Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Jordan Romano grabbed two saves in his first four appearances with the club, then nearly gave one away on July 10. He walked three, allowed a run, and left the bases loaded before Juan Mejia recorded the final out. Romano still came out of the first half as Colorado's listed closer, though the role is anything but settled. The saves are the attraction. Everything around them is difficult to stomach. Romano owns a 7.71 ERA and 2.14 WHIP with 10 walks in 11 2/3 innings overall, and Coors Field adds another layer of risk. RotoBaller lists him at 5% rostered and gives him as good a chance as anyone in the committee to receive the next opportunity. Romano is a deep-league gamble for managers desperate for saves, not a reliever to add for ratio help.

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The Washington Nationals are recalling top catching prospect Harry Ford to the majors after this week's All-Star break, a source told Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. The 23-year-old backstop has a .705 OPS at Triple-A Rochester this year, but he's posted a .9111 OPS since June 1. Ford is ranked fifth in Keith Law's preseason top-20 Nationals prospects and was the headliner in the offseason trade that sent closer Jose A. Ferrer to the Seattle Mariners. The former 12th overall pick by the M's in 2021 will take the place of catcher Drew Millas, who was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a left index finger fracture. In 58 games (257 plate appearances) at Rochester this year, Ford has hit .223/.370/.335 with a .705 OPS, four home runs, 22 RBI, and 34 runs scored. However, a shoulder injury that he has played through has hampered his production, and he has taken a step forward offensively in recent weeks, leading to his second-half promotion. For now, Ford figures to serve as Keibert Ruiz's backup, so he probably won't have much fantasy appeal in redraft leagues for the time being.

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Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (hand) was forced from Tuesday's All-Star Game after being hit in the left hand by a pitch from St. Louis Cardinals right-handed closer Riley O'Brien, but X-rays came back negative, and Caminero says he will be back in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Boston Red Sox, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Fantasy managers can now breathe a sigh of relief after the scary scene early in Tuesday's All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The 23-year-old didn't look his best just before this week's break, but he's a clear must-start in all fantasy formats when he's active as one of the best all-around hitters in baseball. The Dominican third baseman came into the break slashing a cool .279/.372/.555 with a .927 OPS, 28 home runs, 59 RBI, 61 runs scored, and two stolen bases across his 355 at-bats. The two-time All-Star is tied for fourth in baseball in home runs, is tied for 20th in RBI, and is tied for 13th in runs scored.

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Washington Nationals catching prospect Harry Ford has turned the corner over the last month of action at Triple-A and has put himself firmly on the stash radar. Over his last 18 games at Triple-A Rochester, the former 12th overall selection has posted a sharp .291/.474/.545 line with a stellar 1.019 OPS, five doubles, three home runs, and a 16:17 K:BB. This surge is worth emphasizing, as Ford carried a much lower .203/.332/.268 line with a 49:28 K:BB over his first 41 Triple-A regular-season contests. The 23-year-old received a brief taste of the majors last season in Seattle but posted a low .417 OPS over just eight PAs. Even though Keibert Ruiz has held his own at the MLB level, Ford has been making a strong push for a promotion and could earn the call to D.C shortly after the All-Star break. His current trajectory makes him a worthy stash in deeper two-catcher leagues.

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Chicago White Sox outfielder Tristan Peters became the third player in baseball in the first half of the 2026 season to hit for the cycle last Friday against the Athletics. The 26-year-old Canadian finished went into this week's All-Star break with an impressive .301/.354/.478 slash line with an .832 OPS, six home runs, 36 RBI, 37 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 91 games across 275 plate appearances as an All-Star in his first full year in the majors with the White Sox. Peters debuted in the big leagues last year but played in only four games with the Tampa Bay Rays. The former seventh-round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2021 out of Southern Illinois University Carbondale got off to a scorching start in July, going 13-for-32 (.406) with two homers, three doubles, a triple, six RBI, and six runs scored in 11 games to begin the month. Fantasy managers who have Peters rostered in deeper leagues will be hoping he can stay hot after the All-Star break, but his .260 expected batting average and .308 xwOBA predict serious regression coming for the Canadian outfielder. Despite his strong first half and beginning of July, Peters is rostered in less than 10% of Yahoo leagues.

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Chicago Cubs first-base prospect Jonathon Long has seen his production soar over the last month at the Triple-A level and is emerging as a legitimate second-half call-up. Currently, Long is viewed as the No. 7 prospect in the Cubs system. Even though there may not be a clear opening on the MLB roster, if he continues this current trajectory, the team will have a hard time keeping him in the minor leagues down the stretch. Over his last 16 games at Iowa, Long has carried an elite .313/.400/.625 line with eight doubles, four home runs, and a 14:9 K:BB. During this stretch, Long posted a perfect 5-for-5 game on July 9, launching his 10th long ball of the season. While he had a slow start, Long has quickly found his footing at the top club. Managers in deeper 12+ team leagues should continue to closely monitor him, as a second-half call-up is now in play.

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Miami Marlins outfield prospect Kemp Alderman has looked quite comfortable since returning from the Triple-A injured list earlier in June. Alderman was on the shelf for just over a month due to a wrist injury. However, this injury has not slowed down the former 47th overall pick out of Ole Miss, as he has carried a strong .284/.368/.478 line with one double and four home runs over his last 18 contests. During this stretch, Alderman has struck out a hefty 23 times, but has continued to flash upside with his bat. On the season, the team's No. 8-ranked prospect has posted a sharp .297/.374/.511 line with six doubles, 13 home runs, and six stolen bases. Even with Owen Caissie on the injured list, the recent emergence of Heriberto Hernandez has potentially delayed Alderman's MLB debut. However, if he maintains this pace, the Marlins could turn to him to add a spark to their lineup as they look to remain in the NL playoff picture.

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Kansas City Royals shortstop/outfielder Tyler Tolbert made history last week when he recorded hits in 12 straight at-bats over a three-game stretch to tie the MLB record for most hits in consecutive at-bats, but he started on the bench in the final three games before the All-Star break. Tolbert's move back to the bench coincided with first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino rejoining the lineup after returning from the injured list. The 28-year-old will now most likely open the second half of the 2026 season in more of a utility role for the Royals, limiting his fantasy baseball upside to AL-only leagues for his speed on the basepaths. In 32 games (60 plate appearances) in the first half of his second MLB season, Tolbert hit .370 (20-for-54) with two homers, five RBI, 10 steals, and 17 runs scored. Tolbert also had 21 stolen bases in 64 games as a rookie in 2025, so speed is clearly his biggest draw in deeper leagues. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Tolbert to be as good in the second half, but his speed can play against left-handed pitchers.

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Tampa Bay Rays outfield prospect Jacob Melton has been among the top hitters across Triple-A since returning from injury. Melton had been on the shelf since mid-April due to a left ankle sprain. However, since the No. 5-ranked prospect in the Tampa Bay system returned to the Triple-A diamond on June 24, the young outfielder has been playing at an elite level. Over this nine-game stretch, Melton has carried a dominant .394/.487/.758 line with three doubles, three home runs and two stolen bases. During this stretch, he has struck out just nine times and drawn five walks. On the season (29 contests), Melton has held a .286 AVG with a .933 OPS, four home runs and an elite 19 stolen bases. Given his high-end contact skills and speed, Melton could emerge as an immediate fantasy contributor once he earns the call to Tampa Bay, making him a worthy stash option in deeper 12+ team leagues.

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New York Mets No. 2-ranked prospect Ryan Clifford was expected to be in serious contention for a call-up to Queens in the 2026 season. However, the first base/corner outfield has endured some serious growing pains at Syracuse, delaying a potential promotion. However, over the last week, the slugger has begun to show substantial progress, which could keep the door open for a late call-up. Over his last six games, the 22-year-old has gone deep twice and added a double. However, prior to this brief surge, Clifford endured a lengthy 20-game home run drought. On the season, Clifford has hit 16 home runs but holds an underwhelming .196/.283/.395 slash line. If the Mets were to sell some veteran pieces from their lineup ahead of the trade deadline, Clifford could have a clear path to second-half at-bats. For now, his struggles at Triple-A keep him off the stash radar in all standard redraft leagues.

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Atlanta Braves right-handed pitching prospect Owen Murphy is slated to make his first major-league start this Saturday versus the Texas Rangers, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. The Braves' No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett last weekend and appeared in two games out of the bullpen, allowing two runs (one earned) on one hit while walking none and striking out four. The 22-year-old former 20th overall pick in 2022 made 16 starts in the minors with Gwinnett and Double-A Columbus before his call-up, going 5-7 with a 4.44 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 92:38 K:BB in 81 innings pitched. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder knows how to spin the ball and has displayed solid command and control of the baseball on the farm. Murphy is in his first season post-Tommy John surgery, so the Braves are probably going to be very cautious of his workload down the stretch. Murphy's start on Saturday could end up being a spot start to open the second half of the season, so fantasy managers in single-year leagues shouldn't spend much to land him on the waiver wire.

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The Milwaukee Brewers are acquiring veteran right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. (shoulder) from the Houston Astros on Wednesday, a source told Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. It's unclear what the Astros are receiving in return. McCullers could be on the verge of coming off the 15-day injured list due to a right-shoulder impingement that has kept him sidelined since the middle of May. The 32-year-old has made three minor-league rehab starts already and might only need one more before Milwaukee activates him for the second half of the season. Arm injuries have been the story of McCullers' career. He missed all of the 2023 and 2024 seasons with arm troubles before posting a rough 6.51 ERA in 16 appearances for Houston in his return last year. The former first-rounder from 2012 could be an option for the Brewers' banged-up starting rotation in the second half, but fantasy managers should look to stay away. Before getting hurt again in 2026, McCullers was 2-3 with a 6.86 ERA and 1.52 WHIP with 43 strikeouts and 22 walks in 39 1/3 innings across eight starts in his ninth year in the majors.

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Chicago White Sox left-hander Noah Schultz has bounced back and forth between Triple-A and the big leagues so far this season. The 22-year-old has largely struggled at the MLB level in 2026, recording a 3-6 record with a 5.60 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts across 53 innings (11 starts). However, Schultz pitched well in his final start before the All-Star break, throwing five innings of one-run ball with zero walks and four strikeouts against the Athletics. The young lefty has been utterly dominant in his time at Triple-A this year, recording a 38.6% strikeout rate across 23 innings. Command and consistency remain question marks in Schultz's profile, but his upside for fantasy managers is tantalizing. Particularly in deeper leagues, Schultz's second-half breakout potential could make him a worthy waiver wire target.

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Since being acquired from the Atlanta Braves in early May, Athletics catcher Jonah Heim has re-established his MLB career. Across 135 plate appearances with the A's, Heim is hitting .232/.281/.464 with eight home runs, 21 RBI, and 16 runs scored. The presence of star Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers limits Heim's playing time behind the plate. However, Heim has emerged as a regular at first base and designated hitter with A's first baseman Nick Kurtz (thumb) currently on the injured list. Heim's playing time may eventually dissipate once Kurtz returns to the Athletics lineup. Still, Heim has found a rhythm in his new hitter-friendly home park and profiles as a short-term source of power for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.

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Across 140 plate appearances in 2026, New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez is hitting .235/.273/.409 with five home runs, 11 RBI, 13 runs scored, and six stolen bases. With Yankees outfielders Aaron Judge (ribs) and Giancarlo Stanton (calf) both currently on the injured list and facing uncertain return timelines, Dominguez has emerged as an everyday player in New York. The 23-year-old's overall stat line may not leap off the page, but he showed signs of improvement leading into the All-Star break. Across 44 plate appearances in July, Dominguez is hitting .262 with two home runs, two stolen bases, and a 13.6% strikeout rate. A former top prospect, Dominguez has consistently flashed five-category upside throughout his time in the Yankees' minor-league system. With an extended runway of playing time at the big-league level, Dominguez profiles as a second-half breakout candidate to target on the waiver wire.

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Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel had the start of his 2026 season delayed by hamstring and knee injuries that kept him out until late June. The 24-year-old has gotten off to a bit of a slow start since returning, hitting .204/.295/.333 with two home runs, 13 RBI, nine runs scored, and a 36.1% strikeout rate across 61 plate appearances. However, Teel owns a 12.4% barrel rate and a 50% hard-hit rate, indications that his batted ball luck will start to turn over a larger sample size of at-bats. While the elevated strikeout rate is somewhat concerning, Teel struck out in a far more manageable 25.9% of his 297 plate appearances after making his MLB debut in 2025. Once he gets his timing down at the plate, Teel could emerge as one of the better-hitting catchers in baseball. Despite his early struggles this season, Teel remains a second-half breakout candidate worth prioritizing on the waiver wire.

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Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Bailey Ober was placed on the 15-day injured list due to a right flexor strain in late May, but he returned to his team's rotation on July 9 and pitched five innings of one-run ball against the Cleveland Guardians. Across 71 2/3 innings (13 starts) this season, Ober has recorded a 6-3 record with a 4.40 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 51 strikeouts. The 31-year-old's average fastball velocity currently sits at a career-worst 89.0 miles per hour, and he's struck out just 17% of the batters he's faced in 2026. Ober also continues to struggle with the long ball, as he owns a 1.63 HR/9 on the year. However, pitching through arm troubles may help explain Ober's diminished velocity. If he can regain some pop on his fastball now that he's healthy, Ober could pair an improved strikeout rate with his already stellar command (6.3% walk rate). His profile carries some risk, but Ober could be worth targeting on the waiver wire coming out of the All-Star break.

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Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio is quietly in the midst of a breakout season in 2026. Across 359 plate appearances on the year, the 25-year-old is hitting .276/.343/.408 with eight home runs, 44 RBI, 40 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases. Rocchio's quality of contact metrics remain subpar, as he's logged just a 2.9% barrel rate and a 31.5% hard-hit rate. However, Rocchio has cut down on his swing-and-miss in a big way so far this season, lowering his strikeout rate from 20.1% in 2025 to 13.6% in 2026. As a switch-hitter who also brings plus defense at a premium position, Rocchio is a lock for everyday playing time in Cleveland as long as he remains healthy. He's also moved into the top third of the Guardians' batting order in recent weeks, which should help him rack up counting stats. In any league where he's not already rostered, Rocchio should be considered a priority waiver wire target.

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Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Walker Jenkins picked up where he left off after spending a month on the injured list with a sprained shoulder, going 16-for-51 (.314) with four doubles, two triples, a home run, and two steals in the 13 games since his return. The Twins' top prospect recorded a .277/.386/.440 slash line with three home runs, seven steals, and nearly as many walks (23) as strikeouts (26) in 38 games for St. Paul, earning a spot on the 2026 AL All-Star Futures team. In the Futures game, the left-handed hitter walked twice, scored a run, and was caught trying to steal third, putting a bow on a fine first half for the promising prospect. The former fifth-overall draft pick appears poised for an MLB debut, possibly shortly after the All-Star break, and with a strong all-around game that includes contact, power, and speed, the 21-year-old should be considered one of the top stash candidates in all leagues.

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Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect Hector Rodriguez produced a strong first half at Triple-A Louisville, finishing 11-for-33 (.333) with five home runs over his final nine games before the break. For the season, the Reds' fifth-ranked prospect is slashing .284/.364/.546 with 23 home runs and six steals for the Bats. The left-handed hitter spent 53 games at Louisville last year, and though his strikeout rate increased from 16.5 percent to 20.2 percent from 2025 to 2026, his walk rate also increased from 5.2 percent to 10.4 percent, with both stats now sitting right around the Triple-A average. Though he logged at least 12 steals each season from 2022 through 2025, it isn't something fantasy managers looking for a stash option should count on, but his power is. With a barrel rate of 10.6 percent (81st percentile) and a max exit velocity of 113.7 mph (96th percentile), the power is legit. Fantasy managers in deeper 12-team leagues should consider stashing the 22-year-old who could help with home runs and RBI upon his call-up, which could happen by mid-August.

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