RADIO
Hunter Greene Dazzles in Second Start, Strikes Out 12 to Beat Cubs
In just his second start this season after returning from surgery to remove loose bodies in his right elbow earlier this year, Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene showed his ace upside in Friday night's 4-0 shutout win over the division-rival Chicago Cubs at Great American Ballpark. Greene held the Cubbies scoreless over seven innings while allowing three hits, walking just one, and striking out 12 for his first win of the 2026 season. The hard-throwing right-hander looked pretty rusty in his season debut on the Fourth of July last Saturday, surrendering eight earned runs on seven hits while walking four and striking out seven in 3 1/3 innings against the Baltimore Orioles. The 26-year-old former second overall pick in 2017 will finish the first half of the year on a strong note, and he showed on Friday why RotoBaller was urging fantasy managers to stash him when he was still working his way back from the injured list. Greene could be a game-changer for pitching staffs in the second half with his high-end strikeout upside if he can stay healthy.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Pirates Acquire Jacob Gonzalez From the White Sox
The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired infielder Jacob Gonzalez and left-handed reliever Brandon Eisert from the Chicago White Sox on Friday for the 34th pick in the 2026 MLB draft on Saturday and left-handed reliever Jaden Woods, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Gonzalez, the 15th overall pick by Chicago in 2023 out of the University of Mississippi, was considered the White Sox's No. 22 prospect before the trade. He was brought up to the big leagues for the first time when Munetaka Murakami went on the injured list with a hamstring injury, and he made his debut on the South Side on May 31. In his first 30 games at the major-league level, Gonzalez hit .244 (21-for-86) with two home runs, 17 RBI, and 11 runs scored in 97 plate appearances. The Pirates swooped in to trade for the left-handed hitter after Murakami returned from the IL on Friday. Gonzalez is now worth a look in NL-only fantasy leagues with the potential for regular playing time in Pittsburgh, with both shortstop Konnor Griffin (finger) and first baseman Spencer Horwitz (hamstring) on the shelf.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Enrique Hernandez Targeting Late-July Return
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder/outfielder Enrique Hernandez (oblique) is hopeful to get back into the mix for the first homestand following the All-Star break. Hernandez has been sidelined since late May due to a significant left oblique tear. He has been taking batting practice and appears on the verge of returning to the Dodgers' lineup. The team opens the second half on the road, but Hernandez is aiming to return for the first home series beginning on July 28. His return to the roster will be a welcoming sight as the Dodgers have missed their utility player. Hernandez is unlikely to contribute enough to warrant a roster spot in most fantasy formats.
Source: Fabian Ardaya
Source: Fabian Ardaya
Tristan Peters Hits for the Cycle
Chicago White Sox outfielder Tristan Peters accomplished history during Friday's contest against the Athletics. Peters became the seventh player in franchise history to hit for the cycle. He started off the fun with a double in the third inning. Peters singled in the fifth inning, which left the two most difficult tasks still on the board. He was able to hit a triple and a home run in the same inning as the White Sox piled up seven runs in the seventh inning during Friday's 14-1 blowout. Peters became the third player to hit for the cycle, joining Bryce Harper and Pete Crow-Armstrong. He also becomes the first White Sox player to do it since Jose Abreu in 2017.
Source: mlb.com
Source: mlb.com
Michael Soroka has Bullpen Session Pushed Back
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Michael Soroka (glute) will have his bullpen session pushed back from Sunday to Tuesday or Wednesday. Soroka is still dealing with some soreness, so the D-Backs will play it safe. They'll give him a few extra days to rest, but Soroka won't be ready right after the All-Star break. The right-hander will likely need at least another week or so to ramp up before he's ready to pitch again. Fantasy managers should continue to hold Soroka, with his return hopefully coming by the end of July. There should be another update on his status following his next bullpen session.
Source: Nick Piecoro
Source: Nick Piecoro
Corbin Burnes is Cleared for Throwing Program
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Corbin Burnes (elbow) has been cleared to begin a throwing program on Friday. According to Nick Piecoro, Burnes had an MRI that showed signs of healing, so the D-Backs have decided to let Burnes start throwing the ball. The right-hander has been on the Injured List since June of 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He suffered a side strain while rehabbing, which has delayed him as well. It appears that Burnes is finally ready to ramp up his recovery process. The hope is that Burnes can take the mound for the D-Backs before the end of the season. He still has a long way to go, but this is an encouraging update on Burnes.
Source: Nick Piecoro
Source: Nick Piecoro
Matt Chapman Out Through All-Star Break
San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman (abdomen) won't participate in baseball activities over the weekend. The Giants were hopeful that Chapman could get in some action ahead of the All-Star break. That won't happen as they've decided to hold him out this weekend and hope he improves during the break. Chapman has been sidelined since July 1 due to an abdominal strain. It doesn't sound like the veteran infielder is making a ton of progress right now. There's a good chance that Chapman isn't quite ready to play at the beginning of the second half. Fantasy managers should stay tuned for more updates on his status over the next week or so.
Source: Justice De Los Santos
Source: Justice De Los Santos
Brewers-Pirates Rained Out on Friday
The Friday night game between the Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh has been rained out, per the Brewers. The contest will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday. Right-hander Brandon Sproat was scheduled to take the hill for the Brew Crew on Friday night, with Pirates right-hander Braxton Ashcraft opposing him. Both pitchers are expected to be pushed to one of the games during the twin bill on Saturday. Sproat is sporting an ERA over 5.00 on the season in his first year in Milwaukee, but he has tightened things up lately and has a 3.30 ERA (3.81 FIP) with 32 strikeouts, 10 walks, and two wins in his last six starts covering 30 innings pitched. Ashcraft, meanwhile, has a 9-3 record in his second season in the majors with a 3.24 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 122:25 K:BB in 108 1/3 frames and 18 starts. He'll be going for his fifth straight win heading into the All-Star break next week, but it'll be a stiff test against the Brewers.
Source: Milwaukee Brewers
Source: Milwaukee Brewers
Nick Kurtz Likely to Land on Injured List With Thumb Strain
Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (thumb) is dealing with a right-thumb capsule strain and is likely to be placed on the injured list, which obviously puts his status for next week's All-Star Game in jeopardy, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. In addition to Kurtz, the A's just placed infielder Zack Gelof (knee) on the IL again on Friday with a knee laceration, so their infield depth will be tested to close out the first half of the 2026 season. Joey Meneses is starting at first base and is hitting sixth on Friday, while rookie Joshua Kuroda-Grauer is at the hot corner and batting seventh against Chicago White Sox right-hander Sean Burke. The A's pulled Kurtz from Wednesday's game early after he jammed his right hand while attempting to catch a throw in the first inning. Both Meneses and Jeff McNeil should see more playing time for the A's if Kurtz joins Gelof on the IL. The 23-year-old Kurtz is an absolute must-stash if he goes on the shelf due to his elite power from the left side of the plate. He's currently slashing .266/.405/.497 with a .902 OPS, 20 home runs, 66 RBI, 61 runs, and seven stolen bases across 334 at-bats after hitting 36 bombs and driving in 86 runs in 117 games in 2025 as a rookie.
Source: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
Source: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
Jacob deGrom to Miss Sunday's Start With Glute Strain
Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom (glute) will not make his scheduled start on Sunday in the series finale against the division-rival Houston Astros due to a mild left-glute strain, according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. Manager Skip Schumaker said he's unsure if deGrom will be available "right away" after next week's All-Star break. The Rangers haven't placed the veteran starting pitcher on the injured list yet, but it could be inevitable, especially if he's not ready to take his turn in the rotation coming out of the All-Star break. The 38-year-old two-time Cy Young winner and five-time All-Star still has high-end strikeout potential for fantasy managers -- he has a 30.4% strikeout rate in 2026 -- but durability is part of the risk. The 13-year veteran will close out the first half with a 7-5 record, 3.49 ERA (3.41 FIP) and 1.01 WHIP with 122 strikeouts and 22 walks in 100 2/3 innings pitched across his 18 starts. Fantasy managers who have deGrom rostered might have to be patient to begin the second half of 2026, but at least it's not an arm injury.
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
Astros Reinstate Jeremy Pena From the Injured List on Friday
The Houston Astros reinstated shortstop Jeremy Pena (calf) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and designated shortstop Braden Shewmake for assignment in a corresponding move, according to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. Pena is starting at shortstop and batting leadoff in his return for Houston in Friday's series opener at Globe Life Field against the division-rival Texas Rangers and right-hander Cal Quantrill. Fantasy managers will want to get the 28-year-old Dominican infielder back into their starting lineups in traditional leagues immediately. In his fifth year in the big leagues in 2026, Pena has dealt with a handful of injuries already and has been on the IL multiple times, but he's also hitting .295/.356/.443 with a .799 OPS, six home runs, 21 RBI, 34 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in 48 games and 202 plate appearances. Pena was three homers shy of his first 20-20 season in 2025. He's not an elite high-end fantasy shortstop, but he should be rostered in the majority of leagues as Houston's table-setter. He's hitting .333 with two RBI in six career at-bats against Quantrill.
Source: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
Source: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
Esmerlyn Valdez a High-Upside Power Addition Off Waivers?
Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez is making a loud waiver case with impact power that is hard to ignore. The 22-year-old is hitting .293 with seven home runs, 18 RBI, 16 runs, and a .993 OPS over 82 at-bats after going deep again Thursday against the Atlanta Braves. There is no stolen-base help here, so fantasy managers should not force a five-category label onto the profile. The power, though, looks very real. Valdez owns a 91.1 mph average exit velocity, 50.0% hard-hit rate, and 28.0% barrel rate, giving the early home run pace real support. The strikeouts are the obvious drawback, so some batting-average risk comes with the upside. Claimed in exactly half of Yahoo leagues, Valdez still has enough availability to matter. RotoBaller's latest waiver rankings support him as an add in 10-team formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ian Seymour a Strikeout-Upside Waiver Addition After 12-K Outing?
Tampa Bay Rays left-handed pitcher Ian Seymour is not just a short-term streamer after what he did to the New York Yankees. The 27-year-old is 6-1 with a 4.11 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 72 strikeouts, and two saves over 61 1/3 innings, and his role has become a lot more interesting after opening the season in the bullpen. Seymour struck out a career-high 12 Yankees on Tuesday, allowing three earned runs over 5 1/3 innings with no walks. The ERA is not pretty enough to make him a safe ratio arm, but the strikeouts are real. Seymour owns a 28.7% strikeout rate, 3.22 xERA, .280 xwOBA allowed, and 36.1% hard-hit rate, which gives the profile more support than the surface ERA shows. Yahoo managers have already pushed him to 51% rostered, but RotoBaller still lists him as an add in 10-team leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Julio Rodriguez Not Expected to Return This Weekend
Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez (concussion) is not expected to return from the seven-day concussion injured list to play this weekend against the Tampa Bay Rays, but the hope is that he'll be ready to go coming out of next week's All-Star break, according to Shannon Drayer. The Mariners are going to wait a bit longer to bring J-Rod back, even though he's eligible to return from the IL for Friday's series opener versus Tampa. The left-handed-hitting Luke Raley will continue to patrol center field for the M's when they face right-handed pitchers until Rodriguez returns. Before suffering a head injury, the 25-year-old Rodriguez was slashing .259/.323/.424 with a .747 OPS, 14 home runs, 40 RBI, 46 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases in 87 games played across 378 plate appearances in his fifth year in the big leagues. The three-time All-Star and former American League Rookie of the Year is a five-category contributor and has the ability to carry fantasy teams in the second half if he can stay together and get on a nice run.
Source: Shannon Drayer
Source: Shannon Drayer
Clay Holmes Throwing Live Bullpen on Friday
New York Mets right-hander Clay Holmes (leg) is throwing a live bullpen session at Citi Field on Friday, according to Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News. It is the first time that Holmes is facing hitters since fracturing his right fibula in the middle of May. He still has a ways to go before rejoining New York's starting rotation in the second half of the season, but he could start a minor-league rehab assignment shortly after next week's All-Star break. The 33-year-old veteran could be a popular trade target for contending teams if they like the direction that Holmes is heading health-wise later this month. In his first nine starts of the 2026 season in his second year in Queens, he has gone 4-4 with a 2.39 ERA (3.23 FIP) and 1.10 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and 18 walks in 52 2/3 innings pitched. Holmes' underlying metrics predict plenty of regression in the second half, though, and many fantasy managers gave up on him after his serious leg injury. The converted reliever is now only rostered in 24% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: New York Daily News - Abbey Mastracco
Source: New York Daily News - Abbey Mastracco
