As the fantasy baseball season hurtles toward its climax, the latest wave of roster moves on CBS and Yahoo platforms is reshaping the competitive landscape. Players who entered the week with sub‑40 % ownership are now being plucked off the waiver wire, and their early performances are already rewriting expectations.
Hitters Gaining Momentum
Among the hitters who have broken out, Garrett Mitchell showcases a strong‑side platoon profile with a .412 BABIP, eight home runs and six stolen bases, while Blaze Alexander has started nine of the last ten games, delivering four homers, nine steals and a .306 average. Cole Young, whose power surge began after June 11, now boasts eleven homers, seven of which came in the second half, and his exit velocity has climbed from 87.6 to 90.4 mph. Josh Bell’s 13 homers already eclipse the combined totals of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Fernando Tatis Jr., and Joshua Kuroda‑Grauer’s .500 BABIP and .432 average reflect an unusually high contact rate.
Heriberto Hernández, despite being rested against right‑handed starters, has already hit 13 homers and could see a full‑time role once Owen Caissie lands on the injured list. Tommy Edman, a utility man batting .350/.435/.483 with two steals, adds versatility, while Kyle Karros has posted a .375 ISO and four homers over his last 14 contests. Josh Lowe, back from the injured list, is starting every day and posting a .273/.319/.455 line with two homers and two steals. Nathan Church continues to contribute 8 homers, 5 steals and a .241 average, though he sat out two of the last four games. Cedric Mullins, with 11 homers and 14 steals, carries a .205 average as he tends to hit everything in the air, and Gavin Sheets, a strong‑side platoon bat, has 14 homers but a modest .225 average.
Pitching Depth Takes Center Stage
On the mound, the rotation has been bolstered by Shane Drohan, who posts a 3.22 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings since re‑entering the rotation, and Reynaldo López, who has a 2.08 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 8.3 K/9 across three starts. The recent call‑ups have also made noise: Brandon Pfaadt brings a 0.87 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 7.0 K/9 in two games after a quick promotion from Triple‑A, while Dean Kremer struggles with a 4.09 ERA and a high home‑run rate of 3.7 per nine. Patrick Sandoval’s fastball velocity peaked at 94.1 mph and his 3.55 botERA suggests room for improvement, and Spencer Miles combines a 2.95 ERA, 3.17 xFIP and 1.09 WHIP in a hybrid role. Kyle Leahy’s 3.73 ERA is accompanied by a steadily improving WHIP, and Janson Junk, despite a 4.57 ERA, enjoys strong underlying metrics with a 3.16 botERA and 110 Pitching+. Keider Montero has been dominant, allowing no runs in his last four appearances (13 innings) with two wins and a save, and Trevor McDonald’s 1.38 WHIP and 5.46 ERA hint at a potential 4.00‑era talent. JP Sears mirrors his 2025 numbers with a 5.03 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 7.8 K/9, while Ryan Feltner is viewed as a solid 5.00‑era arm.
Closer Conversations in the Bullpen
The relief corps is equally crowded, with Clay Holmes working toward a rehab start, Jackson Jobe still needing time to recover from his single inning of rehab, and Grant Taylor emerging as a reliable late‑inning option. Andrew Kittredge, Clayton Beeter, Caleb Kilian, Trent Thornton, Jacob Webb, Tyler Wells, Jordan Romano, Michael Petersen, Luke Weaver, Garrett Whitlock, Andrew Morris, Garrett Cleavinger and Kevin Kelly each bring a different shade of experience, from proven closers to backup arms waiting for a chance. The depth of talent suggests that save opportunities will be spread across several relievers, making the closer role a fluid and ever‑changing narrative as the season progresses.