Detroit Tigers rookie catcher/first baseman Eduardo Valencia had a day to remember on Tuesday in the 14-0 win over the visiting Baltimore Orioles in just his seventh game in the majors. Valencia went 4-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, four RBI, three runs scored, and a strikeout to boost his season average to .529 and his OPS to 1.791 in a small sample size of seven big-league contests. It was his first game action with the Tigers since being recalled from Triple-A Toledo on Monday. Per MLB Pipeline, Valencia is considered Detroit's No. 11 overall prospect. The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder also homered in his first major-league at-bat on July 9, and he now has four homers in his first seven games in Detroit. Valencia's effort to lower his hands in his batting stance to add more lift this year has certainly paid off, as he also clubbed 17 home runs in 81 games at Triple-A in 2026. The Tigers are rolling with Valencia as Dillon Dingler's backup for what looks like the rest of the year.

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Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Griffin Jax may have taken a loss on Tuesday against the Texas Rangers, but the 31-year-old former reliever was still dominant for fantasy managers. Jax allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits while walking three and striking out a season-high 10 hitters in 5 2/3 innings pitched for his eighth loss of the year in the 4-1 defeat at Tropicana Field. The 31-year-old reliever turned starter is now sporting a 3.74 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with a 92:30 K:BB in his 86 2/3 innings pitched in his sixth major-league season (first full year in Tampa). Jax blew his first two save chances to open the 2026 campaign as the Rays' primary closing option, and Tampa eventually moved him to the starting rotation, where he's been more valuable in fantasy baseball. Since joining the rotation on April 26, Jax has gone 5-5 with a 3.38 ERA (3.83 FIP) with 72 strikeouts and 20 walks in 72 innings across 16 starts. He allowed a season-high seven earned runs in five innings against the Boston Red Sox on July 17, but since then, he's given up just two earned runs with two walks and 15 K's in two starts versus the Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays.

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Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres had his best game since returning from the injured list last week in Tuesday's 14-0 blowout victory over the visiting Baltimore Orioles, going 2-for-5 at the plate with a home run, a double, a season-high five RBI, a run scored, and two strikeouts. The 29-year-old Venezuelan second baseman played in just his 51st game of the season on Tuesday because of injuries, but he's now hitting .272 with a .778 OPS. Torres only has five home runs on the year, but he's never been a big power guy -- one outlier 30-homer campaign back in 2019 with the New York Yankees in his second year in the majors. Where he can help down the stretch is with his batting average, thanks to his high contact rate, and in on-base percentage because of his excellent plate discipline. Torres isn't going to move the needle much in the counting stats, but he can certainly be a boost to your fantasy team's average and OBP the rest of the way if he stays healthy. He's currently rostered in under half of Yahoo leagues, too.

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Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams is having a breakout season and has been as dominant as ever of late. Williams allowed two earned runs on three hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out a season-high 12 batters in seven innings in Tuesday's 2-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds in the second game of a doubleheader. He was hit with his sixth loss of the 2026 season, but it was also Williams' fourth straight start with double-digit strikeouts. The 27-year-old has fanned 45 and walked just two in 27 innings with a 3.00 ERA and 0.63 WHIP during his four-game dominant stretch of late. Williams now has a 3.71 ERA on the year and will be a must-start in all fantasy formats for his next scheduled start against the New York Mets. Not only is Williams missing more bats than ever before in 2026, but he's also showing better command, and he has walked two or fewer batters in four straight starts as well. There is no pitcher more dominant right now than Williams in the month of July. On the season, he has struck out double-digit batters seven times.

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The Kansas City Royals announced that first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (hand) left Tuesday night's game early against the division-rival Minnesota Twins with right-hand soreness. Before leaving the eventual 3-2 loss at Target Field, Pasquantino went 0-for-3 at the plate with a strikeout to drop his season average to .232 and his OPS to .663. Normally, hand soreness wouldn't be much of a concern, but it is for Pasquantino, who already required surgery for a fractured hamate bone in his right hand earlier this season. Fantasy managers should consider the left-handed slugger day-to-day for now, but don't be surprised if it results in a trip to the injured list. The 28-year-old has been a massive disappointment for fantasy managers in 2026 after he clubbed a career-high 32 homers and drove in 113 runs in 160 games a season ago. The Pasquatch entered Tuesday with a .234/.321/.348 slash line with a career-worst .670 OPS, only six homers, and 33 RBI in 333 plate appearances. If he requires another trip to the IL, expect Jac Caglianone to move from right field to first base in KC. Pasquantino's power stroke from the left side isn't guaranteed to bounce back the rest of the year following his hand issues.

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The Toronto Blue Jays announced that first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (hamstring) left Tuesday night's game early against the Washington Nationals with tightness in his right hamstring. Guerrero went 1-for-2 at the plate before being replaced at first base by Kazuma Okamoto. It's not the first time this year that the 27-year-old has dealt with a hamstring issue, but hopefully it's nothing serious and he's just day-to-day. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Wednesday to see if Vladdy is back in Toronto's starting lineup against Washington. The six-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner has been one of the most disappointing big-name starts in baseball in 2026, as he entered Tuesday's action slashing just .264/.344/.356 with a career-low .700 OPS, six home runs, 44 RBI, 54 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in 102 games across 433 plate appearances. Guerrero's power has noticeably been absent, and a turnaround doesn't appear to be imminent. Health could be a major reason, as the Canadian native has dealt with nagging issues off and on. In 21 games in July going into Tuesday's game against Washington, Guerrero was hitting .250 (20-for-80) with two homers, five doubles, 10 RBI, nine runs, and one steal in 90 plate appearances.

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Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (wrist) will be reassessed during the team's upcoming homestand to determine if he can resume baseball activities, per Jake Rill of MLB.com. Baltimore returns home from its current road trip on Friday. Rutschman is currently on the 10-day injured list due to left wrist inflammation, and it appears he will not be activated when first eligible on Wednesday. Across 284 plate appearances in 2026, Rutschman has hit .251/.331/.433 with eight home runs, 47 RBI, and 30 runs scored. The 28-year-old has walked in 10.6% of his plate appearances while posting just a 14.1% strikeout rate. However, he's posted just a 7.1% barrel rate, and his power could now be sapped even further if this current wrist issue lingers. With both Rutschman and Samuel Basallo (shoulder) on the injured list, the Orioles have turned to Chadwick Tromp and Yohel Pozo to handle their catching duties.

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Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said he expects starting pitcher Jack Flaherty (forearm) to miss "more than the minimum" 15 days with his current forearm injury, per Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. Flaherty was placed on the 15-day injured list on July 21 due to right flexor inflammation. The veteran right-hander has yet to resume throwing, and it appears he could be facing an extended absence. Across 86 1/3 innings (19 starts) before the injury, Flaherty recorded a 3-8 record with a 4.59 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and 102 strikeouts. The 30-year-old has maintained a strong 26.2% strikeout rate this season, but he's walked 10.8% of the batters he's faced and has allowed a 46.2% hard-hit rate. With Flaherty sidelined, Tigers right-hander Keider Montero has rejoined the team's starting rotation.

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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow (back) is scheduled to throw a second live bullpen session on Wednesday, per Katie Woo of The Athletic. Glasnow has been sidelined since early May due to lower back issues, but it appears as though he could be nearing a minor league rehab assignment. Across 39 2/3 innings (seven starts) before the injury, Glasnow recorded a 3-0 record with a 2.72 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and 49 strikeouts. The oft-injured 32-year-old has basically never made it through a big-league season healthy, which limits his fantasy value. However, he remains an ultra-high-upside starting pitcher when healthy, as he's logged a K-BB rate above 24% in seven out of the last eight seasons. Once healthy, Glasnow profiles as a must-start pitcher who can provide short bursts of dominance for fantasy managers.

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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that catcher Will Smith (neck) is "pain-free" and has resumed baseball activities, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Smith is currently on the 60-day injured list and has not played since June 5 due to ongoing neck issues. However, it appears as though the 31-year-old is ramping up and could be close to going out on a minor league rehab assignment. Across 201 plate appearances before landing on the IL, Smith hit .249/.338/.382 with six home runs, 23 RBI, and 23 runs scored. While his numbers were below his usual standard, Smith may have been hampered by the neck troubles. The veteran catcher's underlying metrics remained strong, as he struck out in just 16.9% of his plate appearances while posting a 13.4% barrel rate. If Smith can make it back to full health, he profiles as a must-start fantasy catcher.

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Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell (elbow) will make a rehab start with Single-A Ontario on Wednesday. This will be Snell's third appearance on his current rehab stint as he works his way back from elbow surgery. Thanks to both elbow and shoulder issues, the 33-year-old has thrown just three innings in the big leagues so far this season. However, recent reporting indicates that Snell is expected to throw about 60 pitches on Wednesday and could be activated by the Dodgers following the start, assuming he makes it through without any hiccups. Snell remains a high-end starting pitcher when healthy, as he recorded a 5-4 record with a 2.35 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 72 strikeouts across 61 1/3 innings (11 starts) for the Dodgers in 2025. As long as he can avoid injury over the final two months of the regular season, he carries league-winning upside for fantasy managers.

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Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (hip) exited early from his team's game against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday due to right hip soreness, according to Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Buxton was hitless in two at-bats before being removed from the contest. Injuries have been a persistent problem in Buxton's career, as he's reached 400 plate appearances just twice in 11 MLB seasons (not including 2026). While he's largely been able to stay on the field so far this year, Buxton has already logged one stint on the injured list due to hip issues and now could be ticketed for a second. The 32-year-old remains a highly productive player when healthy, as he's hit .263/.320/.544 with 25 home runs, 45 RBI, 57 runs scored, and seven stolen bases across 362 plate appearances in 2026. If Buxton misses time, Twins outfielders Austin Martin and Alan Roden could both be in line for an increase in playing time.

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Milwaukee Brewers first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers (toe) has been diagnosed with a fractured right big toe after he fouled a ball off himself in Monday's game against the San Francisco Giants, but he said it's an old fracture that X-rays picked up, according to Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. It sounds as though Bauers could avoid a stint on the injured list, and it will be a pain-management situation for him going forward. The 30-year-old left-handed hitter is not in the team's starting lineup for Game 2 of the series in San Francisco, and it's unclear when the Brewers might consider having him rejoin the starting nine. Andrew Vaughn will start at first base, with Luis Lara starting in right field against Giants right-hander Landen Roupp. Bauers should be held where he's rostered (73% in Yahoo leagues) in the midst of his career year in his third season with the Brewers. The former seventh-rounder by the San Diego Padres in 2013 already has a career-high 18 long balls with 60 RBI, 62 runs, eight steals, and a .265/.370/.486 slash line in his 97 games and 381 plate appearances in 2026.

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The San Francisco Giants announced on Tuesday that they placed infielder/outfielder Casey Schmitt (knee) on the 10-day injured list with a left-knee meniscus tear and selected the contract of infielder Osleivis Basabe from Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move. The severity of Schmitt's meniscus tear has yet to be revealed, but there's a chance that he'll miss the rest of the 2026 season. The 27-year-old utility man is in the midst of a career year in the Bay Area, so it would be a really tough break for him to be forced to miss the rest of his fourth season in the big leagues. Schmitt has hit .271/.301/.483 with a .784 OPS, a career-high 21 home runs, 55 RBI, 47 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in 98 games across 409 plate appearances. Making him even more attractive in all fantasy leagues is the fact that he's eligible at first base, second base, third base, and the outfield in Yahoo leagues. For the foreseeable future and potentially the rest of the way in the second half, Christian Koss could see most of the playing time at the hot corner in San Fran for the Gigantes. He's starting at third and batting ninth on Tuesday against Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Logan Henderson.

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Boston Red Sox newly acquired infielder Curtis Mead (wrist) is being placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday with a fractured left wrist that he suffered when he was hit by a pitch in his debut with the team on Monday against the Athletics. It's unclear how long Mead will be sidelined, but he obviously won't be ready to return in 10 days, and he could struggle to return before the end of the 2026 regular season, depending on how his wrist heals. It's a really tough break for the 25-year-old Aussie and Boston, who just sent left-hander Connelly Early to the Washington Nationals for Mead over the weekend in the midst of his breakout campaign. Mead has hit .253/.353/.498 with an .851 OPS, a career-high 17 home runs, 48 RBI, 49 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 88 games across 329 plate appearances in his fourth year in the majors. His previous career high for homers was three last season with the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago White Sox. Mead is now rostered in under half of Yahoo leagues after his unfortunate injury. Anthony Seigler figures to see most of the playing time in Beantown at the keystone moving forward, with Nick Sogard also being an option to pick up starts at the position.

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The Miami Marlins are open to trading catcher/first baseman Liam Hicks, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Hicks has played more at first base/designated hitter in Miami due to the presence of Joe Mack at catcher, and the team also has the power/speed threat of Agustin Ramirez at catcher in the minor leagues. The catching market has six suitors -- the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, and Los Angeles Dodgers -- but the options on the trade market are not overwhelming. Feinsand also adds that the St. Louis Cardinals could be open to moving either Pedro Pages or Ivan Herrera, as they have two big catching prospects in the minors in Rainiel Rodriguez and Leo Bernal. The Marlins have become sellers again after a recent 12-game losing streak, and the lefty-hitting Hicks would be quite attractive to contenders after his breakout 2026 season. Going into Tuesday's action, the Canadian native is hitting .279/.358/.438 with a .796 OPS, 14 home runs, 60 RBI, 54 runs scored, and three stolen bases across his 333 at-bats in his second full season in the majors.

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Philadelphia Phillies All-Star outfielder Kyle Schwarber (illness) is out of Tuesday's lineup against the division-rival Miami Marlins due to a gastrointestinal issue that is similar to something he dealt with earlier this year, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. The Phillies are hoping Schwarber will only be out for a day or two. With Schwarber under the weather on Tuesday, first baseman Bryce Harper is serving as the designated hitter and is batting third, with Alec Bohm playing first base and hitting cleanup against Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara. Edmundo Sosa is at the hot corner and is batting sixth for the Phils. The 33-year-old Schwarber is a must-start fantasy asset when he's healthy for his elite power from the left side of the plate and his high on-base percentage despite striking out 34.4% of the time. Going into Tuesday's action, Schwarbs still leads baseball in both home runs (33) and strikeouts (157) in 103 games across 457 plate appearances. He's carrying a modest five-game hitting streak right now that has seen him go 6-for-18 with two doubles, an RBI, and four runs scored.

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Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez (hand) will be back in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander Brandon Pfaadt, according to Jason Mackey. Valdez will return to action a day after he was hit by a pitch on his left hand, which caused him to be removed from Monday's game early. Thankfully, tests on Valdez's hand came back negative for any fractures. The 22-year-old Dominican has been excellent in his first 124 major-league at-bats in 2026, slashing .290/.386/.702 with a 1.088 OPS, 14 home runs, 36 RBI, and 26 runs scored across his 38 games and 145 plate appearances. Valdez has been one of the most popular waiver-wire pickups for his power. Although he still has a 1.043 OPS in 21 games in July, Valdez has cooled off of late, going 3-for-16 with eight strikeouts in his last six games. Fantasy managers will be hoping that he can turn things around in his return on Tuesday at PNC Park.

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Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (knee) had a successful medial meniscectomy on Tuesday as well as a platelet-rich plasma injection in his knee, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. There is no timetable for Langeliers' return, but he has yet to be officially ruled out for the rest of the season. Langeliers didn't have a full repair of his torn meniscus, so there's a chance he could be back for the A's in three to six weeks. Fantasy managers should continue to stash the elite power-hitting catcher for now, but keep in mind that the A's will be in no rush to bring Langeliers back, especially if they are even further from playoff contention later in the second half. In the meantime, the lefty-hitting Jonah Heim will operate as the team's primary backstop, giving him fantasy value in two-catcher leagues for his pop from the left side. Langeliers' injury is a major blow to the A's and fantasy managers, as he was already at 23 home runs with a .263/.332/.497 slash line and .829 OPS through his 376 at-bats in 2026.

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Colorado Rockies outfielder Cole Carrigg has settled into everyday work in center field while producing a .287/.360/.519 slash line with five home runs, 26 RBI, 30 runs, and three stolen bases through 151 plate appearances. The rookie has appeared in 39 of Colorado's 41 games since his June 9 debut and started 34 of them, giving fantasy managers both steady volume and production across the standard categories. The stolen-base total should have room to grow after Carrigg swiped 30 bags in 57 Triple-A games before his promotion. His five homers are useful, though a 34.0% hard-hit rate and .414 expected slugging percentage suggest the current power pace may be difficult to maintain. Only 22% of Yahoo leagues have Carrigg rostered, and he sits 32nd in RotoBaller's Week 18 waiver rankings with an add recommendation for 12-team formats. The combination of regular playing time, runs, average, and power-speed upside makes him a priority addition at that league depth.

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