Lodolo developed a blister on his left index finger during his last start and heads back to the 15-day IL — his second IL stint of the season with the same issue, and the third blister episode in two years. He's eligible to return July 27 at the earliest, though a slower progression could push that back further. The Reds recalled right-hander Chase Petty from Triple-A to fill the rotation spot.
Buxton was placed on the IL retroactive to July 6 with a right hip strain he had been playing through, but the Twins are targeting a return Friday (July 17) when they open the second half at Wrigley. He was batting .275 with 25 HR and 45 RBI before going down. Ryan Kreidler handled center field through the break.
With the August 3 deadline just 18 days away, the second half kicks off with real roster chaos on the horizon. Bobby Witt Jr. tops CBS Sports' second-half redraft. The Yankees are pursuing Mason Miller and catching help. The Phillies are shopping for bullpen arms. Multiple contenders are in the market for SP upgrades.
Who's Hot This Week
The Cardinals southpaw has carved out a rotation spot in St. Louis and is surfacing on waiver wire radars for Week 16. Liberatore features a plus changeup and has allowed just two runs over 11 innings in his first two MLB starts. Availability could hit 0% quickly if he strings another strong outing together. Worth a stash now in 14+ team formats before the crowd catches on.
Worth Reading
The must-add list for the first week of the second half, with both hitter and pitcher targets sorted by ownership tier. Drohan, Thomas, and Mangum all appear. Good starting point before you submit your waiver claims.
Full ranked waiver list by category — especially useful for SP decisions, given how much the post-break schedule shifts streaming value. Bookmark this and cross-reference with your league's FAB priority.
ESPN's schedule-based streaming guide for the week, with Aaron Nola and J.T. Realmuto among the highlighted names. Solid complement to ownership-based rankings — the schedule angle matters more post-break.
Fractured right hand after taking a Michael Wacha fastball in the second inning July 9. Expected to miss 6–8 weeks, pushing his earliest return to late August. The injury reshapes the Mets' trade deadline approach — they'll need to address the corner infield via trade.
Right thumb capsule sprain, IL placement retroactive to July 10. Kurtz had gone hitless in his final 20 at-bats before the injury, so the thumb had been affecting him longer than the team let on. Multi-week absence expected; misses All-Star Game.
Left index finger blister is back for the third time in two years. Lodolo had previously opened the 2026 season on the IL with the same issue, debuting May 8 after missing six weeks. Eligible to return July 27. Chase Petty recalled from Triple-A to fill the spot.
Right elbow discomfort landed him on the IL retroactive to June 30 — his second elbow IL stint of 2026. Manager Craig Albernaz said 'everything is on the table' for the closer role. Tyler Wells has two saves in the interim but the committee is real.
Reynaldo López returned to Atlanta's starting rotation in late June after spending the first stretch of 2026 in the bullpen while managing residual shoulder soreness from a 2025 injury. The results since that rotation re-entry have been sharp: a 12:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio over three starts spanning 13 innings, with just three runs allowed across that stretch.
The surface ERA (3.31) looks appealing heading into the second half, but the 4.72 xFIP deserves serious attention. López is outperforming his expected numbers on the strength of a well-above-average strand rate and strong exit-velocity suppression — both categories where regression is likely. His season-long walk total (25) is a reminder that command can still slip, and a 20.5% strikeout rate is solid but not the kind of number that makes an ERA-to-xFIP gap sustainable.
The talent is undeniable — López was an All-Star in 2024 with a 1.99 ERA over 135.2 innings and a 148:42 K:BB. If the rotation role sticks and the shoulder holds, he's a real asset in the second half. He's just not a plug-and-play weekly starter yet.
Cade Smith leads MLB with 27 saves heading into the second half and cemented his status as the game's nastiest reliever with a mic'd-up inning at the All-Star Game — striking out Bryce Harper on a diving splitter that had Harper saying 'that's disgusting, sorry' on national television. Beyond Smith, the watch list remains busy: Helsley is still on the IL in Baltimore with a committee replacing him; Jacob Webb is holding down the Cubs' ninth with Palencia months away; and Jordan Romano has quietly taken two saves in Colorado since joining the Rockies on July 4.
Read the full Ledger →| Closer | Team | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Wells | BAL | 🔴 Committee | Has two saves since Helsley went on the IL but faces real competition from Yennier Cano and Andrew Kittredge. Manager said 'everything is on the table.' Speculative add — ownership of the role could shift week to week. |
| Jacob Webb | CHC | 🔴 Committee | Three saves since Daniel Palencia went on the IL in mid-June and is Craig Counsell's current preference, but Trent Thornton and Caleb Thielbar are also getting ninth-inning looks. Add with caution. |
| Grant Taylor | CWS | 🟡 Watch | Dominant in the ninth and the team's default closer, but real reports suggest the Sox want to stretch him to a starter as early as next season. Role is safe for now — watch any extended 2-inning appearances as a signal of a shift. |
| Jordan Romano | COL | 🟡 Watch | Added July 4 and has recorded both Rockies saves since. Appears ahead of Senzatela and the committee. Low save volume in Colorado, but the role looks like his to keep in the second half. |
Full game highlights from the 2026 MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia — AL 4-0 NL in a complete pitching shutout. Cody Bellinger MVP. Dylan Cease K's four. Cade Smith's mic'd-up inning with Bryce Harper is the clip everyone's still talking about.
2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby full highlights — Jordan Walker wins with 31 bombs in the final round, defeating Kyle Schwarber in a finish-for-the-ages final. Murakami's Derby debut was a must-watch.
The White Sox drop the definitive Murakami All-Star Week reel — from the Home Run Derby debut to the viral Pat McAfee singing session to his declaration that he wants to stay in Chicago long-term. 'Munetaka Murakami is HIM.'
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