Chicago Cubs right-hander Ben Brown has already been trending up in his transition to a starting role in Chicago, and he should be even more attractive in Week 9 of the fantasy baseball season while scheduled for a two-start week versus the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. The 26-year-old has slowly been building up his pitch count in a starting role after opening the 2026 season as a reliever for the Cubbies. In his last outing on May 19 in a loss to the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers, Brown allowed three earned runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out six in five innings of work. He has thrown at least four innings in each of his first three starts, dating back to May 8, and he's racked up 13 strikeouts in his last two appearances. Neither the Pirates nor the Cardinals are exactly excellent matchups for Brown as far as being a streamer, but he becomes more valuable in weekly formats because he's slated to start twice. Despite taking his first loss his last time out, Brown holds a strong 2.09 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 40:12 K:BB in 38 2/3 innings this year, and he's only rostered in 39% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.

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San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts hit .292 (26-for-89) in April and also had five home runs, a double, 15 RBI, 14 runs scored, and three stolen bases as one of the team's most consistent hitters. It led to an uptick in fantasy managers picking him up off the waiver wire. Bogaerts had two hits in the team's 5-2 loss in the series finale on Sunday against the Athletics, but he has cooled off considerably at the plate recently and in May. His two hits on Sunday broke a streak of three straight hitless games, and the 33-year-old veteran is hitting only .211 (15-for-71) with two home runs, a double, seven RBI, five steals, and eight runs scored in 21 games in May. Since May 13, Bogaerts has gone 6-for-34 (.176) with an RBI, three steals, three runs, three walks, and eight strikeouts in 10 games played. Overall, the four-time All-Star is slashing a modest .250/.320/.383 with a .703 OPS, seven home runs, 24 RBI, eight steals, and 22 runs across 50 games. At the very least, Bogaerts has been more attractive in deep-mixed fantasy leagues for his uptick in power in 2026, as he had only 11 homers in each of the last two seasons in San Diego.

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New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez (shoulder) suffered a left-shoulder AC joint sprain when he crashed into the outfield wall while making a catch on May 7 and was placed on the 10-day injured list a day later. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection on May 11 and advanced from pool and weight-room activities to hitting off a tee on May 20. Dominguez did more tee and toss work on May 22 and could start a minor-league rehab assignment in the first week of June, according to MLB.com. Barring a setback once Dominguez resumes playing in games in the minors, he could potentially be ready to rejoin the major-league roster by the end of next weekend or the following week. Giancarlo Stanton (calf) is going slower in his rehab, so Dominguez could have an opening for some playing time in the Bronx when he's reinstated. The 23-year-old switch-hitting Dominican didn't make the Opening Day roster and has appeared in only nine games this year, going 6-for-30 (.200) with a homer and four RBI. The former top prospect isn't guaranteed anything upon his return, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him go back to the minors, too.

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New York Yankees outfielder/designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (calf) has continued hitting and is doing plyometric exercises. He will undergo imaging this week with hopes of being cleared to run, according to MLB.com. Stanton has been recovering slowly after being placed on the 10-day injured list on April 28 (retroactive to April 25) with a right-calf strain. It's unclear when he exactly he'll be ready to rejoin the Yankees' big-league roster, and it will depend on how quickly he can resume running at full speed. Because of how much time he's missed, the right-handed slugger will almost certainly need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before he's reinstated. Jasson Dominguez (shoulder) is also on the IL, and the Yankees are down to three true outfielders (Aaron Judge, Trent Grisham, and Cody Bellinger) after sending rookie Spencer Jones back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 36-year-old Stanton still has enough power to make a difference in fantasy, but managers have grown tired of dealing with his constant injuries. Stanton is currently rostered in 30% of Yahoo leagues with a TBD return date.

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St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez remains a top hitting prospect to stash, thanks to his elite five-category potential. Even though Baez has seen his contact skills drop at Triple-A this season, he has continued to flash high-end power and elite speed when on the field. Through his first 44 games at the top club of the St. Louis system, the young outfielder has launched 11 long balls while swiping 11 bags. However, his modest .233 AVG has limited his overall upside. He was given a serious opportunity to break camp in spring training despite not even taking a single Triple-A at-bat ahead of the 2026 season, but ultimately fell short in the competition. Even though he was optioned to the minor leagues, he is on the verge of a promotion, especially if he can continue to hit for power. If Baez can continue to turn the corner, he could debut in the coming weeks. His elite five-category skill set makes him a top stash target in all standard category leagues ahead of Week 9.

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MLB.com's No. 1-ranked prospect Jesus Made turned in an incredible week at Double-A and continues to push Milwaukee's hand for a potential second-half debut. The Brewers' top prospect has had an incredible .371/.395/.600 line with two doubles, two home runs, and three stolen bases over his last seven contests. Overall, Made has looked quite comfortable over his first full season with Double-A Biloxi, posting a .283/.357/.462 line with an .819 OPS. The 19-year-old has gone deep six times and swiped an impressive 18 bags while holding a 30:21 K:BB. Even though Made is currently two stops away from the majors, he could push for a late-season debut, as he looks more than comfortable against Double-A pitching, especially if the Brewers need additional infield depth for the stretch run. For now, he is only worth stashing in deeper 15-team redraft leagues that have several N/A spots.

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New York Yankees right-handed pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange remains in the mix to compete for a late-season MLB debut but has begun to see his short-term stock take a hit. In his most recent outing of the young season on May 22, Lagrange allowed five runs to Lehigh Valley in just five innings of work. This was the second time this season Lagrange allowed at least five runs in a single contest. Overall, the hard-throwing right-hander has posted a high 4.78 ERA with a 1.41 WHIP across 43 1/3 innings of work at Triple-A. While his ratios remain high, he has shown solid strikeout potential, totaling 57, which has kept his fantasy intrigue relevant. However, with Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon both back in action, Lagrange may only be in the mix for a late-season promotion as a reliever, which makes him a low-end stash target in the deepest of redraft leagues for the foreseeable future.

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Cincinnati Reds prospect Edwin Arroyo has remained one of the best hitters throughout all of the minor leagues and remains on the verge of making his MLB debut. Through his first 48 contests at the top club of the minor leagues, Arroyo has posted an incredible .344/.402/.595 with a .997 OPS. Arroryo has launched 10 home runs, tacked on nine doubles, and even swiped eight bases. This is even more impressive, as Arroyo spent his entire 2025 campaign with Double-A Chattanooga. With Double-A last summer, Arroyo was far less productive, holding a .284/.345/.371 line, and went deep just three times over a lengthy 120-game stint. Even though there is no clear spot for him on the MLB roster, the former 48th overall pick remains a must-stash prospect ahead of Week 9.

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San Francisco Giants right-hander Caleb Kilian delivered a dominant ninth inning Sunday in a win vs. the Chicago White Sox, striking out all three batters he faced to earn his third save of the season. The outing served as an important rebound after Kilian allowed two earned runs in his previous appearance. The 28-year-old has continued emerging as a reliable high-leverage arm during his first season with San Francisco and is making a strong case for additional save opportunities. Kilian now owns a 2.42 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP while showing improved swing-and-miss ability. His 25.0 K% is comfortably the best mark of his career, and the Giants may continue leaning on him late in games as he competes with Erik Miller for ninth-inning duties.

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Rays right-hander Griffin Jax has taken a major step forward since transitioning into a starting role in late April, quickly emerging as a high-upside fantasy target. The 31-year-old owns a 2.11 ERA across his last seven appearances after struggling out of the bullpen early in the season. Jax now carries a 3.54 ERA and 1.36 WHIP overall, but his underlying profile has improved significantly as a starter. While his strikeout rate has dipped slightly, he has generated groundballs at over a 50 percent clip, allowing him to work deeper into games and limit damage consistently. Jax appears far more comfortable in the rotation, and fantasy managers should strongly consider adding him before his value rises further.

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Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki has faced overwhelming expectations during his tenure with Los Angeles, but recent performances suggest the talented 24-year-old may be turning a corner. Sasaki has worked at least five innings in each of his last five starts, showing improved durability and a better ability to settle into games. While his 4.93 ERA and 1.42 WHIP leave room for improvement, his elite fastball velocity and electric pitch mix continue to flash frontline upside. Sasaki remains one of the most talented arms in baseball, and his recent consistency points toward a potential breakout in the near future. Fantasy managers searching for upside should still view Sasaki as a strong waiver wire addition before another leap forward within the Dodgers rotation.

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Reds outfielder Noelvi Marte was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on April 13 and has responded with a dominant stretch at the plate in the minor leagues. The 24-year-old is hitting .374 with a 1.016 OPS and seven home runs in 33 games, continuing to re-establish himself as one of the Reds' most intriguing young bats. Marte struggled during his short stint with Cincinnati earlier this season, slashing .138/.194/.138 in 11 games before the demotion. However, his recent production has become increasingly difficult for the organization to overlook. With his power beginning to return and his confidence trending upward, Marte is emerging as a worthwhile stash candidate in deeper fantasy formats before an expected return to the major league roster.

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Athletics left-hander Hogan Harris struggled with his command Sunday in a win vs. the San Diego Padres, recording only one out while issuing two walks. Harris threw just six strikes across 15 pitches, continuing a troubling trend that has followed him throughout the season. His 16.7 BB percent ranks among the worst marks in Major League Baseball and remains a major concern in high-leverage situations. Despite the control issues, Harris has managed to post a respectable 2.96 ERA while collecting four saves, tying him with John Kuhnel and Mark Leiter for the team lead. Still, late-inning roles leave little margin for error, and the Athletics could begin distributing more ninth-inning opportunities elsewhere if the walks continue piling up. Fantasy managers should monitor the bullpen situation closely moving forward.

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Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Gregory Soto recorded his fifth save of the season Sunday, tossing a scoreless inning in a win vs. the Toronto Blue Jays. Soto worked around one walk and one hit batter while striking out one during another effective ninth-inning appearance. The veteran reliever has now collected four saves across his last seven outings and continues to strengthen his grip on the Pirates' closer role. Soto owns a 2.22 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP through 24 innings this season while piling up 30 strikeouts. His 32.6 K percent ranks in the 95th percentile, highlighting the swing-and-miss ability that has fueled his success in late innings. Fantasy managers searching for saves should continue viewing Soto as one of the top waiver wire bullpen options available.

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San Francisco's DH Rafael Devers had five RBIs going 2-for-4 with a home run in a 8-5 win over the White Sox on Sunday, May. 24.

Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic (elbow) felt more soreness than normal after his May 14 start against the Chicago White Sox and was placed on the 15-day injured list on May 18 with left-elbow soreness, but the severity concern is low, according to MLB.com. Bubic resumed playing catch on May 22 and started a full throwing program on Saturday. The 28-year-old southpaw could still need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment, but barring a setback, he could be back in the Royals' starting rotation sooner than later, around early to mid-June. The former first-rounder in 2018 out of Stanford was a first-time All-Star in 2025 in his sixth year in the majors, going 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA (2.89 FIP) and 1.18 WHIP with a career-high 116 strikeouts and 39 walks in 116 1/3 frames across his 20 starts. Bubic made nine starts for KC this year before his elbow injury and gave up 23 earned runs (4.11 ERA) while striking out 51 and walking 26 in 50 1/3 innings pitched. He should at least be a matchup-based streaming option in deep-mixed leagues when he's back, and he's currently rostered in 56% of Yahoo leagues.

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Angels' SP Reid Detmers recorded 14 strikeouts in 8 innings in a 2-1 win over the Rangers on Sunday, May. 24.

Los Angeles Angels left-hander Reid Detmers had his swing-and-miss stuff working to perfection on Sunday night against the division-rival Texas Rangers in what was a very impressive bounce-back outing. Detmers settled for a no-decision, but fantasy managers who rolled the dice on him to close out the week were handsomely rewarded, as the 26-year-old southpaw allowed only one earned run on a solo home run by Jake Burger while walking none and striking out a season-high 14 batters in a season-high eight innings of work to lower his season ERA to 4.57. The Angels won the game 2-1 at home, but Detmers did not factor into the decision. Still, it was a nice bounce-back outing after he surrendered a season-high eight earned runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out eight in 5 2/3 innings on May 19 in his last time out against the Athletics. Detmers is only 1-5 on the year, but he has 75 strikeouts and 19 walks in 63 innings across his 11 starts. He has fanned at least six batters in four of his last five starts and also has two nine-K performances in 2026. Detmers is only rostered in 33% of Yahoo leagues and is worth a look off the waiver wire if you need strikeouts.

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Miami Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix said on MLB Network Radio on Sunday that left-handed pitching prospect Thomas White (shoulder), who is currently on the seven-day injured list at Triple-A Jacksonville, is dealing with a "bit of a shoulder thing," and that it's not something "particularly concerning." The 21-year-old southpaw, who is considered the club's top prospect per MLB Pipeline, figured to be a candidate to make his major-league debut after fellow lefty prospect Robby Snelling needed elbow surgery and the team demoted lefty Braxton Garrett after a rough two starts in the big-league rotation. However, White is dealing with an injury of his own, although it doesn't figure to keep him out for too long. Before going on the IL at Jacksonville, White had a 4.34 ERA and 1.45 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and nine walks in 18 2/3 innings across five starts. The 6-foot-5, 240-pounder could be the top option for a major-league call-up in Miami once he returns to health in the minors, and he's certainly a stash candidate in deeper leagues.

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Houston Astros right-hander Hunter Brown (shoulder) made his first minor-league rehab start on Sunday with Double-A Corpus Christi and threw two scoreless innings with one hit allowed, no walks, and five strikeouts. It was a positive first start for Brown on the farm as he threw 21 of his 35 pitches for strikes and induced seven swings and misses on the day. The 27-year-old is currently on the 60-day injured list due to a right-shoulder injury, but he's eligible to come off the IL on June 1 and is trending toward making his return to Houston's starting rotation in the middle of June. The Astros want to see Brown get up to around 75 pitches in a rehab start before considering him as a member of the big-league rotation again. Brown is only available in 6% of Yahoo leagues after his breakout 2025 campaign, in which he went 12-9 with a 2.43 ERA (3.14 FIP) and 1.02 WHIP with a career-high 206 strikeouts and 57 walks in 185 1/3 innings across his 31 starts. Brown is the real deal and is a fantasy ace when he's healthy.

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