July
18,
2025
Atlanta
Braves
designated
hitter
Marcell
Ozuna
will
start
the
second
half
of
the
season
on
the
bench
in
Friday's
series
opener
against
the
visiting
New
York
Yankees.
Sean
Murphy
is
serving
read more...
July
18,
2025
New
York
Yankees
left-hander
Max
Fried
(finger)
said
he's
"hopeful"
that
he
will
be
able
to
make
his
first
start
of
the
second
half
of
the
season
in
the
series
in
Canada
against
the
division-rival
Toronto
read more...
July
18,
2025
New
York
Yankees
first
baseman
Paul
Goldschmidt
and
designated
hitter
Giancarlo
Stanton
are
out
of
the
starting
lineup
for
Friday's
series
opener
against
the
hosting
Atlanta
Braves
to
kick
off
the
read more...
July 18, 2025
MLB.com's Tim Stebbins reports that Cleveland Guardians outfielder
Steven Kwan (wrist) received an injection in his right wrist on Wednesday, which is why he's out of the starting lineup to kick off the second half of the season on Friday against the Athletics. Kwan is being considered day-to-day for now. Fantasy managers will obviously want to remove him from their starting lineups on Friday and check back on Saturday to see if he's feeling good enough to return for Game 2 of the series at Progressive Field. While the 27-year-old All-Star is just day-to-day, this could turn into an injured list situation if Kwan is unable to get back onto the field this weekend. Left-handed-hitting outfielder
Nolan Jones is taking over in left field for Kwan on Friday and will fifth against A's left-hander
JP Sears.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
July 18, 2025
Washington Nationals shortstop
CJ Abrams (shoulder) is back at shortstop and is batting leadoff for Friday's series opener against the visiting San Diego Padres and right-hander
Dylan Cease to start the second half of the season. The Nationals scratched Abrams from the lineup for the final game of the first half of the season on Sunday with shoulder soreness, but he's feeling better now after having the All-Star break to rest up. Even though Abrams has gone hitless in six career at-bats against Cease, fantasy managers will want to get him back in their starting lineups against a pitcher that has really struggled in 2025. The 24-year-old shortstop is in the midst of a career year in his third full season in D.C., as he enters the second half slashing .287/.353/.483 with 12 home runs, 33 RBI, 61 runs scored and 20 stolen bases in 82 games.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 18, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop
Ha-Seong Kim (foot) is back at shortstop and will hit eighth in Friday's series opener against the division-rival Baltimore Orioles and right-hander
Charlie Morton. Kim was pulled from the final game of the first half of the season on Sunday after fouling a ball off his left foot, but he had the All-Star break to rest this week and will be back for the first game of the second half. The 29-year-old middle infielder had offseason shoulder surgery and didn't make his debut for Tampa until the Fourth of July. In six games since his return, Kim has gone 5-for-22 (.227) with a homer, double, three RBI, two runs scored and one stolen base. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect the South Korean native to be as good as he was in 2023 with the Padres, but he can at least provide some modest speed for fantasy managers as a middle infielder in deep-mixed leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 18, 2025
Cleveland Guardians All-Star outfielder
Steven Kwan will not be in the lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Athletics to begin the second half of the season. The Guardians will give Kwan another day off with a left-hander on the mound after he took part in the All-Star activities this week.
Nolan Jones will make the start in left field and will hit fifth against A's lefty
JP Sears, while center fielder
Angel Martinez will bat leadoff. This will be Kwan's first day off since June 11. Jones, who also swings from the left side, won't be a popular DFS sleeper target in a lefty-lefty matchup. The 27-year-old is hitting just .229/.319/.330 with three home runs, 23 RBI, 18 runs and six steals in his 227 at-bats this year. Against lefties, he's gone 8-for-38 (.211) with none of his three homers and 14 strikeouts in 46 plate appearances.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 18, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies third baseman
Alec Bohm (ribs) is back at the hot corner and is batting cleanup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Los Angeles Angels and right-handed opener
Ryan Zeferjahn to begin the second half of the season. A bruised left rib kept Bohm out for the final game of the first half of the season on Sunday, but after resting during the All-Star break, the 28-year-old is ready to roll to kick off the second half. There's a lot to be desired from a power standpoint from Bohm -- he only has eight homers in 349 at-bats -- but he's also batting .281 (98 hits) in one of the best lineups in baseball and has added 42 RBI. He's been hot so far in July, going 9-for-31 (.290) with a homer, triple, five RBI and six runs scored. Get Bohm back into your starting fantasy lineups, especially with the Angels rolling with a bullpen game.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 18, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals All-Pro pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson has already said that he will not play on his current contract, and NFL Network's Tom Pelissero does not believe Hendrickson will report to training camp next week. Pelissero also thinks that Hendrickson will miss preseason games if he doesn't have a new deal, and he wouldn't be surprised if he sits out regular-season games. The 30-year-old has been a Pro Bowler each of the last four years and has back-to-back seasons with 17.5 sacks for the Bengals. Hendrickson is due $15.8 million in base salary for the 2025 campaign, but he's seeking a multi-year commitment from the Bengals and has so far been very disappointed with their efforts to re-sign him. He's only going to dig in even more after seeing the Pittsburgh Steelers make pass-rusher T.J. Watt the highest-paid non-quarterback this week.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
July 18, 2025
When asked to pick an offensive player who needs to step up in 2025, Tampa Bay Buccaneers new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard named wide receiver
Jalen McMillan on The Ronde Barber Show. McMillan came on strong to close out the 2024 season with
Chris Godwin (ankle) injured, but he'll have plenty of competition for playing time with
Mike Evans, Godwin and rookie first-rounder
Emeka Egbuka in the receivers room. The 23-year-old finished his second NFL season with 37 catches for 461 yards and eight touchdowns. In the final five games, he had 24 receptions, 316 yards and seven touchdowns. "I think that where (McMillan) left last season and the progress he showed on and off the field, and you could see that carry over into the spring with not having Chris out there and bringing Emeka along and him showing Emeka the ropes," Grizzard said.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Ronde Barber Show
July 18, 2025
The Detroit Lions placed defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike (undisclosed) on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list on Thursday, which means he will be forced to miss at least the first four games of the 2025 regular season this fall. The Lions re-signed the 27-year-old interior defensive lineman to a one-year deal in the offseason. Despite having spinal-fusion surgery, Onwuzurike started in 10 of his 16 appearances with the Lions last year and finished with 28 total tackles, 1.5 sacks and a career-high 13 QB hits. The former second-rounder (41st overall) in 2021 out of Washington played a career-high 594 defensive snaps last year, but now he's just trying to get healthy and return to play in Week 5. When Onwuzurike does return to the Lions in the middle of the season, he'll likely be in a rotational role on the D-line.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
July 18, 2025
The Seattle Seahawks and second-round safety Nick Emmanwori reached an agreement on Thursday night on a fully guaranteed rookie contract, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Emmanwori becomes the first player in NFL history drafted 35th overall to receive a fully guaranteed contract. Seattle traded up 17 spots to take Emmanwori, who was a three-year starter at South Carolina that impressed during the scouting combine back in February. The Seahawks plan to use the 21-year-old defensive back at nickelback in 2025 in his first year in the NFL, with Julian Love and Coby Bryant serving as the team's starting safeties. In addition to Emmanwori, the Seahawks also reached an agreement with rookie tight end
Elijah Arroyo, who was taken 50th overall in the second round back in April.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Adam Teicher
July 18, 2025
The Los Angeles Angels will go with a bullpen game to open the second half of the season in Friday's series opener in Philadelphia against the Phillies, per The Athletic's Sam Blum. Right-hander
Ryan Zeferjahn will get the opening assignment. This will be the first time all season that the Angels have gone outside of their five-man starting rotation, and it will be Zeferjahn's first opening assignment. The 27-year-old will not be a realistic fantasy streamer, as he's thrown just two innings in one of his 40 relief appearances for the Halos in 2025. The former third-rounder by the Boston Red Sox in 2019 out of Kansas does have 41 punchouts in 35 innings this year, but he's also sporting a rough 5.66 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 22 walks while also picking up his first two career saves. Avoid Zeferjahn in Philly.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Sam Blum
July 18, 2025
Former featherweight champion and current BMF title holder Max Holloway is set to face off against former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 318 on Saturday. Holloway will attempt to defend his BMF title in a trilogy bout against Poirier and improve it to 2-1. In their first fight, Holloway was defeated by first-round submission at UFC 143 in February 2012 and then dropped a unanimous decision in the rematch at UFC 236 in April 2019. DraftKings sees Holloway as a slight favorite with a salary of $8,200.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
July 18, 2025
The Tampa Bay Rays reinstated infielder
Brandon Lowe (oblique) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and optioned infielder
Curtis Mead to Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. The Rays haven't released their starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Baltimore Orioles yet to begin the second half of the season, but Lowe should be back at second base as he looks to continue what has been a fantastic campaign for him. The 31-year-old veteran made his second All-Star team this year by slashing .272/.324/.487 with an .811 OPS, 19 home runs, 50 RBI, 54 runs scored and three stolen bases in 84 games played. Because of injuries, Lowe has played in over 100 games in only three of his seven MLB seasons. But if he can stay healthy the rest of the way, he could have a shot at challenging his career high of 39 long balls, set in 2021.
--Keith HernandezSource: Rays Communications
July 18, 2025
Former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier is scheduled to retire after he takes on former featherweight champion and current BMF title holder, Max Holloway, in the main event of UFC 318 on Saturday. Poirier and Holloway have already fought twice, with Poirier winning both times and will now fight for the third and final time. Poirier was last seen in action back in June 2024 at UFC 302, where he fought for the lightweight title against Islam Makhachev. Unfortunately for Poirier, he suffered a fifth-round submission loss. DraftKings sees Poirier as a slight underdog with a salary of $8,000.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
July 18, 2025
Roman Kopylov will look to extend his win streak when he takes on former middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa in the co-main event of UFC 318 on Saturday. Back in February 2024, at UFC 298, Kopylov lost to Anthony Hernandez via a second-round rear-naked choke submission. Since his loss to Hernandez, Kopylov got back on track and has won back-to-back fights. First, he defeated Cesar Almeida via split decision and in his next fight, he finished Chris Curtis via third-round TKO. DraftKings sees Kopylov as the favorite with a salary of $8,900.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
July 18, 2025
Former middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa is scheduled to take on Roman Kopylov in the co-main event of UFC 318 on Saturday. Lately, Costa hasn't looked that great as he's gone 1-4 in his last five fights. The last time he won a fight was back in August 2022 at UFC 278 against former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold. Costa has now fallen out of the title picture as he's lost back-to-back fights. First, fought former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and lost via unanimous decision. He was last seen in action back in June 2024 at UFC 302, where he lost to former middleweight champion Sean Strickland via split decision. DraftKings sees Costa as the underdog with a salary of $7,300.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
July 18, 2025
Major League Baseball has extended the paid leave for Cleveland Guardians right-hander
Luis L. Ortiz through Aug. 31 as they continue their investigation for a possible gambling-related offense, according to Zack Meisel of MLB.com. The league has been looking into Ortiz since early July. Depending on what MLB finds, it's possible that the 26-year-old won't pitch at all for the rest of the 2025 season. Fantasy managers have to prepare for that possibility. Before going on paid leave, the 26-year-old Dominican had gone 4-9 for the Guards with a 4.36 ERA (4.13 FIP) and 1.38 WHIP with 96 strikeouts and 42 walks in 88 2/3 frames over 16 starts in his first season with the team. With Ortiz out at least another month, lefty
Joey Cantillo figures to remain in Cleveland's rotation. Cantillo had an ERA just south of 5.00 with 18 K's and six walks in his three starts for the Guardians.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Zack Meisel
July
18,
2025
New
York
Yankees
right-hander
Ian
Hamilton
will
serve
as
the
team's
opener
to
kick
off
the
second
half
of
the
season
in
Friday's
series
opener
against
the
hosting
Atlanta
Braves
at
Truist
Park,
according
to
The
read more...
July 18, 2025
Daniel Rodriguez will look for his third win in a row when he takes on Kevin Holland on the main card of UFC 318 on Saturday. After losing three fights in a row, Rodriguez returned to the winning column by defeating Alex Morono via split decision. Rodriguez was last seen in action in May at UFC Des Moines, where he finished Santiago Ponzinibbio via third-round TKO. DraftKings sees Rodriguez as a huge underdog with a salary of $6,900.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
July
18,
2025
According
to
The
Athletic's
Chris
Kirschner,
New
York
Yankees
left-hander
Max
Fried
(finger)
isn't
listed
as
a
starter
for
the
first
series
of
the
second
half
of
the
season
this
weekend
in
Atlanta
against
his
former
read more...
July 18, 2025
Kevin Holland will look to extend his win streak when he takes on Daniel Rodriguez on the main card of UFC 318 on Saturday. In the UFC's first event of 2025, Holland was submitted by former two-division ONE champion Reinier de Ridder. Losing to de Ridder, Holland moved down to welterweight, and since moving down, Holland has looked great, going 2-0. He rebounded by defeating Gunnar Nelson via unanimous decision, and more recently, he defeated Vicente Luque via second-round submission. DraftKings sees Holland as a huge favorite with a salary of $9,300.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
July 18, 2025
Dan Ige will look to win back-to-back fights as he faces off against former Bellator champion Patricio Freire on the main card of UFC 318. Ige was last seen in action in April at UFC 314, where he got back in the win column by finishing Sean Woodson via third-round TKO. Prior to his bout with Woodson, Ige lost back-to-back fights. First, he lost to Diego Lopes via unanimous decision, followed by a unanimous decision loss to Lerone Murphy back in October. DraftKings sees Ige as the favorite with a salary of $8,600.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
July 18, 2025
Patricio Freire will look to get back in the win column as he takes on Dan Ige on the main card of UFC 318 on Saturday. At age 37, after requesting his release by the PFL, Freire made the jump to the UFC, but unfortunately, his debut didn't go as planned. Freire had a terrible UFC debut as he was very tentative and only managed to land 17 significant strikes compared to his opponent, Yair Rodriguez, who landed 70 significant strikes. DraftKings sees Freire as the underdog with a salary of $7,600.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
July 18, 2025
Daniel Zellhuber will look to return to the win column when he takes on UFC veteran Michael Johnson on the UFC 318 main card opener on Saturday. Zellhuber lost his UFC debut to Trey Ogden, but then he won his next three fights. Zellhuber was last seen in action back in September at UFC 306, where he lost an extremely close fight to Esteban Ribovics via split decision. Since signing with the UFC, Zellhuber has gone 3-2. DraftKings sees Zellhuber as a huge favorite with a salary of $9,500.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
July 18, 2025
UFC veteran Michael Johnson is scheduled to face off against Daniel Zellhuber on the UFC 318 main card opener on Saturday. Johnson, a 30-fight UFC veteran, enters this bout on a two-fight winning streak. First, he got back in the win column by defeating Darrius Flowers via unanimous decision, and more recently, Johnson finished Ottman Azaitar via second-round knockout. Since joining the promotion, Johnson has gone 15-15. DraftKings sees Johnson as a huge underdog with a salary of $6,700.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
July 18, 2025
Atlanta Braves left-hander
Joey Wentz will get the starting nod for Saturday's contest at Truist Park against the visiting New York Yankees in Game 2 of the first series of the second half. The Braves are the third team that Wentz has pitched for already in 2025. The 27-year-old southpaw was claimed off waivers from the Minnesota Twins on July 11 and then threw three shutout innings of relief with one walk and six strikeouts in his only appearance for the Braves a day later. Because Wentz isn't stretched out like a typical starter, he won't be a recommended fantasy streamer, especially against the Bronx Bombers. In his 26 relief appearances for the Braves, Twins and Pittsburgh Pirates this year, Wentz holds a 6.32 ERA (4.78 FIP) and 1.70 WHIP with 34 K's and 21 walks in 37 innings, so he hasn't been very good at all.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 18, 2025
Cleveland Guardians second base prospect
Travis Bazzana (oblique) was officially activated from the seven-day injured list at Double-A Akron on Friday to begin the second half of the season. Bazzana will return to action in the minors for the first time since mid-May due to a right-oblique strain. The 22-year-old is the club's top prospect, per MLB Pipeline, after being taken first overall in 2024 out of Oregon State. The Australian infielder has only hit .252/.362/.433 with four home runs, 17 RBI, 29 runs scored and eight stolen bases in 33 games at Akron in his first full season as a professional. Given the fact that Bazzana has been injured this year and hasn't exactly lived up to his draft stock yet in the lower levels of the minors, it seems more likely than not that he won't be in line to make his major-league debut until next year.
--Keith HernandezSource: GuardsInsider
July 18, 2025
The Seattle Seahawks signed second-round tight end
Elijah Arroyo to a four-year, $8.813 million deal on Friday, including $6.872 million guaranteed, according to his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Shawn O'Dare. Arroyo was the fifth tight end off the board in April's NFL draft at 50th overall. The Seahawks still have
Noah Fant at tight end, but they'll feature a new offense in 2025, and Fant has just one touchdown catch in the last two years in Seattle. The 22-year-old Arroyo could be involved in the passing attack in his first year in the NFL if he can avoid anymore knee injuries, something that plagued him in college. He has good size (6-foot-5, 250 pounds) and speed and could be the team's top pass-catching tight end by the end of the 2025 campaign. Arroyo won't be drafted in most single-year fantasy leagues, but he's a name to keep track of.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
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