July 18, 2025
The Los Angeles Angels will go with a bullpen game to open the second half of the season in Friday's series opener in Philadelphia against the Phillies, per The Athletic's Sam Blum. Right-hander
Ryan Zeferjahn will get the opening assignment. This will be the first time all season that the Angels have gone outside of their five-man starting rotation, and it will be Zeferjahn's first opening assignment. The 27-year-old will not be a realistic fantasy streamer, as he's thrown just two innings in one of his 40 relief appearances for the Halos in 2025. The former third-rounder by the Boston Red Sox in 2019 out of Kansas does have 41 punchouts in 35 innings this year, but he's also sporting a rough 5.66 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 22 walks while also picking up his first two career saves. Avoid Zeferjahn in Philly.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Sam Blum
July 18, 2025
The Tampa Bay Rays reinstated infielder
Brandon Lowe (oblique) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and optioned infielder
Curtis Mead to Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. The Rays haven't released their starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Baltimore Orioles yet to begin the second half of the season, but Lowe should be back at second base as he looks to continue what has been a fantastic campaign for him. The 31-year-old veteran made his second All-Star team this year by slashing .272/.324/.487 with an .811 OPS, 19 home runs, 50 RBI, 54 runs scored and three stolen bases in 84 games played. Because of injuries, Lowe has played in over 100 games in only three of his seven MLB seasons. But if he can stay healthy the rest of the way, he could have a shot at challenging his career high of 39 long balls, set in 2021.
--Keith HernandezSource: Rays Communications
July 18, 2025
Major League Baseball has extended the paid leave for Cleveland Guardians right-hander
Luis L. Ortiz through Aug. 31 as they continue their investigation for a possible gambling-related offense, according to Zack Meisel of MLB.com. The league has been looking into Ortiz since early July. Depending on what MLB finds, it's possible that the 26-year-old won't pitch at all for the rest of the 2025 season. Fantasy managers have to prepare for that possibility. Before going on paid leave, the 26-year-old Dominican had gone 4-9 for the Guards with a 4.36 ERA (4.13 FIP) and 1.38 WHIP with 96 strikeouts and 42 walks in 88 2/3 frames over 16 starts in his first season with the team. With Ortiz out at least another month, lefty
Joey Cantillo figures to remain in Cleveland's rotation. Cantillo had an ERA just south of 5.00 with 18 K's and six walks in his three starts for the Guardians.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Zack Meisel
July
18,
2025
New
York
Yankees
right-hander
Ian
Hamilton
will
serve
as
the
team's
opener
to
kick
off
the
second
half
of
the
season
in
Friday's
series
opener
against
the
hosting
Atlanta
Braves
at
Truist
Park,
according
to
The
read more...
July
18,
2025
According
to
The
Athletic's
Chris
Kirschner,
New
York
Yankees
left-hander
Max
Fried
(finger)
isn't
listed
as
a
starter
for
the
first
series
of
the
second
half
of
the
season
this
weekend
in
Atlanta
against
his
former
read more...
July 18, 2025
Atlanta Braves left-hander
Joey Wentz will get the starting nod for Saturday's contest at Truist Park against the visiting New York Yankees in Game 2 of the first series of the second half. The Braves are the third team that Wentz has pitched for already in 2025. The 27-year-old southpaw was claimed off waivers from the Minnesota Twins on July 11 and then threw three shutout innings of relief with one walk and six strikeouts in his only appearance for the Braves a day later. Because Wentz isn't stretched out like a typical starter, he won't be a recommended fantasy streamer, especially against the Bronx Bombers. In his 26 relief appearances for the Braves, Twins and Pittsburgh Pirates this year, Wentz holds a 6.32 ERA (4.78 FIP) and 1.70 WHIP with 34 K's and 21 walks in 37 innings, so he hasn't been very good at all.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 18, 2025
Cleveland Guardians second base prospect
Travis Bazzana (oblique) was officially activated from the seven-day injured list at Double-A Akron on Friday to begin the second half of the season. Bazzana will return to action in the minors for the first time since mid-May due to a right-oblique strain. The 22-year-old is the club's top prospect, per MLB Pipeline, after being taken first overall in 2024 out of Oregon State. The Australian infielder has only hit .252/.362/.433 with four home runs, 17 RBI, 29 runs scored and eight stolen bases in 33 games at Akron in his first full season as a professional. Given the fact that Bazzana has been injured this year and hasn't exactly lived up to his draft stock yet in the lower levels of the minors, it seems more likely than not that he won't be in line to make his major-league debut until next year.
--Keith HernandezSource: GuardsInsider
July 18, 2025
The Chicago Cubs have signed free-agent pitcher
Spencer Turnbull on Friday. Turnbull started the year with the Toronto Blue Jays, but was designated for assignment after making only three appearances. The 32-year-old was a solid swingman with the Philadelphia Phillies last season. He posted a 2.65 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 58/20 K/BB ratio across 17 games (seven starts) with the Phillies in 2024. He figures to serve in a similar role with the Cubs down the stretch of the second half. There's unlikely to be fantasy value here unless Turnbull becomes a full-time starter.
--Andy WebbSource: Jon Heyman
July 18, 2025
The San Francisco Giants have set their starting rotation for the upcoming second-half series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. The organization announced that right-hander
Justin Verlander will take the ball in the second half opener. After that,
Logan Webb will get the starting nod on Saturday. Then,
Robbie Ray is set to pitch in the series finale on Sunday. Verlander is still seeking his first win of the season as he takes an 0-7 record with a 4.70 ERA and 1.42 WHIP into Friday's outing. The 42-year-old is looking like basically a deep league option at this point in his career.
--Andy WebbSource: Alex Pavlovic
July 18, 2025
Chicago Cubs third baseman
Matt Shaw is in the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Boston Red Sox. Shaw sat out the final three games ahead of the All-Star break, but will get another chance on Friday. The rookie slugger has been awful this season, going 1-for-27 at the plate during the month of July. The expectation is that the Cubs are going to add a third baseman at the trade deadline. It honestly might be too late for Shaw to save his everyday job, but a hot start to the second half could help him. Shaw isn't someone that needs to be rostered in most fantasy formats right now. He figures to lose playing time in the second half of the season.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
July 18, 2025
Boston Red Sox outfielder
Masataka Yoshida is out of the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Chicago Cubs. Yoshida started in four of the last five games ahead of the All-Star break. He was hitless in the final two games ahead of the break and finds himself on the bench ahead of Friday's game. The expectation is that Yoshida is only going to play against right-handed pitching. However, he's not even going to start all those games as he takes a seat against right-hander
Colin Rea on Friday. The Red Sox are going with the youth movement, so Yoshida is unlikely to see enough playing time to warrant rostering in most fantasy formats.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
July 18, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers catching prospect
Marco Dinges has enjoyed an impressive first half and has been able to carry his success into his first taste of High-A. The backstop opened the season with Low-A Carolina, where he posted an elite .353/.500/.576 line with a 1.076 OPS through 26 contests. During this stretch, Dinges hit eight doubles and three home runs. This impressive start earned him an early promotion to High-A. Through his first 32 games with High-A Wisconsin, Dinges has held a .302/.364/.500 line with three doubles and six long balls. He has shown a strong eye at the plate, striking out just 26 times while drawing 13 walks. Given his rather quick progression through the lower levels, Dinges could earn a taste of Double-A later in the second half.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
July 18, 2025
Chicago White Sox left-handed pitching prospect Shane Murphy has looked very impressive during his first look at the Double-A level. Through 75 2/3 innings with Double-A Birmingham, Murphy has posted a stellar 1.55 ERA with a 0.82 WHIP. During this stretch, the southpaw has struck out just 60 hitters but has shown high command of his pitches, allowing just 11 free passes. Earlier this season, Murphy spent time with High-A but needed only 10 innings to prove he was ready to move up to the upper levels of the Chicago system. Last summer, Murphy spent the majority of his time with High-A, where he logged 91 1/3 innings to the tune of a 4.14 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. Given his impressive first half, Murphy should be expected to reach Triple-A later this season.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
July 18, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect
Jesus Made has looked quite impressive during his first taste of Low-A ball. Made opened the 2025 regular season with Low-A Carolina after spending time at the rookie level in the Dominican Summer League during the 2024 season. Through his first 71 games with Low-A Carolina, the top-ranked prospect in Milwaukee has posted a .268/.377/.395 slash line with 17 doubles, three triples, four home runs, and 38 stolen bases. He has shown an elite eye at the plate, holding a 67:47 K:BB. In the DSL, he showed similar speed upside, swiping 28 bags across a 51-game stint. Even though Made remains several seasons away from his MLB debut, he is climbing up prospect boards quite quickly. He currently sits as the No. 7-ranked prospect in the sport on MLB.com.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
July 18, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitching prospect Khal Stephen enjoyed an impressive first half of the campaign with High-A Vancouver. Through 48 1/3 innings of work, the No. 9-ranked prospect in the Toronto system has posted a stellar 1.49 ERA with a 0.85 WHIP. Through this stretch, the right-hander has struck out 49 hitters while showing elite control, allowing only 10 free passes. Since the start of June, Stephen has been near-perfect, holding a 0.89 ERA with a 0.74 WHIP. Earlier this season, he made his professional debut with Low-A but needed only seven starts to prove he was ready to make the jump to High-A. The Blue Jays drafted the 22-year-old in the second round of last year's draft out of Mississippi State. Given his impressive development, he could make his Double-A debut in the second half.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
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