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Leo De Vries Hits Another Long Ball as Triple-A Call-Up Approaches
Athletics top-ranked prospect Leo De Vries stayed hot in the batter's box on Thursday evening and continues to make a strong case to be called up to Triple-A Las Vegas. On Thursday, De Vries went 2-for-5 with a home run. Since July 4, the No. 2-ranked prospect in baseball has been nothing short of dominant at Midland, carrying a .345/.426/.621 slash line with four doubles, four home runs, five stolen bases, and a 12:9 K:BB. Before this surge, De Vries struggled to produce consistently in the power department, as he held a lower .411 SLG with a modest .778 OPS over the first 70 games of the campaign. Given his current trajectory, a late-season promotion to Triple-A remains in serious play. If he were to earn the call, the budding superstar should contend for an early MLB debut in 2027.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Quinn Mathews a Priority Waiver Wire Target Ahead of Saturday Debut
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitching prospect Quinn Mathews is a priority target on the waiver wire ahead of his MLB debut on Saturday. Mathews is currently viewed as the team's No. 6 prospect on MLB.com and is outside the current top-100 rankings on MLB Pipeline. However, the southpaw has enjoyed a dominant stretch at Triple-A, which prompted the promotion. Over his last 56 1/3 innings at the top club (since May 28), the southpaw has been near-perfect, posting a 1.60 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, with a 67:22 K:BB. Before this noted stretch, Mathews struggled against the top hitters of the minor leagues, carrying a hefty 5.55 ERA with a 1.63 WHIP across 35 2/3 innings of work. While it is still unknown if he will remain with the major-league club for the long-term, his recent Triple-A production makes him a worthy target in all standard leagues ahead of his debut.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Daylen Lile Extends Hitting Streak by Blasting Two Home Runs on Thursday
Washington Nationals outfielder Daylen Lile has been hot lately, and it continued in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the division-rival Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Lile went 2-for-4 at the plate with two solo home runs to extend his modest six-game hitting streak. He also raised his batting average on the year to .248 and his OPS to .717. Believe it or not, it was Lile's third multi-homer game of the 2026 campaign, but he's hitting a modest .248/.299/.418 with 13 home runs, 54 RBI, 10 stolen bases, and 56 runs scored in his 452 plate appearances in 108 games in his second year in the majors. As a rookie in 2025, Lile had a .299/.347/.498 slash line with an .845 OPS, nine home runs, 41 RBI, 51 runs, and eight stolen bases in 91 games and 351 plate appearances. Lile is still very young and has an intriguing power/speed profile, especially since he doesn't strike out a lot. And the Nationals seem committed to the former second-rounder. Lile is definitely worth a roster spot as a depth outfielder, and he's gaining waiver-wire interest during his current hot streak. He's rostered in 59% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Sean Burke on a Roll, Fans 10 Hitters for Second Straight Outing
Chicago White Sox right-hander Sean Burke continued to roll in Thursday's 2-1 walk-off victory over the visiting New York Yankees in 11 innings. Burke was credited with a no-decision, but fantasy managers were still plenty happy with his performance, as he threw six shutout innings with three hits allowed, two walks, and 10 strikeouts for the second straight start to lower his ERA on the year to a sharp 3.04. Not only does the 26-year-old have back-to-back 10-K performances, but Thursday was his fifth straight quality start. The former third-rounder in 2021 from the University of Maryland is having a breakout in 2026 and now sports a 1.10 WHIP with 140 strikeouts and 37 walks to go with his 3.04 ERA in 124.1 innings pitched. Burke's swing-and-miss stuff has been impressive. He got swings and misses on 18 of his 95 pitches on Thursday against the Yanks, and he currently ranks fifth in the American League in strikeouts. Burke will face the Boston Red Sox for the first time this year in his next outing. They'll be a challenging matchup as one of the hottest teams in baseball in July, and they also don't strike out a ton as a team.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Tristan Peters has Interesting Deep-League Value
Chicago White Sox outfielder Tristan Peters has come out of nowhere and put together an excellent season in 2026. The 26-year-old earned himself a selection to the All-Star Game during his rookie season. Through 103 games, Peters is slashing .272/.328/.428 with six home runs, 37 RBI, and five stolen bases. It has been a slow start for Peters out of the break, but he'll hopefully turn it around soon. This slump might've put Peters on the waiver wire in some leagues. Fantasy managers in deep leagues seeking outfield help should consider scooping up Peters. He has shown the ability to contribute in multiple ways and could be a useful option in deeper leagues down the stretch of the season.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Ryan Jeffers is Picking up Steam
Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers is one of the most talked-about players at his position heading into the trade deadline. Jeffers is on a one-year deal and is expected to be moved at the upcoming trade deadline. This season, Jeffers is slashing .294/.397/.531 with nine home runs and 35 RBI across 47 games. He has been crushing left-handed pitching and could be a real game-changer for a contending team down the stretch of the season. The assumption is that a trade would likely only increase his fantasy value. In theory, Jeffers would land in a better lineup and get more opportunities to play. Fantasy managers who are seeking help at the catching position should consider snagging Jeffers ahead of the deadline.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Harrison Bader Won't Return This Season
San Francisco Giants outfielder Harrison Bader (foot) will miss the rest of the 2026 season, according to Giants manager Tony Vitello. Bader continues to battle with a plantar fasciitis issue that has kept him sidelined since late May. Bader underwent imaging, including an MRI, and met with specialists as well. Despite all that, Bader remains without a timetable and apparently won't play again for the Giants this season. Through 30 games, Bader slashed .170/.198/.358 with five home runs and 14 RBI with the Giants this season. His continued absence won't impact the Giants, with the team already playing without him for multiple months. He signed a two-year, $20.5 million deal with the Giants during the offseason. We'll see what kind of role he has with the team next season. Bader can safely be dropped in all redraft formats.
Source: Alex Pavlovic
Source: Alex Pavlovic
Kyle Harrison Throws 5 2/3 Scoreless Innings in Rehab Outing
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Kyle Harrison (forearm) took the mound for a rehab start with High-A Wisconsin on Thursday. The southpaw looked stellar as he threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings while allowing one hit and striking out five batters. Harrison is working his way back from a left forearm issue that has sidelined him since July 11. He looked stellar during his outing, so Harrison might be activated from the Injured List after only one rehab start. Harrison has been excellent this season and deserves to be rostered in most fantasy formats. Fantasy managers should stay tuned to see if Harrison needs another rehab start or makes his next outing with Milwaukee.
Source: milb.com
Source: milb.com
Curtis Mead has Non-Displaced Wrist Fracture
Boston Red Sox infielder Curtis Mead (wrist) is dealing with a non-displaced wrist fracture and will be reimaged in four weeks, according to Ian Browne. Mead was placed on the 10-day Injured List on Wednesday after getting hit by a pitch in the hand during his team debut on Monday. The original timetable was 6-to-8 weeks for Mead, but maybe he'll be able to beat that. Fantasy managers still won't get anything out of him during August. We'll see if the Red Sox add another bat at the trade deadline or wait for Mead to make his return.
Source: Ian Browne
Source: Ian Browne
Roman Anthony Starts Swinging a Bat
Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said on Thursday that outfielder Roman Anthony (finger) has started swinging a bat, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. "Off a tee, short flips, there's some of that action going on. It's mainly up to about 30 swings at this time, and he's doing well. He began swinging yesterday. There's no clear next steps yet," Tracy added. "He just started doing it. It's probably going to remain that way for a little while and see how he's feeling. And then if that continues to go well, then we'll start talking about building out a progression to more stuff. But he at least has a bat in his hand swinging." The former top outfielder prospect has been a bust in 2026, having played in only 30 games due to a torn tendon in his right ring finger. The 22-year-old has been out since early May, and there's no clear timetable for his return. Anthony is still rostered in 72% of Yahoo leagues for his power/speed upside, but it might not be until late August or early September until we see him back with the Red Sox's big-league club.
Source: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
Source: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
Shohei Ohtani Out as DH on Thursday With Knee Soreness
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee) reported soreness in his knee on Thursday, manager Dave Roberts told Maddie Lee of The Los Angeles Times, and the team decided to give him the day off against the Seattle Mariners. Roberts said he's very confident Ohtani will be back in the starting lineup as a hitter for Friday's series opener against the visiting Boston Red Sox. With Ohtani out in Thursday's series finale against Seattle, outfielder Teoscar Hernandez is serving as the DH and will bat seventh against Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo. Ohtani's bothersome left knee has kept him from pitching since facing the San Diego Padres back on July 3, and there's no timetable for him to return to the mound. The Dodgers continue to say that they are being ultra-cautious with the four-time MVP. Ohtani has five home runs in 21 games in July, but he's also hitting just .265 (22-for-83) with eight walks and 21 strikeouts in 92 plate appearances. They may continue to give him days off here and there as he continues to manage his knee injury, with the ultimate goal being to have Ohtani as healthy as possible for the playoffs.
Source: The Los Angeles Times - Maddie Lee
Source: The Los Angeles Times - Maddie Lee
Nick Kurtz Back in A's Lineup on Thursday
Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (forearm) is back at first base and is leading off on Thursday against the visiting Boston Red Sox and right-hander Sonny Gray, per MLB.com. Kurtz was pulled from Wednesday's game early in Sacramento after being hit by a pitch on his forearm, but X-rays and an MRI exam came back negative, and he won't have to miss any time. Fantasy managers in all traditional leagues will want to get the left-handed slugger back into their lineups immediately, even though he's been a bit cold at the plate lately. The 23-year-old former fourth overall pick in 2024 from Wake Forest University is hitting .260/.399/.491 on the year with an .890 OPS, 21 homers, 69 RBI, 62 runs scored, and seven stolen bases across his 346 at-bats after clubbing 36 homers and driving in 86 in just 117 games as a rookie in 2025. Kurtz offers elite power, regardless of position, but July hasn't been his best month, as he's gone 5-for-38 (.132) with a .485 OPS, two homers, five RBI, three runs, two walks, and 19 Ks in 12 games during the month. He has never faced Gray in his MLB career.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Cardinals Top Prospect Quinn Mathews to Make MLB Debut on Saturday
St. Louis Cardinals left-handed pitching prospect Quinn Mathews will be called up from Triple-A Memphis to make his major-league debut and start on Saturday in Toronto against the Blue Jays, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The 25-year-old 6-foot-5, 188-pounder should immediately be in play as a waiver-wire pickup for fantasy managers in all league formats as the Cardinals' No. 7 overall prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The former fourth-round pick in 2023 from Stanford University is getting the call to the Show after going 5-3 with a 3.13 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 111:52 K:BB in 92 innings across 19 starts at Memphis this year. Mathews has been particularly effective since June, posting a sharp 1.55 ERA in his 52 1/3 innings. He features a fastball, sinker, slider, and a changeup, and he'll occasionally mix in a curveball for good measure. Mathews has plenty of strikeout upside with an 11.5 K/9 in his three minor-league seasons, but mechanical issues have hurt his command/control at times. He could have a strong MLB debut this weekend against a Blue Jays offense with the second-worst OPS (.684) in all of baseball in 2026.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Jazz Chisholm Jr. Exits With Apparent Leg Injury on Thursday
New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. (leg) was forced to leave Thursday's loss to the Chicago White Sox early with an apparent leg injury, according to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic. Chisholm was pulled from the game in the 11th inning after coming up lame while running a groundout in the ninth inning, and he was replaced at the keystone by Jose Caballero. The left-handed slugger went 1-for-3 at the plate with two walks and a strikeout before leaving late. The severity and specific nature of the 28-year-old's injury are unknown, but it could be a minor injury due to the fact that he wasn't pulled from the game right away. The two-time All-Star came into Thursday's tilt with a .223/.298/.408 slash line with a .705 OPS, 16 home runs, 45 RBI, a league-high 30 stolen bases, and 53 runs scored in 101 games across 400 plate appearances. Chisholm is of little help for your average and on-base percentage thanks to a 30% strikeout rate, and his power is down in 2026, but fantasy managers cannot complain about his stolen-base contributions for a player who is eligible at second base. Check back on Friday to see if Chisholm is active for Friday's series opener at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs.
Source: The Athletic - Brendan Kuty
Source: The Athletic - Brendan Kuty
Nick Lodolo to Face Live Hitters on Friday
Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger) will test out his new breaking-ball grip when he faces live hitters on Friday, according to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. It will be Lodolo's first time facing hitters since going on the 15-day injured list on July 12 with another blister on his finger. The 28-year-old southpaw teased high-end strikeout upside when he entered the league in 2022 as a former first-round pick out of TCU, but he has failed to live up to expectations and hasn't been able to stay healthy enough to make 30 starts in a single season. In just 12 starts (62 2/3 innings) this year, Lodolo has gone 3-2 with a 4.60 ERA (5.10 FIP) and 1.47 WHIP with 50 strikeouts and 27 walks. He's had a career-low 17.9% strikeout rate and career-high 9.7% walk rate, which is not what you want to see. Still, he's rostered in 63% of Yahoo leagues with hopes that he can at least be a viable matchup-based streamer to close out the year. The Reds will likely have Lodolo make at least one minor-league rehab start if his simulated game goes off without a hitch on Friday.
Source: The Athletic - C. Trent Rosecrans
Source: The Athletic - C. Trent Rosecrans
