With roughly a third of the 2026 MLB season in the books, it’s a good time to start looking at sell-high candidates. Why? Well, at this point, one would like to think that any “flash in the pan” players would have regressed. But when it comes to selling high, it’s not necessarily about talent per se but more of figuring out whether some stretches are sustainable. Here are five candidates to consider.
Braxton Ashcraft
The Pirates have struck gold with their rotation, particularly with respect to the pitchers who’ve come up and thrown extremely well upon their MLB arrival in recent years. It’s not just Paul Skenes, as Carmen Mlodzinski and Braxton Ashcraft have done very well, as well.
Ashcraft, who pitched in a swing role last season, has pitched extremely well in the Pirates’ rotation this season. The 26-year-old saw a +1.2% Whiff% between 2025 and 2026, which is very hard to pick up, and has been effective with a wide-ranging arsenal that’s been accentuated by a hard, mid-80s curveball.
What fascinates us, and this is part of the reason why he and another high-achiever are on this list, is that everything has gone his way this season. Ashcraft posted a 1.91 ERA in his first four starts, highlighted by seven shutout innings against the Cardinals on May 21.
But for a pitcher who is already at 62 innings, and someone whose career-high in the Minors is 72, what will be in store as the year goes on?
Davis Martin
For 29-year-old Davis Martin, the case to move him off if possible is a little more clear-cut.
Martin, as of May 21, owns a 1.61 this season. The White Sox pitcher has one of the game’s elite chase rates and good strikeout numbers, as well. However, will Martin realistically keep his ERA at a sub-2.00 clip this season? Probably not.
The righty’s proven he can keep hitters off balance. However, for someone who doesn’t have eye-popping stuff visually and statistically, aside from the slider, some regression should be expected.
Brandon Lowe
Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe has fit in quite nicely in Pittsburgh this season.
Lowe has 13 home runs, 28 runs scored, and 32 runs batted in across 44 games. And this is someone who has a track record of being a highly productive, 30+ home run when healthy. That is the concern with Lowe, who’s played more than 110+ games just once over the last four seasons, as he had numerous IL stints while with Tampa Bay.
For those who grabbed him in fantasy, that’s partly why he was so far down some draft boards. Trading Lowe is a risky gambit, especially since his upside is so much higher than everyone else here. But for those who need help in other areas and are willing to make a move, it’s not the worst idea.
Liam Hicks
I don’t think many expected Liam Hicks to be one of the MLB co-leaders in runs batted in. But here we are.
A former Rule 5 pick, Hicks was tied with CJ Abrams and Matt Olson for the most RBI (42) in the Senior Circuit, plus someone else I’ll get to in a minute. And how Hicks has done is even more impressive, as the catcher/first baseman had just 17 strikeouts over 48 contests. However, there are some warning flashes.
Hicks’ numbers in May have come down. As of May 21, Hicks came into the day with a slash line of .246/.329/.361 with just three extra-base hits in May.
Andy Pages
Also involved in that four-way tie for first in runs batted in is Andy Pages.
We’ve been down this road before with Pages, who had a great first half in 2025 before he cooled off, and then had that tough go of it in the MLB Postseason. Despite a .236 average in May, Pages hit five home runs and drove in 17 this month as of the 21st, solid all-around numbers.
But like with Lowe, is this pace sustainable?
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