American League Watchlist
Building your AL Watchlist for the Waiver Wire
Toronto Blue Jays
Upcoming 2-Starts: Patrick Corbin (vs PHI, VS NYY) No thanks
Addison Barger could be back to start next week. I could see them waiting till Friday to activate him, since there is no real sense in kicking the tires for a series with the Phillies that has Sanchez and Luzardo as potential starters. In deeper leagues, you need to think about adding the potential power source Barger. With the state of 3B and OF, someone that can cover both and potentially add RBI is valuable. Nathan Lukes has been hot, but man, it’s empty average. He’s only viable in seven game weeks vs seven RHP.
The starting pitching lineup this week for the Buffalo Bison is Dylan Cease, Max Scherzer and Shane Bieber. If Bieber is available in your league, the time is now to add him. He was great in his cameo last season, so there’s so precedent for success in a return from elbow injuries.
Baltimore Orioles
Upcoming 2-Starts: Bassit **left last start and Rogers (vs SEA, vs SD), Medium interest
2 Weeks Ahead: B. Young (@ SEA, @ LAD) No thanks
It feels like the Orioles lineup is about to get going. Jackson Holliday, regardless of results, gives them the type of at-bat they were missing. Combine that with Leody Taveras, the duo breaks up the swing and miss. Strange to think in an outfield with Tyler O’Neill, Dylan Beavers, Heston Kjersted and Colton Cowser, it’s Leody Taveras that has taken the job and run with it. Taveras was good in May, 20 for his last 74 with 12 runs and five stolen bases. Not a league winner, but isn’t going to actively hurt you, if you’re in a pinch
Ryan Helsley is trending toward a Late-June return. He’s throwing bullpens but the team has said he is going to need a longer build-up. The translation being, velocity isn’t coming back and he hasn’t been able to crank up the intensity, confidently. “Cousin” Rico Garcia (shoutout Bubba and the Bloom) has been great and will hold it down until Helsley returns. Shane Baz has been great his last four starts sporting a 2.33 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 25 k’s in 27 innings. I’m using this spell to sell high in a keeper league. There’s something too hittable for a guy with power stuff like Baz. I think it has to do with the lack of deception in his delivery. Hitters can see the ball very early.
Tampa Bay Rays
Upcoming 2-Starts: Matz (vs BOS, @ LAA) EHHH
2-weeks Ahead: N. Martinez (@ LAD, vs WSH) NO
I think things are about to get ugly for the Rays. They lead the league in contact but hit the ball so poorly. Outside of Aranda, Yandy, Caminero and Simpson (who I think is undervalued), the team has so few productive hitters. Richie Palacios has had a run of games as the team faced a lot of RHP but has cooled with the rest of the team. I just think it’s more likely Aranda and Yandy stop cleaning up every single baserunner than it is that the bottom of the order gets any better.
It feels like regression is coming to the starting rotation, as well. Steven Matz and Nick Martinez have been great but we know who these veterans are. That said, count me interested in Griffin Jax. He’s always had a deep mix and great stuff. Let’s see how he evolves as a starter. He’s available in a lot of 12 team leagues and I’d consider him a home streamer for the time being. Still too much hard contact but he misses bats and puts the ball on the ground.
Boston Red Sox
Upcoming 2-Starts: Tolle (@ TB, vs TEX) YES
2-weeks Ahead: Bello (vs TOR, @ SEA) PASS
Caleb Durbin is showing some signs of life, along with the rest of the Red Sox offense. Durbin has five XBH with a 156 wRC+ over the last five games after switching hitting coaches. He has regained his share of playing time. On some platforms, hes 2B/3B eligible and that would be a pretty valuable bench piece.
Patrick Sandoval is nearing a return to the Red Sox and that may mean Bryan Bello finally gets moved from the rotation. Sandoval hasn’t pitched since 2024 so it may take some time for him to get fully up to speed but he would at least be an interesting matchup play unlike Bello
New York Yankees
Upcoming 2-Starts: Cole (@CLE, @TOR)
2-Weeks Ahead: Rodon (vs CWS, vs CIN)
Aaron Judge is out 4-6 weeks with a bone bruise in his first rib. Jasson Dominguez is on the comeback trail and as bad as he is in the outfield, they need him to play outfield in order to get Stanton or Goldschmidt in the lineup. They could also play Caballero in the outfield, opening up shortstop for Anthony Volpe. That would make Volpe and Dominguez interesting, so it’s definitely something to monitor over the weekend
Cleveland Guardians
Upcoming 2-Starts: Williams (vs CLE, vs DET)
2-weeks Ahead: Cecconi (@ MIL, @ HOU)
We’ve started to see some regression from Schneeman, Martinez and Rocchio but Kyle Manzardo has started to get it going. The first baseman has five homers and an .859 OPS across his last 15 games. Unfortunately for Manzardo and the Guardians, next week’s schedule has three LHP tapped up (including the return of Skubal). If interested, I’d probably try to pass him through waivers one more week.
Joey Cantillo has sort of lost the plot in his last four starts by walking 14 over 16.2 innings. I’m still a believer and would be eager to pick him up if dropped in shallower leagues. The more shallow, the more careful I’d be with the opponent he’s facing
Kansas City Royals
Upcoming 2-Starts: Kolek (vs TEX, vs HOU)
2-weeks Ahead: Lugo (@ WSH, vs STL)
I try to avoid Royals not named Witt where possible, but Michael Massey is slashing .266/.287/.477 with six homers, 20 RBI, and 16 runs over his 47 games this season. The oft-injured Massey is riding a heater right now and he’s playing everyday. The Royals play five RHP next week so you could do worse than Massey as a stream MI
Noah Cameron has been great in his last three starts allowing three earned runs over 18 innings while walking just three and striking out 20. Cameron gets vs HOU, vs STL, and at TB next three times out, so I’d be adding everywhere available.
Alex Lange has got the last two save opportunities. I had speculated on Matt Strahm before the week started but it appears to be Lange for now. Nothing in Lange’s profile screams closer, he allows baserunners, walks too many hitters, and gets hit hard (13% barrel) but opportunity trumps skills and Lange has the role.
Detroit Tigers
Upcoming 2-Starts: None current 6-man rotation
Gleyber Torres is back and has kick-started the Tigers lineup. He’s batting leadoff and already has a homer in the few games since his return. Torres has elite plate skills and will put the ball in play. When he’s running hot, he can really tack on counting stats and batting average. He’s worth an add if you can carry his lack of speed
Monitor the bullpen usage this weekend. Finnegan and Vest have really struggled recently and Drew Anderson has been okay. I think Finnegan is the guy to close while Kenley is out but the Tigers tend to use the pen as needed so things can be fluid
Minnesota Twins
Upcoming 2-Starts: Bradley (at DET, vs STL)
2-weeks Ahead: Matthews (at TEX, at ARI)
Kody Clemens is 25 for his last 94 with 12 runs five homers 11 RBI and a stolen base. He can play in some useful slots for fantasy so ride him while he’s hot. The Twins face four RHP next week but Clemens is playing most days regardless.
Bailey Ober heads to the IL but Mick Abel is throwing some extended bullpens. I’d expect Abel to start a rehab assignment soon, maybe be back before the end of the month. Start thinking about an add
Chicago White Sox
Upcoming 2-Starts: Martin (vs ATL, vs LAD) Yikes
2-weeks Ahead: Fedde (at NYY, at DET)
I’ll keep this one simple. Antonacci needs to be owned everywhere. Tristan Peters can be a nice streamer for runs and batting average during heavy RHP weeks while Andrew Benintendi is starting to surge on the power front. The White Sox face eight lefties over the next three weeks so it may be best to wait on any adds.
Brutal schedule lining up for the Sox the next two weeks. I’d be very careful starting any starters.
Los Angeles Angels
I’ve sort of talked myself into liking Vaughn Grissom
Grissom doesn’t strike out, chase or whiff and when he does swing, he’s hitting the ball hard 46.7 % of the time. That’s coming with, at least average bat speed and well above average exit velocities (79th percentile). I think there’s another step that he can take this season and the breakout chances are climbing. I’m looking at him as a source of batting average, good counting stats, and stretches of power. Think .276 150 R/RBI and 16-22 HR over a full season. So prorate those stats for the rest of the season
So many arms to talk about here. Detmer’s is a dude and you start him most times out. I just avoid the very best lineups. I’m riding the Urena streak. Nine starts and only twice did he allow over two earned runs? You got to be involved. Can we expect some regression? Absolutely, but what if he limits the walks? He’s 22 years old throwing 98 mph bowling balls with a changeup that looks exactly the same up until the last second. This is not the same as expecting regression from a Javier Assad.
Houston Astros
Upcoming 2-Starts: None 6-man rotation
Cam Smith is a statcast darling. Runs fast, plays defense, swings and hits the ball hard, but he doesn’t get the results. This is a case where I care about Squared up %. How long is his barrel in the hitting zone? For Cam he’s not in the zone long enough, fouling off pitches he should put in play and ultimately striking out. He walks 10% of the time so there’s an idea about the zone but when you’re missing pitches, falling behind in counts, you’re facing more and more tough spin and that’s how I see his at bats going. The solution is easy, stop missing pitches he should hit, early in counts. That’s something that will come when he has a better understanding of the pitches he is going to be seeing. With that, I’ve been grabbing shares. I’m not the one that wore the .200 batting average. Let’s see if he can put it together with a very favorable upcoming schedule
I’m a fan of Kai-Wei Teng but I think he heads back to the bullpen with the return of Hunter Brown. Imai, Burrows, and Lambert are all streamers going forward with Imai having the upside since we don’t have a ton of data on him. Not a fan of Burrows for a simple reason…. He can’t get out LHH. He’s a drop in 12 team leagues
Athletics
Upcoming 2-starts: Springs (vs MIL, vs COL) You may have to pay for that road COL start
2-Weeks Ahead: Ginn, Perkins (vs PIT, vs LAA) Hate the PIT matchup
Jacob Wilson is nearing a return. Check to see if he’s available
JT Ginn has been outstanding. Have a look at what he’s done over his last six starts. Add him
Everyone else is a “hold your breath” streamer.
Seattle Mariners
Upcoming 2-Starts: Gilbert, Kirby (at BAL, at WSH)
2-Weeks Ahead: Woo (vs BAL, vs BOS)
JP Crawford is scorching hot, 22 for his last 92 with 13 runs, six homers, and 12 RBI out of the leadoff spot. Ride him while he’s hot and batting in the premium spot. In 2023, JP scored 94 runs, hit 19 home runs and batted .266. There’s precedent for his usefulness
The Mariners are going to a six man rotation for a turn. If they stick with it, then we can keep Castillo. If he goes to the pen, Castillo is an easy drop
Texas Rangers
Upcoming 2-Starts: Eovaldi (at KC, at BOS)
2-weeks Ahead: Gore (vs MIN, vs SD)
Seager and Langford are returning for the Rangers. Joc Pederson has been hot but let him pass. Additionally, scout for other options so you can move on from Evan Carter. I’ve always liked him but the passivity at the plate doesn’t translate to fantasy baseball. It’s barely translating to a valuable MLB player.