July 18, 2025
New York Mets right-hander
Max Kranick (elbow) will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Kranick received a second opinion after being diagnosed with a right flexor strain in late June and will now have elbow reconstruction that could keep him sidelined until 2027. It's a really tough break for the 27-year-old, who will be having TJ surgery for the second time in the last three years. The former 11th-round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates back in 2016 out of a high school in Pennsylvania made 24 appearances out of the bullpen for the Mets earlier this year before being shut down, posting a 3.65 ERA (3.89 FIP) and 1.05 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and only five walks in 37 innings in his first year in Queens.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
July 18, 2025
New York Mets outfielder
Starling Marte (knee) is progressing toward a return from the injured list, but his bruised right knee is healing slower than expected. Although eligible to return Friday, he will need more time before rejoining the club. The 36-year-old has quietly posted a solid .353 OBP this season, though his four homers and five steals leave much to be desired. While not a game-changer, Marte's on-base ability makes him a viable bench stash in deeper fantasy leagues. Fantasy managers should monitor his status and prepare for a return in the coming weeks.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Anthony DiComo
July 18, 2025
New York Mets outfielder
Jesse Winker (back) received an epidural and will be shut down for at least another week. Winker was placed on the IL on July 11 and has appeared in 26 games this season, slashing .229/.309/.400 with one home run. He had missed over two months due to a right oblique strain before briefly returning on July 8. With durability concerns mounting and little production when active, fantasy managers should take a wait-and-see approach. Until Winker can stay healthy and contribute, he's not worth a roster spot in most formats.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Anthony DiComo
July
18,
2025
Toronto
Blue
Jays
second
baseman
Andres
Gimenez
(ankle)
is
with
the
team
in
Toronto
for
the
start
of
the
second
half
of
the
season
while
doing
some
defensive
work
and
hitting,
according
to
Shi
Davidi
of
read more...
July 18, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder
Daulton Varsho (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Single-A Dunedin, where he's expected to play 3-5 innings in the outfield. While the team hasn't set a firm rehab timeline, Varsho is eligible to return from the 10-day IL on July 25. The 27-year-old has struggled this season, slashing .207/.240/.543, marking a career-low OBP. Despite his inconsistency, Varsho's power/speed profile gives him fantasy appeal down the stretch. Managers in deeper leagues should consider stashing him in hopes of a second-half breakout.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Shi Davidi
July 18, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder/designated hitter
Anthony Santander (shoulder) has yet to resume swinging a bat and is heading to Toronto this weekend to be evaluated by the team's medical staff, according to Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling. It's bad news for a player that has been on the injured list since May 30 due to a left-shoulder subluxation. Santander has been one of the biggest free-agent busts in all of baseball in his first year in Toronto after making his first All-Star team in 2024 with a .235/.308/.506 slash line, a career-high 44 home runs and 102 RBI in 155 games with the Baltimore Orioles. He's hit just .179 (33-for-184) this year with six homers and 18 RBI in 50 games. Santander is eligible to return from the IL later this month, but we're pretty certain he won't be back until sometime in August.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet.ca - Arden Zwelling
July 18, 2025
Houston Astros designated hitter
Yordan Alvarez (hand) resumed swinging a bat on Thursday and is with the team in Seattle for their series against the division rival Mariners this weekend, according to the team. Alvarez has not played in a game since May 5 due to a fractured hand. However, the 28-year-old could finally be turning a corner, with general manager Dana Brown saying on Sunday that the team could "try to expedite Alvarez's return." We're not sure what to expect with the left-handed hitting outfielder/DH after he's missed so much time this year. When he does return, though, the Astros could ease him into the fold, and he could strictly serve as the DH the rest of the season. The three-time All-Star and former Silver Slugger winner struggled to a .210 average with only three home runs and 18 RBI in his first 100 at-bats before landing on the IL.
--Keith HernandezSource: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
July 18, 2025
New York Yankees right-hander
Cam Schlittler (arm) is expected to pitch in Toronto despite reporting upper arm soreness over the All-Star break. Imaging came back clean after he was scratched from Friday's scheduled start. In his MLB debut earlier this month, Schlittler struck out seven but allowed three runs over 5 1/3 innings. With a projected start next week against the Blue Jays and Phillies, the rookie offers strikeout potential but carries risk. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues may consider him a volatile two-start streamer.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Gary Phillips
July 18, 2025
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said that right-hander
Hunter Greene (groin) is on track to start a minor-league rehab assignment early next week. Greene will make his first rehab start in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League before joining Triple-A Louisville. The 25-year-old last pitched in the big leagues since June 3, so he's going to need a handful of rehab starts before the Reds let him rejoin the major-league starting rotation. That means that fantasy managers shouldn't expect Greene back until sometime in August. Despite being out for an extended stretch, the former second overall pick should remain rostered in all fantasy leagues, as he has high-end upside when he's healthy. Greene had gone 4-3 with a 2.72 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 73 strikeouts in 59 2/3 innings over his 11 starts before he landed on the IL.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith
July 18, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman
Max Muncy (knee) is trending toward a mid-August return. Muncy resumed playing catch and took dry swings Friday, his first since landing on the injured list on July 3. "We're right where we think we should be," Muncy said of his rehab. Before the injury, he was slashing .250/.375/.457 with a career-best 91.5 mph average exit velocity and a 21.9% strikeout rate, both signs of his improved approach since wearing glasses in May. Fantasy managers should prepare to activate Muncy in all formats once he rejoins the Dodgers' lineup.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Fabian Ardaya
July
18,
2025
The
Dallas
Morning
News'
Evan
Grant
reports
that
Texas
Rangers
first
baseman
Jake
Burger
(quadriceps)
will
miss
two
to
three
more
weeks
with
a
left-quadriceps
strain,
and
in
the
meantime,
the
team
will
roll
with
a
read more...
July
18,
2025
Atlanta
Braves
third
baseman
Austin
Riley
(abdomen)
took
batting
practice
on
Friday
and
seems
hopeful
to
be
activated
from
the
10-day
injured
list
next
week,
per
MLB.com's
Mark
Bowman.
Riley
is
on
the
shelf
right
read more...
July 18, 2025
The Arizona Diamondbacks have officially recalled catching prospect
Adrian Del Castillo prior to their contest on Friday evening against the St. Louis Cardinals. In a corresponding move, the Diamondbacks shifted starting catcher
Gabriel Moreno (finger) to the 60-day injured list. Del Castillo made his MLB debut last season and looked quite comfortable during his first stint. Through 25 games in the desert, the 25-year-old catcher posted a stellar .313/.368/.525 slash line with five doubles, four home runs, and a 28:7 K:BB. Del Castillo dealt with injuries during the first half but was very productive when on the field. Through 14 games with Triple-A Reno, the catcher posted a .945 OPS with four home runs. Given his power upside, he is worth adding in all two-catcher leagues.
--Andy SmithSource: Arizona Diamondbacks
July 18, 2025
John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports reports that Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman
Ketel Marte is taking some personal days off and is being placed on the restricted list. Marte's home got broken into during the All-Star break, so the D-backs will give him another couple days to get things sorted out in his personal life. It's likely that the 31-year-old will miss the entire three-game series versus the St. Louis Cardinals to begin the second half of the season, so fantasy managers will want to act accordingly.
Blaze Alexander is making the start at second base and will hit seventh on Friday against Cardinals right-hander
Andre Pallante, and he'll likely see most of the playing time at the keystone for however long Marte is out. Marte is an absolute must-hold in all fantasy formats.
--Keith HernandezSource: Arizona Sports - John Gambadoro
July 18, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays left-handed pitching prospect
Adam Macko could be in the mix to make his MLB debut in the second half, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. Bannon noted that general manager Ross Atkins mentioned Macko as a potential "depth" option for the starting rotation later in the second half. The 24-year-old has spent the majority of the campaign with Triple-A Buffalo but has struggled to find his footing. Through 21 innings of work, the No. 14-ranked prospect in the system has posted a hefty 8.14 ERA with a 2.10 WHIP. During this stretch, the southpaw has struck out just 20 hitters and served up a high 15 walks. Given his struggles at the top level of the minor leagues, Macko is not worth stashing in any formats for the time being.
--Andy SmithSource: Mitch Bannon
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