July 12, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers first baseman
Andrew Vaughn has come alive with the bat since joining his new team. His success at the plate continued during Saturday's game against the Washington Nationals. Vaughn went 2-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI in the 6-5 win over the Nats on Saturday. The right-handed slugger is 6-for-14 with 10 RBI since joining the Brewers on Monday. Vaughn figures to continue getting regular playing time while
Rhys Hoskins (thumb) is out. Fantasy managers looking for a boost in their lineup right now should consider adding Vaughn while he's hot at the plate.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
July 12, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher
Brandon Woodruff made his second start since returning from shoulder surgery on Saturday. Woodruff only gave up one earned run on two hits during his season debut last Sunday. The veteran right-hander wasn't quite as good in this one, but still delivered a solid performance. Woodruff allowed two earned runs on five hits while striking out 10 batters across 4.1 innings of work against the Washington Nationals on Saturday. This was only an 81-pitch outing from Woodruff as the Brewers didn't want to push him too hard. He has pitched well enough through the first two outings that he deserves to be rostered in most fantasy formats. It's unclear where he'll line up to pitch following the All-Star break.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
July 12, 2025
Washington Nationals starting pitcher
Shinnosuke Ogasawara has been optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday. The rookie left-hander will head to the minors following his lackluster outing on Saturday. Ogasawara allowed three earned runs on four hits while striking out only one batter over four innings of work against the Milwaukee Brewers. This isn't a shocking move given Ogasawara has allowed seven runs over 6.2 innings of work so far in the big leagues. The assumption is that Ogasawara will be back after the All-Star break. This could be a procedural move in order to get an extra bullpen arm ahead of the break. The Nats haven't announced who will take the spot on the active roster or that Ogasawara would return following the break. Regardless, the rookie southpaw isn't someone that needs to be rostered in fantasy formats.
--Andy WebbSource: Nationals Communications
July 12, 2025
Minnesota Twins outfielder
Byron Buxton continues to shine in what is shaping up to be the best season of his professional career. Buxton hit for the cycle on Saturday, leading the Twins to a 12-4 win over the Pirates. He went a perfect 5-for-5, capping off the afternoon by taking
Andrew Heaney deep in the seventh inning. The 31-year-old now has 21 home runs and 17 stolen bases on the year, delivering the elite five-tool production that injuries have often kept out of reach. With his value peaking, Buxton managers might consider selling high heading into the second half.
--Shaun AlbinSource: MLB.com
July 12, 2025
Athletics shortstop
Jacob Wilson (hand) returns to the lineup Saturday, batting second against the Toronto Blue Jays. Wilson had been sidelined since Tuesday's 10-1 win over the Braves after taking a pitch off his left hand. The Rookie of the Year candidate missed three games but brings his steady presence back to the top of the A's lineup. Wilson has been excellent in his debut season, slashing .335/.379/.468, though his lack of power and speed caps his fantasy ceiling. Fantasy managers should continue to start Wilson for batting average and runs, especially as the A's offense continues to trend upward.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Athletics
July 12, 2025
Boston Red Sox left-hander
Garrett Crochet (10-4) delivered his finest outing of an already stellar season on Saturday. The 26-year-old southpaw tossed a complete game shutout against the Rays, striking out nine and allowing just three baserunners in a 1-0 victory. Crochet needed only 100 pitches to go the distance and didn't allow an extra-base hit all afternoon. He enters the second half firmly in the American League Cy Young conversation, with a 2.23 ERA and 160 strikeouts over 129 1/3 innings.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Boston Red Sox
July 12, 2025
Atlanta Braves designated hitter
Marcell Ozuna is showing signs of life at the plate, launching his 13th home run of the season in Saturday's 7-6 win over the Cardinals. Ozuna crushed a second-inning pitch from
Erick Fedde 422 feet to left, highlighting a 2-for-4 day that also included an infield single. He's slashing .239/.364/.396 on the year, with his slugging percentage down 150 points from his 2024 All-Star campaign. A pair of homers heading into the break could spark a second-half turnaround for Ozuna. He remains a high-upside hold in all formats.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Atlanta Braves
July 12, 2025
New York Yankees outfielder
Aaron Judge remained red-hot in his MVP chase, belting his 35th home run of the season in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Cubs. Judge went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a two-run homer off
Brad Keller in the ninth inning, driving in the Yankees' only runs of the game. Slashing an absurd .358/.465/.739 on the season, Judge will face Cubs southpaw
Shota Imanaga on Sunday in his final matchup before the All-Star break. Judge's 12% home run rate against lefties only boosts his DFS upside in this matchup.
--Shaun AlbinSource: mlb.com
July 12, 2025
Chicago Cubs left-hander
Matthew Boyd ended the first half of his season on a high note in a 5-2 win over the New York Yankees on Saturday. Boyd improved to 10-3 with a season-high eight innings of scoreless, four-hit ball, notching six strikeouts and no walks. He threw 85 pitches, 62 for strikes, and will head into the All-Star break having allowed two or fewer earned runs in nine consecutive starts. The first-time All-Star, 34, has tallied 13 quality starts and logged an ace-like 2.34 ERA with a 1.07 WHIP, 102 strikeouts, and 23 walks in 111 2/3 frames.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
July 12, 2025
Chicago Cubs closer
Daniel Palencia shut the door on the New York Yankees to collect his 11th save in a 5-2 win on Saturday. Palencia entered with one out and a man on first in the bottom of the ninth inning and retired both hitters he faced, striking out
Jazz Chisholm Jr. and inducing a
Trent Grisham groundout. He needed just nine pitches to close out the Yankees. Palencia has gone six straight appearances without allowing an earned run, dropping his ERA to 1.62 in 33 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old right-hander also carries a 0.90 WHIP with 38 strikeouts and 11 walks, and his only blown save came back on May 19.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
July 12, 2025
The San Diego Padres announced that they have optioned right-hander
Ryan Bergert to Triple-A El Paso and recalled righty reliever
Alek Jacob. Bergert spent two-plus weeks on the 15-day injured list and returned Friday to throw 4 2/3 innings of two-run ball with seven strikeouts in a win against the Philadelphia Phillies. With the first half of Bergert's season done and the Padres in immediate need of bullpen help, it made sense to option him. The 25-year-old rookie is sure to return sometime in the second half, having put up a 2.84 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and 30:14 K:BB across 31 2/3 innings and 10 appearances (six starts).
--Connor ByrneSource: San Diego Padres
July 12, 2025
Miami Marlins third baseman
Connor Norby (hand) was not in the starting lineup Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles because of soreness in his left hand, Nate Karzmer of Fish on First reports. The Marlins started
Javier Sanoja at the hot corner and batted him ninth versus left-hander
Trevor Rogers. Norby has been a regular in Miami's lineup this season, but the 25-year-old has struggled to a .241/.289/.364 line with six home runs, 26 RBI, 33 runs, and seven stolen bases in 273 plate appearances.
--Connor ByrneSource: Nate Karzmer
July 12, 2025
Houston Astros shortstop
Jeremy Pena (rib) fielded ground balls before the team's game against the Texas Rangers on Saturday, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. It's the latest positive development for Pena as he works back from a small fracture in one of his left ribs. The Astros have gone without Pena since he suffered the injury on June 27, but he could be back right after the All-Star break. Pena had a tremendous first half of the season, slashing .322/.378/.489 with 11 homers, 40 RBI, 48 runs scored, and 15 steals across 350 plate appearances.
Mauricio Dubon and
Zack Short have divided time at shortstop in Pena's absence.
--Connor ByrneSource: Brian McTaggart - MLB.com
July 12, 2025
New York Mets right-hander
Dedniel Nunez (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery next week, manager
Carlos Mendoza announced. Nunez went on the 15-day injured list with a sprained elbow on July 3, but he'll now miss the rest of this season and a large portion (perhaps all) of the 2026 campaign. He previously underwent TJ surgery in 2021 while a member of the San Francisco Giants. Nunez debuted in the majors with the Mets last year and made a great first impression, notching a 2.31 ERA with 48:8 K:BB in 35 innings. However, the 29-year-old missed most of August and all of September with a flexor injury. He returned to the majors on May 5 this year and was unable to replicate last season's production. Nunez's 2025 will wrap up with a 4.66 ERA, 11 strikeouts, and six walks over 9 2/3 frames.
--Connor ByrneSource: SNY
July 12, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder
Lars Nootbaar (side) departed the team's game against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday with left-side discomfort, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. He went 0-for-2 with a strikeout before the Cardinals replaced him in left field with
Jose Fermin in the top of the sixth inning. Nootbaar has been trying to play through intercostal/ribcage soreness for the past couple of weeks, but he has missed multiple games and been pulled on more than one occasion as a result of the injury. With the All-Star break coming up, the first half of his season may be over. The 27-year-old has hit a modest .227/.332/.381 with 12 homers, 37 RBI, 50 runs scored, and four steals in 386 plate appearances.
--Connor ByrneSource: Derrick Goold
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