Eugenio Suarez Back in Action to Begin Second Half
Eugenio Suarez (hand) is starting at third base and is batting fifth in Friday's series opener against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander Andre Pallante to start the second half of the season. Suarez wore a pitch off his left hand during the All-Star game on Tuesday, but thankfully X-rays came back negative and the 34-year-old slugger will be available to fantasy managers to begin the second half of the season. Although the Venezuelan infielder swings and misses frequently and has his fair share of strikeouts, he's having one of the best years of his career after clubbing 31 home runs and driving in a league-high 78 runs for the Snakes in 95 games in the first half. On an expiring contract and with the D-backs expected to be sellers at this year's trade deadline, Suarez could be wearing a different uniform by July 31.Source: MLB.com
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Shohei Ohtani's Next Start on the Mound to Come on Monday
Shohei
Ohtani
will
make
his
next
start
on
the
mound
in
Monday's
series
opener
against
the
visiting
Minnesota
Twins,
according
to
manager
Dave
Roberts.
Ohtani
will
be
followed
by
right-hander
read more...
Los
Angeles
Dodgers
two-way
superstar
Kerry Carpenter Running, Hitting, Fielding as he Rehabs
Kerry Carpenter (hamstring) is completing a return to play running progression and is also hitting a completing defensive drills on a daily basis, according to the Detroit Free Press' Evan Petzold. Carpenter was eligible to come off the 10-day injured list last Friday, but he's still rehabbing and was not activated prior to the start of the second half of the season on Friday, July 18. The 27-year-old landed on the IL back on July 2 with a right-hamstring strain. Fantasy managers should keep him stashed everywhere, as Carpenter will be a lineup regular when he returns to the big-league roster. The former 19th-round selection in 2019 is four home runs shy of tying his career high of 20 that he set in 2023 and is also slashing .257/.285/.494 with a career-low .780 OPS, 32 RBI and 40 runs scored in 78 games this year.Source: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
Detroit Tigers outfielder Max Kranick to Have Tommy John Surgery
Max Kranick (elbow) will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Kranick received a second opinion after being diagnosed with a right flexor strain in late June and will now have elbow reconstruction that could keep him sidelined until 2027. It's a really tough break for the 27-year-old, who will be having TJ surgery for the second time in the last three years. The former 11th-round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates back in 2016 out of a high school in Pennsylvania made 24 appearances out of the bullpen for the Mets earlier this year before being shut down, posting a 3.65 ERA (3.89 FIP) and 1.05 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and only five walks in 37 innings in his first year in Queens.Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
New York Mets right-hander Starling Marte Nearing Return, But Rehab Delayed
Starling Marte (knee) is progressing toward a return from the injured list, but his bruised right knee is healing slower than expected. Although eligible to return Friday, he will need more time before rejoining the club. The 36-year-old has quietly posted a solid .353 OBP this season, though his four homers and five steals leave much to be desired. While not a game-changer, Marte's on-base ability makes him a viable bench stash in deeper fantasy leagues. Fantasy managers should monitor his status and prepare for a return in the coming weeks.Source: Anthony DiComo
New York Mets outfielder Jesse Winker Receives Epidural, Remains Sidelined
Jesse Winker (back) received an epidural and will be shut down for at least another week. Winker was placed on the IL on July 11 and has appeared in 26 games this season, slashing .229/.309/.400 with one home run. He had missed over two months due to a right oblique strain before briefly returning on July 8. With durability concerns mounting and little production when active, fantasy managers should take a wait-and-see approach. Until Winker can stay healthy and contribute, he's not worth a roster spot in most formats.Source: Anthony DiComo
New York Mets outfielder Andres Gimenez Doing Baseball Activities
Andres
Gimenez
(ankle)
is
with
the
team
in
Toronto
for
the
start
of
the
second
half
of
the
season
while
doing
some
defensive
work
and
hitting,
according
to
Shi
Davidi
ofread more...
Toronto
Blue
Jays
second
baseman
Daulton Varsho Begins Rehab, Timeline TBD
Daulton Varsho (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Single-A Dunedin, where he's expected to play 3-5 innings in the outfield. While the team hasn't set a firm rehab timeline, Varsho is eligible to return from the 10-day IL on July 25. The 27-year-old has struggled this season, slashing .207/.240/.543, marking a career-low OBP. Despite his inconsistency, Varsho's power/speed profile gives him fantasy appeal down the stretch. Managers in deeper leagues should consider stashing him in hopes of a second-half breakout.Source: Shi Davidi
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Santander Not Swinging, Will be Re-Evaluated in Toronto
Anthony Santander (shoulder) has yet to resume swinging a bat and is heading to Toronto this weekend to be evaluated by the team's medical staff, according to Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling. It's bad news for a player that has been on the injured list since May 30 due to a left-shoulder subluxation. Santander has been one of the biggest free-agent busts in all of baseball in his first year in Toronto after making his first All-Star team in 2024 with a .235/.308/.506 slash line, a career-high 44 home runs and 102 RBI in 155 games with the Baltimore Orioles. He's hit just .179 (33-for-184) this year with six homers and 18 RBI in 50 games. Santander is eligible to return from the IL later this month, but we're pretty certain he won't be back until sometime in August.Source: Sportsnet.ca - Arden Zwelling
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez Resumes Swinging -- Return Imminent?
Yordan Alvarez (hand) resumed swinging a bat on Thursday and is with the team in Seattle for their series against the division rival Mariners this weekend, according to the team. Alvarez has not played in a game since May 5 due to a fractured hand. However, the 28-year-old could finally be turning a corner, with general manager Dana Brown saying on Sunday that the team could "try to expedite Alvarez's return." We're not sure what to expect with the left-handed hitting outfielder/DH after he's missed so much time this year. When he does return, though, the Astros could ease him into the fold, and he could strictly serve as the DH the rest of the season. The three-time All-Star and former Silver Slugger winner struggled to a .210 average with only three home runs and 18 RBI in his first 100 at-bats before landing on the IL.Source: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
Houston Astros designated hitter Cam Schlittler Expected to Pitch in Toronto Despite Arm Soreness
Cam Schlittler (arm) is expected to pitch in Toronto despite reporting upper arm soreness over the All-Star break. Imaging came back clean after he was scratched from Friday's scheduled start. In his MLB debut earlier this month, Schlittler struck out seven but allowed three runs over 5 1/3 innings. With a projected start next week against the Blue Jays and Phillies, the rookie offers strikeout potential but carries risk. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues may consider him a volatile two-start streamer.Source: Gary Phillips
New York Yankees right-hander Hunter Greene to Start Rehab Assignment Next Week
Hunter Greene (groin) is on track to start a minor-league rehab assignment early next week. Greene will make his first rehab start in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League before joining Triple-A Louisville. The 25-year-old last pitched in the big leagues since June 3, so he's going to need a handful of rehab starts before the Reds let him rejoin the major-league starting rotation. That means that fantasy managers shouldn't expect Greene back until sometime in August. Despite being out for an extended stretch, the former second overall pick should remain rostered in all fantasy leagues, as he has high-end upside when he's healthy. Greene had gone 4-3 with a 2.72 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 73 strikeouts in 59 2/3 innings over his 11 starts before he landed on the IL.Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said that right-hander Max Muncy Progressing Toward Mid-August Return
Max Muncy (knee) is trending toward a mid-August return. Muncy resumed playing catch and took dry swings Friday, his first since landing on the injured list on July 3. "We're right where we think we should be," Muncy said of his rehab. Before the injury, he was slashing .250/.375/.457 with a career-best 91.5 mph average exit velocity and a 21.9% strikeout rate, both signs of his improved approach since wearing glasses in May. Fantasy managers should prepare to activate Muncy in all formats once he rejoins the Dodgers' lineup.Source: Fabian Ardaya
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Jake Burger to Miss an Additional 2-3 Weeks
Jake
Burger
(quadriceps)
will
miss
two
to
three
more
weeks
with
a
left-quadriceps
strain,
and
in
the
meantime,
the
team
will
roll
with
aread more...
The
Dallas
Morning
News'
Evan
Grant
reports
that
Texas
Rangers
first
baseman
Austin Riley Hopes to be Activated Next Week
Austin
Riley
(abdomen)
took
batting
practice
on
Friday
and
seems
hopeful
to
be
activated
from
the
10-day
injured
list
next
week,
per
MLB.com's
Mark
Bowman.
Riley
is
on
the
shelf
rightread more...
Atlanta
Braves
third
baseman