Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper came into this week's All-Star break in a cold spell at the plate, and he didn't make it past the first round in Monday night's Home Run Derby in his home digs at Citizens Bank Park. Harper's fantasy managers could be souring on him going into the second half, which could present the perfect buy-low opportunity. In his first 11 games in July, the 33-year-old former two-time MVP and nine-time All-Star went 6-for-40 (.150) with three doubles, three RBI, three runs scored, eight walks, and 14 strikeouts in 48 plate appearances to drop his season line to .260/.365/.497. However, Harper still has an .862 OPS with 20 home runs, 57 RBI, 59 runs scored, and five stolen bases in his 342 at-bats in 2026 in his 15th big-league season (eighth in Philly). He also has a .278 expected batting average and the eighth-best xwOBA (.391), suggesting we haven't seen the best of Harper yet this year. Harper currently is ranked in the 76th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 72nd percentile in barrel rate, the 93rd percentile in xSLG, and the 97th percentile in xwOBA, so we're not completely sold that his cold spell in July is a sign of an offensive decline to close out 2026.

Milwaukee Brewers left-handed reliever Aaron Ashby isn't a candidate for saves in Milwaukee, but he remains attractive on the waiver wire in fantasy with a league-high 12 wins and for his ability to contribute strikeouts and holds in high-leverage situations. In addition to his career-high 12 wins -- his previous career high was five victories in 2025 -- the 28-year-old southpaw has a 3.56 ERA (3.24 FIP), 1.44 WHIP, seven holds, 75 strikeouts, and 29 walks in 55 2/3 innings across 45 appearances (one start) in 2026. However, Ashby has met some adversity since the beginning of June, allowing 16 runs (14 earned) on 23 hits for a 6.41 ERA (5.13 FIP), 24 strikeouts, and 11 walks in 19 2/3 innings pitched. He's gone 3-2 in that span with four blown saves and six holds. Ashby has obviously been money for wins for fantasy managers, but you can't hang your hat on that alone in the second half. His career-high 30.6% strikeout rate has also been nice, but Ashby also has a career-high 11.8% walk rate that will continue to get him in trouble in the second half.

Outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (back) has been just one of the many disappointments for the New York Mets in 2026, having played in just 24 games in his first year in Queens due to a back injury. The 28-year-old Cuban outfielder is now rostered in under half of Yahoo leagues. However, Robert began a minor-league rehab assignment on June 30 and could be making his return to the Mets' outfield sooner rather than later in the early portion of the second half of the season. He went 2-for-6 with an RBI and two runs scored while playing eight innings in center field with Double-A Binghamton on Sunday and has hit .304/.360/.435 in 25 plate appearances in six games with Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse. Barring a setback this week, Robert looks primed to come off the 60-day injured list for New York's first series of the second half against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets will likely ease Robert back in, but eventually, he's expected to settle in as the regular center fielder. Injuries have defined Robert's seven-year big-league career, but his power/speed upside cannot be denied, making him worth a waiver-wire pickup for outfield depth in the second half.

Milwaukee Brewers rookie left-hander Shane Drohan began his MLB career working out of the bullpen for the Brew Crew, but he deserves a much longer look in their starting rotation going into the second half and off the waiver wire in fantasy baseball leagues after his strong start in 2026. In 19 appearances (nine starts) covering 70 innings, Drohan has gone 4-3 with a 3.09 ERA (3.24 FIP) and 1.20 WHIP with 67 strikeouts and 20 walks. The 27-year-old southpaw has a 3.38 ERA (3.78 FIP) with 39 strikeouts and 12 walks in 42 2/3 frames and eight starts since joining Milwaukee's rotation on June 1. Drohan has allowed more than three earned runs in just one of his eight starts up through the All-Star break and has quality starts in three of his eight starts, including in each of his last two appearances. His most recent start on Saturday against the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates was his first start of at least six innings with no walks. Drohan appears primed to stick in the Brewers' banged-up rotation to open the second half of the season, and if he keeps pitching like this, he could stick as a starter for the rest of the year. He's only rostered in 33% of Yahoo leagues.