RADIO
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
Dylan Cease Is Back in the Fantasy Ace Tier
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Dylan Cease went into the break with a 2.56 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and an AL-best 148 strikeouts in 98 1/3 innings. He followed that by striking out three in a scoreless first inning as the American League starter on July 14. The 4.55 ERA from 2025 is getting harder to recognize. Cease has pushed his strikeout rate to a career-high 36.9%, and hitters have managed a .264 xwOBA with a 33% hard-hit rate against him. The walks have not disappeared. His 11% rate is actually up from last year, and rest-of-season projections land closer to the low-3.00s than his current ERA. That is the risk. The rest looks ace-level, including a changeup that has jumped from barely 1% usage in 2025 to 11.5% this season. Cease is not someone to move just because the first-half price is high. Hold him and keep collecting strikeouts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rainiel Rodriguez Resolidifying Status as Strong Dynasty Asset
St. Louis Cardinals catching prospect Rainiel Rodriguez put an exclamation point on the end of a strong first half by blasting another home run at Double-A Springfield in his last game before the break. The Cards' top-ranked prospect (MLB No. 12) was promoted to Double-A in mid-May and really found his footing there over the last month. From June 10 through July 10, the 5-foot-10 Dominican went 31-for-95 (.326) with five doubles, seven home runs, and four stolen bases in 23 games. The 19-year-old is slashing .262/.361/.436 overall at Double-A with eight home runs in a total of 44 games there, an impressive feat for one of the youngest players at that level, joining MLB's No. 1 and No. 2 prospects, Jesus Made and Leo De Vries, as the only players under the age of 20 at Double-A. Look for a strong second half from the young backstop, with a potential late-season promotion to Triple-A, and he could be knocking on the door to the majors in 2027, so even redraft fantasy managers should be familiar with the name.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Jacob deGrom Lined Up to Return on Sunday?
Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom's (glute) next start is still to be determined, but he said he was going to play catch during this week's All-Star break and will probably throw off the mound in Atlanta to begin the second half of the season, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. The Rangers have listed their starter for Sunday's series finale against the Braves as TBA, so it's possible that deGrom could return to the starting rotation to take that start. The Rangers scratched deGrom from his final start of the first half with a mild left-glute strain, but if he can get through a bullpen session in the next few days, he could get the green light to return on Sunday. If he needs more time, deGrom could make his first start of the second half next week versus the Chicago White Sox. Either way, the matchups won't be ideal for the two-time Cy Young winner and oft-injured hurler. In 18 starts (100 2/3 innings) in the first half of 2026, the 38-year-old went 7-5 with a 3.49 ERA (3.40 FIP) and 1.01 WHIP with 122 strikeouts and 22 walks for the Rangers. deGrom will continue to be an injury risk for fantasy managers, but he still has high-end strikeout upside and is mostly a must-start when he takes the mound for Texas.
Source: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
Source: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
Bryson Stott Can Outrun His First-Half Price
Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott finished the first half at .249/.308/.393 with seven homers, 42 RBI, 37 runs, and 17 steals in 353 plate appearances. Not one caught stealing. That speed has kept the fantasy line useful while the bat slowly comes around. Stott hit .287/.374/.415 in June, and the contact underneath looks better than it did a year ago. His hard-hit rate jumped from 29.5% to 38.3%, with the barrel rate up from 5.1% to 6.8%. Statcast has him at a .264 expected average and .407 expected slugging percentage. Nothing here screams middle-of-the-order breakout, especially with Philadelphia usually batting him sixth and dropping him to ninth against Tarik Skubal on July 12. Still, 17-for-17 on steals with better contact is worth buying. A modest lift in average and power could make Stott a real second-half asset.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Gabriel Hughes to Kick Off Second Half for Rockies on Friday
Colorado Rockies right-handed pitching prospect Gabriel Hughes will start the first game of the second half of the season for the Rockies on Friday night against the Cincinnati Reds, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com. The 24-year-old former 10th overall pick in 2022 out of Gonzaga University has looked good so far in his first two major-league appearances (one start), allowing three earned runs on six hits while walking three and striking out eight in nine innings pitched. In his first MLB start in a tough matchup against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers, Hughes struck out seven and allowed three runs in six innings of work. The strong showing from the team's No. 16 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, has earned him at least one more start to open the second half in Colorado's starting rotation. Fantasy managers looking for streamers should probably stay away from the young hurler against Cincy at hitter-friendly Coors Field. In the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League with Triple-A Albuquerque before his call-up, Hughes had a 5.31 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 48:11 K:BB in 40 2/3 innings over nine outings (seven starts) for the Isotopes.
Source: MLB.com - Thomas Harding
Source: MLB.com - Thomas Harding
Chase Burns Signs Seven-Year Extension With Reds
Right-hander Chase Burns and the Cincinnati Reds agreed to a seven-year, $105 million contract extension on Thursday, a source told Jon Morosi of the MLB Network. It's the largest contract given to a pitcher with less than four years of MLB service. The Reds are locking up one of the best young arms in baseball for the long-term after a breakout first half in his first full season in the big leagues in 2026. The 23-year-old former second overall pick in 2024 out of Wake Forest University was unavailable to pitch in Tuesday's All-Star Game due to a minor groin issue, but he's expected to return to Cincy's starting rotation next Tuesday to face the Seattle Mariners. In his first 18 starts (102 2/3 innings) this year, Burns has gone 11-1 with a 2.54 ERA (3.40 FIP) and 1.11 WHIP with 118 strikeouts and 37 walks for the Reds. He has been a must-start in all fantasy leagues as one of the best young strikeout arms in baseball, and his future is very bright as long as he can stay healthy. Burns could be a sell-high candidate in single-year fantasy leagues if the Reds look to manage his workload down the stretch.
Source: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
Source: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
Brewers to Manage Jacob Misiorowski's Innings in the Second Half?
Milwaukee Brewers All-Star right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, who had his final start of the first half skipped due to arm fatigue, is already within 31 innings of his total from last year in the minors, majors, and the playoffs. The whole case for the Brewers as a World Series contender revolves around the 24-year-old leader in ERA (1.62), strikeouts (167), WHIP (0.76), and batting average against making it to the playoffs at full strength. MLB.com's Adam McCalvy writes that it's going to require "some creativity in the coming months" as it relates to Misiorowski's workload. The flamethrowing righty is already getting extra rest at the halfway point of the season, and it's going to be critical for a banged-up Milwaukee starting rotation to have enough starting arms around the Miz in the lead-up to October. We would never recommend selling the most dominant starting arm in baseball, but the fact of the matter is that Misiorowski probably won't be as reliable in fantasy in the second half from an innings standpoint as the Brewers look to manage his workload.
Source: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
Source: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
