Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Ryan Helsley (right elbow) has resumed throwing while recovering from inflammation around his UCL. The 32-year-old has been sidelined since feeling discomfort while warming in the bullpen July 1. An MRI showed no ligament damage, but this is his second right-elbow IL stint of the season after he was also out from May 1 through June 16. Baltimore transferred Helsley to the 60-day injured list July 19, leaving him ineligible to return until late August. He has a 4.11 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 21 strikeouts, and eight saves in 15 1/3 innings over 17 appearances. Resuming throwing is a meaningful step, though no timetable has been announced for mound work or a rehab assignment. He remains a stash in leagues with IL space.

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Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (hamstring) is back in the starting lineup Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Guerrero left Tuesday's loss to Washington after feeling tightness in his right hamstring while reaching first base and turning toward second on an infield single. He sat out Wednesday before Toronto's scheduled off-day Thursday. The 27-year-old returns with a .264 batting average, six home runs, 44 RBI, seven stolen bases, and a .700 OPS this season. Fantasy managers can get Guerrero back into their lineups immediately.

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Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (left wrist) is scheduled to resume hitting Saturday and could begin a minor-league rehab assignment sometime next week. Rutschman has been on the 10-day injured list since July 20, retroactive to July 19, with left wrist inflammation. The issue first surfaced on a swing during Baltimore's July 17 game in Houston, though he remained in the lineup the following day. Rutschman resumed throwing in the outfield July 25, making Saturday's hitting work the next important test for the wrist. The 28-year-old is batting .251 with 19 doubles, eight home runs, 47 RBI, and a .764 OPS in 67 games. Fantasy managers should continue holding him while waiting to see whether he is cleared for rehab games.

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Miami Marlins outfielder Heriberto Hernandez is batting .238/.307/.480 with 16 home runs, 43 RBI, 29 runs, and seven stolen bases across 256 at-bats. The power has firm support beneath it. Hernandez owns a 92.2 mph average exit velocity, 51.1% hard-hit rate, and 13.2% barrel rate, while his .506 expected slugging percentage sits comfortably above his actual mark. The batting average will remain volatile because of a 25.2% strikeout rate, but Hernandez has played regularly in Miami's corner outfield and already provides more than home runs alone. Reaching 20 homers and 10 steals is firmly within range with two months remaining. Despite that profile, only 18% of Yahoo leagues have him rostered. RotoBaller ranks Hernandez 36th among its Week 18 waiver options and recommends him for 12-team formats. His combination of legitimate power and useful speed makes him a strong addition at that league depth.

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Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Griffin Jax has settled into a full-time rotation role and now owns a 3.74 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 92 strikeouts across 86 2/3 innings. He struck out 10 Texas Rangers while allowing one earned run on five hits and three walks over 5 2/3 innings Tuesday, although Tampa Bay's quiet offense left him with the loss in a 4-1 game. The occasional blowup remains the concern, most recently when Boston tagged Jax for seven runs on July 17. His strikeout ability, stable workload, and SP/RP eligibility still make that risk worth accepting. RotoBaller's Week 18 rankings had Jax on 53% of Yahoo rosters and placed him 20th overall with an add recommendation for leagues of 10 teams or deeper. He is too valuable to remain available at that league depth.

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New York Mets starting pitcher Christian Scott strengthened his case for a permanent 12-team roster spot Wednesday, allowing one run on five hits and one walk while striking out seven over six innings against the Atlanta Braves. It was his longest start of the season and lowered his ERA to 2.99. Scott now has 85 strikeouts in 69 1/3 innings, giving fantasy managers plenty of value even when he does not work deep into games. The control and workload still deserve attention. Scott has issued 30 walks, and Wednesday was the first time he completed six innings in 15 starts. Still, his 1.24 WHIP is manageable, and the Mets continue to give him regular turns in the rotation. Only 29% of Yahoo leagues have Scott rostered, while RotoBaller ranks him 52nd among its Week 18 waiver options with an add recommendation for 12-team formats. He has pitched his way beyond streamer status at that depth.

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Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (illness) is back in the starting lineup Friday against the Baltimore Orioles after missing the past two games with a gastrointestinal issue. Schwarber last appeared Monday against the Miami Marlins, reaching base twice and scoring a run. The 33-year-old returns with a .252 batting average, 33 home runs, 62 RBI, and a .910 OPS this season. The illness only cost him two games, and fantasy managers can put one of Philadelphia's top power hitters back into their lineups.

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New York Mets starting pitcher Freddy Peralta has been scratched from his start against the Miami Marlins on Friday due to "interest in him picking up from contenders," per Joel Sherman of the New York Post. With the Mets currently 16 games under .500 and Peralta set to hit free agency at the end of the season, the veteran right-hander appears to be a near-lock to be moved at the upcoming trade deadline. Peralta has had a down year so far in 2026, recording a 5-9 record with a 4.99 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and 113 strikeouts across 113 2/3 innings (22 starts). However, the 30-year-old posted three straight 200-plus strikeout seasons from 2023 through 2025. He's reportedly drawn interest from a wide range of contending teams and could be in line for a strong close to the season following a change in scenery.

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Tampa Bay Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said that starting pitcher Shane McClanahan (back) will be placed on the 15-day injured list, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Topkin also reports that Neander characterized McClanahan's injury as "pretty minor" and that the team is hopeful he will only miss two starts. After missing the entire 2024 and 2025 seasons due to elbow and triceps injuries, McClanahan has managed to stay relatively healthy in 2026. Across 99 1/3 innings (20 starts) on the year, the 29-year-old has recorded a 9-6 record with a 3.09 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 91 strikeouts. McClanahan may not carry the same high-end upside he did before his extended battle with arm troubles, but he remains a quality source of ratios for fantasy managers when healthy.

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The New York Mets are asking teams for a "top-100 prospect and more" in return for starting pitcher Freddy Peralta, according to Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. With the Mets currently 16 games under .500 and Peralta set to hit free agency at the end of the season, the veteran right-hander is one of the safer bets to be moved at the upcoming trade deadline. Peralta's value around the league may be at a relative low point, as he's recorded a 5-9 record with a 4.99 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and 113 strikeouts across 113 2/3 innings (22 starts) on the year. Still, the 30-year-old recorded a 2.70 ERA with a 28.2% strikeout rate across 176 2/3 innings in 2025. He may be one of the few available arms at the deadline who carries true high-end upside for contenders.

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Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter/starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (knee) may be battling discomfort in his left knee for the remainder of 2026, per Katie Woo and Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Ohtani has not pitched since July 3 due to nagging knee issues. While he's continued to play nearly every day as the Dodgers' designated hitter, he has not attempted to steal a base since May 22. The 32-year-old remains one of the best hitters in baseball even while playing at less than 100%, as he's slashed .289/.394/.537 with 23 home runs, 65 RBI, 68 runs scored, and six stolen bases across 456 plate appearances. However, Ohtani's barrel rate is down to 16.6% after he posted consecutive seasons with at least a 21% barrel rate in 2024 and 2025. It appears that fantasy managers may have to get used to slightly muted production from Ohtani the rest of the way.

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New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (leg) is not in the lineup for his team's matchup against the Chicago Cubs on Friday. Chisholm Jr. was pulled from the Yankees' loss to the Chicago White Sox on Thursday due to what the team described as cramping. To this point, there's been no indication that Chisholm Jr. is dealing with a more significant injury. The 28-year-old is slashing .224/.261/.384 with a 35.8% strikeout rate this season against left-handed pitching, so New York could simply be looking to get him out of the lineup against Cubs southpaw Shota Imanaga. Still, fantasy managers should monitor Chisholm Jr.'s status closely in the coming days. Across 405 plate appearances overall in 2026, Chisholm Jr. is hitting .224/.301/.407 with 16 home runs, 45 RBI, 53 runs scored, and 30 stolen bases. Even in a down year, he remains a high-end power/speed threat for fantasy managers.

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Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Michael Soroka (glute) is scheduled to make a rehab start with Triple-A Reno on Tuesday, per John Gambadoro of 98.7 FM Phoenix. Gambadoro reports that the team's plan for Soroka is for him to throw "around 50-60 pitches." Soroka has been on the 15-day injured list since late June due to a left groin strain. However, it appears he could be on the verge of a return to the big leagues if all goes well on Tuesday. The 28-year-old got off to a strong start to the season before the injury, recording an 8-3 record with a 3.07 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 79 strikeouts across 82 innings (15 starts). Soroka does not profile as an elite source of strikeouts (23.7% strikeout rate), but he limits walks (5.1% walk rate) and power (0.66 HR/9). Once healthy, the veteran right-hander profiles as a steady innings eater for fantasy managers.

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New York Mets rookie outfielder A.J. Ewing can contribute across all fantasy baseball formats and is getting enough playing time to make him relevant in mixed leagues to close out the 2026 campaign. In his first 69 major-league contests across 279 plate appearances in 2026, Ewing is hitting .268/.339/.411 with a .750 OPS, seven home runs, 12 doubles, 27 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and 32 runs scored for the last-place Mets. He is hitting a modest .258 (24-for-93) with a .713 OPS, three home runs, five doubles, eight RBI, 14 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 23 games (102 plate appearances) in July, but he continues to contribute everywhere and has a high long-term ceiling, primarily for his speed and amazing contact skills at the plate. Ewing's work against lefties is also very encouraging, as he's gone 17-for-63 (.270) against them with two of his seven home runs on the year. Fantasy managers searching for outfield depth upgrades could do a lot worse than an emerging young player like Ewing off the waiver wire. Ewing is rostered in only 29% of Yahoo leagues.

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Colorado Rockies rookie first baseman TJ Rumfield just continues to hit, and yet he is still rostered in under half of Yahoo leagues. Rumfield has become the Rockies' everyday starter at first base in 2026 in his first year in the big leagues. He has not looked like a rookie, slashing .293/.376/.467 with an .843 OPS, 13 home runs, 53 RBI, and 46 runs scored in 106 games across 428 plate appearances. Rumfield has been pretty solid away from hitter-friendly Coors Field, too, batting .286 (54-for-189) on the road with five of his 13 home runs in 54 games played. The 26-year-old left-handed slugger has also held his own against southpaws, batting .252 (29-for-115) against them with two of his 13 home runs on the season. After hitting over .300 in both May and June, Rumfield has continued to hit in July, going 23-for-79 (.291) with a .764 OPS, a homer, four doubles, eight RBI, and nine runs scored in 23 games and 91 plate appearances. At 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, Rumfield doesn't pack quite as much punch as you'd think, but his hit tool is extremely strong. If you need an average boost, Rumfield is widely available on the waiver wire.

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Fantasy managers in all league formats need to consider picking up Detroit Tigers outfield prospect Max Clark off the waiver wire before he makes his major-league debut this weekend. The club's top overall prospect, per MLB Pipeline, is coming up from Triple-A Toledo after slashing .276/.368/.434 with 11 home runs and 21 bases in 90 games with the Mud Hens. The 21-year-old former third overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft should immediately take over in Detroit as the starting center fielder due to his prospect pedigree and five-category upside. The 5-foot-11, 205-pounder, who hits from the left side, has only average pop, but he has started lofting the ball in the air more often. Clark profiles more as a strong table-setter for the Tigers atop the lineup, and he could form a dangerous one-two punch for years to come with infielder Kevin McGonigle. Most intriguing for fantasy purposes with Clark is his plus-plus speed, so fantasy managers in need of that need to hop on Clark immediately.

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San Francisco Giants left-hander Erik Miller picked up another save in the 4-1 win over the division-rival San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Thursday, and he's becoming an option for fantasy managers in deeper leagues who are desperate for saves. The 28-year-old southpaw allowed a hit and struck out a batter on Thursday night to earn his fourth save of the year and his second in as many outings. He's beginning to gain the trust of manager Tony Vitello and appears to be the current favored option in the ninth inning over right-handers Caleb Kilian and Dylan Smith. Before picking up two saves in his last two appearances, Miller went 24 appearances without a save in the Giants' bullpen. On the year, the former fourth-rounder by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2019 out of Stanford University is 2-0 with a 2.78 ERA (3.26 FIP) and 1.39 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and 22 walks in 32 1/3 innings in his third year in the major leagues. Miller's four saves in 2026 are the first four saves of his career, but more opportunities should be coming before the year is up. He's rostered in only 4% of Yahoo leagues.

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It's becoming harder to recommend holding Pittsburgh Pirates left-handed reliever Gregory Soto after he took a loss on Thursday against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds. Soto entered a tied ballgame at 2-2 in the ninth inning and allowed the winning run on a hit, two walks, and a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning to lose his third game of the year. Despite the loss, the 31-year-old veteran southpaw did come into his appearance on Thursday in Cincinnati with seven straight scoreless outings, which included two saves with seven strikeouts and two walks. Despite being up and down all year, the Dominican reliever has been Pittsburgh's most consistent source of saves. Soto now sits at 5-3 with a 3.77 ERA (3.76 FIP), a 1.08 WHIP, 13 saves, 52 strikeouts, and 20 walks in 45 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. The leash is going to be short with Soto, and if more struggles follow, Mason Montgomery could begin to see more save opportunities in the Steel City. Soto is currently rostered in only 36% of Yahoo leagues.

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New York Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon (elbow) faced hitters in a "two-up" session of around 30 pitches on Wednesday, July 29, with Double-A Somerset, and "by all accounts, it went well," according to manager Aaron Boone. The skipper said it's still unclear if Rodon's next outing will come in a minor-league rehab game. The 33-year-old southpaw was placed on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to June 30) on July 3 with left-elbow inflammation, but he could return in early August if he avoids setbacks on his rehab assignment. Rodon should be stashed in an IL spot in most fantasy leagues (he's rostered in 82% of Yahoo leagues), especially with his return potentially not far off. He got a late start in 2026 after having surgery last October to remove loose bodies from his elbow, but he's been solid when available for the Yankees this year, going 4-2 with a 3.30 ERA (3.45 FIP) and 1.25 WHIP with 52 strikeouts and 26 walks in 46 1/3 innings over nine starts. The three-time All-Star can help nearly all fantasy teams down the stretch if he's healthy.

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With the Boston Red Sox recently losing infielder Curtis Mead (wrist) to a fractured wrist shortly after acquiring him from the Washington Nationals last weekend, they are looking for additional infield help at the trade deadline, and The Athletic reports that Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez and middle infielder Xavier Edwards are of interest to Boston. Like Mead, Edwards was acquired by the Tampa Bay Rays as a minor leaguer, and current Red Sox assistant general manager Taylor Smith worked for the Rays as the director of predictive modeling. Boston's preference appears to be a shortstop. While Edwards started 108 games for the Fish in 2024 and 205 at the 6, he lacks a strong arm, which is why the Marlins moved him to second base this year in favor of Lopez. In addition to Mead, shortstop options Trevor Story and Marcelo Mayer are also on the injured list in Boston right now, so they are desperately seeking middle-infield options as they push for a postseason berth down the stretch. The switch-hitting Edwards has above-average speed and makes elite contact at the plate. The 26-year-old is currently slashing a strong .292/.373/.401 with a .775 OPS, six homers, 39 RBI, 51 runs scored, and 18 stolen bases in 2026.

From RotoBaller