Tampa Bay Rays first base prospect Xavier Isaac remains in a slump at Double-A Montgomery. Over his last seven contests, the No. 46-ranked prospect in the sport on MLB.com has posted a low .148/.343/.259 slash line. During this stretch, Isaac has hit just one extra-base hit (a home run) and held an 8:8 K:BB. Through 41 total games with Double-A this season, Isaac has held a modest .201/.366/.446 line. While his batting average is low, he has shown a strong eye at the plate, drawing 34 walks and striking out just 52 times. He has also hit nine home runs and held an .812 OPS. Last season, Isaac held a much lower .695 OPS during his first taste of Double-A. Fantasy managers should expect the former 29th overall pick to remain at Double-A through most of the second half.

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Chicago Cubs catching prospect Moises Ballesteros continues to dominate at Triple-A and is making a strong case to return to the major leagues. Over his last seven contests, the backstop has posted a stellar .308/.333/.462 slash line with four doubles, one stolen base, and a 7:2 K:BB. Over his last four games, he has hit at least one double in all but one. Ballesteros received a brief taste of the big leagues earlier this season. During his five-game stint in the majors, Ballesteros tallied three hits and three RBI. Through 69 total games with Triple-A Iowa this season, Ballesteros has posted a remarkable .331/.389/.498 slash line with 19 doubles and eight home runs. With Miguel Amaya (oblique) on the IL, Ballesteros could be in the mix to return to the North Side very soon. For now, he is worth stashing in all deeper two-catcher formats.

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Chicago Cubs left-hander Drew Pomeranz will serve as the team's opener on Saturday at Wrigley Field against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals, according to manager Craig Counsell. It's unclear who will work as the bulk reliever for the Cubbies in Game 2 of the divisional series, but it's most likely to be left-hander Jordan Wicks, who was called up from Triple-A Iowa on Friday with righty Jameson Taillon (calf) going on the 15-day injured list. In both of his opening assignments this year, Pomeranz has gone an inning apiece, so he should be avoided for fantasy purposes, even though the 36-year-old veteran has yet to allow a run in 2025 in 23 1/3 innings pitched. In addition to his 23 1/3 scoreless frames for Chicago, Pomeranz has a 0.90 WHIP, a save, 23 punchouts and seven walks.

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The Athletics reinstated second baseman Zack Gelof (ribs) from the 60-day injured list on Friday and placed infielder Luis Urias (hamstring) on the 10-day IL (retroactive to July 3) with a right-hamstring strain in a corresponding move, according to the team. Gelof will immediately start at second base and hit eighth in his 2025 debut in Friday's series opener against the visiting San Francisco Giants and right-hander Justin Verlander. He fractured the hamate bone in his hand in spring training and then dealt with a stress reaction in his ribs, but Gelof should now serve as the team's starting second baseman the rest of the way. While the 25-year-old is a work in progress, he's worthy of a waiver-wire pickup in mixed fantasy leagues for his power/speed profile. He hit 17 homers and stole 25 bags in 138 games last year but also led the league with 188 strikeouts.

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Colorado Rockies outfielder Brenton Doyle will retreat to the bench again for Friday's series opener at Coors Field against the visiting Chicago White Sox. Mickey Moniak is starting in center field and will hit fifth against White Sox right-hander Adrian Houser. This will be the second time in the last three games that Doyle has started on the bench for the Rockies. He's hitting just .201 (57-for-284) on the season, but the 27-year-old is actually in the midst of a four-game hitting streak in which he's gone 5-for-15 with two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored. Still, it's been a highly disappointing 2025 for Doyle, who has six homers, 28 RBI and eight steals over the halfway mark after clubbing 23 long balls, driving in 72 and stealing 30 bags in 2024. Moniak is a DFS outfield sleeper to consider with three hits in his last three games. Believe it or not, he has 12 homers this year.

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The Colorado Rockies announced on Friday that they reinstated right-hander Ryan Feltner (back) from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Albuquerque. The team also outrighted outfielder Sam Hilliard to Albuquerque after he cleared outright waivers. The Rockies want to see more from Feltner after he gave up two home runs and nine walks in 10 2/3 innings on his minor-league rehab assignment with the Isotopes. The 28-year-old made six starts with the Rockies before his injury this year and posted a 4.75 ERA (4.34 FIP) and 1.48 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and 12 walks in 30 1/3 innings over six starts. Feltner also made a career-high 30 starts for Colorado last year, so he figures to be a starting rotation option for the team at some point in the second half. At best, he's a matchup-based deep-league streamer on the road in fantasy.

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Cleveland Guardians second base prospect Travis Bazzana (oblique) is set to begin a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League. The former first overall pick in last year's MLB Draft has been dealing with an oblique strain since May. However, the Oregon State product was finally cleared for game action. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, as he could return to Double-A in the coming weeks. Before the injury, Bazzana spent his entire season with Double-A Akron. Through 33 games, Bazzana held a .252/.362/.433 slash line with five doubles, three triples, four home runs, and eight stolen bases. Given the time he missed with the injury, Fantasy managers should not expect Bazzana to debut in Cleveland this season.

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Milwaukee Brewers slumping first baseman Rhys Hoskins finds himself on the bench yet again in Friday's series opener in Miami against the Marlins and right-hander Sergio Alcantara. Jake Bauers will make the start at first base and bat seventh. Hoskins has been benched in two of the last four games. The 32-year-old is in a rut at the plate right now, going 3-for-22 (.136) with no homers, one RBI, four walks and seven strikeouts in seven games since June 24. The cold stretch has brought his season line down to .239/.335/.418 with a .753 OPS. Bauers, who hits from the left side, hasn't been any better for the Brew Crew in 2025, going 23-for-108 (.213) with only five home runs, 18 RBI, 14 runs and four stolen bases. He's also hitless in eight career at-bats against Alcantara with one RBI.

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Chicago White Sox shortstop prospect Colson Montgomery is batting seventh in his major-league debut on Friday at Coors Field against the hosting Colorado Rockies and right-hander Antonio Senzatela. Montgomery is a former first-rounder in 2021 and the club's No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The 23-year-old got the call-up to the big leagues after hitting only .218 (47-for-216) with 11 home runs, 10 doubles, 30 RBI, 27 runs scored and two steals in 55 games for Triple-A Charlotte. That shouldn't give fantasy managers in single-year leagues much confidence in him, but Montgomery should play regularly in the Windy City in another lost season. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder hits from the left side and is often compared to Corey Seager because of his 30-homer potential. However, his plate discipline must improve, especially now that he's in the big leagues.

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Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter was reinstated from the bereavement list on Friday and is starting in center field and batting fifth in the series opener at Petco Park against the San Diego Padres and right-hander Randy Vasquez. Carter has struggled against lefties and has been injury-prone in his short time in the big leagues. However, the 22-year-old former second-rounder in 2020 has been quite attractive in fantasy when he's been hot, which has been the case when he's been on the field in 2025. He comes into Friday's action with a .283/.372/.444 slash line, an .816 OPS, four home runs, 11 RBI, 17 runs and eight stolen bases in 99 at-bats. Carter has gone 26-for-91 (.286) with all four of his home runs and all 11 of his RBI against right-handed pitching this year. You could do much worse than inserting him into your DFS lineups against Vasquez.

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Baltimore Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (lat) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session on Friday that featured fastballs and breaking balls, according to MLB.com's Jake Rill. Rodriguez said he's now thrown a few bullpens and is at 100% intensity. Still, there's no firm timetable on when he'll be cleared to face live hitters, and he said it will depend on how he's feeling. The 25-year-old has yet to pitch this year due right-elbow inflammation that he dealt with in spring training and a lat strain in late April. It sounds as though he should be able to face live hitters soon, but it remains to be seen. Rodriguez will eventually need to go on what will likely be a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment, too, so his 2025 debut probably won't come until August. It gives Rodriguez little time to make an impact for fantasy managers to close out the year.

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The Texas Rangers agreed to a minor-league deal with free-agent first baseman Rowdy Tellez on Friday, league sources tell The Athletic's Will Sammon. Tellez will stay in the American League West after spending 62 games with the Seattle Mariners this year, where he slashed .208/.249/.434 with a weak .682 OPS, 11 home runs, six doubles, 27 RBI, 20 runs scored and a stolen base in 185 at-bats. Tellez certainly has plenty of power still in his eighth major-league season, but he offers little else and won't be guaranteed to make an impact at the major-league level for the Rangers the rest of this year. Jake Burger is currently the team's starting first baseman, but if Tellez impresses in the minors, it's possible he could be a platoon option at the cold corner against right-handers in the second half.

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Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (oblique) did some pre-game work on the field on Friday before the game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park, including running from first to third, according to the Baltimore Banner's Danielle Allentuck. The Orioles don't expect Rutschman to return from the 10-day injured list before the All-Star break, but they are optimistic that the switch-hitting 27-year-old will be back for the start of the second half on July 18. Even though he's had a disappointing first half in 2025, he needs to be stashed in all fantasy formats. The former first overall pick in 2019 out of Oregon State is currently hitting just .227/.319/.372 with a .691 OPS, eight homers, 20 RBI and 31 runs in 242 at-bats. Veteran Gary Sanchez has become the O's primary catcher with Rutschman, Maverick Handley and Chadwick Tromp all on the IL.

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (hamstring) ran the bases on Thursday and felt good. He will repeat it in the coming days before starting a minor-league rehab assignment, according to Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling. Varsho could begin his rehab assignment this weekend and rejoin the big-league squad next week before the All-Star break, barring a setback. The 29-year-old has been out since May 31 with a hamstring injury, but the team's starting center fielder is on the cusp of a return. Varsho got a late start in 2025 because of offseason shoulder surgery and won't be doing fantasy managers any help in the batting average department, but he did hit eight home runs and drive in 20 in 92 at-bats before injuring his hamstring. The Blue Jays have been mixing and matching in center field of late with Myles Straw and Nathan Lukes.

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The Toronto Blue Jays transferred outfielder/designated hitter Anthony Santander (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list on Friday, according to Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith. Right-handed pitching prospect Lazaro Estrada was also called up, with left-hander Justin Bruihl being sent down in a corresponding move. Santander is dealing with a subluxation of his left shoulder and now will not be eligible to return to the team until July 30. He's been on the IL since May 30 but is getting close to swinging a bat. The 30-year-old Venezuelan switch-hitter has been one of the most disappointing players in real life and fantasy in 2025, as he's hit just .179 (33-for-184) with six home runs and 18 RBI in 50 games in his first year in Toronto after hitting a career-high 44 homers and driving in 102 last year in Baltimore. Davis Schneider has seen an increase in playing time in the outfield for the Jays with Santander sidelined.

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Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Andres Gimenez (ankle) is back at second base and batting leadoff for Friday's series opener against the visiting Los Angeles Angels and right-hander Kyle Hendricks. Gimenez left Wednesday's win over the New York Yankees early with a minor ankle injury and was held out of the series finale on Thursday, but he'll return to the field atop the batting order for Friday's series opener. Although the 26-year-old doesn't feature much power at the plate, he'll be in play as a DFS sleeper at the second base position out of the leadoff spot against a soft-tossing pitcher. He has a solo home run in two career at-bats against Hendricks. The Venezuelan infielder is hitting a weak .216/.299/.322 with a .621 OPS, only five home runs, 22 RBI, 26 runs scored and 10 steals in 208 at-bats on the year.

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Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk will head to the bench for the start of a series on Friday against the visiting Los Angeles Angels at the Rogers Centre. Tyler Heineman is doing the catching for left-hander Eric Lauer and will bat ninth against Angels right-hander Kyle Hendricks. Kirk will get a day of rest after starting all four of the games in the series sweep of the New York Yankees this week. The 26-year-old Mexican backstop is having the best year of his career to this point and is sporting a .305/.358/.420 slash line with a .777 OPS, seven long balls, 41 RBI and 23 runs scored in 72 games played. Kirk's underlying metrics support the strong start, too, with his xBA sitting at .302 and his hard-hit rate in the 97th percentile. Heineman has also swung the bat well in 2025, albeit in a smaller sample size, going 26-for-75 (.347) with two homers, 12 RBI and 18 runs for Toronto.

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Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (foot) is not in the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Los Angeles Angels after fouling a ball off his foot in Thursday's victory over the New York Yankees, according to Sportsnet's Shi Dividi. It doesn't sound like a very serious injury, so the Blue Jays are most likely exercising an abundance of caution for one of the best hitters in the league. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Saturday to see if the 26-year-old is back in action for Game 2 of the series at the Rogers Centre. Will Wagner will make the start at first on Friday and will hit eighth against Angels right-hander Kyle Hendricks. Wagner is still searching for his first home run of the season and has gone 14-for-69 (.203) on the year with two RBI, seven runs scored and one stolen base.

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Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (knee) is back at shortstop and is hitting third in the batting order for Friday's series opener against the visiting Los Angeles Angels and right-hander Kyle Hendricks at the Rogers Centre. Bichette stepped on a ball during pre-game batting practice on Monday and tweaked his knee, causing him to miss the entire four-game sweep of the division-rival New York Yankees. The 27-year-old is back for the weekend series against the Halos, though, and should be returned to all starting lineups for the first-place Blue Jays. It was an injury-plagued and disappointing 2024 campaign for Bichette, but he's bounced back in 2025, hitting .272 (97-for-357) with 11 home runs, 49 RBI, 39 runs scored and four stolen bases. Bichette has never faced the soft-tossing Hendricks in his career.

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San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin said on Thursday that catcher Tom Murphy (back) is still rehabbing and that there is no timetable for his return, according to MLB.com. Murphy has yet to play in 2025 and has only played 13 games for the Gigantes so far since joining the club in 2024. The 34-year-old veteran backstop is currently on the 60-day injured list with a mid-back disc herniation, although he's expected to return at some point in the second half. Murphy missed the majority of last season with a sprained MCL in his left knee. When he's healthy and with the big-league club, Murphy will merely serve as the backup to Patrick Bailey, leaving him minimal fantasy appeal for his power. He did hit 18 home runs with the Seattle Mariners, but that was way back in 2019.

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