Esmerlyn Valdez could see more playing time

No word yet on what the return will be, but this is a surprising development given how long McCullers has been a part of the Astros organization. The veteran is close to returning from a shoulder injury, but he also posted a 6.86 ERA in eight starts to begin the year so the Astros seem to feel he doesn’t fit into their rotation plans anymore. The Brewers have had plenty of success in the past with pitchers who have lower velocity, but a deep mix of pitches, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they were able to get a good run of production out of McCullers the rest of the way. We still wouldn’t add him in anything but deep 15 team leagues.

Bellinger delivered a two-run single off Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez in the first inning that proved to be more than enough for the American League’s loaded pitching staff as they piled up 15 strikeouts and tossed a three-hit shutout. It was his lone hit in three at-bats during the low-scoring affair. The 31-year-old outfielder made an impact during his first Midsummer Classic appearance since 2019. The Yankees open the second half with a three-game series in New York against the defending World Series champion Dodgers starting on Friday.

Vargas supplied the lone hit for either side in a low-scoring Midsummer Classic when he took his former Dodgers minor league teammate Justin Wrobleski deep with a 433-foot blast into the second deck in left field in the eighth inning. The American League’s pitching staff was the story in this one, piling up an astronomical 15 strikeouts and tossed a three-hit shutout. Vargas was one of the driving forces behind Chicago’s rapid turnaround, finishing the first half with a .245/.355/.493 slash line with a career-high 21 homers, 59 RBI and 11 stolen bases across 409 plate appearances through 94 games. The White Sox kick off the second half with a road series against the Blue Jays.

Cease took the ball for the American League and delivered an impressive performance in his first Midsummer Classic. He struck out Kyle Schwarber with a nasty slider before blowing a 98-mph fastball past Juan Soto. It was Freddie Freeman who extended the inning with a nine-pitch walk, but Cease rebounded to strike out CJ Abrams and escape the frame completely unscathed. The 30-year-old righty wrapped up a phenomenal first half in his Blue Jays debut with a 2.56 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 148/44 K/BB ratio over 98 1/3 innings. He’s performed like a bona fide fantasy ace and will open the second half with a home start this weekend against his former club, the upstart White Sox.

Sánchez drew the starting assignment for the National League in front of his hometown fans and labored through a 34-pitch opening frame. He struck out Mike Trout with a devastating changeup before giving up a sharp single to center field to Yordan Alvarez and walking Shea Langeliers on four pitches. After coaxing a harmless ground out from Junior Caminero, he issued a free pass to Bobby Witt Jr. to load the bases. Cody Bellinger followed with a two-run single to center field and Ben Rice tacked on an RBI single before Sánchez escaped the inning by striking out Riley Greene. The 29-year-old southpaw put together a remarkable 50 2/3 scoreless innings streak and finished the first half with a 2.62 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 144/25 K/BB ratio across 127 1/3 innings. He’s lined up to face the Dodgers at home in his second-half debut next week.

It’s a massive relief for Tampa Bay, and fantasy managers, as Caminero appears to have avoided serious injury based on initial imaging. The 23-year-old rising superstar was struck on the left hand by a 97-mph heater from Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien in the third inning and immediately left the exhibition contest. He’ll undergo further evaluation and treatment in the coming days, but it seems like there’s a decent chance that he’s ready to roll when the Rays kick off the second half with a doubleheader against the Red Sox on Friday at Fenway Park.

Walcott is seeing his first game action since undergoing an internal brace procedure on his right elbow back in late February. The 20-year-old top prospect has been on a rocket ship towards the majors since signing with the Rangers back in 2023. He hit .255/.355/.386 with 13 homers and 32 steals in 552 plate appearances as a teenager at Double-A Frisco. He doesn’t offer massive stolen base upside, but he might have one of the highest power ceilings of any middle infield prospect in the minors.

Not great. It’s the last thing anyone, especially fantasy managers, want to see in the Midsummer Classic. Caminero appeared to be in a significant amount of pain after being struck by a 97-mph heater from Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien directly on the left hand. The power-hitting 23-year-old rising superstar will head for X-rays to determine whether he suffered any fractures. An update on his status should come after the contest.

Wright’s once-promising career was derailed by injury and he hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since the 2023 season due to shoulder issues. The 30-year-old never wound up appearing in a game for the Cubs and didn’t pitch in their system after signing a minor league deal back in February.

Alexander was pitching for the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League. The 37-year-old southpaw last appeared in the majors when he made 21 appearances between the Giants and Rockies back in 2025. He’s merely emergency organizational depth at this stage of his career.