Joe Ryan labored through four innings, the shortest of his season, as three unearned runs in a chaotic fourth inning opened the door for Oakland to pull away 6-3 at Target Field. Defensive miscues and a key error helped fuel the inning, and Minnesota couldn’t recover despite Ryan’s early command and a late Twins flurry. Broader context: Minnesota’s season-long struggles continued, with the club sitting deep in the AL standings as the offense stalled and the defense faltered behind a promising young starter.

Offense mattered in spurts. Brooks Lee blasted a solo homer in the fourth, giving the Twins life, while Matt Wallner delivered an RBI double and Ryan Jeffers added a homer later. Nick Kurtz carried a five-plate-appearance streak, reaching base in all five trips and contributing an RBI double. The Athletics, boosted by a four-run fourth and a relentless approach, held on for the win as Minnesota’s bullpen kept them in it but could not bridge the gap.

Fantasy take: this pairing spotlighted breakout potential and risk. Lee’s power and on-base presence are intriguing; Kurtz’s multi-plate appearances keep him in the streamer conversation in deeper leagues. For Minnesota, manage expectations on Ryan’s next outing and monitor whether the defense corrals routine plays to support a rebound performance.

Detroit erupted early and never looked back, routing Minnesota 7-0 as Charlie Morton carved six scoreless frames in his third start with the Tigers. Five first-inning runs, sparked by Colt Keith’s run-scoring swing and a misplayed ball by Luke Keaschall, set the tone. Dillon Dingler delivered a two-run single and Javier Báez added an RBI double as Detroit capitalized on a shaky Twins starter, then Dingler’s RBI double in the third and Báez’s sac fly closed the scoring.

Detroit’s lineup piled up hits from Gleyber Torres, Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene and McKinstry, with Dingler totaling two doubles and three RBIs. Dingler, Báez and Torres supplied the big hits, while Morton, despite command struggles (three walks, one hit-by-pitch), avoided trouble and faded strong after six innings. The victory extends Detroit’s lead in the AL Central and fuels optimism for fantasy managers counting on this offense to stay hot as the schedule tightens.

Key notes for fantasy: Dingler’s two-hit, three-RBI day anchors his growing value, especially in daily formats; Torres’ two-hit performance rekindles optimism after a hitting slump; Báez’s multi-RBI day adds upper-half upside in deeper rosters. Morton’s six innings without allowing a run provides a potential streamer option in favorable matchups, while Torkelson and Pérez showed cautious but productive plate discipline that could translate into continued run production against suspect pitching.

The Chicago Cubs' offseason trades with the Houston Astros have not panned out as expected. Ryan Pressly, originally acquired to bolster their bullpen, has struggled this season with a 3.79 ERA and a troubling -0.2 fWAR, leading to a diminished role behind closer Daniel Palencia. Despite a strong history, Pressly's performance has raised questions about his reliability in high-leverage situations. As he approaches free agency, the Cubs may consider trading him to clear salary space and potentially acquire a prospect for the future.

Christopher Kline notes that while Pressly has shown flashes of his past form, including a decrease in his WHIP, a contender may still find him appealing as a low-cost rental. The Cubs, aiming for a competitive run, might weigh the benefits of offloading Pressly against their need for a strong bullpen. If they can secure an intriguing prospect while freeing up funds, it could be a prudent move for their long-term strategy.

The Boston Red Sox have displayed remarkable resilience, bouncing back with a ten-game winning streak just before the All-Star break. This surge places them in a strong position for postseason contention, trailing the Toronto Blue Jays by just three games and the New York Yankees by one. The team's recent success is credited to the impactful performance of rookie Roman Anthony, who debuted only a month ago and has quickly become a crucial asset.

In 31 games, Anthony boasts a .264 batting average with 28 hits, including eight doubles and two home runs, while driving in 13 RBIs and achieving a 117 OPS+. His standout achievement includes becoming the youngest Red Sox player since 1965 to have a hitting streak of nine games or more. The Red Sox will need to carry this momentum into the second half of the season as they navigate the upcoming trade deadline and strategize for the playoff push.

With the 2025 MLB season reaching its halfway point, fantasy baseball managers are eager for the call-ups of top prospects who can provide valuable boosts. Among the players on the brink of making an impact are pitchers Andrew Painter of the Philadelphia Phillies and Chase DeLauter of the Cleveland Guardians, both showcasing promise in the minor leagues. Painter's recovery from Tommy John surgery has shown flashes of his high strikeout potential, while DeLauter is proving his worth in Triple-A with a solid on-base percentage and power ability.

Additionally, Samuel Basallo of the Baltimore Orioles is making noise as a premier catching prospect with considerable power metrics. Bubba Chandler of the Pittsburgh Pirates is also in the mix. His recent performances have rekindled interest after a rocky stretch. Meanwhile, Justin Crawford of the Phillies and Trey Yesavage of the Blue Jays are noteworthy hitters and pitchers, respectively, to keep an eye on as the trade deadline approaches. Each has the potential to significantly influence fantasy rosters as they get the call to the majors.