Los Angeles Angels right-hander Ben Joyce (shoulder) has yet to pitch in the big leagues this season as he works his way back from the shoulder surgery that has kept him out since May 2025. However, the 25-year-old began a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League before the All-Star break, so he could be on track to return to the Angels bullpen before the end of July. Joyce struggled in a limited sample size of innings in 2025 before suffering the shoulder injury. Still, he was an effective reliever for the Angels in 2024, recording a 2.08 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP with 33 strikeouts and four saves across 34 2/3 innings. Joyce is known for his electric fastball, which he threw at an average velocity of 102.4 miles per hour in 2024. Los Angeles has had difficulty filling its closer role so far this season, with right-handers Ryan Zeferjahn, Kirby Yates, and Sam Bachman currently sharing ninth-inning duties. If Joyce can prove he is fully healthy, he could be the favorite for saves with the Angels upon his return to the big leagues.

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After hitting .230 with two home runs through his first 129 plate appearances of 2026, Miami Marlins catcher Agustin Ramirez was optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville in early May. The 24-year-old's defense behind the plate may have been the biggest reason for his demotion, and could remain a barrier to his return to the big leagues. However, Ramirez carries five-category potential that is unique at the catcher position and makes him an intriguing option for fantasy managers. Across 195 plate appearances at Triple-A this season, Ramirez is hitting .250/.328/.436 with seven home runs, 27 RBI, 30 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases. The young backstop proved he could perform at the plate in the big leagues in 2025, hitting 21 home runs and swiping 16 bags across 585 trips to the plate. Particularly in deeper league formats, Ramirez may still be worth stashing off the waiver wire for his theoretical upside.

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Across 39 innings (41 games) so far this season, Miami Marlins right-hander Michael Petersen (hamstring) has pitched to a 3.07 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 48 strikeouts and one save. Petersen exited early from Miami's final game before the All-Star break on Sunday with a hamstring injury, so fantasy managers should monitor for his health status coming out of the break. Assuming he can avoid a stint on the injured list, Petersen could be worth targeting on the waiver wire as a potential source of saves. The 32-year-old has arguably been the best arm in the Miami bullpen in 2026, as he's averaged 97.8 miles per hour on his fastball and has recorded a 29.4% strikeout rate. Miami has largely deployed Petersen in a setup role ahead of closer Pete Fairbanks. However, Fairbanks owns a 6.83 ERA and is allowing 2.17 HR/9 on the year. If the Marlins eventually decide to make a change in the ninth inning, Petersen could be next in line.

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Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cristopher Sanchez is not listed among his team's probable starters for their first series of the second half against the New York Mets this weekend, per Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. Sanchez last pitched for the Phillies last Saturday, but he started the All-Star Game on Tuesday for the National League and threw 34 pitches in his one inning of work. The 29-year-old has been one of the better pitchers in baseball so far this season, recording an 11-4 record with a 2.62 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 144 strikeouts across 127 1/3 innings (20 starts). While the Phillies could have chosen to push him back out onto the mound as quickly as possible, it looks as though the team will instead prioritize getting him a few extra days of rest before the true push for the playoffs begins. As a result, Sanchez's next start will likely come at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers on either Monday or Tuesday.

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Seattle Mariners infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan (groin) began a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League on Wednesday, per Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710. Donovan has been sidelined since mid-May by a groin injury, so he could need several games' worth of minor league plate appearances before he's ready to return to the big leagues. Still, Donovan will likely be back with the Mariners sooner rather than later. The 29-year-old got off to a solid start to his first season in Seattle before the injury, hitting .274/.386/.452 with three home runs, eight RBI, nine runs scored, and one stolen base across 101 plate appearances. Donovan appeared exclusively at third base and was mostly deployed in the leadoff spot to open the year. Seattle has since promoted top prospect Colt Emerson to play shortstop and moved veteran infielder J.P. Crawford to third base. However, Donovan's ability to play multiple spots on the diamond should keep him in the Mariners lineup regularly upon his return.

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Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler is not listed among his team's probable starters for their first series after the All-Star break against the New York Mets, per Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. The 36-year-old has been dominant so far this season, recording a 10-1 record with a 2.13 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 108 strikeouts across 93 innings (15 starts). Wheeler's last start came last Sunday, so Philadelphia could have chosen to give him the ball this upcoming weekend. Instead, it appears that the team will allow the 36-year-old a few extra days of rest coming out of the break. As a result, Wheeler's next start will likely come at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers on either Monday or Tuesday.

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Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch has looked good so far in July, going 11-for-38 (.289) with a home run, three doubles, three RBI, and six runs scored in 10 games played and 44 plate appearances. But after a breakout 2025 campaign in which he hit .261/.343/.523 with an .866 OPS, 34 home runs, and 90 RBI in 155 regular-season games, he has underwhelmed for fantasy managers in the first half of 2026. Busch went into this week's All-Star break with a .239/.368/.395 slash line, a .763 OPS, 11 home runs, 49 RBI, 40 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 95 games across 424 plate appearances. The 28-year-old left-handed hitter's expected batting average of .231 and xwOBA of .345 (wOBA of .342) don't give his fantasy managers much hope for a rebound in the second half. The good news is that Busch's strikeout rate sits at a career-low 22.2%, and he's walking at a career-high rate of 14.9%. However, his quality of contact is lacking, ranking in the 48th percentile in hard-hit rate and the 63rd percentile in barrel rate while sitting in just the 53rd percentile in expected slugging. Busch is still an asset in OBP leagues, but fantasy managers shouldn't suddenly expect a power outburst in the second half.

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Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Emmet Sheehan finished the first half of the 2026 season with a 4-6 record, 4.81 ERA (4.34 FIP), and 1.24 WHIP with 93 strikeouts and 26 walks in 82 1/3 innings pitched across 17 starts. The home run ball has been a real issue for Sheehan, as he's allowed 15 round-trippers in his 17 starts. However, the 26-year-old former sixth-rounder in 2021 out of Boston College kept the ball in the yard in back-to-back starts against the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks going into the All-Star break this week, giving up only four runs (three earned) on six hits while walking four and striking out 12 in 9 2/3 frames in those two games. Sheehan's strikeout rate of 26.6% is down slightly from his 30.6% mark last year, but he's also sporting a career-low 7.4% walk rate. His expected ERA of 3.88 is almost a run lower than his actual ERA, and he ranks in the 84th percentile in whiff rate and the 91st percentile in chase rate. Sheehan's surface stats don't impress anyone, but fantasy managers may want to consider buying low on him for a second-half push.

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Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage made it to the big leagues quickly after Toronto took him with the 20th overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft out of East Carolina University. The 22-year-old made it up to the majors for three regular-season starts before he became a dominant arm during the Blue Jays' run to the World Series last fall. Toronto is being cautious with the young right-hander's workload -- he made just 14 starts and threw 75 innings in the first half -- and he went 4-4 with a 3.72 ERA (4.11 FIP) and 1.16 WHIP with 69 strikeouts and 39 walks. Yesavage limped into this week's All-Star break, posting a 5.21 ERA (5.73 FIP) with seven home runs allowed, 30 strikeouts, and 22 walks in 38 innings over seven starts. In his final start before the break, he gave up four earned runs with seven walks and just one strikeout in 1 2/3 innings in a no-decision against the San Diego Padres. Yesavage has plenty of long-term upside, but his lack of control (12.5% walk rate) coupled with a lowered strikeout rate (22.2%) should have fantasy managers concerned. It wouldn't hurt to gauge your league's interest in Yesavage at the trade deadline.

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Cleveland Guardians outfield prospect Kahlil Watson made his major-league debut with the Guards on June 18 and has hit just .221 (17-for-77) with only three walks and 28 strikeouts in his first 23 big-league games. The 23-year-old former 16th overall pick in 2021 by the Miami Marlins has made the most of his .250 on-base percentage, though, thanks to his wheels on the basepaths, stealing eight bases in nine tries. Cleveland's No. 12 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, got his first MLB call-up after hitting .255/.370/.491 with an .861 OPS, 12 home runs, 35 RBI, 15 stolen bases, and 44 runs scored in 56 games and 254 plate appearances at Triple-A Columbus. Watson packs a small punch at 5-foot-9 and 178 pounds, but the North Carolina native is an elite athlete who has raw power from the left side of the plate. Plate discipline and swing-and-miss will probably continue to be an issue at the major-league level, though, so fantasy managers in dynasty and AL-only leagues should probably only count on stolen bases the rest of the way if he sticks around in the majors. Watson has also struggled against lefties, so don't count on him playing every day. Right now, Watson is only rostered in 2% of Yahoo leagues.

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Right-handed reliever Alex Lange is the current closer for the Kansas City Royals, but left-hander Daniel Lynch IV could be worth stashing for fantasy managers in deeper leagues who are speculating on saves in the second half. Lynch, a former first-rounder in 2018 out of the University of Virginia, began his MLB career as a starter before transitioning to a full-time relief role in recent seasons. At the All-Star break, the 29-year-old southpaw sits with a 2-2 record, 2.35 ERA (3.15 FIP), 0.94 WHIP, one save, 33 strikeouts, and only 12 walks in 38 1/3 innings pitched across 39 appearances out of the bullpen. Since taking the loss to the Chicago White Sox on June 27, Lynch has thrown 4 1/3 shutout innings with a walk, three strikeouts, and a hold for the Royals in four games in July. Lynch has 10 saves on the season and could be next in line for saves in KC if Lange struggles. Veteran Carlos Estevez (shoulder) has been on the injured list all year after getting hurt in his first outing of the season, and there's no clear timetable for his return. Lynch is rostered in only 3% of Yahoo leagues.

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Miami Marlins catcher Joe Mack hit the break at .245/.308/.419 with seven home runs, 24 runs, and 23 RBI in 155 at-bats. May was a slog, then he found something: a .294 average with five homers in June, followed by two more long balls in 23 July at-bats. Mack is sitting on nearly every Yahoo waiver wire, with a roster rate of just 3%. Mack has kept the primary catching job even with Liam Hicks back, who has mostly worked at first base or designated hitter. The power looks believable enough, backed by an 8.5% barrel rate and .410 expected slugging percentage. There is no speed here, and a 23.3% strikeout rate may keep the average from becoming much of a help. RotoBaller left Mack outside its July 15 top 100 and catcher rankings. Standard one-catcher leagues can wait. In two-catcher formats, though, seven homers and steady playing time make him a useful add.

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Athletics relief pitcher Hogan Harris reached the break with six saves, a 3.43 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, and 56 strikeouts in 42 innings. The save total catches the eye. The timing does not. Harris has not converted one since June 12, and 27 walks have made nearly every inning feel heavier than it should. He is rostered in 8% of Yahoo leagues. The Athletics still have not handed the ninth to one reliever. Harris remains part of the late-inning picture with Elvis Alvarado, and the lefty-righty split could keep both involved. Harris at least limits loud contact, allowing an 86.6 mph average exit velocity with a 31.1% hard-hit rate. That helps, but it does not erase the traffic. RotoBaller ranks him 100th in its July 15 waiver update and 36th among closers for Week 16. He is a speculative add in 15-team leagues for managers chasing saves. In shallower formats, the WHIP and uncertain role are enough reason to wait.

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San Francisco Giants right fielder Victor Bericoto landed on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain on July 10, cutting short a useful first look. He hit .293/.305/.552 with four home runs, nine RBI, seven runs, and one steal in 59 plate appearances. Bericoto is rostered in only 1% of Yahoo leagues. The power gives deep-league managers a reason to wait. Bericoto posted a 14.0% barrel rate and 46.5% hard-hit rate, with four homers closely matching his 3.9 expected total. The approach is far less settled: one walk, 15 strikeouts, and a .217 expected average. San Francisco recalled Grant McCray in the corresponding move, and there is no firm return date yet. RotoBaller ranks Bericoto 98th for Week 16 and recommends him in 15-team leagues. He is worth stashing with an open IL spot, but shallower formats can leave him alone.

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Boston Red Sox second baseman Anthony Seigler hit the break at .257/.333/.419 with two home runs, 13 runs, six RBI, and two steals in 74 at-bats. He settled into regular duty after his June 20 recall, even handling leadoff assignments while Boston patched together an injured infield. Only 3% of Yahoo leagues have him rostered. This is not a power chase. Seigler walked at a 16.4% clip in Triple-A and hit .290/.409/.435 there, with three homers and four steals in 131 at-bats. Trevor Story, Marcelo Mayer, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa are all still working back from injuries, though each could return after the break. That makes the window useful, not permanent. RotoBaller ranks Seigler 84th for Week 16 and recommends him in 15-team leagues. In that format, the runs, on-base ability, and multi-position eligibility are enough to make the add.

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Miami Marlins left fielder Heriberto Hernandez reached the break at .236/.316/.483 with 13 home runs, 36 RBI, 25 runs, and five steals in 203 at-bats. He did most of his recent damage in a hurry, going 12-for-46 with five homers over his final 15 games. 6% on Yahoo is awfully low for that kind of power. The underlying contact gives the surge some weight. Hernandez carries a 91.9 mph average exit velocity, 49.7% hard-hit rate, and 11.9% barrel rate. Miami has used him primarily in left field, and nothing in the playing-time picture suggests he is about to disappear. The average may bounce around, and strikeouts will bring quiet stretches, but the power is already helping now. RotoBaller moved him to 39th overall in its July 15 rankings and recommends him in 12-team leagues. He should be one of the first home-run bats claimed this week.

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Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Jordan Romano grabbed two saves in his first four appearances with the club, then nearly gave one away on July 10. He walked three, allowed a run, and left the bases loaded before Juan Mejia recorded the final out. Romano still came out of the first half as Colorado's listed closer, though the role is anything but settled. The saves are the attraction. Everything around them is difficult to stomach. Romano owns a 7.71 ERA and 2.14 WHIP with 10 walks in 11 2/3 innings overall, and Coors Field adds another layer of risk. RotoBaller lists him at 5% rostered and gives him as good a chance as anyone in the committee to receive the next opportunity. Romano is a deep-league gamble for managers desperate for saves, not a reliever to add for ratio help.

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The Washington Nationals are recalling top catching prospect Harry Ford to the majors after this week's All-Star break, a source told Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. The 23-year-old backstop has a .705 OPS at Triple-A Rochester this year, but he's posted a .9111 OPS since June 1. Ford is ranked fifth in Keith Law's preseason top-20 Nationals prospects and was the headliner in the offseason trade that sent closer Jose A. Ferrer to the Seattle Mariners. The former 12th overall pick by the M's in 2021 will take the place of catcher Drew Millas, who was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a left index finger fracture. In 58 games (257 plate appearances) at Rochester this year, Ford has hit .223/.370/.335 with a .705 OPS, four home runs, 22 RBI, and 34 runs scored. However, a shoulder injury that he has played through has hampered his production, and he has taken a step forward offensively in recent weeks, leading to his second-half promotion. For now, Ford figures to serve as Keibert Ruiz's backup, so he probably won't have much fantasy appeal in redraft leagues for the time being.

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Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (hand) was forced from Tuesday's All-Star Game after being hit in the left hand by a pitch from St. Louis Cardinals right-handed closer Riley O'Brien, but X-rays came back negative, and Caminero says he will be back in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Boston Red Sox, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Fantasy managers can now breathe a sigh of relief after the scary scene early in Tuesday's All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The 23-year-old didn't look his best just before this week's break, but he's a clear must-start in all fantasy formats when he's active as one of the best all-around hitters in baseball. The Dominican third baseman came into the break slashing a cool .279/.372/.555 with a .927 OPS, 28 home runs, 59 RBI, 61 runs scored, and two stolen bases across his 355 at-bats. The two-time All-Star is tied for fourth in baseball in home runs, is tied for 20th in RBI, and is tied for 13th in runs scored.

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Washington Nationals catching prospect Harry Ford has turned the corner over the last month of action at Triple-A and has put himself firmly on the stash radar. Over his last 18 games at Triple-A Rochester, the former 12th overall selection has posted a sharp .291/.474/.545 line with a stellar 1.019 OPS, five doubles, three home runs, and a 16:17 K:BB. This surge is worth emphasizing, as Ford carried a much lower .203/.332/.268 line with a 49:28 K:BB over his first 41 Triple-A regular-season contests. The 23-year-old received a brief taste of the majors last season in Seattle but posted a low .417 OPS over just eight PAs. Even though Keibert Ruiz has held his own at the MLB level, Ford has been making a strong push for a promotion and could earn the call to D.C shortly after the All-Star break. His current trajectory makes him a worthy stash in deeper two-catcher leagues.

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