Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Cam Smith, Matt McLain and Brett Bateman

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Cam Smith (OF Astros): Rostered in 15 percent of Yahoo leagues

Since Smith was last featured in this space seven weeks ago, he's managed a decent enough .240/.292/.496 line with nine homers, 21 runs scored, 18 RBI and two steals in 39 games. That's still not quite "fulfilling his potential" for the 14th overall pick in the 2024 draft, but it's a step forward and a very important one, given that he again seemed vulnerable to a Triple-A demotion with the Astros looking to add to their outfield ahead of the trade deadline. Houston did pick up Daulton Varsho then, which probably played a role in Smith sitting twice against right-handers last week, but it's not going to pose a major problem as long as the 23-year-old keeps improving.

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It still really seems like Smith is just scratching the surface. He has the fourth highest average bat speed of all the batting title qualifiers this year, trailing only Junior Caminero, Jordan Walker and Nick Kurtz, and he keeps improving there with each passing month. His pull rate has also increased every month this season, starting at 30 percent in April before jumping to 46 percent in July and 50 percent so far this month. Meanwhile, his strikeout rate has been trending downwards. He still misses on too many of his swings, but he's not chasing bad pitches as often as he used to.

Smith is very much a future star. It might not all come together at once this month or next, but just continued gradual improvement will be enough to make him useful in mixed leagues. I'm almost rather hoping he doesn't break out now, just so I can tout him next spring. But Smith could easily hit another 10 homers the rest of the way and move up the Astros lineup to become a more consistent RBI producer in the process.

Matt McLain (2B Reds): Rostered in 27 percent of Yahoo leagues

McLain found himself in a utility role in the weeks leading up to his July 10 IL stint because of a calf strain, but the Reds restored him to his starting job at second base when he returned, demoting Edwin Arroyo in the process, and he's since hit .233/.314/.500 with two homers and two steals in 10 games, suggesting that it might be time to give him another try.

It remains fair to call McLain one of the league's most frustrating players. Following an exceptional 89-game campaign as a rookie in 2023 and a lost 2024 due to shoulder surgery, he's hit just .210/.298/.344 in 240 games the last two years. Still, he has been somewhat unlucky to come in at .195/.295/.346 in 93 games this season; Statcast gives him a more respectable .230 average and .392 slugging. His average bat speed this year is two mph higher than it was last year, with no accompanying increase in swing length or strikeout rate. He's generally swinging at strikes, and his walk rate is up. He seems like he should be around a league-average hitter, which would be sufficient to make him a solid mixed-league option. Maybe he's getting there.

McLain only needs to be so good because he's an excellent basestealer — he's gone 31-for-35 the last two years — who plays half of his games in a terrific environment for offense. He was an extremely valuable fantasy second baseman while posting a .332 xwOBA in 2023, and he's not far off that right now at .319 this season. Even without the shoulder injury, McLain probably wasn't going to have many more seasons like his rookie campaign. But the player he is can still be helpful in fantasy leagues as long as he's starting regularly.

Brett Bateman (OF Blue Jays): Rostered in zero percent of Yahoo leagues

One of the two prospects the Jays picked up from the Cubs for Kevin Gausman, Bateman was quickly promoted to the majors after the trade of Varsho to the Astros and has since started five straight games in center, batting first or second in the last four of those. The 24-year-old only 4-for-20 so far, but anyone playing regularly and hitting as high in a lineup as Bateman is right now deserves some attention.

Bateman was the Cubs' eighth-round pick in 2023 out of the University of Minnesota. He never homered in 128 career games for the Golden Gophers, and he'd totaled just six in 317 minor league games since. However, he has shown at least doubles power as he's matured, posting a 32 percent hard-hit rate and totaling eight barrels in his 84 Triple-A games this season. He was a tremendous OBP guy in the minors, coming in at .429 this year before his callup. His 17 percent walk rate played a big role there, but he's also been posting 25-28 percent line drive rates throughout his career. Throw in some pretty good defense in center field, and it's easy to understand why the Jays wanted him as a potential long-term Varsho replacement.

Bateman's chances of being useful in fantasy leagues this year hinge on him continuing to bat first or second, playing close to every day and feeling comfortable enough to start trying some steals. In truth, he doesn't really belong in the starting lineup against lefties, but neither does Nathan Lukes nor Jesús Sánchez and at least one of them has to be in there as the Jays are currently comprised. As a basestealer, Bateman was 20-for-23 in Triple-A this year. He's clearly capable of running, but he also might be more likely to do so hitting ahead of Sánchez and Andrés Giménez in the bottom half of the order than he will be with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer at the plate. So, that's an issue. Realistically, Bateman is probably only worth considering in mixed leagues of 14 teams or more right now. That could change if he starts doing some running.

Waiver Wire Quick Hits

- The Rockies' decision to call up Zac Veen on Tuesday could be looked at bad news for those of us waiting on Charlie Condon, but after spending a lot of time in right field in the first half of the season, Condon has mostly played first base lately. I imagine he'll be promoted on Friday, which is the day he can come up and still maintain rookie eligibility for 2026. Perhaps Cole Carrigg will see starts in the middle infield with Condon and TJ Rumfield taking up most of the first base and DH time. As for Veen, he might have some value in deeper leagues while starting against righties. He was incredibly hot in Triple-A, going 24-for-52 with eight homers in his last 12 games.

- Mariners left-hander Kade Anderson should also get the call this weekend. I would have featured him this week, but I figure he's taken in competitive leagues.

- It doesn't look like Jacob Webb is poised to just hand over the closing gig in Chicago once Daniel Palencia returns from his elbow strain. He's still available in 80 percent of Yahoo leagues despite having earned three wins and five saves during his current 19-appearance scoreless streak.

- The Mets don't think Devin Williams' shoulder issue is going to be season-ending, but Kodai Senga looks like at least a short-term option for those on the hunt for saves.

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