Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez started July on the right note in Monday's 3-1 win over the Blue Jays. Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk. Alvarez added some insurance when he took a ninth-inning Zach Pop fastball just over the left-center wall. The 27-year-old has provided what fantasy managers were expecting when they drafted him as a high-end fantasy option, slashing .294/.372/.528 with 17 HR, 49 runs scored, 43 RBI, and four stolen bases in 352 plate appearances. The stolen bases are a bit of a surprise, but fantasy managers will take any they can get, as they were only expecting four-category production from Alvarez.

The Seattle Mariners have promoted starting pitcher prospect Michael Morales to Double-A Arkansas. The former third-round draft pick was having a strong season at High-A, posting a 9-1 record with a 2.36 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and a 15.9% K-BB% in 15 starts. It's a far cry from the 5.91 and 4.53 ERA he recorded in 2022 and 2023. He's also dropped his HR/9 from 1.05 in 2022 to 0.62 in 2023, down to 0.21 in 2024 (two HR in 84 IP). While his K/9 has dropped to 8.57 this season from a high of 9.41 in 2023, it has garnered better results, and now the 21-year-old will get a shot against Double-A competition. MLB.com has an ETA of 2025 for the righty, but dynasty managers will want to see positive results at this next level before putting on any watch lists.

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena started July off right after a slow offensive June in Monday's 3-1 win over the Blue Jays. Pena went 1-for-3 with a solo home run. The 26-year-old crushed a fifth-inning Yariel Rodriguez hanging breaking ball into the left-field bullpen for his sixth long ball of the season. This was a welcome sight for fantasy managers, for while Pena's season stats look fine, he only hit .213 with five extra-base hits in June. Pena is now slashing .277/.320/.385 with 40 runs scored, 35 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 340 plate appearances on the season. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect much power, but he has already almost reached a career-high in stolen bases.

New York Mets relief pitcher Reed Garrett picked up his fourth save of the season in Monday's 9-7 extra-innings win over the Nationals. Garrett came in to pitch the bottom of the 10th inning up by three with two outs and runners on first and second. He allowed an RBI single but ended the game with a strikeout. The 31-year-old has seen seven save opportunities this season and has pitched well with seven wins and seven holds to go with a 3.20 ERA, a 13.50 K/9 rate, and a 4.35 BB/9 rate in 39 1/3 innings of work. He has filled in as interim closer throughout the season while Edwin Diaz has been either hurt or suspended. Diaz will resume closing duties when he returns, Garrett still seems like a worthwhile roto option given his high-leverage usage and his high strikeout rate.

The Oakland Athletics have promoted outfield prospect Henry Bolte to Double-A Midland. The 20-year-old was hitting .278 at High-A with 11 home runs and 28 stolen bases through 69 games. Although the former second-round draft pick didn't hit for average last season (.257), he displayed good power and speed as a 19-year-old, belting 14 home runs at Single-A and stealing 32 bases in 112 games. The Athletics' 10th-ranked prospect has an ETA of 2026 per MLB.com's Top Prospects list, but managers in dynasty leagues should start keeping tabs on the right-handed hitter with his power-speed combo.