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Shallow League Pitcher Targets
Shane Drohan, Brewers (60%): Probably owned by now, but looking better and better every time!
Zac Thornton, Mets (37%): Of all the Mets pitching prospects dynasty owners were trying to grab this offseason, Thornton has risen up through the noise and is now looking like a future rotation lock. The lefty has never been a great strikeout pitcher, but he gets it done with control and limiting hard contact. That will work at the end of a rotation and kept the Brewers scoreless for six innings this week. This week is probably your last call to get him rostered.
Christian Scott, Mets (45%): The pitch mix looks really good, just needs to get a little bit more luck and put guys away.
Brady Singer, Reds (41%): With five quality starts in his past seven outings, Singer is getting very interesting. He also has pitched much better at Great American “Small” park (2.96 ERA, .228 BAA, .428 SLG) than on the road (6.14, .311, .539).
AJ Smith-Shawver, Braves (29%): Working his way back from June 2025 Tommy John surgery, he struck out five over 4.1 innings (72 pitches) in Triple A last week. Last night, he threw 4.1 innings (85 pitches) without giving up an earned run, striking out five again, but only two hits. He was just starting to become more consistent in 2025 when he blew out his arm. He will likely be on a limited pitch/innings count for his late-season MLB activity, but this is a guy you want on your 2027 roster.
Kade Anderson, Mariners (10%): Hancock and Castillo are in the trade rumors.
Deep League Pitcher Targets
Jordan Romano, Rockies (8%): After destroying FAAB budgets when he grabbed four saves by April 6 for the Angels, Romano is like a vampire closer. Released by Los Angeles before May arrived, Romano has returned as the Rockies closer, we think with three saves and a hold since July 5.
Hunter Dobbins, Cardinals (2%): What St. Louis decided at the deadline will be one of the more interesting storylines. They probably should sell, but they may try to buy and sell. That uncertainty is the only red flag on an otherwise all-in buy on Dobbins, who is coming off six shutout innings in a spot MLB start this week. St. Louis would be smart to see what Dobbins, who looked like he would be in the Boston rotation until he tore his ACL last summer and was traded to St. Louis in the Willson Contreras deal.
Kumar Rocker (19%): Wipeout slider, bad everything else. But he’s had more good starts than bad of late.
Ronel Blanco, Astros (21%): A lot of owners may have picked him up for his 2026 MLB debut this week. And probably a number put him back on waiver after giving up four earned runs in 4.2 innings to the Marlins. But I see the eight strikeouts and five base runners allowed and see a great start after 2025 Tommy John surgery. He was a fantasy league-winner in 2024 (13-6, 2.80 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and nearly a strikeout per inning. He won’t be that guy this year, but a 3.60 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 2027 could be in the cards.
Brandyn Garcia, Diamondbacks (2%): The Diamondbacks 2025 closers — Justin Martinez and AJ Puk — are still mending from arm surgeries. The Diamondbacks’ 2026 closer Paul Sewald is 36 and was terrible as recently as 2025. Like Sewald, Garcia was a trade piece acquired from the Mariners. Unlike Sewald, Garcia is a big (6-4, 235) lefty who has been moving up the bullpen hierarchy and could be in the closer mix early next year.
Shallow League Hitter Targets
Steven Kwan, Guardians-OF (60%): Back to being Kwan.
Cooper Pratt, Brewers-SS (33%): Despite signing an eight-year, $50.75 deal on April 3, Pratt remained in Triple A until his MLB debut on June 16. Pratt, who will turn 22 next month, hit just .211 in June. But he has adjusted quickly and boosted his batting average to .314 in July with his first career home run. The power is not going to happen this year, and maybe not next, but it will arrive eventually for the 6-foot-4, 210-pounder and you want him on your roster when it does. Because it should come with 20+ steals (he has 7 in his first 29 games) and a good average and OBP.
Heriberto Hernandez, Marlins-OF (35%): Barreling it, strikeouts are okay, hitting both sides of the mound well.
Trevor Larnach, Twins-OF (24%): Crushing since June began. Trade target?
Ty France, Padres-1B (15%): Probably at that CBS Sports ownership level he should be in the Deep League pile, but with five HRs since the All-Star Break, he has likely been snatched up in daily waiver leagues. For a guy who never passed 20 homers in a season during his eight-year career, this is probably just a good three-week stretch.
Deep League Hitter Targets
Joe Mack, Marlins-C (21%): In a two-catcher league, you could do much worse than the Miami rookie. Mack’s defense will keep him in the lineup five of every seven games. His power continues to bloom, but his batting average is sinking. He will never be a great OBP hitter, but he could muscle his way to nearly 20 homers despite starting the first month-plus in the minors.
Lane Thomas, Royals-OF (9%): Been hot in July, can do a little bit of HR + SB, hits at the top of the lineup vs. LHP.
Victor Mesa Jr., Rays-OF (5%): John mentioned him as a second-half buy for the Rays, and the former Marlins prospect has looked good, including a three-game homer streak.
Joey Ortiz, Brewers-SS/3B (6%): After hitting .165 for all of April and May, Ortiz was finding his slick glove on the bench more often, and then he was moved out of shortstop with rookie Cooper Pratt’s callup. But the potential bad situation has turned around as Ortiz is playing a great third base and is hitting .296 with three of his five home runs on the season coming in July. The only worry is that the expected return of speedy David Hamilton from the IL is lurking as a playing time killer.
