David Peterson Bounces Back Nicely
David Peterson was smacked around his last few starts, but looked solid on the mound during Thursday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Over his last two starts, Peterson allowed 10 earned runs on 12 hits with six walks, but looked like a different pitcher on Thursday. The southpaw limited the Brewers lineup to one earned run on five hits while striking out four in the win. He'll take a 3.18 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 87/37 K/BB ratio across 17 starts into his next outing versus the Baltimore Orioles. Peterson has pitched well enough this season to be trusted as a streaming option for that one.Source: mlb.com
New York Mets starting pitcher Jake Irvin Looks Solid on Thursday
Jake Irvin got off to a rough start, but settled down nicely during Thursday's outing against the Detroit Tigers. Irvin gave up a three-run blast to Spencer Torkelson in the first inning. After that, Irving looked great as he tossed five hitless innings. He finished this outing with six innings of work, three earned runs on three hits while striking out four batters in the win. He'll take a 4.71 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 75/33 K/BB ratio across 18 starts into his next outing against the St. Louis Cardinals. Irving could be an interesting streaming option for that one given the Cardinals struggles on offense lately.Source: mlb.com
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Kyle Freeland Tosses Quality Start on Thursday
Kyle Freeland bounced back on the mound during Thursday's outing against the Houston Astros. Freeland got off to a rough start by allowing three runs over the first two innings. After that, Freeland settled down and threw four scoreless innings. He finished this outing with three earned runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts over six innings of work. He exited the game with the lead, but sadly the bullpen blew it, so Freeland gets a no-decision here. He'll take a 5.49 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, and 61/20 K/BB ratio into this next start against the Boston Red Sox. Freeland won't be a recommended streaming option for that one.Source: mlb.com
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher C.J. Kayfus Removed from Thursday's Game with Knee Injury
C.J. Kayfus (knee) was removed from Thursday's contest with a knee contusion. However, the team noted that his removal was precautionary and that he is viewed as day-to-day. The budding star suffered this injury while running on the basepaths. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, as Triple-A Columbus will likely keep him sidelined for a few games. However, it appears he avoided a significant injury. Kayfus opened the season with Double-A but needed just 18 games to prove he was ready to join Triple-A. Through his first 53 games at the top level of the minor leagues, the 23-year-old has posted a remarkable .299/.387/.567 slash line with 11 doubles and 11 home runs. If he can make a quick return to the lineup, he should remain on the verge of a promotion, given his production at Triple-A. He is worth stashing in all 12+ team leagues as he could join Cleveland shortly after the All-Star break.Source: Cleveland Guardians
Cleveland Guardians first base prospect Konnor Griffin Hits Home Run No. 4 at High-A
Konnor Griffin launched his fourth home run at the High-A level on Thursday evening. During their contest against High-A Aberdeen, the No. 2-ranked prospects in the system went 1-for-4 at the plate with a long ball and a walk. Over his first 20 games at the High-A level, the ninth overall pick from last year's MLB Draft has performed at an elite level, boasting a .329/.441/.553 slash line with five doubles, four home runs, 11 stolen bases, and an 18:12 K:BB. Griffin opened the campaign with Low-A Bradenton, where he held a .338/.396/.536 line with 10 doubles, nine home runs, and 26 stolen bases across 50 games. Dynasty managers should continue to pay close attention to Griffin as he is quickly rising up prospect boards and making a case to be viewed as one of the top bats in the minor leagues at the start of the 2026 season.Source: MiLB.com
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect Drew Gilbert Launches Two Long Balls
Drew Gilbert went 3-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI during their contest against Triple-A Worcester on Thursday evening. This was Gilbert's second and third home runs over his last two games. Over his last nine, Gilbert has been one of the most productive hitters at Triple-A, boasting a .343/.395/.800 slash line with one double, five home runs. The former first-round pick made his Triple-A debut last season but struggled during his first look, posting a modest .215/.313/.393 line with just 10 long balls across 56 games with Syracuse. However, through 64 games this season, the No. 10-ranked prospect in the system has performed slightly better, holding a .232/.340/.405 line. If Gilbert can continue to find his swing at Syracuse, he could get the call to Queens in the second half.Source: MiLB.com
New York Mets outfield prospect Carson Williams Homers in Third Straight Game
Carson Williams has continued to hit for power at Triple-A. On Thursday evening during their contest against the Norfolk Tides, Williams went 1-for-1 with a home run and three walks. This was his third straight contest going deep. Over his last 11 games, Williams has posted a stellar .359/.490/.846 slash line with two doubles, one triple, five home runs, and three stolen bases. However, before this impressive surge, Williams held a .214/.327/.429 line over his last 12 games. While the top-ranked prospect in Tampa Bay has taken time to adjust to the top level of the minor leagues, he has begun to find his footing and is making a strong case to join Tampa Bay in the second half. If he continues to hit for power at this rate, he could be worth stashing in all 12-plus team leagues.Source: MiLB.com
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop prospect Druw Jones Hits First High-A Home Run
Druw Jones went 2-for-4 with a home run during their contest against High-A Eugene on Thursday evening. This was Jones' first career long ball at the High-A level. Over his last nine games, Jones has begun to heat up at the plate, posting a stellar .382/.405/.529 line with two doubles, a stolen base, and a 7:2 K:BB. Through 75 total games with High-A Hillsboro this season, the No. 7-ranked prospect in the Arizona system has posted a modest .249/.320/.321 line but appears to be turning the corner. Last summer, Jones spent all of his time with Low-A and held a .275/.409/.405 slash line. Fantasy managers should expect Jones to remain with High-A through most of the second half. However, he could be in the mix to open the 2026 season with Double-A.Source: MiLB.com
Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Robby Snelling Tallies Eight Strikeouts on Thursday
Robby Snelling enjoyed another dominant outing at Double-A on Thursday evening. In this start, Snelling tossed five innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts. He allowed five hits and just one free pass. Since allowing four runs on June 11, Snelling has been one of the most dominant pitchers at the Double-A level. Over his last three outings, the southpaw has logged 18 innings to the tune of a 1.00 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP. During this stretch, Snelling has struck out 22 batters and served up just three walks. Fantasy managers should continue to closely monitor the 21-year-old as he should be in the mix to join Triple-A in the second half of the season. If the No. 3-ranked prospect in the system can carry his momentum into Triple-A, he could be in the mix to join Miami late in the regular season.Source: MiLB.com
Miami Marlins left-handed pitching prospect Chris Bassitt Strikes Out Nine in Win
Chris Bassitt was solid on Thursday, tossing 5 ⅔ innings of three-run ball and picking up his eighth win of the season in a 8-5 victory over the New York Yankees. Bassitt did allow eight hits and three walks, but was able to escape with limited damage, partially due to his nine punchouts. The 36-year-old veteran has been decent this year, going 8-4 with a 4.32 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and 102 strikeouts in 100 IP. The numbers are a little inflated by his last start, an eight-run disaster against the Boston Red Sox, but other than that he has been his usual reliable self. He should still be rostered in most formats, but is pretty matchup dependent and is prone to bad outings once in a while. Bassitt will look for good results next Tuesday in Chicago against the White Sox, a matchup in which he should be started in all fantasy leagues.Source: MLB.com
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Thairo Estrada Homers, Drives in Four
Thairo Estrada had a big game on Thursday, going 3-for-4 with a homer and four RBI in a 7-6 win over the Houston Astros. Estrada hit a two-run shot in the first inning, had an RBI-groundout in the third, and capped his day with an RBI-single in the seventh. Estrada is now hitting .317 with eight runs, two homers, 18 RBI, and a stolen base in 101 at-bats. He will need to hit for a bit more power and steal more bases if he's going to be valuable in fantasy like he was in his earlier years, but he is on an upward trend right now. Estrada doesn't need to be rostered, but he is someone to keep an eye on.Source: MLB.com
Colorado Rockies second baseman Jose Soriano Throws Gem Against Braves
Jose Soriano was electric on Thursday, tossing seven scoreless frames against the Atlanta Braves and earning his sixth win of the season. Soriano scattered three hits and two walks while punching out seven in this one. Even more impressively, the Braves didn't even get a runner into scoring position against him. It was a much-needed bounce-back start for the 26-year-old, who had a tough outing against Washington last time out. Other than that, though, Soriano has been brilliant lately. He has quality starts in four of his last five outings and has struck out 39 in 31 ⅓ IP over that stretch. On the season, he has a 6-5 record with a 3.72 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and 91 strikeouts over 104 IP. He will look to keep the good times rolling against the Texas Rangers at home next Tuesday. Soriano should be rostered in standard-size leagues at this point, and can be started next week with a favorable matchup on tap.Source: MLB.com
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Zach Neto Showcases Power and Speed on Thursday
Zach Neto led the charge on Thursday, going 3-for-5 with a homer, a double, a stolen base, and three runs scored in a 5-1 win over the Atlanta Braves. Neto was all over the scoresheet in this one, which was sorely needed after an 0-for-13 slump that dated back to when he jammed his shoulder on June 24. He hasn't looked quite right since then, but tonight he was back to his usual self. The 24-year-old is hitting .270 with 49 runs, 13 homers, 30 RBI, and 14 stolen bases while hitting at the top of a decent Angels lineup. His power/speed combo is perfect for fantasy, and it makes him a top-12 option at shortstop. He should be owned and started in virtually all fantasy formats.Source: MLB.com
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Addison Barger Tallies Three Extra-Base Hits on Thursday
Addison Barger continued his breakout campaign on Thursday, going 3-for-4 with a homer and two doubles in a 8-5 win over the New York Yankees. Barger hit an RBI double in the first, doubled again in the third, and then hit a solo shot in the fifth. He is now up to a .272 AVG with 34 runs, 11 homers, 32 RBI, and two steals in 213 at-bats. The 25-year-old has been a revelation for the Jays, and he is actually underperforming his statcast data. There may be something special here, and Barger is certainly worth picking up in case this breakout is for real. He is still out there in plenty of leagues, and he should be rostered in all but the shallowest of leagues at this point.Source: MLB.com
Toronto Blue Jays third baseman/outfielder Robbie Ray Earns Ninth Win in Complete Game
Robbie Ray was at his best on Thursday, shutting down the Arizona Diamondbacks in a 7-2 win. Ray went the distance, allowing just two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out seven. Both runs came on solo homers, so he was able to minimize the damage. It was Ray's first complete game since 2017, as he usually isn't as efficient as he was tonight (102 pitches). Ray is now 9-3 with a 2.68 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 117 strikeouts over 107 ⅓ IP. It has been a great start to his Giants tenure, and he will look to keep it going next Tuesday when he takes on the Philadelphia Phillies in San Fran. He is a must-start pitcher regardless of matchup, so he should be in fantasy lineups even against a tough Phillies offense.Source: MLB.com
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Noah Schultz Allows Four Runs on Thursday
Noah Schultz allowed four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four against Triple-A Jacksonville. The 6'10" lefty induced eight whiffs on 24 swings, but also allowed two home runs, with both of them coming off the bat of Graham Pauley. Schultz has now made three starts since being promoted to Triple-A on June 18, and the results have been shaky at best with an 11.91 ERA, 2.29 WHIP, and a 13:8 K:BB in 11.1 innings. The 21-year-old has relied heavily on his great fastball up until this point in his development, and will need to develop his secondary offerings to reach the next level. Schultz is ranked as the White Sox's current number one prospect on MLB.com.Source: MiLB.com
Chicago White Sox pitching prospect Owen Caissie Goes Deep Twice Thursday
Owen Caissie went 2-for-4 with two home runs, four RBI, and an additional run scored in a 12-3 win against Triple-A Omaha. The slugging outfielder is coming off a scorching month of June, where he hit .316/.435/.605 with five homers in 76 at-bats. The 22-year-old's strikeout rate still sits north of 30 percent for the season, but he consistently hits the ball hard with the ability to lift it for power. He's displayed a disciplined approach for his age as well, and is only behind Roman Anthony and Harry Ford for the highest walk rate among hitters age 22 or younger at Triple-A this season. Caissie is currently ranked as the number one prospect in the Cubs system according to MLB.com.Source: MiLB.com
Chicago Cubs outfield prospect Andrew Painter Concedes Four Runs in Five Innings on Thursday
Andrew Painter allowed four runs on seven hits and one walk with seven strikeouts across five innings against Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 6'7" right-hander racked up 16 whiffs on 52 swings for the night, but ran into some trouble in the fourth inning when he gave up all four runs. He filled up the strike zone, however, with 65 of his 95 pitches going for strikes. Painter hasn't been quite as dominant at Triple-A compared to some of the lower levels he mowed through, as he holds a 4.57 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and a 52:19 K:BB in 45.1 innings in 2025. The 22-year-old has great stuff while still developing his command. The Phillies' top pitching prospect could be called up to help reinforce the bullpen with the big league club later on in the season.Source: MiLB.com
Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect Padres Could Have a Tough Time Upgrading at Catcher
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Royals Interested in Bryan Reynolds?
Bryan Reynolds. However, talks between the two teams haven't commenced in earnest. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal points out that the Royals are last in the league in runs per game. If the 30-year-old Reynolds is still the above-average offensive player he was from 2021-24, then he's underpaid relative to the free-agent market. But if he continues to struggle like he has in the first half of this year, the $74 million he's owed from 2026-30 could become a problem. Reynolds' OPS has slowly improved with the weather heating up, but his defensive metrics are poor, and it's unclear exactly how much the Pirates would ask for him. His advanced metrics paint an optimistic picture, as his xBA (.283) is well above his actual average (.237), and he's in the 82nd percentile in hard-hit rate.Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
According to sources briefed on their thinking, the Kansas City Royals are interested in acquiring Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder T.J. Watt Likely to Reset the Edge-Rush Market
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro pass-rusher T.J. Watt is due to around $21 million in the last year of his current contract, but the question for the Steelers is whether they are willing to pay a player that will turn 31 this fall upwards of $40 million per year on a new extension. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero believes that the two sides will get something done before either training camp or the start of the 2025 regular season, and when it is done, it will reset the edge-rush market. Watt has made the Pro Bowl each of the last seven seasons and has been an All-Pro four times in his career while leading the NFL in sacks in three of the last five years. The downside is he has an extensive injury history and dropped to 11.5 sacks in 17 regular-season starts a year ago. The Steelers and Watt are currently in a stalemate, but with Pittsburgh all-in on 2025, it's highly unlikely that Watt will be traded.Nolan McLean Punches Out 10 Thursday
Nolan McLean allowed two runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out 10 over five innings against Triple-A Worcester. McLean picked up the win on Thursday as he set a season high for strikeouts in a game this season. He generated 11 whiffs on 37 swings as he distributed his arsenal quite evenly in this outing, throwing five pitches at least 12 times but none thrown more than 19 times. The 23-year-old has performed well at the highest level of the minors for the season with a 2.80 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and a 55:23 K:BB in 54.2 innings. The injuries are piling up in the Mets' rotation, and given McLean's quality of stuff, the right-hander could join the big league rotation soon. He'd be a solid speculative add and worth rostering in 15-team formats.Source: MiLB.com
New York Mets pitching prospect George Springer Blasts Two Homers, Drives in Four
George Springer's red-hot run continued in an 8-5 win over the New York Yankees on Thursday. Springer belted a pair of two-run homers, his 14th and 15th of the season, in a 3-for-4 night. He also drew a walk and scored an additional run as Toronto finished off a four-game sweep of New York. Springer had a dream series against the Yankees, going 8-for-14 with four HRs, 11 RBI, seven runs, and four walks. After a down 2024, the 35-year-old has returned to his past star-caliber form during the first half of this season. He's hitting an outstanding .281/.378/.513 with 51 RBI, 49 runs, 10 steals, and a career-high 13.1% walk rate in 321 trips to the plate.Source: ESPN
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder James Wood Goes Yard in Five-Hit Night
James Wood delivered a spectacular performance Thursday to help lead the Nats to an 11-7 victory over the Detroit Tigers. The budding superstar went 5-for-5 with a solo homer, two RBI, and three runs scored in one of the best games of his young career. Wood, named as a Home Run Derby participant on Thursday, has clubbed 23 HRs and slashed .294/.395/.563 with 67 RBI, 58 runs, and 12 steals in 387 plate appearances. Along with those superb numbers, Wood ranks in the top 4% of hitters in xwOBA, xSLG, and average exit velocity, among other batted-ball metrics. He already looks like an elite offensive player at the age of 22.Source: ESPN
Washington Nationals outfielder Cam Smith Stays Hot in Loss
Cam Smith posted another productive performance in a 7-6 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Thursday. The 22-year-old rookie finished a home run short of the cycle in a 3-for-5, three-RBI game. He now has three straight multi-hit games and six in his past seven contests. Smith understandably got off to a slow start over the first few weeks of the season as he adjusted to the bigs. Now, just one year removed from going in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft, Smith has established himself as a quality regular. He's slashing .291/.359/.445 with seven homers, 38 RBI, 34 runs scored, and four steals in 281 trips to the plate. Smith ranks in the top 25 percent of hitters in xwOBA and xBA, making his output all the more impressive.Source: ESPN
Houston Astros outfielder Seth Halvorsen Escapes with Seventh Save
Seth Halvorsen got four outs to log his seventh save in the team's 7-6 win over the Houston Astros on Thursday. Halvorsen inherited runners on the corners in a 7-5 game in the top of the eighth, but he retired Isaac Paredes to escape the trouble. The ninth was trickier for Halvorsen, who gave up three hits (including a leadoff triple to Jake Meyers) and a run before getting Cooper Hummel to fly out to end the game. Halvorsen threw 26 pitches and struck out one in the outing. The 25-year-old right-hander has recorded a 4.15 ERA with 32 strikeouts, 15 walks, and a 1.44 WHIP in 34 2/3 innings. Between those unspectacular numbers and the lack of save opportunities that come with pitching for the last-place Rockies, Halvorsen is not much of a fantasy asset.Source: ESPN
Colorado Rockies reliever Ronny Henriquez Secures Fifth Save
Ronny Henriquez earned his fifth save of the year in a 4-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday. Henriquez threw a 1-2-3 ninth inning on 15 pitches and struck out one. The 23-year-old right-hander has emerged as the favorite for saves in Miami, which had mostly used Calvin Faucher in the closer role until the past couple of weeks. Faucher threw a scoreless eighth inning on Thursday for his fifth hold. Henriquez, meanwhile, has converted all four of his save opportunities since June 22. He now owns a 2.79 ERA with 58 strikeouts, 16 walks, and a 1.19 WHIP in 42 innings.Source: ESPN
Miami Marlins reliever Edwin Diaz Picks Up 18th Save
Edwin Diaz threw a scoreless ninth inning to finish off a 3-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday. Diaz allowed a one-out single to Christian Yelich, who was then thrown out trying to steal second. The 31-year-old right-hander struck out the other two hitters he faced en route to his 18th save in 19 tries. Diaz has earned saves in back-to-back nights on a total of 37 pitches. The two-time All-Star boasts a 1.85 ERA with a 0.91 WHIP, 51 strikeouts, and 12 walks in 34 innings.Source: ESPN
New York Mets closer Jeff Hoffman Collects 21st Save
Jeff Hoffman recorded his 21st save of the year in an 8-5 victory against the New York Yankees on Thursday. Hoffman allowed a one-out double to Jasson Dominguez, but he retired the other three hitters (one via strikeout) in a 16-pitch ninth inning. Like many of his teammates, Hoffman had a great series in a four-game sweep of the Yankees. He saved three of those victories and has now gone eight appearances without allowing an earned run. The 32-year-old has converted 84% of save chances this season while registering a 4.58 ERA with 50:10 K:BB and a 1.07 WHIP in 36 1/3 frames. Hoffman has pitched four times in the past five days, meaning the Jays will likely rest him against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday.Source: ESPN
Toronto Blue Jays closer Tyler Glasnow Throws 78 Pitches in Triple-A Rehab Start
Tyler Glasnow (shoulder) made his third rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday. Glasnow tossed 78 pitches over 4 1/3 innings and yielded three earned runs on six hits. The 31-year-old struck out eight, walked one, and threw 51 pitches for strikes. That may go down as the final rehab start for Glasnow, who has been out for two-plus months with shoulder inflammation. He last pitched April 27 and hit the shelf with a 4.50 ERA, 23:11 K:BB, and a 1.28 WHIP over 18 innings. When he does come back, Glasnow has the potential to serve as an electrifying addition for the Dodgers and fantasy managers down the stretch. However, injuries have been a consistent problem throughout his career.Source: Alex Freedman
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander