TL;DRSkim
The five fastest-moving roster calls of the morning, in priority order:
- WATCH - Lance McCullers Jr. (RHP) traded from Houston to Milwaukee in a salary dump; targets a late-July rotation slot with the Brewers once healthy.
- DROP - Nick Mears (KC) transferred to the 60-day IL; no ETA, no impact on the late inning role in KC.
- DROP - Keegan Akin (BAL) underwent Tommy John surgery; done for 2026 and into 2027.
- WATCH - Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL) began a Minor League rehab assignment and is eyeing a return Friday, July 17.
- STREAM - Target Jays, Padres, Rockies, and Twins bats against a slate of high-xERA opposing starters (Kay, Lugo, Singer, Rea).
McCullers Traded to Milwaukee; Astros Free Up Deadline Money
WATCH · MIL · SP
Houston traded veteran right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. and lefty prospect Colton Gordon to the Brewers for Single-A outfielder Jadyn Fielder (son of Prince Fielder), per @brianmctaggart. McCullers waived his no-trade clause after owner Jim Crane reached out personally. It's a salary dump: Milwaukee absorbs most of the roughly $17M left on his deal, with Houston kicking in cash, giving the Astros (47-51) room to chase a bat before the Aug. 3 deadline. McCullers has been out since May with a right shoulder (rotator cuff) impingement but has been on a Minor League rehab assignment since late June, and the Brewers, hit hard by rotation injuries (Woodruff, Kyle Harrison, Priester), may plug him straight into their rotation. Per @AdamMcCalvy, there's a chance his next outing is a Milwaukee start rather than another rehab appearance.
Action: Monitor his Milwaukee integration. If the Brewers skip the rest of his rehab and start him, he's an immediate deep-league fill-in in a favorable NL Central slot; otherwise stash for a late-July activation.
Mears Moved to 60-Day IL; Royals' Ninth Unsettled
DROP · KC · RP
Nick Mears was transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day IL with no return timeline, per RotoWire. Action: Drop if rostered.
Akin Undergoes Tommy John Surgery
DROP · BAL · SP
Keegan Akin had left elbow reconstruction with Dr. Keith Meister, per the Orioles and @masnRoch. He's out for the rest of 2026 and into 2027.
Action: Drop Akin in all formats.
Acuña's Rehab Rolling; Friday Return in Sight
WATCH · ATL · OF
Ronald Acuña Jr. (99% owned) began a Minor League rehab assignment with the FCL Braves, going 0-for-3 in his first game, and is expected back when Atlanta resumes play Friday, July 17, at home against the Rangers, per MLB.com. He remains on the 10-day IL but is tracking toward a near-term activation.
Action: In weekly-waiver leagues, secure a roster spot now so you can activate him Friday morning. In daily leagues, clear a slot by Thursday.
Ha-Seong Kim Progressing Toward Late-July Return
WATCH · ATL · 2B
Ha-Seong Kim began a Minor League rehab assignment with the FCL Braves and remains on the 10-day IL with a late-July ETA, per the Braves. His return should line up with Atlanta's post-break homestand.
Action: Stash in dynasty and deeper formats; in standard leagues, monitor without forcing a bench slot yet.
Burrows Nearing a Mound Return
WATCH · HOU · SP
Mike Burrows (right elbow neuritis) is progressing with no pain and could return to a mound within 7 to 10 days, per GM Dana Brown and @brianmctaggart. A late-July or early-August window looks realistic.
Action: Hold in deep dynasty. If the Astros send him on a rehab start, he becomes a stream target 5-7 days later.
Phillies Rotation Out of the Break: Nola, Luzardo, Sánchez
HOLD · PHI · SP
Philadelphia lines up Aaron Nola on Thursday, Jesús Luzardo on Saturday, and Cristopher Sánchez on Sunday, per @ScottLauber, with Zack Wheeler set to follow next week against the Dodgers. Normal sequencing, no surprises.
Action: Hold your Phillies starters and use the schedule to plan weekly slots and streaming partners.
White Sox Rotation Out of the Break
HOLD · CWS · SP
Chicago's post-break starters are LHP Anthony Kay, RHP Davis Martin, RHP Sean Burke, RHP Erick Fedde, and LHP Noah Schultz, per @scottmerkin. No injuries or depth-chart shifts.
Action: Reference for weekly planning; no waiver action required.
Giants Rotation: Roupp Friday, Webb Saturday, Ray Sunday
HOLD · SF · SP
San Francisco lines up Landen Roupp on Friday, Logan Webb on Saturday at Seattle, and Robbie Ray on Sunday, per @susanslusser. Webb at Seattle is a favorable road note for stream planning.
Action: Use for daily-league play; no roster action.
Stream Spot: Target These Offenses vs. High-xERA Starters
STREAM · TOR / SD / COL / MIN · Bats
Four opposing starters carry elevated xERA today, making their opponents' bats worth streaming:
- Blue Jays bats vs. Anthony Kay (CWS), 5.20 xERA
- Padres bats vs. Seth Lugo, 5.16 xERA
- Rockies bats vs. Brady Singer, 4.93 xERA
- Twins bats vs. Colin Rea, 4.51 xERA
Action: Plug in offense-heavy and underowned bats from Toronto, San Diego, Colorado, and Minnesota against these arms. Confirm lineups pregame.
Yastrzemski Lands on the IL with Elbow Inflammation
WATCH · ATL · OF
Mike Yastrzemski was placed on the 10-day IL with left elbow inflammation, exiting Atlanta's loss to the Cardinals, per MLB.com. With the break, he may only miss the minimum, though the injury further thins a Braves outfield still missing Acuña.
Action: Monitor his return; a mid-to-late July activation is realistic if it stays a minimum stay.
Caminero Cleared to Play Friday
HOLD · TB · 3B
Junior Caminero was hit by a 97.6-mph sinker in the All-Star Game but X-rays were negative, and he says he'll play Friday against Boston, per the Tampa Bay Times.
Action: Hold Caminero as your everyday third baseman; his availability is intact.
Harry Ford Recall Coming for Nationals
STASH · WSH · C
Washington will recall catching prospect Harry Ford after the break, per @spencernusbaum_. Ford sits at a .705 OPS in Triple-A Rochester but has surged to a .911 OPS since June 1.
Action: In dynasty and deep leagues, add Ford to your watch list and prepare a bench slot if you need catching cover.
Cijntje Promoted to Triple-A
STASH · STL · SP
The Cardinals promoted switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje, the system's No. 4 prospect, from Double-A Springfield to Triple-A Memphis, per @JohnDenton555. A big-league call-up isn't imminent.
Action: Dynasty watch-list add; ignore in standard leagues for now.
Padres' Deadline Direction Still Open
WATCH · SD · TEAM
A.J. Preller remains noncommittal on whether San Diego (48-47) buys or sells, per @AJCassavell, with Machado, Tatis Jr., and Mitch Garver among assets that could move or stay.
Action: If you own multiple Padres bats, watch rumors closely, but don't sell your stars low ahead of an unconfirmed move.
Altuve Now the Last Astro from the 2017 Title Team
HOLD · HOU · 2B
With McCullers headed to Milwaukee, José Altuve is the final remaining Astro from the 2017 World Series club, per @brianmctaggart. A historical footnote underscoring Houston's turnover ahead of the deadline.
Action: Hold Altuve as your everyday second baseman.