Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (thumb) is dealing with a right-thumb capsule strain and is likely to be placed on the injured list, which obviously puts his status for next week's All-Star Game in jeopardy, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. In addition to Kurtz, the A's just placed infielder Zack Gelof (knee) on the IL again on Friday with a knee laceration, so their infield depth will be tested to close out the first half of the 2026 season. Joey Meneses is starting at first base and is hitting sixth on Friday, while rookie Joshua Kuroda-Grauer is at the hot corner and batting seventh against Chicago White Sox right-hander Sean Burke. The A's pulled Kurtz from Wednesday's game early after he jammed his right hand while attempting to catch a throw in the first inning. Both Meneses and Jeff McNeil should see more playing time for the A's if Kurtz joins Gelof on the IL. The 23-year-old Kurtz is an absolute must-stash if he goes on the shelf due to his elite power from the left side of the plate. He's currently slashing .266/.405/.497 with a .902 OPS, 20 home runs, 66 RBI, 61 runs, and seven stolen bases across 334 at-bats after hitting 36 bombs and driving in 86 runs in 117 games in 2025 as a rookie.

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Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom (glute) will not make his scheduled start on Sunday in the series finale against the division-rival Houston Astros due to a mild left-glute strain, according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. Manager Skip Schumaker said he's unsure if deGrom will be available "right away" after next week's All-Star break. The Rangers haven't placed the veteran starting pitcher on the injured list yet, but it could be inevitable, especially if he's not ready to take his turn in the rotation coming out of the All-Star break. The 38-year-old two-time Cy Young winner and five-time All-Star still has high-end strikeout potential for fantasy managers -- he has a 30.4% strikeout rate in 2026 -- but durability is part of the risk. The 13-year veteran will close out the first half with a 7-5 record, 3.49 ERA (3.41 FIP) and 1.01 WHIP with 122 strikeouts and 22 walks in 100 2/3 innings pitched across his 18 starts. Fantasy managers who have deGrom rostered might have to be patient to begin the second half of 2026, but at least it's not an arm injury.

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The Houston Astros reinstated shortstop Jeremy Pena (calf) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and designated shortstop Braden Shewmake for assignment in a corresponding move, according to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. Pena is starting at shortstop and batting leadoff in his return for Houston in Friday's series opener at Globe Life Field against the division-rival Texas Rangers and right-hander Cal Quantrill. Fantasy managers will want to get the 28-year-old Dominican infielder back into their starting lineups in traditional leagues immediately. In his fifth year in the big leagues in 2026, Pena has dealt with a handful of injuries already and has been on the IL multiple times, but he's also hitting .295/.356/.443 with a .799 OPS, six home runs, 21 RBI, 34 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in 48 games and 202 plate appearances. Pena was three homers shy of his first 20-20 season in 2025. He's not an elite high-end fantasy shortstop, but he should be rostered in the majority of leagues as Houston's table-setter. He's hitting .333 with two RBI in six career at-bats against Quantrill.

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Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez is making a loud waiver case with impact power that is hard to ignore. The 22-year-old is hitting .293 with seven home runs, 18 RBI, 16 runs, and a .993 OPS over 82 at-bats after going deep again Thursday against the Atlanta Braves. There is no stolen-base help here, so fantasy managers should not force a five-category label onto the profile. The power, though, looks very real. Valdez owns a 91.1 mph average exit velocity, 50.0% hard-hit rate, and 28.0% barrel rate, giving the early home run pace real support. The strikeouts are the obvious drawback, so some batting-average risk comes with the upside. Claimed in exactly half of Yahoo leagues, Valdez still has enough availability to matter. RotoBaller's latest waiver rankings support him as an add in 10-team formats.

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Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez (concussion) is not expected to return from the seven-day concussion injured list to play this weekend against the Tampa Bay Rays, but the hope is that he'll be ready to go coming out of next week's All-Star break, according to Shannon Drayer. The Mariners are going to wait a bit longer to bring J-Rod back, even though he's eligible to return from the IL for Friday's series opener versus Tampa. The left-handed-hitting Luke Raley will continue to patrol center field for the M's when they face right-handed pitchers until Rodriguez returns. Before suffering a head injury, the 25-year-old Rodriguez was slashing .259/.323/.424 with a .747 OPS, 14 home runs, 40 RBI, 46 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases in 87 games played across 378 plate appearances in his fifth year in the big leagues. The three-time All-Star and former American League Rookie of the Year is a five-category contributor and has the ability to carry fantasy teams in the second half if he can stay together and get on a nice run.

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Tampa Bay Rays left-handed pitcher Ian Seymour is not just a short-term streamer after what he did to the New York Yankees. The 27-year-old is 6-1 with a 4.11 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 72 strikeouts, and two saves over 61 1/3 innings, and his role has become a lot more interesting after opening the season in the bullpen. Seymour struck out a career-high 12 Yankees on Tuesday, allowing three earned runs over 5 1/3 innings with no walks. The ERA is not pretty enough to make him a safe ratio arm, but the strikeouts are real. Seymour owns a 28.7% strikeout rate, 3.22 xERA, .280 xwOBA allowed, and 36.1% hard-hit rate, which gives the profile more support than the surface ERA shows. Yahoo managers have already pushed him to 51% rostered, but RotoBaller still lists him as an add in 10-team leagues.

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Colorado Rockies left fielder Mickey Moniak is not a five-category add, but the power is real enough to chase. The 28-year-old is hitting .279 with 15 home runs, 38 RBI, 29 runs, one steal, and a .924 OPS over 197 at-bats. He has cooled from the early-season heater, so fantasy managers should not treat this like a free batting-average anchor. Still, 15 homers in fewer than 200 at-bats is hard to ignore on the waiver wire. The batted-ball data keeps the power case alive. Moniak owns a 13.1% barrel rate, 42.8% hard-hit rate, and 89.7 mph average exit velocity, giving him enough support beyond the Coors Field boost. Available in 57% of Yahoo leagues, Moniak still has room to move before the market fully catches up. RotoBaller's latest waiver rankings back him as an add in 10-team formats.

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New York Mets right-hander Clay Holmes (leg) is throwing a live bullpen session at Citi Field on Friday, according to Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News. It is the first time that Holmes is facing hitters since fracturing his right fibula in the middle of May. He still has a ways to go before rejoining New York's starting rotation in the second half of the season, but he could start a minor-league rehab assignment shortly after next week's All-Star break. The 33-year-old veteran could be a popular trade target for contending teams if they like the direction that Holmes is heading health-wise later this month. In his first nine starts of the 2026 season in his second year in Queens, he has gone 4-4 with a 2.39 ERA (3.23 FIP) and 1.10 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and 18 walks in 52 2/3 innings pitched. Holmes' underlying metrics predict plenty of regression in the second half, though, and many fantasy managers gave up on him after his serious leg injury. The converted reliever is now only rostered in 24% of Yahoo leagues.

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Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo gives fantasy managers a power path at one of the thinnest positions. The 21-year-old is hitting .248 with 14 home runs, 42 RBI, 32 runs, and a .761 OPS over 262 at-bats. There is no speed here, and the recent average has been shaky, so this is not a clean five-category pickup. But catcher power that can move a fantasy lineup is hard to leave on the wire. The batted-ball data backs up the home run total. Basallo owns a 91.3 mph average exit velocity, 45.0% hard-hit rate, and 12.2% barrel rate, which is real impact contact for the position. The downside is batting-average drag if the strikeouts pile up. Still sitting at 49% rostered in Yahoo leagues, Basallo fits as a power add in 10-team formats, matching RotoBaller's latest waiver recommendation.

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Boston Red Sox left-handed starting pitcher Jake Bennett is not the flashiest waiver arm, but the ratios are getting hard to ignore. The 25-year-old is 4-3 with a 2.64 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 35 strikeouts over 47 2/3 innings through his first eight MLB starts. He kept rolling on Wednesday, holding the Chicago White Sox scoreless for seven innings while allowing four hits and striking out four in a 5-0 win. That is useful enough to move quickly, even if this is not a pure strikeout-ceiling play. Bennett's 86.9 mph average exit velocity allowed, 35.5% hard-hit rate, and .268 xwOBA allowed back up the run prevention, while the modest strikeout total keeps the fantasy profile grounded. Bennett is on 47% of Yahoo rosters, so he has not slipped by everyone. RotoBaller's latest waiver rankings still back him as an add in 10-team leagues.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers announced that two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee) won't make his scheduled start on the mound on Friday night against the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks due to continued irritation in his left knee. However, Ohtani will serve as the designated hitter for the rest of the final weekend of the first half of the season. Following the series against Arizona, he will have some interventions on his knee to put him in the best spot for the second half. Ohtani also will not travel to Philadelphia to participate in next week's All-Star Game. The Dodgers aren't taking any chances with the best all-around player in baseball, with a current 14.5-game lead in the National League West ahead of both the D-backs and San Diego Padres. The Dodgers obviously aren't too concerned, otherwise, they wouldn't allow the four-time MVP to serve as the DH this weekend. It's unclear when Ohtani will make his next start on the mound in the second half, but whenever he does, he'll be a must-start in fantasy lineups. Ohtani has been in the NL Cy Young conversation in the first half of 2026, going 8-2 on the mound with a 1.79 ERA (2.62 FIP) and 0.95 WHIP with 95 strikeouts and 26 walks in 85 2/3 innings across his 14 starts.

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Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (calf) is starting in right field and batting cleanup for Friday's series opener on the road against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds and right-hander Hunter Greene, per MLB.com. Suzuki is good to go a day after being pulled from Thursday's contest against the Baltimore Orioles due to cramps in his calf. The 31-year-old Japanese native needs to be returned to fantasy lineups in all traditional formats on Friday, even though the matchup isn't an ideal one against a hard-throwing ace. Suzuki has homered in back-to-back games and has seen the ball well in his career against Greene, batting .444 with a 1.500 OPS, two home runs, and six RBI in his 18 at-bats. Since June 16, Suzuki has gone 24-for-78 (.308) with five home runs, six doubles, 19 RBI, 13 runs scored, and a stolen base in 19 games and 88 plate appearances. He also has cleared the fences three times in his first seven games in July.

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Chicago White Sox outfielder Sam Antonacci has played his way into the top waiver mix for managers needing speed, average, and runs. The 23-year-old is hitting .289 with five home runs, 46 runs, 25 RBI, and 12 steals over 253 at-bats. The profile is not built around big power, but it is not empty speed either. Antonacci owns a .380 OBP, has struck out just 15.3% of the time, and brings useful 2B/3B/OF eligibility. That makes him easier to fit than a lot of speed-first waiver options. His 7.5% barrel rate and .370 xwOBA give the bat enough support to keep him in lineups, even if fantasy managers should not expect a major home run jump. With a 47% Yahoo roster rate, Antonacci should be added in most competitive leagues. RotoBaller's latest waiver rankings back him as an add in 10-team formats.

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The Athletics announced on Friday that they placed utility player Zack Gelof (knee) on the 10-day injured list with a right-knee laceration and recalled infielder Joey Meneses from Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. Gelof injured his right knee making a nice sliding catch in foul territory in Thursday's game against the Detroit Tigers, and he'll now head back to the IL after returning from a stint on the sidelines due to a hand laceration. The 26-year-old former second-round pick in 2021 out of the University of Virginia has been hampered by injuries in his career before, but this time it's even more frustrating, as Gelof has played well for the A's in 2026 when available, slashing .273/.327/.476 with an .802 OPS, 11 home runs, 29 RBI, 41 runs scored, and eight stolen bases across his 227 at-bats. Fantasy managers seeking power and speed for the second half shouldn't forget about Gelof, who is eligible at second base, third base, and the outfield in Yahoo leagues. While he's out, veteran Jeff McNeil figures to see most of the playing time at the hot corner in Sacramento.

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Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (thumb) is out of the starting lineup for the second straight game for Friday's series opener against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies due to a thumb injury, according to MLB.com. Jake Rogers will make another start behind the dish and catch right-hander Jack Flaherty while hitting ninth against Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola. Dingler injured his thumb when he was hit by a foul tip on Wednesday, and he was removed from the contest early. He's day-to-day, though, and has a shot to return to the starting lineup in one of the last two games of the first half of the regular season on Saturday or Sunday in Detroit. The 27-year-old right-handed-hitting backstop is having a breakout 2026 campaign, slashing .264/.325/.516 with an .841 OPS, 19 home runs, 60 RBI, and 48 runs scored across his 318 at-bats in just his second full MLB season. Dingler ranks third among catchers in homers, is first in RBI, and is fifth in runs scored.

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Rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to an undisclosed long-term contract extension on Friday that will buy out multiple years of free agency, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. The 23-year-old has been tremendous in his first big-league season and becomes the latest rookie to land a nine-figure contract. The 23-year-old former seventh overall pick in 2024 out of West Virginia University has locked down St. Louis' second base job from the get-go in 2026, and he's hitting .267/.362/.411 with a .773 OPS, 13 home runs, 36 RBI, 57 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in his first 87 games and 395 plate appearances in the majors heading into the final weekend of the first half of the season. Wetherholt currently ranks 12th in the big leagues with a 3.6 WAR this year. He's been hot going into next week's All-Star break as well, going 11-for-35 (.314) with a homer, two doubles, two RBI, and eight runs scored in nine games so far in July.

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Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Troy Melton did not make his 2026 debut until late May due to an elbow injury, and then missed a start in June due to back tightness. However, Melton has been highly effective when healthy this season, recording a 5-1 record with a 1.82 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts across 49 1/3 innings (eight starts). The 25-year-old owns just a 21.7% strikeout rate, which is definitely a limiting factor on his fantasy appeal. However, Melton limits free passes (5.8% walk rate) and has pitched into the sixth inning or later in five of his eight starts this season. The young right-hander may also have some untapped swing-and-miss potential, as he logged a 32.4% strikeout rate across 75 1/3 minor league innings in 2025. At the very least, Melton profiles as a priority starting pitcher streamer for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.

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Since making his MLB debut on May 12, New York Mets outfielder A.J. Ewing is hitting .277/.356/.446 with seven home runs, 24 RBI, 26 runs scored, and nine stolen bases. The 21-year-old has gotten off to a red-hot start in July, hitting .290/.313/.613 with three home runs across 33 plate appearances so far this month. Ewing's 25.2% strikeout rate is slightly elevated, but his 10.5% walk rate has kept his on-base percentage high and allows his speed to play up. Ewing has also established himself as the everyday center fielder in New York and has moved into the leadoff spot in the Mets lineup in each of the team's last four games. In any league where he's not already rostered, Ewing profiles as a must-add outfielder with five-category upside for fantasy managers.

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Colorado Rockies first baseman TJ Rumfield has been a revelation so far this season, hitting .297/.376/.480 with 12 home runs, 47 RBI, and 42 runs scored across 372 plate appearances. The 26-year-old had been blocked from making his MLB debut as a member of the New York Yankees organization before 2026, but he's taken full advantage of his opportunity in Colorado and emerged as the Rockies' everyday first baseman. With just a 5.4% barrel rate and a 28.6% hard-hit rate, Rumfield's underlying power metrics are uninspiring. However, the lefty-swinger's plate approach is strong, as he owns a 9.7% walk rate with just a 14.2% strikeout rate. Rumfield's hitter-friendly home environment in Colorado also helps maximize his production at the plate. While Rumfield may not have incredible upside, he profiles as a steady corner infield contributor for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.

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Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber will officially participate in this year's Home Run Derby to kick off All-Star week on Monday, according to MLB. Schwarber will join teammate Bryce Harper in front of the home faithful at Citizens Bank Park, joining Junior Caminero, Ben Rice, Willson Contreras, and Jac Caglianone. The 33-year-old three-time All-Star and former Silver Slugger winner is an easy choice for the Derby, as he currently leads all of baseball with 32 round-trippers through 338 at-bats in 2026. Schwarbs also leads the league with 140 strikeouts in 90 games across 401 plate appearances while slashing .254/.369/.571 with a .940 OPS, 58 RBI, 57 runs scored, and two stolen bases in his 12th year in the big leagues and fifth with the Phillies. Despite his elevated 34.9% strikeout rate, Schwarbs has continued to get on base at a high clip and hit the ball hard 54% of the time when he makes contact. He has homered twice in his last three games and is batting .250 (14-for-56) with three homers, six RBI, six runs, and a steal in 16 games since June 22.

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