The American League blanked the National League 4-0 in the 96th All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park, with AL starter Dylan Cease striking out the side in the first inning. Cody Bellinger drove in the game's first two runs with a bases-loaded single to earn MVP honors, and Miguel Vargas (White Sox) hit a 433-foot solo shot in the 8th off Dodgers starter Justin Wrobleski. The NL struck out 15 times — a new All-Star Game record.
Ohtani skipped his final first-half start and withdrew from pitching in the All-Star Game due to left knee irritation he's been managing since mid-June. His knee was scheduled to be drained over the break ahead of the Dodgers' second-half opener in New York on July 17. The inflammation affects pitching mechanics more than hitting — he hasn't missed a DH start.
Gallen was scratched from his final pre-break start and placed on the 15-day IL, retroactive to July 9, with right elbow inflammation. He posted a solid first half — 3.12 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 92 K in 86.2 IP — before the setback. No structural damage was reported, and he previously returned from an IL stint this season without losing effectiveness.
Diaz (right elbow surgery April 22, 60-day IL) began a rehab assignment with Single-A Ontario on July 11, touching 96-98 mph on his fastball. The Dodgers said he could be activated 'any moment after the All-Star break,' at which point he reclaims the closer role from Tanner Scott, who has held the job since late April.
Who's Hot This Week
Anderson has been called 'arguably the most dominant pitcher in professional baseball this season' by CBS Sports — in the minors, where he's posted a 1.36 ERA, 0.69 WHIP, and 37.5% K-BB% across 72.2 innings. He's not a sure-shot callup right now, but at roughly 8% Yahoo ownership, the cost of stashing him in an NA slot is zero. If Seattle needs rotation help in the second half and promotes him, you already own him. Monitor his prospect timeline weekly.
Worth Reading
Bartilotta calls this the most unique week of the fantasy season and urges managers not to go dormant during the break. Ownership percentages confirmed from Yahoo; top names include Tommy Edman (22%), Curtis Mead (23%), Jake Cronenworth (6%), and Landen Roupp (42%). Doubles as a reference guide for anyone planning their FAAB run when games resume July 17.
Category-by-category breakdown of adds for Week 16 with every target under 25% owned in Yahoo. Edman leads the list as a re-emerging everyday Dodger with strong OBP and stolen base potential. Useful if you're rebuilding a specific stat category heading into the stretch run.
White frames the second half as 'the stretch run' and covers players available in 25%+ of CBS leagues with second-half upside — including Kade Anderson (52% CBS, 1.36 ERA in minors), Corbin Burnes (32% CBS, returning from surgery), and Royce Lewis (MIN). Strong read if you're in a CBS-hosted league.
Managing left knee irritation since at least mid-June. Skipped his final pre-break start and withdrew from pitching in the All-Star Game. Knee scheduled to be drained during the break. Manager has him targeting the July 17 opener in New York but no final confirmation yet. Has not missed a DH start — the knee primarily affects pitching mechanics.
Right elbow inflammation, 15-day IL retroactive to July 9. Eligible to return around July 24. First-half line: 3.12 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 92 K in 86.2 IP. No structural damage reported. Previously returned from an IL stint this season at full effectiveness.
Mild left glute strain; was limited to five innings in his July 7 start when it surfaced. Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said he doesn't know if deGrom will pitch when the second half opens July 17 and acknowledged a 15-day IL stint was under consideration. First-half line was elite: 7-5, 3.49 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 122 K in 100.2 IP.
Inflammation around the UCL in his right elbow — the ligament is intact, ruling out surgery. His second IL stint of 2026 for the same issue; his first absence ran approximately seven weeks (May–June). Began a rehab program during the break. Realistic return: mid-August at the earliest.
Pitcher List's July 11 Decision Value weekly piece has one name that stands above the rest: Miguel Vargas of the Chicago White Sox. The 26-year-old switch-hitter ranks second in the majors in PLV Decision Value — a metric that evaluates hitter swing quality based on pitch velocity, location, and movement — and has added 3.5 mph of bat speed compared to 2025. He's already eclipsed his entire 2025 barrel total with half the season remaining.
The article frames Vargas as the breakout hitter of the year, and the underlying profile backs it up. His swing decision improvements — better zone coverage, disciplined chase rates, elite exit velocity markers — are the kind of changes that sustain contact quality over a full season, not the kind that regress to mean. Other names in the piece include a hitter named Edwards (swing rate dropped from 47.7% to 40.8%, slashing .300/.385/.423) and Ward (career-low swing rate of 34.7%), but Vargas is the actionable lead.
The timing couldn't be better: Vargas hit the only home run of Tuesday's All-Star Game — a 433-foot blast off the Dodgers' Justin Wrobleski in the 8th inning. That's not a coincidence. The batted-ball profile this article describes is the exact swing that produced the game's signature hit. If you've been sleeping on him because he plays for Chicago, Tuesday's moment was the public confirmation the metrics have been pointing to for months.
The final pre-break Leverage Ledger (July 13) covered 15 games before the All-Star break. Key context entering the second half: Cade Smith leads the majors with 27-28 saves and a 63:14 K:BB in 44.1 IP; Tyler Wells has taken save chances in Baltimore with Helsley sidelined; Edwin Diaz's imminent return from rehab threatens Tanner Scott's role in Los Angeles. Five teams enter Week 17 with no clear ninth-inning answer.
Read the full Ledger →| Closer | Team | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Wells | BAL | 🟡 Watch | Helsley (elbow inflammation, UCL intact) is out until mid-August at the earliest. Wells posted back-to-back saves July 3-4 and carries a 3.02 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 43:10 K:BB over 41.2 IP. However, the Orioles manager said 'everything is on the table' — Kittredge and Cano are also in the mix. Add Wells everywhere, but consider a small FAAB hedge on Kittredge in deep formats. |
| Jacob Webb | CHC | 🔴 Committee | Palencia (elbow, IL-15) is expected back post-break and will reclaim the role immediately. Until then, Webb leads the committee over Thornton and Thielbar with 4 saves and a 3.18 ERA. Add in daily-move leagues; avoid in weekly formats — Palencia's return could come any day. |
| Edwin Diaz | LAD | 🟡 Watch | Began rehab July 11 at Single-A Ontario, sitting 96-98 mph. Dodgers said 'any moment after the break.' Reclaims the closer role from Tanner Scott upon activation. Diaz's 60-day IL stint has suppressed ownership in most leagues — add before the announcement. Scott drops to setup; own Diaz for saves. |
| Jordan Romano | COL | 🟡 Watch | Recalled July 4 off a MiLB deal, converted two saves in two chances including a slider-freeze of Freddie Freeman. No clear next option behind him in the Colorado bullpen. Low save-opportunity environment, but a real ninth-inning role is a real ninth-inning role. Speculative add in 14+ team leagues. |
| Hogan Harris | OAK | 🔴 Committee | Has edged out Elvis Alvarado as the A's primary closer option, but Oakland has named no one officially. Harris and Alvarado continue splitting high-leverage work. Neither is safe in weekly formats. Monitor post-break for any sign of consolidation. |
Broadcast highlights of the 2026 All-Star Game — Bellinger's MVP single, Vargas's 433-foot eighth-inning blast, and Dylan Cease's first-inning strikeout of the side.
Full game highlights from the 96th All-Star Game — the NL's record 15-strikeout night, every run scored, and both teams' best swings at Citizens Bank Park.
Stat post after the final out: 'American League wins 2026 All-Star Game 4-0. National League recorded 3 hits, struck out 15 times (most in ASG history).'
Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.