TL;DRSkim
The five fastest-moving roster calls of the morning, in priority order:
- HOLD - Max Fried is activated and starts Game 2 today against Pittsburgh, skipping his final rehab tune-up; watch for command sharpness on short prep.
- WATCH - Bobby Witt Jr. is out with a lower back spasm and was scratched again today; day-to-day, no IL move yet.
- WATCH - Ranger Suárez (88% owned) was held back as a precaution and remains an option for Game 2; Boston hasn't set his activation date.
- WATCH - Jack Flaherty landed on the 15-day IL with right flexor inflammation; Detroit is hopeful it's brief, but the body part carries risk.
- WATCH - Paul Sewald's home-run problem is mounting (nine allowed, runs in four of his last six); Arizona's ninth inning is worth monitoring.
Fried Skips His Last Rehab Start, Takes Game 2
HOLD · NYY · SP
Max Fried is being activated off the IL to start Game 2 of today's doubleheader against Pittsburgh rather than making another rehab appearance, per @ChrisKirschner. The accelerated timeline skips his planned final minor-league tune-up, giving a thin rotation immediate reinforcement but leaving his command an open question. With Fried taking the nightcap, the Yankees will need Gerrit Cole in Game 1, per @GJoyce9.
Action: Hold Fried as a season-long anchor; he pitches today. Avoid streaming anything out of the Game 1 bullpen scramble.
Tatis Launches the Longest Homer of the Season
HOLD · SD · OF
Fernando Tatis Jr. hit the longest home run in MLB this season, per @AJCassavell, a marker that the injury questions trailing him this year are behind him. The beat framing is that he's been back for a while now; this is confirmation rather than a new breakout.
Action: Hold as a core piece. Nothing to do here beyond enjoying it.
Bogaerts Drops to Eighth in the Order
WATCH · SD · SS
Xander Bogaerts hit eighth, his lowest lineup slot in more than 11 years, per @AJCassavell. It's a performance-driven demotion, and Bogaerts didn't dodge it: "What can I say? Play better."
Action: Watch how long the slot sticks. A bottom-third spot caps his run and RBI upside, so if you can move him near his name value, it's worth exploring.
Witt Sidelined by a Back Spasm
WATCH · KC · SS
Bobby Witt Jr. exited with a recurring lower back issue that Matt Quatraro called a spasm, with Witt saying he was "pretty stiff" afterward, per @jaylonthompson. He was out of the lineup again today. No IL placement yet.
Action: Bench him today and check the lineup tomorrow; issues like this often clear within a couple of days, but back trouble in a star is worth watching closely.
Caglianone Exits After a Diving Attempt
WATCH · KC · 1B
Jac Caglianone was removed after diving for a catch in the fifth and is day-to-day with no formal diagnosis announced.
Action: Check tomorrow's lineup; if he lands on the IL, look at Kansas City's next man up at first.
Flaherty to the IL with Flexor Inflammation
WATCH · DET · SP
The Tigers placed Jack Flaherty on the 15-day IL with right flexor inflammation, per @evanwoodbery, with the club hopeful it's mild and requires only a short stay. Flexor issues in a starter always carry elbow risk, so the optimistic framing is worth taking cautiously.
Action: Hold in deeper leagues where you have the IL room; drop in shallow formats. Watch for an activation update in two weeks.
Sewald's Home-Run Problem Is Mounting
WATCH · ARI · RP
Arizona closer Paul Sewald has allowed nine home runs in 36.1 innings, among the most by any reliever, even with strong peripherals (42 K, 9 BB), per @JesseNFriedman. He's given up runs in four of his last six outings, per @Gambo987. The strikeout-to-walk profile suggests the long ball may be partly variance, but the results are trending the wrong way for a pitcher with the ninth inning.
Action: Hold if you need saves, but monitor Arizona's late-inning usage. If Torey Lovullo starts mixing in other arms in save spots, move quickly.
Clase Exits with Foot Discomfort; Straw Fills In
WATCH · TOR · OF
Jonatan Clase was pulled with left foot discomfort, with Myles Straw taking over in left field and batting ninth, per @KeeganMatheson. Beat reporting described pain in the foot and heel, per @bnicholsonsmith. Clase is day-to-day pending imaging.
Action: Monitor Clase's imaging. If he hits the IL, watch whether Straw holds the everyday left-field job before adding him.
Angels Take the Series Behind Ureña
HOLD · LAA · TEAM
Walbert Ureña allowed one earned run over six innings in a 5-1 win over the Cardinals, extending the Angels' winning streak to three and clinching the series, per @RhettBollinger. Jo Adell went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, with Jorge Soler and Vaughn Grissom also contributing.
Action: No changes to Angels holds. Adell (36% owned) is a speculative outfield add in deeper formats while the bat is going.
Lodolo Set for a Bullpen Session
WATCH · CIN · SP
Nick Lodolo will try a bullpen session tomorrow after exiting a start with a blister on his left index finger, per @CharlieG__. The Reds want to see how he responds before clearing a rehab assignment. Blisters are unpredictable, but a clean session likely puts him about a week from returning.
Action: Watch. A rehab start would put activation roughly a week out.
Rangers Lose Higashioka and Corniell to the IL
WATCH · TEX · C / RP
Texas placed catcher Kyle Higashioka on the IL and sent RHP Jose Corniell to the 10-day IL with flexor and elbow issues, per @JeffWilsonTXR. Corniell's is the more worrying case given his 2024 Tommy John surgery. Austin Wynns was selected from Triple-A for catching depth.
Action: Drop both in most formats. Corniell could face an extended shutdown if the elbow is aggravated.
Rangers Add Gonzales to the Bullpen
HOLD · TEX · RP
Veteran lefty Marco Gonzales was added to the Texas bullpen, per @JeffWilsonTXR, and worked three innings with two strikeouts in his early look. He isn't a leverage arm, but he gives a depleted pen length.
Action: Hold only if rostered in deep formats; ignore for adds otherwise.
Gallen Meets with a Specialist
WATCH · ARI · SP
Zac Gallen met with Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles to map out a rehab plan and was set to return to Arizona, per @Gambo987. He stays on the 15-day IL with elbow inflammation.
Action: Monitor for a rehab-assignment announcement; no status change yet.
Meyer Sees a Neck Specialist, Returns to Miami
WATCH · MIA · SP
Max Meyer is back in Miami after visiting a neck specialist in Los Angeles, per @kevin_barral. He remains on the 15-day IL after feeling something in his neck during a start, with no further diagnosis released.
Action: Watch. Without a diagnosis, assume several weeks before rehab activity resumes.
Red Sox Still Weighing Suárez's Return
WATCH · BOS · SP
Ranger Suárez (88% owned) had been lined up to pitch but was held back after pushing hard in throwing and fielding work, per @IanMBrowne and @ChrisCotillo. There was no substantial setback, just caution. He remains an option for Game 2 of Boston's doubleheader, per @ChrisCotillo, with rookie Jake Bennett lined up for Game 1 and no activation date set.
Action: Hold Suárez; this reads as load management rather than injury, with activation likely within a couple of days.
Jeffers Homers Again for Minnesota
HOLD · MIN · C
Ryan Jeffers hit a first-inning solo homer off Parker Messick for a 1-0 Twins lead, per @DanHayesMLB, his ninth of the year and second since returning from the IL.
Action: Hold as a solid catcher option; the post-activation production is encouraging.
Díaz Reaches 1,000 Career Games
HOLD · TB · DH
Yandy Díaz celebrated his 1,000th major league game, joking that he feels old, per @TBTimes_Rays.
Action: Hold Díaz; he remains a steady corner and DH contributor.
Stubbs to the IL; De La Cruz Recalled
WATCH · PHI · C
Catcher Garrett Stubbs was placed on the 10-day IL (retroactive to July 18) with left wrist inflammation, per @ToddZolecki, with outfielder Bryan De La Cruz recalled from Triple-A for the roster spot.
Action: Don't add De La Cruz in standard redraft; the Phillies' outfield limits his at-bats. Watch whether Stubbs's wrist lingers past the minimum.
Nationals Recall Yean, DFA Lawrence
WATCH · WSH · RP
Washington recalled Eddy Yean from Triple-A Rochester and designated Justin Lawrence for assignment, per @spencernusbaum_. Lawrence had walked seven over 6.1 innings.
Action: Watch Yean's usage; a multi-inning hold would make him a low-ownership flier. Lawrence is droppable.
Twins Recall Anderson
WATCH · MIN · RP
Minnesota recalled Jack Anderson, claimed off waivers from Boston on July 11, per @DanHayesMLB. He threw three scoreless innings in his lone Triple-A outing.
Action: Ignore for adds in standard leagues; he has no defined role yet.