RADIO
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
Aaron Judge Shows Healing But Still Not Cleared for Baseball Activities
New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (right rib) said Friday that follow-up imaging showed some healing in the stress fracture of his first rib on the right side. It was not enough to clear him for baseball activities, and additional doctors still need to review the results. Judge remains confident he will return this season, saying, "I don't see why I wouldn't," but there is still no timetable. Judge has not played since May 31 and is hitting .248/.375/.533 with 17 home runs, 43 runs, 38 RBI, and five steals in 59 games. Fantasy managers should continue holding him in every format. The lack of baseball work still makes an August return uncertain, while Jasson Dominguez should remain in the outfield mix as long as Judge is sidelined.
Source: Bryan Hoch
Source: Bryan Hoch
Shohei Ohtani Serving as DH After Having Knee Drained
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee) had his bothersome left knee drained earlier this week, but he will serve as the designated hitter and bat leadoff for the Dodgers for Friday's series opener in New York against Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole, according to MLB.com. The Dodgers are playing it safe with Ohtani on the mound and skipped his final start before the All-Star break as a precaution, but he will be good to go to continue DH-ing for L.A. to start the second half of the season. The Dodgers aren't very concerned, so fantasy managers shouldn't be either. Although Ohtani is hitting just .200 in 20 career at-bats against Cole, he does have a home run and three RBI against him. The four-time MVP is a must-start in all fantasy lineups when he's active in the Dodgers' starting lineup. The six-time All-Star enters the second half of the 2026 season with a cool .293/.403/.549 slash line with a .953 OPS, 22 home runs, 58 RBI, 65 runs scored, and six stolen bases across 88 games. The numbers aren't as gaudy as we've become accustomed to from Ohtani over the last few years, but he's still a must-start in fantasy.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Mets Unlikely to Trade Francisco Lindor
There is a possibility that the New York Mets will trade All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor, but multiple executives across the industry told The Athletic's Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal that it's unlikely to happen. The Mets are in full-on sell mode to open up the second half of the 2026 season and are willing to listen to offers on nearly all of their players, including Lindor. But any team that shows interest in Lindor "would have to clear a high bar." Despite an injury-plagued and frustrating season to this point, New York still views Lindor as valuable, and at 32, he has the power to veto any trade. He's also owed more than $160 million after this season through 2031. The Mets think he can still be part of a winning team in 2027, which makes them unlikely to be interested in paying down his contract in a potential trade. A person close to the 32-year-old Puerto Rican said he is comfortable with the team and loves the city, and he wants to win with the Mets. In addition to hitting .210 (33-for-157) with only five home runs, 12 RBI, 22 runs, and two steals on the year, Lindor hasn't been as strong defensively at shortstop. Lindor could be showing some signs of a decline, but his buy-low window is firmly open, and he could easily turn things around in the second half if he's healthy.
Source: The Athletic - Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal
Source: The Athletic - Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal
Clay Holmes to Begin a Rehab Assignment on Saturday
New York Mets right-hander Clay Holmes (leg) will start his minor-league rehab assignment on Saturday with the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones, according to the team. Despite being out since mid-May due to a fractured fibula, Holmes is considered a significant trade deadline asset for a team that is expected to begin selling off pieces sooner rather than later. Holmes threw a live bullpen session on Tuesday during the All-Star break, and multiple teams are expected to scout his first rehab outing this weekend. The 33-year-old veteran holds a player option worth $12 million for next year and is also a candidate for an extension. In his first nine starts for the Mets in 2026, Holmes was great, going 4-4 with a 2.39 ERA (3.21 FIP) and 1.10 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and 18 walks in 52 2/3 innings pitched. While Holmes' underlying metrics suggest he was fortunate to have the surface stats he did in the first half, he can still help fantasy managers in the second half with a return to full health, especially if he's pitching for a contender. He's only rostered in 27% of Yahoo leagues at the moment, so fantasy managers with rotation needs should consider stashing him now.
Source: Brooklyn Cyclones
Source: Brooklyn Cyclones
Heliot Ramos Could Be Poised for a Second-Half Power Breakout
San Francisco Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos had the first half of his 2026 season disrupted by a quad strain, which led to him being placed on the injured list in mid-May and ultimately cost him 37 games. However, Ramos has been productive when healthy this year, hitting .275/.311/.468 with eight home runs, 28 RBI, and 31 runs scored. The 26-year-old entered the All-Star break on a high note, logging a .319 batting average with three home runs across his first 48 plate appearances of July. Ramos also owns elite batted-ball metrics so far this season with a 16% barrel rate and a 51.2% hard-hit rate. Ramos' fantasy upside is limited by his pitcher-friendly home environment in San Francisco and his elevated 26% strikeout rate. Still, he offers high-end power potential for fantasy managers in leagues where he is currently unrostered.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
