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Ramon Laureano Out 4-5 Months After Hip Surgery
San Diego Padres left fielder Ramon Laureano (hip) will miss four to five months after having labrum surgery on his right hip on Friday, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. As a result, the Padres announced on Friday that they transferred Laureano to the 60-day injured list. It's unlikely that Laureano will return for the Friars this season, which is why Acee suggests that the offensively-challenged Padres could now be looking for a left-handed-hitting outfielder who can play left field at the early August trade deadline. Bryce Johnson is starting in left and batting seventh for SD in Friday's series opener against the New York Mets and right-hander Christian Scott at Petco Park, but Johnson isn't the answer to San Diego's hitting woes this season and profiles best as a fourth or fifth outfielder. The 31-year-old Laureano will end up finishing his first full season with the Pads with a disappointing .203/.286/.374 slash line, .660 OPS, seven home runs, 21 RBI, seven steals, and 23 runs scored across just 53 games. Gavin Sheets will most likely see most of the starts in left going forward, opening up more playing time at first base for Ty France.
Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Kevin Acee
Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Kevin Acee
Wei-En Lin Moving to Triple-A, Can he Compete for Early MLB Debut?
The Athletics are promoting left-handed pitching prospect Wei-En Lin from Double-A Midland to Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, according to Milb Central. The 20-year-old native of Taiwan earned the promotion to the Aviators after going 3-1 with a sharp 1.93 ERA and 0.84 WHIP with 53 strikeouts and 13 walks in 51 1/3 innings pitched across his 10 starts. The 6-foot-2, 179-pound southpaw is ranked as the A's No. 4 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and could be in line to make his major-league debut in the second half of the 2026 season if he continues to impress this summer in Sin City. Lin typically sits in the mid-90s with his fastball and has a diverse pitch mix that also features a slider, curveball, changeup, and splitter, all of which have the potential to be plus offerings. His greatest strength is his ability to throw strikes, which could earn him a ticket to Sacramento sooner rather than later. Lin doesn't have high-end fantasy upside, but he should at least become a backend starter for the A's once he reaches the big leagues.
Source: Milb Central
Source: Milb Central
Max Muncy Out of Friday's Lineup With Sore Nose
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (nose) is out of the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener for the Freeway Series against the Los Angeles Angels, according to MLB.com. Muncy was involved in a scary collision at first base on Thursday night with Diamondbacks infielder Ildemaro Vargas and was removed from the game after being checked on by trainers. The good news is that the 35-year-old passed concussion testing and is day-to-day, so Muncy could be back in the starting nine for Game 2 of the Freeway Series at Dodger Stadium on Saturday. Santiago Espinal is starting at third and will bat ninth on Friday versus Angels left-hander Reid Detmers. Muncy enters Friday's action hitting .254/.347/.513 with an .860 OPS, 14 home runs, 22 RBI, and 40 runs scored in his 189 at-bats for the Blue in his 11th year in the majors. Durability has become an issue for Muncy late in his career, but when healthy, he's still valuable in most fantasy leagues for his power and run production in the heart of the Dodgers' stacked lineup. UPDATE: Manager David Roberts said that Muncy is sore after Thursday's collision, but he otherwise feels fine and is expected to return to the starting lineup on Saturday.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Angels Promote Samy Natera Jr., Will he Compete for High-Leverage Role?
The Los Angeles Angels are promoting rookie left-handed pitching prospect Samy Natera Jr. to the majors on Friday, according to Milb Central. Natera gets his first major-league promotion after going 5-0 with a 3.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 44:18 K:BB with one save in 30 innings pitched out of the bullpen at Triple-A Salt Lake. The 26-year-old Mexican native will take the roster spot of pitcher Shaun Anderson, who has been designated for assignment. Natera was originally a 17th-round selection by the Halos in 2022 out of New Mexico State University. In his four minor-league seasons in the Angels system, Natera has posted a 3.60 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, nine saves, 271 strikeouts, and 113 walks in 192 2/3 innings pitched across 96 appearances (24 starts). In Anaheim, he will most likely handle lower-leverage situations, and he won't be guaranteed to stick around long, so fantasy managers can ignore Natera for now. Natera is not included as one of the Angels' top-30 prospects at MLB Pipeline.
Source: Milb Central
Source: Milb Central
Jorge Soler Back as the DH Against Dodgers on Friday
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jorge Soler (hip) is serving as the team's designated hitter and is batting cleanup for the Angels in Friday's series opener in the Freeway Series against the hosting Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Roki Sasaki, according to MLB.com. Soler was pulled early from Wednesday's game against the Colorado Rockies as a precaution with a left-hip injury, but he's back in there as the DH after the team had a scheduled day off on Thursday. The 34-year-old Cuban veteran slugger is batting just .220 (47-for-214) on the season with nine home runs, 33 RBI, and 28 runs scored in 58 games across 243 plate appearances. Soler remains an asset for power and run production in deeper leagues, but he will continue to be a drag on your on-base percentage and batting average. In 14 games since May 19, Soler is hitting .236 (13-for-55) with a homer, double, triple, five RBI, and seven runs scored across his 58 plate appearances. He has gone hitless in just three career at-bats against Sasaki.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Zach Neto Active for Start of Freeway Series Against Dodgers
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto is back at shortstop and is batting leadoff for the Halos on Friday for the start of the Freeway Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Roki Sasaki, according to MLB.com. Whiplash caused Neto to miss the team's last three games, but he's back in there for a series this weekend at Dodger Stadium. The 25-year-old hasn't helped fantasy managers with his average this year, hitting .231 (54-for-234), but he remains an asset in points leagues with 10 home runs, 27 RBI, 42 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in 60 games across 274 plate appearances. Now that he's back on the field, fantasy managers should return him to all starting lineups in traditional formats. Neto will be looking for his first hit against Sasaki, whom he's gone hitless against in just three career at-bats. The starting shortstop has been better at the plate recently, batting .324 (11-for-34) with two homers, four doubles, five RBI, 10 runs, and a steal in his last nine contests.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Ildemaro Vargas Out on Friday After Scary Collision on Thursday
Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Ildemaro Vargas (thigh) is not in the team's starting lineup for Friday's game against the visiting Washington Nationals after colliding at first base with Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy in Thursday's walk-off win, according to MLB.com. LuJames Groover, who was called up from Triple-A Reno on Friday, will make his major-league debut on Friday, starting at first base and batting fifth against Nationals left-hander Foster Griffin. Vargas should be considered day-to-day with his thigh injury, and he could be back in Arizona's starting nine as early as Saturday at Chase Field against the Nats. After a strong start at the plate that came out of nowhere for the 34-year-old Venezuelan infielder, Vargas has predictably cooled down offensively. He's hitting .283 (60-for-212) on the season with seven home runs, but he's been ice-cold in his last 15 games, going 5-for-50 (.100) with a double, six RBI, two runs, three walks, and five strikeouts. There's a good chance we may have already seen Vargas' peak in 2026.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Thomas White Likely to Miss Rest of Season With Shoulder Capsular Sprain
The Miami Marlins announced on Friday that top left-handed pitching prospect Thomas White (shoulder) will likely miss the rest of the 2026 season after suffering a left-shoulder capsular sprain, according to Isaac Azout of Fish on First. The timeline for White's return is 12 to 16 weeks. It's another massive blow to the Marlins' farm system, as the team's second-ranked prospect, lefty Robby Snelling (elbow), is also out for the year after having an internal-brace surgery for a torn UCL in his left elbow. The 21-year-old White was likely looking at an MLB promotion in the second half of this year if he hadn't injured his left shoulder. The former 35th overall pick in 2023 went 0-3 with a 4.01 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and 35:15 K:BB in 24 2/3 innings across seven starts in the minors with Single-A Jupiter and Triple-A Jacksonville before being placed on the seven-day injured list at the end of May. The Marlins' top two pitching prospects now face major setbacks to their development and probably won't be in play in the big leagues until some point in the second half of the 2027 campaign.
Source: Fish On First - Isaac Azout
Source: Fish On First - Isaac Azout
Chris Bassitt on Track to Make his Next Start on Monday
Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said that right-hander Chris Bassitt (back) is traveling on Friday to rejoin the club, and as long as his back checks out, he should make his next start on Monday versus the Seattle Mariners, according to Jake Rill of MLB.com. Bassitt was pulled from his last start on Thursday against the Boston Red Sox due to tightness in his lower back, but it apparently isn't that big of a deal and won't cause him to miss a turn in the starting rotation. Even though the 37-year-old veteran has escaped a serious injury, we wouldn't recommend him as a streamer to begin next week against the M's, who currently rank 12th in the majors with a .715 team OPS. Bassitt is nearing the end of his career and is currently 4-4 with a 5.27 ERA (4.77 FIP) and 1.63 WHIP with 37 strikeouts and 22 walks in 56 1/3 innings across his 12 outings (10 starts) in his first year in Baltimore. He's sporting a career-low 14.2% strikeout rate, which is why he's rostered in only 11% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Jake Rill
Source: MLB.com - Jake Rill
Royce Lewis Working at First Base, Worth a Stash Ahead of Potential Return?
Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis, who is at Triple-A St. Paul, worked with former Twins first baseman Justin Morneau for over an hour on Friday, according to Declan Goff. Since his demotion to the minors after hitting .163 (17-for-104) with three home runs, with a career-high 31.1% strikeout rate through 31 games in 2026, Lewis has turned things around at the plate. Through 14 games with the Saints, Lewis has gone 20-for-56 (.357) with 10 home runs, 22 RBI, and 14 runs scored across 63 plate appearances. Not only has the former first overall pick in 2017 made changes to his swing, but he could also be shifting across the diamond to play first base whenever he rejoins the Twins at the big-league level. Lewis has never reached the 20-homer mark in his four years in the majors, but he has displayed high-end power from the right side in stretches in Minnesota. For his power upside alone, the 27-year-old is worth stash consideration in deeper fantasy leagues before he gets the call back to the Twins. Right now, Lewis is rostered in 20% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Declan Goff
Source: Declan Goff
Brewers Prospect Craig Yoho Earns the Call, Will he Have a Prominent Role?
The Milwaukee Brewers announced on Friday that they recalled right-handed pitching prospect Craig Yoho from Triple-A Nashville. In a corresponding move, the Brewers placed pitcher DL Hall (pectoral) on the 15-day injured list after he was injured in Thursday's contest. Yoho, who is the team's No. 27 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is expected to fill a bullpen role in his return to the big leagues, leaving him little fantasy appeal. The 26-year-old former eighth-round selection in 2023 out of Indiana University Bloomington made his big-league debut last year and allowed seven earned runs on eight hits (one homer) while walking nine and striking out seven in 8 2/3 relief innings. He gets the call for the first time in 2026 after allowing only four runs (two earned) with five walks and 24 strikeouts in 18 innings out of the bullpen at Nashville. The 6-foot-2, 237-pounder's nasty changeup is his bread-and-butter pitch and induces plenty of swings and misses and soft contact. Without a clear path to saves in his return to the majors, though, Yoho can be ignored in most fantasy leagues.
Source: Milwaukee Brewers
Source: Milwaukee Brewers
Maikel Garcia Sitting Out for Sixth Straight Game on Friday
Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (hamstring) is sitting out for a sixth straight game on Friday in Minnesota against the division-rival Twins, according to MLB.com. Nick Loftin will make another start at the hot corner for the Royals and will hit eighth against Twins right-hander Zebby Matthews. Garcia entered Thursday's series opener against the Twins as a pinch-hitter, though, so it would not be a surprise to see him return to action for the third game of the series at Target Field on Saturday. After being named an All-Star for the first time in his career in 2025, the 26-year-old Venezuelan third baseman has underwhelmed in 2026, hitting .268 (60-for-224) with three home runs, 21 RBI, 28 runs scored, and four stolen bases across 57 games and 247 plate appearances. He was beginning to heat up before his hamstring injury, though, going 11-for-32 (.344) with two doubles, three RBI, and two runs scored in nine games since May 22.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
A's Designate Reliever Joel Kuhnel for Assignment
After their gut-wrenching 7-6 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Thursday night after they blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning, the Athletics designated right-handed reliever Joel Kuhnel for assignment, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. Kuhnel, who had been part of the team's closer-by-committee approach this year, picked up a hold but was hit with the loss on Thursday night by allowing four earned runs on five hits in just two-thirds of an inning. The 31-year-old former 11th-round pick by the Cincinnati Reds in 2016 out of the University of Texas at Arlington allowed seven earned runs on 10 hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out just one in 4 2/3 innings in his last four appearances out of the bullpen to inflate his season ERA to 4.21 (3.96 FIP). With Kuhnel now out of the picture for the A's bullpen, left-hander Hogan Harris could be the current favorite for saves in Sacramento.
Source: USA Today Sports - Bob Nightengale
Source: USA Today Sports - Bob Nightengale
JJ Wetherholt Still Out With Lower-Body Soreness
St. Louis Cardinals rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt (lower body) is still dealing with some lower-body soreness and remains out of the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener at Busch Stadium against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds, according to MLB.com. Bryan Torres is starting at the keystone for St. Louis and will hit fifth in the batting order against Reds right-hander Brady Singer. Wetherholt was held out of the lineup on Wednesday and will start on the bench again on Friday despite the team having a scheduled day off on Thursday. He's considered day-to-day for now. Fantasy managers will need to check back on Saturday to see if he's back in the lineup for Game 2 of the series. Wetherholt, a former seventh overall pick in 2024 out of West Virginia University, has held his own in his first year in the big leagues as a full-time player, hitting .249/.357/.400 with a .757 OPS, nine homers, 25 RBI, seven steals, and 40 runs scored in 58 games and 266 plate appearances. In 10 games since May 23, Wetherholt is hitting .293 (12-for-41) with two doubles, an RBI, five runs, and a stolen base.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Brent Rooker Returns From Knee Injury on Friday
Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker (knee) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting cleanup for the A's in Friday's series opener at Daikin Park against the hosting Houston Astros and right-hander Peter Lambert, per MLB.com. Rooker has been bothered by some knee soreness of late, which is why the A's gave him the day off on Thursday in the final game of the series at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. The team probably also wanted to give the right-handed slugger a day of mental rest after a really rough start to his 2026 campaign. The 31-year-old veteran outfielder enters Friday's action with a .195/.276/.360 slash line, .635 OPS, eight home runs, 26 RBI, 16 runs scored, and two steals in his 164 at-bats. Rooker has gone 5-for-37 with a homer, two RBI, four runs scored, two walks, and 13 strikeouts in his last 10 games. Fantasy managers are looking for any signs of life from Rooker at this point, but it might be wise to keep him benched until that happens. He's gone hitless in just one career at-bat against Lambert.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
