theathleticuk
Who else is ready for a break? The close of the first half is rapidly approaching, and boy are my arms tired.
Rosters are dwindling, ratios are inflating and league standings are galvanizing, but theres zero rest for the weary.
The upcoming All-Star break is the last natural reset point before the second half grind begins a chance to audit the roster and fix whats broken.
There are no silver bullets or easy answers, just the same due diligence as always.
Lets close out strong with another dive into my favorite adds, top stashes and next weeks two-start pitchers.
Advertisement NOTE: Please prioritize positional lists over the featured player write-ups.
Im trying to avoid covering the same players more than once, and I dont want any extra focus to be misconstrued as personal preference.
Away we go! Top waiver-wire hitter options Catcher: Jonah Heim, ATH Catchers must truly be producing at a prolific rate if a top-5 fantasy backstop over the past 30 days (.291 BA/ 10 R/ 17 RBI/ 6 HR/ 0 SB) remains available in more than 90% of leagues.
And, Im sorry to keep repeating myself every week, but there are very valid questions surrounding the ball, and its paramount were attaching ourselves to the best hitting environments in order to capitalize.
To that point, Sacramento is responsible for the leagues highest SLG, OPS and home runs hit, and its not close.
A recent rash of injuries to the Athletics top half of the order opened up a ton of playing time, where Heims done an excellent job filling in as the regular DH when not behind the dish.
That extra boost in volume gives him a weekly leg-up in the projections, and hes a decent hitter in an optimal environment.
First base: Curtis Mead, WAS It's OK to admit that filling in first base on the fly this season is presenting a massive struggle for many of us.
Every time I think I finally have a lasting answer, it slips right through my fingers.
Enter Curtis Mead.
Washington's 25-year-old rotating corner infielder came up through the minors as a light five-category producer with a strong approach and batting average.
Credit growth, maturity or the Nationals' hitting coaches for Mead's power surge, but it doesn't really matter how we got here.
The point for fantasy GMs lies with a double-digit barrel rate in the top-third of the league's most prolific run-scoring offense.
Since usurping Brady House for the starting 3B role on June 20, Mead's done nothing but produce with the stick (.244BA/ 22 R/ 26 RBI/ 11 HR/ 2 SB), yet nearly 80% of leagues haven't batted an eye.
Second base: A.J.
Ewing, NYM If I was a little more clever, I'd have a better term for this all-too-familiar early career path of Ewing.
Every one of us has seen this movie a thousand times: an uber talented prospect who earns a deserved promotion, only to struggle in his first taste of big-league pitching.
There's no shame in this course.
Newsflash: MLB is hard.
Advertisement Well, tell that to perpetually bitter fantasy managers still crying over wasted FAAB bucks.
After a dismal 20-game debut (.224 BA, 33.3% K, 79 wRC+) culminated in an 0-for-12 skid to wrap up May, Ewing slipped down the Mets' order into the 8-hole.
Naturally, he posted three base knocks the very next day, and the rest, as they say, was history.
The Mets' rookie has sliced his strikeout rate by a third in the five weeks since, posting a solid top-25 OF ranking in that same timeframe (.312 BA/ 16 R/ 18 RBI/ 6 HR/ 5 SB).
Leading off in front of on-base machine Juan Soto is never be a bad thing for counting stats.
Shortstop: Blaze Alexander, BAL Twice bitten, once shy (yes, you read that right).
Somehow I've found myself targeting the Orioles' third base situation all season with little to show for it why stop now? What started with a preseason sleeper column on Jordan Westburg (torn UCL, 0 games played in 2026), turned into an early waiver piece on Jeremiah Jackson (benched in late May for poor play), and now hopefully culminates with Alexander.
I'm not actually too convinced this level of production sticks given the inflated .399 BABIP and 12.7% swinging-strike rate.
With that, the shortstop cupboard has been stripped bare for weeks.
Alexander has started 19 of the O's past 21 games, contributing a homer with a pair of steals in what's at least an above-average Baltimore lineup.
Could be worse ..
Third base: Kyle Karros, COL Though this weekly series will always be forward looking, and mistakes are inherently par for the course, last week's whiff on the Athletics' Max Muncy is still stuck in my craw.
In my defense, he'd started nine straight as of writing, but that exact night was essentially the last we'd see from him.
Ouch! And, sorry! Onward and upward! When not mining the depths for failing former first-rounders, I pivot to my second instinct.
Part of this year's success off the wire rests with one of the more on-the-nose tropes add Colorado Rockies.
Except this year, we can start them outside of Coors! Karros stormed from fantasy obscurity all the way up to the game's No.
4 3B over the past 30 days (.342 BA/ 20 R/ 13 RBI/ 4 HR/ 1 SB).
One data point worth noting: Karros' success versus southpaws earned him a bump up into the No.
2 spot in the order each of the Rockies' past three games against LHP, and every PA adds value.
Outfield: Lane Thomas, KC When injuries derail otherwise exciting fantasy seasons, using a 600-plate appearance pace sample can help smooth out those box scores.
If we knew a player was good for a .243 BA/ 75 R/ 71 RBI/ 20 HR/ 23 SB line in 600 PA, they'd easily rank as a top-80 hitter.
So I ask, how can we not afford to take a stab at Thomas' upside, especially when he's started 22 of 23 games, including 14 in a row batting fourth or higher? Kansas City's desperate for a spark, and Thomas should get every opportunity to close out 2026 with a bang.
All aboard the Lane Train! Choo choo! Hitter stash candidates Top waiver-wire pitcher options Starting Pitcher: Spencer Miles, TOR Last week? Ian Seymour.
The one before? Jake Bennett.
This time around, my starting pitcher pick is a bit more speculative, but desperate times can call for desperate measures.
I'm staying in the AL East, hoping to keep the recent hot streak going with Toronto's Spencer Miles.
Obviously able to hold his own in MLB, the 25-year-old Rule 5 draft pick (2024) had never thrown a single pitch above Single A after having consecutive seasons destroyed by back and elbow surgeries.
Nevertheless, that didn't stop him from winning a bullpen job out of camp, despite an utter lack of upper-level experience.
Who doesn't love a great comeback story? Advertisement Mostly a bulk reliever to open 2026, Miles earned spot starts here or there for the Jays when needed.
I assumed Toronto was eventually bound to figure out he deserved a rotation spot over an aging Patrick Corbin -- and that day may finally be here.
I don't have my usual certainty since Miles has only had one start, but he got through 4 IP effectively and efficiently on the road in San Francisco.
At this point, the season stats through 58 IP just can't be kept off a Blue Jay staff within striking distance of the division lead: 2.95 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 16.6% K-BB, 27.5% CSW, 55.0% GB, 34.6% Hard Hit, 0.62 HR/9.
That will play in any format.
Even trying to avoid any more fantasy egg on my face, I'm still adding Miles aggressively.
One more solid start of +5 IP with elite command/control will automatically set off alarms for a soaring price on next week's mainstream waiver articles.
Relievers Mining the perfect fantasy closer comes down to finding the ideal combination of skills and role.
Remember not to get too hung up on the first part either -- we'll still take the bad pitcher getting save opportunities every time.
For those managers who punted saves on draft day, the season begins on high alert, but fear not; you're in luck.
MLB's save environment is literally as chaotic as ever.
Unbelievably, we're now up to a remarkable 191 different pitchers who have already recorded a save in 2026 (Yes, I'm still tracking!).
With that, the goal is to acquire a reliever who either has the job now or direct access to it soon.
Given the incredible number of league types out there, our best course is to keep a running list of relievers; grab the best available.
Graduating class The following players are now on many fantasy rosters, but those in 10-team leagues should look to them first before adding other, lesser-rostered players.