Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo is on a strong run, and that continued as he shut down the Cincinnati Reds on the road on Thursday in a 1-0 victory. Luzardo threw seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits, walking two, and striking out 11 to win his eighth game of the 2026 season. The 28-year-old southpaw from Peru has had some uneven performances this year for sure, but he has also allowed two or fewer runs in 13 of his 19 starts in his second year in Philly. He will take an 8-4 record, 3.52 ERA, and 136:35 K:BB in 110 1/3 innings into next week's All-Star break after posting his fourth start of the season with double-digit strikeouts. Since allowing five earned runs in six innings in a no-decision against the Chicago White Sox on June 5, Luzardo has given up only six earned runs while walking 14 and striking out 56 in 37 1/3 innings pitched in six starts versus the Reds, Toronto Blue Jays, Miami Marlins, Washington Nationals, New York Mets, and Kansas City Royals. He's rolling going into the break, and fantasy managers can only hope he keeps this form to begin the second half later this month.

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Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams was dominant on Thursday to pick up his 10th win of the season in the team's 5-2 victory over the division-rival Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Williams allowed just two earned runs on three hits (one home run) while walking one and striking out 11 in seven innings of work. It was the 26-year-old's fourth outing this year with double-digit strikeouts and his sixth start with at least seven innings pitched. He will head into next week's All-Star break with a nice 3.81 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 134:37 K:BB in 113 1/3 innings pitched. Since allowing a season-high seven earned runs in five innings in a loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on June 17, Williams has allowed nine earned runs with 31 strikeouts and seven walks in 21 1/3 innings pitched against the Twins, Seattle Mariners, and the Chicago White Sox twice. The former 23rd overall pick in 2021 from East Carolina University is sporting a career-best 28.3% strikeout rate in 2026 and has lowered his walk rate from a career-high 11.8% last year to a career-low 8.3% this season.

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New York Yankees catcher/first baseman Ben Rice is heating up once again as we near the end of the first half of the 2026 season. In Thursday's 12-4 win over the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, Rice went 2-for-4 at the plate with two home runs, a season-high five RBI, three runs scored, a walk, and a strikeout as the team's designated hitter. The 27-year-old left-handed slugger delivered his first multi-homer game of the year and the fourth of his career. Rice hit under the Mendoza Line in June, but he already has five home runs and 11 RBI in his 29 at-bats so far in July to raise his season slash line to .275/.366/.590. Rice has added 28 home runs, 65 RBI, and 63 runs scored in his 377 plate appearances in just his second full season in the Bronx. He has proven his breakout in 2025 was no fluke, setting a new career high in long balls in the first half of the season after hitting 26 homers and driving in 65 runs in 138 regular-season games in 2025. Under the hood, Rice ranks in the 79th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 90th percentile in barrel rate, the 91st percentile in xwOBA, and the 88th percentile in xOBP, backing surface stats.

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Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga has been putting together quality numbers on the mound over the last month or so. Over the last five outings, Imanaga has allowed two earned runs or less in four of those starts. The southpaw struck out eight batters during his most recent outing against the St. Louis Cardinals. The biggest problem for Imanaga has been keeping the ball in the park. Across 18 starts, Imanaga has allowed 21 long balls this season. The 32-year-old has pitched well against some lackluster lineups, but could see his stats take a dip in the second half. Fantasy managers should take advantage of his recent stretch and trade him during the All-Star break.

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Athletics pitcher Jacob Lopez is set to serve as the opener for Friday's game against the Chicago White Sox. Lopez last pitched on Tuesday, when he allowed four runs on five hits across three innings of work against the Detroit Tigers. Overall, Lopez owns a 7.04 ERA, 1.84 WHIP, and a 42/32 K/BB ratio across 13 games (10 starts) with the A's this season. Lopez has been knocked around during each of his last two starts, so fantasy managers shouldn't bother trusting him here. Aaron Civale figures to operate as the bulk option once Lopez is out of the game.

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San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Robbie Ray has been putting together a handful of strong outings on the mound. Most recently, Ray tossed six innings, allowing three runs, while striking out four batters in the win over the Colorado Rockies. Before that outing, Ray had thrown three straight scoreless outings. It has been an impressive run for Ray, but we know that he'll come back down to Earth at some point. The walks are still a problem as Ray has issued 46 free passes across 101.2 innings of work this season. Fantasy managers might be able to take advantage of the moment and sell-high on Ray during the All-Star break. He has pitched well enough lately that fantasy managers in need of pitching should be willing to take a chance on him.

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Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick is having a down year at the plate, but fantasy managers shouldn't write him off yet. Across 86 games, Frelick is slashing .236/.304/.323 with three home runs, 31 RBI, and six steals. His overall numbers aren't pretty, but Frelick has been able to limit his strikeouts with only 28 in his 300 plate appearances. He continues to put the ball in play, but isn't having the best of luck at the moment. Frelick has posted back-to-back strong campaigns, so a rebound in the second half seems possible. The 26-year-old should continue getting regular playing time in the Brewers outfield. Fantasy managers in deep leagues should consider buying low on Frelick during the All-Star break.

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Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich is not having a very successful year at the plate. Fantasy managers were hopeful Yelich would continue to succeed after blasting 29 home runs a year ago. Instead, it appears that time is finally catching up to the 34-year-old veteran outfielder. Through 56 games, Yelich is slashing .242/.326/.381 with six home runs, 31 RBI, and six steals. Despite his struggles at the plate, Yelich remains rostered in 89% of Yahoo leagues coming into Thursday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Brewers have been cautious with Yelich by giving him plenty of rest days and action at designated hitter. Yelich has been able to stay on the field, but it's not helping him at the plate. Fantasy managers should attempt to sell-high on Yelich at the deadline and try to score something to help their team down the stretch of the season. Yelich has enough name value that fantasy managers should be able to move him for something of value.

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Miami Marlins right-hander Max Meyer will not make his scheduled start in Sunday's series finale against the Cleveland Guardians, according to Kevin Barral of Fish on First. The Marlins will go with a bullpen game to close out the first half of the regular season with the All-Star break coming on Monday. Meyer isn't hurt, but the Marlins want to give him some extra rest going into the second half. The 27-year-old will not pitch in the All-Star Game next week, either. Meyer, who has already exceeded 100 innings pitched this year for the first time in his career, is in the midst of a breakout season in his fourth year with the Fish. The Marlins could continue to manage his innings in the second half, too, considering he hasn't thrown more than 64 2/3 frames in the big leagues before this year. Meyer has gone 9-1 with a 2.58 ERA (3.54 FIP) and 1.11 WHIP with 116 strikeouts and 38 walks in his 19 starts. He's a must-hold in keeper leagues, but in redraft formats, fantasy managers may want to consider selling high on Meyer, who has a 3.78 xERA and .302 xwOBA (wOBA of .280).

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Athletics right-hander J.T. Ginn (illness) is set to make his next start in Sunday's series finale against the Chicago White Sox to close out the first half of the regular season, according to Jason Burke of Inside the A's. The 27-year-old was pulled from his last start early on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers due to an illness, but he's already feeling better and should be able to take the ball this weekend on the South Side of Chicago. The former second-round pick by the New York Mets in 2020 out of Mississippi State University is having his best season in 2026 in his third year in the league, going 7-5 with a 3.10 ERA (4.28 FIP) and 1.22 WHIP with 86 strikeouts and 43 walks in 98 2/3 innings pitched across his 20 appearances (17 starts). Ginn has allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his last five starts, allowing just 11 runs (nine earned) while walking 13 and striking out 21 over that span. However, he hasn't had more than five strikeouts in any of his last six starts and sports a career-high 10.5% walk rate. Ginn is definitely more attractive away from hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park,

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Athletics infielder/outfielder Zack Gelof (knee) was forced from Thursday's game early in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers after making an amazing sliding catch in foul territory down the third-base line, according to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. Gelof went 0-for-1 at the plate before he was replaced in left field by Colby Thomas. Lawrence Butler entered the game to play right field for the A's. The 26-year-old had just returned from the injured list over the weekend due to a hand injury, but now he's hurt again. It remains to be seen how serious Gelof's right-knee injury is, but with only three games remaining before next week's All-Star break, the A's could be cautious with Gelof and hold him out for this weekend's series in Chicago against the White Sox. Before injuring his hand, Gelof had become an intriguing waiver-wire pickup with eligibility at second base, third base, and the outfield in Yahoo leagues. He entered Thursday's game with a .274/.328/.478 slash line, an .806 OPS, 11 home runs, 29 RBI, 41 runs, and eight steals in 66 games played. Gelof's power/speed upside is more interesting in 2026 since he has a career-low 25.2% strikeout rate.

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The Boston Red Sox called up third baseman Brett Harris from Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, according to Milb Central. Harris, a former seventh-round pick by the Athletics in 2021 out of Gonzaga University, was acquired from the A's last month after he hit .336 (50-for-149) with five home runs, 34 RBI, 32 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 37 games with Triple-A Las Vegas. The 28-year-old appeared in four games at the big-league level with the A's earlier this year, but he went hitless in six plate appearances with a walk and two strikeouts. In 68 games (207 plate appearances) with the A's in 2024 and 2025, Harris hit .199 (35-for-176) with three homers, 17 RBI, 26 runs, a steal, 24 walks, and 46 strikeouts. After being called up by Boston on Thursday, Harris made the start at first base in the 2-1 win over the Chicago White Sox and went 0-for-2. He could see more playing time to close out the first half of the season in Boston with Willson Contreras (foot) serving a five-game suspension, but he should only attract short-term waiver-wire interest in deep AL-only leagues.

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The Detroit Tigers recalled catching prospect Eduardo Valencia from Triple-A Toledo on Thursday, with primary catcher Dillon Dingler injuring his thumb on Wednesday, according to Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase. Valencia, 26, is considered the Tigers' No. 21 prospect per MLB Pipeline, and he will join the major-league squad for the first time after slashing .267/.353/.486 with an .840 OPS, 16 home runs, 49 RBI, 56 runs scored, and a stolen base in 76 games and 331 plate appearances this year with the Mud Hens. The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder has successfully added more lift to his swing this year, but he's still a work in progress as a defensive backstop. For the time being, he'll provide Detroit with some extra catching depth to close out the first half of the regular season with Dingler banged up. Dingler's thumb injury isn't considered very serious, though, so we doubt that Valencia will see much playing time before next week's All-Star break. For now, he's merely a catching prospect to watch in dynasty/keeper leagues for his power from the right side.

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Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman (wrist) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting cleanup for the Rockies in Thursday's series finale against the division-rival San Francisco Giants and left-hander Carson Whisenhunt at Oracle Park, according to MLB.com. Goodman will return to the starting lineup after missing the last two games with a wrist injury that he suffered on Monday. Fantasy managers will want to get the power-hitting backstop back into their starting lineups in all traditional formats. The 26-year-old former fourth-round pick in 2021 out of the University of Memphis is proving that last year's breakout was no fluke, as he enters Thursday's action with a .250/.318/.543 slash line, .861 OPS, 27 home runs, 51 RBI, 58 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 324 at-bats in his fourth year in the big leagues. He has hit .280 (28-for-100) with seven of his 27 dingers against lefties this year and has also hit .275 with 18 of his long balls on the road in 2026. Goodman comes into Thursday's action tied for fourth in the big leagues with Junior Caminero in home runs.

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Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (calf) left Thursday's game early against the Baltimore Orioles after experiencing cramping in his calf, according to Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times. Neither Suzuki nor the Cubs is worried about it. "I'm going to go eat about 100 bananas," Suzuki said through an interpreter. Before being replaced in right field by Justin Dean in the eighth inning, Suzuki went 3-for-4 at the plate in the eventual 3-2 loss at Camden Yards with his 15th home run of the year and two RBI to raise his season average to .266 and his OPS to .314. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Suzuki's status to see if he's available for Friday's series opener in Cincinnati against the division-rival Reds. The 31-year-old Japanese native came into Thursday's series finale in Baltimore with a .260/.342/.449 slash line, .791 OPS, 14 homers, 45 RBI, and 44 runs across 76 games in his fifth year with the Cubs. Suzuki has two homers in the last two games and three homers in seven games so far in July.

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San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado is back at the hot corner and is batting cleanup for the Friars in Thursday's series finale against the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander Merrill Kelly, per MLB.com. Machado didn't play in Wednesday night's 10-4 victory over the Snakes as a precaution after fouling a ball off his foot in Tuesday's win, but he'll be right back in there after just one day off. The 34-year-old seven-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger winner has 18 home runs in his 15th year in the big leagues, but he's also hitting a career-low .188 (61-for-324) with a career-high 22.7% strikeout rate in 374 plate appearances in 2026. Machado has picked things up a bit of late, though, going 15-for-59 (.254) with six home runs, five doubles, 15 RBI, 11 runs scored, and a stolen base in his last 17 games, dating back to June 20. He has plenty of experience against Kelly, but he's hit just .159 against him with a .458 OPS, one homer, and four RBI in 44 career at-bats.

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Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said that middle infielder Matt McLain (calf) is out of the starting lineup on Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies because his calf is a little beat up, according to Charlie Goldsmith of FOX 19. Edwin Arroyo is starting at the keystone and will bat eighth versus Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo. McLain's injury doesn't sound all that serious, but the Reds could elect to be cautious and give the struggling 26-year-old some extra rest this weekend before next week's All-Star break. The former 17th overall pick out of UCLA in 2021 continues to lose playing time while hitting just .190/.293/.328 with a .622 OPS, eight home runs, 25 RBI, 11 stolen bases, and 32 runs scored in 83 games across 309 plate appearances. McLain should have some positive regression in the second half, but his .226 xBA and .317 xwOBA don't scream buy-low candidate in fantasy circles. His next chance to return to the lineup will come on Friday at home versus the division-rival Chicago Cubs.

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The Texas Rangers announced on Thursday that they activated outfielder Wyatt Langford (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list and optioned infielder Josh Smith to Triple-A Round Rock in a corresponding move. Langford is serving as the designated hitter and is batting second for Thursday's series finale at home against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels and left-hander Reid Detmers. The 24-year-old former fourth overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft out of the University of Florida will return to the Rangers' lineup without having gone on a minor-league rehab assignment after missing under two weeks with a strained left hamstring. Fantasy managers will want to get the power/speed threat back in their starting lineups right away. Injuries have been the story of Langford's career to this point in his third MLB season. He's been good when healthy in 2026, hitting .278/.324/.500 with an .824 OPS, eight home runs, 20 RBI, 23 runs scored, and six stolen bases across 40 games and 173 plate appearances. Langford has hit .200 with a homer and two RBI in just five career at-bats against Detmers.

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Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (thumb) is out of the starting lineup for Thursday's contest against the visiting Athletics, but he said his hand feels "10 times better" than it did on Wednesday, according to Tigers reporter Logan Reever. The All-Star catcher will be day-to-day as the team waits for the swelling in his right thumb to go down. Detroit is encouraged about a quick return, possibly on Friday for the series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies. Jake Rogers will do the catching for left-hander Framber Valdez in the series finale against the A's on Thursday and will hit eighth against left-hander Jose Suarez. Dingler departed Wednesday's game early after a foul tip hit his thumb, but thankfully, X-rays came back clean, and he could play again this weekend before next week's All-Star break. The 27-year-old right-handed-hitting backstop is rostered in 89% of Yahoo leagues thanks to a breakout 2026 campaign. Dingler came into Thursday with a .264/.325/.516 slash line, .841 OPS, 19 home runs, 60 RBI, and 48 runs scored across 318 at-bats in his second full season in the majors.

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Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (illness) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting second for the A's in Thursday's contest against the hosting Detroit Tigers and left-hander Framber Valdez, according to MLB.com. Kurtz returns to the starting nine a day after he was pulled in the second inning of Wednesday's game because he was feeling sick. Despite slowing down at the plate recently and facing a lefty, fantasy managers in all traditional leagues will want to get Kurtz back into their starting lineups now that he's feeling better. The 23-year-old left-handed slugger and former fourth overall pick out of Wake Forest University in 2024 brings elite power. Kurtz had 36 homers and 86 RBI in 117 games in his rookie campaign in 2025 and is currently slashing .270/.409/.503 with a .912 OPS, 20 homers, 66 RBI, 61 runs, seven stolen bases, and a league-high 76 walks across 408 plate appearances. He has gone hitless in 14 at-bats with seven strikeouts in his last four games, but he's also hitting .667 with a homer and two RBI in six career at-bats against Valdez.

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