July 2, 2025
Cincinnati Reds right-hander
Hunter Greene (back, groin) threw one inning and faced five batters during his live batting practice session on Wednesday, according to FOX 19's Charlie Goldsmith. Greene felt good after the session and is expected to repeat the process in Philadelphia this weekend. After that, the hard-throwing 25-year-old could be cleared to begin a minor-league rehab assignment. Greene is making progress from a sore back and a right-groin strain, but fantasy managers aren't going to get him back until the second half of the season with the All-Star break quickly approaching. It doesn't make sense for the Reds to rush him back right before the All-Star break since he's been on the shelf since June 4. Greene shouldn't be floating around on any waiver wires after starting the year with a 2.72 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 73 strikeouts in 59 2/3 innings in his first 11 starts.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX 19 - Charlie Goldsmith
July 2, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander
Drey Jameson (elbow) underwent an MRI exam on his elbow on Tuesday, according to general manager Mike Hazen. Jameson felt tightness in his right elbow after making a minor-league rehab appearance in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League last week. The results of his MRI aren't known yet, but it's another setback for the 27-year-old after he landed on Triple-A Reno's seven-day injured list on May 20 with right-elbow inflammation. He previously had surgery on his elbow in September of 2023 and missed all of last year, so it's an ominous sign. Jameson made three appearances with the D-backs early this year before being sent back to Reno in late April. We'll have a better idea of Jameson's timetable for a return once his MRI results are released, but he's unlikely to get back on a mound before the All-Star break in mid-July.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Arizona Republic - Nick Piecoro
July 2, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect
Luis Pena was the biggest mover in MLB.com's latest refresh of their top prospects list, making a huge jump from No. 95 overall to No. 39, a 56-spot climb. The 5-foot-11 Venezuelan showed well last season in the Dominican Summer League, slashing .393/.457/.583 and adding 39 steals in just 44 games as a 17-year-old. The now-18-year-old is slashing .316/.385/.500 with six home runs and 35 steals through 53 games at Single-A Carolina, showing advanced contact skills with just a 12.8 percent strikeout rate to go along with a slightly above average walk rate of 9.4 percent. He's made a strong case for a promotion to High-A in the latter half of the year, and certainly one to keep an eye on in dynasty leagues, but given his age, he's still likely a couple of years away from the majors.
--Jarod RuppSource: MLB.com
July 2, 2025
The Seattle Mariners optioned right-hander
Emerson Hancock to Triple-A Tacoma after his start on Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals and selected the contract of left-hander
Joe Jacques from Tacoma in a corresponding move. Hancock had another rough outing on Tuesday at home against the Royals, allowing five earned runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out only one in six innings for his fifth loss of the season. The 26-year-old has gone 3-5 for the M's this year with a 5.47 ERA (5.59 FIP) and 1.43 WHIP with 53 strikeouts and 30 walks in 77 1/3 innings over 15 starts in his third year in the big leagues. He will not end up making his next scheduled start this weekend against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but it's unclear who might take his spot in Seattle's starting rotation. Hancock will almost certainly see more starts for the M's in the second half.
--Keith HernandezSource: Mariners PR
July 2, 2025
Washington Nationals left-handed reliever
Andrew Chafin (hamstring) threw another simulated game on Tuesday afternoon at Nationals Park and could be ready to come off the 15-day injured list if he doesn't experience any setbacks with his recovery. Chafin strained his right hamstring while stretching for a throw at first base back on June 8 but has been running well and looks to be on the cusp of rejoining the big-leauge bullpen. The 35-year-old veteran southpaw sounds like he'll be ready to rejoin the Nats for their weekend series against the visiting Boston Red Sox that starts on Friday, July 4. Before his injury, Chafin had posted a 3.18 ERA and 2.03 WHIP with 14 strikeouts and 11 walks in 11 1/3 relief innings in his first season in Washington. Chafin has plenty of MLB experience in 12 years but only has 20 career saves and will mostly work in a middle-relief role when he returns.
--Keith HernandezSource: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman
July 2, 2025
Washington National outfielder
Dylan Crews (oblique) is ramping up his baseball activities, hitting off a tee and taking soft toss in the batting cages, according to MASN's Mark Zuckerman. Crews, who suffered an oblique strain on May 21, will continue to be brought along slowly, but the Nationals have been encouraged by his recent progress. There remains no timetable for the 22-year-old former first-rounder's return to the big leagues, though. With the All-Star break quickly approaching, it's unlikely that Crews will come off the injured list before the second half of the season. He was projected as a heavy favorite to win National League Rookie of the Year honors in 2025, but instead he's been injured and was hitting just .196 (31-for-158) with seven homers, 15 RBI, 24 runs and 11 steals before his injury. Crews should return to a starting role when he's healthy in D.C.
--Keith HernandezSource: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman
July 2, 2025
The Detroit Tigers recalled right-handed pitching prospect
Tyler Owens from Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday and placed right-hander
Sawyer Gipson-Long (neck) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to June 29) with neck stiffness in a corresponding move. It will be Owens' second stay in the big leagues this year after making two relief appearances for Detroit earlier this season, tossing two shutout innings with a hit allowed, no walks and one strikeout. The 24-year-old is considered the team's No. 27 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. In 26 outings out of the bullpen for the Mud Hens down on the farm, Owens had a bloated 5.46 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and 17 walks in 28 innings pitched. He is nowhere near the fantasy radar and probably won't be up for long with the Tigers before heading back down to Toledo.
--Keith HernandezSource: Tigers PR
July 2, 2025
The Detroit Tigers placed right-hander
Sawyer Gipson-Long (neck) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to June 29) on Wednesday with neck stiffness and recalled right-hander
Tyler Owens from Triple-A Toledo in a corresponding move. Gipson-Long recently returned to the big leagues after recovering from Tommy John surgery that he had last April, but now he's back on the IL with a neck injury and will be out through the All-Star break in mid-July. When the 27-year-old is recovered from his neck injury, he's unlikely to have a spot in the starting rotation with
Reese Olson (finger) returning this weekend. Gipson-Long appeared in five games (two starts) for the Tigers and allowed 13 runs (12 earned) on 21 hits (four homers) while walking four and striking out 18 in 23 innings.
--Keith HernandezSource: Tigers PR
July 2, 2025
Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that right-hander
Reese Olson's (finger) next start will be in the big leagues, most likely in the upcoming series against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians on Friday. Olson has been out of action since the middle of May with right ring-finger inflammation, but he's ready to go after making three minor-league rehab starts with Triple-A Toledo, where he allowed four earned runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out 14 in 10 1/3 innings pitched. The 25-year-old only threw 74 pitches in his final rehab outing with Toledo last week, so he's most likely to be limited this weekend from a pitch-count perspective, making him more risky than normal in fantasy lineups in his first start back in the big leagues. Olson is worth a waiver-wire pickup in mixed leagues, though, if he's available. He had an ERA under 3.00 with 51 K's in 48 2/3 innings over his nine starts before his injury.
--Keith HernandezSource: Detroit News - Chris McCosky
July 2, 2025
Boston Red Sox right-hander Bryana Bello will take the mound in the team's suspended game against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday that will pick up in the fourth inning, according to the Boston Herald's Mac Cerullo. Bello was originally scheduled to start the regularly scheduled game against Cincy on Wednesday, but he'll instead start the suspended game, which will technically be his first appearance as a reliever since 2022. The Red Sox will be leading 2-1, so there's a greater chance that the 26-year-old could pick up his fourth win of the season. On the flip side, the shortened game also means he'll have less length if he pitches well. Bello got a late start to the 2025 season due to injuries and has a decent 3.41 ERA but also a 1.44 WHIP and only 52 strikeouts in 71 1/3 innings over his 13 starts. He hasn't allowed more than three runs in an outing since May 18.
--Keith HernandezSource: Boston Herald - Mac Cerullo
July 2, 2025
Detroit Tigers outfielder
Javier Baez will not be in his team's lineup for the first game of their road doubleheader with the hosting Washington Nationals. The 32-year-old will take a seat against right-hander
Trevor Williams, with teammate
Trey Sweeney slotting in at shortstop, batting ninth. This marks the second time Baez has sat against a righty over the last few days, but has by no means been ineffective against them (.250). He's enjoying a resurgent season in 2025, slashing .285/.323/.460, although could be due for some regression with an average over 30 points higher than expected (.254).
--Alex CiullaSource: MLB.com
July 2, 2025
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reports that the Atlanta Braves have designated outfielder
Alex Verdugo for assignment. Rosenthal notes that the move clears a spot for the return of
Jurickson Profar, who is returning from an 80-game suspension for the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The 29-year-old appeared in 56 games for the squad this season and hit an unappealing .239 with ten extra-base hits (no homers). Verdugo significantly underperformed his expected batting average (.273), but Atlanta has no room for him now that Profar has served his suspension. The Braves will likely release him, though that isn't a foregone conclusion.
--Alex CiullaSource: Ken Rosenthal
July 2, 2025
Washington Nationals second baseman
Luis Garcia Jr. is out of the starting nine for the first game of their doubleheader with the visiting Detroit Tigers. Garcia Jr. will hit the bench with left-handed hurler
Tyler Holton toeing the rubber for Detroit. Teammate
Amed Rosario will man the keystone in his stead and operate from the three-hole. The New York native carries a solid .266/.306/.413 slash line and holds a 98th percentile .307 xBA. Furthermore, he's sporting career-highs in average exit velocity (90.6 MPH) and hard-hit rate (48.3%). However, he's just 8-for-42 (.190) against southpaws.
--Alex CiullaSource: MLB.com
July 2, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates catcher
Joey Bart will not be in the team's lineup for their series finale with the visiting St. Louis Cardinals. The former second-overall pick will ride the pine again with right-handed pitcher
Sonny Gray taking the mound for St. Louis. Fellow backstop
Henry Davis will get the start behind the dish and bat eighth in his place. Bart is hitting a crisp .340 (16-for-47) off southpaws but is a dismal .208 against righties thus far. Davis hasn't been much better (.217), but the former is the preferred option when the team faces left-handed pitching. He's tallied a lone home run through 53 contests after collecting 13 a season ago (80 games).
--Alex CiullaSource: MLB.com
July 2, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies third baseman
Alec Bohm is out of the team's lineup for the first game of their doubleheader with the San Diego Padres. Bohm had appeared in all but three games for the Phillies up until this point, so it seems to be just a routine day of rest. It'll be his first game off in over a month. The 28-year-old has been excellent since the start of May, batting .312 (64-for-205) with eight doubles, seven homers, 22 runs scored, and 19 RBI. Teammate
Edmundo Sosa will cover the hot corner in his stead and bat eighth.
--Alex CiullaSource: MLB.com
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