Justin Mason | Sat, Jun 20th 2026, 6:29pm EDT

20 Things to Watch This Week in Fantasy Baseball (2026)

It is vital to examine key fantasy baseball storylines and aspects this week to stay ahead of the curve and gain an edge on your league mates. We have 20 such fantasy baseball storylines for you to monitor. This guide will help you navigate the waiver wire, pinpoint potential streamers and more.

20 Fantasy Baseball Things to Watch

1. Schedule Notes

Zero teams play just five games this week.
The following teams play seven games this week:
- Boston Red Sox at COL, vs. NYY
- New York Yankees at DET, at BOS
- Tampa Bay Rays vs. KCR, vs. ARI
- Toronto Blue Jays vs. HOU vs. TEX
- Detroit Tigers vs. NYY, vs. HOU
- Kansas City Royals at TBR, at CWS
- Houston Astros at TOR, at DET
- Texas Rangers at MIA, at TOR
- New York Mets vs. CHC, vs. PHI
- Philadelphia Phillies at WSH, at NYM
- Washington Nationals vs. PHI, at BAL
- Chicago Cubs at NYM, at MIL
- St. Louis Cardinals vs. ARI, vs. MIA
- Arizona Diamondbacks at STL, at TBR

2. Your Standings

As we wrap up June, if you haven’t been tracking your standings, it’s time to start. Take a deep dive into where you are in each category, where you can catch other teams and where they can potentially catch you. In keeper and dynasty formats, it’s time to make a decision on whether you are going to buy or sell in leagues if you have been straddling the fence.

3. MLB Standings

Last week, there were lots of rumors floating around about the Giants and Tigers potentially trading away players in the near future, as it is clear they likely won’t be competing for playoff spots. This is important to track as players move and drastically change their values, as well as the players on the teams they are leaving and going to.

We could start to see these teams and others — like the Mets, Red Sox, Angels, Reds and Royals — start to move players over the course of the next month.

4. Pirates Catchers

The Pirates dealt Joey Bart to the Braves, which will open up regular roles for Endy Rodriguez and Henry Davis. Both catchers are former top prospects who have not taken off at the Major League level, but they are going to receive big opportunities moving forward.

5. Joshua Baez (OF – STL)

Joshua Baez has been on fire recently, hitting four home runs in a single game last week. He is a powerful outfield prospect for the Cardinals and was a sleeper in drafts this year, but didn’t make the team out of camp. Baez could be up sooner rather than later.

6. Jordan Lawlar (3B, OF – ARI)

Jordan Lawlar returned after missing a month and a half with injury and was hitting .300/.417/.350 with three stolen bases in his first six games before injuring his hamstring. The former top prospect has struggled with injuries throughout his time in the minors, but the talent is immense. We need to keep an eye on how serious this injury is.

7. Christian Moore (2B – LAA)

Christian Moore has returned to the Majors after crushing AAA this season, hitting .333/.468/.585 with nine home runs and 10 stolen bases in 252 plate appearances. He will have the opportunity to play regularly with both Jorge Soler and Mike Trout on the injured list (IL), but he will need to maintain the improved strikeout rate we have seen in the minors this year.

8. Ian Seymour (SP, RP – TBR)

Ian Seymour’s surface numbers aren’t great, but the skills are enticing. He is much more of a stash for later this season or future seasons in dynasty and keeper leagues, but there is a ton of upside with his great stuff and a four-pitch arsenal that he can throw any pitch at any time. Seymour has a nice matchup this week, but he is more of a watchlist pitcher until he starts going deeper into games.

9. Cubs’ Closer Chaos

With Daniel Palencia going on the IL, the Cubs are in need of a new closer. Jacob Webb, Caleb Thielbar and Phil Maton are the likely candidates. We need to watch and see if one will take control of the job or if this will be a committee until Palencia returns or the Cubs trade for one at the deadline.

10. Angels’ Closer Chaos

Kirby Yates was looking like the closer for the Angels, but he has not pitched great in his limited save chances. He could be on the hot seat with Sam Bachman, Chase Silseth and Ryan Zeferjahn waiting in the wings.

11-14. Streaming Options

Gage Jump (SP – ATH) at SFG

Gage Jump has pitched really well through his first five MLB starts and gets a bad Giants team in a great pitching park.

Jeffrey Springs (SP – ATH) at SFG

Jeffrey Springs has been much better on the road this season, and he is in a great park against a Giants team that struggles versus lefties.

Eduardo Rodriguez (SP – ARI) at PIT

Eduardo Rodriguez has pitched well this season in spite of bad underlying numbers, but he should be able to keep it going versus a Pirates team that is terrible versus lefties.

Martin Perez (SP – ATL) at SDP

Martin Perez has found the fountain of youth in Atlanta this season, throwing 68 innings with a 2.78 ERA and 56 strikeouts. It won’t last long, but he has a matchup against a Padres team in a pitcher-friendly park, and they have really struggled offensively, especially against lefties.

15-20. Two-Start Options

Foster Griffin (SP – WSH) vs. PHI, at BAL

Foster Griffin has quietly been fantastic this season, throwing 84 innings with a 3.32 ERA and 80 strikeouts. He is due for some regression as he has a 4.36 xERA and a home run problem.

However, Griffin does a great job of mixing and matching his deep arsenal, and these aren’t matchups you are running from.

Anthony Kay (SP, RP – CWS) vs. CLE, vs. KCR

Anthony Kay’s overall line does not look great — 4.61 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 70.1 innings. However, much of the damage came in two starts at Philadelphia and Arizona, which accounted for 14 of his 36 earned runs this season.

Kay has been a lot more stable in his other 11 starts. He has great matchups this week and is a fantastic under-the-radar streamer.

Andre Pallante (SP – STL) vs. ARI, vs. MIA

Andre Pallante is not an overly talented pitcher, but he has a full arsenal and mixes and matches well to keep hitters off balance. He has been great over his last six starts, throwing 34.1 innings with a 2.88 ERA, 29 strikeouts and four wins.

There is a risk that Pallante regresses and gets blown up, but the Marlins and Diamondbacks have struggled offensively over the last month. Pallante is worth streaming while he is hot.

Kyle Bradish (SP – BAL) at LAA, vs. WSH

Kyle Bradish has been one of the most frustrating pitchers to roster this season. He will get destroyed in what seems like a great matchup and then go out and dominate like he just did against the Mariners — one run, two walks, one hit and 12 strikeouts in 7.2 innings. The upside is why you are starting him, but there is always risk.

Michael Wacha (SP – KCR) at TBR, at CWS

Michael Wacha is a boring pitcher who doesn’t offer much in the way of strikeouts and wins, but he can give solid ratios week in and week out.

Wacha is facing a struggling Rays offense in a good park to pitch in and a powerful White Sox team that can be dangerous. You should be starting him if you are looking for help with ratios. But you may want to look elsewhere if wins or strikeouts are what you seek.

Grant Holmes (SP – ATL) at SDP, at SFG

Grant Holmes has been up and down most of the season, throwing 68.2 innings with a 4.33 ERA and 61 strikeouts. He struggles with command and control, but has good win potential on the Braves. These are two poachable games against a struggling Padres offense and a 31-44 Giants team.

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