We’re down to the final two waiver-wire runs of the week, but the exciting prospect promotions are still coming. Sunday we learned that the Blue Jays are calling up Trey Yesavage, their first-round pick from last year’s draft and he’ll make his MLB debut in a start Monday against the Rays. And I do think this is a situation where Fantasy players looking to make an addition this week could take advantage.
As of now, Yesavage is only confirmed for one start, but there’s a chance he ends up making two starts this week, with the second coming either Saturday or Sunday against the Royals. That would be two nice, soft landing spots for a talented young pitcher who very well could take the majors by storm. He’s posted a 3.12 ERA in his first season as a pro, and has maintained elite strikeout rates even as he has climbed the minor-league ladder – between Double-A and Triple-A, he has a massive 37.3% strikeout rate despite only turning 22 a few months ago.
Now, it’s always worth noting here that there is no guarantee, even for especially talented young prospects. Nolan McLean has emerged as a real difference maker for Fantasy down the stretch, but similarly rated guys like Jonah Tong and Payton Tolle have struggled to make an impact despite really exciting skills. The truth is we just don’t know who will make the transition smoothly and who will struggle.
But Yesavage is lined up for at least one good matchup this week and he’ll be backed up by a very good Blue Jays team, so you have to like his chances here. It’s not a sure thing, but if you’re looking for a streamer, I’d rather bet on Yesavage than a lot of the mediocrities on the waiver wire in most leagues.
Here’s who else we’re looking to add ahead of Week 26:
Week 26 Waiver Targets
Catcher
Kyle Teel, White Sox (45%) – I’m going to start working on 2026 rankings this week, and I’m starting to think Teel has to be a top-12 catcher. It’s a tough group to break into, but he just continues to get better, lately tapping into more power without sacrificing his excellent plate discipline. Teel has a great approach at the plate, and while he doesn’t have plus power, he has enough to avoid being a total zero. And there’s non-zero steals potential here. His profile works in both points and Roto leagues.
First Base
Kyle Manzardo, Guardians (39%) – Manzardo has started four of the past five against lefties, fixing the biggest limitation in his game. And it’s coming at a time of the year when the Guardians are desperately trying to fight their way into the playoffs. That’s a great sign for Manzardo’s long-term appeal, and could make him a very nice sleeper pick for next season if the market still values him as a platoon bat. And it makes him a viable starter in all leagues down the stretch.
Second base
Otto Lopez, Marlins (63%) – Lopez is solid. There have been times when he has looked more than solid (and his underlying numbers suggest he should be more consistently), but he hasn’t managed to be much more than solid. That’s okay for this week, because the Marlins get to play three of their six games at Coors Field, where you can always hope for big games. Lopez is eligible at either middle infield position and is a fine choice in any league this week.
Third base
Jake Burger, Rangers (39%) – I don’t generally love