NL Week 15 Strategy-June 27, 2026
In The Field
1B Jake Cronenworth (concussion) was expected to start a rehab assignment on Thursday, but was not cleared to play. He started his rehab assignment on Friday with Triple-A El Paso. 2B Marcus Semien was placed on the 10-day IL on Thursday with a left hip flexor strain. 2B Brett Baty is expected to pick up the slack while he is out. Baty is hitting .217 with 3 HR, 26 R, 26 RBI, and 3 SB in 265 PA. 1B Luis Arraez (foot) was not in the Giants lineup on Thursday. He was back in the lineup on Friday. Arraez is hitting .321 with 3 HR, 40 R, 30 RBI, and 6 SB in his first season in San Francisco. 1B Spencer Horwitz was placed on the 10-day IL with a left hamstring strain. The Pirates will most likely play 1B/OF Ryan O’Hearn as the primary first baseman and platoon in the outfield while OF Oneil Cruz is on the shelf. This means that OF Jake Mangum is going to continue to be a regular while they mix and match in RF. Unfortunately, no one is going to get regular at-bats, which is going to make it hard to pick anyone up. Mangum is the only add here, and that is if you need AVG and/or speed (.291 AVG with 14 SB in 188 PA). DH Kyle Schwarber missed Tuesday and Wednesday with lower back tightness. He returned to the lineup on Thursday. OF Juan Soto sat out both games of the doubleheader on Wednesday but returned to the lineup on Thursday as the DH. SS Francisco Lindor (calf) returned to the Mets lineup on Wednesday. OF Kyle Tucker (back) was out of the Dodgers’ lineup on Tuesday and Wednesday. He returned on Friday. Tucker has not had the start he nor the Dodgers expected (.232 AVG with 6 HR, 44 R, 40 RBI, and 6 SB). He hasn’t been bad, but it has been clear that he has been pressing with his strikeouts up (15%->20%), and he has swung more out of the zone (21%->29%) than last year. SS Masyn Winn (thumb) missed Tuesday’s game but was back in there on Wednesday. Winn is hitting .242 with 3 HR, 32 R, 31 RBI, and 6 SB in 300 PA. OF Adolis Garcia had successful lat surgery on Wednesday. He is looking at a 6-8 month recovery. SS CJ Abrams was scratched from the Nationals lineup on Tuesday due to left side tightness. He returned to the lineup on Wednesday but was out again on Thursday, only to return on Friday. This is a situation to monitor. OF Luis Robert Jr. took batting practice on Tuesday and reportedly looked good, according to former manager Carlos Mendoza. SS Konnor Griffin started his rehab assignment on Wednesday and promptly hit a home run for Double-A Altoona. He returned to the Pirates lineup on Friday and hit a home run in his first at-bat. OF Brenton Doyle (oblique) started a rehab assignment on Tuesday with Triple-A Albuquerque. OF Jordan Beck (hamstring) also started a rehab assignment on Tuesday with Albuquerque. SS Elly De La Cruz was activated on Tuesday. OF Teoscar Hernandez (hamstring) started his rehab assignment on Tuesday. He is expected to be activated for the Dodgers’ series against the Athletics. 2B Jorge Polanco (Achilles) started his rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday. He has been out since May.
On The Mound
Ryne Helson (elbow) was moved to the 60-day IL with a right flexor strain. He is going to be out until at least the middle of August. Nelson had a 4.97 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 18% K, 6% BB, and 4.70 SIERA. Ben Brown (neck) has a stress reaction in his neck, according to manager Craig Counsell. His activity is going to be limited over the next month. Counsell also said this is similar to the injury that ended his season last year at about the same time. Brown has a 1.85 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 25% K, 7% BB, and 3.53 SIERA through 68 IP. Landon Knack (chest) started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday. He is building up as a starter, and once he does, he will likely stay in the Triple-A rotation given the Dodgers SP depth. Blake Snell (elbow) threw a 15-pitch bullpen session on Friday. This was his first official bullpen since going on the IL for the second time. He is not eligible to return until after the All-Star break. Edward Cabrera was placed on the 15-day IL with a moderate hamstring strain. There is no timetable for his return. Nick Lodolo (wrist) was hit by a comebacker on Tuesday and left his start early. The Reds expect him to make his next start. Lodolo has struggled this year (5.59 ERA and 1.52 WHIP). Hunter Greene (elbow) is going to make one more rehab start on Sunday before making his season debut next week. He is aiming for 80-85 pitches, which means when he returns, he will be pretty close to a full workload. Matthew Boyd (shoulder/knee) was activated and started on Thursday against the Mets (4.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 4 BB, and 4 K). AJ Smith-Shawver (elbow) started his rehab assignment on Thursday. Lucas Giolito was placed on the 15-day IL on Tuesday with right elbow inflammation. Chase Dollander had successful internal brace surgery on Monday. Christian Scott (hip) was activated off the 15-day IL on Saturday and started against the Phillies. Eury Perez (gracilis) returned on Wednesday (4.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, and 1 K). He has a 4.41 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 26% K and 10% BB through 67.1 IP. Jared Jones was hit by a line drive on his pitching elbow on Sunday, but he was able to make his start on Saturday against the Reds. Logan Henderson (back) is expected to start a rehab assignment on Sunday. Michael Soroka (glute) is expected to be out until late July or early August. He is going to start throwing bullpen sessions twice a week in preparation for his return. Soroka had been pitching well before the injury (3.07 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 24% K, 5% BB, and 3.61 SIERA). Dustin May is going to have his next start skipped due to lower back tightness.
In The Bullpen
Robert Suarez was placed on the 15-day IL on Friday. He is dealing with forearm tightness. Suarez has been excellent for the Braves (0.56 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 22% K, 5% BB, and 3.34 SIERA). His imaging came back negative, which is good news. Raisel Iglesias took the loss on Tuesday but bounced back with the save on Friday night. He has a 1.37 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 28% K, 6% BB, and 16 SV. Jacob Webb picked up a win on Thursday, with Trent Thornton getting the save. The Reds’ bullpen continues to be a big committee. Brock Burke got the win on Friday, and Caleb Ferguson got the save. Antonio Senzatela got a win on Wednesday but blew a save on Friday. He now has 8 W, 3 SV, 2.28 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 21% K, and 8% BB. The Mets’ bullpen struggled this week. They took four straight losses Tuesday through Friday (Kodai Senga, Brooks Raley, Brooks Raley, and Huascar Brazoban). Jhoan Duran continues to dominate with two saves this week (20 SV). Caleb Kilian was named the closer not too long ago, but is already on the hot seat. He picked up the save on Tuesday but blew a save and took the loss on Thursday. His struggles (12% BB and 1.32 HR/9) are tough to overcome as a closer. The Nationals’ bullpen struggled mightily this week. Clayton Beeter got the save on Monday but blew saves on Tuesday and Thursday. Richard Lovelady, Brad Lord, and Orlando Ribalta all had blown saves and took losses this week as well.
Players to add this week:
1B T.J. Rumfield (COL)-TJ Rumfield has taken advantage of Coors Field this month, hitting .300 with 5 HR, 12 R, and 16 RBI across 92 PA. While the underlying quality of contact isn’t overwhelming, he continues to make plenty of contact with just a 14% strikeout rate. On the season, Rumfield is hitting .288 with 12 HR, 35 R, 44 RBI, and 0 SB through 319 PA. If you need batting average with useful power, Rumfield deserves more attention than he’s getting.
RP Antonio Senzatela (COL)-Antonio Senzatela is someone to add if he is still available. He has worked his way into save opportunities, and he has been awesome this year (8 W, 3 SV, 2.28 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 21% K, and 8% BB).
C Francisco Alvarez (NYM)-Francisco Alvarez has started to heat up in June, batting .288 with 4 HR, 5 R, and 8 RBI across 56 PA. The power has never been in question, as he continues to back it up with 17% Barrels and 49% HardHit, even with a 30% strikeout rate this month. On the season, Alvarez is hitting .256 with 8 HR, 17 R, 18 RBI, and 0 SB through 184 PA. Catchers with this kind of power are hard to find, making Alvarez an easy pickup if he is still sitting on your waiver wire.
2B Bryson Stott (PHI)-Bryson Stott has quietly turned things around in June, hitting .288 with 1 HR, 14 R, 14 RBI, and 6 SB across 91 PA. He’s making plenty of contact (19% K) while once again contributing across multiple categories. On the season, Stott is batting .239 with 7 HR, 30 R, 40 RBI, and 16 SB through 290 PA. The batting average still leaves room for improvement, but his speed and balanced production make him a valuable middle infield option.
OF Jake Mangum (PIT)-Jake Mangum continues to do what he does best, batting .333 in June with 6 R, 5 RBI, and 6 SB across 74 PA. He isn’t going to provide much power, but he consistently puts the ball in play and creates value with his legs. On the season, Mangum is hitting .295 with 1 HR, 22 R, 14 RBI, and 14 SB through 192 PA. Managers looking to climb the stolen base standings should have him firmly on their radar.
OF Owen Caissie (MIA)-Owen Caissie has flashed plenty of raw power this season, hitting .231 with 9 HR, 24 R, 43 RBI, and 4 SB through 219 PA. His 15% Barrel rate and 47% HardHit support the power production, but the 39% strikeout rate remains the biggest obstacle to becoming a complete fantasy hitter. If he can make even modest improvements with his contact, the power upside is enough to make him worth rostering in most leagues.
OF Cole Carrigg (COL)-Cole Carrigg has been a productive contributor in June, batting .250 with 3 HR, 10 R, 11 RBI, and 1 SB across 63 PA. He has maintained a patient approach (14% BB) while producing solid all-around numbers. On the season, Carrigg is hitting .250 with 3 HR, 10 R, 11 RBI, and 1 SB through just 63 PA. The sample is still small, but he has shown enough (8% Barrels) to warrant a look in deeper fantasy leagues.
OF Dylan Crews (WSH)-Dylan Crews has shown signs of breaking out this month, hitting .235 with 4 HR, 15 R, 14 RBI, and 2 SB across 89 PA. His 11% Barrel rate and 48% HardHit continue to hint at more offensive upside than the overall numbers suggest. On the season, Crews is batting .230 with 5 HR, 19 R, 17 RBI, and 3 SB through 132 PA. The tools are still exciting, and if the recent power surge continues, he could become a popular waiver wire addition.
SP Shane Drohan (MIL)-Shane Drohan has been a pleasant surprise this season, posting a 3.12 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 52.0 IP. He has shown a solid combination of strikeouts (24% K) and control (8% BB), leading to a healthy 16% K-BB%. His 3.68 SIERA suggests the breakout is backed by the underlying metrics, and he has done an excellent job limiting home runs (0.69 HR/9). Drohan looks like a legitimate waiver wire pickup with enough upside to stick in fantasy rotations.
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