James Wood, the rising outfielder for the Washington Nationals, has officially announced his participation in the upcoming Home Run Derby, scheduled for July 14 at Truist Park, Atlanta. Joining him are MLB stars Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Atlanta Braves and Cal Raleigh from the Seattle Mariners, who leads the league with 33 home runs. Wood has made a significant impact this season with 22 home runs, including 12 that have surpassed 110 mph in exit velocity, ranking second in the league behind Shohei Ohtani.

At just 22 years old, Wood is making history as the third Nationals player to compete in the Derby, following in the footsteps of Juan Soto and Bryce Harper. Notably, he has demonstrated impressive power by hitting four home runs that traveled over 445 feet, showcasing his potential as a future star.

The 2025 MLB Home Run Derby is set to take place on July 14 at Truist Field in Atlanta, featuring an exciting eight-player lineup. Leading the charge is Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr., who hopes to reclaim his power status after returning from an ACL injury. Joining him are Dominant hitters like reigning champion Teoscar Hernández and breakout star James Wood of the Washington Nationals, who has already eclipsed 20 home runs this season. Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh, the current home run leader, will also look to showcase his power in this fan-favorite event.

While many stars are ready to compete, several big names have opted out, including Aaron Judge and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., citing various reasons such as prior commitments and personal preferences. This year's format, which continues to evolve from a strict bracket to a more inclusive system, allows all participants the chance to showcase their hitting prowess from the start. Fans can expect a thrilling event as these hitters vie for the trophy and bragging rights.

With the baseball season heating up, fantasy managers need to be strategic with their FAAB budgets. This week, key targets emerge as players like Brandon Walter and Dietrich Enns show promising performances on the mound. Walter, pitching for the Houston Astros, has an impressive K:BB ratio and is set for a matchup against the Rockies. Enns returns to the Detroit Tigers after an absence, making an immediate impact with a stellar performance.

In the reliever category, Ronny Henriquez of the Miami Marlins is emerging as a potential closer due to recent struggles of Calvin Faucher. Grant Taylor of the Chicago White Sox also looks to be a valuable asset with his high-leverage role in the bullpen. Meanwhile, Gary Sanchez is making a comeback with the Baltimore Orioles, showcasing offensive prowess following an injury.

The Detroit Tigers face off against the Washington Nationals Thursday evening in a decisive match, after splitting the series thus far. Following a recent 9-4 loss, the Tigers, led by pitcher Dietrich Enns, aim to regain momentum against Jake Irvin's Nationals. Detroit, favored at -151, and Washington at +124, features an over/under of 9.5 runs.

The SportsLine Projection Model, known for its accuracy in MLB picks, enters this matchup with a solid 41-32 record on top-rated MLB predictions. The model highlights top player bets for this game: expect Spencer Torkelson to secure at least one hit, Javier Baez to exceed 0.5 hits, and James Wood to register a single, all with promising odds.

The Detroit Tigers (54-33) are set to face off against the Washington Nationals (36-50) in the series finale at Nationals Park. This matchup features Dietrich Enns taking the mound for Detroit, boasting a perfect 0.00 ERA, against Jake Irvin, who has struggled with a 4.73 ERA. The teams split the doubleheader on Wednesday, with Riley Greene leading the Tigers to an 11-2 victory in Game 1 and Nathaniel Lowe driving in four runs to secure a 9-4 win for the Nationals in Game 2.

With the latest betting odds favoring the Tigers at -161, experts suggest placing bets on them to win on the moneyline, while recommending a lean towards the Nationals at +1.5 for the spread. The over/under is set at 9.0 runs. Greene is hitting .375 over his last four games and will be a player to watch. Meanwhile, Gleyber Torres’s recent struggles may impact his fantasy value.