Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said he expects starting pitcher Jack Flaherty (forearm) to miss "more than the minimum" 15 days with his current forearm injury, per Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. Flaherty was placed on the 15-day injured list on July 21 due to right flexor inflammation. The veteran right-hander has yet to resume throwing, and it appears he could be facing an extended absence. Across 86 1/3 innings (19 starts) before the injury, Flaherty recorded a 3-8 record with a 4.59 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and 102 strikeouts. The 30-year-old has maintained a strong 26.2% strikeout rate this season, but he's walked 10.8% of the batters he's faced and has allowed a 46.2% hard-hit rate. With Flaherty sidelined, Tigers right-hander Keider Montero has rejoined the team's starting rotation.

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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow (back) is scheduled to throw a second live bullpen session on Wednesday, per Katie Woo of The Athletic. Glasnow has been sidelined since early May due to lower back issues, but it appears as though he could be nearing a minor league rehab assignment. Across 39 2/3 innings (seven starts) before the injury, Glasnow recorded a 3-0 record with a 2.72 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and 49 strikeouts. The oft-injured 32-year-old has basically never made it through a big-league season healthy, which limits his fantasy value. However, he remains an ultra-high-upside starting pitcher when healthy, as he's logged a K-BB rate above 24% in seven out of the last eight seasons. Once healthy, Glasnow profiles as a must-start pitcher who can provide short bursts of dominance for fantasy managers.

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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that catcher Will Smith (neck) is "pain-free" and has resumed baseball activities, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Smith is currently on the 60-day injured list and has not played since June 5 due to ongoing neck issues. However, it appears as though the 31-year-old is ramping up and could be close to going out on a minor league rehab assignment. Across 201 plate appearances before landing on the IL, Smith hit .249/.338/.382 with six home runs, 23 RBI, and 23 runs scored. While his numbers were below his usual standard, Smith may have been hampered by the neck troubles. The veteran catcher's underlying metrics remained strong, as he struck out in just 16.9% of his plate appearances while posting a 13.4% barrel rate. If Smith can make it back to full health, he profiles as a must-start fantasy catcher.

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Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell (elbow) will make a rehab start with Single-A Ontario on Wednesday. This will be Snell's third appearance on his current rehab stint as he works his way back from elbow surgery. Thanks to both elbow and shoulder issues, the 33-year-old has thrown just three innings in the big leagues so far this season. However, recent reporting indicates that Snell is expected to throw about 60 pitches on Wednesday and could be activated by the Dodgers following the start, assuming he makes it through without any hiccups. Snell remains a high-end starting pitcher when healthy, as he recorded a 5-4 record with a 2.35 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 72 strikeouts across 61 1/3 innings (11 starts) for the Dodgers in 2025. As long as he can avoid injury over the final two months of the regular season, he carries league-winning upside for fantasy managers.

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Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (hip) exited early from his team's game against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday due to right hip soreness, according to Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Buxton was hitless in two at-bats before being removed from the contest. Injuries have been a persistent problem in Buxton's career, as he's reached 400 plate appearances just twice in 11 MLB seasons (not including 2026). While he's largely been able to stay on the field so far this year, Buxton has already logged one stint on the injured list due to hip issues and now could be ticketed for a second. The 32-year-old remains a highly productive player when healthy, as he's hit .263/.320/.544 with 25 home runs, 45 RBI, 57 runs scored, and seven stolen bases across 362 plate appearances in 2026. If Buxton misses time, Twins outfielders Austin Martin and Alan Roden could both be in line for an increase in playing time.

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Milwaukee Brewers first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers (toe) has been diagnosed with a fractured right big toe after he fouled a ball off himself in Monday's game against the San Francisco Giants, but he said it's an old fracture that X-rays picked up, according to Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. It sounds as though Bauers could avoid a stint on the injured list, and it will be a pain-management situation for him going forward. The 30-year-old left-handed hitter is not in the team's starting lineup for Game 2 of the series in San Francisco, and it's unclear when the Brewers might consider having him rejoin the starting nine. Andrew Vaughn will start at first base, with Luis Lara starting in right field against Giants right-hander Landen Roupp. Bauers should be held where he's rostered (73% in Yahoo leagues) in the midst of his career year in his third season with the Brewers. The former seventh-rounder by the San Diego Padres in 2013 already has a career-high 18 long balls with 60 RBI, 62 runs, eight steals, and a .265/.370/.486 slash line in his 97 games and 381 plate appearances in 2026.

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The San Francisco Giants announced on Tuesday that they placed infielder/outfielder Casey Schmitt (knee) on the 10-day injured list with a left-knee meniscus tear and selected the contract of infielder Osleivis Basabe from Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move. The severity of Schmitt's meniscus tear has yet to be revealed, but there's a chance that he'll miss the rest of the 2026 season. The 27-year-old utility man is in the midst of a career year in the Bay Area, so it would be a really tough break for him to be forced to miss the rest of his fourth season in the big leagues. Schmitt has hit .271/.301/.483 with a .784 OPS, a career-high 21 home runs, 55 RBI, 47 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in 98 games across 409 plate appearances. Making him even more attractive in all fantasy leagues is the fact that he's eligible at first base, second base, third base, and the outfield in Yahoo leagues. For the foreseeable future and potentially the rest of the way in the second half, Christian Koss could see most of the playing time at the hot corner in San Fran for the Gigantes. He's starting at third and batting ninth on Tuesday against Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Logan Henderson.

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Boston Red Sox newly acquired infielder Curtis Mead (wrist) is being placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday with a fractured left wrist that he suffered when he was hit by a pitch in his debut with the team on Monday against the Athletics. It's unclear how long Mead will be sidelined, but he obviously won't be ready to return in 10 days, and he could struggle to return before the end of the 2026 regular season, depending on how his wrist heals. It's a really tough break for the 25-year-old Aussie and Boston, who just sent left-hander Connelly Early to the Washington Nationals for Mead over the weekend in the midst of his breakout campaign. Mead has hit .253/.353/.498 with an .851 OPS, a career-high 17 home runs, 48 RBI, 49 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 88 games across 329 plate appearances in his fourth year in the majors. His previous career high for homers was three last season with the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago White Sox. Mead is now rostered in under half of Yahoo leagues after his unfortunate injury. Anthony Seigler figures to see most of the playing time in Beantown at the keystone moving forward, with Nick Sogard also being an option to pick up starts at the position.

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The Miami Marlins are open to trading catcher/first baseman Liam Hicks, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Hicks has played more at first base/designated hitter in Miami due to the presence of Joe Mack at catcher, and the team also has the power/speed threat of Agustin Ramirez at catcher in the minor leagues. The catching market has six suitors -- the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, and Los Angeles Dodgers -- but the options on the trade market are not overwhelming. Feinsand also adds that the St. Louis Cardinals could be open to moving either Pedro Pages or Ivan Herrera, as they have two big catching prospects in the minors in Rainiel Rodriguez and Leo Bernal. The Marlins have become sellers again after a recent 12-game losing streak, and the lefty-hitting Hicks would be quite attractive to contenders after his breakout 2026 season. Going into Tuesday's action, the Canadian native is hitting .279/.358/.438 with a .796 OPS, 14 home runs, 60 RBI, 54 runs scored, and three stolen bases across his 333 at-bats in his second full season in the majors.

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Philadelphia Phillies All-Star outfielder Kyle Schwarber (illness) is out of Tuesday's lineup against the division-rival Miami Marlins due to a gastrointestinal issue that is similar to something he dealt with earlier this year, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. The Phillies are hoping Schwarber will only be out for a day or two. With Schwarber under the weather on Tuesday, first baseman Bryce Harper is serving as the designated hitter and is batting third, with Alec Bohm playing first base and hitting cleanup against Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara. Edmundo Sosa is at the hot corner and is batting sixth for the Phils. The 33-year-old Schwarber is a must-start fantasy asset when he's healthy for his elite power from the left side of the plate and his high on-base percentage despite striking out 34.4% of the time. Going into Tuesday's action, Schwarbs still leads baseball in both home runs (33) and strikeouts (157) in 103 games across 457 plate appearances. He's carrying a modest five-game hitting streak right now that has seen him go 6-for-18 with two doubles, an RBI, and four runs scored.

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Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez (hand) will be back in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander Brandon Pfaadt, according to Jason Mackey. Valdez will return to action a day after he was hit by a pitch on his left hand, which caused him to be removed from Monday's game early. Thankfully, tests on Valdez's hand came back negative for any fractures. The 22-year-old Dominican has been excellent in his first 124 major-league at-bats in 2026, slashing .290/.386/.702 with a 1.088 OPS, 14 home runs, 36 RBI, and 26 runs scored across his 38 games and 145 plate appearances. Valdez has been one of the most popular waiver-wire pickups for his power. Although he still has a 1.043 OPS in 21 games in July, Valdez has cooled off of late, going 3-for-16 with eight strikeouts in his last six games. Fantasy managers will be hoping that he can turn things around in his return on Tuesday at PNC Park.

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Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (knee) had a successful medial meniscectomy on Tuesday as well as a platelet-rich plasma injection in his knee, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. There is no timetable for Langeliers' return, but he has yet to be officially ruled out for the rest of the season. Langeliers didn't have a full repair of his torn meniscus, so there's a chance he could be back for the A's in three to six weeks. Fantasy managers should continue to stash the elite power-hitting catcher for now, but keep in mind that the A's will be in no rush to bring Langeliers back, especially if they are even further from playoff contention later in the second half. In the meantime, the lefty-hitting Jonah Heim will operate as the team's primary backstop, giving him fantasy value in two-catcher leagues for his pop from the left side. Langeliers' injury is a major blow to the A's and fantasy managers, as he was already at 23 home runs with a .263/.332/.497 slash line and .829 OPS through his 376 at-bats in 2026.

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Colorado Rockies outfielder Cole Carrigg has settled into everyday work in center field while producing a .287/.360/.519 slash line with five home runs, 26 RBI, 30 runs, and three stolen bases through 151 plate appearances. The rookie has appeared in 39 of Colorado's 41 games since his June 9 debut and started 34 of them, giving fantasy managers both steady volume and production across the standard categories. The stolen-base total should have room to grow after Carrigg swiped 30 bags in 57 Triple-A games before his promotion. His five homers are useful, though a 34.0% hard-hit rate and .414 expected slugging percentage suggest the current power pace may be difficult to maintain. Only 22% of Yahoo leagues have Carrigg rostered, and he sits 32nd in RotoBaller's Week 18 waiver rankings with an add recommendation for 12-team formats. The combination of regular playing time, runs, average, and power-speed upside makes him a priority addition at that league depth.

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Los Angeles Dodgers infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman has hit his way back into mixed-league relevance since returning from right ankle surgery. He is batting .337/.414/.490 with two home runs, 17 RBI, 17 runs, and three stolen bases through 113 plate appearances. A .413 BABIP warns that the average will cool, but a .317 expected average, 89.4 mph average exit velocity, and 40.5% hard-hit rate show he has not simply been getting lucky. Edman's 2B/3B/OF eligibility makes him easy to keep active even as Los Angeles moves him around the diamond. He will not carry a roster in power or steals, but he can help across the board without leaving managers exposed in any one category. Edman is still sitting on the waiver wire in 67% of Yahoo leagues and ranks 34th in RotoBaller's Week 18 rankings, with an add recommendation for 12-team formats. He should already be rostered at that depth.

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Minnesota Twins infielder/outfielder Kody Clemens is batting .243/.299/.488 with 18 home runs, 49 RBI, and seven stolen bases across 338 at-bats. He needs one more homer to match the career-high 19 he set last season, and the underlying contact supports the power. Clemens owns a 92.7 mph average exit velocity, 47.1% hard-hit rate, and 12.2% barrel rate, so this is more than a brief hot streak. A .250 expected average suggests his current mark is reasonable, although a 23.0% strikeout rate can still lead to uneven stretches. Clemens has appeared at first base, second base, and all three outfield positions, with Yahoo eligibility at 1B/2B/OF. Yahoo managers have passed on him in 61% of leagues, while RotoBaller ranks him 59th in its Week 18 waiver rankings with an add recommendation for 12-team formats. Managers seeking power and lineup flexibility should roster him at that depth.

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Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto and New York Mets starting pitcher Freddy Peralta are among the players drawing trade interest from the Tampa Bay Rays. The Angels are listening on Neto but have placed a high asking price on the 25-year-old, who is batting .235/.326/.440 with 19 home runs, 46 RBI, 71 runs, and 13 steals in 104 games. Peralta has struggled in New York, going 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and 113 strikeouts across 113 2/3 innings over 22 starts. He can become a free agent after the season, while Neto remains under club control through 2029. Tampa Bay is considering another starter to help manage its rotation workloads, but neither player appears close to being moved. Their fantasy outlooks remain unchanged for now.

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New York Mets starting pitcher Christian Scott has turned his first season back from Tommy John surgery into a useful source of strikeouts. The 27-year-old owns a 3.13 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 78 strikeouts across 63 1/3 innings, while his 28.8% strikeout rate is up sharply from 19.8% as a rookie in 2024. Scott's four-seam fastball has climbed from 94.2 mph to 95.4 mph, and opponents are batting .211 with a 34.1% whiff rate against his sweeper. The workload and control still create some risk. Scott has not completed six innings in any of his 14 starts, carries a 10.7% walk rate, and owns a 4.01 expected ERA. He also lasted only 3 2/3 innings against Milwaukee on July 22, allowing three runs and three walks. Even so, he remains available in 72% of Yahoo leagues and ranks 52nd in RotoBaller's Week 18 waiver rankings. Scott is a priority strikeout addition in 12-team leagues.

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Minnesota Twins infielder/outfielder Luke Keaschall is batting .258/.353/.342 with four home runs, 30 RBI, 51 runs, and 13 stolen bases through 388 plate appearances. His 15.5% strikeout rate and 10.3% walk rate help him reach base often enough to contribute in runs and steals, while regular work at second base and both outfield spots keeps his bat in the lineup. Power remains the obvious weakness. Keaschall has produced an 84.6 mph average exit velocity, 28.3% hard-hit rate, and 2.9% barrel rate, and his .231 expected average adds some risk to the current batting average. Still, speed and 2B/OF eligibility give him a useful fantasy floor. Keaschall is rostered in 57% of Yahoo leagues and ranks 42nd in RotoBaller's Week 18 waiver rankings, with an add recommendation for 12-team formats. Managers seeking runs and steals should consider him a strong addition.

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New York Yankees right-handed pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange (right shoulder) has resumed throwing after a capsular sprain shut him down, according to Greg Joyce of the New York Post. Lagrange last pitched for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on June 25 and went on the seven-day injured list July 2. The Yankees initially expected him to stop throwing for approximately six weeks, so this is an encouraging step. There is still no timetable for mound work or a return to game action. The 23-year-old has a 4.55 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 83 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings this season. Lagrange remains a dynasty-league hold, but he has no immediate redraft value while his return date and possible path to the Yankees bullpen remain uncertain.

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Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Shane Drohan has a 3.51 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 82 strikeouts against 23 walks through 82 innings. The left-hander has remained in the rotation for 10 consecutive starts since June 1, and his underlying numbers support more than short-term streaming value. Drohan owns a 3.33 expected ERA, 24.0% strikeout rate, and 6.7% walk rate. Drohan did allow five earned runs over six innings against the Colorado Rockies on Friday, July 24, so he is not an automatic start in every matchup. Even so, one poor outing does not erase the stable role, solid ratios, and strikeout-per-inning production. Roughly two-thirds of Yahoo leagues still have Drohan available, while RotoBaller ranks him 71st among its current waiver options with a recommendation for 12-team formats. He belongs on rosters in standard mixed leagues, even if managers remain selective with tougher matchups.

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