July 3, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers left-hander
Nestor Cortes (elbow) made his first minor-league rehab start on Wednesday with Triple-A Nashville and looked good, throwing three shutout innings with only one hit allowed, no walks and four strikeouts against Triple-A Memphis. Cortes is making progress from a strained left elbow that has kept him sidelined since early April, but given his long layoff, he's unlikely to be an option to rejoin Milwaukee's starting rotation until the start of the second half of the season later this month. The 30-year-old Cuban southpaw was hit hard in his first two starts for the Brew Crew, allowing eight earned runs on seven hits (five homers) while walking seven and striking out eight in eight innings. Cortes has shown stretches of brilliance over his seven-year career, but he's dealt with multiple injuries in recent seasons and could be used out of the bullpen upon his return.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milb.com
July
3,
2025
Toronto
Blue
Jays
shortstop
Bo
Bichette
(knee)
remains
out
of
the
starting
lineup
for
Thursday's
series
finale
against
the
division-rival
New
York
Yankees.
Second
baseman
Andres
Gimenez
is
also
sitting
after
an
injury
read more...
July 3, 2025
The New York Mets placed right-hander
Paul Blackburn (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list on Thursday with a right-shoulder impingement, according to SNY. It's unclear what the corresponding move was for the Mets. Blackburn has rarely been healthy since joining the Mets midseason in 2024, and he had made only seven appearances (six starts) for New York this year before going back on the IL with a new ailment. The 31-year-old veteran has not been good in his 18 2/3 innings for the Mets this year, either, allowing 17 runs (16 earned) on 30 hits (two homers) while walking seven and striking out 15. He's currently sporting a 7.71 ERA and 1.98 WHIP and doesn't have any business being rostered in mixed leagues, especially that he'll now be out through the All-Star break.
--Keith HernandezSource: SNY
July 3, 2025
New York Yankees pitching prospect
Clayton Beeter was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. The righty made his major league debut in 2024, striking out five batters and walking just one in 3 2/3 innings of work. The strikeout stuff has been there at Triple-A this season, fanning 35 batters (38.5 percent K%) in 21 innings pitched, however, he's also walked 17 batters (18.7 percent BB%). Nevertheless, the 26-year-old will get another shot in the big leagues, working out of the bullpen for the Yankees. With New York already with a couple of options at closer, Beeter doesn't have much value for fantasy, though.
--Jarod RuppSource: Yankees PR Dept.
July 3, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies outfield prospect
Justin Crawford went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, and one run scored on Wednesday for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The Phils' third-ranked prospect is 10-for-21 (.476) over his last five games, including four doubles and a home run, although surprisingly without even a single stolen base. The 21-year-old is sporting a .341/.415/.451 slash line with 26 steals, a .395 wOBA, and a 135 wRC+ through 65 games for the Iron Pigs. The former first-rounder is striking out at just a 17.8 percent clip while drawing walks at an above-average rate of 11.6 percent. As hot as he's been all season, it is somewhat surprising that he hasn't seen a promotion, but so long as he is not dealt before the trade deadline, look for the team to give him a shot in the majors in the second half, bringing with him solid contact skills and speed, which could make for a viable fantasy asset.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
July 3, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers pitching prospect
Logan Henderson was tagged for five earned runs in his latest start on Tuesday for Triple-A Nashville, yielding three hits (two home runs), one walk, and he hit one batter while striking out three in four innings of work. The Brewers' sixth-ranked prospect has been susceptible to the home run lately, allowing five home runs in his last three starts at Triple-A after allowing only three home runs total in his first eight games. Still, the right-hander owns a 3.12 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and a 20.8 percent K-BB% through 11 starts for the Sounds in 2025. The 23-year-old also pitched well in four starts in the majors earlier this year as well, posting a 1.71 ERA (3.04 FIP), 0.95 WHIP, and a 28.4 percent K-BB%, so expect him to get back on track and be in the big leagues later this year. When that happens, he'll be worthy of a roster spot in most 12-team leagues.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
July 3, 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers are calling up outfielder
Esteury Ruiz from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday with third baseman Max Muncy (knee) undergoing additional testing after suffering an ugly-looking left-knee injury in the win over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night, sources tell The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya. Although nothing is official, this is sign that Muncy is heading to the injured list to close out the first half of the season. It wouldn't be a surprise given how bad the injury looked during a collision with White Sox outfielder
Michael Taylor during a stolen base attempt. The 26-year-old Ruiz stole a league-high 67 bases in 2023 with the A's and was hitting .292 with eight home runs and 38 steals in 66 games for OKC, but the speedster is unlikely to see enough playing time in L.A. to be worth anything more than an NL-only flier.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
July
3,
2025
Updating
a
previous
story,
Cleveland
Guardians
right-hander
Luis
L.
Ortiz
is
being
investigated
by
the
league
after
a
betting-integrity
firm
flagged
a
pair
of
his
pitches
that
had
received
unusual
gambling
activity,
according
to
sources.
read more...
July 3, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks infield prospect
Jordan Lawlar (hamstring) is expected to miss multiple weeks with his latest hamstring injury, according to manager Torey Lovullo. The former first-rounder had been placed on the 7-day IL after being removed from a game on June 25. Lawlar was hitting well at Triple-A all year, slashing .319/.410/.583 with 10 home runs and 18 stolen bases, but now it appears he'll be out until August. The D-backs' top-ranked prospect dealt with hamstring injuries last season as well, and was limited to just 14 games between Double and Triple-A, so the team won't look to rush him back, especially without an opening on the big league roster. The 22-year-old dropped 10 spots on MLB.com's latest refresh list, but there is still 20/20 potential here whenever he's finally able to get regular major league at-bats.
--Jarod RuppSource: Jose M. Romero
July 3, 2025
Colorado Rockies shortstop
Ezequiel Tovar (oblique) is running the bases at Coors Field before Thursday's series finale against the visiting Houston Astros, and interim manager Warren Schaeffer said that the team is close to sending Tovar on a minor-league rehab assignment. The 23-year-old has already been taking swings off a tee, so if he doesn't suffer a setback while running on Thursday, he could be cleared to start playing in rehab games this weekend and come off the injured list before the All-Star break in mid-July. Tovar has been away from the team since early June with a left-oblique strain, but it sounds like he could be on the cusp of a return. Rookie
Ryan Ritter has been filling in as Colorado's starting shortstop with Tovar out. Tovar had a breakout year in 2024 with 26 homers, 78 RBI and 45 doubles but had gotten off to a slow start in his first 32 games this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Thomas Harding
July 3, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect
Bubba Chandler allowed one earned run on three hits and four walks while striking out six in 3 1/3 innings pitched in his latest start this past Saturday. After a dominating start to the year, some command issues have cropped up for the Pirates' top prospect, registering a 15.0 percent walk rate over his last 10 starts while posting a 4.75 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, and a 10.4 percent K-BB%. What seemed like an imminent promotion to the big leagues earlier this season has now turned into potentially a handful of starts in the second half, a disappointing outcome for fantasy managers who have stashed him in hopes of a major league debut. The ceiling is still high, and Pittsburgh's general manager Ben Cherington recently stated the team wants him to be in the majors this season.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
July 3, 2025
The Colorado Rockies announced on Thursday that they recalled rookie right-handed reliever
Zach Agnos from Triple-A Albuquerque and optioned right-hander
Angel Chivilli to Albuquerque in a corresponding move. Although it's hard to bank on anything from the back end of the worst team in baseball's bullpen, the return of Agnos is notable for fantasy managers scrounging for saves and high-leverage arms that could have an impact in the second half. The 24-year-old former 10th-rounder in 2022 out of East Carolina had a short stint as the Rockies' closer earlier this year and picked up his first four saves, but he also struggled to an 0-3 record, 5.48 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with 12 strikeouts and nine free passes in 21 1/3 innings pitched in 20 appearances. As things currently stand,
Seth Halvorsen is the primary option for saves for the last-place Rockies.
--Keith HernandezSource: Rockies Club Information
July 3, 2025
Houston Astros outfielder
Chas McCormick (oblique) is scheduled to travel to Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday and start a minor-league rehab assignment on Friday, according to manager Joe Espada. As long as McCormick doesn't suffer a setback with his oblique, he could be activated from the 10-day injured list and rejoin the big-league club early next week. The 30-year-old veteran has been sidelined since late May with a strained left oblique and will provide outfield depth for the Astros when he's back. McCormick had been serving as a bench player for Houston before his injury and was hitting .256 (11-for-43) with no homers, two RBI, a steal and six runs scored in 36 games played. He had a career-best 22 long balls, 70 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 115 games for the 'Stros back in 2023, but he's facing an uphill battle for regular playing time in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
July 3, 2025
Houston Astros shortstop
Jeremy Pena (ribs) is not doing baseball activities yet, but general manager Dana Brown said he could resume baseball activities this weekend in Los Angeles. The Astros placed Pena on the 10-day injured list on Monday with a small rib fracture on his left side after he was hit by a pitch. It's good news that the 27-year-old could resume baseball activities this weekend, but by no means should fantasy managers be expecting him to return from the IL before the end of the first half of the season. However, it's possible that Pena could be ready to roll for the start of the second half of the season on July 18 if he continues to make good progress after he resumes baseball activities. Pena is having a career year for fantasy managers in 2025 and should remain stashed in all leagues. Until he's back
Mauricio Dubon will serve as the team's primary shortstop.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
July 3, 2025
Per the Houston Astros, outfielder/designated hitter
Yordan Alvarez (hand) received some encouraging news from a hand specialist that examined him on Wednesday. Alvarez received additional imaging, which showed that the main cause of his current pain is merely inflammation, and the small fracture that had been sustained is now a non-factor in the pain that Alvarez is experiencing. He received two injections on Wednesday and will refrain from baseball activity with his hand in the coming days. The specialist also determined that the 28-year-old's hand has made noticeable progress when compared to the imaging done over the last several weeks. While it's good news, there's still no timetable for the All-Star's return. In a best-case scenario, Alvarez will be ready to go for the start of the second half of the season on July 18.
--Keith HernandezSource: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara-
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