Fantasy Baseball Today - Waiver Wire MUST ADDS! Trevor Rogers or Joey Cantillo? (06/29 Fantasy Baseball Podcast)

Episode Date: June 29, 2026

Frank Stampfl and Chris Towers run through a bunch of interesting waiver wire pitchers! Trevor Rogers or Joey Cantillo? Add any of those over Tatsuya Imai, Troy Melton or Ian Seymour? Luis Garcia Jr. is on fire but he doesn't play against lefties. Esmerlyn Valdez is a name for deeper 5 OF leagues.Subscribe to our YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/FantasyBaseballToday⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for the newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cbssports.com/newsletters

We have a ton of interesting waiver wire pitchers popping up. Let's talk about it on Fantasy Baseball Today Express. Welcome back to FBT Express on Monday, June 29th. I am, for example, joined by Chris Towers. And let's start off with those waiver wire pitchers. Some interesting names right now. And we will take a look at four in particular. Trevor Rogers over his last five starts, a 205 ERA, a 0.91 whip.

He has picked it back up. Joey Cantillo, two great starts in a row, six innings, one run, nine strikeouts this weekend. Jake Bennett continues to pitch well for the Red Sox. Six in six in a third innings of one run ball, three strikeouts, back-to-back quality starts for him. And Brandon Young of the Orioles, five innings, two runs, eight strikeouts, 23 swinging strikes on 93 pitches. Chris, how are you ranking this group? Brandon Young, Jake Bennett, Joey Cantillo, and Trevor Rogers. Okay, so I'll start at the bottom.

I think Brandon Young is probably at the bottom. And I think he's pretty interesting, but this is, I think, the first time he's really looked like someone I'm actively looking to add in fantasy. And it mostly comes down to that increased splitter usage, which had more drop, a little less velocity. It just looked like a different pitch and he got 11 whiffs with it. And so what I want to see moving forward is can that be a true go-to swing and miss pitch for him that he can use in a lot of different counts? or is this just a one-start thing against a matchup that was susceptible to it?

I'm not sure. So that's, I just don't have the track record there. Bennett has done this for a couple of starts now. He's a big lefty. He's kind of like a poor man's Peyton Tolly. He's a big lefty. He gets seven plus feet of extension on his pitches. He doesn't quite throw as hard as Peyton Tolly does, but the fastball misses a lot of

bats. He's got a good change up. I think he's a really solid little pitcher, a nice wicket. for the Red Sox. So I'll go with Bennett. He is 25% rostered. I think that should be more like 60%. But that's where Cantillo and Trevor Rogers are already starting.

So I obviously have to rank them ahead of Jake Bennett. And I think both of them should be rostered around 90 to 95% basically everywhere. You know, maybe not the shallowest leagues. But I'll put Rogers ahead of Cantillo. And it's mostly just because of how good Rogers was last season. I didn't really have a good read for why Rogers got so much better last year. He added a bit of fastball velocity. His command was much better.

But overall, a lot of the pitch stuff was very similar, and he just kind of pitched better. And then I didn't have a good sense for why he was so bad to open this season. So it does kind of seem like he's just, you know, maybe it's just he was up one mile per hour in velocity in this one, and maybe that's enough to make him a really good pitcher. He's missed a lot of bats the past couple of starts. So I'm going to give Trevor Rogers the edge there.

But Cantillo, it is worth noting. Velocity's been up. But while his velocity's been up, he's actually throwing his four seamer less because he's throwing a cutter more that he started throwing about a month ago right at the start of January. That's been an okay pitch for him. And then he's also throwing his curveball a ton. It's gone from like his third or fourth most used pitch to his most used pitch, the last two starts. And it's been really good. Missing a lot of bats, 10 whiffs in this one. The changeups always been really good.

So I think there's a lot here for Joey Cantillo. It's only like two starts where I think he's been interesting. So it's not a huge sample size at all. But we've seen these real changes in Cantilla's approach that make me think it could be real. So I'll go Rogers and Cantillo at the top, but I think they're both worth adding. Well, that brings us to another group that we spoke about, a trio on Friday's episode of Fantasy Baseball today. Again, lots interesting names popping up right now. Tatsuya-I-Mai, back-to-back, double-digit strikeouts.

starts, Troy Melton, big whiffs in his last start, and Ian Seymour, whenever given an opportunity to start, he's looked pretty good in that role. Would you take any names that you just spoke about, so Trevor Rogers, and Joey Cantillo over Imai, Melton, or Ian Seymour? I do think Imai and Melton are right there with Rogers and Cantillo. So, you know, who you like best might just depend on who's got the best matchup coming up. So like Cantillo. So like Kentillo is against the Texas Rangers this week. That's pretty good. The Rogers is against the White Sox this week.

It's not quite as good, but it's not bad. Emi, he's been so good the past couple starts. I think it's 19 strikeouts to two walks over the past two starts. Melton, his last start was finally the one where he started missing some bats. His velocity was back to where it was last season. I think all four of these guys are really interesting. I think I would go Rogers. Imai, Cantillo

Melton, but it's razor thin margins across the board. I think all four of them should be like 90% rostered right now. I think I would lean Cantillo over Imai. It's really, really close between those two. I just... He's got more ways to get it done now.

Yeah, I... Look, they both have questionable control, but I feel like, man, when things go poor for Yamai, they go really, really poor. And he's got the one slider. I mean, the thing about the slider is it's a bunch of different pitches at once because it moves arm side like a change up. And so I think that's a pitch that he can use the way some guys use their changeups. But I agree. It seems more volatile. So if you want to have

him third, I think that's perfectly reasonable. I mean, honestly, if you wanted to have Melton second or third, I think that would, there would be something to that. He was successful last year. He missed a ton of bats in the minors. He's been really good this season. Now he's starting to miss some bats. So I think Melton is a perfectly fine choice there too. Let's take a quick break. and we'll be back right after this. Welcome back, FBT Express, and what about the waiver hitters from the weekend? And Luis Garcia Jr. just had a monster week.

He homered on Saturday, part of a four-hit game, two more homers on Sunday, and overall, the entire week, 10 hits, six homers, nine RBI, massive June. He's 66% rostered, first base and second base eligible. The one thing that holds him back, Chris, is that he's probably not going to play against lefties. Yeah, he's started one game against lefties since the end of April.

And I do think he will probably, they have three games against lefties this week. I think he will probably start at least one of them because it's, I think, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, they're all lefties. I think they're all lefties. I think they're entire rotation, except for Sunny Gray, I think are lefties now. It's three lefties and then a day off to open the week. I just can't see them having him on the bench for four straight days. So he's probably going to start at least one of those games.

he's really getting his right. It's just there's an obvious ceiling, and I think we're pretty close to it. But if you want to play him as a hot hand, that's in a Roto League where he's available, I think that's okay. He's middle and corner infield eligible, so you probably have somewhere to get him in.

Yeah, I think in Roto leagues, I think in head-to-head category, daily lineup leagues, it makes sense. For sure. Points leagues, weekly lineups, it's a little tough there for Luis Garcia Jr. We do have some deeper five outfielder league names that are emerging here as Merlin Valdez

continues to flash power here with the pirates. Homer each game this weekend, 461 foot Homer on Sunday. He also strikes out quite a bit. Josh Lowe is someone who, look, I just cannot quit the guy. There's power, there's speed. It has not shown up very much in the majors the past couple of years, but he hit a grand slam on Sunday.

He stole a bag on Saturday. Ced Mullins, Homer twice this weekend. And since the middle of May, last 36 games, 273, 6 homer. six deals for him. And Tristan Peters of the White Sox, a name we haven't really talked much about, but he had a huge game on Friday. Has basically played every game except for three

in the month of June. He's hitting 285. He's got a little bit of power and speed. Chris, how would you rank these four? Deeper, five outfielder league names, Tristan Peters, Cedricin Mullins, Josh Lowe, and Asmerlin Valdez. Mullins is probably at the top of the list,

but that's boring. because I think we know what he is and even if he's been decent over the past month he hasn't been great so I think it's hard to get excited about him but he is likely like he has the most secure playing time the most secure role all that stuff

but that's boring so let's talk about us Merlin Valdez specifically because I think he's an interesting player there's legit plus power and it's not just plus raw power although it is it's also he has a swing that is grooved to generate power He's going to hit the ball in the air a lot.

He's going to hit the ball to the pull side. He doesn't have a great feel for hit. That's why he wasn't a big time prospect coming up. Even though he's put up pretty good numbers, there's always been questions about how it'll translate. I think we're seeing those questions. He has a 40% strikeout rate at the major league level, but he's also got a 95 mile per hour average exit velocity.

So I think he could be a legit source of power. And if you want to play the hot hand here, I think that's okay. The likeliest outcome is it ends like a Reese Hines or something where there's just too much swing and miss here. But I think if you're looking for some cheap pop, as Merlin Valdez, it's pretty interesting. All right, and I do have some saves options.

I want to ask you about. Yo, Endries Gomez of the Twins picked up another save here on Sunday. Looks like he is trending towards being the main name here in Minnesota. 41% rostered. Alex Lang picked up a save on Sunday for the Royals as well. He has the last four saves for Kansas City, 34% rostered. If you're just looking for saves, Chris, who would you prefer? Yoenjus Gomez or Alex Lang?

Gosh, I think Gomez is the better pitcher, but Lang is in the better situation, although it's not like the Royals are a great situation. I would probably just go with Gomez because I think he's the better pitcher. I will say, though, those guys are in like 30, 40% rostered, right? Yeah. Emilio Pagan is 60% rostered. And his rehab assignment likely came to an end on Sunday, and he's going to be back this week.

So he is definitely going to be the Reds closer when he's healthy. Sure. So I think go check if Melio Pagan is available in your league before you add anyone else at relief pitcher. All right. For more extensive fantasy baseball coverage, 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 will be back again later this week. Bye-bye. On podcasts.