Baltimore's 1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand scored 28.5 fantasy points going 8-for-19 with three home runs and nine RBIs in five games this week. Encarnacion-Strand is owned only in 0.9% of mixed leagues.

Arizona Diamondbacks' C Gabriel Moreno scored 25.5 fantasy points going 9-for-23 with a home run and six RBIs in six games this week. Moreno is owned in 72.2% of mixed leagues.

Tampa Bay's C Nick Fortes scored 29.0 fantasy points going 10-for-15 with two home runs and seven RBIs in four games this week. Fortes is owned only in 3.4% of mixed leagues.

Detroit's 2B Hao-Yu Lee scored 26.5 fantasy points going 8-for-19 with two home runs and six RBIs in six games this week. Lee is owned only in 0.0% of mixed leagues.

Miami Marlins' LF Esteury Ruiz had four stolen bases and a .333 average in five games this week. Ruiz is owned only in 3.8% of mixed leagues.

Houston Astros' 3B Isaac Paredes scored 28.5 fantasy points going 7-for-18 with two home runs and seven RBIs in five games this week. Paredes is owned in 53.0% of mixed leagues.

Padres' 2B Luis Rengifo scored 26.0 fantasy points going 8-for-19 with two home runs and seven RBIs in six games this week. Rengifo is owned only in 0.1% of mixed leagues.

Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (wrist) has started to make some progress on his road to return. Rutschman was able to throw on the field ahead of Saturday's game versus the Atlanta Braves. He has not started catching yet, so Rutschman still has some hurdles to jump before rejoining the O's lineup. He's eligible to come off the Injured List on Wednesday. Fantasy managers should check back in the middle of next week for another update on his status.

From RotoBaller

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Ranger Suarez (groin, illness) will return to the mound for Sunday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. There was some speculation that Suarez's start would be pushed back while he recovers from an illness. He was deemed healthy, so Suarez is back on the mound for the first time since early July. During the first half, Suarez posted a 3.15 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 97/26 K/BB ratio across 91.1 innings of work. He should be rostered and started in just about every fantasy format. The move to start Suarez on Sunday will push Payton Tolle back to Monday's game against the Athletics.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Carson Whisenhunt will be recalled to take the mound against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. The Giants have decided to call upon Whisenhunt to fill the void in the rotation left by Trevor McDonald (elbow), who landed on the Injured List. Whisenhunt has only started two games for the Giants this season, but has pitched well in Triple-A Sacramento. The 25-year-old figures to get an extended look with McDonald out and the Giants likely to move some veteran pitchers at the trade deadline. Whisenhunt draws a favorable start on Sunday and could be worth snagging in deeper mixed leagues.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee) won't throw his scheduled bullpen session on Saturday. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Ohtani has "kicked the can" on his bullpen session because his knee wasn't feeling 100 percent healthy. The Dodgers remain confident that Ohtani will pitch again this season. Given where they sit in the standings, the Dodgers have little incentive to push Ohtani back to the mound. The 31-year-old will continue to serve as the designated hitter, but it's unclear when he'll get back on the mound. Fantasy managers shouldn't be confident that they'll get much of anything from Ohtani as a pitcher down the stretch of the season.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (elbow) is expected to be activated from the Injured List on Wednesday, according to David Vassegh. He'll make one final rehab appearance with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday. Diaz is finally ready to return after being sidelined since April 20 due to right elbow surgery. The expectation is that Diaz will take over the closer role once he's back in the Dodgers' bullpen. Tanner Scott should have a few more days in the closer role before Diaz returns. The 32-year-old should be rostered in basically all fantasy formats.

From RotoBaller

New York Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. is putting together an impressive season in the minor leagues. There have been rumblings that Lombard could head to the big leagues this season. Across three different leagues, Lombard is slashing .281/.408/.500 with 11 home runs, 29 RBI, and 12 steals in 70 games. The 21-year-old has played so well that he has put himself in the conversation for a promotion, according to Bryan Hoch. Lombard has played fewer than 50 games at Triple-A, so the Yankees might opt to continue having him get reps there. However, the former first-round pick could force the Yankees' hand if he continues to hit this well.

From RotoBaller

The New York Mets announced on Saturday that they placed outfielder Juan Soto (calf) on the 10-day injured list with a strained left calf and recalled infielder Eric Wagaman from Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move. Soto, who already spent time on the IL in the first half of the season with a right-calf strain, has been bothered by his left calf since the first game after the All-Star break, and he was pulled from Friday's series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers with more discomfort in his left calf. An MRI exam showed a Grade 2 strain, and interim manager Andy Green said that Soto will miss more than the two weeks that he missed in April with his right-calf strain. It's a major bummer for fantasy managers, as the five-time All-Star has hit 21 homers and 52 RBI in only 84 games this season. Soto must be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues while he heals. With Soto sidelined, the switch-hitting Jorge Polanco figures to be the Mets' primary designated hitter.

From RotoBaller

Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan (arm) was scratched from his scheduled start on Sunday on extra rest against the Athletics due to right-arm fatigue, according to Twins reporter Audra Martin. Manager Derek Shelton said the Twins expect Ryan to pitch at some point against the division-rival Kansas City Royals next week in a series that starts on Tuesday, July 28. Minnesota elected to give the 30-year-old two-time All-Star some extra rest after his last start, in which he allowed eight runs on 10 hits (a career-high six home runs) with three strikeouts in only four innings against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, but Ryan still isn't ready this weekend. Ryan is still having a fine 2026 season with a 6-6 record, 3.38 ERA (3.42 FIP) and 1.10 WHIP with 131 strikeouts and 25 walks in 114 1/3 innings across 21 starts, but he'll be more of a risk in starting fantasy lineups when/if he takes the hill against KC next week. He's struggled in his two starts against the Royals this year, too, posting a 5.40 ERA with two walks and eight K's in 10 innings pitched.

From RotoBaller

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge took the loss in Friday's 7-6 defeat to the Atlanta Braves, allowing four unearned runs on two hits over two-thirds of the 10th inning. A throwing error by Jackson Holliday brought home the go-ahead run before Kittredge recorded two strikeouts, but Matt Olson followed with a three-run homer. Because all four runs were unearned, Kittredge's ERA dropped from 3.86 to 3.77. The larger fantasy concern came one inning earlier, when Tyler Wells worked a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts in a tied game. Wells ranks 53rd in RotoBaller's weekend waiver rankings with a 12-team recommendation, while Kittredge was left off the list after carrying a 15-team tag at midweek. Nearly every Yahoo waiver wire still has Kittredge available, with his roster rate at 6%. He remains worth monitoring in deep saves leagues, but Friday's usage pushed him further behind Wells and removed any urgency in standard formats.

From RotoBaller

Former MLB outfielder Yasiel Puig's sentencing has been postponed for a third time while the judge continues considering his post-conviction motion for acquittal, according to Sam Blum of The Athletic. Puig was convicted by a federal jury Feb. 6 of one count of obstruction of justice and one count of making false statements in connection with an investigation into an illegal sports gambling ring. No new sentencing date has been set.

From RotoBaller

Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Jordan Romano worked around two leadoff singles to close out Friday's 5-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, retiring the next three hitters to earn his eighth save. Romano allowed two hits and struck out one in the scoreless inning. It was his fourth save in as many chances since joining Colorado's bullpen, where he has surrendered one earned run with nine strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. Colorado has not formally named a closer, but Romano is getting the opportunities that matter. Each of his seven appearances for the club has come in the ninth inning, and he has converted every save chance. His 10.13 ERA with the Los Angeles Angels earlier this season remains a warning, especially after he allowed two baserunners Friday. Still, 94% of Yahoo leagues have left Romano on the waiver wire. He is a priority saves pickup in 12-team leagues and deeper and a viable target in competitive 10-team formats.

From RotoBaller

Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (thumb) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Saturday, while infielder Max Muncy was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. Kurtz had been out since July 10 with a right thumb capsule sprain, which also kept him out of the All-Star Game. The 23-year-old returns with a .266/.405/.497 slash line, 20 home runs, 61 runs, 66 RBI, and seven steals in 92 games. Kurtz can go right back into fantasy lineups. Muncy returns to Las Vegas four days after being recalled when Joshua Kuroda-Grauer landed on the injured list following surgery.

From RotoBaller

Cleveland Guardians first base/outfield prospect Ralphy Velazquez is an ideal fantasy prospect due to his 60-grade power and 50-grade hit tool. Between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus, Velazquez has had a nice age-21 season, but he has slowed down a bit statistically at Columbus in July. In 53 July at-bats, Velazquez is hitting .208 with two homers, eight RBI, and a .333 on-base percentage. All in all, between Double and Triple-A this season, Velazquez has 11 homers and 48 RBI while hitting .282 with 45 runs scored and a .378 on-base percentage. The left-handed hitting first baseman/outfielder was a former first-round pick by the Guardians in 2023, but might be looking at finishing this season in the minors. A premium dynasty prospect, Velazquez might be looking at 2027 as his time for a big league debut.

From RotoBaller