Jul 20, 2026, 3:41 PM ET

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (back) is starting at the 6 and will hit second in Monday's series opener against the visiting San Francisco Giants and right-hander Trevor McDonald, according to MLB.com. The Royals held Witt out of Sunday's series finale against the San Diego Padres as a precaution due to back tightness that he's experienced of late, but he will end up missing just one game. The 26-year-old former second overall pick in 2019 has not been himself so far in July, but he's still a must-start in traditional fantasy leagues now that he's back in action to start a new week. Overall, the three-time All-Star is hitting .280/.350/.451 with an .801 OPS, 13 home runs, 39 RBI, 30 stolen bases, and 51 runs scored across his 368 at-bats, but he's hitting just .200 (11-for-55) with a .532 OPS, one homer, two doubles, three RBI, seven runs scored, two steals, three walks, and 12 strikeouts in 13 games so far in July. Witt has never faced McDonald in his MLB career.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jul 20, 2026, 3:35 PM ET

The New York Mets announced on Monday that they reinstated outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (back) from the 60-day injured list and optioned infielder Eric Wagaman to Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move. It's unclear yet whether Robert will be back in New York's starting lineup for Monday's series opener on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, but if he is, fantasy managers in traditional leagues and DFS should fade Robert. Now that he's back, the 28-year-old Cuban will likely split his time between designated hitter and center field. He'll be returning for the first time since late April. Before his injury, Robert struggled with a .224 average (19-for-85) with two homers, eight RBI, 10 runs scored, and two stolen bases across his 24 games and 98 plate appearances. Robert has mostly teased power/speed upside in his MLB career, but he did hit 38 homers, drive in 80, and steal 20 bags in 2023 with the Chicago White Sox. For the power/speed possibility alone if he can stay healthy in the second half, Robert is worth a look off the waiver wire in fantasy leagues. He's currently rostered in under half of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: New York Mets

Jul 20, 2026, 3:21 PM ET

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring) played right field during a minor-league rehab game for the first time on Sunday at Triple-A Gwinnett, but manager Walt Weiss said there's no guarantee he'll come off the 10-day injured list before the team's homestand concludes this Thursday, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman. "He's still got some days ahead of him," Weiss said. "We just want to make sure he doesn't have to try to figure it out or struggle up here. We've seen that with guys, right? It's tough to have patience because these guys move the needle. A guy like Acuña is an aircraft carrier. He moves the needle for our team. But we have to use good judgment there." The 2023 National League MVP went 0-for-2 with a sacrifice fly and a walk on Sunday and went 1-for-7 with a home run in three games in the rookie-level Florida Complex League last week. He's gone 1-for-5 in two games so far with Gwinnett. The Braves continue to show caution with Acuna, who has strained his left hamstring twice in 2026. Weiss primarily plans to use Acuna in right field when he returns, although there could be days when he's used at DH. The 28-year-old Venezuelan has hit .251 (49-for-195) with seven homers, 22 RBI, 31 runs, and 15 steals so far this year. It's been a major disappointment for fantasy managers, but Acuna still can be a difference-maker once he returns as a five-category contributor.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman

Jul 20, 2026, 2:57 PM ET

Washington Nationals third baseman Curtis Mead reached base three times Sunday, July 19, going 1-for-3 with two walks, an RBI, a run, and his sixth steal in a 5-2 win over the Athletics. He is batting .256 with 17 home runs, 48 RBI, 47 runs, and six steals across 270 at-bats. July has been even better: 19-for-46 (.413) with three homers, nine RBI, 11 runs, and two steals. Yahoo still lists Mead at 47% rostered. That is hard to square with a regular third baseman who also qualifies at first and second, especially one producing this kind of power without selling out for it. Mead has an 11.4% barrel rate, 42.5% hard-hit rate, and .471 expected slugging percentage. RotoBaller has moved him into the 10-team range. He is not a speculative add anymore. He is one of the better hitters still available.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 20, 2026, 2:51 PM ET

Milwaukee Brewers left-handed starting pitcher Shane Drohan settled down after a three-run second inning on Saturday, July 18, and ended up striking out a career-high nine over six frames against Miami. He earned his fifth win and now carries a 3.20 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 76 strikeouts in 76 innings. That is a lot more than streamer-only production. Drohan has started seven straight games, and Milwaukee has every reason to keep him there after Brandon Woodruff's season-ending shoulder surgery. The underlying numbers are holding up, too, with a 3.31 expected ERA, 24.0% strikeout rate, and 6.6% walk rate. A 37% roster rate on Yahoo still leaves him available in plenty of leagues. RotoBaller has Drohan in the 12-team range, and the ratios, strikeouts, and steadier rotation path make him worth holding rather than cycling back onto the wire.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 20, 2026, 2:44 PM ET

Detroit Tigers outfield prospect Max Clark has had a nice season at Triple-A Toledo and has turned in a solid month of July. In 45 at bats this month for Toledo, Clark has recorded two homers and three RBI with nine runs scored while hitting .289 overall. Altogether, the talented 21-year-old left-handed hitter has racked up eight homers and 35 RBI with 58 runs scored and 20 stolen bases at Toledo this season while hitting .265. The Tigers top overall prospect, Clark, a first-round pick out of Franklin High School in Indiana, is a five-tool threat who could contribute immediately to fantasy teams if given a shot at the big leagues. The Tigers could look to the upside of Clark in the second half, especially if they decide to be sellers at the trade deadline. Clark has the potential to reward fantasy managers who take a chance on rostering him.--Brian Buckey - RotoBaller
Source: Minor League Baseball

Jul 20, 2026, 2:42 PM ET

Miami Marlins outfielder Heriberto Hernandez added two more hits against Milwaukee on Sunday, leaving him at .237 with 13 home runs, 36 RBI, 25 runs, and six steals across 215 at-bats. July has been much louder. Hernandez is 14-for-46 (.304) with five homers, seven RBI, and seven runs this month. The power is not coming out of nowhere. His average exit velocity sits at 92.3 mph, with a 50.6% hard-hit rate, 12.0% barrel rate, and .502 expected slugging percentage. The batting average may bounce around, and a 24.1% strikeout rate leaves room for cold stretches. That is easier to accept when the ball is being hit this hard. Only 7% of Yahoo leagues have Hernandez rostered, while RotoBaller places him in the 12-team range. He has moved beyond deep-league-only territory.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 20, 2026, 2:38 PM ET

Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Seth Halvorsen (shoulder) is being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for right-hander Nick Frasso and outfielder Landyn Vidourek. Halvorsen is on a rehab assignment after landing on the 15-day injured list July 4, retroactive to July 1, with right shoulder inflammation. The 26-year-old has a 4.74 ERA, 1.95 WHIP, 15 walks, and 17 strikeouts in 19 innings. Ugly numbers, but his fastball averaged 100 mph in 2025, when he saved 11 games as a rookie. Los Angeles has no reason to rush him. Edwin Diaz is already on a rehab assignment, and Tanner Scott has been one of several late-inning options while Diaz is out. Halvorsen does not have a clean path to saves and can stay on waiver wires outside deep holds leagues until he is healthy and throwing more strikes.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Jon Heyman

Jul 20, 2026, 2:33 PM ET

Colorado Rockies first base/outfield prospect Charlie Condon has been producing at a high rate all season at Triple-A Albuquerque. The former first-round pick out of Georgia is tearing up the Pacific Coast League with 20 homers and 61 RBI in 82 games with a .286 batting average to go along with 75 runs scored. The first base/outfield prospect is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Rockies' system and boasts a 55 overall hit tool and 55 overall power on the scouting scale. In fantasy baseball, the appeal of Colorado Rockies players is well-documented, and Condon would be a massive waiver wire addition if he is called up to the big leagues in the second half. A proven bat at age 23, Condon looks like a good option to be worth a shot in Colorado sooner rather than later. He should probably already be snatched up in fantasy leagues in anticipation of that opportunity.--Brian Buckey - RotoBaller
Source: Minor League Baseball

Jul 20, 2026, 2:24 PM ET

Seattle Mariners pitching prospect Kade Anderson has been so good this season at Double-A Arkansas that he is worth stashing on fantasy rosters regardless of how the Mariners intend to deploy him this season. Anderson is 8-1 this season for Arkansas with a 1.36 ERA and 0.69 WHIP with 108 strikeouts in 72 2/3 innings pitched. Anderson, the 22-year-old, has risen to the top overall prospect that the Mariners have in their system. The former No. 3 overall draft pick out of LSU, Anderson is so dominant from the left-hand side that he should leave fantasy managers drooling especially in dynasty leagues, but the question is whether he will be called up this season. With no experience past Double-A, the Mariners could take a wait-and-see approach with the talented flamethrower. With a devastating fastball-changeup combo, with both pitches graded out at 60 overall, Anderson's strikeout upside makes him an appealing stash no matter where he is pitching in the minors.--Brian Buckey - RotoBaller
Source: Minor League Baseball

Jul 20, 2026, 2:22 PM ET

Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Nick Gonzales picked up two more hits and scored twice in Sunday's 7-1 win over Cleveland. He also homered in Saturday's opener and now sits at .311 with five home runs, 55 runs, 44 RBI, and four steals over 351 at-bats. Only 40% of Yahoo leagues have him rostered, a low number for a hitter who ranks third in the National League in hits. The average is doing most of the work here. Gonzales has only five homers and four steals, so this is not broad category juice. He keeps putting the ball in play, owns a .370 on-base percentage, and qualifies at second base, third base, and shortstop. Some pullback is possible, with a .282 expected average behind the .311 mark. Even then, this kind of useful, flexible bat belongs in 12-team leagues.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 20, 2026, 2:15 PM ET

Pittsburgh Pirates left-handed reliever Mason Montgomery struck out two in a clean eighth inning against Cleveland on Sunday. Make that seven straight scoreless appearances, 6 1/3 innings in all, with one hit allowed and 12 strikeouts. He picked up his first save of the season during that run. Montgomery's 3.92 ERA and 1.26 WHIP are not exactly closer numbers. Fifty-eight strikeouts in 39 innings tell a different story. The ninth is not his, at least not yet. Pittsburgh started him Saturday, then used him with a four-run lead Sunday. Gregory Soto could not protect the lead in Saturday's nightcap, and Dennis Santana gave up the walk-off homer. It is still a committee, and a messy one. Montgomery is missing the most bats and has the momentum. RotoBaller has him in the 12-team range, which makes him the Pittsburgh reliever to stash for future saves.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 20, 2026, 2:14 PM ET

Cleveland Guardians prospect Angel Genao has shown solid productivity across two minor league levels at Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus. The switch hitting infield prospect is red-hot this month with a .452 batting average across 42 July at bats in Columbus with a homer and four RBI to go with 10 runs scored. Since getting called up to Columbus, Genao has been steady across the board with a .305 batting average with seven homers and 28 RBI to go with 17 runs scored and six stolen bases. At 22 years old, Genao checks in as the No. 2 overall prospect in the Guardians' system and grades out with a 60 overall hit tool and 55 overall run tool. With Jose Ramirez on the injured list, Genao could force his way up to Cleveland. He does a little bit of everything from a production standpoint and that should translate to fantasy. Because he is so young, he is a bit of a risky stash, but could reward fantasy managers who take a chance on him.--Brian Buckey - RotoBaller
Source: Minor League Baseball

Jul 20, 2026, 2:02 PM ET

Minnesota Twins prospect Walker Jenkins has had a productive July at Triple-A St. Paul with two homers and four RBI in 45 at bats. Jenkins, the former first-round pick, was activated by St. Paul on June 22 following a left shoulder injury that held him out for an extended period of time. Jenkins has managed just 171 at bats this season and has recorded six homers and 18 RBI with nine stolen bases across three minor league levels. Back healthy, fantasy managers should keep an eye on Jenkins, the Twins top overall prospect, as he strives to prove himself back at the Triple-A level. The left-handed hitter is just 21 years old, but is considered one of the top prospects in baseball. If he can prove he can maintain his good health, he could be a big-time contributor for the Twins as soon as this season. It's well worth taking a chance on Jenkins on the waiver wire.--Brian Buckey - RotoBaller
Source: Minor League Baseball

Jul 20, 2026, 1:50 PM ET

Following a grand slam in a game for Triple-A Memphis over the weekend, St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez continued to build his case for a big league promotion. The power numbers for the talented outfielder look gaudy on the season for Memphis as he has racked up 29 homers and 79 RBI to go with 65 runs while hitting .245. Baez has a four-homer game to his name as he showed off his power potential. Baez, the No. 3 overall prospect in the Cardinals' system, could be a difference maker in fantasy circles over the second half of the season. The right-handed hitting, former second-round pick, is a proven power bat that can benefit the Cardinals and fantasy teams, he just needs an opportunity to play at the big-league level. If Baez is still available in your league, rush to the waiver wire to add him.--Brian Buckey - RotoBaller
Source: Minor League Baseball