June 26, 2025
Washington Nationals pitching prospect
Travis Sykora is being promoted to Double-A Harrisburg after breezing through his first eight starts of the season (two at Single-A, six at High-A). The 21-year-old got a late start after having offseason hip surgery, but has posted a 1.01 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, and an astounding 36.2 percent K-BB% with 56 strikeouts in only 35.2 innings pitched (14.13 K/9) since May 14. The Nats' top-ranked prospect posted similarly striking numbers last year at Single-A, tallying 129 Ks in 85 IP (13.66 K/9) with a 2.33 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP in 20 starts. If he can impress at Double-A, he could be on pace for a couple of starts at Triple-A before the season is out and would be knocking on the door to the majors in 2026. That being the case, fantasy managers in dynasty leagues should be looking to stash the 6-foot-6 hurler because he has the look of a frontline starter in the bigs.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB Central
June 26, 2025
Houston Astros right-hander
Lance McCullers Jr. (foot) did some fielding practice on Thursday and it "went well," according to manager Joe Espada. If McCullers feels good on Friday, he'll be an "option" to start against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. The 31-year-old will apparently skip a minor-league rehab assignment after recovering from a sprained right foot. The former first-rounder in 2012 made his return to the big leagues this year for the first time since 2022 due to various right-forearm injuries. McCullers has been up and down with a 4.91 ERA (4.23 FIP) and 1.43 WHIP in his seven starts over 29 1/3 innings pitched, but he's also struck out 39 and walked 16 as he works his way back into a full-time starter for Houston. With that said, fantasy managers would be wise to avoid him if his first start off the IL is this weekend against the Cubs.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
June 26, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman
Bryce Harper (wrist) had another good day on Thursday and took 75 swings off a high-velocity machine, according to manager Rob Thomson. Harper will hit outside on Friday at Truist Park before the series opener against the division-rival Atlanta Braves and could face a live pitcher. If the 32-year-old two-time MVP comes out of that well, he could come off the 10-day injured list for Monday's series opener against the San Diego Padres without going on a minor-league rehab assignment. Harper will return to his role as Philly's starting first baseman, which will push
Alec Bohm back across the diamond to third base and rookie
Otto Kemp either to the bench or back to the minors. Harper will be returning to a .258/.368/.446 slash line with an .814 OPS, nine home runs, 34 RBI, 32 runs scored and eight steals in his 213 at-bats.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Gelb
June 26, 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers activated reliever
Luis Garcia (adductor) from the injured list on Thursday. Right-hander
Will Klein was optioned as the corresponding move. Garcia has missed almost exactly one month since being placed on the IL with a right adductor strain. He's pitched to a 4.50 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP in 26 innings pitched so far this year. His peripherals aren't impressive either, as he's posted a modest 19.8% strikeout rate and a 4.85 xERA. Garcia is not a threat to compete for saves and does not need to be rostered in most leagues.
--Will BradySource: Los Angeles Dodgers
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San
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infielder
Casey
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lineup
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against
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Miami
Marlins.
Christian
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June 26, 2025
The Seattle Mariners placed first baseman
Rowdy Tellez on unconditional release waivers on Thursday. Tellez was designated for assignment last week when the team activated first baseman/outfielder
Luke Raley from the injured list. Tellez had been a decent source of power this season with 11 home runs in 221 plate appearances. However, he's also hitting .208 with one stolen base. Statcast suggests that Tellez was a little unlucky in Seattle. His barrel rate (15.9%) and hard-hit percentage (48.4%) were both career bests, and his xBA was .256. If Tellez finds a new home, he could be an under-the-radar waiver claim for deep-league fantasy managers needing power.
--Will BradySource: Mariners PR
June 26, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder
Jordan Walker (appendix) was placed on the 10-day injured list this week due to appendicitis, but the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold reports that he didn't require surgery. It's good news for Walker, but he probably still won't rejoin the big-league roster until after the All-Star break in mid-July. And when Walker does return from the IL, it remains to be seen if he'll see regular playing time after continuing to struggle at the major-league level at the plate. The 23-year-old former top prospect is hitting just .210 (37-for-176) with three home runs, 23 RBI, 21 runs, three steals, 12 walks and 63 strikeouts in 55 games played in 2025. The former first-rounder ranks in the 72nd percentile in hard-hit rate but is in the second percentile in strikeout rate and the 16th percentile in chase rate.
--Keith HernandezSource: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
June 26, 2025
Updating a previous report, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder
Lars Nootbaar (intercostal) received a pain-relieving shot in his intercostal on Tuesday night, according to manager Oliver Marmol. It requires 48 hours of inactivity, which is why he was unavailable to play on Wednesday and Thursday. The Cardinals think they got ahead of any potential side injury and expect Nootbaar to play in Cleveland this weekend in a series against the Guardians, according to Jeff Jones. It's something to keep an eye on for the 27-year-old, who is currently in the midst of a modest six-game hitting streak in which he's gone 7-for-22 with three home runs, a double, seven RBI and three runs scored. Nootbaar is in the 93rd percentile in hard-hit rate this year and is right in the middle (50th percentile) in strikeout rate, so he should improve on his current .230 average as a starting outfielder with 20-plus-homer power.
--Keith HernandezSource: Belleville News - Jeff Jones
June 26, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies catcher
J.T. Realmuto will take a seat for Thursday's series finale in Houston against the Astros at Daikin Park.
Rafael Marchan is behind the plate and will catch left-hander
Cristopher Sanchez while hitting eighth against Astros right-hander
Hunter Brown. The 34-year-old Realmuto will get a breather after playing in each of the team's last five games. Realmuto has gone hitless in his last three games but is hitting .288 (19-for-66) with three doubles, six RBI and a steal in 18 games in the month of June after a very slow start to the 2025 season for his standards. He's no longer one of the best catchers in fantasy, and his counting stats are way down with only five homers and 27 RBI in 66 games. Marchan doesn't really move the DFS fantasy needle. The 26-year-old switch-hitting backstop has gone 8-for-49 (.163) with one homer in limited playing time.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
June 26, 2025
Kansas City Royals catcher
Salvador Perez is not in the team's starting lineup for the series finale on Thursday against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays.
Freddy Fermin will do the catching for right-hander
Michael Lorenzen and will hit eighth against Rays right-hander
Shane Baz. Perez gets a much-needed day of rest for the first time in over a month. The 35-year-old nine-time All-Star probably isn't going to hit for much of an average at this point in his career, but he can still provide elsewhere for fantasy managers and has nine home runs and 41 RBI in 76 games so far in 2025. He's hitting .265 (22-for-83) with five long balls, four doubles and 15 RBI in 21 games in the month of June. Fermin has limited power (two homers in 132 at-bats) and will be a low-upside DFS sleeper at catcher at the bottom of KC's batting order on Thursday.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
June 26, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman
Max Muncy is out of their lineup for the team's series finale with the hosting Colorado Rockies. The veteran will sit for the second time against a southpaw over the last week as he's batting just .118 (6-for-51) against them. Teammate
Miguel Rojas will man the hot corner and bat ninth while he's on the bench. Muncy has picked it up over the last few months after an abysmal start to the season and has been particularly productive in June. In 67 at-bats on the month (22 hits), he's slashing a robust .328/.459/.642 with six home runs, 20 RBI, and 19 runs scored. Since the start of May, the 34-year-old has registered 11 long balls, 46 RBI, and more walks (33) than strikeouts (30).
--Alex CiullaSource: MLB.com
June 26, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder
Lars Nootbaar is sitting for the final contest of a four-game series with the visiting Chicago Cubs. Nootbaar will be out of the team's lineup for the second straight day as they face another southpaw in
Shota Imanaga. Teammate
Brendan Donovan is occupying left field and batting leadoff. The former eighth-round pick was productive over his first 30 games this season, but has seen his average drop 40 points to .230 since Apr. 30. Despite how bad he's been in June (.174), Nootbaar's average exit velocity (92.2 MPH) and hard-hit rate (53.4%) are sitting at career-highs, and his xBA is a more palatable .247.
--Alex CiullaSource: MLB.com
June 26, 2025
Colorado Rockies catcher
Hunter Goodman is out of the lineup for Thursday's home series finale with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The hard-hitting 25-year-old will hit the bench again with lefty
Clayton Kershaw on the mound. Teammate
Braxton Fulford will get the start behind the plate and bat eighth in his stead. Goodman sat out a few days ago as well, but that was against a right-handed hurler, so it appears to be just another day of rest, as there's been no mention of injury. He's been exceptional in June, slashing .342/.373/.734 with six doubles, two triples, seven homers, 17 RBI, and 15 runs scored.
--Alex CiullaSource: MLB.com
June 26, 2025
Athletics outfielder
Lawrence Butler won't be in his team's lineup for their series finale with the hosting Detroit Tigers on Thursday. Manager Mark Kotsay shuffled the lineup quite a bit today. With Butler getting a routine day off,
Brent Rooker will be in right field, with
Nick Kurtz DH'ing and
Gio Urshela manning first base. The 24-year-old has cooled a bit from a hot stretch that bridged May and June, batting just .172 (10-for-58) across his last 14 appearances. Still, it's worth noting he's on pace to set career-highs in home runs (22) and steals (18). Maybe another day off will be enough to break him out of his funk.
--Alex CiullaSource: MLB.com
June 26, 2025
MLB.com's Bryan Hoch reports that New York Yankees pitcher
Jonathan Loaisiga (illness) was unavailable for Wednesday's 7-1 win against the Cincinnati Reds due to an illness. The 30-year-old yielded three earned runs to Cincinnati on Tuesday and retired a lone batter before exiting with a trainer. It was easy to assume the worst at that point, but fortunately, he isn't dealing with an injury and could rejoin the Yankees as early as Friday after their scheduled day off on Thursday. Loaisiga has a 4.32 ERA and 1.26 WHIP through 16 appearances, though his underlying metrics are far more appealing and point to some positive regression if he can keep it up (3.27 xERA).
--Alex CiullaSource: Bryan Hoch
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