Boston Red Sox left-hander Connelly Early (elbow) will be getting a second opinion on his elbow after an MRI exam showed that he has posterior elbow inflammation, per MLB.com. It came a day after he left his start early against the Washington Nationals after four scoreless innings pitched on June 30. The Red Sox placed Early on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday, and he won't be eligible to rejoin Boston's starting rotation until after the All-Star break from July 13-16. Barring a more serious diagnosis after a second opinion, the young southpaw could have a chance to jump right back into the rotation to start the beginning of the second half of the season. In his first 17 starts in 2026 in his first full year in the majors, Early went 7-5 with a 3.44 ERA (4.62 FIP) and 1.25 WHIP with 93 strikeouts and 34 walks in 91 2/3 innings. The former fifth-round pick in 2023 out of the University of Virginia could be a sneaky waiver-wire pickup before he returns from the IL for the second half. He's rostered in exactly half of Yahoo leagues after his elbow injury.

From RotoBaller

Toronto Blue Jays veteran right-hander Max Scherzer (back) began his road back from yet another injury with a minor-league rehab start on Friday for High-A Vancouver. Scherzer was able to get up to three innings and allowed two earned runs on three hits while walking two and striking out three. It was the future Hall of Famer's first game since June 10, and he reportedly felt good after throwing 33 of his 49 pitches for strikes. The 41-year-old three-time Cy Young winner is recovering from back spasms, but he also missed extended time this year due to forearm tendinitis and other nagging issues. The Blue Jays aren't going to rush him back, and Scherzer is expected to need at least two more rehab starts before Toronto considers reinstating him from the 15-day injured list. The once-dominant right-hander continues to battle injuries near the end of his fantastic career and has only made six starts in 2026, going 1-4 with a 10.23 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts in 22 innings. Scherzer is only rostered in 3% of Yahoo leagues. Fantasy managers should continue to ignore him.

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Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (hamstring) ran at 85 percent intensity and performed his normal pre-game routine before the team's 5-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Friday, and he's hoping to return from the 10-day injured list at some point on the team's road trip next week, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. The three-time MVP and 11-time All-Star has been out since June 17 with a strained right hamstring. "I feel fine. Feel good. I haven't felt anything in like four or five days. I've just got to get a couple of 90-95 percent back-to-back days and then be good," Trout said. The 34-year-old future Hall of Famer took 15 to 20 swings off a tee, 15 to 20 swings off a machine, and then took four rounds of batting practice on Friday, also doing agility drills on the field, which included cutting in the outfield. Trout said he likely doesn't need a minor-league rehab assignment, and he's unsure if the team will be careful with him returning to center field next week in Texas because of the turf at Globe Life Field. Barring a setback, he's also hopeful he can participate in his first All-Star Game since 2019. Before his injury, Trout was hitting .234/.394/.472 with 17 homers, 36 RBI, 54 runs, and seven steals in 74 games, bouncing back from several injury-plagued seasons in recent years.

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Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (hip) is starting in center field and is batting second in his return to the lineup for Saturday's Fourth of July matchup on the road in the Bronx against the New York Yankees and right-hander Brendan Beck, according to MLB.com. A hip impingement kept Buxton out of the starting lineup for each of the last four games, but he's feeling better now and will return to the starting nine against a pitcher whom he has never faced. The 32-year-old veteran and two-time All-Star has stayed relatively healthy (for his standards) in 2026 and has been a must-start in all fantasy leagues, as he'll carry a .268/.325/.573 slash line with an .898 OPS, 25 home runs, 43 RBI, 56 runs scored, and seven stolen bases into Saturday's contest at Yankee Stadium. In 23 games (100 plate appearances) in June, Buxton went 27-for-94 (.287) with eight round-trippers, five doubles, 16 RBI, 16 runs scored, and three stolen bases. Get him back into your starting fantasy lineups for the holiday weekend.

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Washington Nationals outfielder Daylen Lile got in on the action in Friday night's 9-5 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates in a game in which the Nationals went deep five times. Lile went 3-for-4 at the plate with two home runs and four RBI to snap a 23-game streak without clearing the fences. He also boosted his season average to .256 and his OPS to .730. Not only did Lile snap a power drought, but he's recorded four extra-base hits in his first two games in July after going 12-for-55 (.218) with two homers, four doubles, six RBI, six runs, no walks, and eight strikeouts in his last 15 games. Overall, in his second year in the big leagues with the Nationals, the former second-rounder in 2021 is batting .256/.309/.421 with a .730 OPS, 10 home runs, 43 RBI, 48 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in 87 games after he had a .299/.347/.498 slash line with nine homers, 41 RBI, 51 runs, and eight steals in 91 games in his rookie campaign in 2025. Lile is a sneaky source of power and speed in deeper fantasy leagues, and he's rostered in 63% of Yahoo leagues.

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Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger is not going to fill every category, but few hitters this available can match his home run and RBI production. The Texas Rangers first baseman is batting .246/.310/.425 with 14 homers, 52 RBI, and 38 runs across 313 at-bats. He has appeared at first base in 84 of his 85 games, so playing time is not the concern. Burger's 46.5% hard-hit rate and 90.1 mph average exit velocity also back up the power case. Managers will have to live with some empty stretches and almost no speed. Burger has only two steals, and his 9.3% barrel rate is solid rather than elite. That is a reasonable tradeoff for a regular bat who can help in two scarce categories. RotoBaller recommends him in leagues with 10 or more teams, while he remains rostered in just 28% of Yahoo leagues. In those formats, he should be added wherever home runs and RBI are the priority.

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Miami Marlins first baseman/outfielder Kyle Stowers' bat is starting to heat up as the weather warms. In the Marlins' 12-5 win on the road in Sacramento against the Athletics on Friday night, he went 4-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI, and three runs scored to boost his season average to .243 and his OPS to .787. Both long balls were light-tower shots into the night at hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park. After a slow start offensively following his breakout season in 2025, the 28-year-old left-handed hitter has come alive of late, going 20-for-58 (.345) with five home runs, five doubles, two triples, 15 RBI, and 12 runs scored in 15 games across 67 plate appearances. The strong stretch for the former Stanford product has boosted his overall line in 2026 to .243/.330/.457, and he's added 10 home runs, 37 RBI, 33 runs scored, and a stolen base in his 243 at-bats. Fantasy managers need to ride the wave with Stowers' power while he remains hot.

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Henry Bolte has already become one of the better speed pickups on the wire. The Athletics outfielder is batting .293/.376/.373 with 15 runs, 14 RBI, two home runs, and 11 steals across 150 at-bats. He has also appeared in center field 46 times since his May promotion, so the playing time has been steady. Bolte leads the majors with a 30.5 feet-per-second sprint speed, giving him a chance to make a real difference in stolen bases. The power is still a work in progress. Bolte has hit the ball hard, but his 64.4% ground-ball rate and 27.6% strikeout rate help explain why he has only two homers. That does not take away from what he can offer right now. RotoBaller recommends him in leagues with 10 or more teams, and Yahoo managers have pushed his roster rate to just 13% so far. Anyone chasing speed should act before the rest of the market catches up.

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Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (bicep) came out of Friday's game against the division-rival San Diego Padres in the seventh inning because he felt something in his bicep in his last at-bat, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. Ohtani called it "precautionary." He was replaced at designated hitter by veteran Miguel Rojas. Ohtani went 0-for-3 at the plate before departing in the team's eventual 4-3 win. On the mound on Friday, the 31-year-old four-time MVP allowed three earned runs on seven hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out nine in six innings for a no-decision. His injury doesn't appear to be very serious, but manager Dave Roberts said that Ohtani will not play in Game 3 of the series against SD on Saturday on the Fourth of July. The Japanese superstar got off to a bit of a slow start at the plate earlier this year, but he quickly turned it around and is now slashing .288/.403/.524 with a .927 OPS, 18 homers, 50 RBI, 60 runs, and six steals in 309 at-bats. On the mound, the four-time All-Star is in the National League Cy Young race, going 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA (2.62 FIP), 0.95 WHIP, and 95:26 K:BB in 85 2/3 innings over 14 starts. Check back on Sunday to see if he's ready to return for the series finale at Dodger Stadium.

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Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter has been doing exactly what fantasy managers need from a power bat. The Detroit Tigers outfielder is hitting .232/.306/.492 with 13 home runs, 36 RBI, and 22 runs across 185 at-bats. His latest surge included the Tigers' first grand slam of the season on June 27 and another homer three days later. Carpenter has also backed up the results with a 10.6% barrel rate and 46.9% hard-hit rate. The only real drawback is his limited work against left-handed pitching. Carpenter has just 17 at-bats versus southpaws, while all 13 of his homers have come against right-handers. That makes him easier to manage in daily-lineup leagues, but the platoon risk is not enough to erase the power value. RotoBaller recommends him in leagues with 10 or more teams, and he is still only 41% rostered on Yahoo. Managers looking for home runs and RBI should add him now.

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Los Angeles Dodgers top-ranked outfield prospect Josue De Paula has enjoyed an impressive first half with Double-A Tulsa this season and has put himself near the top of most prospect rankings. Last summer, De Paula spent the majority of his time with High-A before having a brief four-game taste of Double-A late in the second half. However, in 2026, the Dodgers have kept the 21-year-old with Tulsa during the entire first half. Over this 75-game stint, De Paula has posted a .318/.416/.554 slash line with 25 doubles, 15 home runs, and 22 stolen bases. Over his last 29 games, he has been even more productive, carrying a .341/.424/.643 line with a stellar 1.066 OPS. While a 2026 MLB debut is out of the question, De Paula is making a strong case to be viewed as the clear top-ranked outfield prospect in baseball.

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Seattle Mariners top-ranked outfield prospect Lazaro Montes has showcased high-end power upside at the Double-A level this season. Through 77 total contests with Double-A Arkansas, the slugger has launched 25 round-trippers with a .236/.368/.561 line. During this stretch, he has posted a .929 OPS witha 99:51 K:BB. However, he has been even more impressive as of late. Over his last 28 contests (since June 1), the 6-foot-5 hitter has gone deep 13 times while holding a sharp .281/.439/.729 slash line. Last summer, Montes split his time between High-A and Double-A. Given that he has taken his production up a level over the past month, an early call to Triple-A in the second half remains in play. Managers in deeper redraft leagues should continue to monitor his status, as a late-season call-up during the stretch run is not out of the question.

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Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Edward Florentino endured some growing pains over his first stint at High-A Greensboro but has since begun to turn the corner. Over his last 15 games of action at this level (June 13 - July 2), Florentino has carried a sharp .293/.397/.534 line with a strong .932 OPS. Over this 15-game stint, Florentino has hit three doubles, hit three home runs, and even chipped in two stolen bases. Prior to this stretch, Florentino carried a much lower .184/.331/.325 line with one double and five home runs over his first 31 games at the High-A level. Currently, the 19-year-old is viewed as the No.34-ranked prospect in the sport on MLB.com and the team's No. 2-ranked prospect. Dynasty managers should continue to keep a close eye on his progression as he could be given a late-season taste of Double-A if he maintains this pace.

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Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitcher River Ryan was flashing high upside at the Triple-A level before being placed on the 7-day IL with a hamstring strain. The right-handed pitcher battled injuries early in the season but was looking comfortable at the top club before being moved back to the injured list last week. From May 15 through June 10 (25 innings), the right-handed pitcher posted a strong 2.16 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with a 30:5 K:BB. However, he would serve up a season-worst eight earned runs on June 17, his final start before being moved to the IL. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progress at Triple-A as he could compete for an early promotion after the All-Star break. Currently on the MLB roster, the Dodgers are without Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, and another current starter, Roki Sasaki, is enduring significant growing pains at the major-league level. If Ryan can return to action and showcase similar upside, he could earn a spot in Los Angeles early in the second half.

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Milwaukee Brewers outfield prospect Luis Lara snapped his lengthy 42-game power skid at Triple-A on July 2. This was Lara's eighth round-tripper of the young season. Despite having a lengthy power skid at the dish, the young outfielder was enjoying a surge at the dish to begin the season and showing the highest power upside of his career. Over the first 33 games of the Triple-A regular season, the 21-year-old (the team's No. 5-ranked prospect) went deep seven times while carrying a sharp .341/.438/.561 line with a high .998 OPS. Overall, Lara has carried a .325/.435/.468 line over his first 76 games of Triple-A. Given that the Brewers recently signed him to a massive seven-year extension, fantasy managers should view him as a top stash candidate among outfielders as he is on the verge of earning the call. He should be on the verge of a call-up shortly after the All-Star break.

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Caleb Kilian has done enough to keep the ninth inning in San Francisco, even after a four-run blowup against the Athletics on June 25. The Giants went right back to him in their next two save situations, and he converted both. Kilian allowed one run while closing out the Atlanta Braves on June 28, then followed with a perfect inning and two strikeouts against the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 1. He owns seven saves with a 4.00 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 43 strikeouts over 36 innings. Manager Tony Vitello officially named Kilian the closer in mid-June, while Ryan Walker has remained in a fireman role since returning from Triple-A. The ratios are not spotless, but Kilian's 43 strikeouts give him some value beyond the saves. RotoBaller recommends him in leagues with 10 or more teams, and his 11% Yahoo roster rate leaves him widely available. Saves-needy managers should treat him as a priority pickup.

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Travis Bazzana has quickly become a useful contributor across the board for fantasy managers. The Cleveland Guardians rookie is hitting .255/.347/.420 with seven home runs, 27 runs, 27 RBI, and 12 steals across 212 at-bats. He has also taken over the leadoff spot, where his patience and speed give him a steady path to runs and stolen-base chances. Bazzana has added four hits, two walks, and two RBI over his last two games. The power may not climb much higher without better contact quality. Bazzana owns a 4.3% barrel rate and 37.0% hard-hit rate, so his value is built more on volume and category balance than a looming home-run surge. That is still plenty useful. RotoBaller recommends him in leagues with 10 or more teams, yet he remains rostered in only 44% of Yahoo leagues. Managers looking for help across every hitting category should be aggressive while he is still available.

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Tyler Wells got the Baltimore Orioles' first save chance after Ryan Helsley (elbow) returned to the 15-day injured list, and he handled it cleanly. Wells retired the Cincinnati Reds in order on 10 pitches in a 3-0 win Friday, July 3, striking out one for his first save since 2023. Rico Garcia covered the sixth and seventh before Yennier Cano worked the eighth. The outing puts Wells in the mix, but it does not make him Baltimore's temporary closer. Andrew Kittredge had pitched Tuesday and Wednesday, while RotoBaller ranked Wells behind Kittredge and Garcia before the save. Wells owns a 3.10 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 43 strikeouts over 40 2/3 innings, making him a speculative add in 15-team saves leagues. His 3% Yahoo roster rate makes him easy to find, but managers in shallower formats can wait to see who gets the next chance.

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Royce Lewis still carries an ugly .212 average, which is probably why he remains available in so many leagues. The season line does not reflect the hitter Minnesota has seen since recalling him on June 6. Lewis batted .279/.330/.512 in June with five home runs, 12 runs, 10 RBI, and two stolen bases. The Twins have also found him regular playing time, primarily at first base but with the flexibility to move around the infield. The strikeouts are still a problem. Lewis has fanned in 27.9% of his plate appearances, so the batting average could remain volatile. His 12.3% barrel rate is a much better reason to buy in, and he has already paired eight homers with six steals across 198 at-bats. At 36% rostered on Yahoo, Lewis is a must-add in 10-team formats and an easy claim in standard mixed leagues. There is enough power-speed upside here to live with the average risk.

From RotoBaller

Rockies' CF Jake McCarthy had six RBIs going 4-for-5 with two home runs in a 15-3 win over the Giants on Friday, Jul. 3.