Prep SS James Clark withdraws from MLB Draft

The Rangers will open with Cal Quantrill and MacKenzie Gore against the Braves on Friday and Saturday, leaving a TBA slot open for DeGrom on Sunday. DeGrom missed his last start before the All-Star break with what was announced as a “mild left glute strain.” There’s no reason to think that he’s going to go on IL over this yet, and DeGrom did tell reporters that he was going to throw off the mound in Atlanta. It’s possible he’s pushed back beyond Sunday.

“Some teams” had increasingly leaned upon AI to help shape in-game strategy, which explains why your team’s favorite manager keeps going to that one reliever you don’t like. The Athletic’s Eno Sarris believes “pitch-calling from the dugout may be at the center of this battle, and is one of the usages the league appears to be targeting,” the practice lead by the Marlins this year has now spread to as many as six other teams. MLB had let teams know in a memo issued on June 11, to give teams a month of leeway before adopting the ban.

The Marlins will open the second half with Alcantara on Friday, Max Meyer on Saturday, and Eury Pérez on Sunday. No major surprises here as these are the three main starters for the Marlins. All three of them are worthy starters in 12-team leagues coming out of the break.

Same. Roberts lead with saying he expects Smith back this year, but this is not exactly a ringing endorsement that it will be any time soon. Smith has been swinging, but The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya describes his recovery as “stagnant.” Dalton Rushing figures to remain the Dodgers’ main catcher going forward and should be rostered in most leagues at this point.

He’s progressing slowly, per The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, and is trying to clear each step without his back flaring up. Glasnow looks likely to be out for quite a bit longer given how slow he’s been to start throwing. An August return is probably on the table, but it might be mid-to-late August at this point.

Hernández only played a game and change after coming off the injured list in late May from a surgically repaired elbow. The versatile utility man figures to have little fantasy value, but will be a boost for the Dodgers if he can get back on the field.

The Brewers will lead off the second half of the season with Henderson on Friday, Shane Drohan on Saturday, and Robert Gasser on Sunday against the Marlins. Henderson was 3-1 with a 3.13 ERA and 0.99 WHIP over the first half while missing some time due to a back strain. He’ll make for a nice 12-team starter on Friday.

He’ll head up the first game of a double-header. The Red Sox don’t have a declared starter for Game 2 of the doubleheader yet, but Patrick Sandoval and Sonny Gray will follow on Saturday and Sunday. Bennett finished the first half 4-3 with a 2.64 ERA in 47 2/3 innings while striking out 35. The Rays aren’t an easy matchup, but we can understand giving Bennett a chance in mixed leagues.

Lombard, the brother of George Lombard Jr., will immediately profile as one of the Marlins’ top prospects after unexpectedly sliding to their slot with the 14th overall pick in last Saturday’s draft. He does carry some swing-and-miss risk, but is one of the best athletes in the class and should be on the dynasty radar immediately.

Burns has been absolutely electric in opening up the season 11-1 with a 2.54 ERA while striking out 118 in 102 2/3 innings before the All-Star Break. Opponents are hitting .223 against his fastball and .154 against his slider, which has been Burns’ main putaway pitch so far this year. It’s hard to forecast seven years out for any pitcher, but if a smaller market team is to invest in one for the long term, it’s hard to do much better than Burns.