Roman Anthony (OF-BOS) will finally start a rehab assignment with Double-A Portland on Tuesday. He's been on the shelf since early May as his finger issue has slowly resolved, so a significant ramp-up is to be expected. The 22 year-old only logged 130 PA in the majors this season before landing on the IL, posting a .229 average to go with 1 HR, 5 RBI, 12 R, and 2 SB while striking out at a 25.5% clip and drawing 15.5% walks. He showed more in 303 PA a year ago, registering a .292 average to go with 8 dingers, 32 RBI, 48 R, and 4 SB. Anthony's advanced metrics show some promise as he raised his overall contact rate from 71.5% in 2025 to 74.5% this season while his in-zone contact rate is up from 82% to 86% and his swinging-strike rate is down from 10.5% to 9.5% He's a patient and disciplined hitter with a 37% swing rate and 21.5% chase rate while he makes a lot of loud contact, with a 47.5% hard-hit rate, 9% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 92.5 mph. Add him if he's sitting on the waiver wire.
Coby Mayo (1B/3B-BAL) went 2-5 with a solo blast, 2B, and additional run scored out of the cleanup spot against the Rays on Monday. The 24 year-old now owns an unexciting .213 average to go with 16 HR, 46 RBI, and 44 R over 323 PA this season. Mayo has fanned at a high 32.5% clip thanks to a 14% swinging-strike rate, 70% overall contact rate, and 83% in-zone contact rate while he's also been prone to chasing (32.5%). But Mayo's elite bat speed (75.5 mph) has translated to lots of loud contact as he owns an 11.5% barrel rate, 92 mph average exit velocity, and 48% hard-hit rate. Despite an average launch angle of 19.9 that has generated 48.5% flyballs and 17.5% liners, Mayo hasn't hit a lot of homers. All things considered, he could hit 30 homers, but what of the average?
Shane McClanahan (SP-TB) lasted just 3.1 IP against the Orioles as he returned from the IL (back) on Monday, yielding 3 runs on 4 hits and no walks while striking out 4. The 29 year-old LHP served up a dinger while throwing 35 of his 57 offerings for strikes. McClanahan has been solid if unspectacular when healthy in 2026, compiling a 3.25 ERA, 8.3 K/9, 3.1 BB/9, and 4.02 xFIP over 102.1 IP (21 starts). Not too bad considering he did not pitch in the majors at all in 2024 or 2025. His stuff is certainly not as sharp as it was a few years ago as his 12% swinging-strike rate, 75% overall contact rate, and 85% in-zone contact rate are all well off of his career norms of 14.5%, 70.5%, and 81%, respectively. There's also been some loud contact as Statcast shows a 40.5% hard-hit rate, 8.5% barrel rate, and average exit velo north of 89 mph. The good news is that he's inducing groundballs at a robust 47.5% clip. He'll look to pitch deeper into his next start, which will be a rematch in Baltimore this weekend.
Framber Valdez (SP-DET) started Monday's contest in Pittsburgh strong but faded toward the end, allowing 5 runs (4 earned) on 5 hits and 4 walks while striking out 5 over 5.2 IP. The 32 year-old southpaw did keep the ball in the yard as he tossed 52 of his 91 offerings for strikes in the contest. Valdez has underwhelmed a bit in his first season with the Tigers as he now owns a 4.35 ERA, 7.2 K/9, 3.5 BB/9, and 4.22 xFIP through 138.2 IP. The lefty's 8.5% swinging-strike rate is his lowest since he first reached the majors back in 2018 (11.5% last season) while the opposition has logged career-high 91.5% in-zone and 81.5% overall contact rates against him. Although still strong, his 54% groundball rate is tied for the lowest of his career even as the opposition has logged some loud contact in the form of a 43% hard-hit rate and average exit velocity of 90 mph. His second start of the week lines up to be a more favorable matchup in Kansas City on Sunday.
Lazaaro Montes (OF-SEA) has continued to produce since getting promoted from Double-A to Triple-A in early July as he's hitting .288 with 10 HR, 21 RBI, and 25 R across 150 PA with Tacoma. Before that, the 21 year-old slugger hit .234 with 25 dingers, 66 RBI, and 67 R over 339 PA with Double-A Arkansas. His hit tool is suspect as he's fanned at a 31% this season while posting an 18% swinging-strike rate, 63.5% overall contact rate, and 71% in-zone contact rate in Triple-A while he's chased some (31.5%). But the quality of contact has been fantastic as he's registered a 52% hard-hit rate, 15.5% barrel rate, and average exit velo north of 93 mph with Tacoma. Some scouts view Montes as a boom-or-bust prospect while others are optimistic that he'll blossom into a Yordan Alvarez-type as he's reached the highest level of the minors at just age 21. For what it's worth, MLB Pipeline has him as the #56 prospect in all of baseball. A 2026 callup is far from a given, but fantasy owners need to be ready to add him because of his prodigious power.
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