Across 333 plate appearances so far this season, Cleveland Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana has hit .241/.339/.399 with nine home runs, 33 RBI, 35 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases. The 23-year-old has not gotten too much power in his first taste of big-league action this year, as he's logged a 4.1% barrel rate and a 35.0% hard-hit rate. However, Bazzana has shown an impressive plate approach for a young player, logging a 12% walk rate while posting a manageable 21.6% strikeout rate. Bazzana's ability to get on base keeps his place at the top of the Guardians' everyday lineup stable, and he's on pace to rack up 20-plus stolen bases. Bazzana may not offer tremendous upside for fantasy managers, but he's proven himself to be a balanced contributor who should be a priority waiver wire target in deeper league formats.

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Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz got off to a rough start to the 2026 season, hitting .238 with just two home runs across his first 106 plate appearances and then suffering an oblique strain in early May that caused him to miss over a month. However, the 27-year-old has shown more power since his return, clubbing four home runs across his last 93 trips to the plate. Diaz was a productive player for fantasy managers in 2025, when he hit .256 with 20 home runs and 70 RBI. He's maintained an above-average strikeout rate (16.1%) so far this year and has been victimized by a subpar .248 batting average on balls in play, which is well below his career mark of .298. Diaz could continue to reach more power in the final months of the regular season, making him a catcher for fantasy managers to monitor on the waiver wire.

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Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (hamstring) is not expected to be in the team's lineup on Wednesday after he was removed early from Toronto's loss to the Washington Nationals on Tuesday with right hamstring tightness, per Ian Quillen of MLB.com. It's not yet clear whether Guerrero Jr. will require a trip to the injured list, but resting him on Wednesday will give the 27-year-old two full days off before Toronto's next series against the St. Louis Cardinals begins on Friday. It's been a nightmare season so far for Guerrero Jr., who is hitting .265/.345/.357 with six home runs, 44 RBI, 55 runs scored, and seven stolen bases across 435 plate appearances. His barrel rate is down from 12.2% in 2025 to 6.7% this season, and his hard-hit rate has dropped from 50.7% to 43.8%. With Guerrero Jr. out of the starting lineup on Wednesday, Blue Jays regular third baseman Kazuma Okamoto has moved across the diamond to cover first base, with utility infielder Ernie Clement getting the start at third.

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Across 422 plate appearances in 2026, Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Nick Gonzales is hitting .315/.370/.411 with six home runs, 47 RBI, 59 runs scored, and four stolen bases. The 27-year-old has emerged as Pittsburgh's everyday third baseman in recent weeks amidst a surge at the plate in July. Across 99 plate appearances this month, Gonzales is hitting .385 with three home runs, 12 RBI, and 15 runs scored. Gonzales' power upside is minimal, as he's posted just a 3.2% barrel rate and 36.4% hard-hit rate. However, Gonzales profiles as a steady source of batting average for fantasy managers who should continue to rack up counting stats in an everyday role in the solid Pittsburgh lineup. He also brings multi-positional eligibility in most fantasy leagues, which makes him useful roster depth. Where available, Gonzales profiles as a priority waiver wire target.

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Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect Hunter Barco is on his way back to the big leagues, per Jason Mackey of MLB.com. Barco made Pittsburgh's Opening Day roster in a bulk relief role, but he struggled to a 7.71 ERA and 1.97 WHIP across 11 2/3 innings (five games) and has been in the minors since late April. The young left-hander has worked as both a starter and a reliever this year at Triple-A, recording a 3-6 record with a 4.87 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, and 49 strikeouts across 44 1/3 innings (13 games). Barco seems likely to fill a spot in the Pirates' bullpen, which has been an area of weakness for Pittsburgh this season. While command has been an issue for the 25-year-old, he's shown the ability to generate swing-and-miss in the minor leagues. In a true one-inning role, Barco's stuff could play up. Deep league managers hunting for saves upside may want to consider stashing Barco off the waiver wire.

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Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia is being promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis to the big leagues on Wednesday, per Jason Mackey of MLB.com. Garcia struggled in a small sample size of 37 plate appearances upon making his Pirates debut in late May, hitting .200 with one extra-base hit and a 27% strikeout rate. However, the 23-year-old has been productive this season in the minor leagues, slashing .279/.346/.459 with 10 home runs, 35 RBI, 43 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 263 plate appearances. Bryan Reynolds and Esmerlyn Valdez are likely locked into everyday playing time in the corner outfield spots in Pittsburgh, but Garcia could steal playing time in center field from Jake Mangum or at designated hitter from Marcell Ozuna. In deeper leagues, Garcia may be worth targeting on the waiver wire.

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Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber (illness) is out of the starting lineup for the second straight day due to gastrointestinal issues on Wednesday versus the division-rival Miami Marlins, per MLB.com. Shortstop Trea Turner will serve as the designated hitter and bat leadoff, with Edmundo Sosa playing shortstop and hitting out of the nine-hole against Marlins right-hander Ryan Gusto. Schwarber is dealing with a similar illness that kept him out for a series earlier this year, so hopefully he'll be back for Friday's series opener in Baltimore against the Orioles after the Phillies' scheduled day off on Thursday. The 33-year-old four-time All-Star leads the league in home runs (33) and strikeouts (157). He's an elite source of power from the left side, even though he has an elevated 34.4% strikeout rate in 457 plate appearances this year. Since taking part in the Home Run Derby during the All-Star break earlier this month, Schwarbs has gone just 8-for-35 (.229) with a homer, three doubles, three RBI, six runs, six walks, and 13 strikeouts.

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San Diego Padres second baseman/outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. went 0-for-13 in the team's three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins over the weekend, but he quickly put that out of his memory in the team's 8-7 win over the division-rival Colorado Rockies at Petco Park on Tuesday night. Tatis went a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate with five singles, two walks, and a run scored to boost his season average to .285 and his OPS to .753. After a very slow start to the year and a lengthy homer drought, Tatis is now hitting a strong .285/.353/.400 with eight home runs, 49 RBI, 25 stolen bases, and 54 runs scored in 106 games across 469 plate appearances in his seventh year in the big leagues. The three-time All-Star now has four multi-hit efforts in his last 11 games and is batting .290 (27-for-93) with an .840 OPS, three home runs, five doubles, a triple, 16 RBI, six steals, and 17 runs scored in 23 games in July. After hitting just one homer through May, Tatis has seven home runs since the start of June. He remains a must-start in all fantasy formats the rest of the way.

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Seattle Mariners outfielder Dominic Canzone kept up his hot hitting of late by going 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in the team's 7-6 win over the hosting Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night. Canzone is now hitting .263/.333/.530 on the season with an .863 OPS, 18 home runs, 49 RBI, 37 runs scored, and a stolen base in his 266 at-bats. The 28-year-old left-handed hitter has already set career highs across the board in most offensive categories, and he's homered three times with seven RBI and three runs scored in his last three games. In 18 games and 78 plate appearances in the month of July, Canzone has gone 17-for-72 (.236) with a .767 OPS, five homers, two doubles, 15 RBI, and seven runs scored. In a strong side of a platoon in Seattle's outfield against righties, Canzone has mixed-league appeal for his power the rest of the way in 2026. He's also hitting .286 (10-for-35) in a limited sample size with four home runs against southpaws. Canzone is rostered in only 15% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.

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Colorado Rockies outfielder Zac Veen continues to showcase high-end five-category upside at the Triple-A level and remains on the verge of returning to the major leagues. Veen is coming off another productive outing at Albuquerque, where he went 4-for-5 with a triple and a home run. This long ball snapped a relatively lengthy 12-game home run drought for the young outfielder. On the season, Veen has posted a .313/.389/.580 slash line with 27 doubles, 17 home runs, 15 stolen bases and a sharp .969 OPS. Veen received a brief taste of the majors back in 2025 but did not find much success, posting a low .118/.189/.235 line with one home run and a stolen base. However, many of the team's top outfielders, such as Mickey Moniak and Jake McCarthy, are on the trade block, so Veen may face minimal competition to earn second-half at-bats in the big leagues.

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New York Yankees infield prospect George Lombard Jr. remains a high-end stash target in the 12-team leagues in Week 18 of the fantasy baseball season. Lombard was on the Triple-A injured list for just over a month due to a finger injury but has been near perfect since returning to action. Over his brief nine games post-injury, the top-ranked prospect in the Yankees system has posted an elite .400/.514/.600 slash line with three doubles, one home run and a 9:6 K:BB. Lombard began the season at the Double-A level but needed only another 20 games before moving up to the top club. Currently in the majors, the Yankees have relied on Jose Caballero and Anthony Volpe to cover shortstop, but neither has been very impressive recently. With a clear path to playing time, Lombard may be in the mix for a promotion sooner rather than later.

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Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect Hector Rodriguez launched his 25th home run of the Triple-A season on Tuesday night. Facing Indianapolis, the slugger went 1-for-4 with a long ball. While the No. 5-ranked prospect in the system has had a relatively quiet July, going just 7-for-51 with two home runs and a low .460 OPS, prior to this short skid, the outfielder carried a .292/.372/.566 line with a .938 OPS over his first 85 games of the season. During this noted stretch, Rodriguez launched 23 home runs while adding 14 doubles and swiping six bags. While there is not a clear path to playing time, if Rodriguez can enjoy another power binge, he could push the team's hand. For now, he remains a solid stash target in deeper 12+ team leagues for those needing some late-season power.

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Detroit Tigers outfield prospect Max Clark has enjoyed an impressive start at Triple-A and is now firmly on the stash radar in all standard leagues. Over his last 18 games at Toledo, the former third overall pick has been nothing short of dominant, carrying a .343/.470/.597 line with a 1.060 OPS. During this noted stretch, Clark has hit five doubles, added four home runs, and swiped four bags. Prior to this surge, Clark carried a much lower .261/.342/.388 line over the first 71 games of the Triple-A regular season. While it took time to adjust, Clark is beginning to not only showcase high-end contact skills, but also his raw power. With the Tigers trending towards being sellers at the trade deadline, Clark's MLB debut could come rather quickly in the coming weeks.

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Twins right-hander Yoendrys Gomez has been dominant in the second half after overcoming a shaky start to the season. Gomez has posted a 1.91 ERA over his last 30 appearances and an even better 1.42 ERA across his last seven outings. The 25-year-old has thrived in high-leverage situations, converting all 13 of his save opportunities while adding six holds. Since joining the Twins, Gomez owns a stellar 1.78 ERA and has quickly become one of the club's most reliable relievers. His recent performance has solidified his late-inning role, and his confidence continues to grow with every outing. Fantasy managers should not hesitate to add Gomez, as he has developed into a dependable source of saves and ratio help.

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San Diego Padres catching prospect Ethan Salas is being promoted to Triple-A El Paso, according to Chase Ford of MiLB Central. Salas is viewed as the No. 1 prospect in the San Diego system and will now sit just one step away from the major leagues. The young backup endured some growing pains during the 2024 season and appeared in only 10 games last summer, but he has rebounded quite nicely in 2026. In 2024, Salas spent 111 games with High-A, where he held a .206/.288/.311 line with a low. 599 OPS. However, this season at Double-A, Salas has carried a sharp .286/.361/.417 slash line with 13 doubles, seven home runs and 14 stolen bases. While a late-season MLB debut is unlikely, his promotion has kept the door open. The 20-year-old remains one of the top catching prospects in the entire sport and is the long-term answer behind the dish for the Padres.

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Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Walker Jenkins has emerged as a near must-stash prospect ahead of the start of August. While the top prospect in the Minnesota Pipeline has often battled injuries, when on the field he has been very productive. Since returning from the Triple-A IL in late June, Jenkins has been swinging a hot bat and has put himself in prime position for a promotion. Over his last 15 contests at the top club, the former first-round selection has carried a strong .276/.364/.431 slash line with a .795 OPS, six doubles and one home run. During his first 25 games of the campaign (before the injury), Jenkins carried a much lower .389 SLG with only two total home runs. If Jenkins can maintain this pace, he should be primed for a late-season call-up to Minnesota.

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Braves outfielder Mauricio Dubon has struggled mightily over his last 15 games, hitting .186 with a .210 OBP and .271 slugging percentage. His strikeout rate is on pace to reach a career high, and his inability to make consistent contact has contributed to his recent decline. Dubon is now slashing .260/.311/.403 with a .714 OPS after an outstanding start to the season. The 32-year-old should continue to receive regular playing time as the Braves enter August, giving him an opportunity to break out of his slump. However, his recent production has significantly lowered his fantasy value. Managers can leave Dubon on the waiver wire until he begins to show more consistency at the plate.

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Twins designated hitter Josh Bell has cooled off in July after a red-hot June in which he hit .295 with a .547 slugging percentage. Bell is now slashing .246/.305/.414 with a .719 OPS and 13 home runs through 104 games in his first season with the Twins. His 22.3 K% is his highest in the past six seasons, limiting his overall offensive production. Even so, Bell has continued to make authoritative contact, as his 9.7 Barrel% ranks well above league average and supports his power potential. The 33-year-old has shown he can heat up quickly when his swing is locked in. Fantasy managers looking for home run upside should consider adding Bell before another productive stretch.

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Athletics left-hander Hogan Harris had to battle for Tuesday night's save against the Red Sox after entering the ninth inning with a three-run lead. Harris allowed two earned runs on three hits, including a home run, but recovered to secure his ninth save while striking out three batters. His swing-and-miss ability remained on display despite the shaky outing. The 29-year-old has continued to earn more late-inning opportunities after posting a 2.61 ERA during the month of July. He now owns a 3.38 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and 65 strikeouts across 48 innings this season. Harris' ability to generate strikeouts gives him legitimate fantasy appeal, and managers should continue to view him as a strong source of saves while he handles high-leverage opportunities.

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Royals right-hander Alex Lange blew his third save of the season on Tuesday, continuing a difficult stretch out of the bullpen. Lange allowed two earned runs and one walk while recording just two outs, marking his third blown save in his last five opportunities. The 30-year-old has struggled to protect leads, posting an 11.20 ERA and 1.90 WHIP over his last 15 appearances. His season numbers have also taken a hit, as he now owns a 6.33 ERA and 1.55 WHIP. Those recent struggles are likely to cost him ninth-inning opportunities if they continue. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere for saves until Lange can regain his form and reestablish himself in high-leverage situations.

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