July 8, 2025
Houston Astros starting pitcher
Luis Garcia (elbow) allowed one hit and one earned run, striking out four over two innings in his first rehab start as he battles back from an extended stay on the injured list. This was Garcia's first on-field action in over a year after Tommy John surgery in May of 2023 had robbed him of over two-plus seasons. The Venezuelan native is currently on the right track to rejoin the team at some point this season, although it is unclear in what capacity he'll pitch in when he returns. Houston likely takes it slow with Garcia, particularly due to the slew of setbacks he's faced while rehabbing, so we shouldn't expect a short assignment. Still, he'll be a welcome sight for fantasy managers and could be an impact arm if things go exceedingly well during his build-up.
--Alex CiullaSource: Brian McTaggart
July 8, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers shortstop
Joey Ortiz will rejoin the starting lineup for Tuesday's matchup with the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports. Ortiz had ridden the pine for the previous two outings as the Brew Crew lined up against right-handed pitching, but he'll return to the starting nine with southpaw
Clayton Kershaw toeing the rubber. Teammate
Andruw Monasterio had gotten the start at shortstop in their last two contests, and could become the preferred option against righties with Ortiz hitting an ugly .198 off of them. It's worth noting that Monasterio's average against left-handers (.231) is comparable to that of Ortiz (.235), but the latter shouldn't be in danger of losing his job just yet.
--Alex CiullaSource: Adam McCalvy
July 8, 2025
New York Yankees pitching prospect
Cam Schlittler will make his MLB debut on Wednesday at home against the Seattle Mariners, according to Talkin' Yanks. The Yankees have an open spot in their rotation after losing
Clarke Schmidt, who will likely require Tommy John surgery. The 24-year-old Schlittler has thrown 76 2/3 innings across stints with Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre so far in 2025. He's posted a 2.82 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 99 strikeouts. Schlittler has a clear runway to becoming a regular in the Yankees rotation with Schmidt likely done for the season, and he's shown enough in the minors to be on the radar of fantasy managers in all formats.
--Will BradySource: Talkin' Yanks
July 8, 2025
New York Yankees right-hander
Luis Gil (lat) will begin a rehab assignment on Sunday and be built up as a starter, according to Talkin' Yanks. The 2024 American League Rookie of the Year, Gil has yet to pitch for the Yankees in 2025 after straining his right lat in Spring Training. In 151 2/3 innings (29 starts) last season, Gil went 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 171 strikeouts. Walks are a major issue for Gil (12.1% BB rate), but he was able to work around it in 2024 by limiting hard contact (37% hard-hit rate allowed). Gil should be a target for fantasy managers when he makes his return, especially those in need of strikeouts.
--Will BradySource: Talkin' Yanks
July 8, 2025
New York Mets starting pitcher
Sean Manaea (elbow, oblique) will make a rehab appearance on Tuesday night and if all goes well, could return to the big leagues on Sunday against the Kansas City Royals, per Mike Puma of the New York Post. Manaea would be in line to piggyback with Sunday's scheduled Mets starter
Clay Holmes. Manaea has yet to pitch for the Mets in 2025 after suffering an oblique injury in spring training and then experiencing discomfort in his pitching elbow while rehabbing. Manaea was a big part of the Mets' rotation in 2024, going 12-6 in 181 2/3 innings (32 starts) with a 3.47 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 184 strikeouts. He should be a target for fantasy managers in all leagues where he wasn't stashed.
--Will BradySource: New York Post - Mike Puma
July 8, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays starter
Shane McClanahan (triceps) has been sent on a rehab assignment to the Florida Complex League. The assignment brings McClanahan one step closer to a big-league return, which he has been working towards since undergoing Tommy John surgery in August of 2023. The talented left-hander was on track to return for the start of the 2025 season, but he injured his left triceps in spring training. Last time McClanahan was on the big-league mound he was a clear fantasy asset. In 115 innings pitched (21 starts) in 2023, McClanahan went 11-2 with a 3.29 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 121 strikeouts. Given that it's been nearly two full years since he last pitched, he'll likely need to throw a significant number of innings on his rehab assignment before the Rays activate him.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
July 8, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher
Bowden Francis (shoulder) threw a side session at the team's complex in Florida and is "doing alright," according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. Francis was placed on the 15-day injured list in mid-June with an impingement in his right shoulder. The 29-year-old had struggled in 64 innings (14 starts) before getting injured, posting a 2-8 record with a 6.05 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, and 54 strikeouts. Given that veteran left-hander
Eric Lauer has given the Blue Jays solid work in Francis' absence, Francis may not even have a rotation spot when he regains full health. Either way, he'll likely need at least a couple of rehab outings before he's able to return to the big-league mound.
--Will BradySource: Sportsnet - Shi Davidi
July 8, 2025
New York Mets starting pitcher
Kodai Senga (hamstring) is scheduled to throw a bullpen on Wednesday. If all goes well, Senga will start Friday against the Kansas City Royals, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. Senga was placed on the 15-day injured list in mid-June with a Grade 1 strain of his right hamstring. The right-hander made a rehab start with Double-A Binghamton on July 5, throwing 3 2/3 innings and allowing three earned runs while walking two and striking out four. Before the injury, Senga was 7-3 in 73 2/3 innings (13 starts) with a 1.47 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 70 strikeouts. His 3.14 xERA shows that he was outperforming his underlying numbers and could be in line for some ERA regression. Regardless, he's a must-start pitcher in all fantasy formats when he returns to the big-league mound.
--Will BradySource: New York Post - Mike Puma
July
8,
2025
The
St.
Louis
Cardinals
are
shifting
their
rotation
around
this
week
as
they
head
into
the
All-Star
break,
according
to
Derrick
Goold
of
the
St.
Louis
Post-Dispatch.
For
their
three-game
series
against
the
Washington
Nationals
that
begins
on
Tuesday,
read more...
July 8, 2025
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher
Kutter Crawford (wrist) underwent wrist surgery on July 2 to repair the stabilizing sheath in his right wrist, according to a report from MassLive's Christopher Smith. Crawford will "most likely" miss the remainder of the 2025 season as a result of the injury. It's been a completely lost year for the 29-year-old right-hander, as he began the year on the injured list with patellar tendinopathy in his right knee. The wrist injury occurred in an undisclosed off-field incident before he could start a rehab assignment for the knee injury. Crawford was a useful arm for Boston in 2023, going 9-16 in 183 2/3 innings (33 starts) with a 4.36 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 175 strikeouts. If he's able to work his way back to full strength in time for the 2026 season, he should be back on the radar of fantasy managers.
--Will BradySource: MassLive - Christopher Smith
July 8, 2025
The Los Angeles Angels agreed to a minor-league contract with veteran utility player
Brandon Drury, who could provide needed depth for the Halos' infield with both second baseman
Christian Moore (thumb) and third baseman
Yoan Moncada (knee) currently on the 10-day injured list. Drury played with the Angels in 2023 and 2024 before signing with the White Sox as a free agent last offseason. He was released, resigned, and released again by the White Sox, and now will rejoin the Angels. Drury hit 26 homers with a .339 wOBA in 2023, but he struggled in 2024, hitting only .169 with a .217 wOBA through 97 games. The 32-year-old righty will look to show that he still has some more left in the tank in the minors for the Angels and could earn a call-up later in the year if he flashes some of his previous power.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Aaron Coloma
July 8, 2025
Houston Astros starting pitcher
Colton Gordon (head) was struck in the head by a line drive off the bat of
Steven Kwan in the fifth inning on Monday night. He stayed in the game and finished the inning, giving up a three-run homer to
Jose Ramirez before leaving in the middle of the following inning after giving up five earned runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. Gordon took the loss to fall to 3-2 on the season while his ERA climbed to 4.76. He was evaluated for a concussion after leaving the game, but there were no definitive results or news on whether he'll need to go on the seven-day concussion IL or not. Gordon has been part of the Astros' makeshift rotation that has dealt with multiple injury absences this season, but his spot could be in jeopardy as other starters get healthy down the stretch.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Brian McTaggart
July 8, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher
Aaron Ashby (hand) took a comebacker off his pitching hand in Monday night's game against the Dodgers. Even though he stayed in the game to get the next out, he underwent X-rays that came back negative, according to manager Pat Murphy. Ashby has been excellent for the Brewers, with a 1.27 ERA, 2.48 FIP, and 25 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings. He got a late start to the season after suffering an oblique injury in spring training, but it looks like the 27-year-old lefty avoided major injury this time. He may need a couple of days off depending on the swelling, and the team could even hold him out through the All-Star break if needed. The great news for the Brewers and Ashby's fantasy managers is that he doesn't appear to be headed for an extended absence at this point.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Adam McCalvy
July
8,
2025
Pittsburgh
Pirates
outfielder
Bryan
Reynolds
could
be
one
of
the
better
outfield
bats
available
at
the
MLB
Trade
deadline,
but
not
every
team
will
have
a
shot
at
landing
the
switch-hitting
slugger.
The
San
Francisco
Giants,
read more...
July
8,
2025
Cincinnati
Reds
starting
pitcher
Hunter
Greene
(groin)
was
shut
down
before
his
scheduled
start
in
Triple-A
on
Tuesday
and
underwent
an
MRI
on
Monday
that
came
back
clean.
Manager
Terry
Francona
said,
"We're
really
pleased
with
read more...
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