RADIO
Geraldo Perdomo Returns to Friday's Lineup
Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (hand) is back at the 6 and is hitting second for Friday's series opener against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander Michael McGreevy at Chase Field, per MLB.com. Perdomo has been dealing with a recurring left-hand issue recently and had a cortisone injection during the All-Star break, but he's feeling better now and will begin the second half of the season in Arizona's starting lineup. Fantasy managers have to wonder if the 26-year-old switch-hitting Dominican's hand issues have been the reason why he has struggled at the plate in 2026. In 323 at-bats in the first half of 2026, Perdomo had a disappointing .241/.354/.356 slash line with a .710 OPS, only six home runs, 34 RBI, 15 stolen bases, and 46 runs scored in 92 games after a career-high 20 homers, 100 RBI, and 27 steals in 161 contests in a breakout 2025. Fantasy managers are hopeful that Perdomo can pick things up in the second half, but his xBA of .251 and xwOBA of .326 don't point to a massive turnaround coming.
Source: Sports Illustrated - Jack Sommers
Source: Sports Illustrated - Jack Sommers
Julio Rodriguez Remains on Injured List to Begin the Second Half
Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez (concussion) remains on the seven-day concussion injured list for the start of the second half of the season in the team's series finale on Friday against the San Francisco Giants, according to MLB.com. Victor Robles is making the start in center field and will bat eighth for the M's against Giants right-hander Landen Roupp. Rodriguez has been on the shelf with a concussion since July 3, but he could be reinstated by Seattle during the team's homestand to begin the second half. The 25-year-old Dominican center fielder should remain stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy baseball leagues while he recovers from his head injury. When healthy, J-Rod, a three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner, can contribute in all five categories. He finished the first half of 2026 with a .259/.323/.424 slash line, .747 OPS, 14 home runs, 40 RBI, 46 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases across his 344 at-bats. Rodriguez is a rare offensive talent who already has two 30-30 campaigns in his first four years in the majors.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Will Smith Shut Down Again With More Neck Issues
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith's neck continued to bother him as he tried to ramp up his baseball activities recently, so the Dodgers decided to shut him down again this week, manager Dave Roberts told The California Post's Jack Harris. The Dodgers remain hopeful that Smith can start to ramp up again after this and still expect him to return in 2026. It has quickly turned into a lost season for Smith, who initially was expected to avoid a trip to the injured list because of his neck injury. The 31-year-old veteran and three-time All-Star has been sidelined since June 5, and in a best-case scenario, he probably won't be back with the Dodgers until sometime in mid-August. Remember, the Dodgers have a big lead in the National League West going into the second half of the season this weekend and aren't in a hurry to rush any of their injured stars back. Smith's ongoing neck issues have created a prolonged audition period for backup Dalton Rushing. When healthy, Smith was underwhelming offensively in his 173 at-bats, hitting .249/.338/.382 with six homers, 23 RBI, and 23 runs scored in 52 games.
Source: The California Post - Jack Harris
Source: The California Post - Jack Harris
Dodgers Expect Shohei Ohtani to Pitch on Wednesday Against Philadelphia
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that the team expects two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee) to make his next start on the mound in Philadelphia on Wednesday against the Phillies, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. The Dodgers kept Ohtani from making his final start on the mound before the All-Star break due to ongoing irritation in his left knee. The four-time MVP had his knee drained just before the All-Star break, and he's not missing any time as a hitter, so fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried going into the second half. It's not an ideal matchup for fantasy purposes for Ohtani in his first start back on the mound, but the six-time All-Star has been a must-start in all leagues when he toes the rubber for the Dodgers. The Japanese sensation has been excellent on the mound in his first 14 starts in 2026, going 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA (2.61 FIP) and 0.95 WHIP with a 95:26 K:BB in 85 2/3 frames.
Source: The California Post - Jack Harris
Source: The California Post - Jack Harris
Brandon Woodruff's "Outlook Isn't Good"
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy said the plan is for right-handed veteran Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) to address the media on Sunday regarding his right-shoulder injury, but the skipper said "the outlook isn't good," according to Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I'm going to let Woody get specific with you and let him be the one to announce what he wants to announce," Murphy said. The 33-year-old veteran has made only nine starts this year due to recurring shoulder problems, and he landed on the injured list in early July with an injury to his right anterior shoulder capsule. It's looking more and more likely that Woodruff could be heading toward another season-ending shoulder surgery, so fantasy managers who have been stashing him might need to be ready to cut him entirely in single-year formats. Despite shoulder issues and a drastic dip in velocity before being shut down again recently, Woodruff had pitched well with a 2.98 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts in 45 1/3 frames across nine starts. Even if surgery isn't needed, the earliest Woodruff can return from the 60-day IL is in September.
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Todd Rosiak
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Todd Rosiak
Samuel Basallo a Priority Catcher Addition for the Second Half?
Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo reached the break at .248/.309/.464 with 16 home runs, 46 RBI, and 34 runs in 301 plate appearances. He was only 10-for-48 over his final 15 games, but four of those hits left the yard and he drove in 11. Basallo remains available in half of Yahoo leagues. Baltimore has found room for his bat alongside Adley Rutschman, using Basallo at catcher, first base, and designated hitter. The power checks out: a 91.5 mph average exit velocity, 46.2% hard-hit rate, 13.1% barrel rate, and .482 expected slugging percentage. He does chase too much, at 40.2%, so the average may come and go. That is a manageable trade-off at catcher. RotoBaller ranks Basallo 22nd overall for the weekend, second among catcher pickups, and recommends him in 10-team leagues. He is a priority add for managers still searching for second-half power at the position.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Friday's Game Between Guardians-Pirates Postponed
The Cleveland Guardians announced that their game on Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Progressive Field has been postponed due to poor air quality. The contest will be made up as part of a split doubleheader on Saturday. The scheduled starters for the two teams -- right-hander Gavin Williams for Cleveland and right-hander Jared Jones for Pittsburgh -- will most likely be pushed back to the first game of the twin bill on Saturday. Both hurlers should be kept in starting fantasy lineups in traditional leagues for their first starts of the second half this weekend. Williams comes out of the All-Star break with a 10-4 record, 3.81 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 134:37 K:BB in his 113 1/3 innings while sporting a career-high 29.1% strikeout rate and career-low 8.0% walk rate through his first 19 starts in 2026. Jones has only made eight starts after returning from right-elbow surgery. He has high-end fantasy upside, but he's unsurprisingly been up and down through his first 35 innings in 2026, posting a 4.37 ERA (3.67 FIP) and 1.14 WHIP with a 39:11 K:BB for the Bucs.
Source: Cleveland Guardians
Source: Cleveland Guardians
Jake Bauers' Breakout Is Built to Last
Milwaukee Brewers first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers carried a .268/.373/.508 line, 18 home runs, 56 runs, 59 RBI, and six steals into the break. He had never hit more than 12 homers in a major-league season. This is not hanging on luck alone. Bauers owns a 92.5 mph average exit velocity, 53.1% hard-hit rate, and 14.1% barrel rate, all career highs. Some of it may come back. His .258 expected average and .481 expected slugging percentage sit below the real marks, and Milwaukee still shares first base between Bauers and Andrew Vaughn. Bauers has made himself harder to bench, though. He owns an .809 OPS against left-handers and has also started in both corner-outfield spots. Add a 13.6% walk rate, and the profile still plays even if the average slips. The breakout is real enough to trust for the second half.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jake Cronenworth Is a Deep-League Buy After Concussion Return
San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth went into the break at .196/.286/.280 with three home runs, 17 runs, 12 RBI, and three steals in 45 games. Awful on its face. He also spent nearly two months on the concussion injured list after a 97 mph fastball hit him in the chin April 18. Cronenworth later described vision problems that made it difficult to track pitches, and he went 4-for-31 before San Diego finally shut him down. The return has been encouraging, not conclusive. Cronenworth hit .333/.349/.500 with two homers, eight RBI, and two steals in 43 July plate appearances before the break. His season-long contact quality still points to a limited ceiling, including an 87.6 mph average exit velocity, 32.4% hard-hit rate, and .345 expected slugging percentage. San Diego expects him to start against right-handers, with lefties potentially trimming the role. That is enough for a deeper-league buy, not a standard-league priority.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Robert Suarez Plays Catch on the Field on Friday
Atlanta Braves right-handed reliever Robert Suarez (elbow) played toss at Truist Park on Friday before the series opener against the visiting Texas Rangers, according to Harrison Smajovits of Sports Illustrated. Suarez's return isn't imminent, but he's slowly working his way back after landing on the 15-day injured list almost a month ago with inflammation in his right elbow. The next step for Suarez will be getting back on a mound and facing live hitters before going on a minor-league rehab assignment. He almost certainly won't be ready to rejoin the back end of Atlanta's bullpen until at least early August. The 35-year-old veteran Venezuelan hurler only has four saves in his first year in Atlanta in 2026 after racking up 76 saves the previous two seasons with the San Diego Padres, but he has still been plenty useful in fantasy as a setup man with a 4-0 record, 0.56 ERA (2.44 FIP), 0.84 WHIP, and 26:6 K:BB in 32 innings in Atlanta. Suarez is now rostered in under half of Yahoo leagues, but he can definitely help your pitching ratios in deeper fantasy leagues when he's ready to return.
Source: Sports Illustrated - Harrison Smajovits
Source: Sports Illustrated - Harrison Smajovits
Jose Ramirez Could Skip Rehab Assignment
Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (left hand) is progressing well and may be activated without a minor-league rehab assignment. Ramirez had surgery June 16 to remove the hook of a fractured left hamate bone, and the club originally expected him to miss about six weeks. There is still no firm return date, but even discussing a direct jump back to Cleveland is a good sign. Ramirez was batting .239/.339/.418 with 10 homers, 42 runs, 33 RBI, and 24 steals through 72 games before the injury. Fantasy managers should keep him locked into an IL spot. Gabriel Arias was activated when Ramirez went down and has covered most of the work at third base, but that playing time will dry up once the Guardians star is cleared.
Source: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
Source: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
Corey Seager Doing Straight-Line Running on Friday
Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (back) is doing some straight-line jogging/running on the field at Truist Park on Friday before the team's series opener against the Atlanta Braves, according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. Between injuries and poor performance at the plate, it has been an extremely disappointing year for the 32-year-old veteran shortstop. Seager has played in just four games since June 11 due to a concussion, and more recently, inflammation in his lower back that put him back on the injured list. There's no current timetable for his return, and given his health issues in 2026, fantasy managers who have been stashing him shouldn't expect Seager to be back with the Rangers until August. The five-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger winner has struggled to a .182/.292/.374 slash line with a .667 OPS, 10 home runs, 25 RBI, 28 runs scored, and one steal in his 187 at-bats this year when healthy. Seager can bounce back if he can finally get fully healthy, but at this point, fantasy managers have to be wondering if that will happen in the second half. He's currently rostered in 81% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Evan Grant
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Evan Grant
Kyle Harrison Planning to Throw a Bullpen on Saturday
Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Kyle Harrison (elbow) had an MRI exam over the All-Star break "because it gives me the confidence to just hit it in the second half, full speed ahead," according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Harrison will get a reading from the doctor shortly and is planning to throw his first bullpen session on Saturday afternoon. It sounds like Harrison should be cleared of any structural damage in his left elbow after he was put on the 15-day injured list last weekend due to left-elbow tightness. The 24-year-old southpaw doesn't have a firm timetable to rejoin Milwaukee's starting rotation at this time, but barring a setback as he begins to ramp back up, he could be back in early August. Harrison is rostered in 83% of Yahoo leagues while he rehabs after a strong first half in his first year with the Brew Crew, going 8-2 with a 3.01 ERA (3.10 FIP) and 1.08 WHIP with 101 strikeouts and only 20 walks in 83 2/3 innings across his 17 starts. Given the state of the Brewers' banged-up starting rotation, Harrison will be inserted back into a starting role when he's cleared to return.
Source: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
Source: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
Clarke Schmidt Set to Face Hitters for First Time Since Elbow Surgery
New York Yankees right-handed pitcher Clarke Schmidt (right elbow) is scheduled to face hitters Saturday for the first time in his Tommy John rehab. Schmidt underwent a UCL repair with an internal brace on July 11, 2025, rather than a full reconstruction, and remains on the 60-day injured list. The live session is a meaningful step, but he still needs to build toward a minor-league rehab assignment before activation. Schmidt made 14 starts last season, going 4-4 with a 3.32 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 73 strikeouts in 78 2/3 innings. The Yankees have listed August as a possible return window, though his role remains unsettled. Brian Cashman has said Schmidt could return as either a starter or reliever. Fantasy managers with IL space can keep monitoring him, but a return is not yet close enough to treat as imminent.
Source: Greg Joyce
Source: Greg Joyce
George Lombard Jr. Activated From Minor-League Injured List
New York Yankees shortstop prospect George Lombard Jr. (fingers) has been activated from the seven-day injured list at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Lombard will return to the RailRiders after playing in a couple of rehab contests in the rookie-level Florida Complex League during the All-Star break. He's been on the shelf since June 16 with finger injuries, but he's good to go now and will carry a .231/.381/.385 slash line with four home runs, 15 RBI, 30 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in 42 games at Triple-A into the second half of the season. The Yankees continue to say that they think their top prospect, per MLB Pipeline, will be ready to join the big-league roster well before rosters expand in September. The 21-year-old 6-foot-2, 190-pounder is the future at the position in the Bronx, and the Yankees seem ready to move on from Anthony Volpe. Lombard's contact abilities are less-than-ideal right now, but he takes his walks and has plus raw power and speed at a premium position, making him a priority stash candidate in most fantasy leagues for an inevitable second-half debut.
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
