Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen (elbow) has been officially placed on the 15-day Injured List on Sunday. Gallen was scratched ahead of his scheduled start on Sunday due to left elbow inflammation. He will officially head to the shelf and will hopefully be back in the mix before the end of July. Mitch Bratt will take the mound on Sunday and could remain in the rotation until Gallen is ready to return. Gallen owns a 6.34 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, and a 61/31 K/BB ratio across 98 innings of work this season. Given his struggles, Gallen is really only worth holding in deep leagues at the moment.

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Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Emerson Hancock (hand) was forced to make an early exit from Sunday's outing against the Tampa Bay Rays. Hancock was struck in the hand by a comebacker during the first inning of this contest. He remained in the game afterwards, but was pulled in the second inning. His day will be finished with 1.2 innings of work and two strikeouts. The expectation is that Hancock will undergo further testing to determine the severity of the injury. Luckily, the All-Star break begins on Monday, so Hancock will get a few days off to rest. Fantasy managers should consider Hancock as day-to-day until further notice.

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Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler has decided to decline an invitation to the upcoming All-Star Game in Philadelphia. Wheeler was asked if he wanted to be a replacement on the National League roster. He declined, stating that he felt disrespected to be the fifth choice as a replacement. Wheeler has been outstanding when healthy this season, so he's certainly deserving of an All-Star nod. The right-hander owns a 2.28 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and a 98/20 K/BB ratio across 14 starts this season. Wheeler has bounced back nicely since having thoracic outlet surgery last year. He'll rest up during the All-Star break and look forward to helping the Phillies in the second half of the season.

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Texas Rangers pitcher Emiliano Teodo has been recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday. The 25-year-old will make his first trip to the big leagues after posting solid numbers out of the bullpen for Round Rock. He registered a 3.76 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, and a 52:35 K/BB ratio across 402. innings in Triple-A this season. The expectation is that he'll begin as a low-leverage middle reliever for the Rangers. Teodo does have the potential to move into a high-leverage or possibly a closer role in the future. He could be worth adding in fantasy formats where holds matter. Otherwise, fantasy managers should keep an eye on him as a potential saves target down the road.

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Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (elbow) got into his first game action on Saturday, which was the first time he has pitched since undergoing surgery in April. Diaz tossed a scoreless inning, allowing one hit, while striking out two during his outing with Single-A Ontario on Saturday. This is an encouraging step forward as Diaz works his way back from having loose bodies removed from his right elbow. The expectation is that he'll need a few more rehab outings before he's ready to return to the Dodgers bullpen. Fantasy managers can be hopeful that Diaz is back in the mix by late July.

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New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that right-hander Cam Schlittler will not pitch in Tuesday's All-Star Game, according to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic. Schlittler isn't injured, but he doesn't want to push himself on what would be his between-starts throwing day. The 25-year-old has more than backed up his strong showing in his rookie campaign in 2025 with his first All-Star nod in 2026. Schlittler ends the first half of his first full season in the big leagues with a 9-5 record while leading the league in ERA (2.05), WHIP (0.94), and WAR (4.2) in 118 2/3 innings covering a league-high 20 starts. The former seventh-rounder in 2022 out of Northeastern University has quickly developed into a fantasy ace and is currently rostered in 98% of Yahoo leagues. His fantasy managers have to be happy about his decision to skip the All-Star Game as he looks for an equally dominant second half. It could be tough sledding to start the second half, though, with an upcoming matchup scheduled against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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New York Mets infielder Bo Bichette (ankle, leg) will miss a third straight game in Sunday's series finale against the Boston Red Sox, per MLB.com. Brett Baty will make the start at the hot corner and will bat eighth against Red Sox left-hander Payton Tolle. Bichette will get some extra rest going into next week's All-Star break while dealing with ankle and leg soreness. With four more days to rest coming up next week, Bichette should be ready to roll for the start of the second half on Friday, July 17, for the series opener against the division-rival Phillies in Philadelphia. The 28-year-old got off to a brutal start to his Mets tenure in 2026, but he eventually rebounded and will finish off the first half with a .256/.301/.377 slash line, .678 OPS, 10 home runs, 51 RBI, 48 runs scored, and a stolen base across 379 at-bats. Bichette has been hot in July, too, going 10-for-33 (.303) with a double, five RBI, and four runs scored in nine games played. Fantasy managers are hoping that Bichette can pick up where he left off following the All-Star break.

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Baltimore Orioles right-handed closer Ryan Helsley (elbow) has inflammation around his UCL, but the ligament isn't torn, manager Craig Albernaz told Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun. Helsley will rehab the injury with hopes of returning this year. The Orioles placed the 31-year-old veteran on the 15-day injured list on July 3 due to right-elbow discomfort. It's great news that Helsley should return this season, but it's unclear when that might be. We should know more on Helsley's potential return once he resumes a throwing program. In the meantime, it'll likely continue to be a closer-by-committee situation in Baltimore that includes Tyler Wells, Rico Garcia, and Andrew Kittredge appearing in the ninth inning to close out games for the O's. Of the three, Garcia is the most rostered (23% of Yahoo leagues), although he hasn't recorded a save since June 2. Helsley is currently rostered in 63% of Yahoo leagues while he recovers from his second elbow injury of 2026. The two-time All-Star has only thrown 15 1/3 innings in 2026 in his first year with the team, going 0-4 with a 4.11 ERA (4.66 FIP), 1.43 WHIP, eight saves, and a 21:9 K:BB in his 17 relief appearances.

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The Milwaukee Brewers announced on Sunday that they transferred veteran right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list. Woodruff has been dealing with right-shoulder issues for a while now, and the 33-year-old was placed on the 15-day IL last weekend after he was diagnosed with an injury to his right anterior shoulder capsule. It's more bad news for a veteran hurler who already missed the entire 2024 season following right-shoulder surgery late in 2023. Woodruff had a nice 2.98 ERA (3.19 FIP) and 0.84 WHIP in his nine starts for the Brewers this year before landing on the IL, and despite a drop in velocity, he was sporting a 27% strikeout rate and 5.7% walk rate in his 45 1/3 innings pitched. However, he's made just 21 starts for the Brew Crew since the start of last year, and the Brewers might just be hoping to have him healthy for a playoff run this fall. Fantasy managers holding Woodruff shouldn't expect him to return to Milwaukee's starting rotation until September in a best-case scenario.

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Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect Jett Williams (wrist) is dealing with a minor wrist injury, which has prevented him from being called up to the big leagues just before the All-Star break, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Curt Hogg. The Brewers could use some infield depth to close out the first half after they placed David Hamilton (hamstring) on the injured list on Tuesday. Instead of Williams, the Brew Crew opted to bring up outfield prospect Luis Lara. In 80 games and 358 plate appearances at Triple-A Nashville in 2026, Williams has hit .234/.341/.385 with a .726 OPS, nine home runs, 41 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 60 runs scored for the Sounds. The 22-year-old got off to a slow start to the year at the plate, but he has picked things up offensively and is pushing hard for his first taste of the big leagues with the Brewers. Williams, who stands at 5-foot-7 and 179 pounds, is the club's No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and we should see him in the majors at some point in the second half, although it's unclear if he'll play enough to be a fantasy asset in single-year leagues.

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Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski (arm) will likely begin throwing again on Tuesday, but he will not pitch in the first series after the All-Star break against the Miami Marlins, according to Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The Brewers chose to skip the Miz's final start of the first half of the season on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to right-arm fatigue after his last appearance on Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Milwaukee isn't going to take any chances with the most dominant starting pitcher in baseball at the halfway point of the season. It's unclear when he'll make his next start, but hopefully, Misiorowski can avoid a trip to the injured list. Through his first 18 starts over 111 innings in 2026, in his first full year in the majors, the 24-year-old flamethrower has gone 10-4 with a league-best 1.62 ERA (league-leading 2.09 FIP), a league-best 0.76 WHIP, a league-high 167 strikeouts, and 27 walks for the Brew Crew. Misiorowski threw a combined 114 1/3 innings between the majors and minors in 2025, so the Brewers could look for more ways to limit his workload in the second half.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks are calling up left-handed pitching prospect Mitch Bratt to make the start in Sunday's series finale against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers, with right-hander Zac Gallen (elbow) likely heading to the injured list, according to Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. Sunday's contest in the final game of the first half of the season will be Bratt's second big-league start after he allowed an earned run on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts over three innings in his major-league debut on June 24 at the St. Louis Cardinals. The 23-year-old Canadian southpaw is considered the team's No. 13 prospect at MLB Pipeline, and the former fifth-rounder by the Texas Rangers in 2021 has posted a 2.41 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 51:14 K:BB in 52 1/3 innings over his 13 starts this year at Reno. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder could be a candidate to take Gallen's rotation spot to begin the second half if he handles himself well on Sunday, but we wouldn't recommend Bratt as a streamer against L.A. in just his second start in the majors. Bratt has gone fewer than five innings in five of his last six outings on the farm as well, so we don't expect him to stick around long on Sunday.

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The Cincinnati Reds announced on Sunday that they placed left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger) on the 15-day injured list with a blister on his left index finger and recalled right-hander Chase Petty from Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move. Lodolo's blister issues are getting frustrating for the Reds and fantasy managers. The talented southpaw opened the 2026 season on the IL with the same blister issue on his left index finger. The 28-year-old former seventh overall pick in 2019 out of Texas Christian University was pulled from his start early on Saturday against the division-rival Chicago Cubs after allowing two earned runs on five hits (one homer) while walking three and striking out four in five innings pitched for a no-decision. The first time around, when he dealt with a blister, Lodolo missed six weeks. He will be eligible to come off the IL on July 27, but fantasy managers probably should prepare for his absence to extend into August. In addition to recurring blister issues, Lodolo has a career-low 17.9% strikeout rate with a 4.60 ERA (5.09 FIP) and 1.47 WHIP with 50 strikeouts and 27 walks in his 12 starts for the Reds in 2026. It's becoming harder to recommend him as a hold in shallow-mixed fantasy leagues.

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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that outfield prospect Ryan Waldschmidt (hand) will start in center field for Sunday's series finale against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Emmet Sheehan, according to Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports. The D-backs' top prospect, per MLB Pipeline, was pulled from the series opener on Friday in his return to the big leagues after he was hit by a pitch on his right hand, but after sitting out Saturday's contest, the 23-year-old will be back in action to close out the first half of the season. The former 31st overall selection from the University of Kentucky in 2024 hit .288/.405/.492 with an .897 OPS, six home runs, 29 RBI, 43 runs, and six steals in 51 games at Triple-A Reno this year, but he struggled at the plate in his first taste of the majors and was sent back to Reno to work on his approach against offspeed pitches. Waldschmidt is still searching for his first big-league homer and has an elevated 33.9% strikeout rate in his first 124 plate appearances with the Snakes, but his power/speed upside makes him one of the better young outfield stashes in deeper fantasy baseball leagues going into the second half in 2026.

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The Washington Nationals recalled first baseman/designated hitter Abimelec Ortz from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday and designated left-hander Matt Krook for assignment in a corresponding move, according to Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. Ortiz, who is ranked by MLB Pipeline as Washington's No. 25 prospect, was acquired in the trade that sent left-hander MacKenzie Gore to the Texas Rangers. He will be making his major-league debut the next time he gets on the field. Nusbaum adds that the Nationals are "obviously high" on Ortiz. He was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2021 and sent to the Dominican Summer League in an unconventional move. The 24-year-old Puerto Rican left-hander has done nothing but hit, and he gets his first big-league call-up after slashing .235/.332/.481 with an .813 OPS, 16 home runs, 59 RBI, and 48 runs scored in 71 games for Rochester this year. Ortiz hit safely in his last 10 games with the Red Wings, batting .381/.438/.952 with seven home runs and 23 RBI in that span. He should see pretty regular playing time in D.C., making him a waiver target in deeper fantasy leagues for his power from the left side of the plate.

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The Chicago Cubs right-handed reliever Trent Thornton entered with two outs and runners at the corners in the ninth inning of Saturday's 5-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds. After Elly De La Cruz stole second, Thornton got Sal Stewart to ground out for his third save. It was a one-batter appearance, but the 32-year-old has done his job whenever called upon, carrying a 2.48 ERA and 1.00 WHIP through 29 innings. The problem is that Chicago still has no dependable ninth-inning pecking order. Jacob Webb remains the preferred option, while Caleb Thielbar and Ryan Rolison are also getting late work with Daniel Palencia (elbow) sidelined. Thornton has converted all three save chances, but his 13 strikeouts in 29 innings leave little fallback value when someone else gets the call. Rostered in 0% of Yahoo leagues, he is a speculative add in 15-team formats and deeper, not a reliable source of saves.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates left-handed reliever Mason Montgomery worked around a walk to finish Saturday's 3-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 of a doubleheader, striking out two in a hitless ninth for his first save of the season. Gregory Soto had closed Game 1, so Pittsburgh is still splitting late work. Montgomery has put himself squarely in the picture, though. He has allowed no runs with five strikeouts and one walk over his last three appearances, and his season total is up to 55 strikeouts in 37 innings. The 4.14 ERA is not pretty, but a 34.8% strikeout rate and 3.21 xERA make the profile more interesting than the surface number. RotoBaller now lists Montgomery alongside Soto atop a volatile committee and recommends him in 12-team leagues. With only a 2% Yahoo roster rate, he is one of the better speculative saves adds available, even if calling him Pittsburgh's closer would be premature.

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The San Francisco Giants right-handed reliever JT Brubaker handled the final two innings of Saturday's 4-2 win over the Colorado Rockies, picking up the first save of his career. Kyle Karros homered off him in the eighth, but that was the only baserunner Brubaker allowed. He struck out two and did not walk anyone. His 2.87 ERA and 1.13 WHIP through 47 innings look useful, but the 33:20 K:BB shows why fantasy managers should be careful. Brubaker got the call after Caleb Kilian blew Friday's save and had worked on back-to-back days. Kilian still sits atop the Giants' depth chart, with Erik Miller and Dylan Smith ahead of Brubaker, and RotoBaller called Saturday's save a likely one-off. Brubaker is rostered in roughly 0% of leagues, but that does not make him an automatic deep-league add. He is worth monitoring in NL-only formats, not rostering in standard mixed leagues, unless another late chance comes his way.

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Chicago Cubs right-handed pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins returned from the Triple-A injured list on July 10 after a lengthy stint for an elbow injury. However, with Wiggins now back in action at Triple-A, the top prospect in the Chicago system has quickly put himself high on the stash radar. In his return to Triple-A (first game since April 4), Wiggins allowed three runs over 2 2/3 innings against St. Paul. However, during his rehab outing across the lower levels, the right-hander was quite sharp, posting a 2.89 ERA with a 9:3 K:BB over 9 1/3 innings. While the former 68th overall pick will likely need several weeks of development at Triple-A Iowa, managers should closely monitor his stats, as he has a clear path to join a weak Cubs rotation hit by injuries to Edward Cabrera, Justin Steele and Cade Horton. If Wiggins can rebound, the right-hander can quickly establish himself as a high-end prospect to stash in all leagues after the All-Star break.

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Detroit Tigers outfield prospect Max Clark has been among the hottest hitters at the Triple-A level over the past month and has quickly put himself near the top of most stash rankings. Since June 12 (his last 23 games at Toledo), the former third-overall pick from the 2023 MLB Draft has posted an elite .316/.404/.495 line with a .898 OPS, five doubles, four home runs, and eight stolen bases. This surge is worth noting, as Clark held a much lower .248/.335/.374 line with a modest .709 OPS over his first 57 games of the season. During this cold start, the outfielder only hit four home runs. Seeing him turn the corner at an impressive rate at Triple-A has pushed him into elite stash territory. With the Tigers relying on James Outman and Matt Vierling to cover center field, they may turn to their top-ranked prospect very shortly after the All-Star break, making him a worthy pickup in all 12-team leagues.

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