July 18, 2025
Miami Marlins outfielder
Kyle Stowers continued his stunning breakout campaign in an 8-7 win over the Kansas City Royals on Friday. The first-time All-Star smashed a pair of two-run homers, including a walk-off in the 10th inning, to highlight a 3-for-5, five-RBI night. Remarkably, Stowers has gone 8-for-10 with five HRs, 11 RBI, and six runs scored in his past two games. He's up to eight dingers in 13 contests this month, giving him 21 on the season. The 27-year-old is also slashing a superb .298/.371/.563 with 59 RBI and 48 runs over 351 plate appearances. With Stowers ranking in the league's top 6% of hitters in xwOBA, xSLG, barrel rate, and hard-hit percentage, he doesn't look like someone who's going to fade down the stretch.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
July 18, 2025
Los Angeles Angels designated hitter/outfielder
Mike Trout did some outfield drills on Friday and offered a positive update afterward, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports. "It went good," the 33-year-old said. "Just like a slow progression to get my feet under me, and then hopefully be back in the outfield soon." Trout expects to get more work in right field on Saturday, though it's unclear when he'll be ready to return as a defender in game action. The 11-time All-Star missed almost all of May with a bone bruise in his left knee and has been a full-time DH since he returned May 30. While Trout is no longer the all-around superstar he was during his halcyon days, the three-time AL MVP has continued to hit well this year. After going 2-for-5 in a 6-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, Trout is slashing .241/.365/.474 with 17 homers, 42 RBI, and 37 runs scored in 304 plate appearances.
--Connor ByrneSource: Jeff Fletcher - Orange County Register
July 18, 2025
The Houston Astros announced Friday that right-hander
Spencer Arrighetti (thumb) is scheduled to report to Double-A Corpus Christi this week. He should start a rehab assignment in the coming days. Arrighetti threw a 35-pitch live batting practice session last Sunday and hasn't dealt with any issues since then. The Astros are targeting an August return for Arrighetti, who has been on the IL since April 7 with a broken right thumb. The 25-year-old made two starts before then - one a gem, the other a dud - and yielded six earned runs on four hits with 8:5 K:BB in 9 2/3 innings. As a rookie in 2024, Arrighetti pitched to a 4.53 ERA with an impressive 171 strikeouts in 145 frames. After a strong second half last season, Arrighetti entered this year as a potential breakout candidate and may be worth stashing as he draws closer to a return.
--Connor ByrneSource: Matt Kawahara - Houston Chronicle
July 18, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander
Aaron Nola (ankle, rib) will throw a live batting practice session consisting of two innings and 35 pitches on Saturday, Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The plan after that is for Nola to throw a bullpen session on Tuesday before potentially embarking on a rehab assignment. The 32-year-old landed on the 15-day injured list with a sprained right ankle in mid-May, but he eventually had to move to the 60-day IL as a result of a stress fracture in his right rib. Nola got off to an uncharacteristically terrible start before then, as he went 1-7 with a 6.16 ERA (5.05 xERA) in 49 2/3 innings. He's likely still a few weeks away from returning to the bigs.
--Connor ByrneSource: Scott Lauber
July 18, 2025
Houston Astros right-hander
Cristian Javier (elbow) pitched well over three innings in his first Double-A rehab start on Friday. Javier totaled 46 pitches and allowed one run on two hits with three strikeouts against two walks. It was the second rehab outing for Javier, who tossed 35 pitches in a July 12 start in the rookie-level Florida Complex League. The 28-year-old hasn't taken a major league mound since he underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2024. Javier proved effective before then, recording a 3.59 ERA in 501 innings. The Astros remain hopeful that he'll return sometime in August.
--Connor ByrneSource: Jeremy Branham - ESPN 97.5 Houston
July 18, 2025
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher
Jose Urquidy (elbow) completed a successful bullpen session on Friday. The right-hander continues to throw without any issues, but hasn't faced live hitters yet. Urquidy is working his way back from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in June of last year. There is still more work to do, but Urquidy could be an option for the Tigers by mid-August. There is unlikely going to be fantasy value here.
--Andy WebbSource: Evan Petzold
July 18, 2025
Detroit Tigers relief pitcher
Alex Lange (lat) is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Toledo on Saturday. The right-hander continues to work his way back from a lat strain that has kept him sidelined since July 8. Lange only pitched in seven games before being pulled off his rehab assignment due to a lat issue. He hasn't made his 2025 season debut, but figures to be in the mix soon. The hope is that Lange can be a high-leverage option for the Tigers, but isn't someone worth stashing in fantasy formats.
--Andy WebbSource: Evan Petzold
July 18, 2025
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher
Sawyer Gipson-Long (neck) made another rehab start with Triple-A Toledo on Friday. Gipson-Long was fantastic with 4 2/3 scoreless innings during his first rehab start. Sadly, he wasn't able to have the same success on Friday. He tossed 3 2/3 innings, allowing seven earned runs on nine hits while striking out four batters. Gipson-Long was blasted during this outing, but the main focus is him getting healthy. He continues to work his way back from a neck injury that has sidelined him since late June. He figures to return to Detroit soon, but it's unclear if he'll reclaim his fifth spot in the rotation. That being said, Gipson-Long isn't someone that needs to be rostered in fantasy formats right now.
--Andy WebbSource: Evan Petzold
July 18, 2025
Houston Astros infielder
Brendan Rodgers (oblique, head) was forced to make an early exit from Friday's rehab game at Triple-A Sugar Land. Rodgers collided with his teammate and suffered a head injury during the third inning of this contest. He was pulled out of the contest and is expected to be examined for a concussion. It's unclear how long he'll be out, but for now he should be considered day-to-day. This was Rodgers first rehab game while he attempts to return from an oblique injury. He was struggling with the bat before the injury and doesn't need to be rostered in fantasy formats.
--Andy WebbSource: Chandler Rome
July 18, 2025
Washington Nationals outfielder
Dylan Crews (oblique) is nearing a rehab assignment, according to interim manager Miguel Cairo. This is good news considering Crews has been sidelined since mid-May due to a left oblique strain. The fact he has missed nearly two months of action means he'll probably have a long rehab stint. Barring any setbacks, Crews should be back in the mix by early August. He was struggling with the bat before going down and isn't someone that must be rostered right now. He's slashing .196/.266/.354 with seven home runs, 15 RBI, and 11 stolen bases in 45 games. He does have good potential, so fantasy managers can be hopeful those numbers improve.
--Andy WebbSource: Mark Zuckerman
July 18, 2025
Colorado Rockies infielder
Thairo Estrada (thumb) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Friday. Estrada has been dealing with a thumb issue since he jammed it back on July 7. He'll now head to the shelf, but backdated to July 11. That means, Estrada could potentially return to the lineup following this weekend's series against the Minnesota Twins. In a corresponding move, shortstop
Ezequiel Tovar (oblique) has been activated off the injured list and is playing on Friday. Estrada hasn't done enough with the bat to warrant rostering in most fantasy formats.
--Andy WebbSource: Rockies Club Information
July 18, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder
Sal Frelick (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Friday. Frelick suffered a hamstring injury while making a sliding catch during the final game before the All-Star break. The Brewers gave him a few days to rest and see how he feels. It doesn't sound like Frelick is doing much better, so he'll start the second half of the season on the shelf. In a corresponding move, outfielder
Blake Perkins has been recalled to take the spot on the active roster. He figures to serve as a replacement in right field. It's unclear how long Frelick will be sidelined, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect him back until probably August.
--Andy WebbSource: Curt Hogg
July 18, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals infielder
Nolan Gorman (back) was scratched from the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the hosting Arizona Diamondbacks to begin the second half of the season. The Cardinals didn't give a specific reason for why Gorman was scratched, but he had been dealing with a back issue going into this week's All-Star break. With the 25-year-old starting on the bench,
Brendan Donovan will take over at the keystone and will hit leadoff, with
Jordan Walker entering the game in right field and batting seventh against D-backs right-hander
Brandon Pfaadt. Gorman, a former first-rounder, continues to be inconsistent with the bat for the Cards, as he enters the second half hitting just .219 (43-for-196) with nine home runs, 29 RBI and 31 runs. Donovan was an All-Star this year and has hit .571 with an RBI in seven career at-bats versus Pfaadt.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 18, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals third baseman
Nolan Arenado (finger) is back in the starting lineup to kick off the second half of the season in Friday's series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander
Brandon Pfaadt at Chase Field, starting at third base and batting fifth. Arenado is returning after missing the final two games of the first half of the year with a sprained right index finger. The 34-year-old eight-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner remains St. Louis' starting third baseman, but he's no longer in the prime of his career and continues to see a drop in his power numbers. Through 84 games in the first half in his fifth year with the Red Birds, Arenado slashed a mediocre .246/.305/.388 with a career-worst .693 OPS, 10 home runs, 42 RBI and 39 runs scored in 347 plate appearances. He has hit .286 with a homer and three RBI in seven career at-bats against Pfaadt.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 18, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman
Eugenio Suarez (hand) is starting at third base and is batting fifth in Friday's series opener against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander
Andre Pallante to start the second half of the season. Suarez wore a pitch off his left hand during the All-Star game on Tuesday, but thankfully X-rays came back negative and the 34-year-old slugger will be available to fantasy managers to begin the second half of the season. Although the Venezuelan infielder swings and misses frequently and has his fair share of strikeouts, he's having one of the best years of his career after clubbing 31 home runs and driving in a league-high 78 runs for the Snakes in 95 games in the first half. On an expiring contract and with the D-backs expected to be sellers at this year's trade deadline, Suarez could be wearing a different uniform by July 31.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
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