TL;DRSkim
The five fastest-moving roster calls of the morning, in priority order:
- HOLD - Hunter Greene to the 15-day IL with right elbow soreness and a second opinion pending from Dr. ElAttrache; don't cut an ace before the report lands.
- ADD - Mitch Bratt (0% owned) threw 7.0 IP with nine strikeouts and no runs for Arizona; the top waiver claim of the day.
- WATCH - Aaron Judge cleared for light activity including running; Cashman is optimistic about the late-August window.
- WATCH - Freddie Freeman left with a hand injury but X-rays were negative and he expects to play Friday.
- BENCH - Joe Ryan sent back to Minnesota for evaluation with the medical director after a third straight rough start.
Greene to the IL with Elbow Soreness
HOLD · CIN · SP
Hunter Greene has been placed on the 15-day IL with right elbow soreness after feeling discomfort during a Tuesday side session, and Cincinnati is seeking a second opinion from Dr. ElAttrache. GM Nick Krall called it unfortunate and said he hated that Greene was going through it again.
Action: Hold on an IL slot. Dropping a 99%-owned ace before the specialist report is the kind of move you can't undo - if the second opinion is clean, he's back in three weeks, and if it isn't, you've lost nothing by waiting a day. Owners in shallow leagues without IL flexibility are the only ones facing a real decision, and even then, shop him in a trade rather than cutting him outright.
Bratt Dominates for Arizona
ADD · ARI · SP
Mitch Bratt (0% owned) threw seven shutout innings with nine strikeouts and picked up the win. Arizona's rotation has been thinned by injuries, giving him a clear runway.
Action: Add him everywhere he's available. Seven innings and nine strikeouts from a completely unrostered arm is the single best waiver value on today's board, and the opportunity in that rotation is real rather than a one-off spot start.
Judge Cleared for Light Activity
WATCH · NYY · OF
Aaron Judge has been cleared for light activity, including outdoor running and upper-body resistance work, per Aaron Boone. Judge reiterated he'll be back this season, and Brian Cashman said he's very optimistic, with the late-August timeframe from the 60-day IL placement still in play.
Action: Hold in every format. This is the first genuinely encouraging update in weeks - if you've been sitting on the IL spot, keep sitting. If a frustrated manager in your league is shopping him, this is the moment to buy before the return date becomes official.
Freeman Avoids Damage on a Hand Injury
WATCH · LAD · 1B
Freddie Freeman exited early after taking a pitch off the hand. X-rays came back negative and he expects to be back in the lineup Friday.
Action: Don't drop, and don't panic. Hand injuries can quietly sap power even after a clean X-ray, so watch his contact quality over the next week rather than assuming he's immediately back to normal.
Ryan Returns to Minnesota for Evaluation
BENCH · MIN · SP
Joe Ryan has gone back to Minnesota to be evaluated by the team's medical director after a third consecutive rough outing. No diagnosis has been announced, but sending a pitcher home mid-road-trip signals concern beyond a slump.
Action: Bench him until there's clarity. Three bad starts plus an unscheduled medical evaluation is a pattern, not a coincidence - don't start him on hope.
Cameron Spins Another Gem
HOLD · KC · SP
Noah Cameron (18% owned) went eight innings with nine strikeouts and one earned run for the win, his second dominant outing in a week.
Action: Add him if he's somehow still available, and hold everywhere else. Two eight-inning starts in a week from a sub-20%-owned arm makes him a legitimate rotation piece, not just a streamer.
Harrison Back and Sharp
HOLD · MIL · SP
Kyle Harrison was reinstated from the 15-day IL and started for Milwaukee, retiring the side on nine pitches in his first inning back. The Brewers are 70-43.
Action: Hold, but expect a limited leash. First starts back from the IL rarely go deep, so temper the win expectations for a start or two.
Guerrero Sits Again with Tightness
WATCH · TOR · 1B
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is out of the lineup again with tightness and fatigue. John Schneider called the situation delicate given Guerrero's importance: "This is a big boy league. If you're feeling good enough to go and you can help us, I want you to do that." The team considers him day-to-day.
Action: Check the lineup daily. A second straight scratch for something described as fatigue is worth watching more carefully than the initial report suggested.
Detmers Rocked in First Post-Deadline Start
HOLD · LAA · SP
Reid Detmers gave up three runs on four hits over four innings, including back-to-back homers, while striking out five on 81 pitches in his first start since staying put at the deadline.
Action: Hold in deeper formats only. He remains a matchup-dependent streamer on a team that gives him almost no run support.
Ohtani and Crow-Armstrong Trade Blows at Wrigley
HOLD · LAD / CHC · OF
Shohei Ohtani and Pete Crow-Armstrong combined for a huge night at Wrigley, going 6-for-10 with four home runs and seven RBIs between them.
Action: Hold both, obviously. Nothing to act on beyond noting that Ohtani's bat has stayed elite even with the pitching return stalled.
Caminero Climbs the Rays' Home Run List
HOLD · TB · 3B
Junior Caminero tied Randy Arozarena for the 10th-most home runs in Rays franchise history with 85, reaching the mark in his 318th career game.
Action: Hold. The power has been the carry all season and shows no sign of slowing.
Bogaerts Back in the Lineup
WATCH · SD · SS
Xander Bogaerts returns to the Padres' lineup against Arizona, with Fernando Tatis Jr. batting second.
Action: Start him with confidence; the foot scare is behind him.
Nootbaar Moves to Leadoff for Arizona
WATCH · ARI · OF
Lars Nootbaar is hitting leadoff for the Diamondbacks after drawing two walks in his debut following the deadline trade.
Action: Add in deeper leagues if the leadoff spot holds. His on-base skills fit the role, and leadoff at Chase Field is a meaningful run-scoring upgrade over his previous situation.
Polanco Snaps an 0-for-26 Skid
HOLD · NYM · 2B
Jorge Polanco homered to end an 0-for-26 stretch, his first home run since April 11.
Action: Hold only in deep leagues. One homer doesn't undo a season that long in the wilderness, and his role remains part-time.
Bachman to the IL with Nerve Inflammation
DROP · LAA · RP
Sam Bachman was placed on the 15-day IL with right forearm radial nerve inflammation. No timetable has been given.
Action: Drop. Nerve issues in a forearm are unpredictable, and he wasn't in the save picture anyway.
Thompson to the IL for Arizona
WATCH · ARI · RP
Ryan Thompson landed on the 15-day IL, with the move clearing a roster spot for deadline additions. Details weren't disclosed.
Action: Watch Arizona's late-inning usage; the leverage innings have to go somewhere.
Williamson Exits with a Hamstring Injury
WATCH · TB · IF
Ben Williamson appeared to injure his right hamstring running to first and was helped down the dugout steps. Kevin Cash said he grabbed it pretty good, and Williamson goes for testing Thursday.
Action: Hold through the testing, but prepare for an IL placement - needing help off the field rarely resolves in a day or two.
Story Refocuses After Boston Stands Pat
HOLD · BOS · SS
Trevor Story says he's newly motivated after the Red Sox didn't add a shortstop at the deadline, framing the season's turnaround as an opportunity.
Action: Hold. The job is his for the final stretch, which is what matters.
Roster Moves: Waldron Claimed, Márquez DFA'd
WATCH · TOR / SD · SP
Toronto claimed knuckleballer Matt Waldron after San Diego designated him. The Padres separately DFA'd Germán Márquez to make room for Robbie Ray.
Action: Drop Márquez. Waldron is a deep-league watch only until Toronto gives him innings.
Arenado and Marte Get a Scheduled Day
HOLD · ARI · 3B / 2B
Nolan Arenado and Ketel Marte are both out today for rest with 47 games left. Neither is injured and both are expected back tomorrow.
Action: No action; just don't leave them active in daily leagues today.