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Marcus Semien To Begin Rehab Assignment After All-Star Break
New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (hip) will begin a rehab assignment after the All-Star Break. The level at which the assignment will begin has not been announced, but chances are this will be an extensive assignment given the news earlier in the week that the 35-year-old isn't expected to return to the Mets in July. Sidelined with a Grade 3 hip flexor strain on June 25, the veteran had an initial minimum recovery timeline of four to six weeks, which could effectively come to pass by the end of July. That being said, given that the Mets are seemingly out of a playoff spot for the time being, there is likely no rush to bring him back anytime soon. Semien has hit nine home runs and stolen six bases this season, albeit with a disappointing .214 batting average.
Source: Anthony DiComo
Source: Anthony DiComo
Twins Select Top Catching Prospect Vahn Lackey With Third Overall Pick
The Minnesota Twins are selecting catcher Vahn Lackey out of Georgia Tech with the third overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. Lackey is not only considered the top catching prospect in this year's class but also one of the top all-around hitters. Lackey made his college debut at Georgia Tech in 2024, posting a modest .711 OPS over his first 36 games. However, over the past two seasons, Lackey has been one of the most dominant backstops in college baseball. During the 2025 campaign, Lackey posted a career-high .397/.519/.772 line with 16 doubles, 20 home runs and 15 stolen bases. According to MLB.com, Lackey has the raw profile to hit nearly 30 home runs once he reaches the big leagues. Additionally, his 50-grade speed should also provide him with added fantasy value as he swiped at least 15 bags in each of the last two seasons. Dynasty managers needing assistance behind the dish should feel confident taking the 21-year-old with a high first-year draft pick.
Source: Minnesota Twins
Source: Minnesota Twins
Grady Emerson Selected Second Overall by Rays
With the second overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, the Tampa Bay Rays are selecting high school shortstop Grady Emerson. The 18-year-old shortstop is widely considered the top high school prospect in this year's draft class and sits as MLB.com's No. 1 prospect in the 2026 class. Emerson, who is committed to Texas, was awarded the Gatorade National High School Baseball Player of the Year Award and has one of the most developed profiles despite his young age. According to MLB.com, Emerson generates high exit velocities while making smart decisions in the batter's box. Additionally, the left-handed-swinging bat has the potential to push for 25 home runs per season when he reaches the majors and possesses above-average speed on the bases. In terms of his glove, Emerson received a 60-grade fielding score on MLB.com, suggesting he has the tools to become one of the top all-around players when he debuts. While dynasty managers may have to wait several years before he reaches the majors, his raw upside makes him well worth selecting with a top pick in all first-year player drafts.
Source: Tampa Bay Rays
Source: Tampa Bay Rays
Bo Bichette Out With Lower-Body Soreness
New York Mets shortstop Bo Bichette (ankle) is out of the lineup for a second consecutive day with what is being described as sore legs and right-ankle soreness. It has been reported that Bichette took several foul balls off his legs, though he is also dealing with lingering ankle soreness. The 28-year-old is expected to be available off the bench but plans to use Sunday's game and the All-Star Break as a full reset. Before this recent absence from the lineup, he had played in every game for the Mets, albeit with mixed results. The news is somewhat concerning, given Bichette's extensive injury history, which includes multiple lower-body injuries that have landed him on the Injured List three times over the past two seasons. Whether the next few days are enough for him to complete his planned reset remains to be seen, making this a situation worth monitoring as the second half of the season approaches.
Source: Anthony DiComo
Source: Anthony DiComo
White Sox Select Roch Cholowsky With First Overall Pick
The Chicago White Sox are selecting shortstop Roch Cholowsky with the first overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Cholowsky made his college debut at UCLA during the 2024 season, where he posted a solid .308/.399/.500 slash line over a 52-game sample. However, in 2025 and 2026, Cholowsky emerged as one of the nation's best players. During this two-year stretch, the infielder posted an OPS above 1.000 in each campaign and hit at least 20 long balls in each season. In 2026, Cholowsky posted a .320/.452/.636 slash line over his final collegiate campaign. According to the MLB.com scouting report, the shortstop is credited with having the raw upside to have four-plus tools by the end of his development. He is known for an optimized swing which can translate to above-average power and a low swing-and-miss rate. Given his college experience, fantasy managers should expect Cholowsky to compete for an early MLB call-up in 2027 and likely begin his MiLB career in the upper minor leagues. His ability to hit for power and for a high average will make him a top pick in all dynasty first-year player drafts.
Source: Jeff Passan
Source: Jeff Passan
Travis d'Arnaud Runs the Bases
Los Angeles Angels catcher Travis d'Arnaud (foot) has progressed in his recovery from plantar fasciitis. First, on July 5, he resumed swinging a bat and throwing a baseball. Less than a week later, he ran the bases for the first time on Friday, a significant milestone as he continues to work his way back to the field. Limited in his playing time before the injury, the 37-year-old is still working to return from this significant injury and play again in 2026. While the Angels already have Logan O'Hoppe and Tyler Heineman, neither has run away with the job as an effective, fantasy-relevant catcher, making d'Arnaud a viable option only in deeper two-catcher leagues if he can return. That said, his offensive game is limited, making him a volume play at best.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Edwin Diaz Begins Rehab Assignment on Saturday
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Ontario on Saturday. The 32-year-old pitcher recently started throwing live bullpen sessions to batters at the beginning of July and has now been deemed ready for game action. It's unclear how long this rehab assignment will last, but judging by the level of competition where he's starting, multiple appearances are likely in store. The former All-Star has been sidelined since April with loose bodies in his elbow that required surgery to remove. Now that his health is improving, he can and should be stashed on fantasy rosters with the expectation that he will rejoin the Dodgers at some point in August.
Source: Ontario Tower Buzzers
Source: Ontario Tower Buzzers
Nick Kurtz Officially Placed on Injured List With Thumb Sprain
The Athletics officially announced on Saturday that they placed first baseman Nick Kurtz (thumb) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to July 10) with a right-thumb capsule sprain and recalled catcher Brian Serven from Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. Kurtz suffered the injury on Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers when he jammed his right hand while trying to catch a ball in the first inning. He will miss the end of the first half of the season, next week's All-Star Game in Philadelphia, and the start of the second half of the year next weekend. Joey Meneses was called up from the minors and made the start at first base for the A's on Friday night against the Chicago White Sox, and he and Jeff McNeil could see more playing time for the team until Kurtz can return. Kurtz needs to be held in all fantasy leagues as an elite source of power at the first base position. The 23-year-old left-handed slugger is hitting .266/.405/.497 with a .902 OPS, 20 homers, 66 RBI, 61 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in 334 at-bats after hitting 36 homers and driving in 86 in only 117 games played in 2025 as a rookie.
Source: A's Communications
Source: A's Communications
Rookie Left-Hander Eduardo Rivera Called Up by Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox recalled left-handed pitching prospect Eduardo Rivera from Triple-A Worcester to start Saturday's game versus the New York Mets, according to MLB insider Hector Gomez. The 23-year-old southpaw could cover multiple innings as the opener in Queens on Saturday, but he should not be considered a viable fantasy streamer. Per MLB Pipeline, Rivera is considered Boston's No. 25 prospect. The former 11th-round pick by the Athletics in 2021 made his big-league debut in Boston back on April 22 against the New York Yankees and threw 3 1/3 shutout innings with one hit allowed, three strikeouts, and no walks. At Double-A Portland and Worcester on the farm, Rivera has gone 7-2 with a 2.44 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 62:24 K:BB in 48 innings across 22 appearances (four starts). He could go deeper than most traditional openers on Saturday, but even against the last-place Mets, Rivera should be avoided for fantasy purposes. There's also a good chance he'll be sent back to Worcester after the game, so fantasy managers shouldn't be looking to pick him up.
Source: Hector Gomez
Source: Hector Gomez
Konnor Griffin Moved to 60-Day Injured List
The Pittsburgh Pirates transferred shortstop Konnor Griffin (finger) to the 60-day injured list on Saturday to open up roster spots for newly-acquired infielder Jacob Gonzalez and left-hander Brandon Eisert, according to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com. The Pirates placed Griffin on the 10-day IL on Tuesday with a torn tendon in his left ring finger, and he was given an eight- to 10-week timeline for a return, so he'll be out well into the second half of the season. The earliest he'll be able to return will be on Sept. 4. It's a tough break for the Bucs and for the 20-year-old rookie phenom, who was holding his own in his first 225 major-league at-bats, hitting .276/.332/.404 with a .736 OPS, five home runs, 25 RBI, 20 stolen bases, and 35 runs scored in his first MLB season in 2026. With Griffin out for the foreseeable future, Jared Triolo has been manning the 6 in Pittsburgh, but Gonzalez could see some time there as well after the Pirates acquired him from the Chicago White Sox on Friday night. Griffin is still rostered in 77% of Yahoo leagues despite his serious finger injury.
Source: MLB.com - Alex Stumpf
Source: MLB.com - Alex Stumpf
White Sox Call Up Lefty Pitching Prospect Tyler Schweitzer
The Chicago White Sox announced before Saturday's contest against the Athletics that they recalled left-handed pitching prospect Tyler Schweitzer from Triple-A Charlotte. Schweitzer, a former fifth-rounder in 2022 out of Ball State University, made his big-league debut with the White Sox earlier this year and posted a 4.50 ERA (3.23 FIP) and 1.50 WHIP with a save, four strikeouts, and three walks in just eight innings pitched over five relief appearances. The team's No. 21-ranked prospect, per MLB Pipeline, has gone 2-2 with a 4.68 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and 36:8 K:BB in 42 1/3 innings pitched across 20 appearances (four starts) with the Knights in the minors in 2026. Schweitzer will be replacing Brandon Eisert in Chicago's bullpen to close out the first half of the season after the White Sox sent Eisert to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a trade on Friday night. He will most likely operate as a middle reliever now that he's back in the majors, and fantasy managers in all leagues can ignore him for now.
Source: Chicago White Sox
Source: Chicago White Sox
Munetaka Murakami Joins Home Run Derby Field
Chicago White Sox corner infielder Munetaka Murakami will be the final entrant in this year's Home Run Derby, which will take place at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Monday, according to MLB. Murakami just returned from the injured list after missing over six weeks with a hamstring strain in Friday's win over the Athletics and went 1-for-5 at the plate with an RBI double, a run scored, and four strikeouts. The 26-year-old Japanese native took the league by storm earlier this season before his injury in his first year in the States, and he's currently hitting .239/.375/.556 with a .931 OPS, 20 home runs, 42 RBI, 44 runs scored, and a stolen base across 58 games played and 251 plate appearances. Murakami should remain high up in Chicago's batting order going into the second half of the season. He's displayed plenty of power potential, but he also has a 33.5% strikeout rate and can go cold for stretches. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues may want to consider selling high before we even get to the second half. Murakami holds a .218 xBA and a .373 xwOBA (wOBA of .392), so regression is expected.
Source: MLB
Source: MLB
Edwin Diaz Nearing a Rehab Assignment
Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed closer Edwin Diaz (elbow) threw live batting practice for the second time on July 8 and is getting closer to starting a minor-league rehab assignment, according to MLB.com. Diaz was initially placed on the 15-day injured list on April 20 due to loose bodies in his right elbow. He eventually had surgery and was transferred to the 60-day IL on May 10. Barring a setback once Diaz begins his rehab assignment, he's expected to rejoin L.A.'s bullpen in late July. The 32-year-old Puerto Rican veteran and three-time All-Star has only appeared in seven games for the Dodgers in his first year with the team in 2026 due to his elbow injury, and he was uncharacteristically bad before that, allowing seven earned runs on nine hits (one homer) while walking five and striking out 10 in six innings pitched. Diaz also had four saves, and with 257 career saves over nine-plus years in the league, he's expected to resume primary closing duties for manager Dave Roberts when he returns from the IL. If for some reason Diaz is available on your league's waiver wire, scoop him up immediately. He's rostered in 81% of Yahoo leagues right now.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Shohei Ohtani Hopes to be Ready to Pitch After All-Star Break
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee) said, "The goal is to be able to throw according to regular schedule" after the All-Star break, according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. Ohtani will have his left knee drained and will receive a pain-relieving injection on Sunday. "Although I could've started today, it would've still been pushing the envelope a little bit," Ohtani said on Friday. The Dodgers scratched the four-time MVP from his scheduled start on Friday night versus the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks, but he still took his regular spot in the starting lineup as the designated hitter and went 1-for-4 at the plate with a solo homer in the 9-3 loss. The 32-year-old should avoid a trip to the injured list to begin the second half of the season, but unfortunately, we won't get to see him in next week's All-Star Game in Philadelphia. Ohtani remains a must-start in all fantasy lineups as both a hitter and pitcher whenever he's active. He's hitting .290/.403/.540 with a .943 OPS, 21 homers, 57 RBI, 63 runs, and six steals as a hitter and is 8-2 as a pitcher with a sharp 1.79 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 95:26 K:BB in 85 2/3 innings and 14 starts in 2026.
Source: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez
Source: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez
Kirby Yates Bounces-Back to Earn Third Save, Still the Top Option in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Kirby Yates pitched a scoreless ninth inning on Friday to earn the save against the Minnesota Twins. The 39-year-old surrendered a one-out double to Trevor Larnach before retiring the final two batters of the game. The save was Yates' third of the season, and he has provided a stable presence in an otherwise unsettled Angels bullpen. On the year, he owns a 3.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP while posting a 32.6% strikeout rate and an 8.1% walk rate across 21 innings. Fantasy managers are encouraged to add Yates in all formats, as he is currently the Angels' most trusted option at the back end of the bullpen.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
