Minnesota Twins shortstop prospect Kaelen Culpepper has displayed impressive power lately, putting him on the fantasy radar as an intriguing minor leaguer to stash ahead of his anticipated MLB debut. Culpepper owns a modest .246/.336/.447 slash line with six homers, six steals, and 100 wRC+ in Triple-A this year, but lately he's been on a tear that will earn him some consideration for a promotion. Over his last five games, he's hitting 6-for-20 with three home runs, one double, six RBI, two walks, three strikeouts, and a stolen base. His EV50 of 94.6 mph ranks in the 88th percentile, and while he doesn't have the greatest plate discipline, he does a good job making contact and limiting whiffs. A former first-round pick, Culpepper now has 28 games of experience at Triple-A, plus 19 career at-bats against major league pitching in Spring Training. If he continues to produce impressive power, the Twins will be tempted to call him up for his MLB debut. As a result, he's an intriguing fantasy baseball option on the waiver wire.

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Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Charlie Condon is an intriguing player to target on the waiver wire in fantasy baseball. The former first-round pick continues to produce impressive results at the plate in Triple-A, where he's slashing .250/.403/.406 with four homers, a 17.7% walk rate, an 18.5% strikeout rate, and 107 wRC+. The walks have arguably been the best part of his season, as he's already totaled 22 free passes through 26 games. In fact, he has reached base safely in 22 consecutive games, dating back to the end of March. The only time he went a full game without reaching safely was March 31. This ability to get on base and contribute both at the plate and in the field makes Condon an intriguing addition for the Rockies, so we wouldn't be surprised to see them promote him soon. At 23 years old, the former No. 3 pick seems like he's ready to make the leap to the next level. Fantasy managers should stash him now, because he'll likely be snatched up by your league-mates if you wait until his debut.

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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that shortstop Mookie Betts (oblique) will face live pitching on Thursday, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. If that goes well, Betts could start a minor-league rehab assignment "soon." Betts has been on the 10-day injured list since April 5 with a right-oblique strain, but he could be ready to rejoin the big-league lineup before the end of next week. The 33-year-old former MVP, eight-time All-Star, and seven-time Silver Slugger winner hasn't been as productive in his last two seasons in L.A. while dealing with some injuries, and his 2026 campaign has gotten off on the wrong foot. Still, Betts is a must-roster and must-start player in fantasy baseball when he's active, and he will take over starting duties at shortstop when he's activated from the IL, pushing Hyeseong Kim back into an infield utility role. Betts went 5-for-28 (.179) with two homers, seven RBI, and seven runs scored in his eight games before straining his oblique muscle.

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New York Mets center field prospect A.J. Ewing is hitting .388 with 16 steals and more walks than strikeouts, making him a must-add fantasy option on the waiver wire. Drafted out of high school in 2023, Ewing has already progressed from Double-A to Triple-A this year. The Mets won't rush him up to the majors until he's had a sufficiently large sample size at Triple-A, but once that time comes, there's no reason to hold him down in the minors. Between Binghamton and Syracuse this year, he's slashing .388/.500/.588 with two home runs, 16 steals, a 18.9% walk rate, a 16.0% strikeout rate, and 189 wRC+. He's 11-for-22 since his promotion to Triple-A, and he owns a 10-game on-base streak. He doesn't have much power, but the rest of his offensive profile is spectacular. He has elite plate discipline, posting a 79.6% in-zone swing rate (96th percentile) and a 14.3% chase rate (98th percentile). Fantasy managers should rush to add Ewing off the waiver wire before their leaguemates take notice and it's too late.

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Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) traveled to Dallas for a hands-on assessment with Dr. Keith Meister on Tuesday, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Woodruff couldn't top 85 mph with his fastball in his last outing before being placed on the 15-day injured list with right-shoulder inflammation last week. The 33-year-old veteran said he was pain-free before being pulled last week, and the Brewers seemed to believe he was going through a dead-arm phase. However, it's worth noting that Woodruff had surgery on his right shoulder, which caused him to miss the entire 2024 campaign. A visit to Dr. Meister is an ominous sign and could result in another shoulder surgery, which would be a devastating blow for the rest of Woodruff's career. In his six starts for the Brew Crew before landing on the IL, Woodruff had a 3.60 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and seven walks in 30 innings. Until we know more about Woodruff's status, fantasy managers should continue to hold him.

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Miami Marlins starting pitcher Thomas White has been racking up strikeouts at Triple-A, and he could be promoted to the majors sooner rather than later. When he does arrive in Miami, he'll be an immediate fantasy baseball option given his ability to pitch deep into games and rack up strikeouts. Through three games (12.2 innings) at Triple-A this year, he has a 2.95 FIP with 13.50 K/9, 2.84 BB/9, and 0.71 HR/9. The former first-round pick headlines his repertoire with a mid-90s four-seam fastball that has surrendered an impressive .083 xBA. He uses a sweeper with 14" of horizontal break to miss bats, inducing a 45.8% whiff rate. He also throws more of a true slider, a changeup, and a splitter. Between his results at Triple-A and his advanced feel for such a complex mix, White has the makings of an impact starter in the majors. Fantasy managers should stash him now while he's still available.

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Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy said that "all things look good" for right-hander Jacob Misiorowski (hamstring) to make his next scheduled start on Wednesday against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals after a hamstring scare in his last outing, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. The hard-throwing right-hander departed his last start early on Friday against the Washington Nationals with a right-hamstring cramp. He had a normal between-starts bullpen session on Monday and didn't suffer any setbacks, so it looks like he'll be given the green light to pitch on Wednesday in the series finale at Busch Stadium. The 24-year-old former second-round pick in 2022 was an All-Star as a rookie in 2025 and is one of the best young upside arms in the game. Through his first seven starts in 2026 in his first full year in the big leagues, the Miz has gone 2-2 with a 2.84 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, a league-high 59 strikeouts, and 15 walks in 38 innings pitched. The Cardinals rank eighth in team OPS (.731), but Misiorowski is a must-start in fantasy when he toes the rubber.

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The Tampa Bay Rays placed left-hander Steven Matz (elbow) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to May 4) on Tuesday with left-elbow inflammation and recalled right-hander Chase Solesky from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. It's a tough break for the Rays, as the 34-year-old veteran southpaw has been one of their best pitchers through the first month of the 2026 season. In his return to a starting role in Tampa this year, Matz has gone 4-1 with a 3.86 ERA (4.86 FIP), 1.09 WHIP, 28 strikeouts, and 13 walks in 37 1/3 innings pitched over his seven starts. In his last outing versus the San Francisco Giants on Sunday, he gave up just one run over six excellent innings for his second straight quality start. Hopefully, Matz is looking at a minimal stay on the IL. It's unclear at this time who will take Matz's spot in the rotation for the next couple of weeks, but it could be either Joe Boyle (elbow) or Mason Englert (forearm) if they come off the IL soon. Matz is currently rostered in 32% of Yahoo leagues.

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The plan is for Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich (groin) to progress to live at-bats and baserunning by early next week, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. His estimated return remains in mid- to late-May. Yelich is recovering from a left-groin strain and was able to take on-field batting practice with the rest of the team on Monday before the series opener in St. Louis against the Cardinals. He's currently on the 10-day injured list, but the former MVP, three-time All-Star, and two-time batting champion should remain rostered in all fantasy baseball leagues while he heals. The 34-year-old veteran only had one home run in his first 51 at-bats of the 2026 season, but he was also hitting a cool .314 with 10 RBI, 10 runs scored, and three stolen bases. He should be back in a couple of weeks, which will be another boost to Milwaukee's offense after both outfielder Jackson Chourio (hand, foot) and first baseman Andrew Vaughn (hand) came off the IL on Monday.

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The Atlanta Braves announced on Tuesday that they officially reinstated right-handed reliever Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list and designated right-hander Carlos Carrasco for assignment in a corresponding move. Iglesias returns on the first day he's eligible to come back from right-shoulder inflammation. He's expected to immediately reclaim closer duties from right-hander Robert Suarez, who performed admirably in the ninth inning for the Braves with Iglesias sidelined and picked up three saves. The 36-year-old Cuban hurler has 11-plus years of big-league experience, which includes 258 career saves in 744 2/3 innings pitched. Iglesias has had at least 29 saves in each of the last three seasons in Atlanta, and he tossed 8 2/3 scoreless frames with five saves for the Braves this year before landing on the IL. There's no reason why Iglesias should be floating around any waiver wires now that he's back.

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Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger), who has been on the 15-day injured list since a blister on his left index finger ended his final spring training outing on March 22, will make his 2026 season debut on Friday against the Houston Astros. Lodolo threw 45 of his 79 pitches for strikes at Triple-A Louisville in his final minor-league rehab start and mixed in roughly 16 or 17 sliders, the pitch that causes the friction on the pad of his index finger. He expects to throw more when facing big-league hitters for the first time this year on Friday, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. "I'm not going to be up here with a limit," said Lodolo. Getting the left-hander from TCU back in the rotation is big for the Reds, who are missing both Hunter Greene (elbow) and Brandon Williamson (shoulder). Lodolo went 9-8 with a 3.33 ERA in 29 games in 2025 and set career-highs in starts (28), innings (156 2/3), and strikeouts (156). Injuries have limited him, but Lodolo deserves to be rostered in all fantasy baseball leagues for his strikeout upside. He's currently rostered in 88% of Yahoo leagues.

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Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss said the team might wait until Wednesday to activate right-handed reliever Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list, but that was also before their bullpen was an issue on Monday night, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Iglesias is eligible to return from the IL on Tuesday after missing the last two weeks with right-shoulder inflammation. The 36-year-old veteran Cuban hurler is expected to immediately return to the team's closer role, which will push right-hander Robert Suarez into the top setup role at the back end of Atlanta's bullpen. Iglesias had some struggles early in 2025, but he corrected them to finish strong, and he threw 8 2/3 scoreless innings for the Braves with five saves in eight appearances to begin 2026 before landing on the shelf. Iglesias needs to be scooped up off the waiver wire if he's available at all. He's rostered in 92% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.

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Los Angeles Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (shoulder) could be out for "several months, if not the whole season," sources told Mike DiGiovanna of Halo Territory. Pitching prospect Caden Dana might not be the immediate replacement for Kikuchi in the Angels' starting rotation, but he could be at some point. The Angels placed Kikuchi on the 15-day injured list on Saturday with left-shoulder inflammation, but it appears his injury is much more serious and could cause him to miss the rest of the 2026 campaign. For now, Sam Aldegheri will replace Kikuchi in the rotation to make the start against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. In single-year fantasy baseball leagues, fantasy managers will obviously want to consider dropping Kikuchi altogether. The 34-year-old Japanese hurler really struggled in his first seven starts of the year, going 0-3 with a 5.81 ERA (3.72 FIP) and 1.58 WHIP with 33 strikeouts and 14 walks in 31 innings pitched. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues may want to consider stashing Dana sooner rather than later.

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The Miami Marlins designated struggling right-hander Chris Paddack for assignment on Tuesday, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. The Marlins are calling up pitching prospect William Kempner in a corresponding move as a fresh arm for their bullpen. For Paddack's rotation spot on Friday against the division-rival Washington Nationals, left-handers Robby Snelling and Braxton Garrett are both options at Triple-A Jacksonville. Paddack has not been effective at all this year for the Fish, and the Marlins decided to scrub him from the 40-man roster after he allowed seven runs in just 2 2/3 innings in his most recent start against the Philadelphia Phillies. The 30-year-old appears to be healthy despite a recent drop in velocity. In his seven appearances (six starts) for Miami, Paddack went 0-5 with a 7.63 ERA (5.00 FIP) and 1.66 WHIP with 27 strikeouts and 10 walks in 30 2/3 innings. He currently leads the league with 26 earned runs allowed.

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Miami Marlins starting pitcher Braxton Garrett is one of the team's top options to take over an open spot in their rotation. Struggling starter Chris Paddack was designated for assignment on Tuesday, opening up his scheduled spot on Friday. Garrett made seven starts for the Marlins in 2024 but missed all of 2025 after elbow surgery. He didn't earn a spot in the rotation out of spring training but is still on the 40-man roster, which gives him an advantage over Robbie Snelling, who is also a candidate to join the rotation. Garrett has looked sharp in his five Triple-A starts this season, allowing five earned runs on just six hits in 25 1/3 innings for a 1.71 ERA and 4.57 FIP. While he doesn't offer the elite strikeout upside Snelling brings for fantasy, Garrett seems more likely to get the promotion based on his roster status. Keep a close eye on who moves into Miami's rotation since both lefties have looked good enough to be waiver wire options if they get the call.

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Miami Marlins starting pitcher Robby Snelling is a great stash pickup to consider from the waiver wire after the Marlins designated struggling veteran Chris Paddack for assignment on Tuesday morning. Snelling has impressed this season in Triple-A, going 3-1 with a 1.86 ERA and 2.92 FIP in 29 innings across six starts for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Snelling has 44 strikeouts in those 29 innings, after racking up 166 strikeouts in 136 innings across the minors last season. Per Christina De Nicola of MLB.com, Snelling is considered a top option to replace Paddack in the rotation later this week, along with former MLB starter Braxton Garrett. Snelling last pitched on Friday, May 1, so he would be ready (in theory) for his Major League debut the next time Paddack's spot in the rotation comes around this Friday.

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San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Caleb Kilian closed out his team's 3-2 win on Monday night against the Padres. Kilian did give up a leadoff home run to Ramon Laureano in the ninth inning, but he struck out Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado to close out the win. He earned the first save of his MLB career and has an impressive 1.13 ERA through his first 16 innings this season, even though his 4.20 FIP indicates he could be due for some regression. Kilian has looked solid enough to get more work at the end of the game, despite the homer he gave up, so he's worth a speculative pickup in deep leagues in case he secures the job going forward.

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Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Gregory Soto got the call on Sunday in the eighth inning of a scoreless game against the Reds. He got the last out of the eighth inning by striking out TJ Friedl with the potential go-ahead run on 3B, and then the Pirates got him a run in the bottom half of the inning. Soto made it stand up by working a 1-2-3 ninth inning through the heart of the Reds order to get his first win of the season. Soto has an impressive 1.59 ERA and 2.44 FIP in his 17 games this season, with 23 strikeouts in 17 innings. He has six holds but only one save, while Dennis Santana leads the team with only two saves. The Priates haven't generated many save chances this season, but if Soto continues to dominate, he should get a look as the team's top high-leverage arm. The lefty could still move around in the bullpen, but he's thrived in any role he's been asked to fill this season, making him worth a look in deep or NL-only leagues even without the full-time closer job secured.

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Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Emilio Pagan came into Monday night's game with a one-run lead against the Cubs, but the 34-year-old righty served up two runs on two hits and blew the save. Pete Crow-Armstrong greeted him with a triple, and after PCA scored on a sacrifice fly to tie the game, Michael Confoto delivered a pinch-hit, walk-off homer, handing Pagan his first loss of the season. Pagan has six saves on the season but also sports an ugly 6.43 ERA and 5.86 FIP, and he has allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings over his last four games. Right now, Tony Santillan looks like a better option for Cincinnati, with his 2.45 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings. The Reds haven't announced a change, but it's definitely a situation worth monitoring if you have Pagan or are in the market for saves, since Santillan could quickly be worth a waiver wire look if he gets the job.

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Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Davis Martin beat the Angels and Jose Soriano for a second straight start on Monday night, allowing just five hits in seven shutout innings, with a season-high 10 strikeouts and no walks. Martin improved to 5-1 on the year with a 1.64 ERA and 2.46 FIP. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in six straight outings and thrived both on the road and at home. The 29-year-old righty has 43 strikeouts in his 44 innings and has emerged as the ace of Chicago's young rotation. He's one of the top starting pitchers to add off the waiver wire if you can still grab him, and his next start is scheduled to be Sunday afternoon at home against the Mariners.

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