Category: MLB

Hello and welcome to the 14th installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2026 MLB season.

I will continue to be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week providing my insights and recommendations on which options should be started or benched.

The fantasy baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint. As we creep toward the All-Star break, it’s easy to fall into bad habits and not spend as much time on teams that have struggled out of the gate, but now is not the time to panic or give up. Keep putting in the work and plugging away, striving to improve each week, and you’ll reap rewards at the end of this season.

This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.

Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week:

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Someone from the Cubs is likely to make two starts next week (vs. Padres, vs. Cardinals), but as of Friday afternoon we still have no idea who that will be. It won’t be Colin Rea or Matthew Boyd, that much is sure. With Edward Cabrera (hamstring)and Ben Brown (neck) hitting the injured list though, the Cubs are going to have to get creative. Both Javier Assad and Shota Imanaga pitched in Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Mets, so one of them is likely to get the ball on Monday with the other going on Tuesday. That leaves Jordan Wicks and David Peterson to try to get through the weekend on Saturday and Sunday against the Brewers in Milwaukee. Imanaga is an every-week start regardless of whether or not he goes twice. Assad would be much more appealing if he’s lined up to start Monday.

The Astros have shifted to a six-man rotation, at least for the time being, so with six games on tap for next week none of their hurlers are scheduled to pitch twice. If anything changes, or if someone gets skipped this time through, Peter Lambert would be the beneficiary and he would get a two-start week (vs. Twins, vs. Rays).

The Royals only play five games next week, so unless they plan on skipping someone in their rotation, no one is going to get a two-start week. If they do decide to adjust their rotation, Noah Cameron pitches on Tuesday and would draw the two-start week (vs. Rays, vs. Phillies). We’ll update here if anything changes.

The Mets are currently rolling with a six-man rotation and only have six games on the docket, so it’s unclear if anyone is going to pitch twice. They also canned manager Carlos Mendoza on Friday morning, so major changes to the rotation could be coming. Nolan McLean is scheduled to pitch on Monday and would draw the two-start week (at Blue Jays, at Braves) if the Mets do shake things up. There’s no actionable takeaway though as McLean should be an every week start in all leagues regardless of matchup.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of June 26 and are subject to change.

American League

▶ Strong Plays

Tarik Skubal, Tigers, LHP (at Yankees, at Rangers)

Since returning from the injured list, Skubal hasn’t been quite as good as he has been over the past two seasons – posting a 4.96 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 21/2 K/BB ratio over 16 1/3 innings in his three starts. He has served up six home runs during that stretch, a trend that’s unlikely to continue as he continues to shake off the rust. You can’t sit Skubal for a two-start week, even if it includes a matchup against the Yankees in New York. With the Tigers’ playoff hopes sinking by the day, he’ll have the added motivation of auditioning for interested clubs over his next few starts as the trade deadline approaches.

Ranger Suarez, Red Sox, LHP (vs. Nationals, at Angels)

The Red Sox as a club have been a major disappointment this season, but there has been nothing disappointing about what free agent acquisition Ranger Suarez has given them. Through 15 starts he holds a brilliant 2.83 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and an 84/25 K/BB ratio across 82 2/3 innings of work. He should be an every week start in all formats, so just sit back and enjoy the added production from a two-start week. As a bonus, the matchups fall in his favor this week and he’s likely to finally tally his fourth victory of the season.

Jacob deGrom, Rangers, RHP (at Guardians, vs. Tigers)

As the old adage goes, as long as deGrom is healthy enough to take the mound, he’s an elite option and should be locked into all fantasy lineups. That has been the case once again this season as the 38-year-old hurler has registered a 3.55 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and a 106/20 K/BB ratio across 88 2/3 innings through his first 16 starts. Just sit back and enjoy the added production from a two-start week this time around. He represents one of the top overall plays on the board this week.

Parker Messick, Guardians, LHP (vs. Rangers, vs. White Sox)

The 25-year-old southpaw has enjoyed tremendous success in his rookie campaign, going 7-4 with a 2.67 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a 101/29 K/BB ratio across 94 1/3 innings through his first 16 starts. He seems to be getting better as the year goes on also, striking out at least nine batters in each of his last two starts – including a matchup against the White Sox. Those that have Messick should be using him every week, so there’s no real actionable takeaway here. He’s easily one of the top options on the board for this week.

Bryan Woo, Mariners, RHP (vs. Angels, vs. Blue Jays)

Woo hasn’t been quite as dominant as we have come to expect from him this season, pitching to a pedestrian 4.26 ERA with a strong 1.04 WHIP and a 92/18 K/BB ratio over 93 innings. His issues have come on the road recently, giving up five or more runs in each of his last three outings away from T-Mobile Park. Fortunately for fantasy managers, he’ll make two starts at home this week against offenses that rank in the middle of the pack. Expect Woo to do some work at correcting that ERA this week. It should be all systems go in all leagues for the Mariners’ right-hander.

Trey Yesavage, Blue Jays, RHP (vs. Mets, at Mariners)

So far, so good for Yesavage through his first 11 starts on the season. The 22-year-old right-hander holds a strong 3.56 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 58/30 K/BB ratio over 60 2/3 innings. It’s not quite the elite production that he flashed at the end of the 2025 season, but it’s been more than good enough for fantasy managers. He should be an every week start in all fantasy leagues until he gives us a reason to think otherwise. You just get the bonus of double the production and a pair of strong matchups to boot this week.

Griffin Jax, Rays, RHP (at Royals, at Astros)

Since making the jump to the Rays’ rotation at the end of April, Jax has put together a 2.40 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 43/13 K/BB ratio over 45 innings in his 11 starts. That’s pretty great work. It’s even better when you account for most of the damage coming in one six-run disaster against the Tigers. Otherwise, he has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his other 10 starts. Look for the good times to continue this week, making Jax a very strong option in all leagues.

Ryan Weathers, Yankees, LHP (vs. Tigers, vs. Twins)

It has been exciting to see what Weathers can do when he’s able to stay on the mound. Through 15 starts on the season, he boasts a solid 3.95 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a 95/24 K/BB ratio across 86 2/3 innings. He went through a tough stretch in late May through early June where he allowed five or more runs in three straight outings, but has righted the ship with two very strong outings his last two times out. One of those was against the Tigers who struggle mightily against left-handed pitching and who he’ll take on once again on Monday. He’s an easy start in all leagues this week.

Sean Burke, White Sox, RHP (at Orioles, at Guardians)

Burke has done a very nice job for the White Sox this season, posting a solid 3.71 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and an 87/30 K/BB ratio over 87 1/3 innings of work through his first 16 appearances (12 starts). He enters this two-start week in especially good form, allowing just one run in each of his last two starts while registering a 14/2 K/BB ratio over 13 2/3 innings against the Yankees in New York and the Guardians at home. Go ahead and ride the hot hand here as Burke looks like a very strong play in all league sizes this week.

Tanner Bibee, Guardians, RHP (vs. Rangers, vs. White Sox)

Despite the fact that he has won just two games on the season, Bibee has pitched very well overall – compiling a 3.78 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and an 81/29 K/BB ratio across 95 1/3 innings. Winning games is going to continue to be a struggle while the offense is without Jose Ramirez, but Bibee looks to be a rock solid option in all formats with two home starts on the docket. He should be started in all leagues without hesitation.

▶ Decent Plays

Gage Jump, Athletics, LHP (vs. Dodgers, vs. Marlins)

This one is tough and really depends on what you’re looking for. Jump has been one of the breakout stars of the 2026 season so far, registering a 2.06 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and a 35/10 K/BB ratio over 35 1/3 innings through his first six starts for the Athletics. The major problem this week is that he’s making both of his starts at home in West Sacramento, and the first one comes against the vaunted Dodgers’ offense. The strikeouts are going to be there regardless, and I think he easily soars into the double digits there for the week. That’s probably enough to use him in 15 teamers already. Just understand that there’s more ratio risk involved here than we’re used to seeing from Jump this season.

Shane Baz, Orioles, RHP (vs. White Sox, at Reds)

It has been a rough go for Baz as of late, giving up 11 runs (10 earned) over 17 innings in his last three starts. During that stretch he saw his ERA climb from 4.09 to 4.31. Now he has to battle a couple of offenses that hit well against right-handed pitching and his second start comes in a strong hitting environment in Cincinnati. If you’re not worried about ratios and want to use Baz as a full volume play to attack wins and strikeouts, that’s probably fine in all league sizes. Good ratios from him would just be a bonus this week and shouldn’t be the expectation.

Zebby Matthews, Twins, RHP (at Astros, at Yankees)

Aside from the inflated ERA, Matthews has done a nice job through his first eight starts for the Twins, compiling a 1.19 WHIP and a 39/11 K/BB ratio over 49 1/3 innings while notching three victories. Two disaster starts against the Tigers and Pirates – both on the road – are what has brought down his overall line. He’s coming off of a strong start at home against the Dodgers, which should inspire some confidence. He has struggled on the road though and now has to take on a pair of strong offenses in hitter’s parks. I could really go either way with this one. I’m fine betting on the talent winning out here, but be aware that one of these starts could turn into another seven-run explosion.

▶ At Your Own Risk

Ryan Johnson, Angels, RHP (at Mariners, vs. Red Sox)

Johnson has been pretty disastrous overall this season, registering an 8.84 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and a 15/9 K/BB ratio over 19 1/3 innings through his first six appearances (three starts). He did flash his upside his last time out though, firing six innings of one-hit, shutout baseball with eight strikeouts against the Orioles. Is that a trend that can continue this week? That’s up to you and your risk tolerance to decide. The matchups are actually pretty good and the strikeouts should be there even if he does struggle. I could understand taking the plunge in 15 teamers.

Erick Fedde, White Sox, RHP (at Orioles, at Guardians)

Maybe the White Sox are onto something having Fedde work behind an opener instead of as a traditional starter. Over his last four bulk outings, he holds a 2.20 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and a 14/6 K/BB ratio over 16 1/3 innings. He’s not giving you much length and he’s never really been an asset in strikeouts, so unless you’re hunting for wins it’s really tough to see the upside, especially with the WHIP damage that Fedde is likely to inflict.

National League

▶ Strong Plays

Braxton Ashcraft, Pirates, RHP (at Phillies, at Nationals)

Ashcraft has been an absolute stud for the Pirates and for fantasy managers through his first 16 starts on the season. He sits at 7-3 with a 3.07 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and a 107/22 K/BB ratio across 96 2/3 innings. For someone who was undrafted and plucked off the waiver wire in the majority of leagues, that’s excellent work. He enters his two-start week in good form also, having allowed just four runs in total over his last three starts while posting a 10/0 K/BB ratio in last week’s victory over the Mariners. There’s no reason that he should be sitting on any benches this week, start him with complete confidence.

Eduardo Rodriguez, Diamondbacks, LHP (vs. Giants, vs. Brewers)

Rodriguez was supposed to have made two starts this past week, but Thursday night’s rainout threw a wrench into those plans and pushed back his second outing. It’s not all bad though, as the rejuvenated southpaw gets to make a pair of home starts including a stellar draw against the Giants to start the week. He’s still an every week start in all leagues until he gives us a reason to think otherwise.

Sandy Alcantara, Marlins, RHP (at Rockies, at Athletics)

This one is fascinating to try to decipher. Alcantara has pitched decently overall this season, as his overall line has been dragged down by four disastrous outings in which he was shelled for six runs or more. Since the calendar flipped to June though, he has delivered five straight quality starts, lowering his ERA from 4.66 to 4.01 in the process. You’d like to think that trend continues this week, but he has to pitch in the two most hitter friendly ballparks in all of baseball in Coors Field and Sutter Health Park. When Alcantara is going well he can succeed in any environment and I’m inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt here. I’d throw caution to the wind and start him in all formats this week.

Eric Lauer, Dodgers, LHP (at Athletics, vs. Padres)

As we mentioned last week, the Dodgers finally get a seven-game week this week which means that Lauer is scheduled to make two starts. Any time we get a Dodgers’ pitcher going twice they’re a must-start for fantasy purposes. Since joining the Dodgers, Lauer has posted a brilliant 2.54 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and a 16/8 K/BB ratio across 28 1/3 innings. He was even used as a bulk reliever his last time out, which only adds to his win equity if that trend continues. He’s a very strong streaming option in all leagues this week.

▶ Decent Plays

Grant Holmes, Braves, RHP (vs. Cardinals, vs. Mets)

Overall this season Holmes has done a decent job for the Braves, posting a 4.17 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and a 65/37 K/BB ratio over 73 1/3 innings through his first 15 starts. He hasn’t made it out of the fifth inning since June 6 though and has really struggled with his command his last two times out. If he can get through five innings, he’s always a threat to earn a victory with the Braves’ offense backing him, but he hasn’t looked sharp recently. The matchups are good enough that I’d still probably roll the dice with him in 15 teamers and hope for the best. In 12’s it would really depend on what alternative options I had available.

Brandon Sproat, Brewers, RHP (vs. Reds, at Diamondbacks)

The overall numbers for Sproat this season have been underwhelming, but it looks like he actually may be rounding into the form that piqued the interest of fantasy managers coming into the season. The 25-year-old right-hander has allowed three earned runs or fewer in three of his last four starts and he’s coming off of a brilliant outing against the Reds in Cincinnati where he allowed just one hit and struck out 10 batters over six scoreless frames. The talent has always been there, and I’m inclined to roll with him until he shows any signs of slowing down.

Aaron Nola, Phillies, RHP (vs. Pirates, at Royals)

It’s disappointing to see what has become of Aaron Nola, who was once an ace-level option for fantasy purposes. Now, he’s nothing more than a source of strikeouts. He holds a miserable 5.58 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over 80 2/3 innings on the season, with his 82 punchouts the only thing that’s keeping him on the fringe of mixed league consideration. The matchups are intriguing enough this week that I’d be willing to go back to the well here. If he secures a victory and gets 10 strikeouts, it’ll be well worth the potential ratio hit.

Shane Drohan, Brewers, LHP (vs. Reds, at Diamondbacks)

Drohan has pitched well for the Brewers this season, registering a 3.12 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and a 52/17 K/BB ratio across 52 innings in 16 appearances (six starts). The ceiling isn’t terribly high here, but I don’t think there’s a major risk of ratio damage either if rolling him out for two starts. He should get you somewhere in the range of 8-12 strikeouts while posting decent ratios and giving you a shot at a victory. If you’re trying to stream two-start pitchers to add volume, he makes for a very attractive target this week.

Bubba Chandler, Pirates, RHP (at Phillies, at Nationals)

Could it be that we’re finally starting to see Chandler put it all together and figure out how to have sustained success at the big league level? Small sample size caveat, but over his last four starts, the right-hander has posted a 2.82 ERA and an 18/8 K/BB ratio over 22 1/3 innings, going at least five innings and surrendering two earned runs or fewer each time. The talent has never been in doubt, so I’m tempted to ride the hot hand here and roll with him in all leagues for this two-start week.

Rhett Lowder, Reds, RHP (at Brewers, vs. Orioles)

If you’re desperate for volume in deeper leagues and looking to gain ground in wins and strikeouts, Lowder isn’t the worst dart throw. His overall line on the season doesn’t look very appealing, but he has allowed just eight runs over 16 2/3 innings over his last three starts, going at least five innings and striking out at least five batters in all of them. That included a matchup against the Brewers his last time out. I think he could get you 10+ strikeouts and a shot at a victory this week, though his WHIP will probably leave a lot to be desired.

Tyler Mahle, Giants, RHP (at Diamondbacks, at Rockies)

It could be my own personal bias here, but I’m still desperately clinging to hope that Tyler Mahle can turn his season around and be the pitcher that we all thought he could be. He sits at 1-7 with a 5.49 ERA and 1.46 WHIP over 62 1/3 innings on the season. That’s terrible. The only category that he has been an asset in is strikeouts with 61. The matchups are tough too, taking on a pair of divisional opponents in extreme hitter’s parks. So why the optimism? After a long stint on the injured list, Mahle looked sharp this past week, firing 5 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball against the Athletics. It’s not much to go on, but it’s just enough that I’ll probably buy back in and roll the dice in 15 teamers.

▶ At Your Own Risk

Eury Perez, Marlins, RHP (at Rockies, at Athletics)

We saw mixed results from Perez in his first start back off of the injured list, as he allowed just one run on three hits over 4 2/3 innings against the Rangers. He only struck out one batter in that start though and was pulled after only 68 pitches. It was probably just the Marlins easing him back into action and he should be able to work deeper when he takes the mound on Tuesday. The problem is that he has to pitch at Coors Field and Sutter Health Park this week which is horrifying considering his issues giving up the long ball. There’s a chance he slides through unscathed this week, but the chances of him doing serious damage to your ratios are extremely high. I’d only use this one in leagues where I could handle the ratio damage or where I was in a tough spot and needed to take these types of chances.

Kyle Leahy, Cardinals, RHP (at Braves, at Cubs)

Leahy has struggled to find consistency this season, posting a middling 4.24 ERA, a catastrophic 1.51 WHIP and a 62/28 K/BB ratio over 76 1/3 innings through his first 15 starts. If the matchups were better, I’d consider him as a streaming option for his two-start week, but taking on the Braves and Cubs on the road is a bit terrifying. If your ratios are already in shambles and you don’t care about the WHIPping that he’s likely to provide, go ahead. Otherwise, I’d lean towards other alternatives this week.

JP Sears, Padres, LHP (at Cubs, at Dodgers)

Sears has pitched well in his lone start with the Padres this season and now gets another opportunity to pitch out of the rotation with Lucas Giolito heading to the injured list. He may wind up having some mixed league value at some point over the next few weeks, but these matchups are particularly brutal, having to take on the Cubs and Dodgers on the road. If you want to throw caution to the wind and hope for the best, go right ahead. Just understand the ratio risk you’re incurring when doing so.

Nick Lodolo, Reds, LHP (at Brewers, vs. Orioles)

Thus far, 2026 has been a season to forget for the Reds’ 28-year-old southpaw. In nine starts, he holds a miserable 5.59 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and a 38/18 K/BB ratio across 46 2/3 innings. That’s simply not going to cut it for fantasy managers. If there’s a glimmer of hope, he went four scoreless innings his last time out against the Brewers and struck out six. Maybe that’s him finally rounding back into form? Even so, he’s very difficult to trust at the moment, especially if you can’t even count on him going five innings. He’d leave him shelved if possible.

Griffin Canning, Padres, RHP (at Cubs, at Dodgers)

I had such high hopes that Canning could be a viable mixed league option once he was healthy enough to join the Padres’ rotation. He has been anything but. Through 10 appearances (eight starts) he sits at 1-5 with a hideous 7.38 ERA and 1.66 WHIP with 43 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings. Maybe in neutral matchups you could talk yourself into using him as a volume option, but these matchups are the polar opposite of neutral. Having to battle the Cubs at Wrigley Field and the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium is simply asking for ratio damage. Stay away from this one.

Miles Mikolas, Nationals, RHP (at Red Sox, vs. Pirates)

Every time that Mikolas is scheduled to make two starts, he stares at fantasy managers from the waiver wire and tries to entice them into rolling the dice. It’s almost never a good idea. The 37-year-old hurler holds a 5.24 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and a 44/17 K/BB ratio over 77 1/3 innings on the season and has won a grand total of two ballgames. The upside in wins and strikeouts is low, and the risk of ratio damage is high. Do with that what you will.

Kyle Freeland, Rockies, LHP (vs. Marlins, vs. Giants)

Never Rockies. Especially not for two starts at Coors Field, regardless of how good the matchups look. Freeland owns a horrendous 7.50 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and a 61/17 K/BB ratio over 72 innings on the season. He has allowed five or more earned runs in three of his last five starts. There’s just no reason to do it. Stay far, far away.

Sean Sullivan, Rockies, LHP (vs. Marlins, vs. Giants)

Never Rockies. Especially not for two starts at Coors Field, regardless of how good the matchups look. Sullivan owns a horrendous 8.25 ERA, 1.92 WHIP and a 7/7 K/BB ratio over 12 innings on the season. There’s just no reason to do it. Stay far, far away.

Welcome to Waiver Wire Watch, our weekly fantasy baseball waiver wire guide. We'll be doing things a little differently this season, with Eric Samulski publishing the initial waiver-wire article on Friday afternoon. Then James Schiano updates it every Sunday to make sure you get the most up-to-date information.

The premise of the article is pretty straightforward. We'll give you some recommended adds each week based on recent production or role changes. When we list a player, we'll list the category where we think he’ll be helpful or the quick reason he’s listed. We hope this helps you determine whether the player fits your team's needs. Not every "trending" player will be a good addition for your specific roster.

To qualify for this list, a player needs to be UNDER 40% rostered in Yahoo! formats. We understand you may say, “These players aren’t available in my league,” and we can’t help you there. These players are available in over 60% of leagues and some in 98% of leagues, so they’re available in many places, and that can hopefully satisfy readers who play in all league types.

⚾️ Baseball is back on NBC: MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Hitters

TJ Rumfield - 1B, COL (38% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, GREAT SCHEDULE)

We're not entirely sure why Rumfield's roster rate has dropped so low. He's hitting .286/.356/.584 in 21 games in June with five home runs, 12 runs scored, and 15 RBI. No, he doesn't barrel the ball or hit it overly hard, but he makes tons of contact and hits in an incredibly hitter-friendly ballpark. He also gets seven games at Coors Field this upcoming week, so now is not the time to leave him on the wire. Another Rockies option for this week could be Troy Johnston - 1B/OF, COL (11% rostered). Right now, he seems to only be facing right-handed pitchers, but the Rockies will face six of them this upcoming week. In June, Johnston is hitting .328/.406/.500 with 11 RBI in 18 games. Like Rumfield, he also hasn't been barreling the ball a ton, but he has more walks than strikeouts this month, which shows his tremendous plate discipline. He's worth a look this week.

Lawrence Butler - OF, ATH (35% rostered)

(EVERYDAY PLAYER, POWER-SPEED UPSIDE)

Butler seems to have settled back into a regular role against right-handed pitching after Brent Rooker's injury freed up some playing time for the Athletics. In 19 games in June, he's hitting .277/.320/.468 with two home runs, nine runs scored, and one steal. Even in his "bad" year last year, he still put together a 20/20 season. Yes, there remains some swing-and-miss in his game, but this could have just been a case of him needing to get his knees fully healthy after offseason surgery.

Dylan Crews - OF, WAS (32% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, HOT STREAK COMING)

We know many people dropped Crews a week or two ago when the results weren't coming, and we almost did too, but his quality of contact had been so good that we decided to hold on, and Crews has started to pick things up, going 7-for-23 with six runs scored and one home run in his last six games. He's hitting just .208 in 21 games in June, but that comes with a 12% barrel rate, 46% hard-hit rate, and 90.6 mph average exit velocity. That, in part, is why he also has a .275 xBA and .521 xSLG. We're going to be on the quality of contact winning out. Daulton Varsho - OF, TOR (30% rostered) is also off the injured list and is hitting .320/.379/.640 with two home runs, six RBI, and three steals in 11 games in June. He's still pulling the ball a ton, but no longer sporting as extreme a launch angle as we saw from him last year. That should help with the batting average, and he's clearly ready to run.

Nasim Nunez - 2B/SS, WAS (31% rostered)

(STOLEN BASE UPSIDE, HOT STREAK)

Nunez had an 18% roster rate last week when he made the waiver wire article, but he continues to produce, so his rate continues to rise. We expected Nunez to be a burner who gave you little else, but he's now hitting .379/.429/.483 in 19 games in June with 10 RBI and nine steals. Yes, he's not going to continue to run a .550 BABIP, but his bat speed is up, he's hitting the ball harder, and he runs fast, so there's a good chance he always has a higher than average BABIP. There's a good chance that he's at least a .250-.260 hitter the rest of the way, and that's going to be massive for people who need stolen bases.

Kody Clemens - 1B/2B/OF, MIN (24% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

Clemens had a rough week, and his roster rate fell, but we'd caution you against abandoning a player too quickly. In 20 games in June, he's still hitting .256/.301/.513 with five home runs, 12 runs scored, 12 RBI, and one steal. That comes with a 9.5% barrel rate and a 48% hard-hit rate. He hits third essentially every day for the Twins and is eligible at plenty of positions, so he's a great option in deeper formats, but we understand if you wanted to move on in shallower leagues.

Francisco Alvarez - C, NYM (19% rostered)

(HOT STREAK, POWER UPSIDE)

Alvarez has plenty of talent, but can't seem to stay healthy. The 24-year-old is back from the injured list now and is hitting .319/.360/.574 in 13 games with four home runs and eight RBI. In his 50 games this season, he has a career-high 16.8% barrel rate and his highest bat speed ever. He’s pulling the ball 49.6% of the time, which is up from his 39.2% career average. He has just an 18.4% Pull Air rate, which ranks 121st among hitters with 100 batted-ball events this season; yet that has risen to 27.8% since coming off the IL, which could be part of what's unlocking his power. He's one-catcher viable. In Pittsburgh, Endy Rodriguez - C, PIT (2% rostered) has seemingly grabbed the starting job away from Henry Davis. Rodriguez has gone .260/.339/.425 over 18 games in June with three home runs and nine RBI. He also has a 16.7% barrel rate and 56% hard-hit rate over that span. was a former top prospect before two years of injuries and could be worth a gamble.

Samad Taylor - 2B/OF, SD (19% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, STOLEN BASE UPSIDE)

Samad Taylor is 10-for-23 in his last six games with two steals, but his roster rate has also gone up by just 1%. Perhaps people don't believe this is real, and we don't blame them. It probably isn't, but it's real for right now. Taylor was called up from Triple-A when Nick Castellanos was designated for assignment and has hit the ground running (literally), hitting .379/.438/.448 in 16 games with 11 runs scored, 11 RBI, one home run, and six steals. He also had just a 27% hard-hit rate in Triple-A and a league-average 85% zone contact rate. He’s hitting the ball on the ground 60% of the time with the Padres and has the speed to beat out infield singles, so the batting average and stolen bases could be there, and the Padres are hitting him second in the order, so why not take a gamble while he's running this hot?

Joshua Baez - OF, STL (18% rostered)

(POTENTIAL CALL-UP, POWER UPSIDE)

We like to get ahead of prospect stashes on the waiver wire, but this is a rough time of year. Most incentive deadlines have passed, and teams are still deciding if they are buyers or sellers at the trade deadline, so we may not get any major prospect promotions until after the All-Star game. That being said, it might be time for Baez to be stashed. He had a four-home run game last week and now leads the entire International League with 26 home runs in 69 games. That also comes with a .273/.343/.626 slash line and 13 stolen bases to create a nice power/speed combo. There are some lingering concerns about his contact since he’s struck out nearly 31 percent of the time at the Triple-A level this season, but when you have that kind of power and speed, you can still produce fantasy goodness. You could look to stash Yohandy Morales - 1B/3B, WAS (2% rostered), who is now up to 16 home runs and 50 RBI on the season to go along with a .311 batting average and a .923 OPS in 69 Triple-A games. He’s ready for a chance at big league pitching, but with Curtis Mead playing well at third base, the Nationals will need to use Morales as a DH or a first baseman.

Jasson Dominguez - OF, NYY (16% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, POST HYPE UPSIDE)

Dominguez may only be hitting .250 in 10 games since coming off the IL with a 12/1 K/BB ratio, but he does have two home runs and four steals over that time, so you're starting to see some of the power and speed upside that people were excited about. He figures to get regular playing time even when Trent Grisham returns from the IL and has been hitting in the top half of the lineup for one of the best offenses in baseball. His roster rate needs to be higher. Another risky outfield option is Heriberto Hernandez - OF, MIA (2% rostered), who is hitting .274/.318/.613 in 17 games in June with six home runs, 11 RBI, and a 57.1% hard-hit rate, which is 15th in baseball among hitters with 40 plate appearances in June.

Blaze Alexander - 2B/3B/SS/OF, BAL (16% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, STATCAST DARLING)

It seems that Blaze Alexander may have finally won himself a starting role. After putting up strong production in a part-time role, Alexander seems to have supplanted Coby Mayo at third base. He appeared in Eric’s article last week on hitters to target based on their May results, and, since June 1st, he's been the best hitter on the Orioles, slashing .388/.436/.633 in 18 games with two home runs, nine RBI, seven runs scored, and two steals. He's making better-than-league-average contact in the zone with a better hard-hit percentage than league average as well. There is an intriguing profile here, and icould be an add in 12-team formats now that the playing time is there. We also had Caleb Durbin - 2B/3B, BOS (19% rostered) on here last week. He broke his pinky earlier in the week, but still hit a home run off Cam Schlittler on Thursday. In 20 games in June, Durbin is hitting .324/.356/.618 with five home runs, 12 runs, 10 RBI, and three steals. This may be coming together.

Jack McCarthy - OF, COL (16% rostered)

(HOT STRETCH, GOOD SCHEDULE)

We mentioned two Rockies to add before their seven-game week at home, so now it's time to mention two more. McCarthy has been a full-time player for the Rockies for a while now. In June, he's hitting .324/.368/.507 in 17 games with two home runs, nine runs scored, eight RBI, and two steals. He hits leadoff and has 12 steals on the season, so he should provide average, runs, and steals during a full week in Coors. You could also add Cole Carrigg - OF, COL (15% rostered), who is hitting .271/.379/.542 in his 14 MLB games with three home runs and 11 RBI. The only issue is that, since Mickey Moniak has come back, Carrigg has only played against lefties. Now, it's also only been three games so far, so it's not 100% clear what the Rockies' plan is going forward, but Carrigg could very well be on the short side of a platoon.

Blaze Jordan - 1B/3B, STL (12% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, BATTING AVERAGE POTENTIAL)

There's this idea that Blaze Jordan is a top-tier power hitter, likely because he was hitting mammoth home runs in high school home run derbies. However, he has never hit 20 home runs in any minor league season. He had 11 in 57 games at Triple-A this season, so he may have been on his way, but he has just one in 12 games since being called up with the Cardinals. That being said, he's also hitting .286/.298/.476 with 12 RBI and a 46% hard-hit rate. Jordan won't walk much, which will hurt him in OBP leagues, but he's playing every day in St. Louis right now and is worth a shot in 15-team leagues.

Henry Bolte - OF, ATH (11% rostered)

(RECENT HOT STRETCH, POWER UPSIDE)

It took a little while for Bolte to get going at the MLB level, but he's hitting .323/.416/.477 in 21 games in June with two home runs, five steals, and seven runs scored. That comes with a 12.2% barrel rate and 53.7% hard-hit rate. Bolte is sporting a .487 batting average, so it will likely regress closer to his .252 xBA, but the rookie had improved his contact rates in the minors this season, and that seems to be carrying over. There is swing and miss in his game, so this may not be the smoothest ride, but it's fun right now.

Anthony Volpe - SS, NYY (9% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, POWER/SPEED UPSIDE)

The power hasn't been there for Volpe this season, with one home run and a 37% hard-hit rate. However, there has been far more contact in the zone. In 18 games in June, he's hitting .276/.354/.345 with seven runs scored and three steals. He has seven steals in 31 games since being activated this season, so the shoulder injury isn't stopping him from running. He continues to start every day at shortstop with Jose Caballero moving all over the field, and that should continue for the foreseeable future. Even if we don't get the previous power back, a .250 hitter with speed is still valuable in an offense like this. Across town, the Mets also recalled Ronny Mauricio - 2B/SS/3B, NYM (1% rostered), with Marcus Semien landing on the injured list. He was just 7-for-32 in his 10-game MLB stint before fracturing his thumb, but he had a productive season in the minors and has plus raw tools. He might be a good gamble in deeper formats for a Mets offense that is starving for production.

Victor Caratini - C, MIN (9% rostered)

(HOT STREAK, BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

This is a short-term add with Ryan Jeffers eventually coming back, but Caratini has been red hot right now. In 16 games in June, he's hitting .377/.450/.679 with four home runs, 11 RBI, and 11 runs scored. That's with a 16% barrel rate and 46% hard-hit rate. If you need a stopgap at catcher, he's a good one. Joe Mack- C, MIA (4% rostered) has also been producing lately, hitting .327/.397/596 in 17 games in June with four home runs, 11 runs scored, and 12 RBI. He's still more of a defensive catcher, but the bat isn't nothing, as evidenced by his 12% barrel rate and 44% hard-hit rate in June. He's going to be Miami's catcher for the rest of the season, so there is some security there.

Cooper Pratt - SS, MIL (7% rostered)

(PROSPECT CALL-UP, MODEST UPSIDE)

The Brewers called up Cooper Pratt this week to turn the shortstop reins over to their young prospect. The 21-year-old was slashing .241/.349/.386 batting line in Triple-A, which is not exciting, but he had been hitting better before his call-up. He's also gone 7-for-27 in his first nine games with two RBI and four steals. Eric recorded a video last week with more thoughts on Pratt’s fantasy upside.

Lars Nootbaar - OF, STL (6% rostered)

(OFF THE TIL, STATCAST DARLING

People really don't want to pick up Nootbaar. We know he's another boring outfielder who is set to come off the injured list following offseason surgery on both of his heels. We know that you've been waiting for that Nootbaar breakout for a long time, but he remains a solid/productive player who should be in an everyday role on a solid Cardinals team. In 17 games since coming off the injured list, he's hitting .288/.386/.492 with two home runs, 12 runs scored, and seven RBI. He's a productive player and will continue to settle in. Another veteran, oft-injured outfield option is Trevor Larnach - OF, MIN (7% rostered). Larnach has enjoyed a nice month of June, hitting .333/.406/.509 in 18 games with two home runs, 10 runs scored, and eight RBI. He has just a 32.7% hard-hit rate over that stretch, but his .308 xBA suggests that his success has not just been luck. The Twins will also only face one lefty this upcoming week, which is good news for Larnach.

Kyle Karros - 3B, COL (2% rostered)

(EVERY DAY PLAYER, GOOD SCHEDULE)

Oh hey, look, another Rockies hitter ahead of their seven-game week at home. Karros has been quietly productive over the last month, hitting .345/.406/.517 in 20 games with one home run, 13 runs scored, and six RBI. As the son of an MLB player, he has a good understanding of the strike zone and a disciplined approach at the plate. The power isn't tremendous, but the batting average could be pretty good in Coors Field, especially with the favorable schedule. Nick Loftin - 2B/3B/OF, KC (5% rostered) could be a short-term option with Maikel Garcia out. In 18 games in June, he's hitting .306/.389/.565 with three home runs, 11 runs scored, and 11 RBI. He is sporting a career-high barrel rate and hard-hit rate, but little has changed with his approach, so we're not going to expect this to last. However, if you need production right now, he's playing and hitting well. We prefer Michael Massey - 2B/OF (4% rostered), who is hitting .315/.333/.507 in 20 games in June with three home runs, 11 runs scored, and 12 RBI. Massey has increased his bat speed and exit velocities and is a better bet to produce for the rest of the season.

Donovan Walton - 2B/3B, LAA (1% rostered)

(HOT STREAK, STARTING JOB)

If you want the ultimate hot streak play, it's Donovan Walton. We never expected Walton to be a full-time player and still don't, but he's been a starter for almost the whole month of June because his bat is red hot. He's hitting .340/.364/.604 in 18 games with three home runs, eight runs scored, and 10 RBI. This is a 32-year-old who swings at most everything and has a .217 career average in 98 MLB games, so we'd only add in deeper formats if we had an open spot and don't hold when the cold streak comes. His teammate Christian Moore(2B, LAA - 1% rostered) has been cold since being called up, but we're still intrigued by his talent and the prospect of playing time. The 23-year-old had made some real adjustments at the plate in Triple-A, making more contact and better contact, and was slashing .333/.468/.585 with nine homers, 45 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 252 plate appearances. We're not sure why the Angels would throw a new defensive position at him along with a call-up, but if Walton or Denzer Guzman cool down, as we expect, Moore could move back to the infield. This is a highly talented young hitter who's getting another shot. We should probably give him one too.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers

Sean Burke - SP, CWS (36% rostered)

Eric wrote about Sean Burke in this week’s streaming starting pitcher article, so we encourage you to check that out for more details on his pitch mix and fantasy value. He has a good two-start week this week with the Orioles and Guardians on tap.

Joey Cantillo - SP, CLE (30% rostered)

Joey Cantillo appeared in that same article above, thanks to a new cutter he has started to lean on. We've always been a fan of Cantillo's potential upside because of his changeup and curve, but his four-seam fastball is pretty average despite elite extension. The added cutter could make a huge difference, and he has looked good lately. We'd add him for upside here.

Yoendrys Gomez - SP/RP, MIN (24% rostered)

Gomez has been really good since joining the Twins and has emerged as their clear closer. Eric recorded a video with some detailed thoughts last week.We also know that Alex Lange - RP, KC (24% rostered) continued to deliver saves for the Royals, but it just doesn't seem as believable. An 11.3% K-BB% and 12% swinging strike rate are not really what we'd like to see from a closer. Plus, his 13% barrel rate allowed and 4.12 SIERA. You can roll with this while it's working, but don't expect it to last.

Grant Taylor - RP/SP, CWS (22% rostered)

The case for Taylor here is that the White Sox are a legit playoff contender, and Seranthony Dominguez has just been really bad lately. At some point, the White Sox may WANT to use Taylor as their fireman, but he may NEED to be used to close games. If he gets that role, he could be a legit stud. Adrian Morejon - RP, SD (15% rostered) is just an option if you need ratios and some sneaky wins from a good reliever.

Eric Lauer - SP, LAD (13% rostered)

This isn't some Dodgers' magic, but Lauer did throw six no-hit innings against the Twins and has been really solid since coming over to the Dodgers. We should note that, even in his six no-hit innings, it was with three walks and two strikeouts. It was not some dominant outing. However, Lauer was good for the Blue Jays last season and could be a solid deep league streamer while he's on a roll like this. We just don't love that he goes to Sacramento next week.

Elvis Alvarado - RP, ATH (12% rostered)

Alvarado was Eric's featured relief pitcher in this week’s MLB Notebook. In that article, Eric said, "Alvarado has battled command issues in the past and then posted an 8.38 ERA in his first 10 appearances this season before being sent to Triple-A. Since being recalled on June 6th, he looks like a different pitcher and, even after a poor last outing, has a 2.70 ERA and 47% strikeout rate in 10 innings. This version of him feels different. Since Alvarado has returned, he has showcased better command of his four-seamer but also has been able to get ahead in the count with his slider and sinker. He’s started to use his slider more as an early-count called strike pitch in addition to a whiff pitch, which has given his pitch mix another dimension that he didn’t have last year. Alvarado may only have two saves since being recalled, but he has the third-lowest SIERA among qualified relievers at 0.67 and has the best K-BB% at 47.1%.

Anthony Kay - SP, CWS (10% rostered)

We had Kay on here last week because we believed that his recent poor stretch was because he faced the Phillies, Dodgers, and Yankees in consecutive starts. Over that stretch, his ERA jumped from 3.77 on June 1st to 4.61 now. He had a good first start this week against the Guardians and will face the Royals on Sunday. Then he gets the Guardians and Red Sox in his next two starts. I think his reward for that tough stretch is a nice run of production coming.

Ian Seymour - SP, TB (8% rostered)

Oh, man. Is it happening? We've had Seymour on this list for two weeks, but it's just been a bet on the future because Eric wrote about him as one of his favorite late-round starting pitcher targets this offseason,which you can read here for full thoughts on his arsenal. Yet, Seymour hadn't quite delivered on his chances as a starter, and his stuff hasn't looked as crisp as Eric wrote about in his streaming starting pitcher article two weeks ago. Then it all seemed to click on Thursday. Yes, it was the Royals without Bobby Witt Jr., but Seymour looked good with his four-seamer upstairs and changeups low in the zone. We're choosing to believe that this is the beginning of the breakout.

Reynaldo Lopez- SP/RP, ATL (8% rostered)

With JR Ritchie down in the minors, Lopez is getting another chance in the starting rotation. He's been solid overall this year, posting a 3.50 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and 39/21 K/BB ratio in 43 2/3 innings. We know what he did for Atlanta when he was healthy in 2024, and so, with the starting pitching landscape what it is, he's not a bad gamble right now. He gets the Cardinals at home in his first start next week.

Brandon Sproat - SP, MIL (7% rostered)

OK, we have to talk about the six innings of shutout ball against the Reds, where Sproat struck out 10, didn't walk a batter, allowed one hit, and had 18 whiffs. We should also note that Sproat has not issued more than two walks in his last four starts. On Tuesday against the Reds, Sproat's command of his four-seamer was exceptional, and he did a great job of keeping it at the top of the zone. The sweeper stayed low and away from righties, and he had four whiffs and a 38.5% CSW on that pitch. The curveball was always low and under the zone (sometimes too low), but we'd rather that than leaving it up. He also mixed in sinkers and cutters to allow the four-seamer to play up more as a whiff pitch, and you can see how this can all work. His start before that at Cleveland was really just one bad inning, and the previous start in Sacramento was good, so maybe this is Sproat coming into his own? We'd rather take a shot on guys like Sproat and Seymour than low-upside streamers like Andre Pallante (who we like).

Jake Bennett - SP, BOS (7% rostered)

Bennett is coming off a nice outing against the Rockies in Coors, throwing six shutout innings with nine strikeouts and no walks. He showed the ability to be what Nick Pollack refers to as a SWATCH (Southpaw With a Tight Changeup). He started to do that a bit on Monday and also peppered the top of the strike zone with four-seamers. He doesn't throw hard, but this is a five-pitch mix that, if commanded well, could be successful from the big left-hander. There will be some ups and downs, but Bennett is intriguing. We would NOT start him this upcoming week against the Yankees, but he gets the Angels, White Sox, and Rays after that, which could be a decent run.

James Clark is a young man with enticing options on his baseball horizon.

The promising 18-year-old shortstop was taking infield practice Tuesday during the MLB draft combine at Chase Field, fluidly handling ground balls before firing to first base. It’s one of many reasons the California native has a chance to be selected in the first round of next month’s draft.

But if he decides he’s not ready to start his professional baseball career, he’s committed to play college ball at Duke, which has a successful baseball program and an elite academic reputation.

“It’s going to be a difficult decision,” Clark said. “But it’s a good one to have.”

If MLB gets it’s way, it’s a decision that future baseball prospects won’t get to make.

Owners recently proposed banning high school players from signing with major league teams, raising the age for international amateurs and slashing the money spent on signing bonuses in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.

If the league gets its way, starting in 2028, a prospect for the amateur draft would have to be at least 20 years old by the Sept. 1 of his signing year and two years removed from the graduating year of his high school class — a restriction that also would eliminate players who completed their first year of junior college.

Many, many big leaguers began their pro careers right after high school

There are dozens of current MLB stars who signed as teenagers, including Pete Crow-Armstrong, Mike Trout and Bobby Witt Jr. Even more recently, Pirates phenom Konnor Griffin made his MLB debut at 19 years old.

Crow-Armstrong — who was selected as an 18-year-old with the No. 19 overall pick in 2020 out of Harvard-Westlake High School in Los Angeles — was committed to play college baseball at Vanderbilt but decided to begin his pro career instead.

He hopes other young ballplayers will still have that option in the future.

“I got an opportunity to grow up in a really real-life setting and I was really grateful for it,” the All-Star center fielder said earlier this week. “I think if there’s any sport you can go straight from high school, it’s this one. You’re afforded a lot of time in the minor leagues to develop, and that’s kind of the point.”

Cubs pitcher Ben Brown was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies as a 17-year-old in 2017 in the 33rd round — which doesn’t even exist anymore after MLB shortened the draft to 20 rounds in 2021. The owners’ most recent proposal would shorten the draft to 12 rounds starting in 2027.

Brown said he has fond memories of staying in hotels with roommates in the lower levels of the minors, learning how to budget money on a low salary and being on his own trying to make it in the baseball world.

“It was the greatest blessing in the world for me to go into pro ball at a young age,” Brown said. “I had to work in the offseasons. I did plenty of things just to show up to spring training early. And the Phillies took amazing care of me as a young kid.”

Of course, for every Ben Brown or Pete Crow-Armstrong, there are countless high school signees who never reached the majors. There also are lots of baseball players who want to go to college, earn a degree and then embark on their pro career if things work out.

The college game is growing, and it’s changing the calculus

Shortstop Roch Cholowsky was a highly-rated recruit coming out of a high school in Arizona in 2023 but instead played at UCLA for three seasons. Now he could be the No. 1 selection in next month’s MLB draft after a standout career with the Bruins.

Still, he had plenty of friends who went straight to the pros out of high school.

“It’s different for everybody — whatever is best for you,” Cholowsky said. “A guy like myself needed to go to college. I got to play three years of unbelievable baseball at UCLA, learn a lot and really grow up.”

College baseball has grown rapidly in recent years for many reasons, including that NCAA programs can now offer 34 scholarships instead of the old cap of 11.7. There’s also some NIL money available at the top programs, though it’s usually not like the high-dollar deals for their football or basketball counterparts.

Mississippi baseball coach Mike Bianco has been at the school for 26 years — winning a national championship in 2022 — and said the college game has become more enticing, with more and more young prospects deciding it’s the best option. If MLB bans teenagers from signing out of high school, it likely means the NCAA version becomes even stronger.

Bianco’s four sons all played at least some college baseball.

“Even if they had been potential first-round draft picks, I would have made them go to college,” Bianco said. “At the major college level, you’re playing the best amateur baseball in the world. You’ve got a support system that’s different than the minor leagues and you’re getting educated in lots of different ways.”

MLB takes notice of better college players

In the 2025 MLB draft, 56 college players were selected in the top 90 picks.

Thanks to a variety of factors — especially money and technology — the MLB and NCAA versions of baseball have never been more similar. It’s part of the reason Tony Vitello is now the manager of the San Francisco Giants despite never working or playing for a professional organization before he was hired. That’s a first in MLB history.

Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz was last year’s AL Rookie of the Year after playing in college at Wake Forest, needing just 210 plate appearances in the minors before dominating MLB pitching with 36 homers and 86 RBIs in 117 games.

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes was a star pitcher at LSU before being drafted in 2023 and needed just 34 innings in the minors before making it to the big leagues. He was obviously ready — winning NL Rookie of the Year in 2024 and the Cy Young award in 2025.

From the MLB perspective, it’s become advantageous to let prospects develop in college instead of drafting them as teenagers, paying large signing bonuses, and then trying to project their growth. Currently, each MLB team runs five levels of domestic minor leagues, which can get expensive.

Streamlining that process is enticing. The minors are already shrinking — MLB cut 40 minor league affiliates back in 2020. MLB has said it will not seek to reduce the 120 minor league teams in the top four levels when it negotiates new professional development licenses in 2030 to replace expiring 10-year deals. But the makeup of those 120 teams will surely be different if no players are signing out of high school.

“These guys trust (college) programs,” Arizona State coach Willie Bloomquist said earlier this spring. “They say, ‘We’ll just watch them in college in three years at a Power 4 program, see how they development and then we’ll go get them.’”