Chicago Cubs top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins recently returned to Triple-A Iowa following a lengthy stint on the injured list but has not had the most productive return to action. Wiggins was cleared to return to Iowa on July 10 but has yet to turn in a successful outing. Over his last three starts (7 2/3 innings of work), Wiggins has allowed a hefty 11 runs while posting a 9:11 K:BB. While this recent skid has put a late-season MLB debut in question, he enjoyed an impressive run in the minor leagues last summer, which keeps the door open. During the 2025 season, Wiggins logged 78 innings across High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A to the tune of a 2.19 ERA and a sharp 1.03 WHIP. While he is not a high-end stash target, he is worth monitoring, as a late-season promotion could still be in play.

From RotoBaller

Milwaukee Brewers infielder Luke Adams has enjoyed a dominant stretch at Triple-A Nashville and is now firmly on the stash radar ahead of Week 18 of the fantasy baseball season. Over his last 20 games, the infielder has posted a stellar .323/.442/.581 line with a 1.022 OPS. During this stretch, the primary third baseman has hit five doubles, gone deep three times, and swiped three bases. On the season (49 games at Triple-A), Adams has held a .270/.413/.560 line with a .973 OPS, eight doubles, 12 home runs, and seven stolen bases. Currently in the majors, the Brewers have seen third baseman Joey Ortiz enjoy a recent surge at the plate himself, but Adams is emerging as the clear next-man-up in this infield. If he maintains this pace, he should earn a late-season taste of the big leagues.

From RotoBaller

Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Lazaro Montes continues to flash high-end power at the Triple-A level and is making a strong case to earn the call to the big leagues. Since joining the top club in the system (14 games), the young slugger has looked quite comfortable, carrying a .254/.338/.525 line with a .863 OPS. During Saturday's contest, Montes went 2-for-5 with his third Triple-A long ball. This was also his third straight game tallying at least two hits. Earlier in the season, the outfielder spent 79 games at the Double-A level, where he posted a .234/.369/.550 line with a .919 OPS and 25 home runs. Montes is solidifying himself as one of the top power bats in the minor leagues and is in prime position to earn the call as Seattle looks to secure its spot in the postseason.

From RotoBaller

The Washington Nationals have traded infielder Curtis Mead to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for left-handed pitcher Connelly Early. Mead has enjoyed a strong campaign in D.C. and is now set to play a key role as the Red Sox look to claim a Wild Card down the stretch run. Through 87 games wth the Nationals in 2026, Mead has posted a strong .254/.352/.500 slash line with 17 doubles, 17 home runs and six stolen bases. His current production is expected to remain sustainable given his underlying marks. The 25-year-old has generated a .260 xBA with a borderline elite .358 xwOBA and a high .458 xSLG. Mead is expected to occupy the hot corner, which will move Caleb Durbin to the keystone. His power upside should provide him with prime RBI opportunities over the final months of the season as he joins one of the game's hottest lineups.

From RotoBaller

The Boston Red Sox have traded left-handed starting pitcher Connelly Early to the Washington Nationals in exchange for infielder Curtis Mead. Early was able to break camp with the Boston starting rotation but has been on the shelf since late June with an elbow injury. Early made his MLB debut late in the 2025 campaign and flashed high-end upside, logging his first 19 1/3 MLB innings to the tune of a 2.33 ERA and a sharp 1.09 WHIP. In 2026, Early posted a solid 3.44 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP across 92 2/3 innings. He totaled 93 punchouts while walking 8.7% of the hitters he has faced. While Early is still on the 15-day injured list, he recently began throwing, which suggests he should make his Nationals debut later in August. He remains a worthy stash candidate in all standard leagues as he should remain solid fantasy value down the stretch once back on the bump.

From RotoBaller

Washington Nationals infield prospect Seaver King has remained on the shelf at Triple-A Rochester for nearly the entire month due to an oblique strain. While this injury has not completely ruled him out of a 2026 debut, it has made his path to MLB at-bats far more difficult, especially if he still needs additional time to recover. King began the 2026 campaign at the Double-A level, but needed just 35 contests to prove he was ready to join the top club. With Harrisburg, the former 10th overall pick from the 2024 MLB Draft held a .336/.427/.567 slash line with 10 doubles, five home runs and five stolen bases. Over his first 33 contests at the top ranks, King looked just as sharp, carrying a .275/.338/.443 line with five home runs and four stolen bases. While his recent injury has dropped his stash value, he could emerge as a potential late-season option if he were to return to action in the coming weeks.

From RotoBaller

Baltimore's 1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand scored 28.5 fantasy points going 8-for-19 with three home runs and nine RBIs in five games this week. Encarnacion-Strand is owned only in 0.9% of mixed leagues.

Arizona Diamondbacks' C Gabriel Moreno scored 25.5 fantasy points going 9-for-23 with a home run and six RBIs in six games this week. Moreno is owned in 72.2% of mixed leagues.

Tampa Bay's C Nick Fortes scored 29.0 fantasy points going 10-for-15 with two home runs and seven RBIs in four games this week. Fortes is owned only in 3.4% of mixed leagues.

Detroit's 2B Hao-Yu Lee scored 26.5 fantasy points going 8-for-19 with two home runs and six RBIs in six games this week. Lee is owned only in 0.0% of mixed leagues.

Miami Marlins' LF Esteury Ruiz had four stolen bases and a .333 average in five games this week. Ruiz is owned only in 3.8% of mixed leagues.

Houston Astros' 3B Isaac Paredes scored 28.5 fantasy points going 7-for-18 with two home runs and seven RBIs in five games this week. Paredes is owned in 53.0% of mixed leagues.

Padres' 2B Luis Rengifo scored 26.0 fantasy points going 8-for-19 with two home runs and seven RBIs in six games this week. Rengifo is owned only in 0.1% of mixed leagues.

Blue Jays' SP Dylan Cease recorded 12 strikeouts in 9 innings collecting the win in a 6-0 win over Boston on Saturday, Jul. 25.

Pittsburgh's SP Paul Skenes recorded 11 strikeouts in 5.1 innings but took the loss in a 11-0 loss to the Cubs on Saturday, Jul. 25.

White Sox's SP Sean Burke recorded 10 strikeouts in 6 innings but took the loss in a 4-1 loss to the Astros on Saturday, Jul. 25.

Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (wrist) has started to make some progress on his road to return. Rutschman was able to throw on the field ahead of Saturday's game versus the Atlanta Braves. He has not started catching yet, so Rutschman still has some hurdles to jump before rejoining the O's lineup. He's eligible to come off the Injured List on Wednesday. Fantasy managers should check back in the middle of next week for another update on his status.

From RotoBaller

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Ranger Suarez (groin, illness) will return to the mound for Sunday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. There was some speculation that Suarez's start would be pushed back while he recovers from an illness. He was deemed healthy, so Suarez is back on the mound for the first time since early July. During the first half, Suarez posted a 3.15 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 97/26 K/BB ratio across 91.1 innings of work. He should be rostered and started in just about every fantasy format. The move to start Suarez on Sunday will push Payton Tolle back to Monday's game against the Athletics.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Carson Whisenhunt will be recalled to take the mound against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. The Giants have decided to call upon Whisenhunt to fill the void in the rotation left by Trevor McDonald (elbow), who landed on the Injured List. Whisenhunt has only started two games for the Giants this season, but has pitched well in Triple-A Sacramento. The 25-year-old figures to get an extended look with McDonald out and the Giants likely to move some veteran pitchers at the trade deadline. Whisenhunt draws a favorable start on Sunday and could be worth snagging in deeper mixed leagues.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee) won't throw his scheduled bullpen session on Saturday. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Ohtani has "kicked the can" on his bullpen session because his knee wasn't feeling 100 percent healthy. The Dodgers remain confident that Ohtani will pitch again this season. Given where they sit in the standings, the Dodgers have little incentive to push Ohtani back to the mound. The 31-year-old will continue to serve as the designated hitter, but it's unclear when he'll get back on the mound. Fantasy managers shouldn't be confident that they'll get much of anything from Ohtani as a pitcher down the stretch of the season.

From RotoBaller