Milwaukee Brewers left-handed reliever Aaron Ashby is off to a dominant start to the 2026 season, as he's recorded a 9-0 record with a 2.35 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 53 strikeouts across 38 1/3 innings (28 games). With Ashby's ability to work more than one inning, Milwaukee has opted to keep him in a fireman role rather than move him to the ninth inning. While the lack of saves limits Ashby's fantasy upside, his role with the Brewers still allows him to provide value for fantasy managers. Given his frequent appearances in high-leverage situations, Ashby should continue to find himself in position to rack up wins. He's also struck out 32.5% of the batters he's faced so far this season. In deeper league formats, Ashby may have more value as a waiver wire target than a below-average starting pitcher.

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Across 74 innings (13 starts) in 2026, Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers owns a 2-5 record with a 4.26 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 88 strikeouts. The left-hander has a rough outing in mid-May against the Athletics, allowing eight earned runs in 5 2/3 innings of work. However, Detmers has been red-hot since then, allowing just four earned runs while striking out 27 across 19 innings (three starts). With a 2.92 xERA and a 2.92 FIP, Detmers' underlying metrics reflect that his ERA is inflated by a couple of blow-up starts. He also owns an excellent 28.5% strikeout rate and has done a solid job of limiting both walks (7.8% walk rate) and home runs (0.73 HR/9). In any fantasy league where he's not already rostered, Detmers profiles as a high-upside starting pitcher option who should be a priority waiver wire target for managers.

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Across 69 2/3 innings (14 starts) so far in 2026, Washington Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli has recorded a 3-4 record with a 3.88 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, and 76 strikeouts. The 27-year-old ran into some trouble in his most recent outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks, allowing four earned runs across five innings of work. However, Cavalli was riding a heater heading into the Arizona start, allowing just eight earned runs while recording 30 strikeouts across his previous 24 1/3 innings (four starts). While Cavalli's elevated WHIP is an issue for fantasy managers, his 8% walk rate is manageable. Cavalli's WHIP is more of a function of opposing batters hitting .355 on balls in play against him, which is likely to regress over a larger sample size. The hard-throwing right-hander's 3.36 FIP and 16.3% K-BB rate both point to the possibility of a breakout season for Cavalli in 2026.

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Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Griffin Jax put together a strong outing on Sunday against the Miami Marlins, striking out four across five scoreless innings. It was a much-needed bounce back for Jax, who was bludgeoned by the Detroit Tigers for six earned runs over four innings in his first start of June. Outside of the rough day against Detroit, Jax has performed well since being moved from the bullpen to the rotation in late April. The 31-year-old has allowed one earned run or fewer in six out of his eight starts and has gone at least five innings in three out of his last five appearances. Jax may not offer tremendous upside for fantasy managers, but he's steadied himself after a slow start to the year in the bullpen and could be a valuable deep-league streaming option as a starting pitcher.

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Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Addison Barger (elbow) continues to ramp up his hitting at Single-A Dunedin and "is making progress," manager John Schneider told Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. It's been an injury-plagued year so far in 2026 for Barger, who is on the 10-day injured list for the second time this year with inflammation in his right elbow. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter has played in only nine games for the Jays and has just one hit in 28 plate appearances with five walks and seven strikeouts. Barger isn't known for his plate discipline, but he did have 21 home runs and 74 RBI in 135 regular-season games for Toronto last year in his first full year in the majors. When he returns to the major-league roster, Barger should play regularly for the Jays against right-handed pitchers, giving fantasy managers in deeper leagues an option for depth at third base and the outfield. Barger is rostered in 21% of Yahoo leagues.

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Boston Red Sox manager Chad Tracy said that outfielder Roman Anthony (finger) has yet to return to swinging a bat, per Christopher Smith of MassLive. Anthony has been out since early May and has suffered multiple setbacks while rehabbing from a finger injury. The 22-year-old hit .229/.354/.321 with one home run, five RBI, 12 runs scored, and two stolen bases across 130 plate appearances before getting injured. While Anthony has now missed more than a month of action, it appears he is still not particularly close to making a return. Anthony remains a high-upside fantasy outfielder when healthy, but managers in leagues without IL spots may have to make a decision on how long to hold him if he continues to show little progress in his rehab.

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Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk (thumb) will serve as the designated hitter for a minor-league rehab game at Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday and catch on Wednesday and Thursday, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. Manager John Schneider said that Kirk returning from the 60-day injured list on Friday is possible as the best-case scenario. The 27-year-old backstop is finally nearing a return after having surgery on his left thumb, which has kept him out since April 4. In two games on his rehab assignment so far, the Mexican catcher has gone 2-for-9 with a solo home run. When he's back in Toronto, he'll be the Jays' primary catcher, and he'll be worth adding off the waiver wire for fantasy managers in need of a fresh body at the position. Kirk was hitting just .150 (3-for-20) with a home run in five games before his injury, but the two-time All-Star can add some pop to Toronto's lineup after hitting a career-best 15 long balls in 130 regular-season games in 2025 in his sixth year in the big leagues. Kirk is rostered in only 24% of Yahoo leagues right now.

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Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz (hand) cut his hand while sliding into home plate on Saturday against the Atlanta Braves and was out of the starting lineup for the series finale on Sunday as a result, according to Jeff Hathhorn of 93.7 The Fan. Cruz is considered day-to-day and is unlikely to land on the 10-day injured list. The Pirates had a scheduled day off on Monday, so hopefully, he'll be feeling good enough to return to the starting nine for Tuesday's series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers. When healthy, the Dominican outfielder is a must-start in all fantasy baseball formats because of his ability to contribute across all categories. Cruz currently ranks in the 100th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 79th percentile in xwOBA, and the 100th percentile in maximum exit velocity. He's currently slashing .264/.350/.472 with an .822 OPS, 14 home runs, 44 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 45 runs scored in 64 games across 283 plate appearances. Cruz leads the league with 98 strikeouts, but he scorches the ball more often than not when he makes contact.

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Seattle Mariners rookie infielder Colt Emerson (back) was scratched from the lineup for Monday's series opener in Baltimore against the Orioles due to back tightness, according to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times. Infielder Cole Young made the start at the 6 for the M's against right-hander Trey Gibson. The Mariners placed regular shortstop J.P. Crawford (hand) on the 10-day injured list on Monday as well, so they're a bit thin at the position right now. The good news is that Emerson's injury isn't considered to be very serious, so he could return to the starting lineup at shortstop for Game 2 of the series at Camden Yards on Tuesday. Fantasy managers need to check back then. The 20-year-old former 22nd overall pick in 2023 is one of the most intriguing young infielders in the game. Through his first 19 major-league ballgames, Emerson has gone 15-for-62 (.242) with four home runs, 10 RBI, and nine runs scored across his 69 plate appearances. He's currently rostered in 27% of Yahoo leagues and has gone 5-for-21 (.238) with two homers, two doubles, three RBI, and three runs in six games so far in June.

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The Athletics reinstated infielder Max Muncy (hand) from the 10-day injured list on Monday and optioned infielder Darell Hernaiz to Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. Muncy, who has been out of action since late April due to a fractured left hand, went 10-for-27 on his minor-league rehab assignment with three home runs and two doubles in seven games. The 23-year-old should be back in the starting lineup for the A's on Monday, although the team is facing a tough left-handed pitcher in Milwaukee Brewers southpaw Kyle Harrison. With Zack Gelof hitting well and occupying third base in Sacramento for the A's, Muncy could play regularly at the 6 for the A's upon his return, at least until Jacob Wilson (shoulder) returns from his own stint on the IL. The former first-rounder in 2021 was hitting just .239 (22-for-92) at the plate with two home runs, seven RBI, 15 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 26 games at the time of his hand fracture, and he's rostered in only 9% of Yahoo leagues right now.

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Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease (hamstring) will come off the 15-day injured list to start on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Phillies, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. Cease will return to Toronto's banged-up starting rotation after missing two weeks with a left-hamstring strain. He allowed five runs in four innings of work in his lone minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo last Thursday, but his stuff looked good, and he got up to 75 pitches in the outing. The 30-year-old veteran will be a bit riskier in his first start off the shelf against a Phillies team that has looked much better of late. However, Cease has pretty much been a must-start in fantasy baseball leagues in his first year with Toronto, going 3-3 with a 3.05 ERA (2.59 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP with 92 strikeouts and 26 walks in 62 innings pitched over his 11 starts. Overall, the Phillies still rank third-worst in major-league baseball with a .687 OPS on the year.

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The Houston Astros are recalling infielder Shay Whitcomb from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday and placing infielder Nick Allen (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list with a hamstring injury in a corresponding move, a source told Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Whitcomb, 27, has yet to play in more than 20 games at the major-league level since debuting with the Astros in 2024. Over his 54 games played in the big leagues, he's hitting just .167/.219/.267 with a .485 OPS, two home runs, 10 RBI, six runs scored, six walks, and 27 strikeouts across 96 plate appearances. Fantasy managers can probably continue to avoid the former fifth-rounder in 2020 out of the University of California, San Diego. He profiles as primarily a super-utility man at the major-league level who most likely will struggle to find consistent playing time yet again.

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (wrist) is out of the starting lineup once again for Monday's series opener at the Rogers Centre against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies, per MLB.com. Myles Straw will make another start in center field for Toronto and will bat seventh against Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez. Varsho is not expected to require a stint on the injured list due to inflammation in his left wrist, but this will be his third straight game on the bench. The good news is that the 29-year-old made an appearance in Sunday's series finale against the Baltimore Orioles as a defensive replacement, signaling that he could be back on the field in a starting role as early as Game 2 of the series in Canada on Tuesday. Varsho hit off a pitching machine earlier on Monday and could be available as a pinch-hitter in the series opener. He's a defensive stalwart in center for the Jays, but he's provided very little for fantasy managers in 2026 with his bat, hitting .256 (54-for-211) with five home runs, 17 RBI, 26 runs scored, and four stolen bases across 63 games played.

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Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford (hand) was placed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to June 7) on Monday with a right-hand contusion, according to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. Infielder Ryan Bliss has been recalled from Triple-A Tacoma in a corresponding move. Crawford will be eligible to return from the IL next Tuesday, when the Mariners start their homestand. The 31-year-old veteran was hit by a pitch on his hand late last week and needs a little more rest. He should be ready to return when eligible next week. In the meantime, Colt Emerson will continue to fill in as the M's primary shortstop, with Patrick Wisdom picking up more playing time at the hot corner in Seattle. Crawford is only rostered in 14% of Yahoo leagues at this point because of his limited fantasy ceiling across all categories. The 10-year veteran goes to the shelf hitting just .228 (44-for-193) on the season with 10 home runs, 23 RBI, 31 runs scored, and one stolen base in 233 plate appearances across 55 games played.

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Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson (thumb) remains sidelined for Monday's series opener against the division-rival Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field, according to MLB.com. Cedric Mullins is making another start in center field and will bat ninth for the Rays against Red Sox left-hander Connelly Early. Simpson will miss a third straight start due to a sore left thumb that has him considered day-to-day. Fantasy managers will need to check back on Tuesday to see if he's ready to return for Game 2 of the series. The speedy 25-year-old has yet to homer in 169 major-league games since debuting with the Rays in 2025, but he does have 58 stolen bases and provides elite speed on the basepaths. Simpson also makes a lot of contact at the plate and is hitting .276/.312/.328 with a .639 OPS, four doubles, a league-high four triples, 12 RBI, and 30 runs scored in his 60 games played in his first full year in the big leagues. Fantasy managers setting DFS lineups should stay away from Mullins in the lefty-on-lefty matchup.

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The Chicago Cubs are sending outfielder Kevin Alcantara back to Triple-A Iowa on Monday, according to Tommy Birth of the Des Moines Register. Alcantara, 23, only appeared in 12 games for the Cubs and had just one hit in 10 plate appearances with a run scored, one walk, and four strikeouts. The move to demote the Dominican outfielder comes a day after he made a baserunning mistake in the team's extra-inning win at Wrigley Field over the San Francisco Giants on Sunday night. In just 25 games at the big-league level since making his major-league debut in 2024 in Chicago, Alcantara has hit .200/.250/.200 with no homers, an RBI, four runs, one stolen base, two walks, and nine strikeouts. He'll return to Iowa, where he has slashed .242/.339/.567 with a .906 OPS, 15 long balls, 32 RBI, 27 runs scored, and three steals across 41 games and 180 plate appearances. Alcantara could be back up with the Cubbies this year, but probably only as outfield depth.

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Washington Nationals outfielderDylan Crews has not enjoyed much success in his return to the majors, but the upside still keeps him on the waiver-wire radar. Crews is hitting .197 through 16 games since returning to Washington, though he showed signs of life Saturday, June 6, against the Arizona Diamondbacks by going 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored. Crews' waiver appeal is more about upside than immediate production. The surface numbers remain light, but his 91.3 mph average exit velocity and improved strikeout profile in comparison to his 2025 rate give fantasy managers a reason to stay interested before the results fully show up. The former second-overall pick has also posted a 46.9% hard-hit rate, which is well above the average marks. Crews is best viewed as an upside waiver-wire target for managers who can afford to wait on the former top prospect as he finds his footing.

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Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Ryne Nelson gave fantasy managers a useful outing Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks across seven innings in a no-decision. Nelson has now worked at least seven innings in four of his last five starts, giving him steady volume despite some uneven results. Across 13 starts, he has struck out 55 hitters, while walking 21 with a 4.60 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP over 72 1/3 innings. Nelson's waiver appeal comes more from volume and matchup-based value than overpowering strikeout upside. He has allowed 15 home runs, so there is still some risk in the profile, but the steady innings and low 6.9% walk rate keep him useful in the right spots. Nelson is worth adding for managers looking for solid rotation depth and a boost in WHIP, given his above-average command.

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Cincinnati Reds first baseman/outfielder Spencer Steer has gone hitless in three straight games, but his overall production still keeps him on the waiver-wire radar. The 28-year-old is hitting .266 with nine home runs, 24 RBI, 38 runs scored, and 12 doubles with a 50:25 K:BB across 218 at-bats. Steer has also chipped in three stolen bases and shown solid upside on the base paths earlier in his career, swiping double-digit bags in two of his previous three seasons. He showcased his overall upside on Tuesday, June 2, against the Kansas City Royals, going 2-for-4 with two home runs, three runs scored, and two RBI. Steer's appeal comes from his ability to help in power and runs while offering useful lineup flexibility. He continues to bat in the heart of the Cincinnati lineup, which will keep him in a prime position to bolster his counting stats. Rostered in 57% of Yahoo leagues, Steer is worth adding wherever he remains available for managers looking for corner-infield or outfield help across the five standard categories.

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Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Zebby Matthews bounced back Friday against the Kansas City Royals, allowing two runs on five hits and four walks across seven innings in a 5-3 win. The outing helped settle things after a rough start against the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 31, when he allowed a season-high seven earned runs over 4 1/3 innings. Through five starts, Matthews owns a 4.15 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 26 strikeouts across 30 1/3 innings. Matthews has allowed three earned runs or fewer in four of his five outings and has worked at least six innings four times. The five home runs allowed keep some risk in the profile, but the workload, and 26:8 K:BB give him enough waiver appeal for fantasy managers needing rotation help. Rostered in 31% of Yahoo leagues, Matthews is worth adding in standard leagues as a solid depth starter who should deliver an elite WHIP.

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