Not great. Yankees manager Aaron Boone revealed that Bellinger will be sidelined until at least late August and his absence could easily stretch into early September. The 31-year-old hit the injured list on Sunday after suffering the injury while legging out a double against the Phillies earlier in the weekend. It’s a significant loss for New York, and fantasy managers as well, since he’s graded out as a top-25 outfielder this season, hitting .259 with 52 runs scored, 11 homers, 53 RBI and 10 steals in 434 plate appearances. He’s worth stashing in most fantasy leagues since he’s likely to return this season, but it’s a much tougher call for managers in shallow mixed leagues.

It’s the worst-case scenario outcome after Langeliers hit the injured list over the weekend. The 28-year-old slugging backstop’s absence is a significant hit for fantasy managers heading into the final two months after delivering top-five production at the position. He finishes with a robust .263/.332/.497 slash line with 55 runs scored, 23 homers, 51 RBI and two steals in 416 plate appearances across 93 games. The only positive news here is that Langeliers should be ready for the start of spring training.

Soto declined to offer a definitive return timetable after hitting the injured list with a Grade 2 left calf strain over the weekend. The 27-year-old fantasy stalwart is expected to miss at least three weeks, which makes it unlikely he’ll return to New York’s lineup until at least late August. It’ll be rookie A.J. Ewing playing everyday in left field during his absene. There should be a clearer timeline from the Mets once Soto is cleared to resume baseball activities in the next few weeks. For the moment, fantasy managers should anticipate Soto playing again this season.

Scherzer returns to start Monday’s series opener against his former club in Washington D.C. It’ll be his first start since June 10. The 42-year-old future Hall of Famer has faded from fantasy relevance this season, posting a bloated 10.23 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 14/11 K/BB ratio across 22 innings. He’s been limited to just six starts due to an avalanche of physical issues. Still, he’s probably capable of helping fantasy managers in extremely deep mixed leagues, if the stars align from a physical standpoint over the final two months. However, those are long odds.

Not only is Acuña Jr. at the top of the lineup, but he’s right back into the outfield, which is a great sign for his health. Drake Baldwin will DH this game and hit second, with Joey Bart starting behind the dish and hitting eighth.

James Wood also homered twice, giving the Nationals two of the league’s top eight homer leaders. Abrams paces the majors with 82 RBI, and he also ranks inside the top 15 in runs, steals, and batting average. It has been a monstrous breakout season for the shortstop, who finds himself in the middle of trade rumors heading into the August 3 deadline. Washington could simply hold on to him, however, which might be best for his fantasy value as part of the highest-scoring lineup in MLB. The club hasn’t had a 40-homer season since Bryce Harper in 2015, a total both Abrams and Wood could reach by the end of 2026.

Wood connected for a game-tying two-run blast in the fifth and later hit a solo shot in the eighth to give Washington some insurance. He’s up to 30 homers in 2026, which makes him the first National since Adam Dunn in 2009-2010 to do so in back-to-back seasons. CJ Abrams also homered twice, giving the Nats two of the top eight home run leaders in MLB. The franchise has only ever had two 40-homer campaigns, a mark both Wood and Abrams could reach this year.

Langeliers suffered the injury while running the bases during Friday’s contest against the Twins. The 28-year-old backstop had been one of the A’s most prominent trade chips leading up to the trade deadline, and while they weren’t necessarily going to move him, interested teams had been making inquiries. The A’s have not yet decided whether Langeliers will undergo surgery to repair the tear, but if he does it would end his 2026 season. It’s a devasting blow for fantasy managers who simply won’t be able to recreate Langeliers’ power production from what’s available on the waiver wire.

Obviously, there’s nothing at all guaranteed for the Nationals here, but turning Mead, who was acquired after being DFA’d by the White Sox in March, into a pitcher who was universally regarded as a top-75 prospect at the start of the season and who has posted a 3.24 ERA through 21 major league starts, seems like a major win for the organization. There is the huge caveat that Early is currently on the IL with elbow inflammation. Also, his peripherals aren’t as strong as that 3.24 ERA. Still, he projects as a fine middle-of-the-rotation starter for the long haul, even if his recovery from his current elbow issue doesn’t go as hoped. The Red Sox, for what it’s worth, seemed optimistic that he’d be ready to contribute in September. The Nationals, meanwhile, will replace Mead with Brady House. They’ll still probably trade another infielder, too, with Luis García Jr. most likely to go.