July 5, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (foot) is back in the starting nine on Saturday when the Blue Jays continue a series against the Los Angeles Angels. Guerrero was held out of action on Friday after suffering a minor foot injury on Thursday. However, the 26-year-old was able to avoid a serious injury and is making a quick return to the starting nine. Over his last 10 games, Guerrero has been in a bit of a skid at the plate, posting a modest .237/.341/.421 slash line with one double, two home runs, and five RBI. Through 86 total games this season, Guerrero has held a .274/.378/.439 slash line with 17 doubles and 12 round-trippers. He sits in the 96th percentile in xwOBA and 100th percentile in xBA, which suggests he should be in store for a massive second half. He is a strong play in DFS this afternoon, facing Los Angeles Angels right-hander
Jack Kochanowicz.
--Andy SmithSource: Toronto Blue Jays
July 5, 2025
The Arizona Diamondbacks have optioned infielder
Tim Tawa to Triple-A Reno. In a corresponding move, the Diamondbacks have activated outfielder
Corbin Carroll (wrist) from the 10-day injured list. Tawa has enjoyed an extended stint in the majors this season. During his first taste of the majors, the rookie infielder has held a modest .200/.262/.355 slash line with six doubles and six home runs. Tawa has generated a low .300 xwOBA, .224 xBA, .394 xSLG, and an 88.8 mph average exit velocity, which are all below the average marks of qualified hitters. Earlier this season, Tawa was hitting for high power at Triple-A, launching three home runs and adding two doubles. Fantasy managers should expect Tawa to return to Arizona later in the second half as an injury replacement.
--Andy SmithSource: Arizona Diamondbacks
July 5, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder
Jordan Walker (appendix) is working on a swing adjustment with the staff at Double-A Springfield, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Dispatch. Walker last played in the big leagues on June 22 before dealing with appendicitis, and he previously missed time in June with a wrist injury as well. He's struggled mightily in 191 plate appearances for the Cardinals, slashing .210/.267/.295 with a 33% strikeout rate. The former top prospect has struck out at a similarly untenable 38.5% rate in 26 minor league plate appearances, so he clearly needs more time to work out the kinks in his new swing. Per Goold, Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak says he hopes Walker can make his return within two weeks.
--Will BradySource: Derrick Goold - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
July 5, 2025
The Arizona Diamondbacks have activated outfielder
Corbin Carroll (wrist) from the 10-day injured list prior to their contest on Saturday against the Kansas City Royals. In a corresponding move, the Diamondbacks optioned infielder
Tim Tawa to Triple-A Reno. Carroll has been sidelined with a fracture in his left wrist since June 24. However, Carroll was able to avoid a significant injury. He made just one rehab appearance in the Arizona Complex League on July 3 before being cleared to return to MLB action. Before his injury, Carroll was enjoying a productive season at the plate, posting a .255/.341/.573 slash line with 20 home runs and 10 stolen bases. Under the hood, he has generated a stellar .390 xwOBA with a .565 xSLG. Carroll should continue to be viewed as a must-start option in all leagues going forward.
--Andy SmithSource: Arizona Diamondbacks
July 5, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks reliever
Kendall Graveman (hip) threw live batting practice on Friday, according to MLB.com. Graveman was placed on the 15-day injured list on June 9 with a right hip impingement. It's been a difficult last couple of years for the veteran righty from an injury perspective. Graveman missed the entirety of 2024 after undergoing shoulder surgery, and also had a separate IL stint in March due to back tightness. In the 8 1/3 innings he's thrown for the Diamondbacks this season, Graveman has allowed eight earned runs and five walks while striking out just three. Arizona's bullpen needs high-leverage arms, but Graveman will have to prove he can stay healthy and regain prior form before he's an option in fantasy.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
July 5, 2025
Cleveland Guardians shortstop
Gabriel Arias fielded ground balls pre-game on Friday, according to MLB.com. Arias was placed on the 10-day injured list on July 1 (retroactive to June 30) with a moderate sprain in his left ankle. Given that he's already back on the field in a limited capacity, it appears as though he's avoided a more long-term ailment. In 281 plate appearances before getting hurt, Arias was hitting .231 with six home runs, 31 RBI and 28 runs scored. An elevated 31.3% strikeout rate limits his upside at the plate. The Guardians have relied on
Brayan Rocchio and Daniel Schneeman at shortstop in Arias' absence.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
July 5, 2025
It's "feasible" that Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Tyler Glasnow could return during the team's upcoming road trip next week, according to Dodgers Tailgate. Glasnow has been on the injured list since late April due to inflammation in his pitching shoulder. The veteran right-hander made his third rehab start on Thursday with Triple-A Oklahoma City, reaching 78 pitches over 4 1/3 innings. In the 18 innings he pitched this season with the Dodgers before getting hurt, Glasnow struggled to a 4.50 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with an elevated 14.3% walk rate. Los Angeles will play a three-game set in Milwaukee against the Brewers starting on Monday and then travel to San Francisco to play the Giants next weekend.
--Will BradySource: Dodgers Tailgate
July 5, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers utility man
Tommy Edman will be the team's everyday third baseman starting on Monday, according to Dodgers Tailgate. Edman is replacing the injured
Max Muncy, who is set to miss at least six weeks with a left knee bone bruise. The versatile Edman has seen the majority of his playing time this season at second base and in center field, and he last appeared in a game at third base in 2022. In 269 plate appearances this season, Edman has posted a .242/.297/.426 slash line with 10 home runs, 3 stolen bases, 38 RBI, and 38 runs scored. His fantasy value comes as an accumulator in an excellent Dodgers lineup. Consistent playing time and additional positional eligibility both help his overall outlook.
--Will BradySource: Dodgers Tailgate
July 5, 2025
Minnesota Twins rookie infielder
Luke Keaschall (forearm) is hitting off a pitching machine and close to taking live batting practice. Keaschall will eventually need to go on a rehab assignment before returning from a right-forearm fracture that has sidelined him for over two months. The 22-year-old entered the season as a consensus top 100 prospect and looked the part during his first seven games in the majors, as he went 7-for-19 with three doubles and five walks in 26 plate appearances. He has been out since a hit by pitch forced him to the IL on April 25.
--Connor ByrneSource: Matthew Leach - MLB.com
July 5, 2025
Outfielder
Seth Brown has signed a minor-league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Brown spent a short time on the free-agent market after the Athletics released him on June 26. The 32-year-old opened the season batting .185/.303/.262 with one home run in 76 plate appearances and dealt with a minor elbow injury before the A's moved on from him. He was much better over the previous four seasons, during which he swatted double-digit home runs in each campaign and belted 20 or more on two occasions. Brown is a lifetime .226/.292/.419 hitter with 74 homers, 233 RBI, and 24 steals across 1,804 plate appearances. The Diamondbacks are the second organization for the former 19th-round pick. He'll begin his D-backs tenure with their Triple-A affiliate in Reno.
--Connor ByrneSource: Reno Aces
July 5, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander
Roki Sasaki (shoulder) has experienced an increase in velocity while throwing from flat ground, according to Dodgers Tailgate. However, Sasaki is not ready to resume throwing from a mound. The star prospect from Japan landed on the 10-day injured list May 13 with a shoulder impingement. The Dodgers later transferred him to the 60-day IL because of a lack of progress in his rehab. They shut down Sasaki from throwing three weeks ago, but team brass noted at the time that he was pain-free. Sasaki struggled to a 4.72 ERA with 24:22 K:BB over 34 1/3 innings in his first eight major league starts. It remains unclear when he'll be ready to return and attempt to improve on those numbers.
--Connor ByrneSource: Dodgers Tailgate
July 5, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays second baseman
Andres Gimenez will undergo an MRI on his ankle after reaggravating an injury that originally occurred on Wednesday. He reaggravated it running the bases in Friday's 4-3 extra-innings win over the Angels. For now he's considered day-to-day, but depending the results of the MRI, a trip to the injured list is possible. The 26-year-old already missed a month earlier this season due to a quad injury, so hopefully this new injury won't keep him out long. The left-handed hitter is having a rough year, slashing .218/.300/.322, but had been hitting well recently, going 10-for-21 (.476) over his last six games, including a home run, nine RBI, four runs scored, and a stolen base.
--Jarod RuppSource: Arden Zwelling
July 5, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop
Ha-Seong Kim (calf) left his season debut on Friday with cramping in his right calf. The Rays downplayed the severity of the issue after their 4-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins, but they'll reevaluate Kim on Saturday, Pat Donnelly of MLB.com reports. "Let's just see tomorrow," said Kim, who had missed the entire season with shoulder and hamstring problems. The hope is that the 29-year-old will avoid another trip to the injured list. The Rays haven't released their lineup for Saturday yet, so stay tuned for updates on Kim's status.
--Connor ByrneSource: Pat Donnelly - MLB.com
July 5, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander
Alek Manoah (elbow) is expected to throw one more bullpen session before going on a rehab assignment. Manoah underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2024 and has been working back from the procedure since then. He has stated on multiple occasions that he's aiming for an August comeback, which appears realistic. The 27-year-old made just five starts in 2024 and hasn't pitched a full season since 2022. With that in mind, fantasy managers should temper their expectations as he returns after a long layoff from major elbow surgery.
--Connor ByrneSource: Mitch Bannon - The Athletic
July 5, 2025
San Francisco Giants infielder
Casey Schmitt (hand) was able to swing the bat pain-free on Friday. The 26-year-old is now ready to take batting practice as he works back from a left-hand injury that has shelved him for over a week. Schmitt is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list on Monday, though it's unclear if that will happen. Across 112 plate appearances this year, Schmitt has slashed .276/.360/.439 with four homers, 15 RBI, and 13 runs scored while mostly dividing his time between the corner infield positions.
--Connor ByrneSource: Susan Slusser - The San Francisco Chronicle
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