Colorado Rockies right-handed pitching prospect Gabriel Hughes will start the first game of the second half of the season for the Rockies on Friday night against the Cincinnati Reds, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com. The 24-year-old former 10th overall pick in 2022 out of Gonzaga University has looked good so far in his first two major-league appearances (one start), allowing three earned runs on six hits while walking three and striking out eight in nine innings pitched. In his first MLB start in a tough matchup against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers, Hughes struck out seven and allowed three runs in six innings of work. The strong showing from the team's No. 16 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, has earned him at least one more start to open the second half in Colorado's starting rotation. Fantasy managers looking for streamers should probably stay away from the young hurler against Cincy at hitter-friendly Coors Field. In the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League with Triple-A Albuquerque before his call-up, Hughes had a 5.31 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 48:11 K:BB in 40 2/3 innings over nine outings (seven starts) for the Isotopes.

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Right-hander Chase Burns and the Cincinnati Reds agreed to a seven-year, $105 million contract extension on Thursday, a source told Jon Morosi of the MLB Network. It's the largest contract given to a pitcher with less than four years of MLB service. The Reds are locking up one of the best young arms in baseball for the long-term after a breakout first half in his first full season in the big leagues in 2026. The 23-year-old former second overall pick in 2024 out of Wake Forest University was unavailable to pitch in Tuesday's All-Star Game due to a minor groin issue, but he's expected to return to Cincy's starting rotation next Tuesday to face the Seattle Mariners. In his first 18 starts (102 2/3 innings) this year, Burns has gone 11-1 with a 2.54 ERA (3.40 FIP) and 1.11 WHIP with 118 strikeouts and 37 walks for the Reds. He has been a must-start in all fantasy leagues as one of the best young strikeout arms in baseball, and his future is very bright as long as he can stay healthy. Burns could be a sell-high candidate in single-year fantasy leagues if the Reds look to manage his workload down the stretch.

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Milwaukee Brewers All-Star right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, who had his final start of the first half skipped due to arm fatigue, is already within 31 innings of his total from last year in the minors, majors, and the playoffs. The whole case for the Brewers as a World Series contender revolves around the 24-year-old leader in ERA (1.62), strikeouts (167), WHIP (0.76), and batting average against making it to the playoffs at full strength. MLB.com's Adam McCalvy writes that it's going to require "some creativity in the coming months" as it relates to Misiorowski's workload. The flamethrowing righty is already getting extra rest at the halfway point of the season, and it's going to be critical for a banged-up Milwaukee starting rotation to have enough starting arms around the Miz in the lead-up to October. We would never recommend selling the most dominant starting arm in baseball, but the fact of the matter is that Misiorowski probably won't be as reliable in fantasy in the second half from an innings standpoint as the Brewers look to manage his workload.

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Across 100 1/3 innings (16 starts) in 2026, San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb has recorded a 5-7 record with a 3.86 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 80 strikeouts. The 29-year-old got off to a rough start to the season, recording a 5.06 ERA across his first 48 innings of the year before hitting the injured list in early May with a knee injury. Webb has been a different pitcher since returning from the IL, posting a 2.75 ERA across 62 1/3 innings. However, Webb hit the All-Star break on a sour note, allowing 12 earned runs across his final two starts (10 innings) before the break. The veteran right-hander's strikeout rate has also regressed significantly in 2026, as he's struck out 19.4% of the batters he's faced this season after logging a 26.2% strikeout rate in 2025. Webb may still be a reliable innings-eater in the second half of the year, but fantasy managers may want to explore trade offers for him to see if Webb can be sold for ace-level value.

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Across 82 innings (15 starts) in 2026, Houston Astros starting pitcher Spencer Arrighetti has recorded a 7-5 record with a 4.50 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 81 strikeouts. The 26-year-old got off to a fantastic start to the year, recording a 1.34 ERA across 47 innings through the end of May. However, Arrighetti has struggled mightily since, posting an 8.74 ERA over his last 35 innings (seven starts). Free passes remain a major issue for Arrighetti, as he's logged a 12.4% walk rate on the season and owns a career mark of 11.3%. With constant traffic on the bases, Arrighetti's elevated 1.32 HR/9 is a recipe for blow-up outings. The right-hander also averages just 92.4 miles per hour on his fastball and has posted a middling 22.8% strikeout rate, so he does not offer enough strikeout upside to make up for his potential ratio damage. Arrighetti profiles as a starting pitcher for fantasy managers to fade coming out of the All-Star break.

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New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole had the start of his 2026 season delayed by recovery from Tommy John surgery. Since returning in late May, the veteran right-hander has recorded a 3-4 record with a 4.04 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts across 49 innings (nine starts). Cole is averaging 96.7 miles per hour on his fastball and has avoided free passes, allowing just a 5.3% walk rate. However, his strikeout rate has dipped to 22.7%, well below his career mark of 28.5%. Still, the 35-year-old's biggest issues have come from the long ball, as he's allowed 1.47 HR/9. While Cole has had issues with home runs at different points in his Yankee career, he allowed just 0.86 HR/9 in 2023 and 1.04 HR/9 in 2024. Fantasy managers should no longer expect SP1 production from Cole. However, with some slight improvement in his strikeout rate and some regression to the mean in his home run rate, Cole could still be a very valuable pitcher in the second half of the season.

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After an injury-marred 2025 campaign, San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill entered 2026 in search of a bounce-back season. That hasn't fully come to fruition yet, as he's hitting .219/.278/.350 with 10 home runs, 38 RBI, 43 runs scored, and 19 stolen bases across 392 plate appearances on the year. After posting a 17% strikeout rate in his emergent 2024 rookie season, Merrill's strikeout rate is up to 25% in 2026. However, there's still reason to believe that the 23-year-old's batting average should improve in the second half of the season. His 44.9% hard-hit rate is a career-best, and Merrill's .274 batting average on balls in play is well below his career mark of .305. Even amidst his first-half struggles, Merrill still provided fantasy managers with solid counting stats and above-average speed. He profiles as a prime buy-low candidate coming out of the All-Star break.

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Cleveland Guardians prospect Ralphy Velazquez has split his time nicely this season between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus. Between the two levels, Velazquez has 11 homers and 47 RBI to go with 44 runs scored while hitting .293. A first-base prospect who bats left-handed, Velazquez was the No. 23 overall pick in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft. Velazquez, who can also play in the outfield, is the top prospect in the Guardians' system. At age 21, he might be a stash-worthy fantasy prospect who can fill a roster spot at first base or outfield. He has shown nice hitting skills in the minors with a high batting average and some solid power. He doesn't steal bases, but he fills the other four categories quite nicely. Velazquez's numbers have dipped a little bit since moving to Triple-A, but it appears he is ready to face big-league pitching. Now is the time to make a move on Velazquez before your peers, as he appears poised for a second-half promotion to Cleveland.

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New York Yankees starting pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez could be a sneaky pitching source for fantasy owners during the second half of the season. Rodriguez has had his audition with the big-league club and went 0-2 with a 4.76 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP. He struck out 10 in 17 innings pitched over four starts. Rodriguez has spent much of the season dominating at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. At Scranton, the right-hander has posted a 5-3 overall record with a 2.85 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with 67 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings. He also has the prospect pedigree as the Yankees' No. 3 overall prospect. Having already tried his hand in the majors, now might be a good time to stash Rodriguez before he is called up again to aid the Yankees. His strikeout numbers are good in the minors, making him a promising candidate to perform well in the major league rotation. With Carlos Rodon set to face a lengthy absence, Rodriguez is in a good position to earn another stint in the Bronx later in the summer.

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Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Jhostynxon Garcia has had his audition this season with the Pirates at the big-league level, and it didn't go resoundingly well. That being said, he still might be a name to keep in mind for the second half of the season for fantasy purposes. In the minors this season, between High-A Bradenton and Triple-A Indianapolis, Garcia is hitting .279 with nine homers and 30 RBI to go with 38 runs scored and five stolen bases. He hit just .200 in his brief spell with Pittsburgh, but that doesn't mean he will be precluded from another shot at the big leagues. He is the No. 4 overall prospect in the Pirates' system, and at 23 years old, he should get another opportunity in Pittsburgh. Additionally, Garcia enters the midway point swinging a hot bat, posting a .333/.419/.463 line over his last 15 games. He is an impact outfielder, and while the Pirates' outfield is deep at the big league level, it would be wise to stash Garcia as a potential impact bat in the second half, especially for those in deeper 15-team leagues with several N/A spots.

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Across 406 plate appearances so far in 2026, Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda is hitting .297/.394/.471 with 14 home runs, 64 RBI, and 48 runs scored. After mostly working in a big-side platoon role through the early portion of his Rays career, the 28-year-old has emerged as an everyday staple in the heart of the Tampa Bay lineup this season. Aranda's underlying metrics are not quite as strong as in previous years, but he still maintains a solid 10.4% barrel rate and 44.8% hard-hit rate. The lefty slugger has also posted a 12.6% walk rate while lowering his strikeout rate to a career-low 21.7%. While Aranda does not bring any speed, he profiles as a high-level source of run production and batting average with solid power. Fantasy managers should buy into his breakout season continuing into the second half of 2026.

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Across 408 plate appearances in 2026, Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman is hitting .290/.375/.487 with 15 home runs, 49 RBI, 52 runs scored, and three stolen bases. Even in his age-36 season, Freeman continues to look like one of the better all-around hitters in baseball. He's posted a 10.6% barrel rate and 45.1% hard-hit rate on the year, right in line with his career marks of 11.2% (barrel) and 44.2% (hard-hit). Freeman's plate approach also remains elite, as he's walked in 11.5% of his plate appearances while striking out at just a 15.9% rate. The future Hall of Famer may not be a true threat on the bases anymore, but he still chips in the occasional stolen base for fantasy managers as well. Given his track record, underlying metrics, and everyday role in the potent Dodgers order, Freeman remains a bankable source of high-level four-category production as long as he stays healthy.

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Los Angeles Angels pitching prospect George Klassen has endured some growing pains over his first two MLB starts. He is saddled with an 0-1 record, a 11.57 ERA, and a 3.64 WHIP. Klassen is doing his best to prove that he is worth another shot with the Angels while pitching with Triple-A Salt Lake. The numbers are much more respectable at Salt Lake with a 4-6 record and a 4.48 ERA and 1.52 WHIP, along with 64 strikeouts in 72 1/3 innings. However, he has shown some progress in July, carrying a 3.06 ERA and a sharp 0.96 WHIP. Should Klassen continue to prove himself at Salt Lake, he could find his way into the Angels rotation. It's a risky play, but a stash could end up being beneficial for fantasy managers looking for a pitching edge. As of now, the former sixth-round selection is best viewed as a risky stash target in deeper leagues.

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New York Mets pitching prospect Jack Wenninger is dealing at Triple-A Syracuse with a 4-5 record and a 3.50 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 77 strikeouts in 79 2/3 innings pitched. The 24-year-old right-hander has done his best at Syracuse to prove he is worthy of a shot in the Mets' starting rotation. He has looked dominant in July, logging 11 2/3 innings to the tune of a 1.54 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP. Wenninger is the No. 4 overall prospect in the Mets' system after he was drafted in the sixth round in the 2023 Draft. If the Mets continue to struggle, or move one of their current starters ahead of the deadline, look for Wenninger to get a big-league shot with his power fastball and elite splitter. That being said, fantasy managers could look ahead and head to the waiver wire to snatch up Wenninger before others. He has the prospect pedigree and the potential opportunity with the struggling Mets team to contribute at the big-league level.

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Cincinnati Reds right-hander Chase Burns (groin), who pulled out of the All-Star Game on Tuesday due to a groin issue that he picked up in his final start of the first half on July 8 against the Philadelphia Phillies, is penciled in to make his first start of the second half next Tuesday on the road against the Seattle Mariners, per MLB.com. Burns will avoid a trip to the injured list and will get some extra rest at the midway point of the season. The 23-year-old former second overall pick from Wake Forest University in 2024 has had a breakout first full season in the majors with the Reds in 2025, going 11-1 with a 2.54 ERA (3.40 FIP) and 1.11 WHIP with 118 strikeouts and 37 walks in 102 2/3 innings pitched across 18 starts. If anything, Burns might be a sell-high candidate in single-year fantasy leagues, but he's a firm hold in dynasty/keeper leagues for his high-end strikeout upside long-term. Going into the second half, Burns ranks in the 87th percentile in strikeout rate, the 89th percentile in whiff rate, and the 84th percentile in chase rate. Get ready to throw him back into your starting lineups next week in Seattle.

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Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Davis Martin had a very strong first half of the season, already setting a personal best with nine wins in his 18 starts while posting a 3.41 ERA through 100 1/3 innings. His K% is up from last year, and he has been especially effective at home with a 1.80 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. However, despite his overall success, Martin has some concerning underlying metrics. He has a 4.31 xERA as a result of a 43.8% hard-hit rate against him, which ranks only in the 12th percentile of qualified pitchers. He's also in the bottom 20 percent of pitchers in terms of xBA and average exit velocity allowed. He gave up five runs in his last start against the Red Sox and has allowed at least four runs in four of his last nine starts. He could be due for some regression in the second half, so if you can flip him to a team that needs pitching for an option with better metrics, Martin's value may be near its peak.

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Boston Red Sox second baseman/outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela earned his way to the All-Star game with a .281 batting average, eight homers, 12 stolen bases, and a .333 wOBA to go with his excellent defense. The 25-year-old has been much more selective this season and has hit .289 with six of those stolen bases over his 35 games since June 1. His contact metrics haven't been great over that span, but he has done a good job of piling up run production from the second spot in the lineup as Boston's batting order has come to life over the last few weeks. Rafaela is a solid source of speed and some potential power. He's been a streaky contributor throughout his time in the majors and has the potential to get hot in the second half and continue his emergence as a strong and versatile option on your fantasy roster.

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St. Louis Cardinals catcher/designated hitter Ivan Herrera has improved his plate discipline in the first half of the season, cutting down on his strikeout rate and increasing his walk rate. His batting average has dropped as well, though, and his ISO and SLG are both below his numbers from the last two years. The Cardinals have tried to keep the 26-year-old fresh by playing him just 36 games behind the plate and 59 games at designated hitter. Hopefully, his fresher legs will lead to more power in the second half, but he struggled over the past 20 games, with just a .183 batting average and 26.8% hard-hit rate. His track record over the last few seasons does give him upside in the second half. After the All-Star break last season, he hit .260 with 11 homers and a .344 wOBA. Since he's in a prime lineup spot, hitting second for the Cardinals, he has the potential for a nice bounce-back in the second half and could be a nice pickup if his current manager is down on him due to his slump.

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Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood continues to impress and is establishing himself as one of the top power hitters in the MLB. He has hit 28 homers in 97 games and seems certain to pass his previous career-high of 31 homers from last year. His batting average is up from .256 to .279 while his wOBA has climbed from .353 to .416. He's already matched his career high with 15 stolen bases as well. He has the highest barrel rate and the highest hard-hit rate in the majors this season, along with the second-highest average exit velocity behind only Oneil Cruz. With such strong underlying metrics and elite production, Wood looks poised to be a fantasy centerpiece for years to come. He's still only 23 years old and continues to be one of the most exciting hitters in the game heading into the second half.

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Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Jeff Hoffman had a brutal start to the year and lost his job as the team's closer, with the emergence of Louis Varland as an elite bullpen option. He has put together a few strong weeks, though, and could return to fantasy relevance at some point after the All-Star break. He is 5-6 with a 4.57 ERA in his 44 games, but his 2.64 FIP and 3.07 xERA indicate he has pitched much better than his ERA indicates. He has a sky-high .402 BABIP against him (league average is .289 this season), so there could be some positive regression for him in the second half if ht gets some better batted-ball luck. Hoffman did give up two earned runs in his last outing before the break, snapping a 13-game span without an earned run against him. Varland will likely keep the closer job as long as he's healthy, but Hoffman could be a very valuable setup option or end up in a closer spot as bullpens get shuffled at the Trade Deadline. In deep leagues, he makes sense to stash and see, while in standard-sized leagues, he's definitely a reliever to keep a close eye on.

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