July 5, 2025
Chicago Cubs outfielder
Pete Crow-Armstrong hit two of his team's franchise-record eight home runs in their 11-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday. Crow-Armstrong went four-for-four with two additional runs scored and two RBI. Crow-Armstrong continues to amaze in 2025, as he's hitting .274 this season with 23 home runs, 66 RBI, 64 runs scored, and 26 stolen bases. His elevated 16.8% HR/FB rate points to some likely power regression in the second half of the season, but he deserves credit for jumping his barrel rate from 7.4% in 2024 to 12.8% so far this year. Even if his home run pace slows over the next couple of months, Crow-Armstrong's elite speed and guaranteed playing time in a great Cubs lineup due to his defensive value make him a must-start outfielder in all formats.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
July 5, 2025
Boston Red Sox starter
Lucas Giolito earned his fifth win of the season on Friday, throwing 7 2/3 of one-run ball in his team's 11-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Giolito struck out seven while walking three and allowing four hits. The veteran right-hander has now won four out of his last five starts dating back to June 10. In that stretch, Giolito has thrown 32 2/3 innings, allowing just three total earned runs and striking out 31. His season-long ERA now sits at a respectable 3.66, but his 1.29 WHIP and modest 13.4% K-BB% are less impressive, and still feeling the effects of his slow start. If Giolito is rounding into form and is now fully recovered from the Tommy John surgery that cost him all of 2024, he could be an impact fantasy arm down the stretch.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
July 5, 2025
Chicago Cubs first baseman
Michael Busch led the charge for his team on Friday, hitting three of his team's franchise-record eight home runs in their 11-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Busch went four-for-four in total with five RBI. For the season, he's now hitting .288 with 17 home runs, 55 RBI, 41 runs scored, and four stolen bases. Improving upon his breakout 2024 season, Busch has reduced his strikeout rate from 28.6% to 22.4% while also boosting his barrel rate from 11.2% to 13.6%. He's still mostly a large-side platoon bat, as he's logged just 47 plate appearances against left-handed pitching this season, hitting .119 with zero home runs. However, Busch has proven himself to be extremely productive in his role and a useful fantasy option at first base.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
July 5, 2025
Seattle Mariners catcher
Cal Raleigh's scintillating first half of the season continued in a 6-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. Raleigh led the Mariners' offensive charge with two home runs, giving him a league-leading 35, and drove in three during a 2-for-4 afternoon. The All-Star slugger has already set a new career high in homers, surpassing last season's 34, while slashing .271/.379/.648 with 74 RBI, 62 runs, and nine steals in 380 plate appearances. Raleigh remains on track to become the first catcher in major league history to reach the 50-HR mark in a season.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
July 4, 2025
Boston Red Sox shortstop
Trevor Story was the leader of an offensive outburst in an 11-2 blowout of the Washington Nationals on Friday. Story finished 4-for-5 with a homer, four RBI, three runs scored, and a stolen base in his fourth multi-hit game since last Saturday. While Story was the owner of a dreadful .585 OPS at the end of May, the 32-year-old has enjoyed a significant turnaround over the past month-plus. In 29 games since June 1, Story has hit .324 (36-for-111) with six homers, 27 RBI, and 19 runs scored. He's still slashing an underwhelming .252/.293/.404 in 349 plate appearances, but the two-time All-Star has amassed 13 HRs, 51 RB1, 42 runs, and 14 steals. Story looks likely to post his first 20/20 season since 2021.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
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
RADIO
