Spencer Jones Crushes Third Triple-A Homer Wednesday
Spencer Jones went 2-for-4 with a home run, two additional runs scored, and a stolen base on Wednesday against Triple-A Buffalo. Jones continues to slug everywhere he's been, as his 21 homers across all levels of the minors rank third among all hitters. He's been incredibly productive during his short time with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, hitting five homers with four stolen bases and a 1.315 OPS. The swing-and-miss issues are well-discussed for the long-levered outfielder, but the power is special. If he can continue to chip away at his strikeout rate and get it at or below the 30 percent mark, then there is a chance Jones could stick in the big leagues with his other high-end tools.Source: MiLB.com
New York Yankees outfield prospect Chase DeLauter Goes Deep Wednesday
Chase DeLauter went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in a 7-3 loss against Triple-A Louisville. The 23-year-old hit his first homer in July, where he has scuffled a bit at the plate in the limited time. He is hitting just .185/.267/.370 through 27 at-bats, but hopefully Wednesday night's homer signals a hot streak shortly. The Guardians' number two prospect has still excelled at Triple-A for the season with an .861 OPS. Under the hood, the quality of contact looks quite favorable as well, with an 11.3 percent barrel rate and 50.5 percent hard-hit rate. With the Guardians struggling to score runs consistently, we could see DeLauter debut with the club here later this summer.Source: MiLB.com
Cleveland Guardians outfield prospect J.J. Wetherholt Blasts First Triple-A Homer
J.J. Wetherholt went 3-for-8 with a home run and a double across a doubleheader on Wednesday against Triple-A Charlotte. Wetherholt got ahold of a hanging slider and sent it 424 feet for his first homer at Triple-A. The No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 draft cruised through Double-A, slashing .300/.425/.466 with seven homers and 14 stolen bases in addition to having more walks than strikeouts. The 22-year-old picked up where he left off in his first games at the next level and could soon be on his way to St. Louis with how well-rounded of a prospect he is. His upside for fantasy purposes may not be massive in the immediate future, but he would be worth a speculative add in most standard leagues.Source: MiLB.com
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop prospect Nolan McLean Posts Another Double-Digit Strikeout Outing
Nolan McLean had a pristine outing against Triple-A Lehigh Valley Wednesday night, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out 10 across six scoreless innings. He was unfortunately stuck with a no-decision, but it was a fantastic performance nonetheless. The right-hander carved up hitters all night, generating 17 whiffs on 40 swings for a monster 43 percent whiff rate. He distributed his mix fairly evenly and had multiple swings and misses on five different offerings. McLean now has back-to-back 10-strikeout outings and continues to make the case for a promotion to the big league rotation. With the strength of the Mets' lineup and a favorable home ballpark, McLean would be a priority add in the majority of formats upon his promotion.Source: MiLB.com
New York Mets pitching prospect Jesus Luzardo Stifles Giants for Eighth Win
Jesus Luzardo (8-5) secured his eighth win of the year in a 13-0 blowout of the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday. Across seven innings and 106 pitches, Luzardo gave up a paltry three singles and logged seven strikeouts against one walk. The outing continued a roller-coaster ride over the past month-plus for Luzardo, who has mixed a few good starts with a few blowups since May 31. He now has 10 quality starts on the year to go with a 4.14 ERA, a 1.41 WHIP, and 122:36 K:BB in 104 1/3 innings. Luzardo has been wildly unpredictable, but his 2.68 FIP, 3.23 xFIP, and .370 BABIP indicate that he's in line for positive regression in the second half of the season.Source: ESPN
Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Bryce Harper Racks Up Four Extra-Base Hits in Win
Bryce Harper had a mammoth Wednesday afternoon at the plate in a 13-0 trouncing of the San Francisco Giants. Harper collected a career-high four extra-base hits, including a solo homer off Giants starter Justin Verlander, in a 4-for-6 performance. He finished with three doubles and crossed home plate three times. The HR was the 10th of the year and the first since June 3 for Harper, who missed most of last month with an injury to his right wrist. He went 4-for-24 with all singles and no RBI in his first seven games back from the injured list, making Wednesday's showing a much-needed return to form. The 32-year-old is now hitting .259/.370/.449 with 35 RBI, 36 runs, and eight stolen bases in 289 plate appearances.Source: ESPN
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Jordan Leasure Earns Second Save
Jordan Leasure notched his second save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday. Leasure pitched a scoreless ninth inning with one hit allowed (a single) and two strikeouts to slam the door on the Jays for his first save since May 20. The 26-year-old right-hander has logged a 4.18 ERA with 39:19 K:BB and nine holds over 32 1/3 innings. Grant Taylor has been the favorite for saves in Chicago lately, but the White Sox used him in the eighth instead. Taylor banked his fifth hold in a scoreless frame.Source: ESPN
Chicago White Sox reliever Jazz Chisholm Jr. Leads Yankees to Victory
Jazz Chisholm Jr. led the team to a 9-6 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday with his latest standout performance. Chisholm connected on two homers - a solo shot and a two-run blast - to finish 2-for-4 in a four-RBI night. Now up to 17 HRs on the season, Chisholm has been on a tear for over a month. After missing all of May with an oblique strain, Chisholm returned June 3 and has since gone 36-for-114 (.316) with 10 dingers, 26 RBI, 20 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 31 games. Overall, the 27-year-old is slashing a career-best .251/.346/.530 with 43 RBI, 37 runs, and 10 steals across 255 trips to the plate. Chisholm ranks in the top 7% of the league in xSLG and has a chance at his first 30-HR season.Source: ESPN
New York Yankees infielder Jhoan Duran Perfect in Save Opportunity
Jhoan Duran secured his 14th save of the season in a 4-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. Duran pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning and needed a mere eight pitches to put the Cubs away. That makes five straight scoreless appearances for Duran, whose ERA is down to a microscopic 1.52 in 41 1/3 innings. The 27-year-old has also blown just two saves while posting 45:16 K:BB and a 1.09 WHIP.Source: ESPN
Minnesota Twins closer Carlos Estevez Tallies 25th Save
Carlos Estevez finished off a 4-3 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday to pick up his 25th save. The right-hander worked around a one-out single by Adam Frazier to throw a scoreless ninth inning with one strikeout on 16 pitches (11 strikes). The 32-year-old remains well on his way to his second 30-save season, and he's easily on pace to eclipse the career-high 31 he totaled in 2023. Estevez also has a sparkling 2.03 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP over 40 innings, though he hasn't been a great source of strikeouts (33).Source: ESPN
Kansas City Royals closer Salvador Perez Crushes Two Homers in Win
Salvador Perez drilled a pair of key home runs to help the club escape with a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday. Perez smashed a 444-foot solo blast off left-hander Bailey Falter to give the Royals a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Later, with the game tied 3-3 in the eighth, Perez completed the scoring for the night with a 426-foot shot against righty Isaac Mattson. He also singled to finish 3-for-4 and continue a tremendous start to July. Perez has gone 13-for-35 with four homers and 11 RBI in nine games this month. The 35-year-old has also increased his OPS by over 100 points since the beginning of June. After a terrible start to the season, he's slashing .245/.285/.427 with 13 HRs, 54 RBI, and 24 runs in 370 plate appearances. Among catchers, only Seattle Mariners MVP candidate Cal Raleigh has driven in more runs than Perez.Source: ESPN
Kansas City Royals catcher Devin Williams Records 13th Save
Devin Williams collected his 13th save of 2025 in a 9-6 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday. Williams entered in the top of the ninth inning and made quick work of the Mariners, going 1-2-3 on 12 pitches (eight strikes). He struck out both Dominic Canzone and Cole Young swinging. The 30-year-old's ERA has fallen to 4.86 (2.51 FIP) with 43:14 K:BB and a 1.17 WHIP in 33 1/3 innings. Williams has endured his share of struggles this year, but his only blown save came way back on April 19.Source: ESPN
New York Yankees closer Greg Newsome on the Trade Block?
Source: The Athletic - Zac Jackson
Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome could find himself on the trade block this season, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. A first-round pick back in 2021, Newsome will play the 2025 season on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract and enter free agency next spring. Jackson writes that the Browns would incur no dead money against the salary cap if Newsome were traded before November, which could spur the team to act if they don't plan on re-signing him beyond 2025. Pro Football Focus gave Newsome an overall grade of 52.2 for his work in 2024, 177th out of 222 corners. The Browns' defense was a dynamic unit for fantasy in 2023 but took a step back last season. After finishing fourth in fantasy points per game two years ago, the Cleveland D/ST finished 27th in 2024.Trevor Megill Mows Down Dodgers in Win
Trevor Megill (2-2) earned his second victory of the season in a 3-2 defeat of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. The flamethrowing right-hander entered a 2-2 game in the top of the 10th inning and dominated, striking out Freddie Freeman, Andy Pages, and Tommy Edman in order on 13 pitches (11 strikes). The Brewers won in the bottom of the 10th on a Jackson Chourio walk-off single. Megill, meanwhile, dropped his ERA to 2.41 with 21 saves, a 1.16 WHIP, and 43 strikeouts against 15 walks in 33 2/3 innings. He earned his first All-Star selection on Wednesday.Source: ESPN
Milwaukee Brewers closer VJ Edgecombe Diagnosed with a Sprained Thumb
VJ Edgecombe won't play in Thursday's Summer League meeting with the San Antonio Spurs. The rookie, selected No. 3 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, looked good in the Sixers' Salt Lake Summer League opener versus Utah, amassing 28 points, 10 boards, four assists, two blocks, and one steal. However, he missed the final two games due to a thumb injury. Fortunately, the ailment doesn't appear too serious, with doctors diagnosing the 19-year-old with a sprain. For now, Edgecombe is considered day-to-day, although the team will surely play it safe, meaning there's a chance fans won't see him on the court in Las Vegas. He will be reevaluated on Saturday.Source: Zach Ciavolella
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyler Glasnow Pitches Well in Return from Injury
Tyler Glasnow held his own Wednesday in his first major league start since April 27. After missing over two months with shoulder inflammation, Glasnow limited the Milwaukee Brewers to one unearned run on two hits with five strikeouts and three walks over five innings. The 31-year-old threw 85 pitches (53 strikes) and recorded a max velocity of 99.5 mph on the radar gun. The Dodgers fell 3-2 despite Glasnow's efforts, but he did not factor into the decision. Glasnow will head into the second half of the season with a 3.52 ERA and 28:14 K:BB in 23 innings. He could be a major asset for the Dodgers and fantasy managers down the stretch, though staying healthy has typically been a challenge for him.Source: ESPN
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander DJ LeMahieu Designated for Assignment
DJ LeMahieu for assignment and recalled rookie infielder Jorbit Vivas from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The writing was on the wall for LeMahieu when the Yankees demoted him to a bench role on Tuesday to shift Jazz Chisholm Jr. from third base to second. Although LeMahieu has past third base experience, the 36-year-old is no longer physically capable of handling the position. With both his defensive and offensive skills eroding, the Yankees no longer deemed LeMahieu worthy of a roster spot. The two-time batting champion and former AL MVP candidate hit .266/.338/.336 with two home runs and 12 RBI in 142 plate appearances this year before the Yankees cut him from their roster. New York will pay approximately $22 million to get rid of LeMahieu, who will head to the open market in the coming days. LeMahieu may find another team in free agency, but his days of fantasy relevance are over.Source: New York Yankees
The New York Yankees have designated infielder Zach Tom An Extension Candidate in Green Bay
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
The Green Bay Packers are "likely" to sign tackle Zach Tom to an extension before the start of the 2025 season, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Schneidman predicts that the 26-year-old should "command well into the $20 millions on his new deal." A fourth-round draft pick by the Packers in 2022, Tom has played multiple positions along the line for Green Bay. He found a home at right tackle in 2024, receiving the third most All-Pro votes at the position. Pro Football Focus gave Tom a 90.0 run-blocking grade, third-best out of the 140 tackles who were evaluated. As a team, Green Bay ranked sixth in rushing yards per game and third in total rushing touchdowns last season.Devin Booker Agrees to Extension with Phoenix
Devin Booker agreed to a two-year, $145 million extension with the franchise. It's the "highest annual salary" in NBA history, with Booker now in line to earn $316 million in the next five seasons. Phoenix recently sent Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets. There's also a good chance that Bradley Beal won't be on the roster come the regular season. However, with the extension, it's apparent the club is fully committed to building around Booker moving ahead. The 28-year-old has spent his entire career in Phoenix, appearing in 673 regular-season contests, most recently finishing the 2024 campaign by averaging 25.6 points and a career-high 7.1 assists. With that in mind, Booker is expected to remain a top fantasy option for years to come. He should also have at least a few more All-Star selections before he calls it a career.Source: Shams Charania
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Phoenix Suns guard Trevor Williams to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery
Trevor Williams (elbow) has a partial tear in his right ulnar collateral ligament and will require surgery, according to Spencer Nusbaum of the Washington Post. Williams expects to have internal brace surgery, not a full Tommy John procedure, but he'll still miss the rest of the season and perhaps some of the 2026 campaign. This news ends a brutal season for Williams, who re-signed with the Nationals on a two-year, $14 million contract last winter. The 33-year-old struggled to a 3-10 record with a 6.21 ERA, a 1.54 WHIP, 65 strikeouts, and 21 walks in 82 2/3 innings.Source: Spencer Nusbaum - The Washington Post
Washington Nationals starter Michael Kopech Undergoes Knee Surgery, Moved to 60-Day Injured List
Michael Kopech (knee) has undergone surgery on a torn meniscus in his right knee, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports. The Dodgers moved Kopech from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL as a result. Kopech's IL stint dates back to June 28, meaning he won't be eligible to return until the end of August. The Dodgers do expect Kopech back before the year is out, but this will largely go down as an injury-ruined regular season for him. The 29-year-old didn't debut until June 8 after dealing with an impingement in his right shoulder. He pitched well in eight appearances between IL stints, throwing seven scoreless, three-hit innings with eight strikeouts, four walks, and five holds.Source: Bill Plunkett - Orange County Register
Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Rams Not Willing to Pay Kyren Williams Top-Market Money?
Kyren Williams is known to be looking for a contract extension, but the team "will not pay top market for a running back," according to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic. Williams is entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract in 2025. He's coming off a highly productive 2024 in which he gained 1,481 yards from scrimmage and scored 16 total touchdowns. The Rams also leaned on Williams quite heavily, as he played over 700 more snaps than the team's next highest-usage back (Blake Corum). Los Angeles used a fourth-round pick in this year's draft on former Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter, but he seems unlikely to push Williams for RB1 status as a rookie. Rodrigue notes that Rams management has signed players to extensions during training camp in the past, so this is one to continue to monitor as the summer wears on.Source: The Athletic - Jourdan Rodrigue
Los Angeles Rams running back Jake Meyers Helped Off Field Before Wednesday's Game
Jake Meyers (calf) was in the team's lineup on Wednesday, but he exited before their game against the Cleveland Guardians began. Meyers left the field during pregame warmups with help from an athletic trainer. The 29-year-old had been set to return from the right-calf injury that he suffered in a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. Instead, the Astros shifted Mauricio Dubon to center field and subbed in the aptly named Zack Short to handle shortstop. The club should have more on Meyers' status after the game. UPDATE: Meyers has right-calf tightness, the Astros announced.Source: Mark Berman
Houston Astros outfielder Byron Buxton Exits After Hit-by-Pitch, X-Rays Negative
Byron Buxton (hand) departed the team's game against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday after suffering a left-hand contusion on a hit by pitch. X-rays came back negative for a fracture, and Buxton is considered day-to-day, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports. Buxton led off the bottom of the first inning against Cubs starter Cade Horton with the HBP, but he stayed in until the Twins pinch-hit Brooks Lee for him in the second. The two-time All-Star stole a base and scored a run before exiting. Buxton has an extensive injury history that has prevented him from reaching his full potential, though it appears he dodged disaster in this case. The 31-year-old has stayed healthy for most of this season and posted fantastic production. He's hitting .270/.338/.544 with 20 homers, 53 RBI, 60 runs, and 17 steals across 320 plate appearances.Source: Dan Hayes - The Athletic
Minnesota Twins outfielder Kyle Stowers Taking a Seat
Kyle Stowers is absent from the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. Stowers will head to the bench for the first time since June 29. The left-handed slugger has been solid recently with at least one hit in 13 of his last 15 games. In his absence, Heriberto Hernandez will take over in left field and bat third versus left-hander Andrew Abbott. Hernandez doesn't offer enough upside to warrant streaming against a tough southpaw in Abbott. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups ahead of first pitch.Source: mlb.com
Miami Marlins outfielder Jesus Sanchez Absent on Wednesday
Jesus Sanchez is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. Sanchez will head to the bench for the first time since June 29. This appears to be a routine rest day for Sanchez who is hitting .321 over the last week. Dane Myers will cover right field and bat sixth versus left-hander Andrew Abbott on Wednesday. Sanchez should be drawing more interest in deep leagues with his play recently. Myers isn't worth a look as a streaming option against a tough southpaw in Abbott.Source: mlb.com
Miami Marlins outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. Playing on Wednesday
Ronald Acuna Jr. (back) is returning to the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Athletics. Acuna was scratched from Tuesday's contest due to lower back tightness. Luckily, Acuna will only miss one game and is back in the leadoff spot and playing right field versus right-hander Mitch Spence on Wednesday. Acuna has been in a little slump at the plate, but he remains a must-start in all fantasy formats. It's unclear if this back issue is going to impact him performing in the upcoming Home Run Derby. Regardless, fantasy managers can get Acuna back in their lineups on Wednesday.Source: mlb.com
Atlanta Braves outfielder Max Kepler Removed Early on Wednesday
Max Kepler (shin) was forced to make an early exit from Wednesday's game against the San Francisco Giants. Kepler seemed fine until being pulled out for Johan Rojas in the eighth inning. It has been revealed that Kepler is dealing with a right shin contusion, so fantasy managers should consider him as day-to-day. He finished this game 1-for-3 with a single and an RBI. The Phillies are off on Thursday, so possibly Kepler is back in the mix on Friday. If not, Rojas could see more action in the outfield over the weekend.Source: Lochlahn March
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Jacob Wilson Remains Sidelined on Wednesday
Jacob Wilson (hand) will take a seat ahead of Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Braves. This doesn't come as a shock after Wilson was hit in the left hand by a pitch during Tuesday's game. It doesn't sound like Wilson suffered any serious injuries, but he'll likely undergo more testing. For now, fantasy managers should consider Wilson as day-to-day. Max Muncy will take over at shortstop and bat sixth versus left-hander Bryce Elder on Wednesday. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups ahead of first pitch.Source: mlb.com
Athletics shortstop Edward Cabrera Has Multiple Suitors
Edward Cabrera is expected to have a fairly large trade market this summer. The Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, and reportedly other organizations are looking at acquiring Cabrera ahead of the trade deadline. The Marlins should be able to get a good return on Cabrera, assuming they're willing to move him. He's under contract through 2026 with an affordable deal. This season, Cabrera holds a 3.33 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 80/33 K/BB ratio across 15 starts. The Marlins don't need to trade Cabrera with him still under contract, but might cash-in on his value while it's high. This is a situation to monitor over the next few weeks.Source: Francys Romero
Miami Marlins starting pitcher