July 11, 2025
Los Angeles Angels first baseman
Nolan Schanuel (calf) is starting at first base and batting second for Friday's series opener against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander
Ryne Nelson. Schanuel was held out of Thursday's series finale against the Texas Rangers as a precaution due to tightness in his calf, but he's feeling fine a day later and will return for the start of the final series of the first half of the regular season. The 23-year-old left-handed hitter has gone 9-for-38 (.237) with a homer, seven RBI and two runs scored in nine games so far in the month of July. On the season, he's hitting .267/.356/.394 and lacks high-end power (eight home runs) that most fantasy managers are looking for at the first base position. Elsewhere, Schanuel ranks in the sixth percentile in hard-hit rate and the 55th percentile in xwOBA.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 11, 2025
Detroit Tigers right-handed pitching prospect
Sawyer Gipson-Long (neck) completed a bullpen session on Thursday. Gipson-Long was placed on the 15-day injured list on July 2 with a neck strain. This was the first time the Mercer product was able to complete a bullpen session since being placed on the injured list. Through 23 innings this season, Gipson-Long posted a 4.70 ERA with a strong 1.09 WHIP. During this stretch, Gipson-Long tallied 18 strikeouts while showing elite command, allowing walks at a 4.3% rate. Gipson-Long made his MLB debut during the 2023 campaign and held a 2.70 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP through 20 innings. He was unable to pitch in the majors in 2024 due to Tommy John surgery. When he is cleared to return, he will likely be deployed in a long relief role, which will limit his fantasy value.
--Andy SmithSource: Evan Woodbery
July 11, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder
Corbin Carroll is taking the day off for Friday's series opener on the road against the Los Angeles Angels with left-hander
Tyler Anderson on the mound. Instead, veteran
Randal Grichuk will start in right field and will hit sixth versus Anderson. It will be Carroll's day of rest since he came off the injured list last Friday. In the six games since his return from a wrist ailment, the former National League Rookie of the Year has gone just 5-for-26 (.192) with a homer, double, triple, three RBI, four runs and a steal in 28 plate appearances, but he's also carrying a modest four-game hitting streak into the weekend series in Anaheim. The 24-year-old should be back on Saturday and should be returned to all starting fantasy lineups. Grichuk will be a viable DFS sleeper who has hit .308 with a homer and two RBI in 13 career at-bats against Anderson.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 11, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers outfield prospect
Braylon Payne has begun to turn the corner following his slow start at Low-A. Over his last 15 contests, last season's 17th overall pick has posted an impressive .345/.424/.638 slash line with one double, two triples, four home runs, and five stolen bases. During this stretch, he has held a 19:8 K:BB. Before this surge, Payne held a much lower .219/.345/.314 slash line with just three doubles and two home runs across his first 37 games of the regular season. After last year's MLB Draft, Payne received a brief four-game taste of Low-A, where he went 7-for-16. If Payne continues to find his swing, he should earn a promotion to High-A in the coming weeks. The Elkins HS product currently sits as the No. 9-ranked prospect in the system on MLB.com.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
July 11, 2025
Cincinnati Reds third base prospect
Cam Collier has held a .296/.425/.366 line through his first 21 games with Double-A Chattanooga. Collier earned a promotion to Double-A earlier in June and has shown elite contact skills with a strong eye at the plate during his first look. However, his power has yet to translate to this level as he has tallied just five extra-base hits (all doubles). He has only struck out 20 times and drawn an impressive 15 walks. Earlier in the season, the No. 62-ranked prospect on MLB.com posted a .293/.370/.415 line with High-A before earning the promotion. Last season, the former 18th overall pick spent most of his season with High-A, where he held a .248/.355/.443 line. If Collier can begin to hit for power, he could be in the mix to earn a brief taste of Triple-A towards the end of the regular season.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
July 11, 2025
Houston Astros infield prospect
Brice Matthews is starting at second base and is batting eighth in his major-league debut for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Texas Rangers and right-hander
Jack Leiter at Daikin Park. Matthews, who is ranked as the team's top prospect per MLB Pipeline, was called up from Triple-A Sugar Land after slashing .283/.400/.476 with an .876 OPS, 10 home runs, 39 RBI, 51 runs scored and 25 steals in 73 games on the farm. It remains to be seen how long the 23-year-old right-handed hitter will be up with the Astros and if he'll stick around through the All-Star break, but the Astros need
Jose Altuve in their banged-up outfield right now. At the very least, Matthews' raw power/speed combination is worthy of waiver-wire consideration in the short term in deep-mixed and AL-only leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 11, 2025
Washington Nationals third base prospect
Brady House has enjoyed a productive week at the plate in the major leagues. Over his last six games, the No. 3-ranked prospect in the system has held a solid .280/.308/.320 line with a double and three RBI. Prior to this stretch, he held a much lower .232/.267/.286 line with just three doubles and a 16:3 K:BB over his last 14 contests. Under the hood, House boasts a .291 xBA, and it appears he is beginning to see some positive regression. Earlier in the summer, House was one of the most productive hitters at Triple-A, posting a .304/.353/.519 line through 65 games. During this stint, he went deep 13 times. Fantasy managers should continue to expect House to see nearly every day opportunity in the Washington lineup.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
July 11, 2025
Boston Red Sox infield prospect
Marcelo Mayer is expected to see the majority of the opportunities at second base going forward. Mac Cerullo of The Boston Herald noted that
Ceddanne Rafaela could factor in as well, especially when facing lefties. However, it appears the top prospect is expected to have an everyday role in the Boston starting nine going forward. Over his last 12 contests, Mayer has begun to find his footing in the big leagues, posting a strong 297/.297/.432 slash line with three doubles, one triple, and three RBI. Through 37 total games with Boston, Mayer has posted a .224/.263/.411 line with four long balls. Given that Mayer is expected to see significant playing time going forward, he is worth adding in all standard leagues.
--Andy SmithSource: Mac Cerullo
July
11,
2025
The
Houston
Astros
placed
outfielder
Jake
Meyers
(calf)
on
the
10-day
injured
list
(retroactive
to
July
10)
on
Friday
with
a
right-calf
strain
and
recalled
infield
prospect
Brice
Matthews
from
the
read more...
July
11,
2025
The
Tampa
Bay
Rays
placed
infielder
Brandon
Lowe
(oblique)
on
the
10-day
injured
list
(retroactive
to
July
8)
on
Friday
with
left-oblique
tightness
and
recalled
infielder
Curtis
Mead
from
Triple-A
Durham
read more...
July
11,
2025
The
New
York
Mets
announced
on
Friday
that
they
placed
outfielder
Jesse
Winker
(back)
on
the
10-day
injured
list
with
back
inflammation
and
recalled
infielder
Jared
Young
from
Triple-A
Syracuse
in
read more...
July 11, 2025
The New York Mets announced on Friday that they reinstated right-hander
Kodai Senga (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list and optioned right-hander
Justin Hagenman to Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move. Senga will return from a near month-long absence due to a strained right hamstring to face the Kansas City Royals in the series opener on Friday. The 32-year-old Japanese hurler is typically a must-start in fantasy, but he'll have a considerably lower ceiling in his first start back after only throwing 68 pitches in his lone minor-league rehab start. As a result, the Mets will most likely be cautious with his pitch count on Friday, and Senga is unlikely to go very deep against KC despite the solid matchup. Before his injury, Senga was having a fine 2025 season, recording a sharp 1.47 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 70 strikeouts and 30 walks in 73 2/3 innings.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Mets
July 11, 2025
Boston Red Sox third baseman
Alex Bregman (quadriceps) was officially activated from the 10-day injured list on Friday and is starting at third and batting second at Fenway Park against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays and right-hander
Drew Rasmussen. Rookie
Marcelo Mayer will move over to second base and will hit seventh. Bregman is back in action for the first time since suffering a strained quad muscle in late May, and he should be returned to fantasy lineups immediately. The Red Sox will ease him back into the fold this weekend and give him the day off on Saturday before he returns on Sunday to close out the first half of the season. The 31-year-old two-time All-Star was one of the team's most consistent hitters before his injury, and he's also batting .273 with a home run and three RBI in 11 career at-bats against Rasmussen.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 11, 2025
MLB.com's Jordan Bastian suggests that the Chicago Cubs could look for help at third base at this year's trade deadline with rookie
Matt Shaw continuing to struggle. The Cubs gave the slumping Shaw a day off for Wednesday's series finale against the Minnesota Twins, as the 23-year-old former first-rounder is now hitting just .200 (41-for-205) with two homers, 15 RBI, 28 runs, 11 stolen bases and 45 strikeouts in 61 games in his first year in the majors. Names like Diamondbacks third baseman
Eugenio Suarez and Pirates 3B
Ke'Bryan Hayes could be available later this month. The Cubs still believe that Shaw can be the long-term answer at third, but they may be inclined to add another third base bat if they think it will improve their chances of winning the rest of this season. Shaw's average exit velocity (83.2 mph) and hard-hit rate (26.9%) are ranked near the bottom of all MLB hitters.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Jordan Bastian
July 11, 2025
Colorado Rockies infielder
Thairo Estrada (thumb) is out of the team's starting lineup on Friday against the hosting Cincinnati Reds for the third straight game while dealing with a jammed left thumb.
Kyle Farmer will get the starting nod at second base and will hit in the eight-hole in the series opener against Reds rookie right-hander
Chase Burns. The good news for Estrada is that X-rays on his injured thumb came back negative. However, it's unclear if the 29-year-old will be able to return to the Rockies lineup on Saturday or Sunday before next week's All-Star break. The Venezuelan infielder has hit a solid .284 (33-for-116) in 29 games in 2025, but he isn't going to provide fantasy managers with much power (two homers), and he's stolen only one base after putting up consecutive 20-steal seasons with the Giants in 2022 and 2023.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
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