TL;DRSkim

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

• HOLD - Tarik Skubal was excellent again but Detroit blew a six-run lead and fell to 50-58; a trade now looks more likely with the deadline Monday at 6 p.m. ET.
• HOLD - Edwin Díaz activated from the 60-day IL and immediately picked up a save; the ninth inning is his again.
• WATCH - Vinnie Pasquantino to the IL with right wrist soreness; no timeline, and wrist injuries sap power well past the return date.
• WATCH - Reid Detmers may have made his final Angels start; a move to a contender would lift his win equity.
• HOLD - Corey Seager has two Double-A rehab games in with a homer; Texas is still targeting an early-August return, lining up with the fantasy playoff push.

Skubal Dazzles but Detroit Collapses; Trade Pressure Builds

WATCH · DET · SP

Tarik Skubal allowed three earned over 6⅔ innings with six strikeouts, leaving with a 7-1 lead, but Detroit lost 10-9 in 12 innings to Baltimore after Kyle Finnegan let two inherited runners score. The Tigers dropped to 50-58 and four games out of a Wild Card spot. Per Jon Heyman, the situation is day to day and a trade looks more possible after the loss, with Dodgers interest rising given Ohtani's pitching uncertainty.

Action: Hold and start him wherever he lands. He's a Cy Young-caliber arm having another dominant season, and a move to a contender would only improve his run support and win equity.

Díaz Returns and Locks Down a Save

HOLD · LAD · RP

Edwin Díaz was activated from the 60-day IL and earned a save against Seattle in his first game back. His return restores an elite late-inning arm to a bullpen that had been leaning on fill-ins.

Action: Hold everywhere and expect saves immediately. If you picked up a Dodgers reliever during his absence, this is the cue to move on.

Pasquantino to the IL with Wrist Soreness

WATCH · KC · 1B

Vinnie Pasquantino was placed on the injured list with right wrist soreness after exiting Tuesday's game against Minnesota. No return timeline was given.

Action: Drop in shallow leagues if you need the spot. Wrist injuries frequently suppress power for weeks after activation, which is the whole basis of his value.

Detmers Sharp in a Possible Angels Farewell

WATCH · LAA · SP

Reid Detmers turned in another strong outing and knows it may have been his last in an Angels uniform. He's pitched well since the All-Star break, and Los Angeles is open to moving him along with Zach Neto and José Soriano before Monday's deadline. The Angels fell to 42-67, 25 games under .500 for the first time this season.

Action: Hold through the deadline. He's been linked to contenders including the White Sox, and leaving a 42-67 club would meaningfully raise his win equity without changing his skills.

Seager Ramping at Double-A

HOLD · TEX · SS

Corey Seager has played two rehab games at Double-A Frisco, homering earlier in the week, with Texas still targeting an early-August return. Josh Jung remains on the IL with calf tightness, leaving the Rangers thin on the infield ahead of the Astros series.

Action: Hold in all formats. An early-August activation lines up perfectly with fantasy playoff positioning.

Lauer Spins a Gem for the Dodgers

HOLD · LAD · SP

Eric Lauer threw six innings of one-hit, shutout ball on 87 pitches, lowering his ERA to 2.96 across 51⅔ innings since joining Los Angeles. Asked about deadline uncertainty, he acknowledged he could be a rental piece.

Action: Hold. The results have been excellent, though an 18% CSW in this start is a reminder the underlying swing-and-miss doesn't fully match the ERA - treat him as a solid streamer rather than a set-and-forget starter.

Astros Beat the Angels, Return to .500

HOLD · HOU · TEAM

Houston beat Los Angeles 7-4 to take the series finale, its eighth win in nine games, climbing to 55-54 and within a game of first-place Texas, who arrive Friday for a major pre-deadline series.

Action: No immediate moves; the Rangers-Astros series this weekend is the one to watch for divisional and playoff implications.

Keller Undergoes UCL Surgery, Out 13-16 Months

DROP · PHI · RP

Brad Keller had right elbow UCL reconstruction with an internal brace plus a flexor tendon repair. He's expected to need 13 to 16 months, putting his return in late 2027 at the earliest.

Action: Drop in all formats, including keeper leagues where the roster spot has any value.

Buxton Lands on the IL Again

WATCH · MIN · OF

Byron Buxton was placed on the 10-day IL with right hip impingement, with Tristan Gray recalled. It's a recurrence of the issue that has bothered him since the spring, and no timeline was given.

Action: Stash if you have IL space; drop in shallow formats. This is now the second stint for the same hip, which is the concerning part.

Padres Win a Fifth Straight; Estrada Activated

HOLD · SD · RP

San Diego beat Colorado 3-1 for its fifth consecutive win. Jeremiah Estrada (5% owned) was activated from the IL and struck out three straight Rockies after a leadoff walk, with Matt Waldron designated for assignment. Mason Miller (99% owned) worked another clean high-leverage inning and remains the closer, with his name drawing heavy deadline interest.

Action: Hold Miller; San Diego's push up the standings makes a trade of their closer unlikely. Estrada is a deep-league add whose strikeout stuff plays if the leverage grows.

Wesneski Returns After 15 Months

WATCH · HOU · SP

Hayden Wesneski was reinstated and started against the Angels, picking up the win in his first big-league start since May 2025. He's the 15th different starter Houston has used this season. Miguel Ullola was optioned to clear the spot.

Action: Watch one more start before rostering. After that long a layoff, the velocity and strikeout rate need to confirm themselves before you trust the results.

O'Brien Cleared After Testing

HOLD · STL · RP

Riley O'Brien is available again after body and torso stiffness briefly put an IL stint on the table. Testing showed no arm issue.

Action: Hold. With JoJo Romero still out post-appendectomy, O'Brien's clean bill of health keeps the Cardinals' save picture intact.

Red Sox Take a 10-Inning Thriller in Sacramento

HOLD · BOS · TEAM

Boston beat the Athletics 4-2 in 10 innings after Aroldis Chapman escaped a ninth-inning jam, with Lawrence Butler just missing a walk-off. Jarren Duran drove in the go-ahead run and Andruw Monasterio added a two-run homer. The Red Sox improved to 56-51 despite leaving 13 on base and going 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

Action: No moves, but note the RISP struggles - the win masked an offense that isn't converting. Chapman remains locked into the ninth.

Jacob Lopez Quietly Dominates

ADD · ATH · SP

Jacob Lopez (2% owned) went 5.1 innings with eight strikeouts and one earned run against Boston, drawing enough respect that the Red Sox sat Jarren Duran against him. The strikeout stuff is real and the ownership hasn't caught up.

Action: Add in deeper leagues and AL-only formats. The strikeout rate is the draw; the wins won't come often on this roster.

Sogard Beats the Travel Grind into the Lineup

WATCH · BOS · 2B

Nick Sogard missed a connection in Dallas and landed in Sacramento at 10:30 a.m., then started at second base and contributed to the win. Romy Gonzalez took the DH spot and Ceddanne Rafaela hit second.

Action: Utility depth only; no roster action.

Arraez Takes the NL Batting Lead

HOLD · SD · 2B

Luis Arraez had a four-hit game and moved into the NL batting title lead at .331, edging Otto Lopez.

Action: Hold. He's an elite average and contact source, though the lack of power and speed caps him in standard 5x5.

Cano Perfect in a Deadline Audition

HOLD · BAL · RP

Yennier Cano threw a 12-pitch perfect inning and remains among the most sought-after setup arms available before Monday.

Action: Hold in holds leagues. A trade to a contender could put him closer to save chances depending on the destination bullpen.

Rutschman Draws Trade Interest from the IL

WATCH · BAL · C

Adley Rutschman remains on the 10-day IL and is drawing significant interest, with the Yankees among the clubs checking in on the three-time All-Star. Minnesota's buyer posture makes Ryan Jeffers unlikely to move. St. Louis backup Pedro Pagés, tied for the MLB lead with 14 caught stealings, could interest teams needing defense behind the plate.

Action: Hold Rutschman; a trade plus a healthy return would be a clear upgrade to his outlook. Pagés matters only if he lands somewhere with everyday at-bats.

Sulser to the IL with Back Spasms

WATCH · TB · RP

Cole Sulser was placed on the IL with lower back spasms, thinning Tampa Bay's bullpen further. Bryan Baker (80% owned) remains the closer with no role change.

Action: Drop Sulser in shallow formats; Baker's grip on the ninth is unaffected.

Marlins Take the Finale from Philadelphia

HOLD · MIA · TEAM

Miami beat the Phillies 8-6 in the series finale after Philadelphia squandered a 6-0 lead, a bright spot for a club that recently snapped a franchise-record 12-game losing streak. The Phillies sit at 56-52.

Action: No roster implications; Miami remains a seller heading into Monday.

Thorpe's Next Rehab Start Set

STASH · CWS · SP

Drew Thorpe makes his next rehab start Thursday night with Double-A Birmingham. No MLB return date has been set.

Action: Dynasty stash only until a Triple-A assignment or activation date appears.

Streaming Angles in the KC-MIN Series

STREAM · MIN · Bats

Minnesota's lineup draws Bryce Miller (5.27 xERA) today, a favorable spot for under-50%-owned Twins bats. Kansas City gets Tomoyuki Sugano (5.81 xERA) tomorrow, so set that one up in advance.

Action: Stream Twins bats today; queue Royals bats against Sugano tomorrow.