Miami Marlins right-handed reliever Michael Petersen has become a top stash candidate off the waiver wire for fantasy managers who are speculating on saves in the second half amid current closer Pete Fairbanks' struggles. Fairbanks leads the Fish with 13 saves on the season, but he also has an ERA over 7.00, a 1.52 WHIP, and a 10.1% walk rate. He blew his latest save chance on July 19 against the Milwaukee Brewers, allowing three earned runs with a walk and a strikeout in just one-third of an inning, and he has now given up 11 runs (10 earned) on 14 hits (four homers) with three walks and 10 K's for two saves and a blown save in his last 8 1/3 innings pitched since June 23. With the Marlins flailing of late, they could make a change in the ninth inning, and if they do, Petersen appears to be next in line. The 32-year-old English native has a 2.91 ERA (3.27 FIP), 0.99 WHIP, his first career save, 51 strikeouts, and 17 walks in 43 1/3 innings in 2026 in his first full year in Miami. At the very least, Petersen is valuable in holds leagues with 17 on the year. So far in seven innings in July, he's allowed just one earned run with four walks, seven K's, and four holds. Petersen is rostered in just under 10% of Yahoo leagues.

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New York Mets outfielder Carson Benge has quietly been one of the more productive rookie bats in 2026 for the last-place Mets. Going into the weekend, he is slashing .263/.324/.397 with a .720 OPS, 11 home runs, 13 doubles, 40 RBI, 16 stolen bases, and 52 runs scored as a lineup regular through 99 games and 408 plate appearances in his first year in the big leagues. The return of Luis Robert Jr. from the injured list recently has made New York's outfield a bit more crowded, but the 23-year-old former 19th overall pick from Oklahoma State University in 2024 has earned consistent playing time the rest of the way in what has become a lost season for the Mets. Benge can contribute across the board for fantasy managers and has stayed hot in 16 games in July, going 18-for-61 (.295) with an .805 OPS, two home runs, three doubles, eight RBI, five stolen bases, and eight runs scored across his 69 plate appearances. Fantasy managers are slowly catching on, but Benge is still rostered in just over half of Yahoo leagues, so he remains widely available.

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Tampa Bay Rays outfield prospect Jacob Melton has quietly been one of the top hitters at the Triple-A level over the last several weeks and is emerging as a top prospect to stash. Over his last 13 contests at Triple-A (since returning from injury), Melton has carried an elite .327/.421/.592 slash line with four doubles, three home runs, three stolen bases and a sharp 11:7 K:BB. On the season, Melton has posted a .272/.377/.500 line through 33 Triple-A contests. During this noted stretch, the outfielder has swiped 20 bags and added 12 doubles with four round-trippers. Given his impressive play, Melton has put himself one step closer to joining the Rays for the final stretch. While the recent surge of Victor Mesa Jr. has delayed a call-up, Melton has positioned himself as the clear top name if a starter were to miss time with an injury.

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Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect Luis Pena snapped his long power skid at High-A on Thursday evening. Pena has missed time with several injuries this season, but when on the infield, the young infielder has been quite productive. Over his last 14 contests with High-A since returning from injury, the 19-year-old has held a .275/.345/.431 line with seven stolen bases and a 15:3 K:BB. Overall on the season, the No. 2-ranked prospect in the system (and No.18 overall in the sport), has carried a .294/.392/.412 line through 34 contests with High-A. Pena has held a .804 OPS and added six doubles, two home runs, and 19 stolen bases. While the missed time has likely prevented him from reaching Triple-A this season, a strong conclusion should put him in a great position to debut in Nashville to open 2027.

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Minnesota Twins catching prospect Eduardo Tait extended his power barrage on Thursday evening. Facing Dayton, the No. 39-ranked prospect in the sport (per MLB.com), went 1-for-3 with a long ball. This marked Tait's third home run over his last five games with High-A Cedar Rapids. Tait has spent the 2026 campaign with High-A and has endured some groin pains. On the season, he has held a .221 AVG but has shown high power upside, launching 18 long balls with a .727 OPS. During the 2025 campaign, the young backstop spent most of his time with Low-A before earning a short taste of High-A ball later in the second half. If Tait can extend this power surge into August, the young catcher could receive a short look at Double-A late in the season.

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St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez has endured a tough skid in July, which has delayed his eventual MLB debut. Since the start of the month, the young slugger in the St. Louis system has carried a modest .138/.239/.328 line. During this 15-game stretch, he has not shown his typical high-end power potential, hitting only three home runs, including a grand slam on July 17 and a two-home run effort on July 2. On the season, Baez has hit 29 home runs and even swiped 15 bags while holding a .241/.313/.551 line with a .864 OPS. While this stretch at the plate likely delayed an immediate promotion, his high-end five-category promotion keeps him at the top of most stash boards ahead of Week 18. He would immediately emerge as a must-start option for fantasy as soon as he earns the call.

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Atlanta's SP Chris Sale recorded 11 strikeouts in 6 innings collecting the win in a 6-5 win over the Padres on Thursday, Jul. 23.

Guardians' SP Gavin Williams recorded 11 strikeouts in 7 innings in a 3-1 loss to the Twins on Thursday, Jul. 23.

Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies was one of the best hitters in the game to begin the season. Since May 1, Albies is slashing .234/.289/.381, which has certainly been a bummer for fantasy managers. Overall, Albies hasn't posted bad stats with 15 home runs and 55 RBI while slashing .262/.314/.430 in 101 games. He earned himself his fourth trip to the All-Star Game despite not having a ton of success at the plate over the last few months. His cold spell at the plate might make him easier for fantasy managers to buy-low on him right now. Albies is a consistent enough bat, but his struggles over the last few weeks might be enough to pry him away from fantasy managers.

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Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman/outfielder Jordan Lawlar (hamstring) was recently cleared to begin doing baseball activities. He has been sidelined since June 20 due to a strained right hamstring, but is expected to return in early August. The hope is that Lawlar can be a key contributor for the D-Backs down the stretch of the season. This season, Lawlar is slashing .316/.409/.447 with one home run and four RBI in 12 games. It's a small sample size, but Lawlar has looked good at the plate when he's healthy. The 24-year-old carries high expectations after being taken in the first-round during the 2021 draft. Fantasy managers in deep leagues should consider stashing Lawlar, who appears on the verge of returning and is primed to break out at the plate.

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Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds put together one of the worst seasons of his career last year. It wasn't an awful year, but Reynolds is expected to play at an All-Star level, which is something he didn't do last season. Now, Reynolds is back and has rebounded nicely at the plate. Through 103 games, Reynolds is slashing .275/.391/.463 with 14 home runs, 59 RBI, and seven stolen bases this season. It appears Reynolds is finally back to the normal version of himself that fantasy managers expect to see. Fantasy managers might want to take advantage of the resurgence now and cash in by trading him.

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Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II is enjoying a bounce-back season at the plate. Through 95 games, Harris is slashing .296/.325/.499 with 18 home runs, 60 RBI, and six steals. There is a good chance that Harris sets a new career high in homers this season. The 2026 season is the best Harris has looked at the plate since his sophomore campaign in 2023. The hope is that the 23-year-old continues to hit like this, but fantasy managers should cash in now. Harris has sky-high value at the moment, so fantasy managers should take advantage and sell high on him.

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Miami Marlins shortstop Xavier Edwards continues to be one of the most consistent contact hitters in baseball. This season, Edwards has been able to add some power to his game. He's already blasted a career-high six home runs through 103 games this season. Overall, Edwards is slashing .290/.372/.404 with six homers, 37 RBI, and 14 stolen bases. He has set career highs in homers and walks, and we're not even into August yet. He has been in a bit of a slump at the plate recently, but fantasy managers should still consider selling high on Edwards. His value has likely peaked this season, and managers should attempt to get the most out of him right now.

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Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams stayed dominant in a no-decision in the team's 3-1 loss to the division-rival Minnesota Twins on Thursday at Progressive Field. Williams tossed seven shutout innings with two hits allowed, no walks, and 11 strikeouts to lower his season ERA to 3.78. The 26-year-old has taken a step forward in 2026, and he has now fanned exactly 11 hitters in three straight starts and for the fifth time this year. Williams even had a rare immaculate inning in this one for a cherry on top. In his fourth year in the majors, Williams now has a strong 1.10 WHIP with 156 strikeouts and 37 walks in his 21 starts across 126 1/3 innings pitched. The former 23rd overall pick in the 2021 MLB draft from East Carolina University has morphed into a must-start this year because of his dominance and improved walk rate. Fantasy managers should be keeping him in their lineups for his next scheduled start against the Cincinnati Reds next week. Williams faced the Reds at home on May 17 and picked up a win by allowing two earned runs with no walks and seven strikeouts in six innings.

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The Los Angeles Angels announced on Thursday that right-handed reliever Ben Joyce (shoulder) is moving his minor-league rehab assignment to Triple-A Salt Lake. Joyce, a third-rounder in 2022 out of the University of Tennessee, has been on the injured list all year due to a right-shoulder injury, but he has appeared in eight minor-league rehab games in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League and at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, and he appears to be nearing his 2026 debut with the Halos. The 25-year-old can hit triple digits with his fastball and has the stuff to settle in as the team's primary closing option down the stretch, especially when considering the last-place Angels are currently rolling with a closer-by-committee situation involving Ryan Zeferjahn, Sam Bachman, and Kirby Yates. Of course, the Angels aren't the best bullpen to target for fantasy purposes, but fantasy managers who are desperate for saves should have Joyce on their watch radar as he nears the end of his rehab assignment. Joyce is currently rostered in 3% of Yahoo leagues.

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Miami Marlins catcher Agustin Ramirez hit 21 homers, drove in 67 runs, and stole 16 bases in 136 games and 585 plate appearances as a rookie in 2025, but he has appeared in just 31 games for the Fish in 2026, hitting .230 (26-for-113) with two homers, 14 RBI, and three steals. The 24-year-old Dominican backstop has been toiling in the minors at Triple-A Jacksonville as he tries to improve his defensive skills, and the Marlins have been content to leave him on the farm with Liam Hicks having a solid season in the big leagues. But with Ramirez's rare power/speed skills for a catcher, fantasy managers may want to consider stashing him for the stretch run. In 50 games and 205 plate appearances at Jacksonville this year, Ramirez is slashing .242/.317/.418 with a .735 OPS, seven home runs, 27 RBI, 15 stolen bases, and 31 runs scored. The Marlins could be considering calling him up amidst their current cold streak as they try to stay relevant in the National League wild-card picture. Despite not having played in the majors since May 3, Ramirez is rostered in 33% of Yahoo leagues.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates designated right-handed reliever Dennis Santana for assignment on Thursday to make room for right-handed reliever Ron Marinaccio, who was acquired in a minor trade from the San Diego Padres in exchange for international signing bonus pool considerations, according to MLB.com's Alex Stumpf. Santana was an option for saves in the Pirates' bullpen earlier this season, but he has struggled mightily, going 2-5 with a 6.05 ERA (5.48 FIP), a 1.51 WHIP, two saves, 37 strikeouts, and 21 walks in 41 2/3 relief innings in 2026 in his second full season in Pittsburgh. The 30-year-old Dominican hurler has had a really rough month of July, allowing 10 earned runs on 12 hits (four homers) while walking two and striking out seven for two losses and a hold in 7 1/3 innings across eight appearances out of the bullpen. Santana will most likely clear waivers because of his $3.7 million salary, at which point he could refuse an outright assignment and become a free agent.

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Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (back) was scratched from Thursday's starting lineup against the St. Louis Cardinals with back stiffness, according to Steve Zinsmeister of Arizona Sports. Ildemaro Vargas is starting at the keystone and will bat seventh for the Snakes against Cardinals right-hander Michael McGreevy. For now, we'll consider Marte to be day-to-day until we know more. Fantasy managers will want to remove him from their starting lineups and check back on Friday to see if he's available in D.C. for the series opener against the Washington Nationals. It might be a good time for Marte to take a day off, as he's hitting just .229 (16-for-70) with a .619 OPS, one homer, three doubles, a triple, six RBI, nine runs scored, three steals, five walks, and 15 strikeouts in 17 games in July to drop his season line to .258/.313/.461 with a .773 OPS. The Dominican switch-hitter and three-time All-Star continues to be a strong source of power at the keystone, though, with 18 homers and 59 RBI in 98 games and 432 plate appearances in his 12th year in the majors.

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Miami Marlins outfield prospect Kemp Alderman blasted his 14th home run of the season on Wednesday in a two-hit effort for Triple-A Jacksonville. The Marlins' eighth-ranked prospect is hitting .326 in 12 July games for the Jumbo Shrimp, which has raised his season-long slash line to .295/.372/.515. The former second-rounder offered stolen base potential last year, recording 22 steals (20 of which came at Double-A), but is up to just six this year, and is still striking out at an elevated rate of 31.2 percent. The 22-year-old could make an MLB debut later this year, but he'll need to flex some more of his highly-rated power tool in order to make the strikeout rate (and corresponding low walk rate) worth it. For now, he looks like a high-risk, high-reward stash consideration for home runs in very deep redraft leagues given his proximity to the majors.

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The Seattle Mariners are telling teams that they are open to moving right-hander Emerson Hancock at this year's trade deadline as they search for a right-handed hitter, people briefed on their discussions told Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic. Contending teams are likely to be reluctant to take on veteran right-hander Luis Castillo and the $22.75 million he's owed next season. The 27-year-old Hancock is more affordable and controllable, as he's earning $793,300 this year and is under control for four more seasons through 2030. Regression is expected for Hancock, but he's in the midst of a breakout campaign this year with a 6-4 record, 3.16 ERA (3.72 FIP) and 1.01 WHIP with a career-high 97 strikeouts and 26 walks in 105 1/3 innings across his 19 starts. Even though other teams likely don't view him as a top-of-the-rotation arm, he's still valuable under long-term control. Hancock could be Seattle's best pitching trade chip this summer, as they are unlikely to discuss Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, or Bryan Woo. Right-hander Bryce Miller is also believed to be untouchable.

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