Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring) will play in a minor-league rehab game with Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday night, and manager Walt Weiss said there's a possibility that he'll be activated from the 10-day injured list on Friday, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. But if Acuna doesn't return on Friday, he's expected to return for this weekend's series in Baltimore against the Orioles. Fantasy managers have been chomping at the bit to get the former MVP back in their lineups, as he's been out since early June with a Grade 1 strained left hamstring, the second time in 2026 that he's been on the IL for the same injury. While the 28-year-old Venezuelan outfielder has been a huge disappointment in fantasy this year because of injuries yet again, he still has time left to make a big difference down the stretch. The five-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger winner will be returning to a .251/.373/.421 slash line, .793 OPS, seven home runs, 22 RBI, 15 stolen bases, and 31 runs scored across his 195 at-bats.

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Chicago Cubs first baseman/outfield prospect Jonathon Long is having a strong season at Triple-A Iowa, but has been particularly hot as of late. The Cubs' sixth-ranked prospect is 17-for-36 (.472) over his last eight games, including a three-hit, four-hit, and even a five-hit performance, during which time he tallied five doubles, two home runs, and a 5:8 BB:K. In all, the former ninth-round draft pick is slashing .283/.364/.451 with 11 home runs and a pair of steals over 90 games. The right-handed hitter is registering average-to-better-than-average chase, walk, swinging-strike, strikeout, hard-hit, and barrel rates, along with 84th percentile average exit velocity (91.0 mph) at Iowa. The stats backed by results give the 22-year-old a solid case for an MLB call-up, which could happen in the coming weeks, so managers in deeper 12+ team leagues should put him on their stash radar.

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The Milwaukee Brewers, who have the best record in franchise history to this point in the season and the second-biggest division lead in baseball, are prepared to "adopt a more aggressive approach" at this year's trade deadline compared to recent years, sources familiar with the club's thinking have told MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. It means club officials have touched base with the Detroit Tigers about ace left-hander Tarik Skubal and the San Diego Padres about flamethrowing closer Mason Miller. "I've been on the phone a lot," said president of baseball operations Matt Arnold. "We're definitely active." Despite an aggressive approach, the Brewers have been telling teams they won't decimate their farm system to land a high-profile player, especially if he's just a rental. Milwaukee has assigned high value to their top-100 prospects -- shortstops Jesus Made and Luis Pena, and outfielder Josh Adamczewski. The Brewers' primary focus is believed to be reinforcing a pitching staff that owns the second-best ERA (3.44) despite losing starters Brandon Woodruff and Quinn Priester, and high-leverage reliever Angel Zerpa to season-ending injuries.

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New York Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler is being moved up from Sunday to start Friday's series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies, according to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. Will Warren was originally scheduled to start on Friday against the Phils, but he was used out of the bullpen for two-thirds of an inning on Wednesday in the second game of a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 25-year-old Schlittler has been a first-time All-Star in 2026 while leading the league in WAR (4.1), ERA (2.20), starts (21), and WHIP (0.96) in 123 innings pitched while striking out 145 batters and walking 25. He only went 4 1/3 innings in his last outing on July 19 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, though, allowing three earned runs while walking none and striking out eight for his sixth loss. It's not the greatest matchup to look for a bounce-back, but Schlittler has been a must-start for fantasy managers this year and has struck out at least six batters while allowing three runs or fewer in each of his last three starts in July.

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Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor has reached base in 14 straight games, and he is still running whenever the opening is there. The power, though, has barely shown up. Naylor is batting .261 with 21 steals, but he has only eight home runs and 13 doubles through 413 plate appearances. July has been even stranger: 17 hits, just two for extra bases, both doubles. His contact remains excellent, with a 12.1% strikeout rate and 18.5% whiff rate. That keeps the average playable. The contact quality is another story. Naylor's 4.6% barrel rate and 36.1% hard-hit rate are both down from last season, and even his .395 xSLG points more toward modest improvement than a real power rebound. He can still help in fantasy leagues. Just don't treat the steals as proof that the full package is coming back.

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Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jacob Gonzalez hit a two-run homer in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Yankees, his second long ball since joining the club. Gonzalez is 5-for-17 with five RBI and three runs during that stretch. His full major-league line now sits at .252 with four homers, 22 RBI, and 14 runs across 103 at-bats. The Pirates have used Gonzalez at shortstop and first base, but there is still competition for at-bats around the infield. That keeps him out of standard mixed-league territory for now. The power is worth a deeper look. Gonzalez hit .320/.422/.675 with 19 home runs over 200 Triple-A at-bats, and only 3% of Yahoo leagues have him rostered. RotoBaller places him in the 15-team range. He is a viable add there, especially for managers looking for corner-infield power.

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Washington Nationals right-handed reliever Clayton Beeter gave up the deciding solo home run in Tuesday's 8-7 loss to Colorado, taking his third loss of the season. Two days earlier, he worked 1 1/3 innings for his eighth save against the Athletics. That swing captures the appeal and the risk. Beeter now has a 3.94 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 33 strikeouts over 29 2/3 innings. The saves are useful. The role is not settled. Beeter has also walked 19 batters and blown five save chances, while Washington has used him before the ninth when the matchup called for it. RotoBaller keeps him in the 15-team range, which fits. Managers chasing saves in deeper formats can take the volatility, but Beeter should not be treated like a secure closer.

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Milwaukee Brewers corner infield prospect Luke Adams collected a pair of hits for the second day in a row on Wednesday, smacking a pair of singles, drawing a walk, and scoring once for Triple-A Nashville. The Brewers' 11th-ranked prospect is hitting .341 in July with two doubles, two home runs, three steals, and a 5:5 BB:K in 12 starts. The former 12th-rounder is having a solid season overall, batting .265 with a .962 OPS for the Sounds; that OPS is top 10 at Triple-A for players who have logged at least 190 plate appearances there. The 6-foot-4 slugger would have even more plate appearances by now if not for missing a month and a half on the injured list earlier this year. The right-handed hitter owns a low 16.0 percent strikeout rate with a solid 11.9 percent walk rate at Triple-A, and with a sound overall approach, he could be in the mix for a big league promotion in the coming weeks. There is enough contact and power here to make him intriguing for fantasy if he gets regular at-bats, but the 22-year-old is realistically only worth stashing in very deep 14-teamers and NL-only leagues, and would have to be added to the 40-man roster ahead of any potential debut.

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New York Mets pitching prospect Jack Wenninger needed 78 pitches to get through three innings in his latest start, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out two. After a strong start to the season in which he posted a 1.08 ERA (3.63 FIP), 1.11 WHIP, and 38 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings pitched, the right-hander has posted a 5.29 ERA (6.34 FIP), 1.58 WHIP, and just 41 strikeouts in 49 1/3 IP over his last 11 appearances. The Mets' fourth-ranked prospect seemed to be on the verge of making a major league debut earlier this year, but it looks like he needs a bit more development. If he can get back on track, a debut later this season could still be in the cards, but with a high walk rate (12.7 percent) and averaging less than a strikeout per inning (8.6 K/9), there is little reason to stash him in fantasy.

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Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing snapped a nine-game hitless stretch Wednesday, July 22, with a 438-foot homer and a two-run double in a 9-5 win over Philadelphia. He finished 2-for-4 with three RBI, giving him a .247 average, 11 home runs, 33 RBI, and 32 runs across 194 at-bats. It was his fifth game this season with at least three RBI. The hot and cold stretches are real, but so is the opportunity. Will Smith (neck) is not expected back before mid-August, leaving Rushing in the starting role for the foreseeable future. Yahoo managers have rostered him in only 17% of leagues despite the power he brings at a thin position. RotoBaller lists Rushing in the 15-team range. He is not an automatic add in every one-catcher league, but the regular at-bats and 11-homer pop make him a strong pickup in deeper and two-catcher formats.

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Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Jake Mangum (foot) collected two hits, stole his 19th base, and knocked in an insurance run during Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Yankees. He also fouled a ball off his right foot. Mangum finished the opener but was scratched from the second game of the doubleheader so Pittsburgh could examine the injury. The Pirates hope to have him back Friday. Mangum is batting .303 with two home runs, 35 runs, 21 RBI, and 19 steals across 251 at-bats. There is almost no power here, but that is not why fantasy managers are looking his way. He can help in average and make a real difference in stolen bases. His name appears on just 11% of Yahoo rosters, while RotoBaller ranks him in the 15-team range. Mangum is worth adding there once the foot checks out.

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Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Robert Gasser should stick around in the Brewers' starting rotation for a little while longer with fellow southpaw Kyle Harrison (elbow) still on the injured list, making him a starting option off the waiver wire in deeper leagues after his latest bounce-back effort. The 27-year-old lefty allowed a season-high seven earned runs on eight hits (two homers) to the Pittsburgh Pirates in his final start before the All-Star break, but he bounced back nicely on July 19 against the Miami Marlins, giving up just one earned run while walking none and striking out five in five innings for a no-decision. Gasser's 4.91 ERA (5.13 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP in 10 starts and 51 1/3 innings don't look particularly enticing, but he does have a career-high 21.9% strikeout rate and a solid 6.4% walk rate in a small sample size in 2026. Deep-league managers looking for a decent streaming option in the second half should consider Gasser while he remains in a starting role. The former second-rounder by the San Diego Padres in 2021 out of the University of Houston is rostered in just 11% of Yahoo leagues, and he has a very attractive next outing at home against the Colorado Rockies.

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Cleveland Guardians middle infielder Brayan Rocchio has been heating up at the plate this summer. The 25-year-old Venezuelan went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored in Wednesday's 10-6 loss to the division-rival Minnesota Twins to extend his hitting streak to five games. During his five-game streak, he's gone 7-for-22 (.318) with a homer, a double, four RBI, and three runs scored. Extending back to June 18, Rocchio has slashed .296/.319/.452 with four home runs, six doubles, 16 RBI, and 14 runs scored in a stretch of 29 games. He has hit .299 (20-for-67) with an .826 OPS, four home runs, two doubles, 14 RBI, 10 runs scored, and a stolen base in 17 games and 70 plate appearances so far in July. The hot streak has boosted the switch-hitter's season line to .275/.338/.409 with a .746 OPS, nine home runs, 48 RBI, 15 steals, and 43 runs scored across his 345 at-bats. Fantasy managers looking for a quick batting average fix should consider riding Rocchio's hot bat, but long-term, he's unlikely to be a savior with a .258 xBA and a .306xwOBA.

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Cincinnati Reds infielder/outfielder Spencer Steer returned on Wednesday from a rib injury he suffered on Monday and went 0-for-4 at the plate in the 5-3 win over the hosting Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Steer is now hitless in his last 11 at-bats, but the 28-year-old has been much better so far in July than he was in June, when he hit just .159 (13-for-82) with a .629 OPS, six home runs, a double, 13 RBI, 14 runs scored, nine walks, and 28 strikeouts in 24 games played. The 28-year-old right-handed slugger is currently batting .259 (14-for-54) with an .818 OPS, three home runs, two doubles, six RBI, and six runs scored in 16 games and 62 plate appearances in July. Steer is up to 16 home runs in 96 games across 378 plate appearances in 2026 in his fifth year with the Reds, and he offers under-the-radar power in a hitter-friendly home environment in deeper fantasy leagues for managers who are searching for more pop. Now that Steer is over his recent rib injury, hopefully he will begin to put his power stroke on display once again. He's currently rostered in only 36% of Yahoo leagues.

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Across 28 innings (32 games) in 2026, Baltimore Orioles right-hander Andrew Kittredge has recorded a 3.86 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 25 strikeouts, and three saves. While the 36-year-old's overall line and his 20.7% strikeout rate are both middling, Kittredge has emerged as a ninth-inning option in Baltimore in recent weeks, with Orioles closer Ryan Helsley (elbow) currently on the 60-day injured list due to an elbow injury. Baltimore has also given save chances to right-hander Tyler Wells, who has pitched to a 2.94 ERA with a 20.6% K-BB rate so far this season. Still, dating back to June 24, Kittredge has now logged 11 consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run. Kittredge may not see every save chance for Baltimore the rest of the way, but he still profiles as a worthwhile waiver wire target in deeper league formats.

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The Chicago Cubs are calling up second base/outfielder prospect James Triantos from Triple-A Iowa on Thursday for his major-league debut, according to Geoff Pontes of Baseball America. Triantos, the team's No. 7 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is getting his first MLB call after slashing an impressive .306/.344/.440 with a .784 OPS, seven home runs, 52 RBI, 18 stolen bases, and 58 runs scored in 88 games across 378 plate appearances this year at Iowa. The 23-year-old former second-rounder in 2021 should give the Cubbies a utility option off the bench, as he has experience at all three outfield spots while mostly playing second and third base on the farm in 2026. The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder has bounced back nicely after a rough showing in the minors last year, although he's unlikely to have an everyday role in Chicago this year if he sticks in the majors. Triantos, who bats and throws right-handed, has been compared to Alex Bregman and David Wright for his high-end contact skills. To become a big-league regular, he'll need to develop more power and improve his plate discipline. Fantasy managers in most leagues can ignore Triantos for now.

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Now with High-A Wilmington, Washington Nationals shortstop prospect Eli Willits is continuing to produce in his age 18 season. Willits, a former first round pick by the Nationals is the top prospect in the Washington system. He possesses a 60-grade hit tool and a 60-grade run tool, giving him massive upside in fantasy circles. At age 18, Willits has split time between two levels of the minors this season, but has 12 homers and 53 RBI combined at both levels while hitting .274 with an .894 OPS. He also has combined for a huge 38 stolen bases to show off his speed potential. Willits has the looks of a five-tool fantasy contributor and is a must-add in dynasty leagues. He will likely need a few years to showcase his growth in the minor leagues but once he makes it up to Washington, he could be a fantasy superstar.

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New York Mets utility man Brett Baty has had a rough season overall in 2026, hitting .223/.295/.331 with six home runs, 33 RBI, 38 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 343 plate appearances. However, the 26-year-old has begun to turn it on in July, hitting .281 with three home runs, 11 runs scored, and two stolen bases across 60 plate appearances so far this month. Baty has shown he can be a productive big-league hitter in the past, hitting .254 with 18 home runs and eight stolen bases across 432 plate appearances in 2025. The lefty swinger profiles more as a platoon bat, as he owns a .535 OPS across 297 career plate appearances against left-handed pitching. Still, Baty can be a useful streamer for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire, particularly given his multi-positional eligibility.

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Houston Astros outfield prospect Kevin Alvarez is adding to his well-rounded statistics this month while in Single-A-ball with the Fayetteville Woodpeckers. In 55 July at-bats, Alvarez has two homers and 11 RBI with 11 runs scored and a .327 batting average. At age 18, Alvarez is the top overall prospect for the Astros out of Cuba. The left-handed hitting outfielder is hitting .278 with eight homers and 41 RBI this season for Fayetteville. Blessed with a 60-grade hit tool, Alvarez has massive potential and is beginning to show that at Single-A. But he's just 18 years old and needs time to mature in the minor leagues. A high-priority dynasty league target, Alvarez is a ways away from producing in the major leagues. It could be two to three seasons before Alvarez is contributing to fantasy leagues, but he is someone fantasy managers won't want to forget about.

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New York Mets right-hander Luke Weaver has arguably been his team's top reliever in 2026, recording a 1.98 ERA and 0.80 WHIP with 43 strikeouts, 14 holds, two wins, and one save across 41 innings (39 games). The 32-year-old owns a stellar 20.4% K-BB rate, and opposing batters are hitting just .152 against him. Weaver's path to saves with the Mets is currently blocked off by established closer Devin Williams. However, Williams has struggled to a 4.54 ERA this season and has allowed four earned runs across his first 5 1/3 innings pitched in July. The Mets may also be looking to move Williams at the upcoming trade deadline if they can find an interested buyer. If Williams is removed from New York's closer role for either reason, Weaver profiles as a logical choice to assume the job. He has experience in the ninth inning, recording eight saves as a member of the New York Yankees in 2025. Particularly in deeper leagues, Weaver could be worth stashing off the waiver wire.

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