the diamond. He will not carry a roster in power or steals, but he can help across the board without leaving managers exposed in any one category. Edman is still sitting on the waiver wire in 67% of Yahoo leagues and ranks 34th in RotoBaller's Week 18 rankings, with an add recommendation for 12-team formats. He should already be rostered at that depth.

6 hours ago

Cole Carrigg • CF • Rockies

Cole Carrigg's Five-Category Upside Makes Him a Priority Waiver Pickup

Colorado Rockies outfielder Cole Carrigg has settled into everyday work in center field while producing a .287/.360/.519 slash line with five home runs, 26 RBI, 30 runs, and three stolen bases through 151 plate appearances. The rookie has appeared in 39 of Colorado's 41 games since his June 9 debut and started 34 of them, giving fantasy managers both steady volume and production across the standard categories. The stolen-base total should have room to grow after Carrigg swiped 30 bags in 57 Triple-A games before his promotion. His five homers are useful, though a 34.0% hard-hit rate and .414 expected slugging percentage suggest the current power pace may be difficult to maintain. Only 22% of Yahoo leagues have Carrigg rostered, and he sits 32nd in RotoBaller's Week 18 waiver rankings with an add recommendation for 12-team formats. The combination of regular playing time, runs, average, and power-speed upside makes him a priority addition at that league depth.

7 hours ago

Luke Keaschall • 2B • Twins

Luke Keaschall's Speed Makes him a Strong 12-Team Waiver Pickup

Minnesota Twins infielder/outfielder Luke Keaschall is batting .258/.353/.342 with four home runs, 30 RBI, 51 runs, and 13 stolen bases through 388 plate appearances. His 15.5% strikeout rate and 10.3% walk rate help him reach base often enough to contribute in runs and steals, while regular work at second base and both outfield spots keeps his bat in the lineup. Power remains the obvious weakness. Keaschall has produced an 84.6 mph average exit velocity, 28.3% hard-hit rate, and 2.9% barrel rate, and his .231 expected average adds some risk to the current batting average. Still, speed and 2B/OF eligibility give him a useful fantasy floor. Keaschall is rostered in 57% of Yahoo leagues and ranks 42nd in RotoBaller's Week 18 waiver rankings, with an add recommendation for 12-team formats. Managers seeking runs and steals should consider him a strong addition.

7 hours ago

Christian Scott • SP • Mets

Christian Scott's Strikeout Upside Makes Him a Priority Waiver Addition

New York Mets starting pitcher Christian Scott has turned his first season back from Tommy John surgery into a useful source of strikeouts. The 27-year-old owns a 3.13 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 78 strikeouts across 63 1/3 innings, while his 28.8% strikeout rate is up sharply from 19.8% as a rookie in 2024. Scott's four-seam fastball has climbed from 94.2 mph to 95.4 mph, and opponents are batting .211 with a 34.1% whiff rate against his sweeper. The workload and control still create some risk. Scott has not completed six innings in any of his 14 starts, carries a 10.7% walk rate, and owns a 4.01 expected ERA. He also lasted only 3 2/3 innings against Milwaukee on July 22, allowing three runs and three walks. Even so, he remains available in 72% of Yahoo leagues and ranks 52nd in RotoBaller's Week 18 waiver rankings. Scott is a priority strikeout addition in 12-team leagues.

7 hours ago

Freddy Peralta • SP • Mets |

Zach Neto • SS • Angels

Zach Neto, Freddy Peralta Drawing Trade Interest From Rays

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto and New York Mets starting pitcher Freddy Peralta are among the players drawing trade interest from the Tampa Bay Rays. The Angels are listening on Neto but have placed a high asking price on the 25-year-old, who is batting .235/.326/.440 with 19 home runs, 46 RBI, 71 runs, and 13 steals in 104 games. Peralta has struggled in New York, going 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and 113 strikeouts across 113 2/3 innings over 22 starts. He can become a free agent after the season, while Neto remains under club control through 2029. Tampa Bay is considering another starter to help manage its rotation workloads, but neither player appears close to being moved. Their fantasy outlooks remain unchanged for now.

7 hours ago

Carlos Lagrange • SP • Yankees

Carlos Lagrange Resumes Throwing After Shoulder Injury

New York Yankees right-handed pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange (right shoulder) has resumed throwing after a capsular sprain shut him down, according to Greg Joyce of the New York Post. Lagrange last pitched for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on June 25 and went on the seven-day injured list July 2. The Yankees initially expected him to stop throwing for approximately six weeks, so this is an encouraging step. There is still no timetable for mound work or a return to game action. The 23-year-old has a 4.55 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 83 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings this season. Lagrange remains a dynasty-league hold, but he has no immediate redraft value while his return date and possible path to the Yankees bullpen remain uncertain.

7 hours ago

Shane Drohan • RP • Brewers

Shane Drohan Is More Than a Matchup Streamer

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Shane Drohan has a 3.51 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 82 strikeouts against 23 walks through 82 innings. The left-hander has remained in the rotation for 10 consecutive starts since June 1, and his underlying numbers support more than short-term streaming value. Drohan owns a 3.33 expected ERA, 24.0% strikeout rate, and 6.7% walk rate. Drohan did allow five earned runs over six innings against the Colorado Rockies on Friday, July 24, so he is not an automatic start in every matchup. Even so, one poor outing does not erase the stable role, solid ratios, and strikeout-per-inning production. Roughly two-thirds of Yahoo leagues still have Drohan available, while RotoBaller ranks him 71st among its current waiver options with a recommendation for 12-team formats. He belongs on rosters in standard mixed leagues, even if managers remain selective with tougher matchups.

7 hours ago

Esmerlyn Valdez • RF • Pirates

Esmerlyn Valdez Day-to-Day With Hand Contusion

Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez (hand) is considered day-to-day with a left-hand contusion after tests showed no fractures, according to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com. Valdez was forced from Monday's series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks early after he was hit on the left hand by a pitch. Thankfully, the 22-year-old has avoided a serious injury, but he might be held out of action on Tuesday for the second game of the series. The right-handed-hitting Dominican outfielder has been one of the hottest waiver-wire pickups in fantasy baseball since his MLB debut earlier this year, as he's tearing the cover off the baseball with a .290/.386/.702 slash line with a 1.088 OPS, 14 home runs, 36 RBI, and 26 runs scored in only 38 games and 145 plate appearances. In 21 games and 91 plate appearances in July, Valdez has gone 21-for-76 (.276) with a 1.043 OPS, eight homers, three doubles, a triple, 24 RBI, and 16 runs for the Bucs. Check back later to see if he's ready to return to Pittsburgh's starting nine against Arizona.

8 hours ago

Oneil Cruz • CF • Pirates

Oneil Cruz Having "Good Days of Late," Rehab Assignment Could Come Soon

Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said that center fielder Oneil Cruz (hand) has had "good days of late," according to Dominic Campbell of Sports Illustrated. Cruz seems to be past the soreness of where his fractured hand is on contact, and his bones are healing. His next step is to ramp up his baseball activities before going on a minor-league rehab assignment. Cherington thinks that Cruz could be ready to come off the 60-day injured list during the early window of eligibility to return, which will come on Aug. 7. The 27-year-old Dominican has been sidelined with a fractured left hand since June 8. Cruz has been swinging a bat for a few weeks and is improving, so fantasy managers are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel for his return. With one of the fastest bat speeds in baseball, Cruz can be a five-category game-changer down the stretch if he's fully healthy. Before his hand injury, he was slashing .264/.350/.472 with an .822 OPS, 14 home runs, 44 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 45 runs scored across his 250 at-bats.

8 hours ago

Corey Seager • SS • Rangers

Corey Seager to Start a Rehab Assignment on Tuesday

Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (back) is scheduled to start a minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco on Tuesday night, according to Jeff Wilson of DLLS Sports. Seager has been cleared to play in games down on the farm after taking batting practice over the last couple of days. The veteran shortstop has been out for almost a month with inflammation in his back, but he could be ready to rejoin the major-league roster by the weekend or early next week, barring a setback. The 32-year-old five-time All-Star and two-time World Series MVP has had a disastrous season in 2026 due to injuries, playing in only 51 games (219 plate appearances) while slashing .182/.292/.374 with a career-worst .667 OPS, 10 home runs, 25 RBI, 28 runs scored, and a stolen base. Seager is still rostered in 80% of Yahoo leagues because of his reputation as one of the better fantasy shortstops, but injuries have taken their toll, leaving us to wonder if he'll be a high-end power asset down the stretch for the Rangers in 2026.

8 hours ago

Gabriel Moreno • C • Diamondbacks

Gabriel Moreno a Must-Add Catcher Where Available

Five years into his MLB career, Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno has had difficulty staying healthy for an entire season. However, the 26-year-old has managed to avoid major injury so far in 2026 and looks to be on pace to crack 400 plate appearances in a season for the first time. Moreno has also been highly productive, hitting .310/.393/.451 with seven home runs, 41 RBI, 43 runs scored, and four stolen bases across 326 trips to the plate. With just a 7.7% barrel rate, Moreno is unlikely to provide fantasy managers with plus power. Still, he owns a respectable 42.6% hard-hit rate and has struck out in just 15% of his plate appearances, which allows him to be the rare catcher who is a true batting average asset. Moreno also profiles as a quality run producer due to his spot in the heart of the Diamondbacks lineup. In any league where he remains available, Moreno should be viewed as a priority waiver wire target for fantasy managers.

9 hours ago

Kyle Karros • 3B • Rockies

Kyle Karros Emerging as a Quality Deep-League Waiver-Wire Target

Across 356 plate appearances in 2026, Colorado Rockies third baseman Kyle Karros is hitting .262/.362/.426 with nine home runs, 37 RBI, 51 runs scored, and three stolen bases. After struggling to a .585 OPS across 156 plate appearances after making his MLB debut in 2025, the 24-year-old appears to be emerging as a quality big leaguer in his second season. Karros' underlying contact metrics are solid but unspectacular, as he's logged an 8.2% barrel rate and a 42.5% hard-hit rate. However, Karros owns an impressive approach at the plate, as he's walked in 12.6% of his plate appearances while posting just a 20.6% strikeout rate. He's also posted plus defensive metrics at third base and has the advantage of playing his home games in the hitter-friendly environment of Coors Field, both of which should help him stay in the lineup every day and maximize his skill set. Particularly in deeper leagues, Karros profiles as a quality corner infield option to target on the waiver wire.

10 hours ago

Clayton Beeter • RP • Nationals

Clayton Beeter Establishing Himself as the Preferred Closer Option in Washington

Across 31 2/3 innings (33 games) so far in 2026, Washington Nationals right-hander Clayton Beeter has recorded a 3.69 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 33 strikeouts, and 10 saves. While Washington has not deployed Beeter as its sole closer for the entirety of the season, he's the only reliever on their current active roster with more than two saves. The 27-year-old has also seen more traditional closer usage of late, as he's logged three saves in his last four appearances out of the pen. Beeter's command remains a red flag in his profile, as he's logged a 14.7% walk rate this year and owns a 15.3% walk rate across 60 2/3 career MLB innings. However, he's recorded a 57.7% ground-ball rate this season and has strikeout upside, as he's struck out 27.8% of the batters he's faced as a big leaguer. While Beeter may not provide fantasy managers with high-end closer ratios, he's clearly the preferred option in the ninth inning for the Nationals right now and profiles as a worthy deep-league source of saves.

10 hours ago

Michael Soroka • SP • Diamondbacks

Michael Soroka Throws Simulated Game on Monday

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Michael Soroka (glute) threw a two-inning simulated game, consisting of 35 pitches, on July 25, according to MLB.com. He also threw a bullpen session on July 27 and is scheduled to pitch in a camp game on July 30. Soroka is rehabbing a left-glute strain that landed him on the 15-day injured list back on June 20. Barring a setback as he ramps up his throwing program, he should be back in Arizona's major-league starting rotation by early August. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues may want to consider picking the 28-year-old Canadian up off the waiver wire soon if they're still searching for starting-pitching upgrades. Soroka has had a resurgent season in 2026 with the Snakes, going 8-3 with a 3.07 ERA (2.94 FIP) and 1.08 WHIP with 79 strikeouts and 17 walks in 82 innings pitched across his 15 starts in his seventh year in the majors. At the very least, he should be a matchup-based streaming option down the stretch in deep-mixed formats. Soroka is currently rostered in 67% of Yahoo leagues.

10 hours ago

Nick Lodolo • SP • Reds

Nick Lodolo Working on New Breaking-Ball Grip as he Rehabs a Blister

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger) threw a bullpen session without discomfort on July 22 and another one on July 26, and he has been testing a new grip for his breaking ball and hasn't reported any issues, according to MLB.com. Lodolo landed on the 15-day injured list on July 12 with another blister on his left index finger. There is no specific timetable for his return to the Reds' starting rotation, but he appears to be making good progress. The next step is for Lodolo to face live batters before he's likely sent out on a minor-league rehab assignment. In a best-case scenario, Lodolo might not be back in the majors until mid-August. In his first 12 starts of the season, the former seventh overall pick in 2019 from Texas Christian University went 3-2 with a 4.60 ERA (5.11 FIP) and 1.47 WHIP with 50 strikeouts and 27 walks in 62 2/3 innings. Lodolo's strikeout upside has been intriguing since he entered the league in 2022, but he has a career-low 17.9% strikeout rate in 2026 and a career-high 9.7% walk rate, which is not what you'd want to see from an oft-injured arm.

10 hours ago

Zac Thornton • SP • Mets

Zac Thornton Emerging as a Must-Add Starting Pitcher

New York Mets starting pitcher Zac Thornton put together another impressive outing on Monday night, throwing 6 1/3 innings of three-run ball with five strikeouts in his team's 14-3 win over the Atlanta Braves. Since being recalled from Triple-A in mid-July, Thornton has allowed just three earned runs while picking up two wins and 12 strikeouts across 19 1/3 innings (three starts). The 24-year-old is averaging just 92 miles per hour on his fastball and does not profile as a significant source of swing-and-miss, as he's logged just a 20% strikeout rate in the big leagues so far this season. However, the young left-hander has been hard to barrel up, as he's allowed just two home runs across 29 2/3 innings pitched for the Mets in 2026. Given his current hot streak, Thornton profiles as a priority waiver wire target ahead of his next scheduled start against the Miami Marlins on Saturday.

10 hours ago

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