Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Aaron Ashby has a case as the most valuable relief pitcher in baseball so far this season. Across 36 innings (26 games), Ashby has recorded a 9-0 record with a 2.00 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 51 strikeouts. The 28-year-old's WHIP is inflated by his 11.9% walk rate, but he's struck out 33.8% of the batters he's faced. Ashby also owns an impressive 56.8% ground-ball rate and has been taken deep just one time in 2026. Milwaukee appears likely to continue utilizing Ashby in a fireman role and relying on the combination of right-handers Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill in the ninth inning. Still, Ashby's high-leverage usage has allowed him to rack up wins at a prolific rate. Even if Ashby slows down from his current 25-win pace, he should provide fantasy managers with an elite strikeout rate and plenty of assistance in the ERA category. Particularly in deeper leagues, Ashby is a worthy waiver wire target.

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In 13 games (10 starts) so far this season, Athletics starting pitcher J.T. Ginn has recorded a 3-3 record with a 2.87 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 52 strikeouts across 59 2/3 innings. The 27-year-old put together a particularly impressive performance his last time out on Saturday, holding the New York Yankees to just four hits and one unearned run across six innings of work. Ginn is averaging a career-high 94.5 miles per hour on his fastball and is holding opposing batters to just a .198 batting average. Ginn has allowed a 10.1% walk rate and is benefiting from an unusually low .234 opponent batting average on balls in play, which could both be reasons to think that regression is coming. Still, the right-hander limits hard contact and owns a 47.5% ground-ball rate. Particularly in deeper leagues, Ginn is worth a look on the waiver wire as a starting pitcher streamer ahead of his next scheduled start on Friday against the Houston Astros.

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Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson (mouth) was forced to exit early from his team's game against the Detroit Tigers on Monday after being struck in the mouth by his own helmet while sliding headfirst into second base, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Topkin reports that there was a "fair amount of blood." Simpson was one-for-two in the game before being pulled and is now hitting .284/.318/.338 with zero home runs, 12 RBI, 30 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases across 239 plate appearances so far in 2026. It seems unlikely that Simpson will be facing an extended absence, but the exact nature of his injury is currently unclear. Ryan Vilade took over for Simpson in left field on Monday and could be in line for more playing time while Simpson is sidelined.

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Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto (head/neck) was scratched from his team's lineup for their game on Monday against the Colorado Rockies due to lingering symptoms of whiplash, per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. Neto's symptoms are a result of a collision at home plate that he was involved in during the Angels' win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday. Across 274 plate appearances so far this season, Neto has hit .231/.339/.427 with 10 home runs, 27 RBI, 42 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. The 26-year-old does not appear to be ticketed for a trip to the injured list, but Los Angeles will want to make sure he's fully clear of any ill effects from the collision before re-inserting him in the lineup. Angels infielder Oswald Peraza took Neto's place at shortstop on Monday, and both he and infielder Nick Madrigal could be in line for more playing time while Neto is sidelined.

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Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Bailey Ober (elbow) has been diagnosed with a mild flexor strain and will be shut down for 10-14 days. On the bright side, his "UCL is intact," per Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Ober was placed on the 15-day injured list on Sunday due to elbow inflammation, but appears to have avoided the worst-case scenario. Still, it will be at least mid-June before he resumes throwing, making a return to the Twins rotation this month unlikely. Before getting injured, Ober posted a 6-3 record with a 4.59 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 46 strikeouts across 66 2/3 innings (12 starts). The 30-year-old's average fastball velocity had dipped to a career-worst 89.1 miles per hour, which may have been a symptom of his elbow discomfort. Twins right-hander Mike Paredes was recalled to take Ober's place on the active roster and could be in line to take his place in the Minnesota rotation as well.

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Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Pavin Smith (elbow) was activated off the 60-day Injured List ahead of Monday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Smith hasn't played since the opening series of the season after having surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow. He'll serve as the designated hitter and bat fifth during his return on Monday. The expectation is that Smith will split up time between DH and first base against right-handed pitching. He slashed. 258/.362/.434 with eight home runs and 28 RBI last season. Smith could be a potential option in deep leagues. In a corresponding move, infielder Tim Tawa has been optioned to Triple-A.

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Cincinnati Reds infielder Edwin Arroyo has been called up to make his MLB debut on Monday against the Kansas City Royals. Arroyo will join the big league roster with Elly De La Cruz (hamstring) landing on the 10-day Injured List. The rookie infielder will cover second base and bat eighth during his debut. Matt McLain will shift over to shortstop, but Arroyo could play over there as well. This season, Arroyo is slashing .323/.383/.562 with 11 home runs and nine stolen bases during his time in Triple-A Louisville. He could be worth an add in most fantasy formats, with everyday playing time likely coming his way while De La Cruz is on the shelf.

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Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Chase Burns (illness) was scratched from his scheduled start against the Kansas City Royals on Monday. Burns came down with a fever overnight and is still dealing with the symptoms. The team has elected to give Burns a few days off and move his start to Wednesday. In the meantime, Lyon Richardson will get the opening nod against the Royals on Monday. He figures to serve as the opener for what will likely be a bullpen game for the Reds. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly and expect Burns to be back in the mix on Wednesday. Burns has been stellar with a 1.96 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and a 72:20 K:BB ratio across 11 starts this season.

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Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day Injured List on Monday. De La Cruz will head to the shelf for the first time during his MLB career. Reds manager Terry Francona said that De La Cruz is looking at missing 2-4 weeks of action due to a Grade 1-2 hamstring strain. The best-case scenario is that De La Cruz is back in the mix by mid-June, but hamstring injuries can be tricky. Matt McCain will take over at shortstop on Monday, with Edwin Arroyo making his MLB debut at second base. The expectation is that these two will split up most of the playing time at shortstop while De La Cruz is out. Fantasy managers will need to stay tuned for more updates on De La Cruz as he progresses.

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Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Griffin Jax got off to a rough start to the 2026 season, allowing eight runs across his first two innings (four games) of the year. However, Jax has been significantly better since Tampa Bay shifted him from the bullpen to the starting rotation in late April. Across 21 innings (six starts) since the role shift, Jax has recorded a 1.71 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 17 strikeouts. The 31-year-old also worked five innings in two consecutive starts before being limited to two innings after getting hit in the back by a comebacker in his most recent outing. Now that Jax should be built up close to a regular starter's workload, the right-hander carries significant waiver wire appeal across most fantasy league formats.

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Across 162 plate appearances since being promoted to the big leagues in mid-April, Chicago White Sox outfielder Sam Antonacci is hitting .275/.369/.362 with one home run, 13 RBI, 23 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. The 23-year-old hit just five home runs across 519 minor league plate appearances in 2025, so he appears unlikely to provide fantasy managers with much power any time soon. However, Antonacci has consistently shown an ability to put the ball in play and has spent considerable time in the leadoff spot for Chicago since making his MLB debut. Antonacci stole 48 bases in the minors in 2025, so he may just be scratching the surface of his speed potential in the big leagues. As long as he can continue to get on base at a solid clip, Antonacci should rack up runs and stolen bases for fantasy managers and is worth a look on the waiver wire.

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Across 68 innings (12 starts) so far this season, Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers has recorded a 2-5 record with a 4.63 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 82 strikeouts. While Detmers' inflated ERA is tough to swallow for fantasy managers, a look under the hood at his numbers suggests the 26-year-old may be on the verge of a breakout. Detmers currently owns excellent strikeout (28.5%) and K-BB (20.8%) rates, which are reflected in his 2.96 FIP. The left-hander has been victimized by a brutal 60.9% strand rate, well below his career mark of 69.2%. Detmers is already providing value in the WHIP and strikeout categories for fantasy managers. If his ERA falls in line with his underlying metrics over the course of a larger sample size of innings, Detmers could wind up as one of the waiver-wire steals of the summer for fantasy managers.

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Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) "might be (on track) for an August or September return," per Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Schwellenbach has yet to pitch in 2026 after undergoing elbow surgery in mid-February. However, he received clearance to begin throwing in mid-May, leading to optimism that the hard-throwing right-hander could be progressing towards a rehab assignment. This latest report from Bowman seems to indicate that although Schwellenbach is making progress, he remains a long way away from returning to Atlanta's rotation. Before having his 2025 season ended by an elbow fracture, Schwellenbach recorded a 7-4 record with a 3.09 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 108 strikeouts across 110 2/3 innings (17 starts). The 26-year-old remains a high-upside fantasy starter when healthy, but fantasy managers may want to wait until later this summer to consider stashing him off the waiver wire.

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Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Brody Hopkins was effective in his first relief outing of the year on Sunday. After starting each of his first 60 minor league appearances, Hopkins worked out of the bullpen this past weekend, giving the Durham Bulls five innings of relief work. He threw five scoreless and hitless innings, allowing one walk while striking out nine batters. So far this year, he owns a 3.56 ERA, 10.31 K/9, and 0.56 HR/9 over 11 outings. The bad news is that his FIP is significantly higher at 4.98, and his walk rate has ballooned to an outrageous 8.06 BB/9 clip. Hopkins isn't ready for the majors yet, but if he can cut down on walks, then his FIP will naturally come down, and his strikeout rate will allow him to be successful. When that happens, he'll be a candidate to make his MLB debut as a piece of the Rays' rotation. In turn, that would put him on the fantasy baseball radar. For now, he's a solid speculative stash in deep redraft leagues.

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Across 201 plate appearances so far in 2026, Washington Nationals outfielder Jacob Young is hitting .232/.290/.378 with seven home runs, 25 RBI, 25 runs scored, and four stolen bases. While the 26-year-old is still a below-average offensive contributor by measure of wRC+ (89), he's made some notable changes at the plate this season. Young's max exit velocity is up from 107 mph to 110.1 mph, and his average launch angle has moved from 3.9 degrees to 10.8 degrees. As a result, Young's seven home runs this season are more than he had over the first 1,006 plate appearances of his career (five). He may also get to more speed over the course of a full season, as he swiped 33 bags across 150 games in 2024. At the very worst, Young's elite defense in center field should keep him in an improving Washington lineup on an everyday basis and allow him to rack up counting stats. In deeper leagues, fantasy managers could be wise to target Young on the waiver wire.

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New York Yankees starting pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange has emerged as a top fantasy stash heading into June. Lagrange has an iffy 4.41 ERA, but we're very impressed by his 11.57 K/9. He has maintained strikeout rates north of 10+ K/9 for all of his minor league career, and he should keep up that pace once he reaches the majors. With that being said, he'll need to lower his walk (4.59 BB/9) and home run (1.47 HR/9) rates going forward, as these are likely some of the main reasons why his ERA is on the higher side. The right-hander is an impressive prospect in terms of makeup. He checks in at 6-foot-7 and throws a 99 mph fastball, touching triple-digits at times. He has five distinct pitches, and all of them are average or above-average offerings. In addition to the four-seamer, he throws a sweeper, slider, changeup, and sinker. The changeup complements the heater nicely, inducing a .188 xwOBA and 37% whiff rate. Managers should consider stashing Lagrange now, because it'll be too late once he starts racking up strikeouts in the majors.

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Milwaukee Brewers shortstop prospect Cooper Pratt is having a modest season at the plate in Triple-A, but his impressive stolen base numbers make him an intriguing player to stash in fantasy baseball. Through 47 games this year, the former sixth-round pick is slashing .246/.362/.391 with five homers, 13 steals, a 14.0% walk rate, a 14.9% strikeout rate, and 105 wRC+. The discipline and speed numbers are promising, and managers should be equally encouraged by his 19.7% whiff rate (89th percentile). He fits the Brewers' brand of baseball as someone who puts the ball in play and can wreak havoc with his hustle. If he can continue to get on base at a decent clip in the majors, his ability to steal bases will keep him on the fantasy radar. For now, he's an intriguing redraft stash, even though he's still in Triple-A.

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Seattle Mariners starting pitching prospect Kade Anderson made his pro baseball debut less than two months ago, but he's already on the fantasy radar as a redraft stash in anticipation of his potential MLB debut later this season. Anderson was the third overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, making him the first pitcher off the board. Through nine Double-A starts this year, he owns a 1.43 ERA, 1.80 FIP, 13.70 K/9, 1.43 BB/9, and 0.41 HR/9. Those are incredible numbers all around, and it's even more exciting to note that he has zero earned runs and 16 strikeouts over his last two starts (10.0 innings). As a young, electric left-hander, Anderson has a spectacular outlook in dynasty fantasy baseball. However, he's getting close to being MLB-ready, and if he does get a call to the majors this year, he'll have an immediate impact in redraft leagues, too. Managers should consider stashing him in hopes that he can provide a spark in fantasy baseball during the second half of the season.

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Los Angeles Dodgers pitching prospect River Ryan continues to deliver impressive results at Triple-A, and he could be ready to make his return to MLB sooner rather than later. Ryan, now 27, made his MLB debut in 2024, but he missed all of 2025 due to injury and opened 2026 in the minors. Through five starts (22 innings) at Triple-A this year, he owns a 2.05 ERA, 2.00 FIP, 11.86 K/9, 1.23 BB/9, and 0.00 HR/9. He's been successful at limiting weak contact with a 51.9% ground ball rate. He throws six different pitches, but his upper-90s fastball and tight slider are his two best offerings. He has a remarkable 19.2% hard-hit rate (96th percentile), as well as a 35.33% chase rate (91st percentile) and a 33.0% whiff rate (82nd percentile). The Dodgers have a stacked starting rotation as it stands, but once a spot opens up, Ryan should take the opportunity and run with it. He has tremendous upside once he does make his MLB debut, making him an intriguing fantasy stash in redraft leagues.

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Washington Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli is really starting to look like the pitcher a lot of fantasy managers have been waiting for. The 27-year-old just threw his third straight quality start on Tuesday, allowing one run over six innings with seven strikeouts in a win over the Guardians. Across his last three outings, he's posted a 2.79 ERA with 24 punchouts in 19 1/3 innings, and for the season he sits at (3-3) with a 3.62 ERA and 68 Ks in 59 2/3 innings. His stuff is still nasty, as his K% has increased from 18.3% last year to 25.4% in 2026. He's finally putting it all together without the old command issues popping up as much. With favorable matchups against the Marlins and Diamondbacks coming up, fantasy managers should look to add Cavalli (50% rostered in Yahoo Fantasy leagues) in most leagues and continue to stream him while he's pitching well.

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