July 18, 2025
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher
Sawyer Gipson-Long (neck) made another rehab start with Triple-A Toledo on Friday. Gipson-Long was fantastic with 4 2/3 scoreless innings during his first rehab start. Sadly, he wasn't able to have the same success on Friday. He tossed 3 2/3 innings, allowing seven earned runs on nine hits while striking out four batters. Gipson-Long was blasted during this outing, but the main focus is him getting healthy. He continues to work his way back from a neck injury that has sidelined him since late June. He figures to return to Detroit soon, but it's unclear if he'll reclaim his fifth spot in the rotation. That being said, Gipson-Long isn't someone that needs to be rostered in fantasy formats right now.
--Andy WebbSource: Evan Petzold
July 18, 2025
Houston Astros infielder
Brendan Rodgers (oblique, head) was forced to make an early exit from Friday's rehab game at Triple-A Sugar Land. Rodgers collided with his teammate and suffered a head injury during the third inning of this contest. He was pulled out of the contest and is expected to be examined for a concussion. It's unclear how long he'll be out, but for now he should be considered day-to-day. This was Rodgers first rehab game while he attempts to return from an oblique injury. He was struggling with the bat before the injury and doesn't need to be rostered in fantasy formats.
--Andy WebbSource: Chandler Rome
July 18, 2025
Washington Nationals outfielder
Dylan Crews (oblique) is nearing a rehab assignment, according to interim manager Miguel Cairo. This is good news considering Crews has been sidelined since mid-May due to a left oblique strain. The fact he has missed nearly two months of action means he'll probably have a long rehab stint. Barring any setbacks, Crews should be back in the mix by early August. He was struggling with the bat before going down and isn't someone that must be rostered right now. He's slashing .196/.266/.354 with seven home runs, 15 RBI, and 11 stolen bases in 45 games. He does have good potential, so fantasy managers can be hopeful those numbers improve.
--Andy WebbSource: Mark Zuckerman
July 18, 2025
Colorado Rockies infielder
Thairo Estrada (thumb) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Friday. Estrada has been dealing with a thumb issue since he jammed it back on July 7. He'll now head to the shelf, but backdated to July 11. That means, Estrada could potentially return to the lineup following this weekend's series against the Minnesota Twins. In a corresponding move, shortstop
Ezequiel Tovar (oblique) has been activated off the injured list and is playing on Friday. Estrada hasn't done enough with the bat to warrant rostering in most fantasy formats.
--Andy WebbSource: Rockies Club Information
July 18, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder
Sal Frelick (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Friday. Frelick suffered a hamstring injury while making a sliding catch during the final game before the All-Star break. The Brewers gave him a few days to rest and see how he feels. It doesn't sound like Frelick is doing much better, so he'll start the second half of the season on the shelf. In a corresponding move, outfielder
Blake Perkins has been recalled to take the spot on the active roster. He figures to serve as a replacement in right field. It's unclear how long Frelick will be sidelined, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect him back until probably August.
--Andy WebbSource: Curt Hogg
July 18, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals infielder
Nolan Gorman (back) was scratched from the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the hosting Arizona Diamondbacks to begin the second half of the season. The Cardinals didn't give a specific reason for why Gorman was scratched, but he had been dealing with a back issue going into this week's All-Star break. With the 25-year-old starting on the bench,
Brendan Donovan will take over at the keystone and will hit leadoff, with
Jordan Walker entering the game in right field and batting seventh against D-backs right-hander
Brandon Pfaadt. Gorman, a former first-rounder, continues to be inconsistent with the bat for the Cards, as he enters the second half hitting just .219 (43-for-196) with nine home runs, 29 RBI and 31 runs. Donovan was an All-Star this year and has hit .571 with an RBI in seven career at-bats versus Pfaadt.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 18, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals third baseman
Nolan Arenado (finger) is back in the starting lineup to kick off the second half of the season in Friday's series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander
Brandon Pfaadt at Chase Field, starting at third base and batting fifth. Arenado is returning after missing the final two games of the first half of the year with a sprained right index finger. The 34-year-old eight-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner remains St. Louis' starting third baseman, but he's no longer in the prime of his career and continues to see a drop in his power numbers. Through 84 games in the first half in his fifth year with the Red Birds, Arenado slashed a mediocre .246/.305/.388 with a career-worst .693 OPS, 10 home runs, 42 RBI and 39 runs scored in 347 plate appearances. He has hit .286 with a homer and three RBI in seven career at-bats against Pfaadt.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 18, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman
Eugenio Suarez (hand) is starting at third base and is batting fifth in Friday's series opener against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander
Andre Pallante to start the second half of the season. Suarez wore a pitch off his left hand during the All-Star game on Tuesday, but thankfully X-rays came back negative and the 34-year-old slugger will be available to fantasy managers to begin the second half of the season. Although the Venezuelan infielder swings and misses frequently and has his fair share of strikeouts, he's having one of the best years of his career after clubbing 31 home runs and driving in a league-high 78 runs for the Snakes in 95 games in the first half. On an expiring contract and with the D-backs expected to be sellers at this year's trade deadline, Suarez could be wearing a different uniform by July 31.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July
18,
2025
Los
Angeles
Dodgers
two-way
superstar
Shohei
Ohtani
will
make
his
next
start
on
the
mound
in
Monday's
series
opener
against
the
visiting
Minnesota
Twins,
according
to
manager
Dave
Roberts.
Ohtani
will
be
followed
by
right-hander
read more...
July 18, 2025
Detroit Tigers outfielder
Kerry Carpenter (hamstring) is completing a return to play running progression and is also hitting a completing defensive drills on a daily basis, according to the Detroit Free Press' Evan Petzold. Carpenter was eligible to come off the 10-day injured list last Friday, but he's still rehabbing and was not activated prior to the start of the second half of the season on Friday, July 18. The 27-year-old landed on the IL back on July 2 with a right-hamstring strain. Fantasy managers should keep him stashed everywhere, as Carpenter will be a lineup regular when he returns to the big-league roster. The former 19th-round selection in 2019 is four home runs shy of tying his career high of 20 that he set in 2023 and is also slashing .257/.285/.494 with a career-low .780 OPS, 32 RBI and 40 runs scored in 78 games this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
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
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