Kansas City Royals outfielder Tyler Tolbert had a day to remember while starting at shortstop for the Royals in Monday's 15-1 rout of the visiting Philadelphia Phillies at Kauffman Stadium, going a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate with a solo home run, an RBI double, and three runs scored to boost his season batting average to .333 and his OPS to .812. It was the first time that the 28-year-old recorded five hits in a game in his career, and it was also his first home run of the 2026 season. The former 13th-rounder in 2019 out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham is in just his second year in the big leagues with KC this year. Tolbert came into the first game of the week on Monday with a .264/.316/.322 slash line, .638 OPS, only one homer, seven RBI, 30 steals, and 29 runs scored in 92 total games for the Royals since debuting in the Show last year. In a small sample size this year, Tolbert has been strong, hitting .333/.383/.429 with three RBI, nine steals, and 13 runs scored in 48 plate appearances. He's worth a bench spot in AL-only leagues for his speed.

From RotoBaller

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Griffin Jax strengthened his case as a waiver-wire pickup in his latest outing at home against the division-rival New York Yankees at Tropicana Field. Jax took his sixth loss of the year in a 5-1 defeat and allowed three earned runs, but he gave up just one hit (a three-run homer to utility man Jose Caballero), walked two, and struck out a career-high 10 batters on the night. The 31-year-old retired the first 13 batters he faced, but he ran into trouble in the fifth frame with two walks before giving up a three-run jack to Caballero that opened the game up for the Yanks. Jax threw 51 of his 81 pitches for strikes and generated 16 swings and misses from Yankees hitters. He's now at a 3.60 ERA on the year with a 1.22 WHIP in 65 innings in what has been a successful transition from the bullpen to the starting rotation in Tampa. He's rostered in 61% of Yahoo leagues and is slated to make his final start of the first half this weekend at home against the Seattle Mariners. Since becoming a full-time starter on April 26, Jax has gone 3-3 with a 2.65 ERA (4.09 FIP) with 48 strikeouts and 13 walks in 51 innings pitched.

From RotoBaller

New York Yankees infielder/outfielder Jose Caballero carried the Yankees' offense on Monday night in a 5-1 win on the road against his former team, the Tampa Bay Rays. Caballero went 2-for-3 at the plate with two home runs and four RBI to boost his season average to .249 and his OPS to .711. The speedy 29-year-old native of Panama hit a three-run bomb in the fifth inning off Rays starter Griffin Jax and then clubbed a solo homer in the eighth inning to account for all but one of New York's runs on the night at Tropicana Field. It was his first multi-homer game since August of last year against Tampa. It was nice to see from Caballero, who came into Monday's tilt with a .152/.220/.217 slash line, a homer, four RBI, five stolen bases, five runs scored, four walks, and 16 strikeouts in his last 14 games since June 20. Caballero is mostly attractive in fantasy leagues for his speed and multi-position eligibility in Yahoo leagues at second base, third base, shortstop, and the outfield. He's now up to 10 home runs, 33 RBI, and 20 stolen bases in 277 plate appearances in 2026.

From RotoBaller

Athletics outfielder/first baseman Tyler Soderstrom (hip) remains shut down from any baseball activities, per MLB.com. Soderstrom was placed on the 10-Day injured list in late June due to a left-hip impingement that appears likely to sideline him through at least the All-Star break. Across 335 plate appearances in 2026 before the injury, Soderstrom hit .242/.343/.460 with 13 home runs, 41 RBI, 41 runs scored, and one stolen base. With a 12.8% walk rate and a 17.6% strikeout rate, the 24-year-old has demonstrated a promising plate approach. Soderstrom also brings solid underlying contact metrics, as he owns an 11% barrel rate and a 47.3% hard-hit rate across over 1,300 career MLB plate appearances. With Soderstrom sidelined, Athletics utility man Zack Gelof, outfielder Carlos Cortes, and outfielder Colby Thomas are all candidates to see more time in left field.

From RotoBaller

Toronto Blue Jays veteran right-hander Max Scherzer (back) will make another minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. In his first rehab start for High-A Vancouver last Friday, Scherzer threw 49 pitches and allowed two earned runs on three hits while walking two and striking out three in three innings of work. The future Hall of Famer could need one more rehab game in the minors after Wednesday's start, meaning he will not be an option for the Jays' starting rotation before next week's All-Star break. The 41-year-old three-time Cy Young winner and eight-time All-Star is on the injured list again this year due to back spasms after already missing extensive time with a forearm injury and other ailments. Scherzer continues to struggle to stay healthy, and he's no longer his dominant self when healthy, going 1-4 with a 10.23 ERA and 1.73 WHIP with 14 strikeouts and 11 walks in 22 innings in his six starts so far in 2026 for the Blue Jays. Fantasy managers have plenty of better upside arms to choose from off the waiver wire in deeper leagues.

From RotoBaller

The Kansas City Royals expect first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (hand) to begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday with Triple-A Omaha. Pasquantino is on the verge of rejoining the Royals after having surgery in the middle of June to fix a fractured hamate bone in his right hand. Barring a setback during his rehab assignment, the 28-year-old left-handed slugger could rejoin the major-league roster this weekend before the All-Star break next week. But most likely, the Royals will play it safe and bring the Pasquatch back for the start of the second half on Friday, July 17. The former 11th-round selection in 2019 out of Old Dominion University was hitting just .224/.309/.350 with a .660 OPS, six home runs, 32 RBI, 28 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 254 at-bats for KC before his hand injury in his fifth year in the big leagues. It was a disappointing start for Pasquantino, but his 32-homer and 113-RBI campaign in 2025 showed that he has game-changing power when he's right. Pasquantino is only rostered in 63% of Yahoo leagues, so fantasy managers may want to stash him now for his power ability in the second half.

From RotoBaller

Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson (thumb) has been shut down from hitting due to right thumb inflammation and is not expected to return from the 10-day injured list until after the All-Star break, per MLB.com. Wilson emerged as a high-end source of batting average for fantasy managers in 2025, hitting .311/.355/.444 with 13 home runs, 63 RBI, 62 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 523 plate appearances. However, the 24-year-old has seen his numbers drop across the board in 2026 as he's battled shoulder and now thumb injuries. Across 214 plate appearances this season, Wilson is hitting .277/.310/.386 with four home runs, 26 RBI, 23 runs scored, and two stolen bases. With Wilson sidelined, Athletics infielder Alika Williams will likely continue to see the majority of the team's playing time at shortstop.

From RotoBaller

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone provided "no substantive update" on a recovery timeline for outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (calf), per Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. Kirschner reports that Stanton is not running yet but is "doing treadmill work." The veteran slugger has been sidelined by a calf injury since late April. He began ramping up his rehab in early June, but suffered a setback that has delayed his return even further. Stanton displayed elite power when healthy in 2025, hitting .273/.350/.594 with 24 home runs, 66 RBI, and 36 runs scored across 281 plate appearances. The 36-year-old is a one-dimensional player for fantasy managers at this point in his career, but he can provide a significant power boost when he's at his best. Still, he should remain on the waiver wire in most league formats until more is revealed about his return timeline.

From RotoBaller

New York Mets right-hander Clay Holmes (leg) could start a minor-league rehab assignment in the second half of this month, according to Tim Britton of The Athletic. Holmes is making progress behind the scenes after fracturing his fibula on May 15 when he was hit by a 111 mph comebacker. The 33-year-old former ninth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011 was 4-4 at the time of his injury with a career-best 2.39 ERA (3.22 FIP) and 1.10 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and 18 walks in 52 2/3 innings across his nine starts. Barring a setback once he starts his rehab assignment, Holmes could be ready to return to the big leagues in early August, and he could be a popular trade candidate with the deadline approaching in early August, with a $12 million player option for 2027. Holmes is rostered in 24% of Yahoo leagues while his leg heals. Fantasy managers holding him would be wise not to expect some regression in the second half of 2026.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell (elbow) will face live hitters on Saturday for the first time since undergoing elbow surgery in mid-May, per David Vassegh of 570 L.A. Sports. Shoulder and elbow troubles have limited Snell to just one start so far in 2026, but the veteran left-hander appears to be slowly making progress towards a return. The oft-injured Snell has reached 130 innings pitched just twice in 11 big-league seasons. Still, he was a productive pitcher for the Dodgers when healthy in 2025, recording a 5-4 record with a 2.35 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 72 strikeouts across 61 1/3 innings. Snell posted a 34.7% strikeout rate as recently as the 2024 season and remains a high-upside strikeout source when he's at his best. In leagues where he may be available, fantasy managers should look to stash him off the waiver wire.

From RotoBaller

Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (abdomen) is participating in all baseball activities, but not quite at full speed, according to MLB.com. The general timetable for his recovery from sports-hernia surgery (on May 21) is eight to 12 weeks, but Story thinks he'll be closer to eight. The Red Sox put Story on the 15-day injured list on May 16 after having surgery, and he was transferred to the 60-day IL on June 4. Even if he continues to progress in his recovery from hernia surgery, the 33-year-old veteran and two-time All-Star won't return before the All-Star break from July 13-16, and he might not be reinstated until August, depending on when he's cleared to begin a minor-league rehab assignment. Before his injury, Story was struggling with a .206/.244/.303 slash line with only three home runs, 19 RBI, 16 runs scored, and four steals in 165 at-bats. He turned back the clock in 2025 with 25 homers, 96 RBI, and 31 steals in 157 regular-season games, but Story's lengthy injury history has caught up with him again in his 11th year in the big leagues. Story is currently rostered in 38% of Yahoo leagues.

From RotoBaller

Minnesota Twins right-hander Bailey Ober (elbow) made his second minor-league rehab start on Saturday with Triple-A St. Paul and allowed four earned runs on six hits while walking none and striking out five in five innings of work against Triple-A Buffalo. The 30-year-old veteran threw 3 1/3 innings with High-A Cedar Rapids in his first rehab start on June 28 as he works his way back from a right-elbow injury. Ober's elbow felt fine after the outing, and he was able to throw 50 of his 76 pitches with the Saints for strikes. It's unclear what his next step is, but the Twins may reinstate him from the 15-day injured list so that he can start this weekend in an excellent matchup against the Los Angeles Angels. The soft-tossing right-hander doesn't have a very high fantasy ceiling because he doesn't induce many swings and misses, especially with a drop in velocity, but he can still be useful as a fantasy streamer in the right matchups. Before going on the IL, Ober was 6-3 for the Twins this year with a 4.59 ERA (4.97 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP with 46 strikeouts and 18 walks in 66 2/3 innings across his 12 starts. Ober has excellent command of the strike zone, but his strikeout rate in 2026 is down to a career-low 16.4%.

From RotoBaller

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (calf) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Pena is currently battling a calf strain, but it appears as though he is close to making his return. It's been an injury-marred 2026 campaign for Pena so far, as he's been limited to just 202 plate appearances. Still, the 28-year-old has been productive when healthy, hitting .295/.356/.443 with six home runs, 21 RBI, 34 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. Once Pena returns to the Astros lineup, he profiles as a must-start fantasy shortstop with five-category upside.

From RotoBaller

Washington Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli's seven-game suspension from Major League Baseball has been reduced to five games, and it will begin on Monday night, according to Spencer Nusbaum. The suspension stems from a benches-clearing incident last week against the Boston Red Sox. The 27-year-old had his most recent start moved up to Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he struggled with the heat and saw a dip in velocity, ultimately allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out three in just 2 1/3 innings in a no-decision. He admitted after the game that he was feeling light-headed on a humid, 92-degree afternoon. It was a major disappointment for fantasy managers who started Cavalli after he allowed just an unearned run with no walks and a season-high 13 strikeouts in seven innings in a win over Boston in his previous outing. His fastball velocity dropped from 97.6 mph in the first inning to 96.1 mph in the second to 94.2 mph in the third inning. It doesn't appear that he's dealing with a physical injury, so he should be ready to make his final start of the first half against the New York Yankees this Sunday. That's a matchup that fantasy managers will probably want to shy away from.

From RotoBaller

Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (hamstring) traveled to Charlotte on Monday and will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A on Tuesday, per Scott Merkin on MLB.com. Murakami has been sidelined since late May due to a hamstring injury, but it appears he has a chance to return to the big leagues before the All-Star break. The 26-year-old was having an electric rookie season before getting injured, hitting .240/.378/.560 with 20 home runs, 41 RBI, 43 runs scored, and one stolen base across 246 plate appearances. With a 32.5% strikeout rate, Murakami's batting average upside is limited. However, he posted elite barrel (20.7%) and hard-hit (58.7%) rates. Once he returns, Murakami profiles as a must-start fantasy first baseman with immense power upside.

From RotoBaller

The Toronto Blue Jays announced on Monday that they reinstated designated hitter/outfielder George Springer from the family medical emergency list and placed right-hander Braydon Fisher on the bereavement list in a corresponding move. Springer is active for Monday's series opener in San Francisco against the Giants, but he is not in the starting lineup. Sean Keys is serving as the DH and is batting fifth against Giants right-hander Landen Roupp. Fantasy managers should expect Spring to be back in Toronto's starting lineup for Game 2 of the series at Oracle Park on Tuesday. The 36-year-old four-time All-Star has mostly struggled in 2026 after a resurgent season last year that saw him hit .309/.399/.560 with a .959 OPS, 32 home runs, 84 RBI, and 18 stolen bases in 140 regular-season games before helping the Jays reach the World Series. He comes into Monday's game hitting just .221 (54-for-244) in 2026 with eight homers, 21 RBI, and six steals in 63 games. Fantasy managers will be hoping that Springer can pick up where he left off before leaving the team for personal reasons. Springer went 16-for-57 (.281) with two homers, a double, a triple, five RBI, eight runs, and three steals in his last 14 games, dating back to June 14.

From RotoBaller

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Dustin May (ankle) has been cleared to make his start on Monday against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers, but he will be held to around 65 pitches due to his workload over the last few weeks, according to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News. The 28-year-old has had a couple of injury scares of late, most recently being pulled from his most recent start last Thursday against the Atlanta Braves after just two-thirds of an inning, when he was hit by a comebacker in his right ankle. Thankfully, X-rays came back negative, but he'll be on a short leash after having not thrown more than 44 pitches in a start in three weeks. Not only is May's matchup to begin the week a bad one, but a limited pitch count will take him off the streaming radar. May should have a more regular workload this weekend in a rematch against the Braves, but he won't be very intriguing in that matchup either. May has been up and down in 2026 in his first year in St. Louis, going 5-6 with a 4.80 ERA (3.37 FIP) and 1.27 WHIP with 78 strikeouts and 24 walks in 84 1/3 innings over his 16 starts.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Dodgers infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman (ankle, foot) will take a seat again for Monday's series opener against the Colorado Rockies, per MLB.com. Edman will miss a second straight game after he was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's series finale against the San Diego Padres with soreness in his right ankle/foot. It's something worth keeping a close eye on, as Edman had surgery on the same ankle/foot in the offseason, which caused him to get a late start in 2026. The good news is that Edman should be fine going forward after just being hit by a pitch in Saturday's win over the Friars. Veteran Miguel Rojas is starting at the keystone and will hit eighth on Monday at home against the visiting Rockies and left-hander Kyle Freeland. In just 16 games played so far this year, Edman has gone 17-for-49 (.347) with a homer, nine RBI, six runs scored, and a stolen base. He typically hasn't been much of a fantasy asset in his career due to limited power/speed upside, but he's played well in a small sample size and offers eligibility at second base, third base, and the outfield.

From RotoBaller

New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. (toe) was included in the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener in Tampa against the division-rival Rays, according to MLB.com. Chisholm is starting at second base and is batting sixth versus Rays right-hander Griffin Jax. The Yankees pulled Chisholm from Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Twins early due to discomfort in his right big toe, but X-rays came back negative, and he ended up not missing a start at all. The 28-year-old left-handed slugger has elite power/speed upside for a position player eligible at second base in fantasy, but he's not without his issues. Chisholm has a strikeout rate that sits at 28.9% and a .307 on-base percentage in his 85 games across 336 plate appearances. But he enters Monday's action with 12 home runs, 33 RBI, 26 stolen bases, and 43 runs scored in his second full season with the Yankees. Chisholm has hit .200 (9-for-45) with a homer, a double, two RBI, five stolen bases, four runs, two walks, and 16 strikeouts in his last 14 games since June 20.

From RotoBaller

Milwaukee Brewers third base prospect Luke Adams is producing in the minor leagues in the midst of an injury-plagued season. Adams is hitting .252 with 13 homers and 32 RBI in 131 at-bats this season, to go with five stolen bases between two levels, including Triple-A Nashville. The Brewers' No. 12 overall prospect, Adams suffered a wrist injury early this season but returned to post strong numbers in Nashville and offer a glimpse of his upside at third base. David Hamilton mans the hot corner at the big league level for the Brewers at the moment, but Adams, a right-handed bat, is providing some evidence that he could be ready for a look at the major leagues and could be a platoon partner for the left-handed-hitting Hamilton. Savvy fantasy managers in deep leagues may want to look into Adams and give him a chance at a roster spot ahead of the All-Star break.

From RotoBaller