Milwaukee Brewers corner infield prospect Luke Adams is in the midst of a prolonged slump at the plate, going 5-for-34 (.147) over his last 11 games, and has now also gone 16 games without a home run. On the bright side, the Brewers' 11th-ranked prospect has still managed to get on base thanks to his keen eye, drawing seven walks compared to just five strikeouts during his 11-game slump, and has even been hit by pitches five times during that stretch. The 6-foot-4 slugger missed a month and a half earlier this season due to injury, and through 58 games at Nashville, he's slashing .249/.400/.497 with 12 home runs and seven steals. A low 14.8 percent strikeout rate may point to brighter days ahead, but at this point, a 2026 debut feels like a long shot unless perhaps Jake Bauers' (abdomen) recent injury ends up requiring a stint on the injured list, although Adams is not currently on the 40-man roster. Until the 22-year-old's bat shows signs of life again, he's likely not worth the roster spot needed to stash him, and there may be better options to fill an NA slot if available.

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Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said that the team is holding out hope, but there's "probably a slim chance" that right-hander Hunter Greene (elbow) will pitch again this season, according to Charlie Goldsmith of FOX 19. The Reds will have more information on Thursday night after Greene receives a second opinion on his right elbow. Cincy placed the hard-throwing right-hander on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday after he felt discomfort in his elbow during a bullpen session on Tuesday. Greene already got a late start in 2026 while recovering from right-elbow surgery, so this obviously is not a good sign for the former second overall pick. The former All-Star has ace potential, but injuries have hampered him the last two years, and he's likely to end the 2026 campaign with a 2-2 record, 6.83 ERA (3.56 FIP), 1.37 WHIP, and 33:9 K:BB in just 27 2/3 innings pitched across five starts. Another elbow surgery could cause him to miss the entire 2027 campaign, which would be a worst-case scenario for Greene and the Reds. In single-year fantasy baseball leagues, it's probably safe to dump Greene at this point.

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Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that right-hander Trey Yesavage (knee) is dealing with a meniscus injury in his left knee and will visit with a specialist on Monday to determine his next steps, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. Surgery "is always a possibility" when a player sees a specialist, per Schneider, but "we're obviously hoping to avoid that." Going under the knife would almost certainly cut the 23-year-old's first full season in the big leagues in 2026 short. The Blue Jays pulled the East Carolina product from his start early on Tuesday against the Houston Astros and then placed him on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday. Even if Yesavage avoids surgery, fantasy managers shouldn't expect him back in two weeks. The former 20th overall pick in 2024 continues to struggle to refine his command with an 11.9% walk rate while going 5-5 with a 3.65 ERA (4.08 FIP), 1.14 WHIP, and 91:46 K:BB in 93 2/3 frames across his 18 starts. Keep Yesavage stashed unless we find out that he needs season-ending knee surgery.

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Miami Marlins pitching prospect Karson Milbrandt has fallen on hard times after a strong start to the season. The Marlins' fourth-ranked prospect began the year with a 1.31 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and a 23.6 percent K-BB% over his first 12 starts, which included three starts at Triple-A, but since then he owns an 11.95 ERA, 2.31 WHIP, and a shocking -2.8 percent K-BB% (he's walking more batters than he is striking out) over his last five starts. The right-hander was seemingly on the precipice of a major league debut in June, but after his latest outing in which he yielded seven earned runs on seven hits (three home runs), two walks, and one hit batsman, it looks like hopes of a 2026 debut are fading fast. If he can right the ship and string together a couple of good outings, starting with his next start this Saturday, perhaps a 2026 debut will be back in play, but it will likely be too late to help fantasy managers. The talented 22-year-old is worth monitoring, but for now, he's off the stash radar.

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Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Zac Veen has been red-hot again at Triple-A Albuquerque, going 15-for-38 (.395) over his last eight games, with 11 of those 15 hits going for extra bases (five doubles, one triple, five home runs). The Rockies' top prospect, who also authored a 25-game hit streak earlier this year, is now slashing .315/.389/.603 with 21 home runs and 16 stolen bases in 96 games for the Isotopes. Unfortunately for Veen, Colorado seemingly has a glut of outfield depth at the moment, with a productive big league unit that includes recently-graduated prospect Cole Carrigg, along with fellow prospect Charlie Condon also waiting in the wings for a call-up. Still, Veen may have the edge over Condon the next time the team needs to fill a void in the outfield, as the left-handed hitter has already made his major league debut and is already on the 40-man roster. With the potential to contribute across multiple categories, the former ninth-overall draft pick is a worthy stash consideration who could be in position to help managers in the run-up to and in the fantasy playoffs in deeper 12+ team leagues if he were to get the call.

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Milwaukee Brewers first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers (abdomen) is out of his team's lineup for their Thursday matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates and right-handed starting pitcher Braxton Ashcraft. This will be three consecutive games where Bauers has not been in the starting lineup as he battles an abdominal issue. The 30-year-old has had a breakout year in 2026, hitting .270/.375/.503 with 20 home runs, 64 RBI, 68 runs scored, and four stolen bases across 403 plate appearances. Bauers has posted an elite 13.6% walk rate while also logging a 13.6% barrel rate and a 52.9% hard-hit rate. It's not yet clear whether Bauers will require a trip to the injured list. If he does miss extended time, first baseman Andrew Vaughn and outfielder Luis Lara are both candidates to see an increase in playing time.

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Across 114 1/3 innings (20 starts) in 2026, Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly has recorded an 8-9 record with a 5.04 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, and 76 strikeouts. While the veteran right-hander's overall line is not pretty, he's been significantly better of late. Across 32 2/3 innings since the start of July, Kelly has pitched to a 3.03 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with 29 strikeouts and three wins. The 37-year-old has recorded a measly 15.9% strikeout rate on the year, which limits his fantasy upside. Still, Kelly has a long track record as a proven innings-eater, and he appears to be pulling himself out of his rough first half of the 2026 season. In the right matchups, Kelly carries streamer appeal in deeper league formats.

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Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (hamstring) remains out of his team's lineup for the second straight game on Thursday. Guerrero Jr. has been in and out of the Toronto lineup since exiting early from a game on July 28 due to hamstring tightness. While the Blue Jays have not indicated that their star first baseman will require a trip to the injured list, it's obviously a concern for fantasy managers that Guerrero Jr. will get a second straight day off on Thursday. It's been a frustrating year overall for the 27-year-old, who is hitting .259/.338/.349 with six home runs, 44 RBI, 55 runs scored, and seven stolen bases across 456 plate appearances. With Guerrero Jr. out of the lineup, the Blue Jays have shifted third baseman Kazuma Okamoto across the diamond to first base and used infielders Ernie Clement and Josh Smith to cover the hot corner.

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Since making his MLB debut on June 9, Colorado Rockies outfielder Cole Carrigg has emerged as a potential piece of his team's core going forward. Across 182 plate appearances, the 24-year-old is hitting .301/.387/.510 with five home runs, 28 RBI, 33 runs scored, and five stolen bases. Carrigg's underlying batted-ball metrics are uninspiring, as he's logged a 4.9% barrel rate and a 32.8% hard-hit rate. However, he's demonstrated impressive plate skills for a young player with a 11.5% barrel rate. Carrigg also has the benefit of playing his home games at the hitter-friendly Coors Field, which, when combined with his plus speed, should allow him to run a high batting average on balls in play and rack up extra-base hits. In any league where he's not already rostered, Carrigg should be viewed as a priority waiver wire target.

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New York Mets closer Devin Williams (arm) is "good to go" on Thursday, per Laura Albanese of Newsday. Albanese previously reported that Williams is battling arm fatigue, but it appears it is not a serious enough issue to force him to miss time. Across 37 2/3 innings (41 games) in 2026, Williams has recorded a 4.30 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 51 strikeouts, and 16 saves. The 31-year-old remains a reliable source of swing-and-miss, as he's posted a 29.6% strikeout rate. However, Williams' 11.6% walk rate remains an issue, and his average fastball velocity is down to a career-worst 93.9 miles per hour. If his current arm fatigue lingers and causes Williams' velocity to drop even further, his production level could continue to fade.

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Boston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas (wrist) underwent successful surgery on his left wrist on Thursday, according to Tommy Cassell of the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. This most recent wrist issue is the latest in a string of injury setbacks for Casas. He ruptured the patellar tendon in his left knee in May 2025, resulting in season-ending surgery. Casas also suffered an intercostal strain while working his way back from the knee injury earlier this year and is now set to be sidelined for a significant stretch while he recovers from wrist surgery. All in all, the 26-year-old has logged just 355 MLB plate appearances since the start of the 2024 season. He was productive in a 63-game sample size in 2024, hitting .241 with 13 home runs and a 13.3% barrel rate. Still, his extensive injury history makes his future fantasy value difficult to project.

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San Diego Padres first baseman Ty France has quietly been one of the team's most consistent offensive producers this summer. He hit .326 (29-for-89) with a .966 OPS, six home runs, six doubles, 20 RBI, and 13 runs scored in 23 games and 100 plate appearances in July, and he's off to a good start so far in five games in August, going 6-for-20 (.300) with five runs scored for the Friars. The 32-year-old veteran's recent hot streak at the plate has boosted his season slash line to an impressive .288/.342/.520 with an .862 OPS, 16 home runs, 49 RBI, 39 runs scored, and a stolen base in 89 games played across 311 plate appearances in his eighth year in the big leagues. France is suddenly five home runs shy of setting a new career high in that category in his return to San Diego in 2026. While his .255 expected batting average and .331 xwOBA (current wOBA of .368) say that we've probably seen the best from France this year, he's still not a corner-infield option for some pop in deep-mixed fantasy leagues while he's hot. After his red-hot stretch in July, he's now rostered in 40% of Yahoo leagues.

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Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell still managed to make an impact in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates despite going 0-for-2 at the plate, as he had two walks and two stolen bases. The 27-year-old has yet to record a hit in five games in August, going 0-for-15 with eight strikeouts, but he does have two runs scored and three stolen bases in 20 plate appearances. Mitchell, a former first-rounder in 2020 from UCLA, is hitting .257/.354/.419 on the year with a .773 OPS, eight home runs, 49 RBI, 49 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases across his 327 at-bats in a career-high 103 games in his fifth year in the majors with Milwaukee. Despite his recent slump, Mitchell can be useful as an outfield depth option for his speed on the strong side of a platoon with the Brew Crew. Mitchell was money for fantasy managers in July, batting .315 (28-for-89) with an .896 OPS, two homers, nine doubles, a triple, 11 RBI, 13 runs scored, and two steals in 25 games played. Perhaps the biggest takeaway for Mitchell in 2026 is that he has finally managed to stay healthy.

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Minnesota Twins right-handed reliever Yoendrys Gomez quickly became the team's favorite for saves after being acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays early in the season, but he could have competition for the ninth-inning role the rest of the 2026 season after the Twins added veteran righty Jeff Hoffman at Monday's trade deadline. The 26-year-old Venezuelan hurler has been much better since joining the Twins, posting a 1.93 ERA (3.03 FIP), 1.16 WHIP, 13 saves, and a 33:15 K:BB in 32 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. In 11 appearances for the Twins in July, Gomez was solid, allowing just two earned runs with seven walks, 10 strikeouts, two wins, and five saves in 10 1/3 innings pitched. It's not like he has pitched poorly with the Twins, but the addition of Hoffman will give manager Derek Shelton another option in high-leverage, late-game situations as the Twins try to sneak into the postseason. Gomez is still worth rostering in deeper leagues (he's rostered in 31% of Yahoo leagues), but don't be surprised if Hoffman joins the saves mix in Minnesota.

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Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever Steven Cruz has jumped into the saves picture for the Royals after Alex Lange has allowed 16 runs in his last 10 appearances. Cruz was entrusted in a save situation on Wednesday against the division-rival Minnesota Twins, and he delivered to close out the 2-1 win. He threw a clean inning with one strikeout to earn his third save of the season for the Royals. The 27-year-old Dominican pitcher is 2-3 in 2026 with a 4.29 ERA (5.50 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP with 48 strikeouts and 17 walks in 42 total innings pitched in his fourth year in the majors with the Royals. Cruz's surface stats aren't all that impressive, but he's been much better since the start of July, allowing only four earned runs on 11 hits while walking three and striking out 13 in 15 2/3 innings during that stretch. He's also picked up all three of his saves and has added two holds. It's unclear if veteran reliever Carlos Estevez (shoulder) will even be able to make it back at all this year, so Cruz could have plenty of runway to close out the year as the Royals' primary closer over Lange. Cruz is rostered in just 3% of Yahoo leagues and is widely available.

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Miami Marlins prospect Kemp Alderman is compiling a nice season with Triple-A Jacksonville with 14 homers and 45 RBI to go with 49 runs scored and seven stolen bases while hitting .281 in 270 at bats. Alderman missed some time with an injury in May and June but has still produced a consistent season at age 23 at Triple-A. Alderman is the No. 7 prospect in the Marlins' system and boasts 60-grade power as shown by his 14 home runs in 72 games played. Miami has a lot of names in the outfield mix at the big league level, but Alderman's power could play at the MLB level. He is a name worth keeping an eye on the rest of the season in case he is called up to Miami. Fantasy managers will want to react quickly if he does get a chance to make his MLB debut because his power-speed combo could be a help for fantasy teams.

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Baltimore Orioles veteran right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge is becoming more attractive in deeper fantasy baseball leagues for managers desperate for saves. Kittredge locked down his fifth save of the season by throwing a clean inning with no hits allowed, no walks, and no strikeouts on Wednesday to close out a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels at Camden Yards. The 36-year-old has allowed three earned runs in 1 1/3 innings pitched so far in August, but he has two saves in his last four appearances and is now second on the team this year in saves. In 12 relief outings in July, Kittredge didn't give up a single run and had three walks, seven strikeouts, three saves, one blown save, and three holds in 11 innings pitched. He's 1-3 on the season with a 4.05 ERA (4.20 FIP) and 1.44 WHIP with 29 strikeouts and 10 walks in 33 1/3 total innings. Kittredge definitely is not a sexy reliever by any means, but with Ryan Helsley (elbow) still on the injured list, he could continue to get save opportunities alongside Yennier Cano and Rico Garcia, and he's rostered in only 5% of Yahoo leagues.

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San Diego Padres manager Craig Stammen said that right-hander Nick Pivetta (forearm) had a normal day of recovery on Wednesday and threw out to 90 feet, according to Sammy Levitt of 97.3 The Fan. Pivetta was checked out by doctors as an extra precaution, but Stammen said it sounds like it's "all systems forward" right now. The 33-year-old veteran walked off the mound abruptly in the middle of an at-bat in his first minor-league rehab appearance with Single-A Lake Elsinore on Tuesday due to tightness in his right elbow, but after throwing in the bullpen afterwards, he felt fine. Pivetta may have avoided a serious setback from a forearm/elbow injury that has limited him to just four starts in 2026. It looks like he will attempt to stay on schedule and make another rehab start. In a best-case scenario for Pivetta and the Padres, he'll return to SD's starting rotation by the end of the month as the Friars look to make a playoff push. When healthy, Pivetta showed last year that he can be the team's ace after going 13-5 with a 2.87 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 190:50 K:BB in 31 regular-season starts in what was a career year in 2025.

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Tampa Bay Rays prospect Jacob Melton was placed on the 7-day injured list with a right hamstring strain and is expected to miss about a week with Triple-A Durham. Melton has had a nice season with Durham, batting .285 in 123 at bats at Triple-A with five homers and 23 RBI to go with 24 runs scored and 23 stolen bases. The 25-year-old has shown off his five-category ability this season with Durham and is currently the No. 6 prospect in Tampa's system. He has 60-grade power and 60-grade speed which shows off his ability to hit at a high level while also establishing himself as a stolen base threat. Melton debuted with the Houston Astros at the major league level in 2025 before being traded to Tampa Bay in December of 2025. Melton has the MLB experience and could play for the Rays before the end of this year. He is worth stashing as he returns from his injury.

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Chicago Cubs right-handed reliever Daniel Palencia (elbow) didn't exactly have the greatest first minor-league rehab outing on Wednesday at Triple-A Iowa. Palencia allowed an earned run on one hit while walking two and striking out one in two-thirds of an inning to blow the save against Triple-A Indianapolis. He threw half of his pitches for strikes but did sit around 98 mph with his fastball, which is encouraging. The 26-year-old Venezuelan hurler last pitched for the Cubbies on June 15, so he will need at least a couple more rehab appearances to try to get his command in the right place. Once reinstated from the 15-day injured list, the Cubs could ease Palencia back into high-leverage situations out of the bullpen, but the expectation is that Palencia will once again become manager Craig Counsell's preferred option for saves in the ninth inning. Palencia has appeared in only 19 games this year and has a 2.70 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, three saves, and 19 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings pitched after he saved a career-high 22 games for Chicago last year. Palencia is rostered in only 59% of Yahoo leagues. Now is the time to scoop him up if you need saves.

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