RADIO
Shohei Ohtani Won't Pitch This Weekend Following Knee Treatment
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee) won't rejoin the starting rotation to begin the second half of the season for the weekend series against the New York Yankees following his knee treatment over this week's All-Star break, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. Ohtani has been kept from starting (as a pitcher) over the last two weeks due to a minor left-knee injury. He had the knee drained before the break but has continued to serve as the team's designated hitter with no ill effects. If Ohtani returns for the next series next week, he'll be facing the Philadelphia Phillies on the mound. The Japanese superstar and four-time MVP is a must-start whenever he toes the rubber as a pitcher, but he'll be a bit riskier in fantasy lineups and could be on a pitch count whenever he makes his first start of the second half. The 32-year-old veteran has been excellent on the mound in 2026, going 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA (2.61 FIP) and 0.95 WHIP with 95 strikeouts and 26 walks in 85 2/3 innings pitched across his 14 starts for the Blue.
Source: The California Post - Jack Harris
Source: The California Post - Jack Harris
Bo Bichette Returns to Lineup Following All-Star Break
New York Mets infielder Bo Bichette (ankle) is starting at third base and batting third for Thursday's series opener at Citizens Bank Park against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander Aaron Nola, according to MLB.com. Bichette sat out the final series of the first half of the season last weekend and is now ready to roll to begin the second half after being bothered by ankle and leg soreness. The 28-year-old rebounded from a horrific start to the 2026 campaign in his first year in Queens, but he's still taking a disappointing .255/.300/.376 slash line with a .677 OPS, 10 home runs, 51 RBI, 48 runs scored, and a stolen base into the second half after 380 first-half at-bats. However, Bichette went 10-for-34 (.294) with five RBI to begin the month of July, and his expected batting average of .285 and xwOBA of .330 (wOBA of .297) point to positive regression in the second half. The buy-low window is firmly open for Bichette in fantasy leagues. He's walking just 6.1% of the time, but he's also striking out only 17.7% of the time.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
JoJo Parker Showing Off Power and Speed at Single-A
Toronto Blue Jays infield prospect JoJo Parker is performing admirably in his first taste of professional baseball, slashing .242/.381/.426 with nine home runs and 21 stolen bases through 72 games at Single-A Dunedin. The Jays' top-ranked prospect was particularly hot from mid to late June, which included a four-hit game and five home runs over a nine-game stretch, but was just 1-for-19 (.053) in the five games before the break. The former first-rounder even got to participate in the All-Star Futures game earlier this week, going 1-for-2 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored for the American League squad. Already MLB's No. 27 prospect overall, the 19-year-old is still a couple of years away from the majors, but his above-average hit and power tools make for a strong asset in dynasty leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Jonny Farmelo is Finally Healthy and Productive, but When Will He Debut?
Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Jonny Farmelo is having a solid 2026 campaign at High-A Everett, slashing .271/.387/.486 with seven home runs and 25 steals, and has been particularly hot as of late, going 17-for-49 (.347) with five doubles, a triple, and three home runs over his last 11 games. The Mariners' fifth-ranked prospect was limited to just 75 games between 2024 and 2025 as a result of ACL and rib injuries, but is finally healthy and is starting to live up to his potential as a former first-round draft pick. The 6-foot-1 slugger could see time at Double-A in the second half, but a major league debut will likely have to wait until 2027. Still, with highly rated power and speed tools, the 21-year-old is a solid dynasty league asset, and redraft managers should familiarize themselves with the left-handed hitter in preparation for next season.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Ramon Laureano Is a Clear Drop After Season-Ending Hip Surgery
San Diego Padres left fielder Ramon Laureano (right hip) is not worth carrying into the second half. He underwent surgery June 5 to repair a torn labrum and now sits on the 60-day injured list. MLB lists October as the optimistic return window, with 2027 more likely. That makes the roster call easy in redraft leagues. Laureano had already slipped to .203/.286/.374 with seven homers, 23 runs, 21 RBI, and seven steals in 53 games before the procedure. The hip may help explain the collapse after he finished April at .252, but it does nothing for fantasy managers now. San Diego initially called up Jase Bowen, while Gavin Sheets started in left field throughout the final four games before the break. Keeper and dynasty managers can hold at minimal cost. Everyone else should cut him.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Mets Reinstate Marcus Semien From the Injured List
The New York Mets announced on Thursday that they reinstated infielder Marcus Semien (hip) from the 10-day injured list and designated infielder Zack Short for assignment in a corresponding move. The Mets have not released their starting lineup for Thursday's series opener against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, but Semien should be back at the keystone to face veteran right-hander Aaron Nola. Semien is back from a Grade 3 hip-flexor strain that landed him on the IL on June 25. Despite a rough first half of the season, he should pick up as the Mets' starting second baseman to begin the second half, although fantasy managers in deeper leagues may want to keep him on their benches on Thursday against Nolan, whom he's hitting .111 in his career against in nine at-bats. The 35-year-old Semien slashed just .214/.271/.341 with a .613 OPS in 290 first-half at-bats, adding nine home runs, 29 RBI, 30 runs scored, and six stolen bases across 80 games and 318 plate appearances. His offensive profile is nearing rock bottom in his first year in Queens.
Source: New York Mets
Source: New York Mets
Is Aidan Miller Worth Stashing as Window to Return Nears?
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop prospect Aidan Miller (back) has been sidelined all season with a back injury that cropped up late last season. Although it didn't keep him off the field in 2025, it has prevented him from playing in any games so far in 2026, and the Phillies top-ranked prospect looks like a long shot to return before the end of July after undergoing a procedure at the beginning of June that had a six-to-eight-week return timetable, but has yet to begin a rehab assignment. The former first-rounder had a good chance to make an MLB debut this season after a strong 2025 campaign in which he hit 13 home runs and stole 52 bases before a late-season promotion to Triple-A, but a 2027 debut is looking more likely at this point. Either way, fantasy managers in redraft leagues should keep tabs on his progress because even if there is a small chance he can make it to the majors in 2026, the 22-year-old has a strong all-around skillset that would make him a viable fantasy asset when he finally arrives in the Show and would make him stashworthy ahead of a potential call-up.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Jose Altuve's July Power Spike Opens a Sell Window
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve reached the break at .235/.307/.404 with 11 home runs, 45 runs, 27 RBI, and two steals in 74 games. He did give fantasy managers something to sell. Altuve homered three times in 44 July plate appearances, including the first-half finale, after missing 17 games with a left oblique strain. The bigger picture has not changed much. His 85.8 mph average exit velocity is among the weakest marks of his career, and Statcast sits at a .228 expected average with a .342 expected slugging percentage. Altuve is also striking out at a career-high 22.1% clip. Jeremy Peña returned July 10 and immediately reclaimed the leadoff spot, pushing Altuve to fifth for the final three games. The name still matters, and so does the recent power. This is a good time to see what both can fetch.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
George Lombard Jr. Could Join Yankees Well Before September
The Athletic's Chris Kirschner and Brendan Kuty write that if New York Yankees shortstop prospect George Lombard Jr. (fingers) shows that his sprained fingers are no longer an issue, he "could find himself playing shortstop in the Bronx well before the calendar turns to September." Lombard, the Yankees' top prospect per MLB Pipeline, began a rehab assignment on Monday, and the team is hoping that he will return to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre soon. "He's been pushing himself before the injury," general manager Brian Cashman said last week. "Definitely was thriving and conquering the final level. Looking forward to getting him back and active. He might be a choice at some point." The 21-year-old former first-rounder in 2023 has hit .263/.396/.475 with an .870 OPS, 10 home runs, 27 RBI, 12 stolen bases, and 51 runs scored in 64 games across three minor-league levels in 2026 and is the clear shortstop of the future in the Bronx, perhaps as early as the next month or two to take over for Anthony Volpe at the 6. Lombard is one of the best shortstop stashes in all fantasy baseball formats for the second half.
Source: The Athletic - Chris Kirschner and Brendan Kuty
Source: The Athletic - Chris Kirschner and Brendan Kuty
Ketel Marte Is a Second-Half Buy After Cold July
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte went into the break batting .256/.311/.461 with 17 home runs, 51 runs, 54 RBI, and four steals across 92 games. The final stretch was ugly. Marte hit .196 with no homers in 49 July plate appearances, ending the half on an 0-for-9 skid against the Dodgers. That is the opening for a trade offer. His expected line still looks like Ketel Marte. Statcast has him at a .293 expected average and .496 expected slugging percentage, with a .364 xwOBA against a .332 actual mark. The contact quality has backed off from 2025, but a 91 mph average exit velocity, 44.9% hard-hit rate, and 10.9% barrel rate are hardly warning signs. Arizona gave him 364 of 405 plate appearances in the leadoff spot. Buy the cold finish, not the idea that Marte suddenly stopped being a difference-maker.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Josue Briceno Rehabbing, is a 2026 Debut in Play?
Detroit Tigers catching/first baseman prospect Josue Briceno (wrist) continues to work his way back from wrist surgery that he had before the season began, and is 10 games into his rehab assignment that has thus far been split between Single-A and with the team's Complex League affiliate, going 7-for-29 (.241) with a pair of doubles, a home run, and a 5:6 BB:K. The Tigers' third-ranked prospect is coming off a promising 2025 campaign in which he impressed at High-A to the tune of a .296/.422/.602 slash line through 55 games, which included an 11-game stretch in which he blasted eight home runs, before earning a promotion to Double-A midseason. Though Double-A proved more challenging, he still hit .232 with a 12.6 percent walk rate as one of the younger players at that level. The 6-foot-4 Venezuelan possesses highly rated hit and power tools, and although a 2026 debut is unlikely, the 21-year-old is worth monitoring, and he could be making a fantasy impact in 2027.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Tyler Glasnow Throws a Bullpen Session
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow (back) is progressing slowly in his recovery from lower back spasms, but he was able to throw a bullpen session last weekend, according to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya, and he's hoping to clear each step in his rehab without his back flaring up. The Dodgers initially thought Glasnow wouldn't need to go on the injured list in early May, but he hasn't pitched since and is currently on the 60-day IL. The good news is that the hard-throwing right-hander is making progress in his throwing progression, although he still has plenty of boxes to check and will likely require at least a couple of minor-league rehab starts before he's cleared to rejoin L.A.'s starting rotation at some point in August. Fantasy managers need to remain patient and keep the high-upside strikeout arm stashed in all league formats. The 32-year-old veteran and former fifth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011 went 3-0 with a 2.72 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and 49 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings in seven starts before his back injury sidelined him.
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Drake Baldwin Is Built for a Second-Half Rebound
Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin still carried a .254/.345/.437 line with 15 homers and 46 RBI into the break, even after an oblique injury scrambled his summer. He was activated June 15, then went 3-for-48 with 22 strikeouts during the rest of the month. July looked more normal: 11 hits and a .396 on-base percentage in 53 plate appearances. The bat is still loud. Baldwin owns a 51.2% hard-hit rate, a 15.3% barrel rate, and a .512 expected slugging percentage, well above the actual mark. Atlanta has also kept him busy, starting him 44 times behind the plate and 27 more at designated hitter. The swing decisions have slipped, with his chase rate up to 34% and his strikeout rate at 22.3%. That is the blemish. It is not enough to fade a catcher with this much impact and this secure a role. Baldwin remains a strong second-half rebound target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Mike Sirota's Arrow Pointing Way Up in Dynasty Leagues
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect Mike Sirota produced a very impressive first half between High-A and Double-A, posting similar stats at both levels while slashing .319/.475/.562 with 14 home runs, 11 steals, and nearly as many walks (74) as strikeouts (79). His elite 21.1 percent walk rate (and eight hit-by-pitches) has helped the Dodgers' second-ranked prospect to an incredible stretch of 72 consecutive games reaching base at least once. The former third-round draft pick was having a strong 2025 between Single-A and High-A, in which he slashed .333/.452/.616 with 13 home runs and five steals in 59 games before a knee injury in July ended his season prematurely, so it is good to see that the injury is clearly behind him and hasn't hampered his play this season. The Northeastern University product could see time at Triple-A later this year, and with an ability to hit for contact, power, and steal bases, the 23-year-old has emerged as a high-end dynasty asset and a name to monitor in redraft leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Dodgers Have "No Idea" When Will Smith Will be Back
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (neck) has been swinging a bat, but "his recovery is stagnant," according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. "Certainly expect him back this year," manager Dave Roberts said of Smith. "Just have no idea when." The Dodgers went from Smith not needing a stint on the injured list to him missing more than a month with a neck issue. Thankfully for the Dodgers, they can take their time with their starting backstop because of their healthy lead over both the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres in the National League West division, and it has also given them a chance to give Dalton Rushing extended playing time. Before his neck injury, the 31-year-old Smith was hitting a disappointing .249 (43-for-173) with six home runs, 23 RBI, and 23 runs scored across 52 games and 201 plate appearances. We'd say that he's a solid buy-low candidate for the second half, but that's a hard sell because of his uncertain timetable and the fact that the Dodgers are in no position to rush any of their injured stars back.
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
