July 12, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals third baseman
Nolan Arenado (finger) exited Friday's 6-5 loss to Atlanta with a sprained right index finger. The eight-time All-Star missed a few games recently due to soreness in that same finger, so hopefully this does not become something that lands him on the injured list. Arenado is slashing .246/.305/.388 on the year, and although his strikeout rate is at a career low (9.8 percent), his barrel rate, hard-hit rate, and average exit velocity are also hovering near career lows, so it might not get much better for the remainder of the season. Perhaps an IL stint or even just the All-Star break will get his finger right, though.
--Jarod RuppSource: Derrick Goold
July 12, 2025
Texas Rangers first baseman
Jake Burger (quadriceps) said he plans to play on Saturday after being removed late in the Rangers' 7-3 victory over the Astros on Friday with left-quad discomfort. The 29-year-old has been productive at the plate recently, going 9-for-27 (.333) with a double, a home run, six RBI, and six runs scored in his last seven games. For the season, the right-handed slugger is slashing .229/.260/.402 with 11 home runs and an 81 wRC+. It has been a disappointing season after hitting at least 29 home runs in each of the previous two campaigns with no less than a 107 wRC+, however, his contact, barrel, and hard-hit rates are all higher than they were last season, so perhaps this recent stretch is a sign he's turning things around.
--Jarod RuppSource: Evan Grant
July 12, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher
Joe Boyle came on in bulk relief of
Drew Rasmussen in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Red Sox, allowing two earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out only one batter, but did not factor into the decision. Boyle came on in the third inning in relief of Rasmussen, which was expected after manager Kevin Cash stated that the team would execute this way for a few turns through the rotation in an attempt to limit Rasmussen's innings. Boyle had made two other appearances this season before Friday's, and had not allowed a run in either while striking out seven in both contests. The 25-year-old righty now owns a 1.29 ERA (4.03 xFIP) with a 0.71 WHIP, and a 15:5 K:BB through 14 IP. His next chance to pitch won't come until sometime after the All-Star break.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
July 12, 2025
Houston Astros shortstop
Jeremy Pena (rib) has begun to ramp up his work in the weight room while also participating in light baseball-related activities. The 27-year-old has been out with a small rib fracture, not having played in a game since June 27. At this point, it looks like a post-All-Star break return is a given, and hopefully, the 6-foot-1 slugger can get back to the way he was hitting before he went down with the injury. Since May 24, a period of 31 games, the right-handed hitter was batting .368 with 15 extra-base hits and nine steals. For the season, he's slashing .322/.378/.489 with 11 home runs and 15 steals, good for a .377 wOBA and 144 wRC+.
--Jarod RuppSource: Brian McTaggart
July 12, 2025
Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter
Yordan Alvarez (hand) is still not swinging a bat. The 28-year-old recently underwent imaging of his hand, which showed that the small fracture had healed. Now, any pain he's experiencing is due to inflammation, not the fracture. The 3x All-Star also has received injections in his hand, but he hasn't been able to progress to swinging a bat. A return after the All-Star break was looking like the best-case scenario, however, it seems a late July return is becoming the most optimistic view at this point.
--Jarod RuppSource: Brian McTaggart
July 12, 2025
Athletics catching prospect
Willie MacIver went 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI during their contest against Triple-A El Paso on Friday evening. Since the start of the month, MacIver has tallied at least one hit in all but one contest. He has posted a strong .320/.357/.680 slash line with three long balls and nine RBI across six games. Earlier in the season, MacIver made his MLB debut. Through 17 games with the Athletics, the 28-year-old posted a .245/.288/.449 line. He was eventually sent back to Triple-A Las Vegas once
Shea Langeliers returned from the injured list. Overall, the backstop has been very productive with Triple-A and should be in the mix to return to the majors in the coming weeks. In 41 total games, he has held a .377/.451/.570 line with a 1.021 OPS.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
July 12, 2025
Kansas City Royals catching prospect
Blake Mitchell went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run during their contest against High-A Fort Wayne on Friday evening. This was Mitchell's first career home run at the High-A level. The No. 33-ranked prospect in baseball was sidelined throughout most of the first half with a wrist injury. He participated in an 11-game rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League before returning to High-A. Through his first three games at High-A this season, Mitchell has gone 3-for-12 with two doubles, a home run, and two RBI. Last season, the catcher spent the majority of his time with Low-A before earning a brief five-game taste of High-A. Given the time he missed this season, fantasy managers should expect Mitchell to spend a majority of the second half with High-A.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
July 12, 2025
New York Mets infield prospect
Jett Williams broke out of his slump in a big way on Friday evening. During their contest against Double-A Altoona, the top-ranked prospect in Queens went 3-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI. Before this game, Williams held a .171/.327/.244 line over his last 12 games. During this 12-game skid, Williams did not hit a home run and posted just two multi-hit outings. After missing time with injuries last season, Williams has been very productive during the 2025 season. Through 76 games with Double-A Binghamton, the former 14th overall pick has held a .283/.393/.493 line with 23 doubles, eight home runs, and 25 stolen bases. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression, as he should be in the mix to join Triple-A in the second half.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
July 12, 2025
New York Yankees outfield prospect
Spencer Jones went 3-for-5 with a home run during their contest against Triple-A Buffalo. This performance extended his current hitting streak to six games. During this stretch, Jones has gone deep three times, added a double, and swiped five bags. Since earning the call to the top level of the minor leagues, Jones has been one of his most productive hitters in the minors. Through 12 contests, Jones has posted a .408/.475/.837 line with three doubles, six home runs, six stolen bases, and a 17:8 K:BB. Earlier in the season, Jones showed high power upside with Double-A Somerset, hitting 16 home runs across 49 contests. Given his incredible start to his Triple-A tenure, Jones could be in the mix to join the Yankees shortly after the All-Star break.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
July 12, 2025
Baltimore Orioles catching prospect
Samuel Basallo went 1-for-4 with a home run during their contest against Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday evening. This was his 18th home run of the season. The top-ranked catching prospect in the sport has looked very comfortable during his first extended look at Triple-A. Through 60 games at Triple-A this season, the 20-year-old has posted a remarkable .265/.385/.585 slash line with 10 doubles, 18 home runs, and a 53:38 K:BB. This is an excellent sign for the budding star as he posted a modest .222/.267/.370 through his first 22 games with Triple-A Norfolk during the 2024 campaign. Fantasy managers should continue to closely monitor Basallo as he is on the verge of making his MLB debut. He should be viewed as a top stash candidate heading into the All-Star break.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
July 12, 2025
Detroit Tigers catching prospect
Thayron Liranzo went 2-for-5 with a home run during their contest against Double-A Harrisburg on Friday evening. This performance extended his current hitting streak to an impressive seven games. During this stretch, the No. 88-ranked prospect in baseball on MLB.com has posted a .379/.438/.586 slash line with two home runs and a 5:3 K:BB. After spending the entire 2024 campaign at the High-A level, the backstop was given the green light ot open the 2025 season with Double-A. Through 57 games with Double-A, Liranzo has held a .236/.359/.418 slash line with 10 home runs. Last season at High-A, Liranzo held a similar .244/.378/.408 line. Fantasy managers should expect the 22-year-old to remain at Double-A during most of the second half.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
July 12, 2025
Texas Rangers outfielder
Wyatt Langford had a huge game in his team's 7-3 win over the Houston Astros on Friday night, going 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBI, and a stolen base. The 23-year-old is having a solid but unspectacular season in the middle of an underwhelming Rangers' offense so far in 2025. In 323 plate appearances, Langford has slashed .246/.325/.442 with 15 home runs, 38 RBI, 40 runs, and 14 stolen bases. His 26% strikeout rate is nearly 6% higher than the 20.6% rate he posted in 2024, but he's also upped his barrel rate (9.3% to 12.5%) and isolated slugging (.162 to .196). Langford quietly has a chance at a 25-homer/25-steal season and remains a balanced contributor across the board, even if he hasn't been the breakout star fantasy managers were hoping for earlier this year.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
July 12, 2025
Seattle Mariners catcher
Cal Raleigh continued his monster season in his team's 12-3 win on Friday night over the Detroit Tigers. Raleigh went two-for-five with a pair of home runs and five RBI. The switch-hitter has been by far the best catcher in baseball this season, slashing .264/.377/.645 with 38 home runs, 81 RBI, 65 runs scored, and nine stolen bases. Raleigh's 38 homers are the second-most of any player before the All-Star break, trailing only Barry Bonds (39 in 2001). The 28-year-old has been MLB's premier power bat in 2025, upping both his barrel rate (19.8%) and hard-hit rate (48.9%) to career-highs while dropping his strikeout rate to a career-low 25.2%.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
July 12, 2025
Cleveland Guardians reliever
Emmanuel Clase earned his 20th save of the season on Friday, working a scoreless ninth inning in his team's 4-2 win over the Chicago White Sox. Clase got off to a rough start to the season with a 6.75 ERA at the end of April, but he's been much better of late. He's allowed just one earned run since June 17th (10 2/3 innings pitched). For the season, Clase has converted 20 out of 24 save chances while posting a 3.05 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 40 strikeouts in 41 1/3 innings. He's allowed too many base runners but remains elite at home run suppression (0.22 HR/9), which limits his blow-up potential. Clase may not get back to the dominant form he showed in 2024, but he's still a solid closer option for fantasy.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
July 12, 2025
Atlanta Braves closer
Raisel Iglesias picked up his 10th save of the season on Friday night in his team's 6-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. The veteran right-hander worked a perfect ninth inning and recorded a strikeout. It's been an underwhelming season so far for Iglesias, as he's posted a 4.54 ERA, and 1.25 WHIP in 35 2/3 innings. The underlying numbers suggest better luck is on the horizon for him, as he still owns an excellent 22.4% K-BB rate and a 3.84 xERA. Home runs have been the issue for Iglesias, as he's allowed a career-worst 1.82 HR/9. He's a good bet to provide more value for fantasy managers in the second half of the season than he did in the first.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
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