July 4, 2025
Baltimore Orioles closer
Felix Bautista pitched a perfect ninth inning to wrap up a 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves on Friday. Bautista needed just 11 pitches to nail down his 17th save in 18 attempts. The 30-year-old righty has recorded 12 scoreless appearances in 13 tries since May 31, lowering his ERA to 2.64 with 43 strikeouts over 30 2/3 frames. Bautista is issuing walks at a career-worst rate (5.58 per nine), but that's not surprising for a pitcher returning from Tommy John surgery. He has been terrific overall in his first action since 2023.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
July 4, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers closer
Trevor Megill pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his 19th save in a 6-5 win over the Miami Marlins on Friday. It wasn't easy for Megill, who required 32 pitches to finish off the Marlins after putting a pair of runners on with a single and a walk. Megill escaped a two-out jam by fanning
Otto Lopez to give Milwaukee its 49th win of the year. That was the lone strikeout for Megill in his first save since June 25. The hard-throwing 31-year-old has put up a 2.64 ERA with 36:15 K:BB, a 1.25 WHIP, and four blown saves in 30 2/3 innings.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
July 4, 2025
New York Yankees outfielder
Jasson Dominguez went deep for the first time since May 21 in a 6-5 loss to the New York Mets on Friday. Dominguez led the game off with a homer against right-hander
Justin Hagenman and added a two-run round-tripper in the fifth off righty
Austin Warren. He ended the afternoon 2-for-4 with a walk. Dominguez has put together three consecutive multi-hit games and five in eight contests since June 25. That recent hot streak has raised the 22-year-old switch-hitter's line to .271/.350/.433 with eight homers, 33 RBI, 39 runs, and 14 steals over 283 trips to the plate. Dominguez, who has compiled the extreme majority of his production against righties, will face Mets RHP
Frankie Montas on Saturday.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
July 4, 2025
Detroit Tigers reliever
Will Vest retired four Cleveland Guardians on Friday to close out a 2-1 win and collect his 14th save. The Tigers called on Vest with two outs and runners on first and third in the bottom of the eighth inning. Vest walked
David Fry to load the bases, but he induced a Daniel Schneeman groundout to wiggle out of a bases-loaded jam. The right-hander faced more trouble in the ninth when he allowed a two-out double to
Steven Kwan, but
Kyle Manzardo then grounded out to Vest to end the game. Vest fanned one during the outing and dropped his ERA to 2.25 with a 0.95 WHIP, 44:11 K:BB, and three blown saves over 40 frames.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
July 4, 2025
Texas Rangers reliever
Robert Garcia fell to 1-4 on the season as the club dropped a 3-2 decision against the San Diego Padres on Friday. Garcia came in to pitch the bottom of the 10th and intentionally walked
Manny Machado to put runners on first and second with nobody out. The left-hander later allowed a single in between two strikeouts to load the bases with two down. Garcia was unable to get out of the jam, as
Jake Cronenworth hit a walk-off bloop single to end it. Although Garcia has given up an earned run in back-to-back appearances, he still owns a solid 2.91 ERA with 34:12 K:BB, a 1.21 WHIP, and six saves in 34 innings. The 29-year-old has been part of a closer committee with
Luke Jackson, whose most recent save opportunity came on June 15.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
July 4, 2025
Cincinnati Reds closer
Emilio Pagan notched his 19th save in a 9-6 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday. Pagan needed 16 pitches to put away the Phillies in a scoreless, one-hit ninth inning with no strikeouts or walks. It was the 34-year-old's first save opportunity since June 22. Already on the verge of his second 20-save season and his first since 2019, Pagan has posted a 2.92 ERA with 45 strikeouts, 12 walks, and a meager 0.86 WHIP over 37 innings. He has surrendered just one earned run in his past 12 appearances.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
July 4, 2025
Atlanta Braves left-hander
Aaron Bummer will serve as the team's opener against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, according to David O'Brien of The Athletic. Having recently lost top starters
Chris Sale and
Spencer Schwellenbach to long-term injuries, the Braves are undermanned in their rotation and will have to rely more on their bullpen. Bummer has been a reliable member of their relief corps this year, having logged a 2.86 ERA with 35:12 K:BB in 34 2/3 innings. The 31-year-old won't be in Saturday's game for long, as he hasn't gone more than 2 2/3 frames in any of his 28 appearances.
--Connor ByrneSource: David O'Brien - The Athletic
July 4, 2025
San Diego Padres shortstop
Xander Bogaerts (hamstring) left the team's 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Friday with an apparent right-hamstring injury, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports. The Padres pinch-hit
Bryce Johnson for Bogaerts in a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the 10th inning. Johnson struck out, but the Padres went on to win on a
Jake Cronenworth walk-off single. Bogaerts finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and is now hitting .255/.329/.364 with five homers, 30 RBI, 36 runs, and 13 stolen bases in 343 plate appearances. Until now, this has been a healthy season for Bogaerts. He battled a shoulder injury last year and sat out 51 games.
--Connor ByrneSource: AJ Cassavell
July 4, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop
Ha-Seong Kim (calf) finally made his season debut on Friday, but sadly he didn't make it through the game. Kim was pulled out in the seventh inning after attempting to steal third base. Afterwards, Rays manager Kevin Cash said Kim is considered day-to-day with a calf injury. The team downplayed the issue and doesn't believe Kim will require another stint on the injured list. Before exiting, Kim went 1-for-3 with a single and a stolen base. Fantasy managers should continue to look for another update, but it wouldn't be shocking to see Kim sit out the rest of the weekend.
--Andy WebbSource: Ryan Bass
July 4, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays second baseman
Andres Gimenez (ankle) made his return to the lineup on Friday, but sadly it didn't last too long. Gimenez tweaked his ankle on Wednesday and as a result sat out on Thursday. He appears to have re-aggravated the injury while running the bases in the sixth inning on Friday. Gimenez attempted to talk his way into staying on the field, but ultimately exited the contest. The expectation is that the Blue Jays will have Gimenez undergo further testing to determine the severity of the injury. Before exiting, Gimenez went 1-for-3 with a single and an RBI.
Leo Jimenez figures to see increased playing time if Gimenez doesn't play this weekend.
--Andy WebbSource: Shi Davidi
July 4, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder
Corbin Carroll (wrist) could be activated off the injured list as early as this weekend, according to D-Backs manager Torey Lovullo. Carroll has been out since late June due to a fracture in his wrist. He began a rehab assignment on Thursday and appears to be ready to return. Before going down, Carroll was slashing .255/.341/.573 with 20 home runs, 44 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 72 games. Jake McCarty figures to lose playing time once Carroll is back in the mix. Fantasy managers should check back on Saturday for another update on this status.
--Andy WebbSource: Arizona Sports
July 4, 2025
Texas Rangers outfielder
Wyatt Langford (oblique) is expected to rejoin the big league club ahead of Saturday's game against the San Diego Padres. Langford is ready to get back in the mix after being sidelined since late June due to a left oblique strain. Before going down, Langford was in a mini slump, going 1-for-13 at the plate, but will hopefully get off to a better start at the plate. He's slashing .232/.308/.421 with 13 home runs, 31 RBI, and 11 stolen bases in 67 games this season. Langford does a little bit of everything which makes him worth rostering in most fantasy formats.
--Andy WebbSource: Shawn McFarland
July 4, 2025
New York Yankees relief pitcher
Luke Weaver has struggled on the mound over the last few outings. The right-hander has given up two earned runs in each of his last three appearances. Weaver was hit around during their series against the Toronto Blue Jays. The problems continued on Friday when Weaver gave up a two-run home run to
Jeff McNeil and suffered his second blown save of the season. Weaver says he's feeling good physically, but he seemingly can't do anything right on the mound.
Devin Williams has settled back into the closer role, so Weaver is droppable in most fantasy formats.
--Andy WebbSource: Greg Joyce
July 4, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays first base prospect
Xavier Isaac remains in a slump at Double-A Montgomery. Over his last seven contests, the No. 46-ranked prospect in the sport on MLB.com has posted a low .148/.343/.259 slash line. During this stretch, Isaac has hit just one extra-base hit (a home run) and held an 8:8 K:BB. Through 41 total games with Double-A this season, Isaac has held a modest .201/.366/.446 line. While his batting average is low, he has shown a strong eye at the plate, drawing 34 walks and striking out just 52 times. He has also hit nine home runs and held an .812 OPS. Last season, Isaac held a much lower .695 OPS during his first taste of Double-A. Fantasy managers should expect the former 29th overall pick to remain at Double-A through most of the second half.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
July 4, 2025
Chicago Cubs catching prospect
Moises Ballesteros continues to dominate at Triple-A and is making a strong case to return to the major leagues. Over his last seven contests, the backstop has posted a stellar .308/.333/.462 slash line with four doubles, one stolen base, and a 7:2 K:BB. Over his last four games, he has hit at least one double in all but one. Ballesteros received a brief taste of the big leagues earlier this season. During his five-game stint in the majors, Ballesteros tallied three hits and three RBI. Through 69 total games with Triple-A Iowa this season, Ballesteros has posted a remarkable .331/.389/.498 slash line with 19 doubles and eight home runs. With
Miguel Amaya (oblique) on the IL, Ballesteros could be in the mix to return to the North Side very soon. For now, he is worth stashing in all deeper two-catcher formats.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
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