RADIO
Orioles Turn to Tyler Wells for Friday's Save, Emerging as Priority Closer to Roster
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Tyler Wells picked up his third save of the season on Friday, allowing one hit and one walk while collecting a strikeout in a scoreless ninth inning of his team's 3-2 win over the Houston Astros. The 31-year-old appears to be grabbing hold of the full-time closer role in Baltimore, as he's earned three saves while allowing just one earned run across eight innings (seven games) in July. Wells' overall numbers for the year are strong as well, as he's pitched to a 2.96 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 47 strikeouts across 45 2/3 innings. He's struck out 25.8% of the batters he's faced while logging a stellar 6.0% walk rate. Fantasy managers in need of saves should consider Wells a priority waiver wire target.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Logan Henderson Battles Forearm Cramping During Friday's Start
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Logan Henderson (forearm) said that he was dealing with a forearm cramp in the fifth inning of his start on Friday night's win over the Miami Marlins, according to Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Henderson was visited by a trainer, but he stayed in the game and finished with one earned run allowed on three hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out four in five innings for a no-decision at American Family Field. The 24-year-old didn't have an amazing first outing out of the All-Star break, but it was another solid showing, and he lowered his season ERA to under 3.00 in the process. Henderson said he was already feeling better after the game on Friday night, so as of now, it looks like he has a good shot at taking the mound for his next scheduled outing next week in a great matchup against the last-place New York Mets. RotoBaller has been encouraging fantasy managers to snag Henderson off the waiver wire for weeks now, and there's no better time to do so as he heads into a matchup against the Mets. UPDATE: Henderson has been listed as the team's probable starter for Wednesday against the Mets in Milwaukee, per FOX Sports' Hunter Baumgardt.
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Todd Rosiak
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Todd Rosiak
Spencer Steer Clubs Two Homers, an Ascending Source of Power
Cincinnati Reds infielder/outfielder Spencer Steer got his second half started on the right foot in the team's 7-2 win over the Colorado Rockies at hitter-friendly Coors Field on Friday night. Steer took advantage of the thin air in Denver to go 2-for-4 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI, and a strikeout. The 28-year-old right-handed slugger is now batting .250/.330/.441 on the year with 16 home runs and 40 RBI in 362 plate appearances in his fifth year in Cincy. Steer is in just the 41st percentile in hard-hit rate in 2026, but he also sits in the 81st percentile in barrel rate, the 76th percentile in expected slugging, and the 74th percentile in xwOBA. He's also in the 77th percentile in xISO and is well on his way to setting a new career high in home runs this season with 16 through his first 92 games -- his career high was set in 2023 with 23 long balls. Steer isn't going to wow with his batting average or on-base skills, but the power is real in a hitter-friendly home environment. Fantasy managers seeking power need to add him off the waiver wire now. Steer is only rostered in 35% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Drake Baldwin Gets his Second Half Started With Five-RBI Night
Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin led the charge in Friday night's 15-1 blowout win over the visiting Texas Rangers at Truist Park to get the second half of the season started, going 3-for-4 at the plate out of the leadoff spot with a home run, five RBI, two runs scored, and a walk to raise his season batting average to .261 and his OPS to .804. Baldwin's home run was a three-run shot off right-hander Cal Quantrill in the fourth inning, and it was his 16th long ball of the year after he slugged 19 in an impressive rookie campaign in 2025. It was nice to see the second-year backstop go deep to begin the second half, as it was just his second round-tripper since June 17. Baldwin missed some time in the first half with an injury, but he has still produced an OPS over .800 with 51 RBI and a stolen base in 324 plate appearances. In 12 games in July before this week's All-Star break, Baldwin hit. 256 (11-for-43) with a homer, seven RBI, and seven runs scored. A second-half breakout could be coming for the former third-rounder from Mississippi State University.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Padres Want to Move Off Xander Bogaerts' Contract
San Diego Padres infielder Xander Bogaerts has not lived up to his contract during his time with the organization. The Padres have Bogaerts locked up through 2033, but would reportedly like to get out of the contract. The speculation is that the Padres would attach Bogaerts in a potential Mason Miller trade at the deadline. It would be a shame to lose Miller, but Padres' fans would rejoice at being out of the $25 million per season owed to Bogaerts through 2033. This season, Bogaerts is slashing .224/.317/.331 with nine home runs, 37 RBI, and 12 steals in 91 games. The 33-year-old has almost no value by himself, so the Padres would likely have to package him with a superstar just to get out of the deal.
Source: San Diego Union-Tribune
Source: San Diego Union-Tribune
Blaze Alexander has No Timetable for Return
Baltimore Orioles infielder Blaze Alexander (hand) currently has no timetable to return from the 10-day Injured List. Alexander landed on the shelf on Thursday after suffering a fractured left hand during last Sunday's game. The plan is for Alexander to have weekly checkups on his hand until it is completely healed. After that, Alexander can begin the road to getting back to the Orioles lineup. While Alexander is out, Coby Mayo figures to see a majority of the time at the hot corner. He could be worth adding for fantasy managers who are patiently waiting for the return of Alexander.
Source: Jacob Calvin Meyer
Source: Jacob Calvin Meyer
JoJo Romero is Placed on 15-Day Injured List
St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher JoJo Romero (appendicitis) was placed on the 15-day Injured List, retroactive to July 14. This is a tough blow to the Cardinals' bullpen to begin the second half of the season. Romero has been one of the best relievers on this roster. The southpaw has allowed one earned run over his last 10 innings of work. It's unclear how much time he'll need on the IL, but Romero will at least be sidelined until the end of July. In a corresponding move, reliever Scott Blewett has been recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Friday. Romero is worth holding in fantasy formats where holds matter. He figures to get back on the mound at the end of July or early August.
Source: John Denton
Source: John Denton
Wilyer Abreu Goes Deep Twice in Second Game of Doubleheader
Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu closed out the team's doubleheader sweep of the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on Friday with a big performance in Game 2, going 2-for-4 at the plate with two home runs and three RBI in the 5-3 victory to boost his season average to .263 and his OPS to .777. Abreu went 1-for-4 with a walk in the 10-0 shutout win in Game 1 of the twin bill. It was the 27-year-old left-handed-hitting Venezuelan outfielder's first multi-homer game of the 2026 season, and his first since July of last year versus the Chicago Cubs. It was nice to see from him to start the second half of the year after he went 8-for-39 (.205) with a homer, four doubles, four RBI, seven runs scored, six walks, and 13 strikeouts in his first 10 games in the month of July. Abreu now sits on 13 homers, 46 RBI, and six stolen bases with a .777 OPS in 409 plate appearances on the 2026 campaign. He'll look to stay hot at the plate to begin the second half in Game 3 of the series on Saturday in Beantown.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Angel Martinez is Beginning Rehab Assignment on Friday
Cleveland Guardians infielder/outfielder Angel Martinez (foot) is beginning a rehab assignment with Triple-A Columbus on Friday, according to Tim Stebbins. The plan is to ease Martinez into game action, so he'll get in five innings on Friday. Martinez hasn't played in a game since breaking his foot on June 13. This season, Martinez is slashing .239/.276/.442 with 11 home runs and 33 RBI across 66 games. The 24-year-old was playing an everyday role in the outfield before landing on the Injured List in mid-June. He could be someone worth stashing in deep leagues as he ramps up his return.
Source: Tim Stebbins
Source: Tim Stebbins
Daniel Palencia Could be Looking at a Mid-August Return
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on Friday that right-handed reliever Daniel Palencia's (elbow) timeline for a return from the 15-day injured list is unclear, but he speculated that it could come in the middle of August, according to ESPN's Jesse Rogers. It's not exactly what fantasy managers who have been stashing Palencia want to hear. He's currently rostered in 60% of Yahoo leagues while he rehabs a right-elbow injury. The 26-year-old Venezuelan hurler presumably will return as the Cubs' primary closer when he's healthy, but he might not have much of a runway to close out the year and return much fantasy value. Before his elbow injury landed him on the IL, Palencia was 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA (3.46 FIP), 1.38 WHIP, three saves, 19 strikeouts, and just six walks across his 16 2/3 frames. The Cubs' late-inning saves picture has turned into a committee situation going into the second half of the season involving Jacob Webb, Trent Thornton, and Caleb Thielbar.
Source: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
Source: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
Max Scherzer has Rehab Stint Paused
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer (back, thumb) was recently pulled off his rehab assignment. The veteran right-hander recently received three cortisone injections in his injured thumb during the All-Star break. Scherzer was rehabbing the back injury that landed him on the Injured List last month. He re-injured his hand during his most recent rehab start on Wednesday. Scherzer is aiming to throw the ball this weekend. If that goes well, Scherzer should resume his rehab assignment shortly. It doesn't sound like Scherzer is nearing a return to the Jays' rotation anytime soon. The 41-year-old got smacked around to the tune of a 10.23 ERA when he was healthy this season. Fantasy managers in all formats are better off looking for a replacement at this point.
Source: Arden Zwelling
Source: Arden Zwelling
Edward Cabrera Could Return in Second Week of August
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on Friday that right-hander Edward Cabrera (hamstring) could return from the 15-day injured list in the second week of August, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN. The Cubs placed Cabrera on the IL on June 24 with a strained left hamstring, but he resumed a throwing program a week before the All-Star break. It remains to be seen if Chicago will require him to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before rejoining the big-league starting rotation, but if he does, it might just be one start on the farm. The 28-year-old Dominican has been tough to trust in starting fantasy lineups in his first year on the North Side of Chicago, as he's gone 5-4 with a 5.10 ERA (5.06 FIP) and 1.39 WHIP with 65 strikeouts and 29 walks in 72 1/3 innings covering his 14 starts. Not only has Cabrera not been able to stay healthy, but he's also sporting a career-low 21% strikeout rate in his sixth year in the big leagues. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues aren't going to be in any hurry to add him back off the waiver wire when he's back in August. He's currently rostered in 42% of Yahoo leagues while he's on the IL.
Source: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
Source: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
MLB Shuts Down Mets A.I. Pitching Program
Former New York Mets reliever Adam Ottavino recently talked about the team using an artificial intelligence pitching program on his YouTube channel. The organization would use an AI program to pick the pitches. The MLB got wind of the Mets doing this and cracked down on teams doing this league-wide. It doesn't sound like the Mets were the only team doing this, but they were the main team that got caught. It's unclear if the Mets were punished or fined for doing this. Ottavino played with the Mets from 2022-2024. He is now retired after a brief stint with the New York Yankees last season.
Source: Adam Ottavino
Source: Adam Ottavino
Matt Chapman Cleared to Swing, Won't Return on Road Trip
San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman (abdomen) was cleared to resume swinging on Friday, but he won't return from the 10-day injured list during the team's current road trip, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports. Chapman could return at the start of the next homestand, though, which runs from Friday, July 24, though Wedneday, July 29. It hasn't helped the 33-year-old veteran's trade value that he's been sidelined since early July, but he's taking the first step towards a return. It's unclear if Chapman will require a minor-league assignment before returning to the Giants' lineup later this month. Like most of the Giants hitters, Chapman has left a lot to be desired through the first half of the 2026 season, slashing .235/.324/.368 with a career-low .692 OPS, only seven home runs, 42 RBI, and 35 runs scored across 84 games and 352 plate appearances. He's in danger of failing to reach the 20-homer mark for the third straight season, but perhaps a change of scenery would do him some good. Chapman is only rostered in 63% of Yahoo leagues after his abdominal strain.
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
Addison Barger Still Not Doing Baseball Activities
Toronto Blue Jays third baseman/outfielder Addison Barger (back, elbow) is still hoping to return this season, but he's currently still not doing any baseball activities, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. Per manager John Schneider, August is a best-case scenario for Barger's return from the 10-day injured list. It's been a lost season for the 26-year-old left-handed hitter, as he's appeared in only nine games for Toronto due to ankle, back, and elbow injuries. At this point, it's extremely hard to recommend holding the former sixth-rounder in 2018 in even deep-mixed fantasy leagues. Barger has gone 1-for-22 at the plate with two RBI, five walks, and five strikeouts in his nine games earlier this season after slashing .243/.301/.454 with a .756 OPS, 21 home runs, 74 RBI, 61 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 135 regular-season games in 2025 in his first full year in the big leagues. He's only rostered in 18% of Yahoo leagues at the moment and doesn't have a clear timetable for a return in the second half of the season.
Source: Sportsnet - Ben Nicholson-Smith
Source: Sportsnet - Ben Nicholson-Smith
