Jul 19, 2026, 1:30 PM ET

Cleveland Guardians first base/outfield prospect Ralphy Velazquez could be ready to make a second-half impact for fantasy managers. Velazquez, the Guardians' top overall prospect, has had good overall numbers between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus this season, and if given an opportunity in Cleveland, he could make some noise in the fantasy landscape. The 21-year-old left-handed hitter has been productive between two levels this year, hitting .292 with 11 homers and 47 RBI to go with 44 runs scored. Velazquez is still young, but has a power tool that is graded out at 60 with a 50 hit tool. He will likely not provide much on the base paths, but he could be a solid power bat for years to come in fantasy. Fantasy managers will want to take a chance on him in the second half of this season for the upside, but there is no guarantee that he makes his big league debut this season. So it's a little bit of a risky add but offers a ton of upside.--Brian Buckey - RotoBaller
Source: Minor League Baseball

Jul 19, 2026, 1:22 PM ET

Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect James Tibbs III has been a part of two trades already in his career and is primed to contribute to his newest team, the Dodgers. Tibbs is producing in a big way for Triple-A Oklahoma City with 21 and 72 RBI, a .290 batting average to go with 74 runs scored. A former first-round pick by the San Francisco Giants, Tibbs is now the No. 9 prospect in the Dodgers' system. The 23-year-old left-handed hitter is delivering at a rate beyond his prospect pedigree and could be ready for a spot in the Dodgers' outfield right now. The Dodgers have no shortage of big-league-ready talent in the outfield, but Tibbs could be a sneaky addition to fantasy rosters. His Pacific Coast League numbers suggest he is ready for his big-league debut and could contribute in fantasy if given the opportunity.--Brian Buckey - RotoBaller
Source: Minor League Baseball

Jul 19, 2026, 1:16 PM ET

Updating a previous report, the Los Angeles Dodgers don't expect two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee) to be back on the mound as a pitcher for "some time," according to Jack Harris of The California Post. "The benefits just don't seem to outweigh the cost at this time of the season," manager Dave Roberts said. The Dodgers already announced that Ohtani will not make his next scheduled start on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies, and it's unclear when the talented Japanese sensation will get back on the mound. The four-time MVP felt discomfort in his bothersome left knee while playing catch this weekend. The good news is that the two-way All-Star will continue to serve as the designated hitter in the Dodgers' lineup. Ohtani hasn't made a pitching start since July 3 due to a knee problem that originally surfaced in mid-June. The 32-year-old received a lubricant injection in his knee last Sunday, but it apparently hasn't done enough to get him past the hump. Roberts said he fully expects Ohtani to pitch again this year and described the current layoff as more of a precaution. L.A.'s big lead in the National League West definitely has played a part in the Dodgers' cautious approach. Unfortunately for fantasy managers who have Ohtani rostered as a pitcher, it might be a while until he makes another start.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The California Post - Jack Harris

Jul 19, 2026, 1:11 PM ET

Washington Nationals middle-infield prospect Seaver King (oblique) has had a stellar minor-league season between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester before landing on the injured list. Between both levels, the talented infielder is hitting .306 with 10 homers and 51 RBI to go with 50 runs scored and nine stolen bases. King has a five-tool profile and is graded out with 70 speed. Unfortunately for fantasy managers this season, King landed on the IL in early July with an oblique injury. He has a bit of a tough road to the majors this season, as the Nationals have a solid middle infield led by CJ Abrams and Nasim Nunez, and King will have to work his way back to full health in the second half with the oblique injury, which can be tricky to deal with. But the Wake Forest product is the No. 6 prospect in the Nationals system and offers high upside with his elite speed.--Brian Buckey - RotoBaller
Source: Minor League Baseball

Jul 19, 2026, 1:02 PM ET

Don't let Chicago White Sox pitching prospect Hagen Smith's 0-5 record fool you; he has the pitching tools to be a successful player for fantasy managers. Smith has pitched to an 0-5 mark at Triple-A Charlotte this season with a 4.67 ERA and 1.40 WHIP. His 77 strikeouts in 52 innings pitched give a good look into his upside, and his fastball and slider are both graded out at 60. The left-hander out of Arkansas is the No. 3 overall prospect for the White Sox, and while he has only been used in starting situations in the minors, he could be looked at as a high-leverage bullpen arm in the big leagues. Control has been a struggle for Smith a bit in the minors, but his high-quality pitches make him a fantasy target, especially in dynasty leagues. Shallow league owners will also want to plant a flag on Smith as a waiver wire option because of the upside if he is called up by Chicago this season.--Brian Buckey - RotoBaller
Source: Minor League Baseball

Jul 19, 2026, 12:56 PM ET

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (back) is out of the lineup for Sunday's series finale versus the visiting San Diego Padres due to back tightness, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Manager Matt Quatraro said it progressed during Saturday's win, and the Royals wanted to be cautious with the All-Star shortstop on Sunday. With Witt out, Tyler Tolbert will handle shortstop duties and will bat eighth against Padres right-hander German Marquez. The Royals rightfully aren't going to take any chances with one of the best all-around players in the league. Fantasy managers will need to check back to see if the 26-year-old three-time All-Star can play in Monday's series opener against the San Francisco Giants. For now, we'll consider him day-to-day. Witt went hitless in nine plate appearances in the first two games of the series against SD and is batting just .200 (11-for-55) with a .532 OPS, a homer, two doubles, three RBI, seven runs, two steals, three walks, and 12 K's in 13 games in July to drop his overall line to .280/.350/.451 on the season with an .801 OPS. Witt might be a little banged up, but he's a must-start when he's active in most fantasy leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com - Anne Rogers

Jul 19, 2026, 12:51 PM ET

Milwaukee Brewers shortstop prospect Jett Williams is producing a fine month of July for Triple-A Nashville and is making a case for promotion to the big-league club. In 22 July at-bats, Williams is hitting .364 with four stolen bases. The talented right-handed hitter is graded out at 65 for his running skill and has 21 steals on the season in Nashville. Williams was a first-round pick by the New York Mets and was sent over to Milwaukee in the Freddy Peralta trade. The 22-year-old's strengths are his defense and his base running ability, but he can contribute at the plate for fantasy managers. In 304 at-bats this season, Williams has nine home runs and 41 RBI to go with 60 runs scored for Nashville. Williams should be watched as a potential contributor in the steals and runs scored categories who can also add occasional power and pure hitting.--Brian Buckey - RotoBaller
Source: Minor League Baseball

Jul 19, 2026, 12:48 PM ET

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (hamstring) will start Sunday's series finale against the visiting Baltimore Orioles on the bench after he was pulled from Saturday's game early with cramps in his right hamstring, per MLB.com. Nick Allen is starting at shortstop on Sunday and will hit ninth for Houston against Orioles right-hander Brandon Young. The good news for Pena is that he took part in baseball activities on Sunday, so he could very well be back in the starting nine for Monday's series opener at Daikin Park against the visiting Miami Marlins. It's been an injury-plagued 2026 campaign for the 28-year-old Dominican shortstop, but when active, he's been a solid contributor for the Astros at the plate with a .295/.359/.430 slash line, a .789 OPS, six home runs, 22 RBI, 37 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in his 200 at-bats. In just five games played in July, Pena has gone 5-for-17 (.294) with an RBI and three runs scored. A 20-20 season is highly unlikely at this point, but Pena can still provide fantasy managers with decent counting stats the rest of the way if he can avoid more injuries in the second half.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jul 19, 2026, 12:39 PM ET

Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (hip) is absent from the team's starting lineup on Sunday for the series finale against the visiting Baltimore Orioles, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. LaMonte Wade is starting at first base and batting cleanup for the Astros against Orioles right-hander Brandon Young. It shouldn't be a huge surprise that Walker is resting after being pulled from Saturday's contest at Daikin Park with tightness in his right hip after a swing late in the game. The good news is that manager Joe Espada said that the 35-year-old veteran is feeling better and is doing baseball activities, so he could be ready to return to the starting nine for Monday's series opener against the visiting Miami Marlins. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Walker's status then. Walker has already reached the 20-homer mark in 98 games and 406 plate appearances in 2026 in his second year in Houston, but he's hitting .234 (85-for-364) with a .310 on-base percentage and .766 OPS. He's also hitting just .175 (7-for-40) with a .623 OPS, a homer, three doubles, two RBI, five runs, three walks, and 15 strikeouts in 12 games so far in July.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome

Jul 19, 2026, 12:38 PM ET

St. Louis Cardinals left-handed pitching prospect Quinn Mathews is red-hot in July and is coming off an excellent pitching outing on Saturday for Triple-A Memphis. Mathews went six innings and allowed just one run on three hits with four strikeouts in a no-decision. With his start on Saturday, Mathews lowered his July ERA to 1.42 with a 0.74 WHIP in three starts during the month. Altogether in Memphis this year, Mathews is 4-3 overall with a 3.39 ERA and 1.16 WHIP and 101 strikeouts in 85 innings pitched. A fourth-round pick out of Stanford, Mathews has risen to the Cardinals' No. 6 overall prospect. The strikeout upside of Mathews makes him a tantalizing prospect on the waiver wire, and fantasy managers should act accordingly. His upside makes him worth an early shot, and he could pay off with a strong second half.--Brian Buckey - RotoBaller
Source: Minor League Baseball

Jul 19, 2026, 12:28 PM ET

Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang (foot) is back at the keystone and is hitting third for the Brew Crew in Sunday's series finale against the visiting Miami Marlins and right-hander Eury Perez, according to MLB.com. The Brewers scratched Turang from the starting nine on Saturday after he fouled a ball off his foot in Friday night's contest. It was obviously a minor injury, and Turang can be returned to all starting fantasy lineups to close out the series in Milwaukee. The 26-year-old former first-rounder in 2018 remains one of the more productive fantasy second basemen in the league and will enter Sunday's action hitting .263/.359/.460 with an .819 OPS, 14 home runs, 60 RBI, 15 stolen bases, and 66 runs scored across 92 games and 421 plate appearances. He's hitting .286 (16-for-56) with an .873 OPS, two homers, seven doubles, 12 RBI, seven runs, and two stolen bases in 13 games so far in the month of July. Turang has faced Perez only six times in his career and is hitting .167 against him with a .453 OPS in the small sample size.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jul 19, 2026, 12:20 PM ET

Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Kyle Harrison (elbow) said his precautionary MRI exam came back "all good," and he threw off a mound on Saturday with no issues, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Now the question is whether he will face live hitters before coming off the 15-day injured list. Harris is eligible to return to the Brewers this Friday, July 24. It's the best-case scenario for the Brewers and fantasy managers, although the 24-year-old southpaw will be pretty risky in starting lineups in his next scheduled start when he returns from the IL. In 17 games (83 2/3 innings) in his first year in Milwaukee, Harrison has found new life, going 8-2 with a 3.01 ERA (3.10 FIP) and 1.08 WHIP with 101 strikeouts and 20 walks in his fourth year in the big leagues. In his two starts against the Arizona Diamondbacks and St. Louis Cardinals in July, Harrison allowed six earned runs on nine hits with a walk and only five strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings, but he could have been compromised by his elbow issues. He's still rostered in over 80% of Yahoo leagues and can be a key starter for fantasy managers in the second half if he stays healthy.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy

Jul 19, 2026, 12:12 PM ET

Minnesota Twins infielder Royce Lewis (hamstring) is starting at second base and is batting cleanup for the Twins in Sunday's series finale at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs, per MLB.com. The Twins held the oft-injured Lewis out of Saturday's lineup due to soreness in his left hamstring, but it turned out to be a minor issue, and he's back in the lineup the following day. The 27-year-old former first overall pick in 2017 will take a weak .216/.292/.392 slash line into Sunday's contest in Chicago, but he has been better since returning from a minor-league demotion on June 6, going 33-for-128 (.258) with an .804 OPS, seven home runs, eight doubles, 16 RBI, 19 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 33 games for the Twins since rejoining the big-league roster. Strikeouts are always going to be part of Lewis' game, but he can provide decent power from the right side and is eligible at third and second base in fantasy leagues. Lewis is currently rostered in 33% of Yahoo leagues. In just five career at-bats against Cubs lefty starter Shota Imanaga, he has a homer and three RBI.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jul 19, 2026, 12:04 PM ET

Miami Marlins middle infielder Otto Lopez (finger) is not in the team's starting lineup for Sunday's series finale in Milwaukee against the Brewers after injuring his hand on Saturday night, according to MLB.com. Javier Sanoja is starting at the 6 for the Fish and will bat cleanup against Brewers left-hander Robert Gasser. Lopez took a groundball to his right ring finger in the second inning on Saturday, but he stayed in for the rest of the game. It's unclear what the severity of the injury is, but manager Clayton McCullough didn't sound too worried about Lopez after Saturday's contest, so fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now. The 27-year-old Dominican infielder has been one of the best sources of batting average and on-base percentage in 2026, slashing .335/.368/.505 with an .873 OPS, nine homers, 46 RBI, 18 steals, and 61 runs scored in 388 at-bats in a breakout campaign for the Marlins as a first-time All-Star. Lopez's next chance to return to action will come in Monday's series opener against the hosting Houston Astros.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jul 19, 2026, 11:54 AM ET

Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom (glute) has been cleared to start Monday's series opener against the Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Field, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. A mild left glute strain caused deGrom to be skipped from his final start of the first half of the season, but he's ready to go now after throwing a bullpen session in Atlanta on Saturday. The matchup against the suddenly competitive White Sox isn't an easy one for his first start of the second half, but the 38-year-old veteran should still probably be considered a must-start for fantasy purposes for his strikeout upside and recent strong run of form. deGrom is 7-5 in 2026 with a 3.49 ERA (3.40 FIP) and 1.01 WHIP with 122 strikeouts and 22 walks in 100 2/3 frames across his 18 starts in his 13th year in the big leagues. The five-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young winner is 4-1 with a 3.07 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 52:10 K:BB in 41 innings over his last seven starts.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry