deGrom won't take the mound Sunday against Houston after leaving his July 8 start early with what he described as a "hip/leg thing" — later identified as a mild left glute strain. Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said he's not sure deGrom will be available "right away" after the break, and a 15-day IL placement is being discussed pending further testing. He finishes the first half 7-5 with a 3.49 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and a 122:22 K:BB across 100.2 innings — a genuinely elite first half before this setback.
Misiorowski reported fatigue heading into the final weekend of the first half, prompting the Brewers to scratch him from Sunday's scheduled start and grant him extended rest. He will not pitch in Milwaukee's opening post-break series against Miami. The plan is to have him resume throwing July 14 and return to the rotation in the second week of the second half — this is precautionary, not structural.
Bregman hit home runs in back-to-back games in Cincinnati, driving in four runs across a three-hit Sunday in the Cubs' 8-4 win to close the first half. He had been mired in a career-low stretch — a .695 OPS heading into the weekend — making the consecutive power outbursts a meaningful signal. He finishes the first half at .236 with 8 HR and 37 RBI.
Who's Hot This Week
Basallo is the type of catcher dynasty managers dream about and redraft owners undervalue — strong power, 12.2% barrel rate, and Statcast metrics projecting him to outperform his surface line (.256/.320/.465, 14 HR): 82nd percentile in xSLG (.478), 83rd percentile in average exit velocity, 67th percentile in xwOBA (.342). In a competitive Baltimore lineup, he has run support and second-half upside into the 30-HR range by season's end. In leagues with catcher scarcity, he is an immediate add at only 28% ownership.
Worth Reading
RotoBaller's updated Week 16 wire rankings, tiered by league size and weighted for the post-All-Star break schedule. Built specifically for managers making decisions this weekend, with FAAB bid targets and ownership trends for the Week 17 slate — the right read before your Sunday waivers process.
A curated list of hitters and pitchers worth targeting via trade or waiver wire before the second half gets rolling, including Samuel Basallo and Jac Caglianone. Pair this with the Week 16 wire rankings to build your second-half acquisition list.
A pre-break sell-high list with specific trade value estimates for players whose surface stats have outpaced their underlying numbers. A useful counterpoint to the optimism pieces — especially helpful if you are planning to deal from strength heading into the second half.
Mild left glute strain caused deGrom to exit his July 8 start early and skip Sunday's outing vs. Houston. Rangers manager Skip Schumaker has not ruled out a 15-day IL placement pending test results. Muscular, not structural — glute strains typically resolve in 2-4 weeks. First-half line: 7-5, 3.49 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 122:22 K:BB in 100.2 IP.
Misiorowski reported fatigue and was scratched from Sunday's start in the Brewers' final pre-break game. He will miss the first post-break series vs. Miami and is expected to resume throwing July 14. This is proactive rest — not a soft-tissue issue — and a second-half return to the rotation is fully expected.
Cruz remains one of the most-watched IL stashes of the season — Jake Mangum has been filling his role with a .311 average and 18 stolen bases on the year. When healthy, Cruz is one of the rare five-category contributors at shortstop. No official return timeline announced heading into the All-Star break; fantasy managers should keep him stashed.
Jake Bennett should not be this good. No individual pitch grades as a true plus offering — a fastball that sits 92-94 (touching 96), a changeup that scouting reports called "above-average" rather than elite, and a slider he mainly shows lefties. Yet here he is: a 2.64 ERA, a 0.94 WHIP, seven shutout innings against the White Sox on July 9, and a strand rate that has held all season across eight starts. Pitcher List's deep dive into why it all works is the essential first-half wrap-up read for anyone considering him as a second-half add.
The answer is the changeup — and the deception it creates. The pitch averages 82.8 mph, nearly 10 mph below his sinker, and generates 12 inches of horizontal break. Hitters chase it outside the zone 39% of the time. Bennett deploys it 25% of the time and pairs it with a low three-quarters arm slot that makes his four-seamer appear faster than it clocks. At 6-foot-6 with a long extension, the perceived velocity and tunnel similarity between pitches creates a genuine problem for batters, especially in the first three innings. The result: a 24.1% strikeout rate and fewer than 2.5 walks per nine across his MLB stint.
The risk: above-average hard contact allowed means he needs his defense and BABIP to cooperate, and Fenway Park is generally kind to pitchers in this mold. The Pitcher List piece makes the case he is a durable mid-rotation arm rather than a hot streak waiting to end — his command profile and repertoire design both suggest sustainability. In a year where starting pitching depth is stretched thin, that combination is genuinely valuable for the final 14 weeks of the season.
The most actionable volatile save situation heading into the break is Baltimore, where Ryan Helsley's latest elbow IL stint (his second of the season) hands the ninth inning to Tyler Wells, who has converted both of his chances and carries genuine closer metrics. Chicago's Jacob Webb committee is the other must-know situation — Daniel Palencia won't be back until after the break, and Webb is the primary option despite ongoing walk issues. Colorado's Jordan Romano continues converting saves in a thin bullpen.
Read the full Ledger →| Closer | Team | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Wells | BAL | 🟡 Watch | Wells converted both save chances since Ryan Helsley (elbow, 15-day IL) went down and looks like the clear primary option for now. The metrics back him: 3.02 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 43:10 K:BB in 41.2 innings. The watch flag: Helsley has missed time twice this season with the same elbow issue and should return before the trade deadline, at which point Wells reverts to setup. Ride the saves until the Helsley activation notice. |
| Jacob Webb | CHC | 🔴 Committee | Webb is the primary option in the Cubs' ninth inning with Palencia out (mild flexor strain, not back until post-break), and he has responded with four saves and no runs allowed over his last 7.1 innings. The problem: 15 walks in 39.2 innings on the season, and the walk issues resurface in high-leverage spots. Worth rostering in 14+ team saves-hungry leagues, but every outing carries blown-save risk. |
| Jordan Romano | COL | 🟡 Watch | Romano has picked up multiple saves since signing July 4 and appears to have the Rockies' ninth inning to himself. The caveats are real: a 7.36 ERA at prior stops this season, low Colorado win totals, and a roster situation that could change at the deadline. In very deep leagues only — if you need saves and can live with volatility, Romano is the most actionable deep spec available. |
D-backs vs. Dodgers full game highlights from July 12 — Shohei Ohtani leads off the first inning with a home run in the DH spot, proving his knee is not affecting his bat even as he skips his pitching start entirely.
Cubs vs. Reds full game highlights from July 12 — Alex Bregman's second home run in back-to-back days, anchoring an 8-4 Cubs win in the final game before the All-Star break.
Royals vs. Orioles full game highlights from July 12 — includes Tyler Wells closing out the ninth inning for his second save since taking over for the injured Ryan Helsley.
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