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Top Stories
MLBTradeRumors · Rotowire · MLB.comAfter going 1-for-7 with a grand slam in three FCL rehab games, Ronald Acuña Jr.'s rehab assignment was transferred to Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday. Manager Walt Weiss said he hopes Acuña will be ready to return before the end of Atlanta's homestand on July 23, though the Braves will need to clear him for right-field duty before activating him. This is his second hamstring injury of 2026 — a Grade 1 left hamstring strain suffered June 9 while trying to beat out a ground ball.
Fantasy take: Keep him on your IL without hesitation. A grand slam in his third FCL game, a promotion straight to Triple-A, and a July 23 target date are all green lights. This is the highest-upside activation of the second half. Make a bench move today to hold the IL slot — he will be ready before most owners expect.
Andrés Chaparro went 4-for-5 with two home runs — including one that traveled 467 feet — and 8 RBI as the Nationals routed Oakland 23–4 on Friday night. Before this game, Chaparro had accumulated just 7 RBI on the entire season. The A's have now lost 10 straight. Oakland entered the second half as one of the worst teams in baseball, and their rotation and bullpen both imploded in what may be a preview of their second-half trajectory.
Fantasy take: Check your waiver wire right now. Chaparro likely sits at 1–2% owned in most leagues after a quiet first half. One game does not make a season, but 8 RBI in a blowout at least confirms he's in the lineup and capable of damage. The Washington offense is real — they're buyers at the deadline, and Chaparro's roster spot should be safe. Speculative add in 14-team leagues.
Brad Keller (right UCL tear) was placed on the 15-day IL Thursday and is expected to miss the remainder of the season, with Tommy John surgery a real possibility after a consult with Dr. Keith Meister. He had returned just one week earlier from right forearm tendinitis. Philadelphia signed Keller to a $22 million, two-year deal last December to serve as a setup bridge for closer Jhoan Duran.
Fantasy take: Duran's closer role is secure — no internal committee threat. But the bridge from the seventh to the ninth gets thinner heading into August 3. Duran owners hold; Philadelphia may acquire relief help at the deadline. Watch for a trade that restores the pipeline.
August 3 is 17 days away and the market is moving. The Mets are sellers — untouchables are limited to Soto, Benge, Ewing, Christian Scott, and McLean, meaning Francisco Lindor is available. The Yankees and Padres are discussing Mason Miller, who would get a save-rate upgrade in New York. Tarik Skubal's camp has engaged the Cubs, Braves, and Rays. The Giants are dealing Arraez and Robbie Ray.
Fantasy take: Don't drop Lindor — his value survives any trade, and elite SS production travels. If you own Mason Miller, a Yankees deal is a huge upgrade; hold regardless. Skubal to the Braves or Cubs adds 2–4 wins to his total — buy him before deadline hype inflates his price. Arraez's .320+ average plays in any lineup.
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Waiver Wire Targets
FantasyPros · Rotoballer · Pitcher ListWho's Hot This Week
OF · MIA · ~5% owned
The Marlins outfielder is on a tear — .324 with 5 home runs in 11 July games. His exit velocity, barrel rate, hard-hit rate, and bat speed are all trending up simultaneously, meaning the improvement is structural, not just a hot stretch. He is the lowest-owned player in any waiver wire column at 5%. Add in all 12-team leagues today.
SP · DET · ~2% owned
Eight starts since returning from a 60-day IL stint, 5-1, 1.82 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, elite walk rate. The K rate (21.7%) is modest but he works deep into games and limits hard contact. Add in all league sizes immediately — this is the easiest SP pickup of the second half.
1B/OF · WSH · ~2% owned
One big game doesn't make a season, but Chaparro's 8-RBI Friday came in a Washington lineup that is pushing toward buyers at the deadline — meaning his roster spot is secure and the offense around him is improving. Available in virtually every league at under 2% owned. Speculative add in 14-team leagues; keep an eye on his weekend at-bats to confirm regular deployment.
1B · ARI · ~15% owned
Recalled by Arizona on Friday after slashing .313/.394/.502 in 241 Triple-A plate appearances. Returning from shoulder and elbow surgeries last October, he's healthy and in line for an everyday first base role. Available in most standard leagues — worthwhile speculative add in 12+ team formats given the clear playing time path.
3B · COL · ~35% owned
Since June 1, Karros is one of just four MLB hitters with a .400+ OBP and 1.000+ OPS — alongside Yordan Alvarez, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Shohei Ohtani. The Coors Field park factor inflates numbers, but the hard-hit rate and walk rate hold up independently. Add in 12-team leagues where available.
🌱 Stash of the Week
Max Clark — OF, DET (~10% owned)
Detroit's top prospect has been scorching over his last 21 Triple-A games: .322 average, 3 HR, 8 stolen bases — full five-category production. The Tigers have been hinting at a post-All-Star debut, and with Troy Melton already breaking out in the rotation, the organizational momentum favors a promotion soon. Clark is the highest-upside non-roster player available in any standard league. Stash in all 14-team leagues and in 12-team leagues if you have an open bench or IL slot.
Worth Reading
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RotoGraphs evaluates the breakout starters of the first half using Stuff+ and Location+ to determine which improvements are sticky versus fluky. Dylan Cease (2.56 ERA, K% up 5.9 points) gets a deep examination: the article argues his gains are tied to grip and release-point adjustments made in spring, making them sustainable. Essential reading before trade deadline negotiations on any starting pitcher.
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Statcast-driven breakdown of hitters underperforming surface stats heading into the second half — prime trade targets before the deadline. Features Kyle Karros, Jac Caglianone, and Brandon Nimmo (93rd percentile xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, and hard-hit rate) with full exit velocity support. Best reading before any trade deadline negotiation.
03
FantasyPros' Week 17 waiver breakdown with ownership percentages and position-specific targets. Leads with Heriberto Hernandez (5% owned) and includes streaming SP targets for the second-half schedule reset — good cross-reference for today's add decisions.
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Injury Report
Rotowire · MLBTradeRumors · Beat ReportersIL-10
Grade 1 left hamstring strain (June 9) — his second hamstring issue of 2026. Went 1-for-7 with a grand slam in three FCL rehab games, then promoted to Triple-A Gwinnett on July 17. Manager Walt Weiss is targeting a return before the end of Atlanta's homestand (July 23). Still needs to play right field in rehab before being activated.
IL-15
Right elbow inflammation — scratched from his final pre-break start vs. the Dodgers and placed on the 15-day IL. Completely shut down from throwing. Will consult Dr. Neal ElAttrache for a second opinion on next steps. Manager Torey Lovullo called it a 'conservative, non-invasive approach' with no return timeline offered. The consultation with ElAttrache — who handles the most serious elbow cases in the sport — adds meaningful uncertainty.
DTD
Mild left glute strain caused him to miss his final first-half start vs. Houston. As of July 18, Texas has not placed him on the IL, but a 15-day stint remains possible. Manager Skip Schumaker said he is unsure whether deGrom will be available 'right away' for the second half and plans a mound session this weekend. He carries a 3.49 ERA in 100.2 innings this season.
IL-10
Right thumb capsule sprain retroactive to July 10. Manager Mark Kotsay confirmed Kurtz had been playing through the thumb 'more than a few days,' explaining a .145 average over his final 15 games. Despite the slump, he finished the first half .266/.405/.497 with 20 HR, 66 RBI, and 7 SB. Eligible July 20 but a late-July return is more realistic given thumb injury patterns.
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Scouting Report
RotoGraphs / FanGraphsRotoGraphs / FanGraphs · by RotoGraphs Staff · 2026-07-14
Can Dylan Cease Sustain a 2.56 ERA Into the Second Half?
Cease's first-half numbers — 2.56 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 148 strikeouts in 98.1 innings across 17 starts — rank him among the top five starters in baseball. But the most important stat is the jump in his K%: from 29.8% in 2025 to 35.7% in 2026, one of the largest year-over-year strikeout rate gains in the American League. His SIERA sits at 2.96, trailing only Misiorowski, Skubal, and Sanchez among all qualified starters.
The article examines whether those gains are sticky or sample noise. The answer leans sticky. Cease's slider and four-seamer both show higher whiff rates in 2026, and RotoGraphs traces the improvement to deliberate grip and release-point adjustments made during spring training — the type of mechanical change that tends to hold rather than regress mid-season. His Stuff+ and Location+ numbers support the claim: both metrics improved simultaneously, which is rare and tends to indicate a real change rather than sequential variance. He came within one out of a no-hitter before the All-Star break.
The fantasy case for Cease entering the second half is as strong as it gets outside of Misiorowski. He pitches for a Blue Jays team that is buyers at the deadline — any addition improves his run support. His upcoming schedule includes favorable matchups against rebuilding AL East lineups. The only caution flag is the innings total: 98.1 IP through the break means he is on pace for ~195 innings, well within his historical range, but Toronto will likely monitor his workload in August.
2.56ERA
2.96SIERA
35.7%K% (up from 29.8%)
148K (17 starts)
1.13WHIP
The VerdictElite second-half hold in all formats. The strikeout-rate jump is supported by Stuff+ and Location+ improvements that predate this season, not coincidental sample variance. If you don't own Cease, pay up — he's not being traded cheaply, but he's worth it. Near-ace upside for the stretch run.
Read the full piece at RotoGraphs / FanGraphs →🔥
Bullpen Bulletin
Closer Monkey · Beat ReportersThe final pre-break Leverage Ledger charted a volatile save landscape entering the second half. The biggest underreported story: Tanner Scott has been closing for the Dodgers all season while Edwin Diaz recovers from elbow surgery on the 60-day IL — 14 saves, 2.40 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 36:3 K:BB over 30 IP. Diaz is targeting a return after the All-Star break, which sets up a pending committee. Baltimore's Tyler Wells leads a four-man committee with Helsley out indefinitely. Chicago's Jacob Webb holds the Cubs' ninth inning in a committee. Colorado's Jordan Romano has emerged with 5 saves since July 4. Boston's Aroldis Chapman carries ~90% trade odds — a move to a contender should preserve the closer role.
Read the full Ledger →| Closer | Team | Status | Note |
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| Tanner Scott | LAD | 🟡 Watch | Closing for the Dodgers with Edwin Diaz on the 60-day IL (elbow). 14 saves, 2.40 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, and a 36:3 K:BB ratio over 30 innings — elite closer-quality performance. The catch: Diaz is targeting a post-All-Star return and signed for $69M/3 years. Once healthy, Diaz gets the job back. Time-limited role; hold Scott now and plan a transition point. |
| Tyler Wells | BAL | 🔴 Committee | Two saves since Helsley (elbow, second IL stint of 2026) landed on the IL. Yennier Cano, Andrew Kittredge, and Rico Garcia all getting high-leverage looks. Manager Albernaz said 'everything is on the table.' Speculative add in deep leagues — the role could crystallize or rotate week to week. |
| Jacob Webb | CHC | 🔴 Committee | Three saves since Daniel Palencia went on the IL in mid-June and Craig Counsell's current preference, but Trent Thornton and Caleb Thielbar both pitch in ninth-inning situations. Cubs are buyers at the deadline — acquiring an established closer would render Webb irrelevant overnight. Speculative hold only. |
| Jordan Romano | COL | 🟡 Watch | Five saves since joining Colorado on July 4 and pulling ahead of the committee. Low save volume on a rebuilding Rockies team. Watch for deadline activity — Colorado is selling and could move Romano before August 3, ending the role immediately. |
| Aroldis Chapman | BOS | 🟡 Watch | Locked in as Boston's closer (2.20 ERA, 100 mph) with no internal competition. The watch is purely trade-driven: ~90% deal odds heading into August 3. Landing on the Dodgers, Yankees, or White Sox preserves or improves his fantasy value. Risk is ending up somewhere with an established closer already in place. |
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Best in Social
X · YouTube · Instagram · TikTokMax Muncy's 18th home run — a two-run shot on Gerrit Cole's 103rd and final pitch in the seventh inning — lifts the Dodgers 2-1 over the Yankees in the second-half opener. Muncy had been 0-for-5 lifetime against Cole before driving a 2-2 hanging slider into the right-field second deck. Tanner Scott closed it out for his 14th save of the season.
Two fantasy angles in one game: if you were fading Muncy after a quiet stretch, the Stuff is real — 18 HRs, clutch context. And Tanner Scott's 14th save is the closest-situation highlight you need to see before this week's FAAB decisions. Hold Scott, he's legit.
Dodgers vs. Yankees: Full Game Highlights (July 17) →The Dodgers cut down the potential tying run at home plate in their second straight win over the Yankees — an 80-grade relay throw that ended the inning and preserved the lead in the series opener at Yankee Stadium.
The Dodgers' defense and bullpen are elite right now. Tanner Scott and the supporting cast around him matter for save security. This play shows how well-engineered that Dodgers roster is during Edwin Diaz's absence — gives you confidence holding Scott even as Diaz's return approaches.
Dodgers cut down the tying run at the plate →Dylan Cease takes the mound for the Blue Jays against the White Sox in a second-half opener showcase. Cease enters the game as the AL's breakout starter: 2.56 ERA, 148 K, 35.7% strikeout rate — one of the largest K-rate jumps in baseball over the past 12 months.
If you own Cease, watch his mechanics here. If you're evaluating a trade offer involving him, this is your film session. The RotoGraphs analysis in today's Scouting Report argues his gains are sticky — the game footage confirms the slider bite and four-seamer location that drive those numbers.
White Sox vs. Blue Jays: Full Game Highlights (July 17) →Get this in your inbox every day
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