June 29, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman
Bryce Harper (wrist) was able to face live pitching during the weekend during their road series against the Atlanta Braves. According to Bill Trocchi of the Associated Press, Harper faced live pitching at Truist Park. This is a significant step for Harper as he is nearing his return from the 10-day injured list. The 32-year-old hit the IL with wrist inflammation on June 7. However, seeing him already begin to face live pitching suggests he could be on the verge of his return. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he could be eligible to return early in the week. Before his injury, Harper was swinging a hot bat, holding a .327/.400/.519 line with four doubles and two home runs over his last 14 games. While he remains out, fantasy managers should expect
Otto Kemp and
Alec Bohm to see most of the time at first base.
--Andy SmithSource: Bill Trocchi
June 29, 2025
Colorado Rockies catcher
Hunter Goodman (hamstring) remains out of the starting nine on Sunday when they conclude a series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Goodman has been dealing with a tight hamstring. The backup has missed each of the last three games and appears to be in danger of being placed on the injured list. Fantasy managers should continue to keep a close eye on his status leading up to their next game on Tuesday against the Houston Astros. Before his injury, Goodman posted an impressive .346/.378/.744 slash line with six doubles, two triples, seven home runs, and 17 RBI over his last 19 games. This afternoon, the Rockies will give Baxton Fulford the starting nod behind the dish. The Rockies are not worth targeting in DFS facing Milwaukee's right-hander
Chad Patrick.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
June 29, 2025
Houston Astros shortstop
Jeremy Pena (ribs) remains out of the starting lineup on Sunday when they conclude a series against the Chicago Cubs. Pena was held out of action on Saturday after exiting Friday's contest early with a rib injury. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status leading up to their next game on Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies. Pena's X-rays came back negative and should still be viewed as day-to-day. This afternoon, the Astros will give
Mauricio Dubon the starting nod at shortstop and will bat in the eight-hole. Pena has been performing at an elite level through the first half, posting a .322/.378/.489 line with 11 home runs and 15 stolen bases. The Astros are worth a look in DFS facing Chicago right-hander
Jameson Taillon, who enters this game holding a 4.47 ERA.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
June 29, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays third baseman
Junior Caminero is not in Sunday's lineup when the Rays conclude a series against the Baltimore Orioles. Caminero has started in each of the past seven games. During this stretch, the former top prospect has posted a .233/.258/.567 slash line with one double and three long balls. Since June 1, the third baseman has been one of the best power hitters in the game, posting a .511 SLG and a .841 OPS. Fantasy managers should expect Caminero to return to the starting nine on Monday when they open a series against the Athletics. This afternoon, the Rays will give
Curtis Mead the starting nod at the hot corner. He will bat in the six-hole. The Rays are a top stack to target in DFS facing Baltimore right-hander
Dean Kremer, who holds a 4.60 ERA.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
June
29,
2025
The
Chicago
White
Sox
will
reassess
how
outfielder
Luis
Robert
Jr.
(hamstring)
feels
on
Monday
and
make
the
decision
whether
he'll
return
to
the
starting
lineup
for
Tuesday's
series
opener
against
the
Los
Angeles
Dodgers
read more...
June 29, 2025
Baltimore Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said that switch-hitting catcher
Adley Rutschman (oblique) has done some throwing but hasn't resumed swinging a bat yet. Rutschman is making progress from a left-oblique strain, but it's still unclear if the 27-year-old backstop will be ready to roll for the start of the second half of the season after the All-Star break on July 18. In the meantime, veteran
Gary Sanchez will serve as Baltimore's primary catcher. Sanchez has plenty of swing and miss in his game, but the 32-year-old Dominican does still have some pop in his bat and recorded four hits and four RBI in a big game in Friday's series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays. Sanchez's fantasy value in two-catcher leagues receives a boost until Rutschman returns. Rutschman, the former first overall pick, has been a fantasy disappointment in 2025 with eight homers, 20 RBI and a .227 average (55-for-242).
--Keith HernandezSource: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
June 29, 2025
Baltimore Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said that right-hander
Zach Eflin (back) is "trending toward in injured list" stint. Eflin was pulled from his start early on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays with a lower-back strain and will likely be put on the shelf with the All-Star break looming. The Orioles aren't going to take any chances with the 31-year-old, especially since he dealt with back issues the last two years. The former first-rounder only made it one inning on Saturday while allowing four earned runs on five hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out none. It's been a rough year for Eflin in 2025, as he's gone 6-5 with a 5.95 ERA and 1.43 WHIP with only 42 strikeouts in 62 innings over his 12 starts. Lefty
Cade Povich (hip) is getting close to returning from a stint on the IL and could be the replacement for Eflin in Baltimore's starting rotation.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
June 29, 2025
Baltimore Orioles infielder
Jordan Westburg (finger) remains out of the team's starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays at Camden Yards.
Ramon Urias gets another start at third base and will hit second against Rays right-hander
Taj Bradley. Westburg injured his left index finger last Saturday and missed a few games before aggravating his finger in Friday's series opener against Tampa. The 26-year-old will miss a second straight game and could be forced back to the injured list to close out the first half of the season if he's unable to return to the lineup next week. His next chance to return will be on Monday in Texas against the Rangers. According to interim manager Tony Mansolino, Westburg is likely to return early next week. Urias doesn't have much pop in his bat but does have a solo homer in four career at-bats against Bradley.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
June 29, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder
Lars Nootbaar (ribs), who has been bothered by rib pain recently, winced in pain during a check swing on Saturday against the Cleveland Guardians but stayed in the game. Nootbaar is out of the lineup for Sunday's series finale in Cleveland against a left-hander, and manager Oliver Marmol said there was no medical update on Nootbaar. It's something to watch for fantasy managers going into St. Louis' series opener on Monday in Pittsburgh against the division-rival Pirates. Despite not being 100 percent physically of late, the 27-year-old outfielder has gone 8-for-30 (.267) with three home runs, a double, seven RBI and four runs scored in eight games since June 19. He's hitting just .227 (68-for-299) on the year, but his xBA of .246 supports the fact that he has some positive regression coming. Nootbaar has also added 11 home runs as a regular for St. Louis.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - John Denton
June 29, 2025
Cleveland Guardians second base prospect
Travis Bazzana (oblique) has begun progressing in baseball activities at the team's facility in Arizona. The former first overall pick has been running and throwing but is still "several weeks away" from participating in live games, according to team president Chris Antonetti. Bazzana hit the 7-day IL with a right internal oblique strain in May. At the time, he was expected to miss at least eight weeks of action. Before his injury, Bazzana was starting to find his footing at the Double-A level. Through 33 games with Akron, the Oregon State product held a .252/.362/.433 line with five doubles, three triples, four home runs, and eight stolen bases. When he returns to action, he will likely report to Double-A. If he can enjoy a strong second half, he could be in the mix to earn a taste of Triple-A over the final months of the season.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
June 29, 2025
Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitcher
Graham Ashcraft (groin) threw a bullpen session on June 27 and is expected to throw another later on Sunday. Ashcraft could then proceed to throw a simulated game on June 2 if he continues to progress well. Ashcraft has been on the 15-day injured list with a right groin strain since June 17. After operating primarily out of the rotation through his first three MLB campaigns, the Reds shifted Ashcraft to the bullpen to open the 2025 season. Through 34 1/3 innings of relief this season, Ashcraft has held a modest 4.19 ERA with a high 1.51 WHIP. He has struck out 38 batters but allowed walks at a high 9.8% rate. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he could return to action before the All-Star break.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
June 29, 2025
The Chicago White Sox have activated right-handed pitcher
Jonathan Cannon (back) from the 15-day IL prior to his start on Sunday against the San Francisco Giants. In a corresponding move, the White Sox have sent right-handed pitcher
Wikelman Gonzalez to Triple-A Charlotte. Cannon has been on the injured list since the start of June with a back strain. Before his injury, the 24-year-old posted a modest 4.66 ERA with a 1.40 WHIP through his first 63 2/3 innings with the White Sox. He tallied just 51 strikeouts and held a 7.5% walk rate. Under the hood, Cannon generated a 4.66 xERA and a .268 xBA, which are both well above the average marks. Fantasy managers should not view Cannon as a viable streaming option facing the Giants this afternoon.
--Andy SmithSource: Chicago White Sox
June 29, 2025
The New York Yankees have activated right-handed pitcher
Marcus Stroman (knee) off the 15-day injured list prior to his start on Sunday against the Athletics. Stroman has been sidelined since April due to this injury. Stroman did not find much success during his first three outings of the season. Through 9 1/3 innings of work, the right-hander posted a high 11.57 ERA with a 2.04 WHIP. During this stint, he tallied just seven strikeouts and allowed walks at a high 14.9% rate. Through 10 1/3 innings of rehab work, Stroman showed similar struggles, allowing eight runs, 13 hits, and a 9:5 K:BB. Last season with the Yankees, Stroman held a modest 4.31 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Given his struggles through the early part of the campaign, he is best to fade in all formats facing the Athletics.
--Andy SmithSource: New York Yankees
June 29, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitcher
Alex Faedo (shoulder) began a rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League on June 27. The 29-year-old has been on the shelf through the entire first half of the campaign due to shoulder soreness. In his first outing with the Rays' affiliate in the FCL, Faedo logged two shutout innings with two hits, no walks, and two strikeouts. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he could be in the mix to move to a higher level in the minor leagues in the coming weeks. Last season, the right-hander logged 57 1/3 innings with the Detroit Tigers. He made 37 appearances, with only six coming as a starter. During this stint, he posted a 3.61 ERA with a 1.34 WHIP. When he returns to Tampa Bay, he will likely find a role as a middle relief option in the bullpen.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
June 29, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates reliever
Colin Holderman (thumb) has been sent on a rehab assignment to Single-A Bradenton, per MLB.com. The right-hander successfully completed a three-inning simulated game on June 25. Holderman struggled this season before getting hurt. He pitched to a 9.00 ERA and 2.07 WHIP with a minuscule 14.9% strike rate across 15 innings (14 games). Holderman holds a career 4.01 ERA and 22.7% strikeout rate in 150 2/3 big league innings, so he should be better upon his return from injury. The Pirates have an established closer in
David Bednar, who is amidst a resurgent season. However, should Bednar be moved to a contender at the deadline, Holderman could be a name to monitor as a late-season save pickup.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
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