Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman recorded his 21st save of the year in an 8-5 victory against the New York Yankees on Thursday. Hoffman allowed a one-out double to Jasson Dominguez, but he retired the other three hitters (one via strikeout) in a 16-pitch ninth inning. Like many of his teammates, Hoffman had a great series in a four-game sweep of the Yankees. He saved three of those victories and has now gone eight appearances without allowing an earned run. The 32-year-old has converted 84% of save chances this season while registering a 4.58 ERA with 50:10 K:BB and a 1.07 WHIP in 36 1/3 frames. Hoffman has pitched four times in the past five days, meaning the Jays will likely rest him against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday.

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New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz threw a scoreless ninth inning to finish off a 3-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday. Diaz allowed a one-out single to Christian Yelich, who was then thrown out trying to steal second. The 31-year-old right-hander struck out the other two hitters he faced en route to his 18th save in 19 tries. Diaz has earned saves in back-to-back nights on a total of 37 pitches. The two-time All-Star boasts a 1.85 ERA with a 0.91 WHIP, 51 strikeouts, and 12 walks in 34 innings.

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Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow (shoulder) made his third rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday. Glasnow tossed 78 pitches over 4 1/3 innings and yielded three earned runs on six hits. The 31-year-old struck out eight, walked one, and threw 51 pitches for strikes. That may go down as the final rehab start for Glasnow, who has been out for two-plus months with shoulder inflammation. He last pitched April 27 and hit the shelf with a 4.50 ERA, 23:11 K:BB, and a 1.28 WHIP over 18 innings. When he does come back, Glasnow has the potential to serve as an electrifying addition for the Dodgers and fantasy managers down the stretch. However, injuries have been a consistent problem throughout his career.

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New York Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt (forearm) will undergo an MRI on his right forearm on Friday, manager Aaron Boone told reporters. The injury forced Schmidt to leave the team's 8-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday after throwing three innings of three-run ball. Boone acknowledged that a trip to the 10-day injured list is a possibility for Schmidt. The Yankees would have trouble replacing Schmidt from within if he lands on the shelf for an extended period. The 29-year-old has made 14 starts and gone 4-4 with a 3.32 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP, and 75:30 K:BB over 78 2/3 innings.

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The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal writes that Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia could be an interesting trade candidate with the Rangers' odds of making the playoffs at under 25%. Garcia is under club control through next season, is a two-time All-Star and has been better since being benched so he could make mechanical adjustments in late May, but if he continues to falter in the second half of the season, he could be a non-tender candidate. Rosenthal adds that Garcia is strong on defense, so if he continues to produce with the bat, he'll have higher trade value this summer than in the offseason or at next year's trade deadline. The 32-year-old Cuban slugger hit 39 homers and drove in 107 in 2023, but he's now produced two straight seasons with a sub-.700 OPS. The good news is there's time for a rebound, and Garcia is in the 85th percentile in hard-hit rate and has a higher xBA (.248) than actual average (.232).

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The Cleveland Guardians recalled left-hander Doug Nikhazy on Thursday as Luis L. Ortiz was placed on the restricted list. Kolby Allard was designated for assignment in a corresponding move. Nikhazy was hit hard in his MLB debut on April 26, allowing six earned runs in three innings. He's posted a 10.5% walk rate at Triple-A and continues to struggle with control, despite a solid 24.1% strikeout rate. The 25-year-old owned a 4.56 ERA and 1.46 WHIP across 49 1/3 innings with Triple-A Columbus. With a fastball averaging just 89.6 mph, Nikhazy offers little upside and should only be monitored in deep AL-only leagues.

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The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal writes that the Arizona Diamondbacks haven't had any contract talks with third baseman Eugenio Suarez, even though his 26 home runs on the year are tied with Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber for fourth-most in the majors. Suarez is on the verge of making his second All-Star team and first since 2018. The 33-year-old veteran has already been traded three times in his career, but he doesn't want to be traded again. "I don't want to leave Arizona," Suarez said. "Obviously, we know how the business of baseball is. But right now, I feel comfortable. In addition to his 26 long balls, Suarez has hit .250 (77-for-308) with 69 RBI, 51 runs scored and a stolen base in his second year in the desert. The D-backs are hovering around .500 as a club, so what happens in the next couple weeks will be crucial to whether Arizona decides to be buyers or sellers at the July 31 trade deadline.

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San Francisco Giants right-hander Justin Verlander is winless in his first 13 starts this year, which is the longest streak by a Giants pitcher since at least 1901. It increases the odds that Verlander won't reach the 300-win milestone for his career since he's 42 years old and needs 38 wins to get there. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal points out that Verlander hasn't been terrible, though, as his park- and league-adjusted ERA is only 9% below league average, and he also missed time with a strained right pectoral muscle. "I feel like I kind of found something mechanically," Verlander said. It remains to be seen if he's right, as his average fastball velocity of 93.9 mph is below league average, and his strikeout rate is in the 26th percentile. His xERA of 5.09 is higher than his actual 4.26 ERA. Fantasy managers are probably less convinced than Verlander is that he can turn things around in 2025.

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Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll (wrist) began a minor-league rehab assignment on Thursday and is playing in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, according to Jody Jackson. Carroll has recovered quickly from a chip fracture in his wrist. The 24-year-old former National League Rookie of the Year is eligible to return from the 10-day injured list on Friday. That might be a little premature for his return to the big-league squad, but barring a setback now that he's playing in rehab games, he has an excellent chance to make it back before the All-Star break. It's great news for the Diamondbacks and fantasy managers alike, as Carroll is one of the best all-around offensive contributors in the game. He's having a bounce-back campaign in 2025 and is currently hitting .255 with a league-high nine triples, 20 homers, 44 RBI, 57 runs scored and 10 steals in 72 games.

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Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (knee) said he will miss at least the next six weeks, but he also has the consolation that he will play again in 2025. The Dodgers placed Muncy on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with a left-knee bone bruise after an MRI exam didn't show any serious structural damage. While the 34-year-old could will be out for the foreseeable future, fantasy managers will want to keep him stashed for a potential late-season playoff run. The two-time All-Star is a middle-of-the-order hitter for the Dodgers when healthy and had 13 home runs, 55 RBI and 39 runs scored with a .250 average (64-for-256) before injuring his left knee on Wednesday night. Miguel Rojas made the start at the hot corner on Thursday, but both Tommy Edman and Enrique Hernandez will be options at third for L.A. until Muncy is able to return later this year.

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Baltimore Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (lat) successfully made it through a bullpen session on Tuesday. "The bullpen was great," interim manager Tony Mansolino said afterward. "Fastballs, breaking balls, he was pumped, good velocity, all that stuff." Rodriguez has yet to pitch this year because of multiple arm injuries. He began the season on the shelf with elbow inflammation and then suffered a lat strain in late April, further delaying his 2025 debut. The Orioles are optimistic that Rodriguez will rejoin their pitching staff in August. The 6-foot-5, 230-pounder delivered quality production over 116 2/3 innings last season. He finished 13-4 with a 3.86 ERA, 10.03 K/9, and 2.78 BB/9 across 20 starts.

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San Francisco Giants infielder Casey Schmitt (hand) received a cortisone shot on his ailing left hand this week and is feeling "significantly better," manager Bob Melvin said. Schmitt went on the 10-day injured list June 30 (retroactive to June 27) after taking a pitch off the wrist on June 25. The 26-year-old has a good chance to come off the IL when he's first eligible on July 7. Before suffering the injury, Schmitt batted an impressive .276/.360/.439 with four homers, 15 RBI, and 13 runs scored over 112 plate appearances. He was especially effective filling in at third base for the injured Matt Chapman in June. Chapman should return to reclaim third in the coming days, but Schmitt will continue serving as useful depth when the Giants activate him.

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Miami Marlins right-hander Eury Perez (1-2) dazzled in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Minnesota Twins. He allowed two baserunners while striking out seven over six dominant innings, picking up his first win of the season. It was his best start of the year and a strong rebound after tough outings versus Atlanta and Arizona. The 22-year-old flamethrower finally looked like the ace fantasy managers hoped for. He now owns a 4.50 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 21 strikeouts over 22 innings in 2025. While it's wise to tread lightly, Perez deserves a spot on your watch list and is only rostered in 34% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues. Perez's next start is scheduled to face the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. With another strong outing, he will become a must-add in standard leagues.

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Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Johan Oviedo (elbow/lat) will start a rehab assignment with Single-A Bradenton this weekend, according to the team. Oviedo has built up to 50 to 55 pitches during side sessions in his recovery from multiple arm injuries. He missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery before landing on the 60-day injured list this past spring with lat problems. Oviedo hasn't pitched in the majors since September 2023, but the 27-year-old is on track to return sometime in the second half of the season. He amassed 177 2/3 innings in 2023 and went 9-14 with a 4.31 ERA, 158:83 K:BB, and a 1.37 WHIP.

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Michael Fulmer signed a minor-league deal with the Kansas City Royals on Thursday after clearing waivers, giving the 2017 All-Star a chance to revive his career. The right-hander tossed three scoreless innings over two appearances with the Cubs in June but couldn't stick on the 40-man roster. Overall, he posted a 4.76 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and three strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings with the Cubs and Red Sox this season. With injuries piling up in the Royals' rotation, Fulmer could be a call-up candidate if he performs well in Triple-A Omaha. The former Rookie of the Year remains a name to monitor in deep AL-only leagues.

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San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman (hand) successfully got through a batting practice session against a high-velocity machine on Thursday. He's now ready to go on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, according to Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle. Chapman is hopeful that he'll return to the Giants during their weekend series against the Athletics. The Giants have gone without him since he went on the 10-day injured list on June 9 with a sprained right hand. The 32-year-old was swinging a hot bat at the time and has slashed .243/.360/.452 with 12 homers, 30 RBI, 35 runs scored, and seven steals in 272 plate appearances.

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New York Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt (forearm) exited Thursday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays with right forearm tightness, Meredith Marakovits of the YES Network reports. Schmidt struggled over three innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits and two walks, before departing. The Yankees brought in right-hander Clayton Beeter as his replacement. Forearm injuries are always concerning for pitchers because they often lead to Tommy John surgery. Schmidt already underwent the procedure back in 2017. Losing him for a sizable chunk of time would be a significant blow to the Yankees. They've battled a slew of injuries in their rotation, but Schmidt has been a reliable source of innings. The 29-year-old has gone 4-4 with a 3.32 ERA and 73:30 K:BB over 78 2/3 frames.

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Miami Marlins catcher/first baseman Agustin Ramirez made an early statement Thursday, crushing a 425-foot two-run homer off David Festa in the first inning, his 13th of the season. He finished 1-for-4 with two lineouts but posted the game's two hardest-hit balls at 111.3 and 108.4 mph. Ramirez continues to flash elite power and is gaining serious fantasy appeal. The 23-year-old is slashing .248/.296/.479 over 61 games. With catcher and first base eligibility, he brings lineup flexibility that adds even more value. Ramirez is rostered in 60% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues and is a must-add for fantasy managers needing help at catcher or corner infield.

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Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder/infielder Tommy Edman will begin taking ground balls at third base, manager Dave Roberts said. The news comes after the Dodgers placed starting third baseman Max Muncy on the 10-day injured list with a knee bruise. As long as Muncy is out, the Dodgers will rely on the combination of Miguel Rojas, Enrique Hernandez, and Edman to handle the hot corner. The versatile Edman has made 94 major league appearances at third, though none since 2022. He's starting at second base Thursday against the Chicago White Sox, while Rojas is in the lineup at third.

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Kansas City Royals second baseman Michael Massey (ankle) has been returned from his rehab assignment at Triple-A Omaha due to lingering injury concerns and will be re-evaluated. He was pulled from his last rehab game on June 29 after being hit by a pitch. The 26-year-old has struggled to stay on the field this season, and his .202 average with just two homers across 209 plate appearances offers little to be optimistic about. With Kansas City fading from playoff contention and Massey unable to stay healthy or produce, he holds no fantasy relevance outside deep AL-only leagues. Massey remains day-to-day, with no timetable for his return.

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