Cleveland released Santana, clearing a logjam at first base, DH and right field. Schneemann returns from the paternity list to take Santana’s roster spot, easing a tight decision matrix for Vogt. With Manzardo, Fry, Kayfus and Jones in the mix, Cleveland can reallocate duties at corner spots and DH for the stretch run.

Santana’s $12 million salary remains with the Guardians as a sunk cost, while the club slides toward a clearer late-season plan and a potential playoff push. Colorado-like roster churn aside, Cleveland sits five games behind the AL third wild-card, hoping the reshuffle improves daily lineup efficiency and future flexibility.

Ronald Acuña Jr. returns to the Atlanta lineup, sticking in the third slot as the Braves welcome a Guardians visit. Sean Murphy comes back as well, batting seventh, while Drake Baldwin sits and Marcell Ozuna anchors the DH duties. Cleveland counters with a varied, leadoff-heavy mix: Steven Kwan leads off, Jose Ramirez sits in the prime third spot, and Kyle Manzardo, Daniel Schneemann, CJ Kayfus, Gabriel Arias, and Carlos Santana fill the middle of the order with notable xwOBA signals. The Guardians’ volatility mirrors a league-wide pattern of shifting lineups, while Atlanta’s dynamic through Acuña and company remains the central fantasy driver.

For fantasy managers, Acuña’s health and lineup position keep him near the top of the asset list, with power-speed upside in a top-tier slot. Ozuna’s DH assignment could cap his plate appearances but preserves upside in run production. Murphy’s return to catching duties reenters his fantasy calculus, especially in two-catcher builds or daily formats that prize lineup stabilization. Against a Guardians squad that has rotated through 109 lineups in 120 games, the Braves’ star power edges this matchup, while Cleveland’s leadoff edge with Kwan and Ramirez creates a dual-threat dynamic in DFS and daily fantasy markets.

Zack Wheeler anchors the day as the top overall pitcher on the slate with a 2.64 ERA and a 11.73 K/9 that make him a solid cash-game anchor, especially against a Rangers lineup that’s struggled to square up right-handed pitching since the All-Star break. Quinn Priester presents a strong mid-tier pivot with long-start potential and a favorable Mets matchup, while Casey Mize offers salary relief with solid ground-ball ability against a DET offense that has shown life. The hitting pieces center around Shea Langeliers’s hot streak behind the dish, Jeremy Pena’sLHP-positive splits, and a Tigers stack featuring Langeliers, McKinstry, Torkelson, and Riley Greene, plus budget outfielders like Tyler Soderstrom and Kerry Carpenter. A Royals mini-stack and a Royals-White Sox exposure give multiple ways to capture upside on the eight/ nine-game DK slate, with value plays like Kyle Isbel and Cade Povich offering cheap paths to diversifying builds.

Key stacks include Detroit (Carpenter, McKinstry, Torkelson, Greene) and Oakland (Langeliers, Rooker, Soderstrom, Kurtz), with KC and Houston also highlighted for per-dollar upside. The article emphasizes tracking injury news and lineup changes as always, and it notes DK’s added Royals-Twins game expands a few players’ eligibility, creating salary-lighting pivots. Weather looks clean with minimal delay risk, so live lineups should be close to the optimal projections for the 1:05 PM EST start.

As the MLB season progresses into Week 16, fantasy baseball managers should focus on the waiver wire for potential category boosters. Colt Keith of the Detroit Tigers is making waves, batting leadoff and bringing in a solid performance with eight home runs and 43 runs. Meanwhile, J.P. Crawford from the Seattle Mariners and Angel Martinez of the Cleveland Guardians are providing consistent run support with impressive batting averages. For those seeking home runs, Noelvi Marte from the Cincinnati Reds is showing promise after recovering from injury, complemented by Jorge Polanco's power for the Mariners.

In terms of RBIs, Evan Carter from the Texas Rangers has a knack for driving in runs, while Baltimore's Ramon Laureano is making a case for increased playing time. Speedsters like Chandler Simpson from the Tampa Bay Rays and Sal Frelick from the Brewers are also noteworthy for stolen bases, despite Frelick's recent hamstring issue. For those in need of batting average boosts, Alec Burleson of the St. Louis Cardinals and Jung Hoo Lee of the Giants are viable options to consider as they continue to show solid performances.

July 11, 2025, brings an exciting MLB DFS slate with all 15 teams playing, presenting ample opportunities for strategic lineup construction. Tarik Skubal stands out as a top-tier pitcher with a remarkable 33.9% strikeout rate and a 1.87 FIP, making him a strong choice against the Mariners, who struggle against left-handed pitchers. For budget-conscious players, Chase Burns offers high strikeout potential at a lower cost, facing the Rockies, who have the second-highest K rate against righties.

Infielders like Elly De La Cruz and Jose Ramirez are poised for big performances, particularly against less-than-stellar pitchers. Meanwhile, Aaron Judge, fresh off a walk-off win, remains a must-have against Chris Flexen, who has historically struggled against right-handed batters. The Yankees and Blue Jays are top stack options for the night, with favorable matchups and high implied run totals.