The Pitcher Edition of the Stash List highlights the 10 best pitching prospects likely to make an impact during the 2026 season.
Prospects are often thought of as holding value only in dynasty formats. However, knowing which prospects hold value for the current season can help set you apart in redraft leagues. Several have a 2026 ETA, and getting ahead of the curve on rostering these prospects is a key part of roster management. Last year, we saw more pitching prospects make their debut than ever before, and there is no reason we should expect to see anything change in 2026. Keep reading to find out the top ten pitchers you should stash in your redraft leagues.
Ground Rules
- The Stash List is for your redraft leagues and does not consider impact beyond 2026.
- Only current minor league players who are expected to make an impact this season are included.
- Upside, proximity, health, and opportunity are all weighed for each player.
- The focus is on 12-team leagues with standard categories.
- Rankings and roster percentages will be updated weekly.
- Stats will be updated weekly for all players through Thursday’s games.
Minor League Starting Pitcher Leaders in Strikeout Rate through July 1, 2026 (minimum 200 batters faced)
How many of these strikeout pitchers are you excited about? Look at those gross FIPs! Maybe should have more respect for German.
The Stash List
Graduates/Call-Ups
The following prospects joined the big league clubs over the last week:
David Sandlin CHW has six strikeouts and three walks across six innings in a spot start against Kansas City. He likely earned another call-up when the team needs starting support. See below for more details.
Riley Cornelio WSN displayed higher velocity on his fastball and whiff stuff on his slider, but the outcomes have not followed suit. He is being deployed as a multi-inning reliever, but has not been able to fend off opposing lineups and has been scored upon in every outing.
Miguel Ullola HOU should see a spike in his effectiveness as a bulk reliever. The fastball components always popped off the page with 20 inches of vert and solid 95 mph velo. However, he always walked too many batters to be considered strongly for the stash list. A starter’s arsenal unloaded in one or two inning doses could see his value jump.
Zach Thornton NYM fared much better in his second Major League start, going toe-to-toe with Zack Wheeler over six innings with seven strikeouts on 13 whiffs. The 6’3″ lefty used an 87 mph cutter with great effect. His velocity was up across the board, but is still hovering below 94 mph. The Phillies did get off seven hard-hit balls. Thornton likely earned the next spot start call-up ahead of Jonah Tong and Jack Wenninger.
Winston Santos TEX was promoted from Double-A Frisco to the Major Leagues as a bulk reliever. The 6’0″ righty fires a 97 mph fastball with average movement, supporting it with a slider and hard changeup. He notched his first career strikeout, but also served up a two-run home run and threw two wild pitches.
Top 10 Pitching Prospects to Stash
1. Kade Anderson, LHP, Seattle Mariners
2026 AAA Stat line: 66.2 IP | 1.22 ERA | 41.1 K% | 4.2 BB%
2025 NCAA Stat line: 119.0 IP | 3.43 ERA | 37.4 K% | 7.3 BB%
The process remains the same with Kade Anderson as he earned his fourth win in June. The 6’2″ lefty leans heavily on a 12-6 curveball that has a bit of horizontal movement as his main putaway. This traditionally fickle pitch can be difficult to control for some pitchers from start to start or within a game. Against San Antonio, he had 5 or 6 strikeouts on the breaker. His changeup also earned a few punch outs as well as one on the fastball. Anderson could compare favorably to Kyle Harrison, who also uses his curveball and changeup as his main putaways. The main difference with Harrison is that he also features a high-octane fastball from a low slot. If Anderson can develop more consistency with his four-seamer velocity, then he will likely ascend to a new level, as Harrison is doing this season. While we wait for the first-year player to progress, we can soak up his success in Double-A. He completed five innings with two earned runs allowed, with two walks and nine strikeouts on 15 whiffs.
STASH WATCH 26
Kade Anderson
AA Arkansas SEA6.26vSanAntonio
5 IP 5H 2ER 2BB 9K
15whiffs/78pitchesDeceptive hi 3/4 slot starting from extreme 1st base side of mound
93+FF will need to tick up over time
CU main putaway
SL
CH.424OPS vLHB & RHB
June: 4-0 22.2 IP 32K 3BB 2ER pic.twitter.com/PIBVAEkLnM
— YGM Fantasy Baseball (@YGMfantasy) June 27, 2026
The main news on Anderson this week was a story on the reported acquisitions the Mariners could make to support a push to the playoffs. In that story, there is a one-sentence speculation on bringing up the top two pitching prospects, Anderson and Ryan Sloan, “perhaps” in relief roles. The reporter’s tweet mentions the formation of a “super pen” but includes no evidence, such as a quote from the organization. Until evidence is provided, it is unknown exactly what Seattle thinks of their top two arms. If and when Anderson sees Major League action this season, he would become the sixth member of the roster to have been selected in the first round. Seattle would have a demonstrably strong hit ratio with six of the last eight first-round draft picks in the starting lineup.
2. Jaxon Wiggins, RHP, Chicago Cubs
2026 AAA Stat line: 16.1 IP | 3.86 ERA | 28.4 K% | 11.9 BB%
2025 MiLB Stat line: 78 IP | 2.19 ERA | 31.0 K% | 11.5 BB%
At this early stage of his rehab assignment, Jaxon Wiggins has taken a more controlled, almost casual approach to his delivery. The follow-through features more bend than the aggressive drive toward home plate we typically expect from him. For a 6’6″ right-hander who normally creates around 6.7 feet of extension, the conservative approach makes sense after elbow inflammation sidelined him for two months. The priority is clearly building back strength and consistency rather than chasing maximum effort. So far, High-A hitters have not been able to take advantage of the slightly reduced velocity. Across two appearances, they have managed only one extra-base hit and a .150 batting average against him. Wiggins has also done an excellent job attacking the zone, posting a 62% strike rate while generating a 62% ground-ball rate. The next test awaits in Triple-A, where he can continue sharpening his arsenal while positioning himself to help the Chicago Cubs sooner rather than later.
STASH WATCH 26
Jaxon Wiggins
AAA CHC
6’6” RHP 24yo6.26vQuadCities
3.2 IP 2H 0R 0BB 4K
6whiffs/57pitchesCasual 3/4 slot
FF 2K has SI movement
CU 2K big dropNot overpowering A+ hitters, a lot of balls in play
CHC needs pitching support pic.twitter.com/nhh1pI8buG
— YGM Fantasy Baseball (@YGMfantasy) June 28, 2026
Wiggins continues to operate with a four-pitch mix highlighted by a high-90s fastball and a power curveball with significant depth. Those two offerings carried the workload in what was likely his final High-A outing, each producing two strikeouts. As he ramps back up, expect the cutter and changeup to become larger parts of the equation. The changeup, despite a limited sample, produced an impressive 80% whiff rate and could become a critical weapon against right-handed hitters. That development matters because Wiggins previously showed minimal platoon splits in 2025, making a reliable third offering even more valuable as he faces higher-level competition.
3. Ty Johnson, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
2026 AAA Stat line: 44.1 IP | 2.64 ERA | 32.2 K% | 8.6 BB%
2025 MiLB Stat line: 110.1 IP | 2.61 ERA | 34.7 K% | 8.8 BB%
Ty Johnson is back in our good graces after a strong bounce-back start with another nine strikeouts. No home runs or even hits were made by the Norfolk batters as the ball barely left the infield off their bats. Johnson doesn’t have noteworthy batted ball data with a 31% below average groundball rate and a possibly devious 46% fly ball rate (heavily inflated due to the recent three-home run game). Yet, opponents only have a .174 average against. Righties have fared much better against his stuff power-wise, but have a very similar OPS overall as left-handed hitters do. Lest we forget that Johnson is conjuring all of this magic with a Statcast page that shows only two pitch types.
STASH WATCH 26
Ty Johnson
AAA Durham TB6.28vNorfolk
5 IP 0H 0R 1BB 9K
15whiffs/72pitchesStrong bounce back after prev 3HR dud
92FF velo trend up. Hit 19”IVB 16”HB
85SL up to 5”HBNo MLB comparable SP has only SL/FF so expect 3rd pitch development which may harm results pic.twitter.com/VEYzGU8jpu
— YGM Fantasy Baseball (@YGMfantasy) June 29, 2026
It was another head-scratcher game as his 92 mph four-seamer racked up seven whiffs, while the 85 mph slider generated eight whiffs and seven strikeouts. His fastball velocity is marginally trending up (hit 93 mph), and is undoubtedly boosted by a huge eleven inches of horizontal movement. He even threw a few fastballs with 16 inches of horizontal break and up to 19 inches of vertical break. The slider doesn’t earn big Stuff+ numbers, but he is mimicking the delivery of each pitch very well. The disparity in the biggest and lowest mover was only five inches this game, but the added deception from his arm action boosts the average spin and movement of the slider. In some games, it appears as though he has two types of sliders, but it wasn’t so clear here.
Looking for comparable starters in the Major Leagues who use only a fastball and slider is a difficult task. Given that he does throw a changeup from time to time, we can compare him to 2025 Joe Boyle, 2024 Luis Gil, 2024 Yilber Díaz, among other inconsequential players who have not had sustained success. This is an uninspiring list. Although Johnson can buck history and have a solid career, he will have an uphill battle against the reliever gravitational pull with only two pitches in his arsenal. For these reasons, it makes it hard to get overly excited about Johnson until he proves it at the highest level. In a way, he is similar to Ryan Johnson, who has a wider arsenal and longer arm action. The Angels’ Johnson is also having some success with a low 90s fastball.
4. David Sandlin, RHP, Chicago White Sox
2026 AAA Stat line: 27.1 IP | 1.32 ERA | 29.4 K% | 13.4 BB%
2026 MLB Stat line: 19.2 IP | 6.05 ERA | 25.0 K% | 12.5 BB%
David Sandlin has now received two cups of coffee with the White Sox this season, and while the constant movement between Chicago and Charlotte can be challenging, the Major League exposure is an invaluable development opportunity. Every trip to the highest level provides feedback that cannot be replicated in Triple-A, and Sandlin is using those lessons to refine his approach.
His debut was encouraging, but the follow-up was far less inspiring, as he posted two rough outings before returning to Charlotte. Since then, Sandlin has responded with two starts where he recorded nine strikeouts against five walks over 11 innings. The results are not eye-popping, but he kept his team competitive by allowing only three total earned runs.
The more interesting development is the adjustment in his pitch usage. Before his promotion, Sandlin’s three most effective weapons were the four-seamer, sweeper, and cutter. After facing Major League hitters, he has shifted away from the sweeper and increased his cutter usage, suggesting the organization may be helping him find a more sustainable attack plan. He also saw small gains in velocity, movement, and extension during his time with the White Sox. Those improvements have not fully carried back to Triple-A, reinforcing the idea that Minor League Statcast data can fluctuate for recently promoted players as environments and competition levels change.
David Sandlin back on the bump for the #Knights Thursday. Sandlin works through 6 innings and allows 3 on 6H and 2BB. He strikes out 2 on 65k/93p. He pitched well, but does not get a decision in the 8-6 Charlotte loss. pic.twitter.com/IKX4GI6hpn
— FutureSox (@FutureSox) July 3, 2026
The strikeout numbers have not exploded since his return, but Sandlin’s profile has never been built solely on overpowering hitters. What he lacks in elite whiff production, he compensates for with a deep arsenal and the ability to attack hitters with multiple looks. A 96 mph fastball gives him the foundation needed to compete at the Major League level, and the next step is determining how to maximize the supporting pieces around it. For a pitcher still learning how to translate his stuff against the best hitters in the world, the ingredients are there for a potential rotation contributor.
In his latest Triple-A start, Sandlin earned a quality start against the hottest hitter in Triple-A, Joshua Baez, and the Memphis Redbirds. The final line is not pretty with six hits allowed, including two home runs (both by Baez). Yet, he limited the damage to three earned runs. He managed to throw 70% of his pitches for strikes and rack up twelve whiffs, but only two strikeouts. The velocity was down a tick across his entire arsenal, and he was hit really hard. Let’s see how he does against mortal hitters next week.
5. Karson Milbrandt, RHP, Miami Marlins
2026 AAA/AA Stat line: 66.1 IP | 1.63 ERA | 33.8 K% | 12.9 BB%
2025 MiLB Stat line: 90 IP | 3.00 ERA | 29.0 K% | 12.3 BB%
Swinging-strike rate can be an exciting indicator, but it loses some shine when paired with poor command. That is the current challenge facing Karson Milbrandt. Despite mediocre results at Triple-A, Milbrandt remains highly regarded because his overall profile still ranks among the best in several key categories. Among qualified pitchers, he sits inside the Top 20 in strikeouts, K%, K%-BB%, batting average against, swinging-strike rate, FIP, xFIP, and ERA.
However, narrowing the focus to only his time with Jacksonville reveals a much different picture. His K%-BB% drops to a concerning 2%. While his ERA remains impressive at 2.33, both his FIP and xFIP are roughly twice as high, suggesting regression is likely if the underlying command issues continue. Milbrandt is not a broken pitcher, but a 21% walk rate in Triple-A is unsustainable and currently represents the biggest obstacle between him and a Major League opportunity.
His latest start highlighted that concern. Milbrandt issued six walks while throwing strikes only 53% of the time. He was “outdueled” by another command-challenged starter, Quinn Mathews, who posted a 55% strike rate and four walks. To Milbrandt’s credit, he continues to limit damage when hitters do make contact. Opponents are batting only .159 against him, with an average exit velocity of 85 mph and less than 40% of contact classified as hard-hit. The problem is not what happens after the ball is put in play—the problem is getting enough balls in play in the first place.
STASH WATCH 26
Karson Milbrandt
AAA JAX MIA6.27vMemphis
4.1 IP 2H 3ER 6BB 4K
8whiffs/81pitches94FF down to 93 in 2nd
CU still best putaway53strike%
“Outdueled” by Mathews 55strike% 4BB
Inducing poor contact but control dragging down hype pic.twitter.com/IvaYd8udfk
— YGM Fantasy Baseball (@YGMfantasy) June 29, 2026
Milbrandt showed a 63% strike rate in his first Triple-A start, but the command has deteriorated since then. The 21% walk rate is concerning on its own, but it becomes even more damaging when those free passes arrive in bunches. In his start against Memphis, he issued three walks in an inning twice, and three of those free baserunners eventually scored. That is the formula for losing starts at the highest levels: elite stuff creating opportunities, followed by too many free passes eliminating the advantage.
The arsenal may also be facing its toughest test yet. Milbrandt’s biggest weapons—the curveball and sweeper—are his primary putaway pitches, but they are also the most difficult to consistently command. When those pitches miss, he is forced into deeper counts and elevated pitch totals. His fastball, which can show impressive two-plane movement, also dipped to 93 mph after the first inning. Even with the reduced velocity, the pitch still has life, but Triple-A hitters have punished mistakes, producing three hard-hit balls against it in this outing. The 88 mph gyro slider rounds out the mix, but it has been put into play frequently and has not generated many whiffs.
The biggest theme across the entire arsenal is inconsistency in location. The pitch charts show scattered command rather than a pitcher consistently executing his plan. A new organization, different ballpark, and different baseball could all contribute to the adjustment period, but the path forward is simple: the walks have to move in the opposite direction. The stuff remains good enough for a Major League future—the command will determine how quickly he gets there.
Pitches July 4 at Nashville
6. Owen Murphy, RHP, Atlanta Braves
2026 AA/AAA Stat line: 81 IP | 4.44 ERA | 27.1 K% | 11.2 BB%
2025 MiLB Stat line: 30.1 IP | 1.19 ERA | 30.9 K% | 5.5 BB%
The Braves continue to show tremendous confidence in Owen Murphy by letting him work deep into games. That may not sound remarkable at first glance, but it is for a pitcher who lost significant development time during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Rather than carefully managing his workload, Atlanta has steadily increased it. Murphy closed out 2025 with a 93-pitch victory and is averaging more than 84 pitches per start this season. Pitch count alone is not a measure of talent, but it is one of the clearest indicators of organizational trust. The Braves believe Murphy’s arm is healthy enough to shoulder a starter’s workload, and they are giving him every opportunity to prove he can navigate lineups multiple times. With each outing, he is building a reputation as a durable innings-eater whose profile resembles a young Logan Webb—more reliant on sequencing, command, and a deep arsenal than overwhelming strikeout totals.
Murphy reinforced that profile with another quality start against Nashville, striking out seven batters while generating eight whiffs. His four-seamer showed another encouraging development, gaining roughly an inch of movement from the previous outing and averaging more than 19 inches of induced vertical break. Although the velocity has remained consistent throughout the season, the improved life on the fastball translated into five strikeouts, allowing it to play above its raw speed. He complemented it with a true 12-to-6 curveball that drops 56 inches, producing two strikeouts and three whiffs.
STASH WATCH 26
Owen Murphy
AAA Gwinnett ATL
6’1” RHP 22yo7.1vDurham
6 IP 2H 0R 1BB 7K
8whiff/81pitches92FF 19”IVB
79CU 56”drop
88FC
85CH
93SI 12”HBwhere is SL? Has 40%whiff but none in June
64strike% 23chase% pic.twitter.com/lZS2ZggmBO
— YGM Fantasy Baseball (@YGMfantasy) July 2, 2026
The matchup also highlighted one of Murphy’s strengths. Nashville’s lineup featured more left-handed hitters than usual, and Murphy handled them with ease. He used five of his six pitches against lefties and has allowed a significantly lower slugging percentage to them throughout 2026. The changeup remains an obvious weapon, while the curveball has developed into his primary strikeout pitch against southpaws.
The biggest mystery, however, is the disappearance of his slider. Statistically, it has been his most effective swing-and-miss offering against hitters from both sides of the plate, earning one of the highest pitch grades in his arsenal. Yet it has not appeared once during the month of June. That absence could simply be the result of Statcast misclassifying a handful of lower-velocity cutters, because it would be unusual for a pitcher to shelve such an effective weapon entirely. Regardless of the explanation, Murphy continues to succeed with one of the deepest repertoires in the upper minors. More importantly, every outing further strengthens the Braves’ confidence that he is progressing toward becoming a dependable Major League starter.
7. Jack Wenninger, RHP, New York Mets
2026 AAA Stat line: 68 IP | 3.84 ERA | 22.7 K% | 13.0 BB%
2025 MiLB Stat line: 135.2 IP | 2.92 ERA | 26.4 K% | 7.6 BB%
Jack Wenninger continues to search for the right formula as he works to regain the momentum he carried earlier this season. Syracuse experimented with his role again, deploying him as a follower in the second inning, and the results were largely encouraging over five innings. The familiar issues, however, still surfaced. He issued too many free passes, and his home run streak extended when Felix Reyes punished a middle-middle sinker for a solo shot.
There were also several encouraging developments beneath the surface. Wenninger’s fastball ticked up by about half a mile per hour while sacrificing only a small amount of movement, a tradeoff worth monitoring if the added velocity proves sustainable. He also leaned more heavily on his slider, one of the better weapons in his arsenal. The gyro slider has generated a 35% whiff rate this season and gives him a legitimate swing-and-miss offering, although it can be vulnerable when left in hittable locations.
STASH WATCH 26
Jack Wenninger
AAA Syracuse NYM6.28vLehighVly
5 IP 4H 3ER 1HR 3BB 4K
10whiff/82pitchesFollower
Rhythm rocker w 3/4 slot
FF velo ticking up
SL gyro 4whiffs, most used
ST
SI
CH heavy fade of best K & whiff pitch56strike% 28chase% pic.twitter.com/8PHthPpJMk
— YGM Fantasy Baseball (@YGMfantasy) July 3, 2026
The more puzzling adjustment was the reduced usage of his changeup. It has consistently been his most dependable putaway pitch, producing both whiffs and weak contact, yet it took a backseat in this outing. Meanwhile, the sinker remains the pitch demanding the most attention. It has yet to establish itself as either a bat-misser or an efficient contact manager, leaving hitters too comfortable when it enters the strike zone.
Even so, the overall trend is more encouraging than the surface results suggest. Wenninger is making incremental improvements in velocity, pitch usage, and overall execution. Those are the kinds of small adjustments that often precede a larger breakthrough. If he continues refining the sinker while leaning on his best secondary pitches, the results could begin to swing in his favor as July approaches.
His next opportunity comes Saturday against Worcester. An ideal outing would feature the fastball averaging around 95 mph, just one or two walks, and, perhaps most importantly, no home runs allowed. If he checks those boxes, Wenninger could quickly re-enter the conversation as one of the Mets’ more intriguing upper-level pitching options.
8. Tanner McDougal, RHP, Chicago White Sox
2026 AAA Stat line: 25 IP | 2.88 ERA | 28.7 K% | 12.9 BB%
2026 MLB Stat line: 113.1 IP | 3.26 ERA | 28.3 K% | 10.2 BB%
Tanner McDougal has returned after missing two months with right forearm tightness. He gives us another viable pitcher to consider stashing in the final months of the season. It was a tidy 15 pitches in a single inning of work with High-A Winston-Salem on Wednesday night. He recorded two strikeouts on five whiffs. According to the announcers, he was regularly hitting 98 mph in this appearance and topped out at 100 mph. The strikeouts were both on a sharply diving slider.
STASH WATCH 26
Tanner McDougal
A+ REHAB CHW7.1vGreeneville
1 IP 0H 0R 0BB 2K
5whiffs/15pitches98FF hitting 100
SL sharp diver 2KBack from forearm tightness
Some reliever risk for ‘26 but should still be an SP long term w/ hi velo & big spin arsenal pic.twitter.com/jQut5VRehm
— YGM Fantasy Baseball (@YGMfantasy) July 3, 2026
Pre-injury, he was touching triple-digits and averaging 98.5 mph on the fastball. He wasn’t throwing as many strikes as needed, and the walks were starting to pile up. This reset could be what is needed to focus on what works and save his innings for the stretch run with the surging White Sox. Folks will likely see the relief pitching appearances in his game logs as an indicator that he has transitioned to the bullpen. However, his future as a starting pitcher shouldn’t be discounted until more substantial reports from the organization are released. He is likely back with the Triple-A squad in the next week or so.
9. Quinn Mathews, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals
2026 AAA Stat line: 66 IP | 3.95 ERA | 29.7 K% | 16.5 BB%
2025 MiLB Stat line: 99 IP | 3.73 ERA | 26.1 K% | 16.8 BB%
Quinn Mathews earns a spot here more as an investigation than a full-throated stash recommendation. Just one year ago, he was widely regarded as one of the best pitchers in the Minor Leagues after a dominant 2024 campaign. Since then, however, his stock has taken a sharp turn. Even so, he has remained one of the few upper-level Cardinals pitching prospects still standing while others have been derailed by injuries or stalled development. Connor Hjerpe, Sem Robberse, Richard Fitts, Ixan Henderson, Tekoah Roby, and Tink Hence have all spent significant time off the radar, with Hence only recently returning to Memphis as a reliever. Mathews, who also lost a large portion of 2025 to a shoulder strain, has at least managed to stay on the mound.
There are still reasons for optimism. He has rebuilt his strikeout rate to a healthy 29%, showing that the swing-and-miss ability that made him such a coveted prospect hasn’t disappeared. Unfortunately, the gains have been overshadowed by persistent command issues. Across all three of his Triple-A stops in 2024, 2025, and 2026, his walk rate has remained above 16.5%. His strike rate has rarely climbed above 58% over the past two seasons, a threshold that is difficult to overcome even for many relievers. Layer on top of that a career-high home run rate, and the profile begins to resemble a pitcher whose reputation currently exceeds his performance. Until the command improves, Mathews carries more name value than fantasy value.
Still, there are signs that the pendulum could be starting to swing back in the right direction. Mathews just completed his best month of the season, lowering his batting average against while increasing both his strikeout total and swinging-strike production en route to three victories. His June 4 masterpiece against Louisville—nine strikeouts in his best outing of the year—provided a blueprint for success. The formula was surprisingly straightforward: throw strikes with the four-seamer and let the secondaries finish hitters.
PROSPECT WATCH 26
Quinn Mathews
AAA Memphis STL6.4vLouisville
6 IP 1H 0R 1BB 9K
16whiffs/80pitchesQuick arm action thru lo 3/4 slot
94FF 4whiff
85SL 6whiff
85CH 5whiff
Key 3 pitches to successWhen things go right still throws poor 61strike%
Has poor HR luck pic.twitter.com/7a3mnSrZHZ
— YGM Fantasy Baseball (@YGMfantasy) July 3, 2026
Against Louisville, Mathews maintained 94 mph on the fastball throughout the outing while both the slider and changeup generated significantly more swing-and-miss than they had in previous starts. The matchup may have played a role, but the underlying pitch quality was encouraging. He generated more than four whiffs with each of those three pitches. On the season, the slider continues to produce nearly a 50% whiff rate, while the changeup is approaching 40%. Those two offerings remain the foundation of his arsenal.
The slider, in particular, is the key to everything. Because he throws it confidently to both right- and left-handed hitters, it sets up the rest of his repertoire. When hitters are forced to respect the breaking ball, the four-seamer plays up. When they eliminate the slider from their decision-making, they have been able to attack the fastball. Right-handed hitters, despite also having to account for the changeup, have hit eight of the 11 home runs Mathews has allowed this season.
The elevated 22% HR/FB rate is almost certainly due for positive regression, but it isn’t entirely bad luck. He is allowing slightly more fly balls and barrels than in previous seasons, so some increase in home runs is justified. Ultimately, though, the home runs are secondary. Before evaluating the batted-ball profile, the first statistic that deserves attention is still the walk rate.
For Mathews to become a legitimate stash candidate again, that 16% walk rate has to move much closer to 10%. That may not happen overnight, but even approaching his 8.4% walk rate from 2024 would dramatically change the outlook. His delivery doesn’t project to unlock another jump in velocity, so the path back to relevance will come through improved command and maximizing the quality of the arsenal he already possesses—not by throwing harder.
Mathews is scheduled to make his next start Friday night against Charlotte. If he repeats the strike-throwing blueprint from his June 4 outing, the conversation surrounding his stash value could begin to change.
10. Carlos Lagrange, RHP, New York Yankees
2026 AAA Stat line: 63.1 IP | 4.55 ERA | 29.5 K% | 11.7 BB%
2025 MiLB Stat line: 120 IP | 3.53 ERA | 33.4 K% | 12.3 BB%
The reliever reduction plan went nowhere as smoothly as it did last week for Carlos Lagrange. On the field, he allowed five earned runs on four hits and two walks. Off the field, Lagrange was placed on the seven-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, as it appears his body is not taking well to the short periods of rest between outings.
Upon watching the game film, there needs to be a big asterisk applied to this line. The seventh batter he faced hit a 59-degree angle pop-up between the second basemen and right fielder. Neither fielder made a play on an extremely catchable ball, and all three baserunners came around to score. It would have been the third out of the inning and stymied the opposition.
Carlos Lagrange entered the game in the bottom of the 7th in a 4-1 game. Here’s what took place next:
1st batter: (1B): 76.5 mph / 16° linedrive
2nd batter: (K)
3rd batter: (BB)
4th batter: (RBI 1B) 101.1 mph / 10° linedrive
5th batter: (in play, out) 92.6 mph / 16° linedrive… https://t.co/S9Yln8PP48— Yankees Stats (@ChrisCoop_) June 28, 2026
Since he began essential usage as a relief pitcher, Lagrange has featured the slider, four-seamer, and changeup. This game was primarily fastballs and sliders, though. The four-seamer was particularly weak, with a poor strike rate and two hits allowed. It is still best practice for him to strategically use his four-seamer, as seen by the nearly 50% hard-hit rate on the pitch. In this game, he was mostly done in by the poor defense and a 50% strike rate. Lagrange has yet to pitch with less than two days rest, something that is probably a bit part of the Yankees relief pitcher training program. He is developing the mindset and conditioning of throwing 80 competitive pitches in a game every 6-7 days to throwing 20-30 pitches every 1-2 days. This isn’t an overnight process.
Given the dynamic stuff, we expect better results, but pitching more frequently is not a straightforward process for every player. Still, Lagrange offers some of the most outlier individual pitch components in the Minor Leagues, something that makes him an attractive stash even as a reliever. Let’s hope the injury is minor and that he can get back to the mound in time to make a difference for the big league club.
HM. River Ryan, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
2026 AAA Stat line: 36.1 IP | 4.46 ERA | 27.2 K% | 5.1 BB%
2025 MLB Stat line: DID NOT PITCH IN 2025
River Ryan was placed on the injured list over the last weekend after sustaining an injury to the same hamstring that had cost him time in April. When he returned from that initial hamstring strain, he bounced back to win three starts in a row and throw over 85 pitches per game. Unfortunately, his most recent start leaves us with a bad taste as it was one of his worst outings since 2023.
STASH WATCH 26
River Ryan
AAA OKC LAD
6’2” RHP 27yo6.17vSac
4.1 IP 10H 8ER 1HR 1BB 3K
7whiffs/89pitchesVelo down a half tick from season avg but still up from ‘24
97FF62strike% 27chase%
Friedman says “build volume” plan shall continue pic.twitter.com/xw4f8eaUjt
— YGM Fantasy Baseball (@YGMfantasy) June 26, 2026
His final line shows that he allowed eight runs (five earned runs before he departed the game) on ten hits, including a solo home run and three other extra-base hits.
On The Bubble
Here are the next several pitchers that were in consideration for inclusion on this week’s list:
Khristian Curtis PIT, Anthony Eyanson BOS, Michael Forret TBR, Nestor German BAL, Tyson Hardin MIL, Brody Hopkins TBR, George Klassen LAA, Ethan Pecko HOU, Zach Thornton NYM, Carson Whisenhunt SFG, Brandon White MIA, Joe Whitman SFG, and Matt Wilkinson SFG.
Pitcher Stash List
| Stash List Key |
|---|
| Stash now! Upside + Proximity |
| Upside Stash |
| Proximity Stash |
Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire | Featured Image by Justin Redler (@reldernitsuj on Bsky/Twitter)
