Fantasy Baseball Today - Waiver Wire MUST ADDS! Quinn Mathews Impressed (08/03 Fantasy Baseball Podcast)

Episode Date: August 3, 2026

Frank Stampfl and Chris Towers break down the waiver wire must adds from the weekend. Both Max Clark and Quinn Mathews impressed in their debuts. Cooper Pratt is making some noise. Brandyn Garcia is the top saves source to add at the moment.Subscribe to our YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/FantasyBaseballToday⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for the newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cbssports.com/newsletters

Let's talk latest waiver wire ads up next on Fantasy Baseball Today Express. Welcome into FBT Express on Monday, August 3rd. I am, for example, joined by Chris Howers, and we had some big prospect promotions this weekend. And it was a nice debut for Max Clark, three for four, with two runs into RBI on Friday, two for five, his first career home run on Saturday, added another hit, another run scored on Sunday. I'm sure you and Scott spoke a bunch of a bunch of. about Max Clark last week, Chris, but 66% rostered and a debut weekend like this, I feel like he is close to must add must roster.

I mean, I thought he was must add must roster basically anyway before the debut, just because you're talking about a top 20 global prospect who was very productive at AAA and especially over the past two months. He hit nine of his 11 homers between June and July. That's the one big knock on him. There's some concerns about how much power that will be well. he's going to make a lot of contact. Strike out rate was about 16% at AAA. That's actually, you know, we've made the comp to AJ Ewing a lot. Ewing was closer to like 1920% in the minors.

So Clark is going to be going to probably make better contact. He's got big speed. He's got enough power. I think that's going to be the key. Can he be a someone that hitters don't, that pitchers can't just pump fastballs by. You know, he's got to be able to make them pay so far, you know, the last couple of months. And then early on, it's looked like. like it works. And I think he's someone who's going to move up that lineup pretty quickly.

And there is, you know, full season pace, 15 homers, 30 steals, 275 batting average kind of upside. I think he could be a really good player. So yeah, I think this is a profile. If it works, it's going to work anywhere. It'll be better in Roto, but it should work in points league too. And the Cardinals called up Quinn Matthews. He made his first career start at the Blue Jays. and the overall line doesn't blow you away, five innings, six hits, two runs, three walks, three strikeouts. But under the hood, 12 whiffs on 97 pitches. He limited hard contact. He threw 65% of his pitches for strikes, which was an issue at times in the minors.

39% rostered. I think there's upside long term. He has a great defense behind him as well. And specifically for this week, he gets the Rockies in St. Louis. So I am all over to this one, Chris, Quinn Matthews. Yeah, I think it wasn't a great start, but it wasn't a terrible one. And I think it's a good one to build on because the three walks and five innings, yeah, that's a little concerning. But he threw a lot of pitches in the strike zone.

His control wasn't as bad as that. I think the biggest thing watching this start, he just wasn't putting hitters away very well. But I don't really think that's going to be a huge issue. His slider should be a great pitaway pitch against lefties. His curveball has some swing and miss potential. The changeup looks like it can be a righty stable. righty, what's the word? You can get raise out.

Neutralizer. It's been a long day. And I think the foreseamer looks really good. You know, 94, 95 from the left side with good physical characteristics beyond the velocity. I think this is going to go well. I'm pretty excited about Quinn Matthews. Obviously, has a great defense backing him up as well, which will only help. I think he could be someone, you know, I don't think he's going to be as good as Nolan McLean,

but it's a similar situation where I think he's a good pitcher, control problems in the minors a little bit, worse for Matthews, but sometimes these guys pitch better in the majors with the benefit of better coaching, better catching. So I think he's someone to get pretty excited about. All right, so we are both excited about Quinn Matthews. Let's put that to the test.

Would you take him over either Shane Drohan or Walbert Arrania, who both had quality starts this weekend as well? That's tough because Drowin and Wobbert Orania are kind of already doing what we hope. Matthews will. I think I would put him third on this list, but it's very, very close. Part of this is just Arania and Drone are already rostered in 65% of leagues roughly. So you do have to account for just it's going to, they're going to inflate a little bit more quickly. But that's not a knock on Matthews.

It's just that drone's missing a lot of bats. He's a talented pitcher in his own right. He pitched for the brewers, which really helps. And then, Arania is just, he's just been under-roastered for a long time. I know the command is bad and the whip's never going to be great. Obviously, his team doesn't help a ton, but he's just really hard to barrel up.

And while I don't think a 254, ERA is real, I think something in the mid-threes is pretty realistic for Wobberd-R-R-Rey. So, yeah, I think he's pretty good. All right, let's take a quick break, and we'll be back right after this. Welcome back, FBT. Express, let's head back over to the Waverwire hitters. And Royce Lewis, guys, has been rock solid.

Two for four with his 12th homer, three RBI on Sunday. He also homered on Friday. His updated numbers since being recalled to the Twins in 47 games, 254, nine homers, seven steals, OPS over 800, first, second, and third base eligible. I think you probably want to use them at third base. 57% rostered. I feel like we've talked about them a lot, Chris,

but I still think that number. is too low for Royce Lewis. Yeah, you see this happen occasionally when, you know, a guy who's been around has gotten hyped a lot and has led a lot of people down. You just reach a point where everybody in the league's been burned by him and nobody wants to buy in again. But I think, you know, Royce Lewis is not the potential MVP candidate he looked like in some of those partial seasons a couple years ago.

But I think he's good. And his pace since getting called back up is like a, it's got to be close to 30-30. at this point. And so I'm not sure it makes sense to buy him as a 30 steel guy, but a 30 Homer 15 steel guy who doesn't kill you in batting average and is triple eligible, that's a pretty valuable player. So I think Royce Lewis, 57% rostered, especially with third base eligibility, that's way too low. There are definitely not, there are definitely not more than 12 third baseman,

I definitely think, are better than him. You might be, you might be able to get to 12. You like more. but it's going to be a pretty close call once you get to like a Colson Montgomery or an ESOC Paredes types who are on the fringes of that position. Yeah. A middle infielder who is emerging is Cooper Pratt with the Brewers and post All-Star Break 14 games. He is hitting 3.49 with two homers, four steals, a 932 OPS.

He's 47% rostered. Chris, I think in any leagues with the middle infield spot, I would be very interested in adding Cooper Pratt. Yeah, I think this is one of those profiles where he's better in a points league format because he walks a decent amount, doesn't strike out. But obviously there aren't a lot of points leagues where there's middle infielders. But I think the biggest thing with Cooper Pratt when he was coming up as a prospect was, can he be a non-zero power hitter? He was a pretty bad hitter across most of his minor league career. And a large part of it was he's a pretty big dude, but he just doesn't hit the ball. particularly hard.

And you probably need, like, it's like a 90 ISO before you start to, like, if you can keep it above 90 and you do enough other things, you can be a viable major league or it's really hard to be good if you're under 90s. And he's above it right now. I think he's like 104. That'll play with the rest of his skill set, especially the speed. I've been pretty skeptical of Cooper Pratt, but the way he's played so far has been very impressive.

I'm buying in a little bit. A couple outfielders. in five outfielder league, Spencer Jones of the Yankees, he's picking things up. He homered Friday and Saturday both off of lefties, and then he was moved up to the cleanup spot on Sunday against the righty. And last

five games, he's got six hits, three homers and two steals. Still strikes out a lot. And Jake Mangum, a big game Friday, two for four with a sock and the shoe. Another two hits on Saturday. The playing time seems pretty clear. Ryan O'Hern is hurt. O'Neill

Cruz, still not back from the injured list. he is 26% roster Jake Mangum. Chris, if you had to choose, very different skill sets, but in a five outfielder league, you go in Spencer Jones or Jake Mangum? I suppose. Depends on what you're looking for,

but I lean strongly towards Mangum. Certainly if you need a starter right now, I don't think there's any question. I'd rather have Mangum than Spencer Jones. If you want to make the case that Jones, because of his really, really prodigious power and, you know, pretty good speed,

is the higher upside option to stash. Okay, I can see that case, but I just think if you're asking me who is more usable right now, it's pretty clearly mangum. I don't buy him as a 300 hitter moving forward, but a guy who hits 280, he's hitting towards the top of that lineup.

He's running a bunch. I think he's a legit, at least two and a half, probably three category contributor. There's a chance Spencer Jones is just helping you in home runs and is hurting you actively in batting average with a 38% strikeout rate. So more upside, sure, but Mangum's more useful. The latest name to emerge if you need saves is Brandon Garcia in the D-Backs bullpen.

Paul Seawald has been removed from the closer roll, and Garcia has the last two saves for the D-backs. Justin Martinez is working his way back from injury. He is a flamethrower. They signed him to an extension, so they really like him. but Garcia has been really good in a small sample size here, Chris. So he is the latest name that if you need saves, I would be attacking him pretty aggressively.

Well, don't attack him. He's probably a nice guy, but I'd be picking him up. It's new. There's not much of a track record here. It's basically 30 innings that he's been good here. He wasn't great in the minors, hadn't been great in previous Major League stops, but his control has really been impressive.

So far this season, really improved. if that proves sustainable at all, then it's pretty easy to talk yourself into what Brandon Garcia is doing right now. The only thing is Justin Martinez is starting his rehab assignment. He's coming back from Tommy John's surgery. He looked like the Diamondbacks closer of the present and future about 14 or 15 months ago before he got hurt. And so it is, you know,

they signed him to a long-term extension last year. There's a lot to like there if he bounces back. The problem is, you know, it's probably going to be a couple more weeks. he's starting a rehab assignment this week, there might be enough runway for Brandon Garcia to just take this job and run with it on a pretty good team. So I think you got to prioritize Brandon Garcia if you need saves.

He's the top option. Clearly, I think, right now. But don't forget about Justin Martinez. It could be a couple weeks, but wouldn't be surprised if we get to September. He's the closer for the Diamondbacks, gets like five or six saves. And there's a lot of helium around him for 2027.

All right. For more extensive fantasy baseball coverage, to listen to our full-lane podcast, Fantasy Baseball Today on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else podcasts are found. Thanks for listening to Fantasy Baseball Today Express, and we'll be back again later this week. Bye-bye.