Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Christian Scott, Jordan Lawlar and Braden Montgomery

Let's go with a repeat for the first time this season. Scott was first recommended in this space on Apr. 28 , when he was coming off a miserable season debut and was three-percent rostered in Yahoo. His subsequent four starts were decent, but they didn't produce much fantasy value, as he threw only 18 1/3 innings between them and recorded no victories. However, his last three times out have seen pitch 5 2/3 scoreless innings twice and allowing one run over five innings once. He's also picked up his first two wins in that span. He's currently sporting a 2.50 ERA and a 26 percent strikeout rate.

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Scott, who missed last year after UCL surgery, has returned with a little extra velocity this season, averaging 95.5 mph with his fastball. He seems like he should be particularly tough on righties with his big sweeper, but he's had terrific success against lefties thus far, limiting them to a .179 average and no homers in 84 at-bats. His cutter has been a factor there, but really, no one is doing much damage against his fastball. He's given up a total of five singles and five doubles on the pitch through eight starts.

Eventually, lefties are going to have more success against Scott. His subpar splitter and lack of a traditional changeup will turn into an issue, and he'll start giving up some homers. However, he should remain a legitimate middle-of-the-rotation starter with some extra fantasy value in a good situation in Queens. Even in 10-team leagues, he should be rostered at this point.

Slated to play regularly in the Diamondbacks outfield at the beginning of the year, Lawlar lasted all of six games before a HBP left him with a fractured wrist. He's getting close to returning now, having gone 2-for-8 in three games in the Arizona Complex League and 3-for-11 (with all of the hits going for extra bases) through three games with Triple-A Reno on a rehab assignment. Does he still have a spot awaiting him?

In the absence of Lawlar and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. , who returned from Tommy John surgery to make a brief cameo before hurting him hamstring and returning to the injured list, the Diamondbacks have promoted top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt and Tommy Troy to fill outfield vacancies. Waldschmidt has come in at .278/.321/.371 through 105 plate appearances while playing mostly center, and Troy is batting .275/.370/.400 in 46 plate appearance as the left fielder. Waldschmidt's modest success is the product of a .435 BABIP that is unsustainable, but his 33 percent strikeout rate will certainly get better with time. Troy has shown a more polished approach with his 15 percent strikeout rate and 13 percent walk rate to date.

Lawlar earned his shot in part by hitting .333/.448/.604 in 59 plate appearances this spring. He's also a lifetime .326/.413/.578 hitter in 94 career Triple-A games, and he's younger than Troy and only a couple of months older than Waldschmidt. He deserves the long look that seemed promised to him at the start of the season. I'm a little nervous about whether it will happen, but his upside will still make him worth taking a chance on once he's activated. Lawlar probably won't hit for a particularly strong average, but he has four-category ability. He totaled 11 homers and 20 steals in just 63 Triple-A games last year. The D-backs can make room for everyone if they want. Bailing on Ildemaro Vargas , who has long since returned to pumpkin form, would help.

The White Sox are just promoting a quality prospect every week at this point. Montgomery, who was selected 12th overall in the 2024 draft by the Red Sox and then traded in the Garrett Crochet deal, joined the team on Tuesday after hitting .313/.429/.606 in 27 games for Double-A Birmingham and .315/.417/.495 in 29 games for Triple-A Charlotte. Overall, the switch-hitter had 10 homers and five steals (in 11 attempts) in 56 games between the two levels.