Max Muncy Takes Grounders on Saturday
Max Muncy (knee) was able to take ground balls at third base ahead of Saturday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. This is good news as Muncy continues to work his way back from a knee issue that has sidelined him since early July. It appears Muncy is making progress, but he still has plenty of work still to do. The expectation is that Muncy won't be back in action until mid-August. Possibly, Muncy can beat that timetable, but fantasy managers should expect to be without him for at least the rest of July.Source: Fabian Ardaya
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Lawrence Butler Out Versus Southpaw
Lawrence Butler will take a seat ahead of Saturday's game against the Cleveland Guardians. The A's will play matchups here and rest the left-handed swinging Butler against left-handed starter Logan Allen. Honestly, Butler could probably use the day off after going 0-for-4 during the second half opener on Friday. Brent Rooker will shift over to right field and bat second against Allen on Saturday. Fantasy managers should remove Butler from their lineups, but expect him back in the mix on Sunday.Source: mlb.com
Athletics outfielder Royce Lewis Taking a Seat on Saturday
Royce Lewis is absent from the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Colorado Rockies. Lewis will take a seat here after going 0-for-3 with a strikeout during the second half opener on Friday. He's hitless over his last 11 at-bats, so maybe a day off is a good idea. In his absence, Brooks Lee will take over at third base and bat seventh versus right-hander Antonio Senzatela. Normally, Lee isn't a great fantasy option, but he could offer some low-end value against Senzatela who is posting a 6.60 ERA coming into this game.Source: mlb.com
Minnesota Twins third baseman Mookie Betts Absent on Saturday
Mookie Betts is out of the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. This appears to be a regular rest day for Betts who has struggled with the bat this month. In July, Betts is slashing .188/.212/.354 over 52 plate appearances, so it's not a bad idea to rest him against a tough pitcher in right-hander Freddy Peralta. In his absence, Miguel Rojas will cover shortstop and bat ninth against the Brew Crew on Saturday. Fantasy managers should expect Betts back in the mix on Sunday.Source: mlb.com
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Derek Law to Undergo Season-Ending Surgery on Flexor Tendon
Derek Law (forearm) will undergo season-ending surgery on a partially torn flexor tendon, according to Spencer Nusbaum of the Washington Post. Law will need nine to 10 months to recover and doesn't expect to return until July. The 34-year-old didn't pitch in the majors at all this season after beginning the campaign on the 15-day injured list with a flexor strain. Law progressed enough to pitch in rehab games over the past few weeks, but this will now go down as a lost season for him. He was an important cog in Washington's bullpen last season, as he racked up a whopping 90 innings in 75 appearances and recorded a 2.60 ERA with 17 holds and a 1.18 WHIP. As a soon-to-be free agent, Law may have thrown his last pitch in a Nationals uniform.Source: Spencer Nusbaum - The Washington Post
Washington Nationals right-handed reliever Trevor Williams Undergoes Internal-Brace Surgery
Trevor Williams (elbow) underwent a successful internal brace procedure on his elbow, Spencer Nusbaum of the Washington Post reports. Williams' season is over, but he's expected to return sometime in early 2026 after avoiding Tommy John surgery. He'll try to rebound in the second season of a two-year, $14 million contract that hasn't gone the Nationals' way so far. Before going under the knife, the 33-year-old went 3-10 with a 6.21 ERA and 65 strikeouts against 21 walks over 82 2/3 innings.Source: Spencer Nusbaum - The Washington Post
Washington Nationals right-hander Tanner Houck Returns From Rehab, Could Remain on Injured List
Tanner Houck (elbow) from his rehab assignment and are likely to keep him on the injured list, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports. Houck last pitched in the majors on May 12 before landing on the 15-day IL with a right flexor pronator strain, though he had been working back in the minors. His 30-day rehab assignment expired Thursday, but teams are given two additional days to reinstate the player. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Friday that the team could option Houck to the minors instead of recalling him. Instead, it appears he'll remain on the shelf. It has been a nightmarish campaign for Houck, a 2024 All-Star who got off to a terrible start before his IL stint. He has made nine starts this year and gone 0-3 with an 8.04 ERA, a 1.69 WHIP, and 32:17 K:BB in 43 2/3 innings.Source: Ian Browne - MLB.com
The Boston Red Sox have returned right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez Recalled
Wikelman Gonzalez from Triple-A Charlotte. He's up with righty Shane Smith (ankle) headed to the 15-day injured list with a sprained left ankle, retroactive to July 16. Gonzalez made his major league debut on June 20 and logged a pair of multi-inning relief appearances before going back to the minors. The 23-year-old combined for four frames of two-run ball with three hits allowed and five strikeouts against four walks in those outings. Gonzalez has struggled mightily with his control in the minors this season, having walked 34 hitters over 40 2/3 innings between the Double-A and Triple-A levels. He has a 4.43 ERA with 42 strikeouts on the year.Source: Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox have recalled right-hander Brooks Baldwin Reinstated from the Injured List
Brooks Baldwin (back) was reinstated from the injured list on Saturday, a day after beginning his rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte. In his only rehab game, Baldwin hit a home run and scored two runs through seven innings of work in the outfield. Now, he returns to the White Sox, and while he isn't slated to start on Saturday, he should still see some time all over the field. Through 54 games played this season, Baldwin has at least ten appearances at second base, shortstop, and in the outfield. At the plate, he posted a pedestrian .227/.271/.357 slash line this season, he did have seven hits over his last five games played before getting injured. He is worth monitoring in the deepest of leagues and could see a more prominent role on the team after the trade deadline.Source: Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox utility man Alec Bohm Aggravates Rib Injury
Alec Bohm (ribs) was left out of Saturday's lineup against the Los Angeles Angels. It turns out that Bohm reaggravated his bruised left rib cage in the team's 6-5 loss to the Angels on Friday, per Lochlahn March of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Manager Rob Thomson is unsure if Bohm will require a stint on the 10-day injured list. He'll now sit out for the second time in a three-game span dating back to last Sunday. Otto Kemp is playing third base and batting sixth with Bohm on the shelf Saturday.Source: Lochlahn March - Philadelphia Inquirer
Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Steven Kwan Absent Saturday
Steven Kwan (wrist) is out of the lineup Saturday against the Athletics. Kwan previously sat out Friday's game after receiving an injection in his right wrist. He remains day-to-day for now. Center fielder Angel Martinez will lead off versus Athletics right-hander Luis Severino in Kwan's stead, while Nolan Jones will handle left field and hit second. Kwan made his second All-Star team this year after slashing .285/.345/.396 with six home runs, 32 RBI, 43 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, and 34:33 K:BB over 404 plate appearances in the first half of the season.Source: MLB.com
Cleveland Guardians outfielder Marcell Ozuna on Bench Again Saturday
Marcell Ozuna is out of the lineup for the third straight game on Saturday against the New York Yankees. The Braves have opted to play catchers Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy in Ozuna's place at DH over the past few games. Baldwin will DH and bat fourth against Yankees right-hander Will Warren, while Murphy will catch and hit fifth. Ozuna simply hasn't produced over the past month and a half. Since June 1, the 34-year-old has hit .182 (24-for-132) with four home runs and 18 RBI. That slump has dropped Ozuna's line to .239/.366/.396 with 13 homers and 42 RBI over 389 plate appearances, but his .377 xwOBA suggests he's in line for a turnaround. That may come in another uniform with the July 31 trade deadline on the way.Source: MLB.com
Atlanta Braves designated hitter Thomas Saggese Recalled
Thomas Saggese from Triple-A Memphis. He's up to take the roster spot of infielder/designated hitter Nolan Gorman (back), who's on the 10-day injured list with a back issue. Saggese has yo-yoed between the majors and minors this season, offering vastly different production at the two levels. The 23-year-old has hit just .233/.256/.326 with one home run and 10 RBI in 90 trips to the plate with the Cardinals and will fill a bench role in his return. Saggese has been much better at Triple-A, where he has batted .317/.402/.445 with five homers, 24 RBI, 34 runs, and five stolen bases in 189 plate appearances.Source: Daniel Guerrero - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The St. Louis Cardinals have recalled infielder Shane Smith Hits 15-Day Injured List
Shane Smith (ankle) on the 15-day injured list with a sprained left ankle. The team made the move retroactive to July 16 and recalled righty Wikelman Gonzalez from Triple-A Charlotte to take Smith's roster spot. The rookie Smith last pitched in the All-Star Game on Tuesday, but it's unclear if he suffered the injury then. Regardless, the 25-year-old will head to the shelf with a 4.26 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP, and 81:37 K:BB over 86 2/3 innings.Source: Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox announced that they have placed right-hander Nolan Gorman Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Nolan Gorman (back) on the 10-day IL with a back injury, retroactive to July 18. The team recalled infielder Thomas Saggese from Triple-A Memphis to take Gorman's roster spot. Gorman was a late scratch from Friday's lineup and will now miss at least the next week-plus. The 25-year-old has batted .219/.310/.408 with nine home runs and 29 RBI in 226 plate appearances, though his .345 xwOBA suggests he has deserved a better fate. While Gorman has divided his time among DH, second base, and the hot corner, the Cardinals have capable regulars at each position with Ivan Herrera, All-Star Brendan Donovan, and Nolan Arenado.Source: Katie Woo - The Athletic
The St. Louis Cardinals have placed infielder/designated hitter