July 23, 2025
Kansas City Royals shortstop
Bobby Witt Jr. (knee) is getting the day off for Wednesday's game at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs after his leg buckled during a plate appearance on Tuesday night. Manager Matt Quatraro said that Witt felt something in his knee but said "it was nothing." The Royals aren't going to take any chances with their star player and will have
Maikel Garcia shift to shortstop and bat second on Wednesday against Cubs right-hander
Colin Rea. This will be Witt's first game off of the season, but fantasy managers will be keeping their fingers crossed that the 25-year-old's knee injury isn't anything more serious and that he can return for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians after a scheduled day off on Thursday. Witt is hitting .288/.339/.489 on the year with 14 homers, 56 RBI, 60 runs and 27 steals. He can do it all.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Kansas City Star - Pete Grathoff
July 23, 2025
Detroit Tigers outfielder
Riley Greene will step out of the starting lineup for Wednesday's series finale versus the hosting Pittsburgh Pirates with left-hander
Bailey Falter on the bump at PNC Park. With Greene starting on the bench in this matinee contest,
Matt Vierling will make the start in left field and hit fifth against Falter. Fantasy managers should expect to see Greene back in the fold for Thursday's series opener against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays at Comerica Park. The 24-year-old left-handed hitter has now made back-to-back All-Star appearances and has been a big reason why the Tigers are the best team in the American League in 2025. He enters play on Wednesday hitting .276/.325/.530 with an .855 OPS, a career-high 25 home runs, 79 RBI and 54 runs scored in 100 games, but he's also leading the league with 135 strikeouts.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 23, 2025
The New York Post's Jon Heyman reports that many teams are calling about Cleveland Guardians All-Star outfielder
Steven Kwan. The Guardians are listening on Kwan as well as some others, but it would have to be a compelling offer for them to seriously consider shipping him away. Cleveland enters play on Wednesday nine games back of the division-leading Detroit Tigers but only 2.5 games out of the final wild-card spot in the American League. Heyman also mentions that the Guardians have a pretty soft schedule at the end of the season. Kwan was an All-Star for the second straight season this year and is currently slashing .285/.348/.393 with a .741 OPS, six home runs, 32 RBI, 44 runs scored and 11 stolen bases in 94 games played. The left-handed hitter doesn't have much power, but he's one of the best contact guys in the league and sets the table nicely for Cleveland.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
July 23, 2025
The Dodgers recalled right-handed reliever
Alexis Diaz on Tuesday after sending lefty
Tanner Scott (elbow) to the 15-day injured list. Making his first appearance with the Dodgers on Tuesday, Diaz logged a scoreless inning with one hit allowed and one strikeout in a 10-7 loss to the Minnesota Twins. A former All-Star with the Cincinnati Reds, the 28-year-old struggled mightily this season before they traded him to the Dodgers in May. Diaz yielded eight earned runs on eight hits (four homers) with five walks against three strikeouts over six innings with the Reds to begin the year. It would help LA's injury-riddled bullpen if Diaz could stick in the bigs and channel his past success down the stretch, but that may be asking too much.
--Connor ByrneSource: Los Angeles Dodgers
July 23, 2025
Houston Astros right-hander
Cristian Javier (elbow) is scheduled to move his rehab to Triple-A Sugar Land this week. It's the next step toward the majors for Javier, who got through a three-inning, 46-pitch Double-A rehab start last weekend. Javier hasn't pitched in the bigs since he underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2024. Before then, Garcia posted a 3.59 ERA with 10.13 K/9 and 3.66 BB/9 over 501 innings from 2020-24. The Astros are hopeful that the 28-year-old will rejoin their staff in August.
--Connor ByrneSource: Chandler Rome - The Athletic
July 23, 2025
Houston Astros right-hander
Luis Garcia (elbow) is scheduled to report to Double-A Corpus Christi this week, according to the club. Garcia, who's on his way back from May 2023 Tommy John surgery, threw two innings in a Single-A start last Sunday and could return to the majors later this month or in August. It has been a long road back for the 28-year-old, who last appeared in a game with Houston on May 1, 2023. Garcia established himself as a quality starter before then, recording a 3.61 ERA with 9.31 K/9 and 2.86 BB/9 in 352 innings from 2020-23. After such a long layoff, it would be unrealistic to expect that type of production from the get-go when Garcia returns.
--Connor ByrneSource: Chandler Rome - The Athletic
July 23, 2025
Houston Astros right-hander
Spencer Arrighetti (thumb) will make another Double-A rehab start this week, according to the club. Arrighetti threw three scoreless innings in his previous Double-A start on July 19. The 25-year-old is working back from a broken right thumb that has kept him out of the majors since April 5. The injury has limited Arrighetti to two starts and prevented him from building on his rookie showing from 2024. Arrighetti finished last year with a 4.53 ERA in 145 innings, but he was far better in the second half (3.18), and he flashed big-time strikeout upside in fanning 171 hitters. He should return sometime in August.
--Connor ByrneSource: Chandler Rome - The Athletic
July 23, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers reliever
Tanner Scott (elbow) underwent an MRI on his left elbow that revealed no ligament damage, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports. Scott expects to return this season as a result, though it's unclear how much time he'll miss. The Dodgers placed Scott on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, continuing a disappointing season for the former All-Star. While functioning as the Dodgers' primary closer, Scott has recorded a 4.14 ERA and blown a league-high seven saves in 26 opportunities over 45 2/3 innings. With Scott and fellow high-leverage relievers
Blake Treinen (forearm) and
Michael Kopech (knee) among those on the shelf, the Dodgers are turning to
Kirby Yates and
Alex Vesia to close games. However, the team has been on the lookout for bullpen help with the July 31 trade deadline approaching and could acquire another closer option in the next week.
--Connor ByrneSource: Jack Harris - Los Angeles Times
July 23, 2025
Cleveland Guardians right-hander
Shane Bieber (elbow) was sharp in a rehab start with High-A Lake County on Tuesday. The former AL Cy Young winner threw three innings of one-run ball with two hits allowed, four strikeouts, and no walks over 43 pitches (30 strikes). Bieber is getting closer to a major league return as he recovers from April 2024 Tommy John surgery, though that's unlikely to come until August. The 30-year-old threw just 12 innings last season before undergoing the procedure. In more extensive action in 2023, Bieber put up a 3.80 ERA with 107 strikeouts and 34 walks over 128 frames.
--Connor ByrneSource: Lake County Captains
July 23, 2025
Detroit Tigers ace
Tarik Skubal has been placed on the paternity list. However, the star left-hander is still scheduled to make his next start on Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports. For now, right-hander
Troy Melton will take his place on the Tigers' roster. Skubal was dominant yet again in his most recent start last Sunday against the Texas Rangers, as he fanned 11 hitters in 6 2/3 innings. Overall, the reigning AL Cy Young winner has gone 10-3 with a 2.19 ERA, a league-best 0.81 WHIP, and 164:16 K:BB across 127 2/3 innings.
--Connor ByrneSource: Evan Petzold - Detroit Free Press
July 23, 2025
Atlanta Braves designated hitter
Marcell Ozuna is drawing serious interest from the San Diego Padres,
Hector Gomez reports. Trade talks between the two teams "have intensified," according to Gomez, who adds that the Braves would receive right-handers
Francis Pena and
Ryan Bergert in exchange for Ozuna. It's no surprise that the out-of-contention Braves may part with the 34-year-old Ozuna, who has lost playing time recently amid a severe slump and isn't signed beyond this season. Ozuna has hit just .175 since the beginning of June, dropping his slash line to .235/.361/.390 with 13 home runs and 42 RBI in 394 plate appearances. Ozuna does carry a .373 xwOBA, though, so the Padres would bank on positive regression down the stretch. However, there's no guarantee Ozuna will end up going to the Padres or anyone else before the July 31 trade deadline. Because of his 10-and-5 rights, Ozuna can block a trade anywhere.
--Connor ByrneSource: Hector Gomez
July
23,
2025
Los
Angeles
Dodgers
left-hander
Blake
Snell
(shoulder)
will
make
his
fourth
and
likely
final
rehab
start
with
the
Oklahoma
City
Comets
on
Saturday.
He
will
be
aiming
for
75
pitches
and
five
innings
pitched.
Per
manager
Dave
read more...
July
23,
2025
Atlanta
Braves
manager
Brian
Snitker
said
that
Austin
Riley
(abdomen)
was
still
dealing
with
a
shade
of
discomfort
on
Tuesday.
So,
they
decided
to
wait
a
couple
of
days
to
activate
him.
He'll
likely
play
Friday
read more...
July 23, 2025
Houston Astros left-hander
Brandon Walter will start on Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks in their series finale as they look to sweep the Diamondbacks. Walter has been solid for the Astros in 2025 with a 3.66 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and a 9.06 K/9 in 42 2/3 innings pitched. What is even more impressive is that his underlying metrics showcase room for positive regression, with a 2.95 ERA and a 2.87 xFIP. In his last outing on Friday, July 18, against the Seattle Mariners, he threw six innings, allowed three hits, one earned run, one walk, and struck out seven. Walter will be one of the more popular streaming options on Wednesday. Although the Diamondbacks' offense has been outstanding in 2025, ranking fifth in MLB in runs scored, they have performed slightly worse against left-handed pitchers. That being said, Walter remains a good streaming option in 12-plus team leagues.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: Chandler Rome
July 23, 2025
Left-hander
Patrick Corbin will start Wednesday for the Texas Rangers as they take on the Athletics in the series finale, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports. The Rangers were considering starting
Nathan Eovaldi (back) on Wednesday. However, he will now start on Friday against the Atlanta Braves, following the Rangers' off day on Thursday. Corbin is putting together a respectable season with a 3.91 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and an 80/29 K/BB ratio in 99 innings pitched. In his last outing on Friday, July 18, he was rock-solid against the Detroit Tigers, where he allowed no earned runs in 5 2/3 innings pitched. As for Eovaldi, he had his last start skipped due to back tightness, and he will take his phenomenal 1.58 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and 94/14 K/BB into the series opener against the Braves as the Rangers look to stay in the wild-card race.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: kennedi landry
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