RADIO
Blaze Alexander has No Timetable for Return
Baltimore Orioles infielder Blaze Alexander (hand) currently has no timetable to return from the 10-day Injured List. Alexander landed on the shelf on Thursday after suffering a fractured left hand during last Sunday's game. The plan is for Alexander to have weekly checkups on his hand until it is completely healed. After that, Alexander can begin the road to getting back to the Orioles lineup. While Alexander is out, Coby Mayo figures to see a majority of the time at the hot corner. He could be worth adding for fantasy managers who are patiently waiting for the return of Alexander.
Source: Jacob Calvin Meyer
Source: Jacob Calvin Meyer
Samuel Basallo a Priority Catcher Addition for the Second Half?
Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo reached the break at .248/.309/.464 with 16 home runs, 46 RBI, and 34 runs in 301 plate appearances. He was only 10-for-48 over his final 15 games, but four of those hits left the yard and he drove in 11. Basallo remains available in half of Yahoo leagues. Baltimore has found room for his bat alongside Adley Rutschman, using Basallo at catcher, first base, and designated hitter. The power checks out: a 91.5 mph average exit velocity, 46.2% hard-hit rate, 13.1% barrel rate, and .482 expected slugging percentage. He does chase too much, at 40.2%, so the average may come and go. That is a manageable trade-off at catcher. RotoBaller ranks Basallo 22nd overall for the weekend, second among catcher pickups, and recommends him in 10-team leagues. He is a priority add for managers still searching for second-half power at the position.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ike Irish Pushing for Late-Season Promotion to Double-A
Baltimore Orioles catching prospect Ike Irish has had a productive debut season at High-A but has begun to take a massive step forward over the last month. Over his most recent 20 contests (since June 16), the Auburn product has posted a stellar .321/.438/.526 line with five doubles, one triple, three home runs and seven stolen bases. More importantly, during this stretch, the young catcher has shown a strong eye at the dish, holding a 14:15 K:BB. In comparison, the 19th overall pick from last summer's draft carried a much lower .240/.349/.464 line with a .813 OPS, 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases over the first 50 games of the campaign. Dynasty managers should continue to monitor his progress as the 22-year-old will continue to emerge as one of the game's top young catchers.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Orioles Place Blaze Alexander on Injured List With Fractured Hand
The Baltimore Orioles announced on Thursday that they placed infielder/outfielder Blaze Alexander (hand) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to July 13) with a fractured left hand and recalled infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand from Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move. Alexander fractured his hand when he was hit by a pitch in the final game of the first half of the season on Sunday against the Kansas City Royals. It's unclear what Alexander's timetable for a return will be, but fantasy managers in deeper leagues should expect him to be out for around a month or more. It's literally a tough break for the 27-year-old utility man, as the former 11th-rounder by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2018 was having a career year for the O's before the injury, slashing .312/.368/.439 with an .807 OPS, four home runs, 29 RBI, 31 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in his 221 at-bats in 2026. In mixed fantasy leagues, fantasy managers who have Alexander rostered can probably go in another direction to kick off the second half of the season.
Source: Baltimore Orioles
Source: Baltimore Orioles
Christian Encarnacion-Strand Worth a Waiver-Wire Look in AL-Only Leagues
The Baltimore Orioles announced on Thursday that they recalled corner infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand from Triple-A Norfolk after placing infielder/outfielder Blaze Alexander (hand) on the 10-day injured list with a left-hand fracture. The Orioles acquired Encarnacion-Strand from the Cincinnati Reds back in April, and he hit .273/.309/.555 with 17 home runs, 48 RBI, 35 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 257 plate appearances with Triple-A Norfolk. The 26-year-old former fourth-round pick by the Minnesota Twins in 2021 out of Oklahoma State University hit .233/.275/.404 with a .679 OPS, 21 home runs, 72 RBI, 55 runs scored, two steals, and a 27.1% strikeout rate in his three big-league seasons with the Reds. With Pete Alonso cemented in at first base in Baltimore, CES will either factor in at third base or designated hitter with the O's, and he still has enough power to be useful in AL-only and deep-mixed leagues if he gets consistent playing time. Unfortunately, he might only be a platoon right-handed power bat against lefties.
Source: Baltimore Orioles
Source: Baltimore Orioles
Tyler Wells Still the Best Bet for Saves in Baltimore?
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Tyler Wells picked up saves on July 3 and 4 after Ryan Helsley (right elbow discomfort) returned to the injured list. He carried a 3.02 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 46:10 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 44 2/3 innings into the break, giving him the best overall profile in Baltimore's current committee. Andrew Kittredge has complicated things. He converted back-to-back saves on July 9 and 10, while Wells earned a win on July 9 and finished a 6-1 victory two nights later. There is no clean handcuff here, but Wells still offers strong ratios, strikeouts, and multi-inning flexibility at only 17% rostered on Yahoo. RotoBaller ranks him 41st for Week 16 and recommends him in 12-team leagues, compared with a 15-team recommendation for Kittredge. Wells remains the better speculative add, though managers should expect Baltimore to mix and match.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Blaze Alexander Diagnosed with Hand Fracture
Baltimore Orioles infielder Blaze Alexander (hand) suffered a non-displaced hand fracture after being hit by a pitch during Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals. Alexander was 2-for-2 at the plate with a walk and two runs scored before getting nailed by a pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning. He was immediately removed for a pinch runner and will now almost certainly be placed on the Injured List. This is a tough break for Alexander, who was hitting extremely well since the beginning of June. The All-Star break begins on Monday, which means the Orioles have a few days to officially place Alexander on the shelf. It's unclear who is going to replace him, but fantasy managers should expect to be without Alexander for a few weeks.
Source: Matt Weyrich
Source: Matt Weyrich
Ryan Helsley Not Dealing With Structural Damage in his Elow
Baltimore Orioles right-handed closer Ryan Helsley (elbow) has inflammation around his UCL, but the ligament isn't torn, manager Craig Albernaz told Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun. Helsley will rehab the injury with hopes of returning this year. The Orioles placed the 31-year-old veteran on the 15-day injured list on July 3 due to right-elbow discomfort. It's great news that Helsley should return this season, but it's unclear when that might be. We should know more on Helsley's potential return once he resumes a throwing program. In the meantime, it'll likely continue to be a closer-by-committee situation in Baltimore that includes Tyler Wells, Rico Garcia, and Andrew Kittredge appearing in the ninth inning to close out games for the O's. Of the three, Garcia is the most rostered (23% of Yahoo leagues), although he hasn't recorded a save since June 2. Helsley is currently rostered in 63% of Yahoo leagues while he recovers from his second elbow injury of 2026. The two-time All-Star has only thrown 15 1/3 innings in 2026 in his first year with the team, going 0-4 with a 4.11 ERA (4.66 FIP), 1.43 WHIP, eight saves, and a 21:9 K:BB in his 17 relief appearances.
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
Eric Booth Jr. Drafted by Baltimore at No. 7 Overall
The Baltimore Orioles selected Oak Grove High School (Mississippi) outfielder Eric Booth Jr. with the seventh overall pick in the 2026 MLB draft on Saturday, according to MLB.com. Booth, who was ranked as MLB.com's No. 6 overall prospect in this year's draft, stands at 6-foot, 207 pounds and throws and hits from the left side. The 18-year-old's top tool is his speed. At the plate, he has an unconventional setup that makes his swing choppy, but he still makes consistent contact to utilize his speed on the basepaths. Booth is the most in need of development of any of the top-10 picks so far in this draft, but in the long run, he could reach 25 home runs in the big leagues if he can find a way to get to his pull power more. He won the Home Run Derby at the Perfect Game All-Star Game last July and was one of the fastest players in this year's high-school class, so Booth's power/speed profile is extremely intriguing. He could be one of the bigger boom/bust prospects to be taken early on in the first round this year. Expect the Orioles to work quickly on fine-tuning his mechanics at the plate in the lower levels of the minors later this year.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Is Andrew Kittredge the Closer in Baltimore?
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge secured his third save of the season on Friday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals. It was also his second consecutive save this week, after earning another on Thursday against the Chicago Cubs. With other options in the organization faltering, Kittredge has stepped in and slammed the door shut twice this week, offering some much-needed stability at the back end of the Baltimore bullpen. The Orioles have lost Ryan Helsley to an elbow injury, and while he awaits a second opinion, they are looking for someone to step up and claim the team's closer role. With back-to-back scoreless save conversions, they may have found their answer, making Kittredge a must-add in all fantasy formats.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Samuel Basallo a High-End Power Option at Catcher?
Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo gives fantasy managers a power path at one of the thinnest positions. The 21-year-old is hitting .248 with 14 home runs, 42 RBI, 32 runs, and a .761 OPS over 262 at-bats. There is no speed here, and the recent average has been shaky, so this is not a clean five-category pickup. But catcher power that can move a fantasy lineup is hard to leave on the wire. The batted-ball data backs up the home run total. Basallo owns a 91.3 mph average exit velocity, 45.0% hard-hit rate, and 12.2% barrel rate, which is real impact contact for the position. The downside is batting-average drag if the strikeouts pile up. Still sitting at 49% rostered in Yahoo leagues, Basallo fits as a power add in 10-team formats, matching RotoBaller's latest waiver recommendation.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Will Andrew Kittredge Continue to See Ninth-Inning Opportunities?
Baltimore Orioles 36-year-old right-hander Andrew Kittredge picked up the save in Thursday's win over the Cubs, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth inning. The Orioles had multiple relievers work on Wednesday in a game that featured 16 combined runs, which is why Kittredge picked up the save. With Ryan Helsley (elbow) currently on the IL and seeking a second opinion on his right elbow, the Orioles have been turning to several relievers for saves. Kittredge has been decent this season, posting a 4.70 ERA and 1.35 WHIP with a 22:6 K:BB ratio over 23 innings. In addition to earning his second save of the season in four save opportunities, he also has four holds on the year. The Orioles relievers are hard to figure out: Tyler Wells was last week's flavor of the week after picking up back-to-back saves over the weekend, and with Helsley's return timeline up in the air, if anyone emerges from this pack as the closer, they will have immediate fantasy value. The Orioles have nine relievers with a save opportunity this season, and for fantasy managers to pick up Kittredge, we'll need to see more than one such opportunity.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Pete Alonso Still Carries League-Winning Power Potential
Across 402 plate appearances in 2026, Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso is hitting .250/.341/.468 with 20 home runs, 62 RBI, 55 runs scored, and two stolen bases. The 31-year-old got off to a slow start to his first season in Baltimore, hitting .198 with four home runs through the end of April. However, Alonso has turned it on and looked like his usual self since then, crushing 16 home runs across 268 plate appearances since the start of May. Alonso's 12.5% barrel rate is down slightly from his career mark of 14.7%, but he's still making tons of hard contact (53.7% hard-hit rate). Now that the early-season adjustment to a new environment is behind him, Alonso profiles as one of the most reliable and durable power sources in fantasy baseball. In leagues where his value may still be lagging due to his slow start, Alonso profiles as a clear buy candidate for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Taylor Ward a Buy-Low Candidate Due to Second-Half Breakout Potential
Across 422 plate appearances in 2026, Baltimore Orioles outfielder Taylor Ward is hitting .254/.382/.353 with five home runs, 24 RBI, 55 runs scored, and three stolen bases. It's been a strange season from a power perspective so far for Ward, who posted a 13.7% barrel rate and slugged 36 home runs in 2025 but has seen his barrel rate dip to 5.8% this season. Ward reportedly suffered a bone bruise in his hand in mid-April that he's been playing through ever since, which could help explain the power outage. While it's possible that Ward's slugging ability simply will not return this season, the All-Star break may be the rest he needs to get closer to full health in the second half. The rest of Ward's profile remains strong, as he owns a 16.6% walk rate and has established an everyday spot at or near the top of the Orioles lineup. Fantasy managers may want to explore buy-low trades for Ward ahead of a potential power resurgence.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyler O'Neill Comes Off the Bench to Hit Two Homers on Wednesday
Baltimore Orioles outfielder Tyler O'Neill is pushing for more playing time. The 31-year-old veteran right-handed slugger came off the bench in Wednesday night's 9-7 loss to the visiting Chicago Cubs at Camden Yards to go 2-for-2 at the plate with two solo home runs. O'Neill is hitting just .193 (28-for-145) on the year with five home runs, 11 RBI, 19 runs scored, a stolen base, and a 27.7% strikeout rate in 166 plate appearances, but three of his five long balls on the year have come in his last 10 plate appearances. The former third-round selection by the Seattle Mariners in 2013 reached the 30-homer mark for the second time in his career in 2024 in his lone season with the Boston Red Sox, but he has fallen off a cliff the last two years in Baltimore, slashing .196/.293/.368 with a .661 OPS, only 14 homers, 37 RBI, 41 runs scored, five steals, 41 walks, and 97 strikeouts across 109 games (375 plate appearances). Since the beginning of June, O'Neill has been much better, going 13-for-50 (.260) with three homers, five doubles, three RBI, six runs, and a stolen base in 19 games.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
