July 14, 2025
Chicago Cubs catcher
Miguel Amaya (oblique) will likely start a minor-league rehab assignment after this week's All-Star break. Amaya will initially begin playing in rehab games in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League. Manager Craig Counsell said that Amaya will need a week's worth of games before being activated from the 10-day injured list, potentially before the calendar flips to August. The 26-year-old has been working his way back from a strained left oblique that has kept him out since May 25. Amaya has been taking batting practice and catching bullpen sessions, but he should start playing in games on the farm this weekend and into next week. When Amaya does return, he'll be sharing playing time behind the plate with
Carson Kelly, who is having a very strong year. Amaya himself was hitting a strong .280 (26-for-93) with four homers, 25 RBI and 14 runs before his injury.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 14, 2025
The Kansas City Royals announced on Monday that they placed right-hander
Michael Lorenzen (oblique) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to July 11) with a left-oblique strain. The Royals scratched Lorenzen from his start over the weekend with what they called at the time an illness, but the 33-year-old veteran is dealing with something much worse than that heading into this week's All-Star break. Lorenzen won't be eligible to come off the IL until July 26, and given the nature of his injury, he might not be ready to return by then. It's unclear at this time who will enter his spot in the starting rotation for the Royals to begin the second half of the season this weekend. Lorenzen finishes the first half in 2025 with a mediocre 4.61 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with 85 strikeouts and 29 walks in 99 2/3 innings over his 18 starts.
--Keith HernandezSource: Kansas City Royals
July 14, 2025
Cleveland Guardians second base prospect
Travis Bazzana (oblique) has continued his rehab assignment with the team's Arizona Complex League affiliate and is now 3-for-11 (.273) with one double, a steal, and a 6:2 BB:K through five games. Before going down with the injury, the No. 1 overall pick from last year's draft was slashing .252/.362/.433 with four home runs, eight steals, and a 19:39 BB:K through 33 games (149 plate appearances) at Double-A Akron. At this point in the season, unless he catches fire, the Oregon State product will likely finish out the year at Double-A. But look for him to see Triple-A and make a push for the majors in 2026. With an exceptional hit tool, above-average power and the ability to run, the Guardians' top prospect should be stashed away in dynasty formats.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
July 14, 2025
Cincinnati Reds third base prospect
Cam Collier went 3-for-3 with three singles, two walks, and an RBI for Double-A Chattanooga on Sunday. The Reds' fourth-ranked prospect was promoted to Double-A back in mid-June, and since then, he's held his own, batting .293 (24-for-82) with five doubles and a 17.8 percent walk rate, but has yet to flash the home run power through 24 games at that level. In 45 games between High-A and Double-A, the 20-year-old is slashing .314/.434/.429 with a pair of home runs. The left-handed slugger got a late start to the season due to a thumb injury that could be sapping some of the power that led him to a 20-homer season last year, but hopefully it'll pick up in the second half. The former first-rounder should be knocking on the door to the majors late next year, so he's worth keeping an eye on in dynasty formats.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
July 14, 2025
Baltimore Orioles catching prospect
Samuel Basallo went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, and four RBI on Sunday for Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles' top-ranked prospect (MLB No. 10) had been in a bit of a slump from late June to early July, going 3-for-24 (.125) with one home run over a nine-game stretch, but is 7-for-18 (.389) over his last five games including three doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI, and a 3:4 BB:K. The 20-year-old is now hitting .264 on the year along with a .383 OBP thanks to a strong 15.4 percent walk rate, and is boasting a .591 SLG. A big league debut in the second half is likely, and with the ability to play first base or DH as well, there are multiple paths to the majors and to at-bats once he gets there. The left-handed slugger with huge power is a top stash candidate in deep leagues ahead of his eventual call-up.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
July 14, 2025
Houston Astros infielder/outfielder
Zach Dezenzo (hand) is making progress but still isn't swinging a bat, according to MLB.com. The Astros moved Dezenzo to the 60-day injured list last Friday, and there's currently no timetable for his return. He has been sidelined since June 1 with a capsule strain in his left hand and will not return to the Astros for the start of the second half of the season this Friday. The 25-year-old will first need to resume swinging and taking part in baseball activities before the Astros even consider sending him on a minor-league rehab assignment. Whenever he recovers from his hand injury, Dezenzo will serve in a super-utility role in Houston, leaving him minimal fantasy value the rest of the year. Before his injury, Dezenzo was hitting .245/.321/.367 with a below-average .688 OPS, two home runs, 10 RBI and 17 runs in 98 at-bats.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 14, 2025
Houston Astros outfielder
Chas McCormick (oblique) has gone just 2-for-20 with a home run, eight strikeouts and a walk through five minor-league rehab games at Triple-A Sugar Land, according to MLB.com. McCormick is currently on the 10-day injured list with a left-oblique strain, but he figures to return for the second half of the season later this month. The 30-year-old has been out since late May and could return for the start of the second half, which begins this Friday, July 18. When he returns, McCormick could actually see more playing time in center field with
Jake Meyers (calf) out at least three weeks. McCormick has only played in 36 games for the 'Stros this year and has hit .256 (11-for-43) with no home runs, two RBI and a stolen base in 53 plate appearances. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect much when he's back in Houston.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 14, 2025
Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown said on Sports Talk 790 radio that right-hander
Cristian Javier (elbow) is ahead of
Luis Garcia (elbow) in his rehab. "He's going to help us this year. It's probably going to take him a little bit longer," Brown said. Javier, who is on the 60-day injured list as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery, hit 95 mph during a 35-pitch rehab appearance in the rookie-level Florida Complex League on July 12. MLB.com suggests he could be the first of the Astros' injured pitchers to come off the IL, potentially in August. During his rehab start on Friday in the FCL, the 28-year-old allowed three runs (two earned) on one hit while walking three and striking out two in 1 1/3 innings. Javier was unsurprisingly rusty, but he could help Houston's rotation down the stretch and potentially into the playoffs this fall.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
July 14, 2025
Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said on Sunday that third baseman
Connor Norby (wrist) is scheduled to visit with a specialist in Arizona during the All-Star break this week to "plot a course of action." Norby injured his wrist last Friday and was placed on the 10-day injured list on Sunday with left-wrist inflammation. Although it's unclear exactly what the 25-year-old's timetable for a return looks like, it seems unlikely that he'll be ready to return for the start of the second half of the season this Friday, July 18. Norby finishes the first half of the season for the Fish with a .241/.289/.364 slash line with a weak .653 OPS, six home runs, 26 RBI, 33 runs scored and seven steals as the team's primary third baseman. After the break, expect
Javier Sanoja and
Graham Pauley to split third-base duties in Miami until Norby is able to return.
--Keith HernandezSource: CBS Sports Miami - Mike Cugno
July 14, 2025
Detroit Tigers right-hander
Sawyer Gipson-Long (neck) made a minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Toledo on Sunday and looked sharp, tossing 4 2/3 shutout innings without allowing a hit, walking one and striking out five against Triple-A Omaha. Gipson-Long threw 41 of his 59 pitches for strikes in the outing and was in control all the way. The 27-year-old was put on the 15-day injured list back on July 2 due to a neck strain, but he appears to be recovering nicely and could come off the IL to rejoin the big-league club for the start of the second half of the season on July 18. Gipson-Long had a nice 2.70 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in four starts in his rookie year in 2023 but didn't pitch at all in the big leagues in 2024. He allowed 13 runs (12 earned) with four walks and 18 K's in five outings (two starts) this year before his injury. Gipson-Long could be a rotation option for Detroit in the second half.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milb.com
July 14, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays left-hander
Shane McClanahan (triceps) made another minor-league rehab start on Sunday in the rookie-level Florida Complex League and allowed an earned run on four hits while walking none and striking out three in only 1 2/3 innings of work. McClanahan threw 23 of his 36 pitches for strikes and got up to 94 mph with his fastball after a setback with his left triceps previously. The 28-year-old southpaw was attempting to return from Tommy John surgery this spring before suffering from nerve irritation in his triceps that has kept him sidelined for all of 2025 to this point. He will eventually move his rehab to Triple-A Durham before potentially joining the Rays' starting rotation at some point in August. McClanahan has ace potential when healthy, although it remains to be seen how much he'll be abel to help fantasy managers the rest of the way in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milb.com
July 14, 2025
Houston Astros right-hander
J.P. France (shoulder) threw live batting practice Wednesday in the latest step in his recovery from a torn shoulder capsule. France, who hasn't appeared in the majors since April 2024, underwent shoulder surgery last July. The Astros still haven't provided a clear timeline for his return, though they do expect the 30-year-old back sometime this season. France combined for 29 appearances (28 starts) from 2023-24 and recorded back-end production. Over a 161 2/3-inning span, he went 11-9 with a 4.40 ERA, a 1.41 WHIP, and 123:59 K:BB.
--Connor ByrneSource: Houston Astros
July 14, 2025
New York Mets right-handed reliever
Max Kranick (elbow) is getting another opinion from Dr. Keith Meister on his injured elbow and could require Tommy John surgery, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports. Kranick has been out since June 15 with a flexor strain, and going under the knife would cost him the rest of this season and perhaps all of 2026. It would be the second TJ surgery for Kranick, who also had the procedure in 2022. After two seasons out of the majors, the 27-year-old returned in 2025 to throw 37 innings of 3.65 ERA ball with 25:5 K:BB and five holds. Unfortunately for Kranick, he may not be able to build on those solid numbers because of his injury.
--Connor ByrneSource: Abbey Mastracco
July 14, 2025
Baltimore Orioles left-hander
Cade Povich (hip) posted a lights-out performance in a High-A rehab start on Sunday. Povich threw three perfect innings and recorded three strikeouts on 30 pitches (23 strikes). The 25-year-old has been on the 15-day injured list since mid-June and recently suffered a setback, making Sunday's excellent outing all the more encouraging. The Orioles expect Povich to return sometime after the All-Star break. Povich has gone 2-5 with a subpar 5.15 ERA across 13 appearances (12 starts) and 64 2/3 innings, though he has logged an impressive 68 strikeouts against 23 walks.
--Connor ByrneSource: MiLB.com
July 14, 2025
Houston Astros outfielder
Jacob Melton (ankle) has recently begun participating in baseball activities at the team's facility in Florida. Melton, on the 10-day injured list since June 14 with a sprained right ankle, is still without an exact timetable for a return. The Astros' second-ranked prospect at MLB Pipeline, Melton made his major league debut June 1 and went 7-for-29 with six RBI, 12 strikeouts, and two walks before going on the IL. He hit a productive .254/.371/.508 in 71 plate appearances with Triple-A Sugar Land this year to earn his first call-up. Melton is currently among a handful of Houston outfield options who are shelved with injuries, joining the likes of
Jake Meyers (calf),
Yordan Alvarez (hand),
Chas McCormick (oblique), and
Zach Dezenzo (hand).
--Connor ByrneSource: Houston Astros
RADIO
