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Upcoming Schedule Streamers
Mitch Bratt (ARI): vs CIN, at SF
Andrew Painter (PHI): vs STL, at LAA
Joe Musgrove (SD): vs MIN, vs PIT
Andrew Alvarez (WSH): at TEX, vs COL, vs MIA
Jake Irvin (WSH): at MIA, vs COL
Cody Bradford (TEX): vs LAA, at MIL
Shallow League Pitcher Targets
Kade Anderson, Mariners (35%): He didn’t get the call yet, but Bryce Miller continues to stink it up and Bryan Woo left his last start early with an injury, so it has to be soon. Right, Mariners?
Matthew Liberatore, Cardinals (23%): Looking at a two-start week at homer vs. Orioles and Pirates. Busch Stadium is not a home run hitters’ paradise, so that will help Liberatore, who has a 5.04 ERA for the year, but 4.03 in August.
Kodai Senga, Mets (23%): Move over Devin Williams, meet the Mets new closer. Senga became elite in August.
Ben Joyce, Angels (22%): Just when Samy Natera appeared to be taking over as the Angels closer, he hasn’t pitched in over a week. Joyce, and his 105 MPH fastball, has recovered from last year’s torn labrum in his shoulder and returned Aug. 5. He’s allowed only one hit in five innings, while picking up two saves.
Mason Montgomery, Pirates (28%): Hey, I thought Luke Weaver was the new closer for the Pirates?
Christian Scott, Mets (55%): Above 50% now, but did some of his best work last time and maintains a K-BB% above 20%.
Jacob Lopez, Athletics (40%): Gets a matchup in KC next, 19% K-BB% over the last month
Emmet Sheehan, Dodgers (40%): Not sure a trip to AAA will do him any good, but he did have a 2.99 JA SIERA and 19.2% K-BB% before the demotion, so maybe a mental break will get the bugs out
Deep League Pitcher Targets
George Klassen, Angels (13%): Long-time MLB pitching coach Mike Maddux and the rest of the pitching coaches were fired by the Angels on Aug. 11. Reporting since then has said the Angels made the move because the pitching coaches were not sufficiently using the available data, analytics and technology. In two starts since then, Klassen, who gave up eight runs and walked 14 in 8.2 innings in the majors to that point, has given up two runs and walked four in 13 innings. Coincidence?
Cal Quantrill, Rangers (16%): You might be a week late given his two-start week against the Nationals and Angels at home, but Quantrill is a good streaming option. He’s never going to put up big strikeout numbers, but he has done a good job of limiting contact. Right-handed hitters have a .200 BAA this year compared to .335 last year.
Cristian Javier, Astros (15%): New cutter, throwing a ton of strikes suddenly. 17% K-BB%, 13.4% SwStr% last three starts
Ryan Gusto, Marlins (2%): Not a good pitcher, but does sport a 19% K-BB% with a 3.04 JA SIERA over his last five starts.
Grayson Rodriguez, Angels (27%): 27.5% K% last five starts, so at least that’s happening for him.
Shallow League Hitter Targets
Jeff McNeil, Athletics-2B/OF (16%): It might be last man standing time for the Athletics. Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, Nick Kurtz, and Todd Soderstrom are out for the year and Jacob Wilson keeps limping into and out of the lineup. McNeil was a salary dump pickup in the offseason and is the definition of a professional hitter. He will be a free agent next year, so expect him to fight for a spot in the lineup the rest of the way. Since the All-Star break he is hitting .386 with as many home runs as he had the first 85 games.
Griffin Conine, Marlins-OF (30%): More homers this week! .950 OPS with nine bombs since the All Star break.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand, BAL-1B (15%): .811 OPS, 18.8% Brl%, 25% K%. Looking like Pete Alonso lite in Baltimore.
Deep League Hitter Targets
Rafael Flores, Pirates-C/1B (12%): Flores was a long-time Yankees catching prospect, who New York sent to Pittsburgh to acquire David Bednar last year. It’s taken some time, but Flores has found his power swing in the majors finally. He is also getting the playing time to continue this improvement.
Henry Bolte, Athletics-OF (30%): Hitting .273 and on the uptrend with an .890 OPS and .350 xwOBA in August. Big-time HR+SB potential; K% is down under 24% this month.
Nathaniel Lowe, Guardians-1B (13%): If you were expecting a big drop-off after leaving Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park, so were we. But it hasn’t happened, and he is the strong-side platoon plus at first base in Cleveland.
Josh Bell, Twins-1B (40%): Just keeps on hitting. Up to 17 homers, .753 OPS, .258 AVG.
Joey Ortiz, Brewers-3B/SS (5%): Hitting .299/.341/.497 since June 1st, that’s 173 PAs and six homers.
Charles McAdoo, Blue Jays-1B/3B/OF (2%): Has enjoyed two above average seasons in the upper minors, and now is back up with the big league team while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. deals with a concussion. He could be headed back to Buffalo soon, but a very good BABIP (.343) might give him enough staying power for the rest of the season.
Drew Gilbert, Giants (5%): .721 OPS, 16% K%, 10% Brl%, .384 xwOBA since the break
Andres Chaparro, Nationals (10%): Guy is #5 on the 1B player rater since the break, hitting .320 with seven homers and 25 RBI.
Spencer Jones (10%): Three homers and five steals since July 26th. Everything else is a problem, but we didn’t see this kind of speed coming.
Tim Tawa, DBacks-OF (5%): Four bombs, four steals since the break. Finding some ways to stay in the lineup.
Last Week’s Waiver Wire Review
Shallow League Hits
Aaron Nola, Phillies: Looking like vintage Aaron Nola again.
Shallow League Misses
Andrew Painter, Phillies-SP: Gave up five earned runs in five innings in his last start. Disappointing.
Deep League Hits
Joshua Baez, Cardinals-OF: Sounds like the Cardinals heard our pleas and brought the Triple-A slugger up. You probably know he hit three home runs in his first three at-bats. But then he went 0-for-17. And then he came off the bench and stole two bases. The ultimate high-risk, high-reward prospect for the rest of 2026.
Deep League Misses
Jackson Kent, Nationals-SP: Struggled in second start this week. Looks like those struggles will continues this year, but might set up for brighter 2027.
