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Morning Java - 07/23: Witt Hits the IL, Cavalli's Coors Gem, Red Sox Streak Reaches 15

Bobby Witt Jr. was placed on the 10-day IL with low back tightness, a precautionary move that still rules out a return before next week. Cade Cavalli turned in his best start of the season, six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts at Coors Field, making him a legitimate buy-low at 49% owned. Boston ran its winning streak to 15 behind another clean Aroldis Chapman ninth, closing to within 3½ games of the Yankees and flipping from seller to buyer at the deadline. Elsewhere, Shohei Ohtani threw a 31-pitch bullpen with no return date set, and Milwaukee bats set up well against Tomoyuki Sugano tomorrow.

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Morning Briefing
·
July 23, 2026

Morning Java - 07/23: Witt Hits the IL, Cavalli's Coors Gem, Red Sox Streak Reaches 15

Bobby Witt Jr. was placed on the 10-day IL with low back tightness, a precautionary move that still rules out a return before next week. Cade Cavalli turned in his best start of the season, six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts at Coors Field, making him a legitimate buy-low at 49% owned. Boston ran its winning streak to 15 behind another clean Aroldis Chapman ninth, closing to within 3½ games of the Yankees and flipping from seller to buyer at the deadline. Elsewhere, Shohei Ohtani threw a 31-pitch bullpen with no return date set, and Milwaukee bats set up well against Tomoyuki Sugano tomorrow.

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TL;DRSkim

The five fastest-moving roster calls of the morning, in priority order:

  • HOLD - Bobby Witt Jr. (99% owned) placed on the 10-day IL with low back tightness; precautionary, but the 10-day minimum means no return before next week.
  • BUY LOW - Cade Cavalli (49% owned) threw 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 8 K at Coors; the strikeout stuff is real even if the season-long ratios lag.
  • HOLD - Aroldis Chapman (96% owned) worked a clean ninth as Boston ran its winning streak to 15; the closer role is untouched.
  • STREAM - Set up Milwaukee bats for tomorrow against Tomoyuki Sugano (3% owned, 5.81 xERA); a prime matchup to target in advance.
  • WATCH - Shohei Ohtani threw a 31-pitch bullpen working his full arsenal, but the Dodgers have set no date for the next session or a game return; the bat keeps playing.

Witt's Back Tightness Sends Him to the IL

HOLD · KC · SS

Bobby Witt Jr. (99% owned) was placed on the 10-day IL with low back tightness. The move reads as precautionary rather than acute, but the 10-day minimum rules out a quick return, putting his activation in the back half of next week at the earliest.

Action: Hold in all leagues. Don't cut anyone of value to cover the gap, but make sure you have a startable middle infielder for the next week.


Cavalli Spins Six Scoreless at Coors

BUY LOW · WSH · SP

Cade Cavalli (49% owned) delivered his best start of the year: six scoreless innings, eight strikeouts, no walks, at Coors Field, sitting 95-96 with a sharp cutter per @spencernusbaum_. Doing that in Colorado is a genuine signal, even with a season-long xERA that still reflects a rough stretch of earlier starts.

Action: Target Cavalli as a buy-low in 10-plus-team leagues; the strikeout upside justifies a roster spot while the price is still low.


Red Sox Push the Streak to 15

HOLD · BOS · TEAM

Boston beat Baltimore 6-3 to improve to 51-49 and extend its winning streak to 15, closing to within 3½ games of the Yankees and flipping the club from seller to buyer ahead of the deadline. Aroldis Chapman (96% owned) worked a clean ninth to preserve it. The rotation is healthy out of the break and the bullpen (Chapman, Garrett Whitlock, Justin Slaten) is holding up.

Action: Raise your buy priority on Boston bats and arms in trades; the run is backed by real health and depth.


Catchers Banged Up by Foul Balls

WATCH · MIN / PHI · C

Victor Caratini took a foul ball off his right knee and is day-to-day, while Rafael Marchán hurt his knee on a swing against the Dodgers. Both clubs lean on their backups in the short term.

Action: In two-catcher formats, check who Minnesota and Philadelphia deploy today. If either starter misses more than a few games, the backup becomes a streamable fill-in.


Twins Roll Without Buxton and Jeffers

HOLD · MIN · IF

Minnesota routed Cleveland 10-6 without Byron Buxton and Ryan Jeffers, with Brooks Lee's three-run homer to center sparking the comeback and putting the Twins up 7-3. Minnesota is 50-52 but playing better since the break.

Action: Hold Lee as a speculative middle infielder in 12-plus-team leagues; the recent pop earns another week of tracking.


Dodgers Keep Rolling; Rushing Stays Hot

HOLD · LAD · C

Los Angeles won 9-5 at Philadelphia to hold first place at 64-38. Dalton Rushing homered in his first at-bat and added a two-run double, continuing a strong run of production for the young catcher.

Action: Add Rushing in deeper dynasty formats if he's under 40% owned; watch whether the playing time holds once the hot stretch cools.


Cardinals Edge Angels 1-0 Behind a Pitching Duel

HOLD · LAA · SP

St. Louis won 1-0, snapping the Angels' three-game winning streak. Reid Detmers was excellent for Los Angeles, holding the Cardinals to one earned run over 5⅓ innings, the lone damage a solo homer by JJ Wetherholt on his 85th and final pitch. The Angels (40-62) again couldn't manufacture offense, stranding runners in a ninth-inning rally.

Action: Hold Detmers as a depth rotation arm; the run support, not his pitching, is the problem.


D-backs Erupt for Five Homers

HOLD · ARI · TEAM

Arizona hammered the Athletics 15-5, hitting five home runs through the first five innings, with Ryan Waldschmidt collecting his first career homer. Corbin Carroll looks to be finding his timing again.

Action: Arizona bats are a strong stack option this week while the lineup is clicking.


Stewart Leads MLB in Opposite-Field Homers

HOLD · CIN · IF

Sal Stewart pushed his league-leading opposite-field home run total to 11. All-fields power tends to travel well across parks and pitcher types, a good sign for sustained production.

Action: Keep Stewart rostered; the batted-ball profile supports the output.


Nationals Hit 150 Homers in 103 Games

HOLD · WSH · TEAM

Washington reached 150 home runs in 103 games, a dramatic jump from prior seasons and a sign of how thoroughly the lineup has been rebuilt around power.

Action: Favor Washington bats in tournament stacks; the power is among the league's best.


Brewers Win Five of Six, Sit on a 101-Win Pace

HOLD · MIL · TEAM

Milwaukee beat the Mets 4-3 behind a defensive gem from Joey Ortiz, improving to 64-38 with 60 games left. The rotation and bullpen are intact, making them a clear deadline buyer.

Action: Pursue Milwaukee position players in trades before the deadline; this is a contender with stable roles.


Ohtani Throws a 31-Pitch Bullpen

WATCH · LAD · DH/SP

Shohei Ohtani threw 31 pitches in a bullpen session, working through his full arsenal per Mark Prior. The Dodgers haven't set a date for his next session or a return to game action, though he continues to hit.

Action: Stash where IL space allows; his bat is unaffected, and the pitching return remains fluid.


Suárez Nearing Activation

WATCH · BOS · SP

Ranger Suárez (88% owned) could be activated Friday or slotted in Monday at Sacramento, per Chris Cotillo, with Boston's off-day easing any roster crunch.

Action: Don't cut anyone to clear space yet; wait for the official move.


Scherzer Perfect in a Triple-A Rehab Start

STASH · TOR · SP

Max Scherzer was flawless in his rehab outing: five innings, no hits, no walks, seven strikeouts on 56 pitches. He'll likely need one more outing to build up, pointing to a late-July or early-August return.

Action: Stash in 12-plus-team leagues with IL room; the stuff looked vintage.


Lodolo Tinkering with a New Breaking-Ball Grip

WATCH · CIN · SP

Nick Lodolo (64% owned) is preparing a short bullpen session as he works back from a blister on his left index finger, experimenting with a new breaking-ball grip to reduce the irritation.

Action: Hold; expect him back within roughly a week if the session goes cleanly.


Ginn to the IL with a Blister

WATCH · ATH · SP

J.T. Ginn was placed on the 15-day IL with a blister on his right middle finger, retroactive to earlier this week.

Action: Drop in shallow formats; hold in 12-plus-team leagues if you're thin on arms.


Noel to the Minor-League IL

WATCH · BAL · OF

Jhonkensy Noel was placed on the 7-day IL at Triple-A Norfolk with left wrist inflammation, a conservative move given he's not on the active roster.

Action: Drop in all formats; he doesn't warrant a major-league roster spot right now.


Mangum Fouls a Ball off His Foot

WATCH · PIT · OF

Jake Mangum took a foul ball off his right foot during Pittsburgh's doubleheader and is day-to-day. The injury appears minor.

Action: No action needed; he isn't a season-long asset in standard formats.


Astros Sign Both First-Round Picks

STASH · HOU · Prospects

Houston signed both first-rounders: OF Logan Hughes (17th overall, about $3.41M) and RHP Jack Radel (28th overall, $3M), per @brianmctaggart.

Action: Dynasty-only stashes; both are a year-plus from contributing.


Astros Send Pearson to Kansas City

STASH · HOU / KC · RP

Houston traded RHP Nate Pearson, whom it had designated for assignment, to Kansas City for prospect RHP Max Martin, per @brianmctaggart. Minor-league depth shuffling with no 2026 impact.

Action: Ignore in redraft; dynasty managers can note Martin if his ETA nears 2027.


Torres on a Scheduled Rest Day

WATCH · DET · 2B

A.J. Hinch said Gleyber Torres's day off was pre-scheduled as part of a load-management plan following his IL return, with the club using a two-on, one-off cycle after playing him straight through didn't work last time.

Action: Hold Torres; expect periodic rest days, but his role is secure.

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