MLB News

Connelly Early • SP • Red Sox

Connelly Early Resumes Throwing, Making Progress

Boston Red Sox left-hander Connell Early (elbow) is making progress with his throwing program, interim manager Chad Tracy told Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. "Connelly threw at the tail end of the break, which is good. He's gonna throw 75 feet today, 90 feet tomorrow. We'll just keep, as he increases distance, read and react to how he's feeling. That's a good sign." Early is on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his left elbow, but it sounds as though he might be able to rejoin Boston's starting rotation in the second half sooner rather than later. It's unclear yet if he'll need a minor-league rehab start first, but even if he does, Early could be back in action in the big leagues before the calendar flips to August. Despite his injury, the 24-year-old southpaw is one of the more intriguing young long-term pitchers to follow in fantasy. Before going on the IL, he was 7-5 with a 3.44 ERA (4.60 FIP) and 1.25 WHIP with 93 strikeouts and 34 walks in 91 2/3 innings over his 17 starts in his first full year in Boston. Don't lose sight of him as a potential waiver addition when he nears his return. Early is rostered in under half of Yahoo leagues right now.

5 hours ago

Hunter Goodman • C • Rockies

Yankees Have Called on Hunter Goodman

The New York Yankees need a catcher at the trade deadline, as Austin Wells, J.C. Escarra, and Ali Sanchez rank last in baseball in OPS and wRC+. ESPN's Jorge Castillo writes that there are two obvious upgrades in Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers and Colorado Rockies backstop Hunter Goodman. The Twins are just three games out of first place in the American League Central, so they understandably haven't become sellers this summer. Castillo reports that the Yankees have called on Goodman, per a source, although not recently. Goodman, who is hitting .254 with 27 home runs and an .863 OPS in 90 games, could prove costly for the Bombers if they decide to go that route. The 26-year-old catcher has three years of team control remaining beyond 2026 and is going to require a substantial haul as one of the best power hitters at his position. The Yankees prefer to acquire players at the deadline who aren't just short-term additions. Perhaps most intriguing about Goodman is that he's hit 18 of his 27 homers with a .964 OPS away from hitter-friendly Coors Field. He's already one of the most valuable catchers in fantasy, but a move to the Bronx would make Goodman even more attractive in a stronger lineup.

5 hours ago

Eduardo Rivera • SP • Red Sox

Eduardo Rivera to Start Game 2 of Friday's Doubleheader

Boston Red Sox left-handed pitching prospect Eduardo Rivera will get the starting nod for Game 2 of the team's doubleheader on Friday at Fenway Park against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays, interim manager Chad Tracy told Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. It will be Rivera's third major-league outing and his second start. The 23-year-old Cuban southpaw has thrown seven shutout innings so far in his two big-league outings with two walks and six strikeouts. In his first MLB start against the New York Mets on July 7, Rivera held them scoreless in 3 2/3 frames with two walks and three K's. Rivera is a pitching prospect to keep an eye on in dynasty/keeper leagues as Boston's No. 25 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, but he won't be a recommended streamer against the first-place Rays with a likely short leash in the second game of the twin bill. Rivera has mostly operated as a multi-inning reliever rather than a full-time starter in 2026. In his 20 outings (two starts) at Triple-A Worcester earlier this year, Rivera had a 6-2 record, 2.84 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 46:21 K:BB in 38 innings pitched.

5 hours ago

Ranger Suarez • SP • Red Sox

Ranger Suarez Could Return From Injured List on Tuesday

Boston Red Sox left-hander Ranger Suarez (groin) is eligible to return from the 15-day injured list on Tuesday, but it's to be determined if the Red Sox will activate him then or give him a couple of extra days, according to Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald. If Suarez returns on the first day he's eligible, he'll be lined up to face the division-rival Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. The veteran southpaw is recovering from a minor strained left groin that caused him to miss Tuesday's All-Star Game. It sounds as though he won't need a minor-league rehab start before rejoining Boston's starting rotation, which is good news for his fantasy managers. The 30-year-old Venezuelan hurler was named as an All-Star in 2026 for just the second time of his career after going 4-3 with a 3.15 ERA (2.61 FIP) and 1.16 WHIP with 97 strikeouts and 26 walks in 91 1/3 innings across 17 starts in his first year in Beantown. Suarez's strong first half was backed by a career-high 25.8% strikeout rate. He'll be riskier in his first start back next week, and he could be on a bit of a pitch count, making him a DFS fade.

6 hours ago

Cedric Mullins • CF • Rays

Second-Half Bounce-Back Seems Unlikely for Cedric Mullins

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Cedric Mullins has really struggled at the plate in 2026 in his first season with the Rays, as he heads into the second half with a rough .200/.278/.339 slash line with a .617 OPS through 82 games and 319 plate appearances. On the bright side, he does have 11 home runs and 14 stolen bases to go with 30 RBI and 32 runs scored. There's obviously still some power and speed there from the left side of the plate, but with an expected batting average of .190 and an xwOBA of .262, which is fifth-worst among hitters, fantasy managers shouldn't be looking to buy low here. The 31-year-old former All-Star and Silver Slugger winner isn't playing much against left-handed pitchers, and he's gone just 14-for-66 (.212) against southpaws this year with none of his 11 home runs. Mullins just isn't making great contact either, ranking in the 15th percentile in hard-hit rate and the 17th percentile in barrel rate. His xSLG also sits in the fifth percentile. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Mullins to get to the 20-20 mark for the second time in his career.

6 hours ago

Louis Varland • RP • Blue Jays

Louis Varland Could Keep Strong Run Going in Second Half

Toronto Blue Jays right-handed reliever Louis Varland has been one of the biggest surprises in fantasy baseball as a closer through the first half of the season, going 3-3 with a 1.10 ERA (1.43 FIP), 0.98 WHIP, his first 19 career saves, 67 strikeouts, and 13 walks in 49 innings pitched to become a first-time All-Star. The 28-year-old has yet to blow a save so far in 2026, which could lead many to believe that he's due for plenty of regression in the second half in his first full season with the Blue Jays. However, with the third-best xwOBA (.223) among all pitchers in baseball, Varland's underlying metrics back up his strong first-half showing. The former 15th-rounder by the Minnesota Twins in 2019 out of Concordia University has allowed five earned runs on 12 hits (one homer) in 18 innings since the start of June, but he's also struck out 25, walked four, and recorded 11 saves during that span. Varland's expected ERA of 2.04 predicts some regression coming, but not enough to consider him a true sell-high candidate as a closer in fantasy. His hard-hit rate sits in the 64th percentile, and his barrel rate is in the 98th percentile. When you combine that with a strikeout rate in the 99th percentile, you have an elite closer.

6 hours ago

Logan Henderson • SP • Brewers

Logan Henderson a Must-Add Pitcher Off the Waiver Wire

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Logan Henderson missed some time due to a back injury in the first half of the season, but he returned last Thursday with a promising outing against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals, allowing three runs with one walk and four strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings to improve to 3-1 on the year. The 24-year-old finished the first half with a strong 3.18 ERA (2.46 FIP) and 0.99 WHIP with 34 strikeouts and only seven walks in 28 1/3 innings across his six starts. So far in his 11 big-league starts since debuting with Milwaukee in 2025, Henderson is 6-1 with a 2.52 ERA (2.72 FIP), 0.99 WHIP, and 67:15 K:BB in 53 2/3 innings. It's not a large sample size, but you can't complain about the results, and he should have a strong hold on a rotation spot for the Brew Crew for the rest of the season. The former fourth-rounder in 2021 out of McLennan Community College is one of the best starting pitching options off the waiver wire entering his first start of the second half on Friday versus the Miami Marlins, and he's rostered in under 60% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.

7 hours ago

Esmerlyn Valdez • RF • Pirates

Esmerlyn Valdez a Breakout Rookie to Target on the Waiver Wire

Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder/first baseman Esmerlyn Valdez has taken the league by storm through his first 28 games and 105 plate appearances, hitting .309/.371/.713 with a 1.084 OPS, 10 home runs, 27 RBI, and 21 runs for the Bucs. It all came to a head for the 22-year-old Dominican last weekend in a doubleheader sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers, when he finished the day 4-for-8 with three home runs and eight RBI. Valdez is looking to keep up his hot month of July when the second half starts on Friday. In 11 games so far in July, he has gone 14-for-46 (.304) with four home runs, two doubles, a triple, 15 RBI, and 11 runs scored. Per MLB Pipeline, Valdez is Pittsburgh's No. 9 prospect. The 6-foot-2, 234-pounder made a concerted effort to improve his conditioning and approach at the plate in the last year, and it's really showing up during his MLB debut in 2026. Valdez's glove is nothing special, but if he keeps hitting like this, the Pirates will continue to run him out there every day. He won't be able to keep up his current pace through the rest of the season, but Valdez is one of the hottest young power bats to target going into the second half in fantasy leagues. The 22-year-old is currently rostered in 60% of Yahoo leagues, so he's still widely available.

7 hours ago

Christian Scott • SP • Mets

Christian Scott Can't be Ignored After Strong Start to Second Half

New York Mets right-hander Christian Scott was already on RotoBaller's waiver watch list going into the All-Star break, and he should now be a priority pickup after picking up his third win of the season on Thursday night in the victory over the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. Scott threw 5 2/3 shutout innings with three hits allowed, no walks, and seven strikeouts to lower his season ERA to 2.87. The 27-year-old still has not gone six innings in any of his 13 starts for the Mets this year, but fantasy managers need to remember this is his first full season back from Tommy John surgery. The former fifth-rounder in 2021 out of the University of Florida has looked great so far in his second big-league season otherwise, though, and even though his walk rate is a tad high at 10.3%, it's been nice to see his strikeout rate jump to 28.5%, up from 19.8% in his rookie season in 2024. Fantasy managers may want to avoid Scott in his next scheduled outing against the first-place Milwaukee Brewers, but if he impresses in that matchup, he'll be the hottest pitcher on the waiver wire. Scott is currently rostered in only 22% of Yahoo leagues.

7 hours ago

Junior Caminero • 3B • Rays

Junior Caminero Back in Lineup for Game 1 of Doubleheader

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (hand) is starting at third base and is batting third for Game 1 of a doubleheader on Friday against the division-rival Boston Red Sox and rookie left-hander Jake Bennett at Fenway Park, according to MLB.com. Caminero was involved in a scary scene during Tuesday's All-Star Game when he was hit by a pitch from St. Louis Cardinals closer Riley O'Brien on his left hand, but thankfully, X-rays came back negative, and he's ready to go for the start of the second half of the season. Fantasy managers will want to get Caminero back into their starting lineups for the weekend, although there's a good chance he'll be rested for Game 2 of the doubleheader. The 23-year-old is currently tied for fourth in the big leagues with 28 home runs through the first half, and he's slashing .279/.372/.555 with a .927 OPS, 59 RBI, 61 runs scored, and two stolen bases across 355 at-bats. The Dominican third baseman has only five career at-bats against Bennett, but he's hitting .400 with a .900 OPS in the small sample size.

7 hours ago

Edwin Díaz • RP • Dodgers

Edwin Diaz to Make Another Rehab Outing on Friday

Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed closer Edwin Diaz (elbow) is scheduled to make another minor-league rehab appearance with the Single-A Ontario Tower Buzzers on Friday, July 17, according to the team. Diaz will move to a higher minor-league affiliate after appearing in two rehab games in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League earlier this week. The 32-year-old veteran has been sidelined since late April after having surgery to remove loose bodies in his right elbow, but he's nearing a return and should be back in the Dodgers' bullpen before the end of July. Most likely, the Dodgers will want to see Diaz appear on back-to-back days before they officially reinstate him from the 60-day injured list. His fastball was sitting around 96-98 mph in the ACL, which is a good sign he's close to being back to 100%. Diaz might be eased in initially, but he should return to being L.A.'s primary ninth-inning option despite his ugly 10.50 ERA and 2.33 WHIP from his first six innings before elbow surgery. Diaz is rostered in 83% of Yahoo leagues, so he should be scooped up immediately if he's available.

7 hours ago

Ronald Acuña Jr. • RF • Braves

Ronald Acuna Jr. Moving his Rehab to Triple-A

The Atlanta Braves announced on Friday that they are moving outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr.'s (hamstring) minor-league rehab assignment to Triple-A Gwinnett. Acuna started a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Florida Complex League during the All-Star break this week and went 1-for-7 with a grand slam in three games played while serving as the designated hitter. The former MVP will now move to the highest minor-league level and will presumably work back into the outfield before the Braves reinstate him from the 10-day injured list, potentially early next week. The 28-year-old Venezuelan still has elite five-category potential for fantasy managers when he's healthy, but he's been sidelined two separate times in 2026 with hamstring issues. It has led to a disappointing .251/.373/.421 line with seven home runs, 22 RBI, 15 stolen bases, and 31 runs scored in his 195 at-bats. Acuna's buy-low window remains open, and he could be a difference-maker in the second half if he can stay off the IL for a third time this year. But fantasy managers holding Acuna through his injuries this year are probably still going to want a lot in return in any trade.

7 hours ago

Max Fried • SP • Yankees

Max Fried to Make a Rehab Start at Triple-A on Friday

New York Yankees left-hander Max Fried (elbow) will make a minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday, the RailRiders announced. Fried will be making his first start in a game since being shut down in mid-May with a bone bruise in his left elbow. Because of his lengthy absence, the 32-year-old veteran southpaw is likely to need a couple more rehab starts in the minors before rejoining New York's starting rotation near the end of July or in early August. Fantasy managers in all leagues must continue stashing the former first-rounder until then, as he could be a difference-maker as an ace for the remainder of the season if he can avoid any further injuries. Fried went 4-3 with a 3.21 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts in 61 2/3 innings in his first 10 starts in 2026 before landing on the injured list. He was an All-Star for the third time in his career in 2025 in his first year in the Bronx, winning a league-high 19 games while posting a 2.86 ERA (3.07 FIP) and 1.10 WHIP with a career-high 189 strikeouts and 51 walks in 32 regular-season starts.

8 hours ago

Jacob Misiorowski • SP • Brewers

Jacob Misiorowski Likely to Start During Mets Series

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski is likely to return to the team's starting rotation during the series against the New York Mets from July 20-22, according to Jon Morosi of the MLB Network. Misiorowski came down with some right-arm fatigue after his start against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals on July 7, prompting the Brewers to skip the hard-throwing right-hander's final turn of the first half of the season last Sunday. The Miz also won't pitch during this weekend's series against the Miami Marlins, but it looks like he'll rejoin the rotation next week in a great matchup against New York. However, with Misiorowski already coming up on a career high in innings pitched, fantasy managers should expect the Brew Crew to find more creative ways to limit his innings as the second half goes on. Even though the 24-year-old two-time All-Star leads the league with a 1.62 ERA, 2.09 FIP, 0.76 WHIP, and 167 strikeouts, fantasy managers in redraft leagues may want to consider selling high for that reason. Misiorowski is an absolute must-start every time he toes the rubber as long as he's healthy.

8 hours ago

Michael Arroyo • SS • Mariners

Michael Arroyo Off to Hot Start at Triple-A, In Position for Late-Season MLB Debut

Seattle Mariners infield prospect Michael Arroyo was recently promoted to the Triple-A club and has not slowed down since moving up to the top ranks. Thorugh is first six contests with Tacoma, the team's No. 4 prospect has held a .346/.406/.731 line with a dominant 1.137 OPS. During this stretch, Arroyo has launched two long balls and swiped two bags. He spent the majority of the first half with Double-A Arkansas, where he carried a .287/.364/.456 line with 12 doubles, 10 home runs, and 13 stolen bases. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues should continue to pay close attention to his production as he has put himself firmly on the stash radar. He may only need a brief seasoning at this level before being given the green light to join the Mariners for the final stretch.

8 hours ago

Ethan Salas • C • Padres

Ethan Salas Reclaiming Dynasty Value in Bounce-Back Season

San Diego Padres catching prospect Ethan Salas saw his value take a hit during the 2025 season when he appeared in only 10 games due to injury. However, Salas had spent the entire 2026 season at Double-A and had rebounded quite nicely. Across 63 contests with San Antonio this season, the backstop has posted a strong .284/.353/.422 slash line with a .775 OPS. During this campaign, the catcher has gone deep seven times and has even chipped in 14 stolen bases. In his last full season (2024), Salas posted a .206/.288/.311 line with only four home runs and a mere 10 stolen bases. Seeing him not only rebound from his injury but produce career-best marks against tougher pitching is an excellent sign. The team's top-ranked prospect could earn a late-season call to Triple-A if he maintains this trajectory.

8 hours ago

James Triantos • 2B • Cubs

James Triantos Entering Stash Territory Amid Torrid Triple-A Stretch

Chicago Cubs second base prospect James Triantos has enjoyed an impressive stretch at the Triple-A level and has put himself on the stash radar for those in deeper formats. Since June 1, Triantos has posted a dominant .358/.403/.515 line with a sharp .918 OPS. During this noted stretch, Triantos has hit 12 doubles, three home runs, five stolen bases, and a 17:9 K:BB. On the season, the No. 8-ranked prospect in the Chicago system has carried a dominant .311/.349/.448 line with 22 doubles, seven home runs, and 18 stolen bases. However, what kept him in Iowa is Chicago's depth in the middle infield. Even though Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson have not had the most productive seasons, they remain the clear top options on the depth chart. However, if one were to miss time with an injury, Triantos would enter must-stash territory given his five-category upside.

8 hours ago

Brody Hopkins • RP • Rays

Brody Hopkins Sees Struggles Linger as MLB Debut Appears Increasingly Unlikely

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitching prospect Brody Hopkins was expected to be in serious contention to make his MLB debut this summer. However, the No. 4-ranked prospect in the system has struggled to show consistency at Durham, which has prevent hm form eanring the call. Since June 1 (his last 23 2/3 innings), Hopkins has posted a rough 7.23 ERA with a 32:27 K:BB. While he has allowed no runs in three of these outings, he surrendered a hefty 19 runs in the other four. Additionally, Hopkins has struggled to avoid high counts, inflating his walk rate. Through 71 2/3 innings on the season, Hopkins has allowed a high 70 free passes with a 1.65 WHIP. While an injury to the Tampa rotation could open the door, given his inconsistencies, the Rays are unlikely to call his name down the stretch.

8 hours ago

Ike Irish • C • Orioles

Ike Irish Pushing for Late-Season Promotion to Double-A

Baltimore Orioles catching prospect Ike Irish has had a productive debut season at High-A but has begun to take a massive step forward over the last month. Over his most recent 20 contests (since June 16), the Auburn product has posted a stellar .321/.438/.526 line with five doubles, one triple, three home runs and seven stolen bases. More importantly, during this stretch, the young catcher has shown a strong eye at the dish, holding a 14:15 K:BB. In comparison, the 19th overall pick from last summer's draft carried a much lower .240/.349/.464 line with a .813 OPS, 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases over the first 50 games of the campaign. Dynasty managers should continue to monitor his progress as the 22-year-old will continue to emerge as one of the game's top young catchers.

8 hours ago

Roldy Brito • 3B • Rockies

Rockies to Promote Top Third Base Prospect Roldy Brito to High-A

The Colorado Rockies are moving up top third base prospect Roldy Brito to High-A Spokane. Brito is currently viewed as the team's No. 3 overall prospect and the No. 71 prospect in the sport on MLB.com. The 19-year-old made his professional debut in the Colorado system during the 2024 season in the DSL but moved to the Arizona Complex League and Low-A in 2025. During the season, Brito appeared in 84 games and carried a .371/.444/.516 slash line, 20 doubles, four home runs, and 35 stolen bases. This summer, Brito posted a sharp .896 OPS with an impressive eight home runs and 18 stolen bases through 79 games with Low-A. While his MLB debut is likely two seasons away, he's emerging as a worthy stash target in dynasty leagues.

8 hours ago

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