RADIO
Max Fried Expected to Rejoin the Rotation Next Week
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone told Talkin' Yanks that left-hander Max Fried (elbow) will throw 60 pitches in a minor-league rehab start on Wednesday and is expected to come off the 60-day injured list to rejoin the starting rotation next week against the Chicago White Sox. The 32-year-old southpaw has been on the shelf since mid-May due to a bone bruise in his left elbow, but his return is right around the corner, and he should be rostered in all fantasy baseball leagues as a potential difference-maker for the remainder of the second half of the season. A return against the White Sox next week isn't the ideal first matchup back off the IL, but Fried has been a must-start since joining the Yankees last year. In 10 starts (61 2/3 innings) before his elbow injury, he went 4-3 with a 3.21 ERA (2.71 FIP) and 1.00 WHIP with 50 strikeouts and 19 walks for the Yanks. The White Sox rank 12th in baseball with a .732 OPS, but they're also in the top 10 in strikeouts. Fried should be put back in starting fantasy lineups when he's activated next week, barring a setback in his rehab outing on Wednesday.
Source: Talkin' Yanks
Source: Talkin' Yanks
Dominic Canzone a High-Upside Power Bat to Prioritize on the Waiver Wire
Across 267 plate appearances in 2026, Seattle Mariners outfielder Dominic Canzone is hitting .261/.333/.513 with 15 home runs, 40 RBI, 34 runs scored, and one stolen base. The lefty-swinger opened the year in a big-side platoon role, but he's logged a .910 OPS so far this season against southpaws and has begun to move into more of a true everyday role. Canzone's underlying batted-ball metrics are elite, as he's logged a 14.6% barrel rate and a 48.6% hard-hit rate. The 28-year-old also owns a solid plate approach, limiting his strikeout rate to a manageable 20.6% while drawing walks in 9.0% of his plate appearances. In leagues where he remains available, Canzone profiles as a must-add power bat to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Petey Halpin Hits First Two Big-League Homers on Monday
Cleveland Guardians outfielder Petey Halpin had a night to remember in Monday's 13-4 victory over the division-rival Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field, going 3-for-5 at the plate out of the nine-hole with his first two major-league home runs, a double, three RBI, and three runs scored to raise his average to .222 and his OPS to .618 on the year. The 24-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder is now slashing just .222/.243/.375 with two homers, four RBI, 12 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 34 games and 76 plate appearances for the Guards in 2026 after debuting for six games in the majors a year ago. In his 40 total games in Cleveland, dating back to 2025, Halpin has gone 18-for-78 (.231) with two homers, four RBI, four steals, and 17 runs scored in 84 plate appearances. The former third-round pick in 2020 will most likely head back to Triple-A Columbus for more minor-league seasoning once outfielder Angel Martinez (foot) returns from the injured list soon. Halpin isn't rostered in any Yahoo leagues and isn't recommended as a waiver-wire pickup after his first two MLB homers on Monday.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Rhys Hoskins Hits Two Solo Home Runs Against Twins
Cleveland Guardians first baseman Rhys Hoskins and the Guardians feasted on the Minnesota Twins' pitching in Monday night's 13-4 rout over the division rivals at Progressive Field. Hoskins went 2-for-5 as the designated hitter with two solo home runs and a strikeout. The 33-year-old right-handed slugger has gone 5-for-22 with four solo home runs in his last six games, but he has still gone 5-for-30 (.167) with an .852 OPS, four RBI, five runs scored, a stolen base, five walks, and 13 strikeouts in 11 games and 35 plate appearances so far in July. Overall, Hoskins has continued to struggle at the plate in his first year in Cleveland, slashing .182/.314/.387 with a .701 OPS, 11 home runs, 33 RBI, 30 runs scored, and a stolen base in 79 games and 274 plate appearances. He continues to take his walks, sporting a 15.3% walk rate, but it has been mitigated by a career-high 31.8% strikeout rate in his ninth year in the big leagues. Hoskins just hasn't been the same since tearing his ACL with the Philadelphia Phillies back in 2023, and fantasy managers shouldn't latch on due to his recent power surge.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Luke Keaschall a High-Floor Depth Option to Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 366 plate appearances in 2026, Minnesota Twins second baseman/outfielder Luke Keaschall is hitting .263/.352/.352 with four home runs, 28 RBI, 49 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases. With his 3.0% barrel rate and 27.9% hard-hit rate, Keaschall is highly unlikely to provide value in the power categories for fantasy managers. However, the 23-year-old limits swing-and-miss (15.0% strikeout rate) and gets on base (9.8% walk rate). His ability to make contact gives him a safe batting average floor, and he's a threat to reach 20 stolen bases while consistently scoring runs. Keaschall has also shown an ability to play the outfield, which helps keep his bat in the Twins lineup and provides him with multi-positional eligibility for fantasy managers. Keaschall may not offer a ton of upside, but he profiles as a useful depth piece for deeper-league managers to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Merrill Kelly Re-Emerging as a Deep-League Starting Pitcher Streamer
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly has struggled overall in 2026, recording a 7-8 record with a 5.20 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, and 62 strikeouts across 98 2/3 innings (17 starts). The 37-year-old's strikeout rate has plummeted to 14.4%, by far the worst mark of his eight-season MLB career. However, Kelly has shown signs of a turnaround in recent outings. Across his last three starts, the right-hander has allowed just four earned runs while logging 15 strikeouts and two wins across 17 innings pitched. Home runs have been a major issue so far this season for Kelly, as he's allowed 1.92 HR/9. If that mark can regress closer to his career rate of 1.23 HR/9 in the second half of the season, Kelly could be a viable streamer option in the right matchups. His profile carries risk, but Kelly could be re-emerging as a waiver wire target for deeper-league fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kerry Carpenter Battling Heel Injury, Still Worth Targeting on the Waiver Wire?
Across 246 plate appearances in 2026, Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter (heel) is hitting .206/.279/.427 with 13 home runs, 36 RBI, and 26 runs scored. It's been a disappointing season overall for Carpenter, who has seen his strikeout rate spike to a career-worst 29.7% and his batting average fall well below his career mark of .258. The 28-year-old was also removed from the Tigers' loss to the Chicago Cubs on Monday due to heel discomfort, which he had reportedly been trying to play through for the last several games. Still, if Carpenter can avoid a trip to the injured list, he remains an intriguing power bat for fantasy managers to monitor. The lefty swinger has never logged a barrel rate below 10.0% in any of his five big-league seasons, and he hit 26 home runs in just 464 plate appearances in 2025. Pending further updates on his current heel issue, Carpenter could be worth a low-cost waiver-wire addition for his power upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kaelen Culpepper's Injury Concerns Make 2026 Debut Unlikely
Minnesota Twins shortstop prospect Kaelen Culpepper (glute) is currently on the seven-day injured list at Triple-A St. Paul with a glute strain but has put together a nice season so far. The injury is unfortunate because Culpepper had racked up 14 homers, 43 RBI, 54 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases all while hitting .272. He had amassed all those stats in just 250 at-bats this year. The right-handed hitting infielder is the Twins' No. 2 overall prospect. Culpepper, in his age-23 season, is producing at a high rate, but will likely need time to overcome his injury concerns. Because of that, 2027 looks like the more likely timeline for his big league debut. A high-upside target in dynasty leagues, fantasy managers this season should wait to see if he can return to full health in the second half of the season.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Henry Bolte Emerging as a Speed Threat with Upside on the Waiver Wire
Across 213 plate appearances since being promoted to the big leagues in mid-May, Athletics outfielder Henry Bolte is hitting .258/.336/.344 with three home runs, 17 RBI, 18 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases. The 22-year-old's power upside is limited by his tendency to hit the ball on the ground, as his average launch angle is 1.5 degrees and he's posted a 64.6% ground ball rate. However, Bolte's ability to make solid contact (45.5% hard-hit rate) and his speed have allowed him to log a .354 batting average on balls in play, which has helped him overcome his elevated 27.2% strikeout rate. If Bolte can continue to get on base at a steady clip, he should be a major speed asset for fantasy managers. Across 114 minor league games in 2025, Bolte swiped 44 bags. In leagues where he's not already rostered, Bolte profiles as an emerging speed source with upside for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Orioles Listening to Offers for Adley Rutschman
The Baltimore Orioles are "certainly listening" to offers for catcher Adley Rutschman (wrist), according to Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan of ESPN. Rutschman was placed on the 10-day injured list on Monday due to left wrist inflammation, which could impact his trade market. However, the 28-year-old should return this season and is also under team control through 2027, so an acquiring team would likely view him as more than just a rental. Across 284 plate appearances this season, Rutschman is hitting .251/.331/.433 with eight home runs, 47 RBI, and 30 runs scored. He's logged the highest hard-hit rate (42.0%) of his career and also owns a stellar plate approach, posting a 10.6% walk rate and a 14,1% strikeout rate. Health is an issue for the switch-hitting catcher, as this most recent trip to the IL will be his third separate stint in 2026. Still, he profiles as a starting fantasy catcher when he's on the field.
Source: ESPN - Kiley McDaniel, Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN - Kiley McDaniel, Jeff Passan
Internal Hopes High for Marshawn Lloyd
A series of injuries has limited Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd to only six career carries since being selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but the team is hopeful that he can make an impact yet. Lloyd missed the entirety of the 2025 season with a recurring hamstring injury, and recent testing has revealed the ailment could be tied to an ACL tear suffered in college. With a plan in place to help him navigate the offseason program, the 25-year-old will enter training camp healthy and with the potential to emerge as Josh Jacobs' primary backup. With Jacobs' availability still somewhat in question following a domestic violence situation that has yet to result in charges, that role could be a crucial one for both the Packers and fantasy managers alike. Currently RotoBaller's RB63, Lloyd's spot in the rankings would surge if he's suddenly thrust into a larger role, but even as a change-of-pace back, he has the ability to work his way into weekly flex conversations should the Packers opt to lighten the load on their 28-year-old starter.
Source: Wes Hodkiewicz
Source: Wes Hodkiewicz
Casey Mize Expected to Make his Next Start
Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize (groin, wrist) left his start early on July 19 after taking a comebacker off his left hand/wrist area while also suffering a mild aggravation of his groin injury. Mize felt fine throwing on Monday, though, and will do his normal pre-start routine with the expectation that he will make his next scheduled start, according to MLB.com. Barring a setback, the 29-year-old is lined up to face the Kansas City Royals this Sunday. The former first overall pick from Auburn University in 2018 is having the best year of his career in 2026 with a 2.79 ERA (2.62 FIP) and 1.03 WHIP with 82 strikeouts and 19 walks in 80 2/3 innings across 15 starts. Mize has dealt with injuries, but when he's been available, he's been consistent for fantasy managers and the Tigers. He has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his last four starts with two wins, five walks, and 24 strikeouts over 22 2/3 innings in that span. If Mize is officially cleared to start on Sunday, he'll be a strong streaming option against the division-rival Royals.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Hector Rodriguez Finding Power Stroke at Triple-A
Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect Hector Rodriguez has been a consistent power source at Triple-A Louisville this season with 24 homers and 61 RBI, 67 runs scored, and a .280 batting average. The 22-year-old left-handed hitter has been steady all season and could force his power bat to a big league promotion. Rodriguez is the Reds' No. 4 overall prospect and has had at least five homers in each calendar month this season. He doesn't profile as a big, intimidating presence in the batter's box at just 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds, but he excels with his bat speed and has translated that to power numbers in the minors this season. Rodriguez makes for a nice speculative add in deep leagues this season as he continues to mash at Triple-A. This could be the year for his big league debut, and he could reward fantasy managers for taking a shot on him.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Jalen Hurts has Safe Floor and League-Winning Potential at Modest Discount
When veterans and rookies report for Philadelphia Eagles training camp at the end of the month, it will be quarterback Jalen Hurts' first extended opportunity to build chemistry with his new receiving corps. In trading away three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown, the Eagles are relying on a number of new faces to fill the ranks alongside incumbents DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert in an effort to rebound from a shaky 2025 offensive outing. Veterans Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown join rookies Makai Lemon and Eli Stowers in what could be a more balanced passing attack that allows Hurts to spread the ball around. Regardless of any criticism he's faced in recent years, Hurts has never failed to deliver for fantasy, finishing as the QB9 or better in each of the past five seasons despite playing under four different offensive coordinators in that span. Hurts is RotoBaller's QB6 in 2026, but in a year where so many different quarterbacks elicit strong reactions from the fantasy community, he has been seen regularly slipping into the later rounds of drafts, making him a near can't-miss pick with one of the safest floors at the position.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dillon Dingler Continues Breakout Season With Two Homers Against Cubs
Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler helped lead the Tigers to an 8-6 victory on Monday night at Wrigley Field over the Chicago Cubs by going 4-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI, and three runs scored to boost his season average to .268 and his OPS to .856. Both of the 27-year-old backstop's home runs on the night were of the solo variety. The former second-round pick in 2020 out of The Ohio State University has been a true breakout in 2026, slashing .268/.332/.524 with 21 home runs, 63 RBI, and 52 runs scored in 91 games across 379 plate appearances to earn All-Star honors for the first time in his second full season in the majors. Dingler's homers on Monday were his first since clearing the fences back on June 25. In 12 games and 50 plate appearances in July, Dingler is batting .289 (13-for-45) with an .849 OPS, two home runs, three doubles, four RBI, and seven runs scored for the Tigers. He has become a must-start in single-catcher leagues and is rostered in 88% of Yahoo leagues in the midst of his breakout campaign.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Zac Veen is a Promising Pickup For Later This Season
Colorado Rockies prospect Zac Veen has shown a steady hand at Triple-A Albuquerque this season, producing solid stats and making a case for a second-half call up. Veen has racked up 16 homers and 61 RBI while scoring 60 runs and stealing 15 bases all while hitting .314. It's very solid all-around production from the talented left-handed hitter and could result in a big league shot in Colorado. Veen is the No. 13 overall prospect in the Rockies' system but his overall stats paint a much brighter picture. The 24-year-old is a five-tool prospect who could contribute to fantasy rosters as early as this season. Position prospects in Colorado always make for good fantasy pickups because of the hitting environment at Coors Field and Veen should be no exception. His rock solid profile makes him an excellent stash candidate in the second half for mid-to-deeper leagues.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Kayshon Boutte Stuck in Fantasy Limbo Ahead of 2026 Training Camp
New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte served as the team's most reliable downfield weapon in 2025, but there is little reliability to be found in his role for 2026. The subject of trade rumors throughout much of the offseason, Boutte remains with the team as the Patriots prepare to open training camp with their first public practice on Saturday, but major changes to the receiver room create questions of where he fits into an ascending offense. The Patriots traded for three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown after signing Romeo Doubs to a four-year, $68 million deal, and with both players spending the majority of their careers on the outside, Boutte could be pressed for playing time if he does indeed stick in New England. While a camp injury elsewhere could rekindle trade conversations and land Boutte in a more favorable situation, as it stands today, the former sixth-round pick holds little fantasy appeal in 2026 redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Mookie Betts Breaks Homer Drought in Big Way Out of the Five-Hole
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts responded in a big way on Monday night in a loss on the road to the Philadelphia Phillies after he was dropped to the fifth spot in the batting order. In the 10-7 loss at Citizens Bank Park, Betts went 4-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI, and three runs scored to raise his season batting average to .237 and his OPS to .731. The 33-year-old had last homered on June 27 against the San Diego Padres. The two-homer performance was his second of the year and 33rd of his career, but he still sits with career lows in average (.237) and on-base percentage (.300) in 2026. The former MVP and eight-time All-Star has added 13 home runs, 34 RBI, 39 runs scored, and a stolen base for the Dodgers in 64 games across 277 plate appearances. So far in July, Betts has gone 10-for-48 (.208) with a .671 OPS, two homers, two doubles, six RBI, eight runs, six walks, and four strikeouts in 13 games played. He's striking out only 11.6% of the time, but his 7.9% walk rate is his lowest since his third year in the league in 2016 with Boston. However, with an expected batting average of .276, Betts could be a buy-low candidate in fantasy for the remainder of the second half.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Karson Milbrandt Needs to Improve Control Before Making Big-League Mark
In three July starts, Miami Marlins pitching prospect Karson Milbrandt has struggled a bit at Triple-A Jacksonville. His latest outing on July 18 saw him go four innings and give up three earned runs with five strikeouts and two walks. It was an improvement on his previous two July outings in which he combined for nine earned runs in just 3 2/3 total innings. All in all, a 14.09 ERA in July is not what you want to see, but he is still rated as the No. 4 overall prospect for the Marlins. The right-hander has four plus pitches with a 55 grade but struggles with overall control and is graded out at 40 for control. Milbrandt has flashed his potential with 95 total strikeouts in 74 innings between Double-A Pensacola and Jacksonville. The high strikeout rate is desirable for fantasy purposes but it might not be until next year that managers get to see Milbrandt make a difference at the big league level. He has plenty of potential but needs to work on his command in the minors.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Trea Turner Blasts Career Homer No. 200 in Two-Homer Performance
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner had quite the night on Monday in a 10-7 victory at Citizens Bank Park against his former team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Turner went 3-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, a double, a season-high five RBI, and two strikeouts. The 33-year-old veteran reached career home run No. 200 in the process and had his first multi-homer game of the season (20th of his career). During his current five-game hitting streak, Turner has gone 9-for-20 (.450) with four home runs, two doubles, seven RBI, six runs scored, and a stolen base to boost his season line to .246/.296/.396 with a .691 OPS in 433 plate appearances. He has tacked on 14 home runs, 40 RBI, 68 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases in 98 total games played. Turner has shown some signs of aging in 2026 with a 22.4% strikeout rate, which is his highest mark since his rookie season in 2015. He also ranks in the 48th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 37th percentile in barrel rate, the 20th percentile in chase rate, and the 32nd percentile in expected slugging. A full rebound may not be coming to close out the 2026 season.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
David Montgomery a Reliable Bell Cow Available Outside the Early Rounds of Drafts
For the first time since his final season with the Bears in 2022, Houston Texans running back David Montgomery enters the year as the unquestioned leader of his team's backfield. With the Texans thrown an offseason curveball last year by the mysterious foot injury of presumed starter Joe Mixon, they were forced to piece the position together with a combination of veteran Nick Chubb and rookie Woody Marks, neither of whom proved particularly effective for an offense built to play with a lead. Despite sharing the Detroit backfield with perennial Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs for the past three seasons, Montgomery has remained fantasy-relevant through his continued usage near the goal line, and as a player with a proven history of handling heavy workloads, he allows Marks to slip back into a more natural pass-catching role. With a defense that can help to create positive game scripts in a hurry, Montgomery should serve as the closer that this Texans offense was sorely lacking in 2025, and as RotoBaller's RB21, he represents reliable value often available in the middle rounds of drafts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
George Lombard Jr. Making Presence Felt at Triple-A in Return From Injury
New York Yankees infield prospect George Lombard Jr. returned to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre lineup on July 17 and wasted little time making his presence felt with a home run in his return game. Lombard Jr. missed nearly a month with sprained fingers on his glove hand, but came back with a bang. In 11 July at bats, Lombard Jr. already has three homers and three RBI between the FCL Yankees and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 21-year-old is regarded as the top prospect in the Yankees' system and is making a case for a big league shot sooner rather than later. But at age 21, the Yankees could be patient with their prized prospect and wait on his big league debut until next season. The right-handed hitter has had an injury plagued season up to this point and it might be more beneficial for the Yankees to see him get back to full health at Triple-A during the second half of this season.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Cal Raleigh Breaks Cold Streak With Grand Slam, Five RBI
Fantasy managers are hoping that Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh's cold streak will come to an end after his big performance in Monday night's 8-0 shutout win over the visiting Cincinnati Reds at T-Mobile Park. Raleigh went 1-for-5 at the plate with a grand slam, five RBI, and two strikeouts to break out of an 0-for-10 start to the second half of the season over the weekend in three games against the San Francisco Giants. The 29-year-old is still hitting just .163/.266/.307 with a .573 OPS, 10 home runs, 34 RBI, 24 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 69 games across 297 plate appearances. A strained oblique muscle put a damper on his first half, and he hasn't been able to recover after leading the league with 60 long balls and 125 RBI in 159 regular-season games in 2025 as a first-time All-Star. In 14 games (58 plate appearances) so far in July, Raleigh has gone just 8-for-50 (.160) with a .579 OPS, two home runs, two doubles, 11 RBI, three runs, six walks, and 20 strikeouts. At this point, fantasy managers should not be betting on a return to his 2025 form
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jung Hoo Lee Can Contribute Contact Numbers in Deep Leagues
San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee is hitting .303 this season with a .331 wOBA and 110 wRC+. He slumped a little bit going into the All-Star break, hitting .158 over his last 16 games before the break, but he seems to have benefited from the time off and has started the second half with five hits in his first four games, going 5-for-16 (.313) with three runs scored. As a regular in the Giants' lineup, he can chip in solid counting stats and usually hits for a good enough average to be a deep league option in the outfield. He only has five home runs and six stolen bases through his 92 games, but he has been consistent enough in counting stats and contact ability to help counter-balance your roster if you have big sluggers with low averages in other spots.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Malik Willis a Low-Risk, High-Reward Swing at the End of 2026 Drafts
Over his six career starts, Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis has scored 8.5 fantasy points per game with his legs alone. While that sample size is almost unusably small, it's easy to get excited about what a full season might look like, particularly when considering his draft cost against some of the league's elite mobile quarterbacks. Willis is being drafted as a low-end second quarterback, all but eliminating the risk of banking on an unproven starter in what projects to be one of the league's least exciting offenses. With the Dolphins most dynamic playmaker, De'Von Achane, sharing the backfield with Willis, it could be easier for defenses to keep both players bottled up without a true downfield threat, but Willis faced a similar situation as a rookie in Tennessee, where he was able to top 40 rushing yards in two of his three starts with a receiving room consisting of Robert Woods, Treylon Burks, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. If Willis can continue to make strides in the passing game while leaning on his legs to keep the chains moving, he could provide week-winning upside from the closing rounds of 2026 drafts as RotoBaller's QB21.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ryan Clifford's Game Solid Despite Low Batting Average
New York Mets prospect Ryan Clifford has put together a nice season at Triple-A Syracuse, but his batting average remains very low. His productivity is solid with 16 homers and 47 RBI to go with 48 runs scored and seven stolen bases, but he is hitting just .192. Clifford has continued to produce, but hit just .099 in the month of June over 81 at-bats. The first base/outfielder is the No. 2 overall prospect in the Mets' system but will likely need to improve his overall hitting before receiving a shot at a big league debut. The 23-year-old left-handed hitter grades out at just a 45 hit tool, but does boast 60 grade power. So the low batting average might come as part of the package with Clifford. He is the top position player in the Mets' farm system, so he could get a look this season depending on New York's moves. Fantasy managers may have to deal with a low batting average as part of Clifford's game, but he does have good upside in other categories.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Julio Rodriguez Removed as Precaution With Hamstring Injury
Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez (hamstring) was removed from Monday night's game early against the Cincinnati Reds as a precaution after he was hit by the ball and the jarring from hitting first base while running full speed, according to Tim Booth of The Seattle Times. Manager Dan Wilson said there wasn't concern about a strain. Rodriguez went 1-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a strikeout before Victor Robles replaced him in center field. The 25-year-old Dominican All-Star just returned from the concussion injured list over the weekend, so fantasy managers have to be pretty frustrated to see him pulled from the game just a few days later with another injury. The good news is that it doesn't appear to be a serious injury, and he could be back in the starting lineup as early as Tuesday in Seattle. The three-time All-Star is batting .256/.320/.417 with a .737 OPS, 14 home runs, 42 RBI, 12 steals, and 47 runs scored in 90 games across 391 plate appearances. J-Rod is a must-start when he's in Seattle's starting nine.
Source: The Seattle Times - Tim Booth
Source: The Seattle Times - Tim Booth
Brandon Sproat Brings Strikeout Upside As a Streaming Starter in the Second Half
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Sproat will make his first start of the second half on Tuesday, looking to establish himself as a key part of Milwaukee's rotation going forward. He went only 3-4 in his 18 games (16 starts) so far this season, with a 5.12 FIP and 5.16 ERA. On the plus side, though, Sproat has shown strikeout potential with 87 strikeouts in 82 innings. His 24.7% K% is a big improvement on his 20.2% K% last season with the Mets. While he still struggled with efficiency and has given up too much hard contact, there are some signs that the 25-year-old could be the next Brewers' acquisition to go on a run. He is lined up for opportunities with Kyle Harrison (forearm) on the injured list and Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) done for the season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Sam LaPorta an Underrated Draft Target Outside the Top Tier of Tight Ends
With the continued emphasis being put on heavy personnel usage ahead of the 2026 fantasy season, a player flying surprisingly under the radar is Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta. In a relatively small sample size over the past two seasons, LaPorta has been the league's highest-scoring fantasy tight end on a per-route basis out of multi-tight end sets, and a new-look Lions offense should provide him plenty of opportunities to prove it's more than a fluke. With the Cardinals in 2025, new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing used an additional tight end at a higher rate than all but two current playcallers. With LaPorta's season lasting only nine games before a herniated disc in his back sidelined him for the rest of the year, it's easy to forget that he finished as the TE4 in three of his final four fully healthy games and was the TE7 at the time he hit injured reserve. The fourth-year veteran now finds himself in an offense seemingly built to take advantage of his catch-and-run abilities, and he could prove to be a difference-maker from the middle rounds of 2026 drafts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Anthony Edwards Anticipates Growing Pains With New Teammate
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards believes there will be an adjustment period with new teammate LaMelo Ball, and things may not go smoothly at first. "It's definitely going to be ups and downs," Edwards said at Fanatics Fest. "First year together, maybe a lot of downs. But we gonna celebrate both of them. We gonna celebrate the ups, celebrate the downs, and just go with it." Edwards and Ball are ball-dominant players who are used to running the offense. Both must adjust their games to be effective on the court together. While Edwards appears somewhat unsure about how quickly the two will click, the season is long. They will have time to gel, and fantasy managers should not be too concerned about the situation.
Source: NBA Courtside
Source: NBA Courtside
