July 21, 2025
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher
Tanner Houck (elbow) has been shut down indefinitely after experiencing repeated flexor soreness, reports Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. He had completed a full 30-day rehab assignment to come back from a right flexor pronator strain, but suffered a setback at some point during the process. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Houck would not need surgery, but didn't offer clear steps or a timetable moving forward. With only a little over two months left in the season, the 29-year-old may be running out of time to see the field again in 2025.
--Jeremy HeistSource: Tim Healey
July 21, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher
Gabriel Moreno (finger) recently got a CT scan that showed his finger is not completely healed, reports Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. He will likely need a couple more weeks before resuming baseball activities. Even once the 25-year-old does start up baseball activities again, he'll still be looking at a lengthy rehab process before being ready for game action. He has been sidelined since June 14th after suffering a hairline fracture in his right index finger. Mid-to-late August is looking like the best-case scenario at this point for the youngster, who was batting .270 with five home runs in 53 games before the injury.
--Jeremy HeistSource: Nick Piecoro
July 21, 2025
Los Angeles Angels first baseman
Nolan Schanuel (wrist) is back at first base and is hitting second for Monday's series opener at Citi Field against the New York Mets and right-hander
Kodai Senga. Schanuel left Sunday's win over the Philadelphia Phillies after being hit by a pitch on the left wrist, but thankfully he avoided any structural damage, and he's back in action a day later. The 23-year-old left-handed-hitting first baseman offers fantasy managers a decent average at .274 (96-for-351), but he lacks the power of most high-end first baseman with just eight homers on the season in 95 games played. Schanuel has added 40 RBI and 47 runs scored as the Angels' starting first baseman. Schanuel comes into Monday's game hitting .288 (17-for-59) with a homer, double, eight RBI, six runs scored and a stolen base in 15 games in July.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 21, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder
Anthony Santander (shoulder) is still a few weeks away from swinging the bat, according to manager John Schneider. Yikes, this is tough news with Santander having no timetable to return. He has been out since late May due to a left shoulder issue. He would likely need a few weeks to ramp up once he does start swinging the bat. It's hard to imagine Santander getting back on the field for the Jays within the next month. Possibly Santander is back in September, but that isn't going to give fantasy managers much incentive to keep rostering him.
--Andy WebbSource: Ben Nicholson-Smith
July 21, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman
Freddie Freeman (wrist) is in the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Minnesota Twins. This is good news after Freeman was removed from Sunday's game with a left wrist contusion. He appears to have avoided any serious injuries and won't miss any games. Freeman will bat cleanup and play first base versus right-hander
David Festa on Monday. Fantasy managers should make sure to check their lineups and get Freeman back in there ahead of first pitch.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb
July 21, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman
Ketel Marte (personal) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Houston Astros. Marte is back in the mix after missing each of the last three games due to a personal matter. He appears to be mentally ready to play again, but won't be at second base. Marte will bat leadoff and serve as the designated hitter versus lefty
Colton Gordon on Monday. Fantasy managers should double check their lineups and make sure Marte is in there ahead of first pitch.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
July 21, 2025
Athletics outfielder
Denzel Clarke (hip) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Texas Rangers. This doesn't come as a surprise after Clarke was forced to make an early exit from Sunday's game. He exited the contest with left hip discomfort and will sit out this game with the same issue. For now, fantasy managers should consider Clarke as day-to-day.
Lawrence Butler will take over in center field while
Miguel Andujar moves over to right field versus right-hander
Jack Leiter on Monday.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
July 21, 2025
Chicago Cubs outfielder
Pete Crow-Armstrong (knee) will take a seat ahead of Monday's game against the Kansas City Royals. Crow-Armstrong was injured on a slide during Sunday's loss, according to manager Craig Counsell. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried as it only sounds like a knee bruise. He should be considered as day-to-day with a knee contusion. In his absence,
Seiya Suzuki will make a rare start in center field and bat third versus left-hander
Noah Cameron. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups ahead of first pitch.
--Andy WebbSource: Taylor McGregor
July 21, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays second baseman
Brandon Lowe (foot) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Chicago White Sox. This marks the second game in a row that Lowe has missed after exiting Saturday's contest. Lowe is dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. This is the type of issue that really only heals with rest, so it wouldn't be shocking if Lowe heads to the injured list. For now, fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day.
Taylor Walls will cover second base and bat ninth versus
Sean Burke on Monday.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
July 21, 2025
As expected, New York Mets first baseman
Pete Alonso (hand) is back at first base and is hitting cleanup for the Mets in the series opener at Citi Field on Monday against the visiting Los Angeles Angels and left-hander
Tyler Anderson. Alonso didn't start for the first time all year in Sunday's win over the Cincinnati Reds, but he did appear as a defensive replacement late in the contest to maintain his streak of games played. The 30-year-old All-Star needs to be returned to all fantasy lineups, even though he's been cold so far in July. Alonso is hitting .222 with a home run and two RBI in nine career at-bats against Anderson. Alonso hasn't homered since July 8 and has gone 9-for-51 (.176) with three homers, two doubles, 12 RBI and a 13:9 K:BB in 15 games so far this month. Despite being cold of late, Alonso is a must-start slugger in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July
21,
2025
New
York
Yankees
outfielder
Cody
Bellinger
and
first
baseman
Ben
Rice
are
both
sitting
for
Monday's
series
opener
in
Canada
against
the
division-rival
Toronto
Blue
Jays.
Trentread more...
July 21, 2025
San Diego Padres right-hander
Stephen Kolek will be activated to start on Tuesday against the hosting Miami Marlins, according to MLB.com's AJ Cassavell. Kolek is on the team's taxi squad in Miami. The 28-year-old will be called up from Triple-A El Paso to re-enter SD's starting rotation for at least one start against the Fish. It will be Kolek's 13th start of the year for the Friars. He has gone 3-4 with a 4.24 ERA (4.22 FIP) and a 1.29 WHIP while striking out 49 and walking 22 in 68 innings pitched. Kolek isn't much of a strikeout artist, which limits his fantasy appeal, although he will be facing a Marlins squad that currently ranks 18th in the majors with a .709 team OPS. In a start against the Marlins back on May 27 at Petco Park, Kolek allowed a season-high-tying six earned runs on six hits while walking two and fanning three in 5 1/3 innings in an improbable win.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - AJ Cassavell
July 21, 2025
San Diego Padres outfielder
Jackson Merrill (illness) is starting in center field and is batting sixth on Monday in the series opener in Miami against the Marlins and right-hander
Eury Perez. Merrill was under the weather on Sunday and was scratched from the starting lineup in the series finale against the Washington Nationals, but he's feeling much better a day later and will return to center field duties. The 22-year-old is one of the best young outfielders in the game, but he hasn't looked like the same player at the plate since returning in late June from a concussion. Since June 22, Merrill is hitting a weak .163 (13-for-80) with two home runs, two doubles, six RBI, 10 runs, 11 walks and 19 strikeouts in 22 games played. Fantasy managers will be hoping he can break out of his funk in South Beach on Monday against Perez, a pitcher he has never faced in his career.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 21, 2025
Detroit Tigers infielder/outfielder
Javier Baez (shoulder) is not in the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener in Pittsburgh against the Pirates at PNC Park. Baez will take a seat to begin the week after aggravating a left-shoulder injury in Sunday's victory over the Texas Rangers and being pulled early. It doesn't sound like a serious injury for the 32-year-old veteran, but it's something to keep an eye on going forward.
Trey Sweeney is making the start at shortstop for the Tigers on Monday and will bat ninth against Pirates right-hander
Paul Skenes. Baez has had a resurgent season in 2025 with the Tigers that resulted in his third All-Star appearance. The Puerto Rican slugger is currently slashing .274/.308/.438 with a .746 OPS, 10 home runs, 39 RBI and 42 runs scored in 81 games for the first-place Tigers. He could be back as soon as Tuesday.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 21, 2025
Cleveland Guardians outfielder
Steven Kwan (wrist) is back in left field and is batting leadoff for Monday's series opener against the visiting Baltimore Orioles and right-hander
Tomoyuki Sugano. The Guardians held Kwan out of each of the first three games of the second half from Friday through Sunday due to an injury to his right wrist. The 27-year-old is feeling better now, though, after receiving a pain-killing injection over the weekend. Kwan is hitless in three career at-bats against Sugano, but fantasy managers will want to get him back into their starting lineups for the week now that he's back. He made the All-Star team this year for the second straight season and begins the second half with a nice .285/.345/.396 slash line with a .741 OPS, six home runs, 32 RBI, 43 runs scored and 11 steals in 92 games.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
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