July 3, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander
Mitch Keller improved to 3-10 with a superb showing in a 5-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday. Keller blanked the Cardinals over seven innings while allowing five hits and posting seven strikeouts against one walk. Despite his unsightly win-loss record, the 29-year-old has performed well this season. Keller has amassed a dozen quality starts while pitching to a 3.64 ERA with 84:26 K:BB and a 1.19 WHIP in 106 1/3 innings. Notably, there have been trade rumors centering on Keller as the July 31 deadline nears. A change of scenery for Keller could be positive news for fantasy managers, as moving from the last-place Pirates to a contender would give him a better chance to pile up wins. For now, he's slated to toe the rubber in a road start against the Kansas City Royals' low-ranked offense on Tuesday.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
July 3, 2025
Chicago White Sox reliever
Jared Shuster (hand) began a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday. Shuster threw a scoreless inning in his first appearance. The 26-year-old southpaw hasn't pitched in the majors since June 4 because of a blister on his left hand. The injury continued an atrocious start to the season for Shuster, who has logged an 8.04 ERA with 12 strikeouts, five walks, and a 2.04 WHIP over 15 2/3 innings. He pitched to a much more respectable 4.30 ERA in a career-high 73 1/3 frames a year ago.
--Connor ByrneSource: FutureSox
July
3,
2025
Tampa
Bay
Rays
right-hander
Edwin
Uceta
survived
an
Athletics
rally
to
log
his
first
save
of
the
year
in
a
6-5
win
on
Wednesday.
With
closer
Pete
Fairbanks
getting
the
day
read more...
July 3, 2025
Cleveland Guardians left-hander
Joey Cantillo will start their game against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, according to Zack Meisel of The Athletic. Righty
Luis L. Ortiz had been scheduled to take the mound, but Major League Baseball has placed him on paid leave for an unknown reason. The start against the Cubs' high-powered offense figures to be a short one for Cantillo, who has only totaled 28 1/3 innings in 21 appearances this season. The 25-year-old has registered a 3.81 ERA with 36:14 K:BB and a 1.38 WHIP.
--Connor ByrneSource: Zack Meisel - The Athletic
July 3, 2025
Cleveland Guardians right-hander
Luis L. Ortiz is under investigation by Major League Baseball and has been placed on paid leave, Jeff Passan of ESPN reports. The league did not provide a reason for the decision. Ortiz had been scheduled to start Cleveland's game on Thursday against the Chicago Cubs, so fantasy managers will need to adjust accordingly. The 26-year-old has made 16 starts this season and gone 4-9 with a 4.36 ERA, 96 strikeouts against 42 walks, and a 1.38 WHIP in 88 2/3 innings.
--Connor ByrneSource: Jeff Passan
July 3, 2025
Cleveland Guardians reliever
Cade Smith (back) threw a pregame bullpen session on Wednesday and has shown improvement in his recovery from back spasms. The right-hander is day-to-day and shouldn't require a minor league rehab assignment. Although he's not on the 10-day injured list, it has been almost two weeks since Smith made an appearance on June 22. The 26-year-old earned his 15th hold of the season in that game. He owns a stingy 2.36 ERA with 53:13 K:BB and a 1.17 WHIP across 34 1/3 innings.
--Connor ByrneSource: Cleveland Guardians
July 3, 2025
Cleveland Guardians right-hander
Shane Bieber (elbow) threw a July 1 bullpen session that went "really well," according to manager
Stephen Vogt. The Guardians are determining next steps for the former AL Cy Young winner. Bieber suffered a setback a few weeks ago in his recovery from April 2024 Tommy John surgery, but he has gotten back on track since then. The Guardians are optimistic that he'll return in the second half of July. Bieber totaled just 12 innings last season after posting a 3.80 ERA with 7.52 K/9 and 2.39 BB/9 over 128 frames in 2023. Having undergone major surgery since then, fantasy managers should temper expectations when the former ace comes back this year.
--Connor ByrneSource: Cleveland Guardians
July 3, 2025
Minnesota Twins shortstop
Carlos Correa is not in the lineup for their game against the Miami Marlins on Thursday.
Brooks Lee will start at short and bat fourth against Marlins starter
Eury Perez. This looks like a rest day for Correa, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI in a 2-1 win over the Marlins on Wednesday night. After playing just 86 games in 2024, Correa has already appeared in 75 contests this year. Correa's production hasn't been up to his typical standards, though. He's hitting .259/.299/.387 with seven homers, 29 RBI, 32 runs scored, and a career-low 5.5% walk rate in 291 plate appearances.
--Connor ByrneSource: Minnesota Twins
July 3, 2025
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher
Keegan Akin (shoulder) was placed on the injured list on Wednesday with left shoulder inflammation. The 30-year-old lefty has appeared in 39 games for the Orioles this season, spanning 38 innings with a 3.32 ERA, 4.30 FIP, 1.42 WHIP, and 23.3% strikeout rate. Akin's WHIP is up this season, and his strikeout rate is down after a strong 2024. He has worked as an opener for a few games this season but will now be sidelined through at least the All-Star break. Right-handed reliever
Yennier Cano was recalled from Norfolk to take Akin's place in the bullpen.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Baltimore Orioles
July 3, 2025
Houston Astros second baseman/third baseman
Luis Guillorme (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday due to a right hamstring strain. Guillorme has been a versatile utility option off the bench for Houston since joining the team on June 14. After spending parts of six seasons with the Mets, he played for the Braves, Angels, and Diamondbacks last season. He hit .248 in Triple-A in 57 games but only .150 (3-for-20) after his promotion.
Zack Short was called up to fill Guillorme's utility role in the infield. Guillorme will be out through the All-Star break and potentially longer, depending on the severity of his strain.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Brian McTaggart
July 3, 2025
Chicago White Sox outfielder
Michael A. Taylor (trapezius) left Wednesday's game with what the team called a trap contusion after his collision with Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy. Taylor dove in headfirst while trying to steal third base and collided squarely with Muncy's knee. While Muncy left the game with what could be a serious knee injury, Taylor was also removed with a bruise on his upper back in the trapezius region. The 34-year-old righty is hitting just .214 with four homers, seven stolen bases, and a .291 wOBA in his 75 games for Chicago. He was replaced by
Brooks Baldwin, who is one of the top candidates to get more playing time if Taylor is out.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Chicago White Sox
July 3, 2025
Athletics second baseman
Zack Gelof (hand, ribs) played nine innings on Wednesday night for Triple-A Las Vegas, and as long as there were no issues, he should be ready to join the A's at some point this weekend against the Giants in Sacramento. Gelof has yet to play a game in the majors this season after surgery to repair a hamate fracture in his right hand. While he was working his way back from that surgery, he was shut down due to a stress reaction in his ribs. Gelof hit only .211 last season in 138 games, but he had 17 homers and 25 stolen bases with a .276 wOBA to still carry fantasy value. The 25-year-old is a key part of the team's young core, and he should return as the primary second baseman the rest of the season, joining an exciting young lineup once he's available.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Martin Gallegos
July 3, 2025
Cincinnati Reds first baseman/outfielder
Spencer Steer (hand) was scratched from Wednesday night's game in Boston, but since X-rays were negative, he has been diagnosed with a hand contusion. Steer was hit by a pitch by Bryan Bello in the seventh inning of the suspended game, which resumed on Wednesday afternoon. He was able to finish that game, but the injury swelled to the point where he was scratched on Wednesday night. Manager Terry Francona said, "We didn't think it made a whole lot of sense to play him. We'll see how he shows up tomorrow. Depending on how he's feeling, we'll see what to do." Steer could end up with a quick stint on the injured list, or he could be back in the lineup as soon as Friday in Philadelphia. Keep a close eye out for an update on Steer's hand and availability for the last week before the All-Star break.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Charlie Goldsmith
July
3,
2025
Los
Angeles
Dodgers
third
baseman
Max
Muncy
(knee)
had
to
leave
Wednesday
night's
game
after
his
knee
was
wrenched
sideways
in
a
collision
with
White
Sox
outfielder
Michael
A.
Taylorread more...
July 3, 2025
Seattle Mariners first base prospect
Tyler Locklear went 2-for-4 with a home run and a stolen base during their contest against Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday evening. This was Locklear's second-straight game tallying two hits and fifth-straight game reaching base safely. Since June 1, Locklear has enjoyed a productive stretch at the plate, posting a .310/.403/.640 slash line with seven doubles, one triple, eight home runs, and four stolen bases. Through 79 total games at Triple-A this season, Locklear has held a solid .293/.381/.478 line with 20 doubles, 11 round-trippers, and 13 swiped bags. The No. 11-ranked prospect in he system was given a taste of the majors last season but posted a low .156 AVG through 16 games. Given his production at Triple-A, Locklear should be in the mix to return to the big leagues in the coming weeks.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
RADIO
