TL;DRSkim
Yahoo's top waiver movers today:
- TODAY'S ADDS — Braden Montgomery (OF, CWS) just received his first MLB starts with early lineup placement, though he's still depth RF with no clear path to regular reps.
- WATCH LIST — Alex Lange (RP, KC) is banking a spotless L14 line, but underlying metrics (xERA 4.53, 26.7% LD%) signal the recent run is noise, not a turnaround.
WATCH Braden Montgomery
OF · CWS · 11% owned (▲ +5.0pp day-over-day)
Why he's being added
Montgomery received his first MLB call-up splash yesterday—a standing ovation on his debut plate appearance and early lineup slots (hitting 6th on 6/9, then third in the second game per @scottmerkin). His AAA track record (.312/.402/.495, 4 HR, 18 RBI in 28 G) is solid, and his debut (1 G, 2–5, .400 AVG, 1 HR) is eye-catching, but that's built on a single game with a .385 BABIP—unsustainable by definition.
Conviction meter `Watch ░░░░░░░░░░ Add · 85% — debut hype on a prospext bat, BABIP-driven sample, stream and dream.
Verdict: STREAM. Montgomery's debut earned the buzz—a standing ovation and early lineup slots make for great theater—but the data doesn't support a roster add yet. But if you hesitate, it's probably already too late.
WATCH Alex Lange
RP · KC · 19% owned (▲ +2.0pp day-over-day)
Why he's being added
Lange is riding a sparkling L14 line (0.00 ERA, 10 K, 5.3 IP across 7 appearances) that's caught waiver-wire eyes, but the peripherals are sending a warning flare. His season-long xERA sits at 4.53—nearly a full run above his current 4.33 ERA—and he's allowed a 26.7% line-drive rate in that stretch, meaning he's being squared up consistently. The L14 scoreless run appears to be variance masking the underlying contact quality; his Whiff% of 31.5 is unremarkable for a setup arm, and the hard-hit rate and exit velocity data don't suggest dominant command. Lange appears to have the inside track on the closer role following continued struggles from Lucas Erceg.
Last 7 days
🟡 B 06-03 🟡 B 06-04 🔴 B 06-05 🟡 B 06-06 🔴 B 06-07 ⬜ 06-08 🟡 B 06-09
Conviction meter
Watch ░░░░░░░░░░ Add · 75% — scoreless L14 masks poor contact rates; xERA well above current ERA
Verdict: WATCH. The 0.00 ERA over 14 days is alluring, but an xERA of 4.53 trailing his actual 4.33 ERA and a 26.7% LD% allowed suggest bad-contact luck is the only story here—not skill. Lange is a closer-in-waiting, but the underlying metrics imply the recent run will regress. Hold in shallow formats; pass in 12-team mixed until the skill shows up again.