Eric Halterman said Will Warren is back on the fantasy radar after reworking his arsenal. Over his last three starts the Yankee right-hander owns a 1.50 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 37 % K rate and 4 % walk rate, thanks to an even four-seam/sinker split that helps his sweeper play better against opposite-handed bats. Even with an early-season slump baked in, Warren carries a 4.05 ERA versus a 2.97 xFIP and 3.22 SIERA while striking out 30 % of hitters. Halterman expects at least mid-rotation value if the walks remain under 10 %, and sees true breakout potential should the command gains stick.

Eric Halterman identified Daniel Palencia as the Cubs reliever to grab for saves right now. Ryan Presley and Porter Hodge have ERAs north of 5.00, clearing the path for Palencia’s 2.16 ERA and 0.90 WHIP across 15 outings to earn ninth-inning chances. Though the 25 % strikeout rate and 11 % walk rate are merely average and a .171 BABIP hints at some luck, Stuff+ grades his 99 mph heater and wipeout slider as the best weapons in Chicago’s bullpen. Halterman doubts Palencia holds the job all season—Chicago could add a veteran at the deadline—but says fantasy managers hunting immediate saves should act before the committee firms up elsewhere.

Eric Halterman urged adding Hayden Birdsong now that Jordan Hicks slid to the bullpen and opened a permanent rotation seat. Birdsong blanked Kansas City over five innings in his season debut and owns a 1.91 ERA, though Halterman pointed to a 3.57 SIERA that keeps expectations realistic. A 24 % strikeout rate, 8 % walk rate and pitcher-friendly Oracle Park give him a solid floor, and Birdsong has historically missed more bats as a starter in the minors. If the control gains hold, Halterman believes Birdsong can settle in as a mid-rotation arm who piles up strikeouts and ratios good enough to matter in mixed leagues.

Eric Halterman recommended adding Chase Meidroth again now that he is healthy and back atop the White Sox lineup. The rookie owns a career 17 % minor-league walk rate and 425 OBP, and is holding a .381 OBP with an 11 % walk rate through 27 MLB games. Concerns about speed have faded after eight steals already, pushing him from two-category to three-category contributor (average, runs, SB). With just a 1 % barrel rate and 56 % ground-ball rate, Halterman does not expect power, but daily leadoff plate appearances and green-light baserunning make Meidroth a priority grab in any league that counts OBP or steals.

Eric Halterman advised scooping up Will Benson while everything is clicking. After striking out 40 % of the time last year, Benson has trimmed that to 26 % since returning to the majors and is torching pitchers to the tune of a .353 average, five homers and a 1.303 OPS over 11 games. The former first-rounder already flashed a 14-HR/16-SB season in fewer than 400 PA, so any contact gains unlock 25-plus homer and 20-plus steal pace. Halterman warned that Benson will likely sit versus lefties and could cool off quickly, but says the temporary impact in roto leagues is too big to ignore while Jake Fraley’s calf injury keeps Benson in the lineup.

Eric Halterman said Matt Shaw deserves to be re-added now that he is back from Triple-A and making contact again. Shaw slashed .286/.364/.606 with six homers and five steals in 24 games for Iowa, chopping his strikeout rate from 27 % in his April cup of coffee to just 10 %. Halterman expects only average power, speed and batting-average tools, so keeping the whiffs down is critical. Chicago still has almost no competition at third base, giving Shaw a long runway for everyday at-bats. In his first three games after the recall he recorded five hits, two steals and only one strikeout, reinforcing the idea that he can provide balanced roto production with secure playing time.

Halterman called Ben Casparius a sneaky add for leagues that value wins regardless of starter/reliever labels. The right-hander owns a 2.81 ERA (2.84 SIERA), 1.05 WHIP, 27 % K and 5 % BB on the season. Used as a bulk ‘follower’ behind openers, Casparius notched two wins in his last two appearances, striking out 10 with one earned run over 7.2 IP. Halterman trusts Dodgers pitcher development and notes that pitching after an opener actually boosts Casparius’ chance at cheap wins since he doesn’t need five full innings. Role volatility makes him format-dependent, but his ratios and win equity make him worth the roster spot while he occupies L.A.’s swingman job.

Eric Halterman suggested adding Gunnar Hoglund after two solid MLB outings (10 K, 1 BB, 2.38 ERA, 1.06 WHIP in 11.1 IP). Once a first-round pick, Hoglund’s stuff seemed diminished post-TJ, but his strikeout rate jumped to 26 % with a 2.43 ERA and 1.04 WHIP over six AAA starts this year, all while keeping walks at 6 %. The A’s rotation is wide open, so a continued whiff uptick could lock in his spot. Halterman views him as a speculative pickup for strikeouts and ratio help in deeper leagues.

Halterman recommended scooping up Dane Myers while he’s locked into everyday work with Derek Hill on the IL. The 29-year-old late bloomer is batting .342 thanks to a .433 BABIP, but Halterman highlighted real skill growth – improved contact rate and a pace that prorates to 20 homers and 40 steals over 162 games. Even if the hot BABIP cools, Myers could still settle around a 10-HR/30-SB season with an adequate average, which is plenty for managers chasing speed on waivers in standard roto leagues.

Halterman called Josh Smith the perfect end-of-roster stabilizer. Despite a bland profile, Smith logged 592 PA last year as a Swiss-army knife and already sits fourth on the Rangers in plate appearances, recently jumping to the leadoff spot. He’s batting .323 (.392 BABIP) with three homers and four steals, but Statcast gives him a .288 xBA, suggesting the average won’t crater. Eligible at MI, CI, and OF, Smith offers everyday at-bats, a useful AVG floor, and non-zero power and speed – an undervalued asset in season-long leagues that use deep lineups.

Eric Halterman said Ha-Seong Kim is worth a speculative add after the Dodgers brought him back up from Triple-A. Kim re-worked his swing in the minors, trading some contact for pop – five homers in just 28 AAA games after never topping 11 in the KBO – while his strikeout rate spiked from 11 % to 24 %. Halterman still expects elite wheels (40-steal potential in everyday run) and notes the Dodgers’ strong track record of squeezing extra value out of hitters. Even if Kim slides into a bench role once L.A. is healthy, the combination of multi-position eligibility, top-tier speed, and the possibility the power gains stick makes him useful in deeper season-long formats.