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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Cincinnati Reds superstar Elly De La Cruz (hamstring) has been placed on the 10-day injured list with right hamstring tightness, per Charlie Goldsmith of FOX19. The Reds called up top shortstop prospect Edwin Arroyo in a corresponding move. De La Cruz felt the issue rounding first base on a leadoff single in the fifth inning of Sunday's win over the Braves and was pulled right away. He's scheduled for an MRI on Monday to get a clearer timeline to determine the severity of his hamstring issue. In the meantime, Matt McLain and the newly called-up Arroyo will handle shortstop, with Spencer Steer sliding around the infield for flexibility. Deeper-league managers chasing speed and upside should strongly consider adding Arroyo as a nice temporary boost. Before getting the call to the show on Monday, Arroyo slashed .323/.383/.562 with 11 home runs and nine stolen bases across 248 plate appearances for Triple-A Louisville.

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Minnesota Twins shortstop prospect Kaelen Culpepper continues to demonstrate an impressive blend of power and speed in the minors, and he's getting even closer to his MLB debut now that he has played 50+ games at Triple-A. The 23-year-old is slashing .256/.361/.473 with 12 homers, 12 steals, a 12.7% strikeout rate, a 19.7% walk rate, and 113 wRC+ so far. The underlying metrics are equally encouraging, as he owns a 95.2 mph median exit velocity (91st percentile), a 51.3% hard-hit rate (90th percentile), and a 89.4% zone contact rate (85th percentile). He can get overly aggressive at times, resulting in some chase, but for the most part, he's a well-rounded hitter with an encouraging defensive profile on the left side of the infield. He's nearly a lock to make his MLB debut this summer, and with his power/speed combo, fantasy managers should consider stashing him before his promotion. He ranks #2 among all prospects in RotoBaller's latest redraft fantasy baseball rankings.

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Baltimore Orioles right-hander Rico Garcia notched the save in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Athletics. Garcia allowed one walk while striking out over a scoreless inning to earn his third save of the year. The 32-year-old keeps rolling and looks like one of the best relief pitchers on the waiver wire right now. He has been absolutely filthy in 2026, posting a ridiculous 0.71 ERA and 0.63 WHIP with 28 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings. Garcia has allowed basically no hard contact all year (including a historic stretch with just one hit over his first 64 batters faced) and already picked up three saves while sharing high-leverage work. With Ryan Helsley (elbow) on the IL, Garcia has been handling the majority of the save chances for the Orioles. Fantasy managers chasing saves should look to add Garcia, as he's only rostered in 35% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues.

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The Cincinnati Reds are promoting top infield prospect Edwin Arroyo to the major leagues. In a corresponding move, the Reds are placing superstar shortstop Elly De La Cruz on the 10-day injured list with a right-hamstring injury. Arroyo currently stands as MLB.com's No. 98-ranked prospect and is viewed as the team's No. 3 prospect. Arroyo has enjoyed a dominant start to the Triple-A regular season and is expected to see a major role in his first taste of the major leagues. With Triple-A, the infielder has posted an impressive .323/.383/.562 line with a stellar .945 OPS. During this 53-game stretch, Arroyo hit nine doubles, 11 home runs, and swiped nine bags. With De La Cruz now on the injured list, Arroyo should see near every day at-bats in this offense. His five-category potential makes him a priority target in all standard leagues.

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San Diego Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta (forearm) is starting to show some real progress in his recovery and could be worth stashing on the waiver wire right now in deeper leagues. The 33-year-old Opening Day starter landed on the IL back in mid-April with right forearm inflammation/flexor strain. He took a big step forward on Friday when he threw on flat ground for the first time since the injury. The 33-year-old is expected to keep building up from there over the next couple of weeks, and the Padres have been cautiously optimistic about his timeline. Pivetta was having a solid start to 2026 before going down, posting a 1.38 ERA and 0.68 WHIP over his previous 13 innings. He's always had the stuff to be a reliable rotation piece when healthy. If Pivetta keeps progressing smoothly, he should be back sometime this summer with a chance to help fantasy teams down the stretch. Fantasy managers in leagues with an IL spot should continue to stash Pivetta for now.

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Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain has been one of the bigger disappointments of the first two months, but he might be worth grabbing right now while he's slumping. The 26-year-old is hitting just .196 with five homers, 20 RBI, 22 runs, and seven steals across 56 games. He's been especially ice cold lately (1-for-26 in his last eight games), and he was out of the lineup on Sunday. Still, he showed some signs of life with a three-homer stretch in May, and he came in as a pinch-runner and played shortstop after Elly De La Cruz (hamstring) was removed from Sunday's game against the Braves. McLain is still viewed as the primary second baseman long-term and has the tools for a legit 15-20 HR, 15+ SB season once he gets going. Deeper-league managers should consider stashing him on the waiver wire (rostered in 38% of Yahoo leagues) while the price is this low.

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Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Troy Melton had the start of his 2026 season delayed by an elbow injury. However, the 25-year-old made his return to the MLB mound on May 24 and has impressed in his first two starts of the year, allowing just two earned runs across 12 2/3 innings pitched. Melton's production in 2026 is a continuation of his strong 2025 performance, as he recorded a 2.76 ERA and 1.01 WHIP across 16 games (four starts) after making his MLB debut in late July. With a 17.4% career strikeout rate, the young right-hander has struggled to generate whiffs at the big-league level so far. Still, he's consistently found a way to get outs and showed more strikeout upside in the minors, recording a 32.4% strikeout rate across 75 1/3 innings split between Double and Triple-A in 2025. Melton should have an extended runway to establish himself as a rotation fixture in Detroit and profiles as a breakout candidate for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.

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After opening 2026 in Triple-A, Athletics infielder/outfielder Zack Gelof earned a promotion to the big leagues in mid-April and has since established himself as his team's everyday third baseman. Across 150 plate appearances so far this season, the 26-year-old is hitting .259/.304/.432 with six home runs, 19 RBI, 21 runs scored, and six stolen bases. Gelof battled major swing-and-miss issues in his previous MLB stints, logging a 34.4% strikeout rate across 547 plate appearances in 2024 and striking out in 45.5% of his 101 plate appearances in 2025. However, the former top prospect has lowered his strikeout rate to 24.7% in 2026. As long as Gelof can continue to keep the whiffs under control, his combination of power and speed makes him an appealing option for fantasy managers. Gelof also has the advantage of playing his home games in the A's hitter-friendly home environment in Sacramento, which should allow him to maximize his abilities at the plate. Gelof profiles as a priority waiver wire target with upside ahead of a possible breakout season in 2026.

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Cleveland Guardians outfielder Angel Martinez (foot) is currently considered day-to-day as he battles a mid-foot strain that forced him to exit early from his team's game against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday. However, Martinez is not expected to require a trip to the injured list and could be ready to go for the start of Cleveland's three-game set with the New York Yankees on Tuesday. The 24-year-old is in the midst of a breakout season so far in 2026, hitting .243/.281/.449 with nine home runs, 29 RBI, 24 runs scored, and eight stolen bases across 200 plate appearances. While Martinez's 3.0% walk rate brings his plate skills into question, he's made up for it by raising his barrel rate from 3.5% in 2025 to 8.1% this season. As a switch-hitter, Martinez has established himself as an everyday staple in the Guardians outfield, which should allow him to continue to rack up counting stats and stolen bases. Particularly in deeper leagues, Martinez profiles as a valuable compiler who should be a priority on the waiver wire for fantasy managers.

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