Yoshinobu Yamamoto Tosses Gem Against Giants
Yoshinobu Yamamoto bounced back in a big way on Sunday, tossing seven shutout frames against the San Francisco Giants in a 5-2 win. Yamamoto scattered three hits and two walks while punching out seven. Unfortunately for the 26-year-old righty, he was saddled with a no-decision after Tanner Scott blew a save in the ninth. Still, it was a big step in the right direction for Yamamoto, who was coming off a disastrous outing against the Milwaukee Brewers in which he didn't escape the first inning. Things have been a bit shaky for the Japanese star lately, with solid starts sandwiched between rough ones. Still, his numbers look good for the season, as he is 8-7 with a 2.59 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 116 strikeouts in 104 ⅓ IP. His next start is TBD as we head into the all-star break, but Yamamoto will be a must-start in fantasy regardless of who he faces.Source: MLB.com
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shota Imanaga Shuts Down Yankees on Sunday
Shota Imanaga (6-3) authored a dominant start on Sunday, tossing seven one-run innings against the New York Yankees in a 4-1 win. Imanaga was excellent throughout this one, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out six. After a solid start to his season, Imanaga missed a month and a half with a hamstring injury. Since his return, he has been fine, but this was by far the best he has looked. Imanaga is now 6-3 with a 2.65 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 48 strikeouts in 68 IP. He isn't much of a strikeout artist, but Imanaga does a good job preventing runs and baserunners. He is a must-start pitcher in fantasy, and lines up to start against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday, subject to any changes the Cubs decide to make to their rotation during the All-Star break.Source: MLB.com
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi Dominant Again in Seventh Win
Nathan Eovaldi (7-3) pitched into the eighth inning on Sunday, allowing just one run and picking up the win against the Houston Astros. Eovaldi scattered five hits, walked one, and struck out eight over 7 ⅔ IP in what was another convincing performance. The 35-year-old veteran is having a career season, with a lights-out 1.58 ERA and 0.85 WHIP supported by a 94:14 K:BB ratio over 91 IP. Regression is almost certain with numbers like that, but even with that baked in, he should still be considered a must-start fantasy option regardless of matchup. Eovaldi is in line to face the Detroit Tigers next Sunday, but things could change if the Rangers' rotation gets shuffled after the All-Star break.Source: MLB.com
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Ryan Helsley Escapes With Save
Ryan Helsley finished off a 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, picking up his 19th save. Helsley made things interesting in this one, allowing a walk and a single before getting three straight outs, including a strikeout, to escape the jam. The 30-year-old fireballer has been decent this year, converting 19 of 24 save opportunities and pitching to a 3.27 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 36 strikeouts in 33 IP. There are some worrisome signs, as Helsley has allowed too many baserunners and is striking out fewer batters than in previous seasons. Still, he hasn't been bad enough for the Cardinals to consider taking him out of the closer role, so fantasy owners should roll with him as long as he keeps getting the job done.Source: MLB.com
St. Louis Cardinals closer Mason Miller Earns Another Save
Mason Miller earned his second save in as many days on Sunday, closing out a 6-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. Miller allowed just a single and struck out one in his inning of work. The flamethrower had his stuff today, hitting 104 mph on his fastball. While his numbers are a touch inflated this season, it has still been a good sophomore campaign for Miller. He is 19-for-22 in save opportunities, and carries a 4.04 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 57 strikeouts in 35 ⅔ IP. A couple of blow-up outings are making those ratios look mediocre, but it is clear that when Miller is on, he is nearly untouchable. He should be regarded as an elite closer for fantasy, albeit on an A's team that won't win a ton of games.Source: MLB.com
Athletics closer David Bednar Continues Scoreless Streak
David Bednar slammed the door on the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, tossing a clean ninth inning to preserve a 2-1 win. Bednar allowed a leadoff single to Carlos Correa, but then got three straight outs, including two punchouts, to pick up his 13th save. The 30-year-old righty has been lights out since late May, going 18 straight appearances (17 ⅓ IP) without allowing an earned run and converting all nine of his save chances in that time frame. Bednar is down to a 2.53 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 45 strikeouts in 32 IP on the season. Even with a shaky start, he has been one of the best closers in the majors.Source: MLB.com
Pittsburgh Pirates closer Julio Rodriguez Homers for Third Straight Day
Julio Rodriguez went yard for the third consecutive game on Sunday in an 8-4 win over the Detroit Tigers. Rodriguez blasted a solo home run off right-hander Jack Flaherty in the third inning, but that was hardly his lone contribution. He also chipped in an RBI double, drew two walks, stole a base, and scored three times in a 2-for-3 afternoon as the Mariners completed a three-game road sweep. Rodriguez terrorized the Tigers all weekend, finishing the series 6-for-12 with three HRs, six RBI, eight runs, two steals, and four walks. An All-Star for the third time this season, Rodriguez enters the break hitting .252/.313/.417 with 14 homers, 50 RBI, 63 runs, and 17 steals in 431 plate appearances. The 24-year-old is poised to begin his career with four 20/20 seasons in a row.Source: ESPN
Seattle Mariners outfielder Riley Greene Smacks 24th Home Run in Loss
Riley
Greene
went
deep
for
the
second
game
in
a
row
in
an
8-4
loss
to
the
Seattle
Mariners
on
Sunday.
Greene
connected
on
a
solo
home
run
off
left-hander
read more...
Detroit
Tigers
outfielder
Tanner Scott Blows Save on Sunday
Tanner
Scott
recorded
his
major
league-worst
seventh
blown
save
in
a
5-2
win
over
the
San
Francisco
Giants
on
Sunday.
Leading
2-0,
the
Dodgers
called
on
Scott
to
put
away
the
Giantsread more...
Los
Angeles
Dodgers
closer
Ceddanne Rafaela Goes Deep Again on Sunday
Ceddanne Rafaela continued his July power surge in a 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. Rafaela finished 1-for-3 with a two-run shot off Rays starter Ryan Pepiot, giving him five dingers in 11 games this month. The 24-year-old has gone 16-for-41 (.390) with six doubles, 15 RBI, and 10 runs in July, and his hot hitting goes back several weeks. Rafaela owned an uninspiring .647 OPS entering June, but that number has skyrocketed by 150 points in the past month and a half. He'll head into the second part of the season slashing .271/.314/.483 with 14 homers, 48 RBI, 55 runs, 13 steals, and an above-average 19.4% strikeout rate in 341 plate appearances. He's already just one HR away from tying the career-high 15 he hit last year in 152 games. With Rafaela ranking in the top 20% of hitters in xSLG and barrel rate, his spike in power looks legitimate.Source: ESPN
Boston Red Sox infielder/outfielder Blake Perkins Reinstated, Optioned to Minors
Blake
Perkins
(shin/groin)
from
the
60-day
injured
list
and
optioned
him
to
Triple-A
Nashville,
per
a
team
announcement.
The
Brewers
made
room
for
him
on
their
40-man
roster
by
designatingread more...
The
Milwaukee
Brewers
have
reinstated
outfielder
Aroldis Chapman Handles Rays for 17th Save
Aroldis Chapman put an exclamation point on a great first half of the season in a 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. Chapman struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning to slam the door on Tampa Bay and record his 17th save of 2025. Now an eight-time All-Star, the 37-year-old has put up elite numbers across the board. Chapman owns a 1.18 ERA with a 0.76 WHIP and 55 strikeouts against 10 walks in 38 innings. The lights-out lefty has just one blown save, which came back on May 27.Source: ESPN
Boston Red Sox closer Sean Manaea Fans Seven, Takes Loss in Season Debut
Sean Manaea (0-1) made his season debut and took the loss in a 3-2 decision against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. The Mets activated Manaea on Sunday after he sat out the first three-plus months of the season with oblique and elbow injuries. Despite the outcome, Manaea pitched well in his return. The 33-year-old came on in relief in the sixth and wound up throwing 3 1/3 innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts on 65 pitches (44 strikes). While Manaea didn't hand out any free passes, he did scatter five hits, including Nick Loftin's walk-off single in the ninth. Looking ahead to the second half of the season, Manaea will be a welcome addition to the Mets' rotation. In 2024, his first year as a Met, he went 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and 184:63 K:BB across a career-high 181 2/3 frames.Source: ESPN
New York Mets left-hander Carlos Estevez Blows Save, Earns the Win
Carlos Estevez blew a two-run lead in the ninth inning for his fifth blown save of the season on Sunday, but ended up picking up his fourth win thanks to a walk-off single by Nick Loftin in the bottom of the inning. He allowed a double and a triple to start the frame, before eventually letting in the tying run on a sacrifice fly. This was the 32-year-old's second blown save in a row, as he came into Friday's game in a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and gave up a bases-clearing double. Still, he'll carry a 2.36 ERA into the All-Star break and doesn't look to be in danger of losing his job.Source: MLB.com
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher