Leaky Black Logs Double-Double in Loss to Jazz
Leaky Black finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, four blocks, and two steals in over 33 minutes in an 86-76 win over the Jazz during Summer League action on Wednesday. Black's 11 rebounds and four blocks were game highs in the contest. Despite a solid Summer League outing, the 26-year-old is not a player that should be on fantasy managers' radar. He hasn't played in an NBA game since the 2023-24 regular season.Source: ESPN
Washington Wizards forward Dodgers Expected to Pursue Bullpen Help
Tanner Scott, Blake Treinen (forearm) and Kirby Yates, the Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to pursue bullpen help at the trade deadline this summer, according to sources briefed on their plans. Scott has allowed eight home runs and has a 4.09 ERA after allowing just three homers and posting a 1.75 ERA in 2024 with the Marlins and Padres. In addition to Scott's struggles, Evan Phillips (elbow) had Tommy John surgery on June 4 and Treinen, Michael Kopech (knee) and Brusdar Graterol (shoulder) are all on the injured list. President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman tried to build the bullpen with an embarrassment of riches in terms of depth, but it just hasn't worked out in 2025.Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
Despite spending a combined $107 million in free agency on relievers Rob Brantly Outrighted to Triple-A
Rob Brantly cleared waivers after being designated for assignment and was outrighted to Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday, according to MLB.com. Brantly will remain in the organization after missing almost three months earlier this season with a strained right lat and a knee injury. The 36-year-old veteran backstop only played in three games before his injuries this year for Miami and went 3-for-7 with an RBI and a strikeout. For now, he'll remain on the farm to provide catching depth behind Agustin Ramirez and Nick Fortes at the major-league level. In parts of 10 big-league seasons with six different teams, Brantly has a career slash line of just .226/.286/.323 with seven home runs, 38 RBI and 32 runs scored in 140 games played.Source: MLB.com
Miami Marlins catcher Connor Norby Undergoes Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-8 Weeks
Connor Norby (hand) had surgery to fix a broken hamate bone in his left hand on Wednesday in Arizona, according to Craig Mish of Sports Grid. Norby is expected to miss six to eight weeks. The 25-year-old won't be able to return until at least late August, leaving him little time to help fantasy managers the rest of the way in 2025. In single-year fantasy leagues, managers must weigh the cost of holding the former second-rounder into the second half of the season if they have other roster needs. In 253 at-bats in the first half for the Fish, Norby slashed .241/.289/.364 with a below-average .653 OPS, only six home runs, 26 RBI, 33 runs and seven stolen bases. Heading into the second half without Norby at the hot corner, expect the Marlins to mix and match at third base with Graham Pauley and Javier Sanoja.Source: Sports Grid - Craig Mish
Miami Marlins third baseman Trey Alexander Tallies 25 Points in Losing Effort
Trey Alexander totaled a game-high 25 points in Wednesday's 95-81 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, impressing with a 5-for-9 effort from downtown and shooting 7-for-13 overall from the field. Additionally, Alexander had a perfect record with his six free throws. His line also included four rebounds, three assists, and a couple of steals. Last season, Alexander was named the 2025 G League Rookie of the Year while playing for the Denver Nuggets-affiliated Grand Rapids Gold, and the Pelicans signed him to a two-way contract earlier this month. Things started poorly for him in Vegas as Alexander scored only five points in his first two games. He will get another chance to impress on Friday against the Indiana Pacers.Source: ESPN
New Orleans Pelicans shooting guard Johni Broome Records Second Consecutive Double-Double
Johni Broome posted a second consecutive double-double in the Las Vegas Summer League on Wednesday, racking up 22 points, 13 rebounds, one assist, two steals, and one block in a 90-82 triumph against the Dallas Mavericks. The second-round pick from Auburn was a bit quiet in his first few Summer League outings, but he has now demonstrated his full potential in the past two games. By picking up Broome, Philadelphia has boosted its frontcourt depth behind the injury-prone Joel Embiid, and he could become a valuable contributor for the team.Source: ESPN
Philadelphia 76ers forward/center Jahmir Young Has Historic Summer League Outing
Jahmir Young put on a show in Wednesday's Summer League clash against the Milwaukee Bucks, scoring 40 points on 13-for-18 shooting in a 102-96 victory. It marks the most points ever a Bulls player has scored in the Summer League, and it's also the highest scoring tally during this year's tournament in Las Vegas. Young was unconscious from downtown, going 7-for-8, and finished 7-for-9 at the charity stripe. His work included one rebound, three assists, and two steals. As an undrafted rookie, Young made only five appearances for the Bulls last season, but he could be in line for more work in 2025-26 since the Bulls' backcourt is now a bit thinner following Lonzo Ball's departure.Source: ESPN
Chicago Bulls guard Rob Dillingham Plays Big Role in Wednesday's Win
Rob Dillingham finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists as the team snuck past the Phoenix Suns 89-85 during Wednesday's Summer League action. The 20-year-old was tied for the highest scoring mark in the game, shooting 9-for-20 from the field with a 1-for-6 record from three-point range. Dillingham saw very little action in Minnesota during his rookie campaign, but Mike Conley is on his last legs, and 2025-26 could bring more opportunities for the former Kentucky Wildcat. During the Las Vegas Summer League, Dillingham has improved his numbers in almost all categories compared to last year, averaging 17.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.8 steals.Source: ESPN
Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Tyrese Proctor Erupts for 35 Points Against Kings
Tyrese Proctor scored a whopping 40 percent of his team's points in Wednesday's Summer League encounter with the Sacramento Kings, finishing a 94-86 loss with 35 points on 11-for-24 shooting. Proctor's efficiency wasn't great, but he went 9-for-9 at the free-throw line and dropped four three-point bombs with 11 attempts. The 21-year-old from Australia wrapped things up with three rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Across his previous three Summer League outings, Proctor had managed only 34 total points. This was an impressive effort from the Duke product, but we will probably see only glimpses of him in the stacked Cavaliers backcourt during the 2025-26 regular season.Source: ESPN
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Taj Bradley Starts Second Half As an Intriguing Trade Target
Taj Bradley showed off a high ceiling during a dominant stretch last season, but the promising righty has struggled this season. His strikeout rate has dropped from 26.6% to 20.4% while his ERA has ballooned to 4.60 with a 1.27 WHIP. His FIP, SIERA, and xERA indicate he has gotten a little unlucky to give up so many runs with the quality of contact against him, but he hasn't been able to really find a good groove. He was a top prospect at one point and still has an extremely high ceiling, so if the Rays are willing to move him at a reasonable price, many teams will be interested in his high upside. The raw potential is there for Bradley, but he may need a new team to get him to find the consistency to be a front-line starter.Source: Bob Nightingale
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Cody Williams Leads Jazz to Victory Against Wizards
Cody Williams posted a team-high 23 points in Wednesday's 86-76 Summer League victory against the Washington Wizards, shooting 9-for-16 from the field and 3-for-6 from downtown. He also did his part defensively by picking up a pair of steals and finished his line with two rebounds and two assists. Williams had a slow start to Summer League action in Salt Lake City, averaging 11.7 points, but he's been sharp with his play in Las Vegas. With four games played, Williams has notched 20-plus points three times. The 20-year-old is working hard to prove himself enough to secure a regular spot in the Jazz rotation for his sophomore season.Source: ESPN
Utah Jazz forward Ronald Acuna Jr. Ready for a Huge Second Half
Ronald Acuna Jr. got a late start to the season after recovering from his knee injury, but he showed he still has amazing upside in his limited playing time before the All-Star break. In 45 games, Acuna hit .323 with 12 homers, 39 runs scored, 22 RBI, and a .437 wOBA. His 52.3% hard-hit rate and 18.3% barrel rate back up his good power numbers. The one category that has understandably been a little slower to return to form is his stolen base production. He is a perfect 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts, but has been less aggressive than pre-injury so far in his return. As he gets more comfortable, he should pick that up in the second half and continue to be one of the top producers in fantasy baseball. He'll try to help the Braves save their season, but they start the second half 9.5 games out of the third and final Wild Card spot, so there's lots of work to do.Source: FanGraphs
Atlanta Braves outfielder Justin Jefferson Shows Confidence in J.J. McCarthy
Justin
Jefferson
had
praise
for
second-year
quarterback
J.J.
McCarthy
this
week.
McCarthy,
who
missed
all
of
his
2024
rookie
season
with
a
knee
injury,
is
still
unprovenread more...
Minnesota
Vikings
wide
receiver
Luis Robert Jr.'s Market Shaping Up
Luis
Robert
Jr.
is
getting
plenty
of
attention
ahead
of
the
MLB
trade
deadline
and
could
be
one
of
the
best
bats
available
to
teams
shopping
for
offense.
MLB
Network's
Jon
Heyman
reportedread more...
Chicago
White
Sox
outfielder
Sam LaPorta Has Confidence in New Lions' Offensive Coordinator
Sam LaPorta had high praise for first-year offensive coordinator John Morton with the team set to open training camp this weekend. There have been some concerns that the Detroit offense will take a step back now that star play-caller Ben Johnson is the head coach in Chicago, but LaPorta does not share those worries. LaPorta told Jim Rome on Wednesday that Morton is a "brilliant mind" and went on to say, "I think he's gonna call the offense great." It remains to be seen whether Morton changes player roles, usage, and formations in his first year calling the plays, but the Detroit offense is loaded with talented players. Detroit should continue to be a fantasy goldmine for the 2025 season.Source: NFL.com
Detroit Lions tight end Bryan Reynolds Remains One of the Top Names on the Market
Bryan Reynolds is one of the biggest bats available for teams looking for an offensive upgrade as we approach the trade deadline. Not all teams can get in on the action, though, since the outfielder has a no-trade list that includes the Yankees, Mets, Blue Jays, Dodgers, Giants, and Padres. The 30-year-old righty has been extremely consistent over the last few seasons with at least 24 home runs in four straight years while hitting over .260 with a wOBA over .335. This year, though, he's hitting only .225 with 10 homers and a .287 wOBA. His underlying metrics have been coming around lately, and he looks like he could have a bounce-back second half, but it remains to be seen what uniform he'll wear the rest of the way. Reynolds comes with a hefty contract and is owed over $77 million through the 2030 season with a club option for 2031.Source: Noah Hiles
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Ja'Marr Chase Hoping Bengals' Defense Provides More Balance in 2025
Ja'Marr Chase told CBS Sports this week that he expects the NFL to see its first 2,000-yard receiving season in the next three years. He continued to say that he thinks it will be either him or Justin Jefferson who accomplishes the feat. That being said, a reverse of fortune in Cincinnati is likely more important to the young receiver as the Bengals have missed the playoffs for two straight seasons. While the team's offense has been elite, the defensive side of the ball has been an issue of late. Chase stated, "The defense is going to have to step up...and make some stops." He went on to say, "That's all we ask them to do." The team added a new defensive coordinator, hiring Al Golden after letting long-time DC Lou Anarumo go following the 2024 season. From a fantasy perspective, Chase remains a locked-in WR1 in any format regardless of the state of the Cincy defense.Source: NFL.com
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Sandy Alcantara Could Be Moved By the Marlins
The Miami Marlins have exceeded expectations this season, but are still expected to be sellers at the trade deadline to some extent. The team is listening to offers for starting pitchersNoelvi Marte Swinging Hot Bat Entering Second Half
Noelvi Marte is entering the second half swinging a hot bat and could continue to find success. Marte has dealt with injuries this season, but has been effective when on the field. Over his final seven games of the first half, Marte went 7-for-22 with a double and three home runs. He swiped one bag, tallied four RBI, and scored four runs. Through 28 total games this season, Marte has posted a .284/.337/.547 slash line with five doubles, six home runs, and five stolen bases. Under the hood, the former top prospect has generated a .335 xwOBA, .464 xSLG, and a 73.8 mph bat speed, which are all above the average marks. Additionally, he ranks in the 93rd percentile in sprint speed. Marte is worth adding in all category formats as he has the skill set to contribute to all five standard categories. If he continues to see consistent playing time, he could push for a 20/20 season.Source: MLB.com
Cincinnati Reds third baseman Brady House Enjoys Strong Finish to First Half
Brady House enjoyed a strong conclusion to the first half and could be poised to continue to improve in the second. Over his final nine games, the No. 81-ranked prospect in baseball on MLB.com posted an impressive .297/.316/.514 slash line with two doubles, two home runs, and seven RBI. During his first 14 games in D.C., House carried a modest .232/.267/.286 line with just three doubles and no home runs. The 22-year-old has generated an impressive .291 xBA with an above-average 35.2% LA sweet-spot rate, which suggests he should continue to enjoy success. However, his power has yet to fully translate to the big leagues. Earlier in the season, House hit 13 home runs and held a .519 SLG through 65 games with Triple-A. House is worth adding in all standard leagues as he could be a viable corner infielder with power upside during the final months of the season.Source: MLB.com
Washington Nationals third base prospect Matt Shaw in Danger of Losing Playing Time in Second Half
Matt
Shaw
is
in
danger
of
losing
playing
time
during
the
second
half.
Shaw
was
able
to
break
camp
with
the
MLB
roster
but
struggled
during
his
first
look.
Through
his
firstread more...
Chicago
Cubs
third
baseman
Joe Boyle Could Have Limited Role to Open Second Half
Joe
Boyle
could
have
a
very
limited
role
when
the
Rays
open
the
second
half
with
a
weekend
series
against
the
Baltimore
Orioles.
During
the
final
two
weeks
of
the
firstread more...
Tampa
Bay
Rays
right-handed
pitcher
Marcelo Mayer Turning the Corner in Boston
Marcelo Mayer has begun to find his swing and could be poised to break out in the second half. Over his final five games before the All-Star break. Mayer has held a .313/.353/.500 slash line with three doubles, two RBI, and three runs. Before this recent surge, the former fourth overall pick held a .217 AVG over his last eight contests. In addition, Boston recently noted that Mayer will be the primary second baseman going forward with Alex Bregman back in action. This is a great sign for the top prospect as he is beginning to find his swing and is not in any danger of losing playing time. Under the hood, he has generated an elite 52.5% hard-hit rate with a 74.2 mph bat speed. Despite his slow start, he is worth rostering in all 12-team formats in the second half.Source: MiLB.com
Boston Red Sox infield prospect Brice Matthews Struggling Since Earning Promotion
Brice
Matthews
has
struggled
to
find
his
footing
during
his
first
taste
of
the
major
leagues.
Matthews
made
his
MLB
debut
on
July
11
but
has
gone
0-for-7
during
his
first
tworead more...
Houston
Astros
infield
prospect
Disappointing Stretch Continues for Bobby Miller
Bobby Miller spent most of the 2025 season with Triple-A Oklahoma City, and he has struggled. Across 64.2 innings at Triple-A, Miller owns a 5.15 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, and just a 2.4 percent strikeout minus walk rate. The latter mark is the fourth worst among all starters at Triple-A this season with at least 50 innings. It's been a frustrating couple of years for the flamethrowing right-hander, as he's made just one start in the majors this season at home against the Rockies, and coughed up six runs in three innings. After looking like one of baseball's brightest young starters in 2023, it's been a nightmarish two years to follow. Only 26 years old, he'll look to bounce back in the second half and generate some positive momentum.Source: FanGraphs
Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitcher Dylan Beavers Ultra Productive in First Half
Dylan Beavers enjoyed an exciting first half as he stuffed the stat sheet, hitting .311/.405/.482 (141 wRC+) with 10 homers and 20 stolen bases in 305 plate appearances. He is one of only six hitters at Triple-A this season to record at least 10 homers and 20 steals, including the recently promoted Brice Matthews. Beavers pairs this enticing power and speed skillset with a refined approach at the plate, with 41 walks to 52 strikeouts for the year. The quality of contact is more modest, however, with a 39 percent hard-hit rate and 8.2 percent barrel rate. While the upside may not be as high as other guys, Beavers still ranks as the number five prospect in the Orioles system and could debut after the trade deadline.Source: FanGraphs
Baltimore Orioles outfield prospect Dominant First Half of Season for Nolan McLean
Nolan McLean was excellent over 60 2/3 innings in the first half at Triple-A Syracuse, holding a 2.52 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP. His strikeout rate was solid at 26.1%, but he could stand to improve his control, as his walk rate was in the double digits. But it is important to consider how the ABS system at Triple-A can negatively impact pitchers' walk rates. He has a wide six-pitch mix that he distributes fairly evenly, and all of his pitches are capable of generating swing and miss. The right-hander could be in consideration for a promotion to the big leagues in the second half given his performance and the number of injuries in the Mets' rotation. He'd be worthy of an add in most formats if that time comes due to the favorable home ballpark and overall strength of the Mets team.Source: MiLB.com
New York Mets pitching prospect Jett Williams Enjoys Strong First Half At Double-A
Jett Williams performed admirably in the first half of 2025, hitting .288/.396/.495 with eight homers and 26 stolen bases over 334 plate appearances. His batting average and stolen base totals both rank in the top five among all Double-A hitters. In addition, Williams' 164 wRC+ is the highest in the league. The 21-year-old has a sound approach at the plate with the ability to spray line drives to all parts of the field, which is an excellent combination with his amazing speed. He has some pop as well, with 13 homers over 534 plate appearances across multiple levels in 2023. Williams is moving quickly through the Mets' system, and a promotion to Triple-A Syracuse could soon be on the horizon. He should be viewed as a strong asset in dynasty leagues.Source: MiLB.com
New York Mets shortstop prospect Byron Buxton Won't Waive No-Trade Clause
Byron
Buxton
has
never
looked
like
a
realistic
trade
candidate
approaching
the
July
31
deadline.
Nevertheless,
Buxton
addressed
speculation
at
All-Star
festivities
in
Atlanta
this
week
and
made
it
clear
that
he
isn'tread more...
Minnesota
Twins
outfielder
Yoan Moncada Drawing Trade Interest
Yoan
Moncada
is
garnering
interest
from
"multiple"
teams
leading
up
to
the
July
31
trade
deadline,
Francys
Romero
reports.
Romero
names
the
Yankees,
Cubs,
Brewers,
and
Mariners
as
potential
fits
forread more...
Los
Angeles
Angels
third
baseman