June 11, 2025
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher
Shane Smith continued his excellent season in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Astros. Smith pitched six innings, allowing one run on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts. The 25-year-old has led the way among several surprise encouraging pitchers this season, going 3-3 with a 2.37 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, and an 8.43 K/9 rate in 13 starts and 68 1/3 IP. He may not earn a ton of wins given his backing offense, but Smith has put up strong ratios and has offered a high fantasy floor. He will have a good opportunity to keep things going in his next scheduled start at the Rangers.
--Connelly DoanSource: MLB.com
June 11, 2025
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher
Logan Gilbert (elbow) turned in a great rehab start in Tuesday's 2-1 win with Triple-A Tacoma. Gilbert pitched five scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk with six strikeouts on 72 pitches. The 28-year-old has been on the injured list since the end of April with a right elbow flexor strain. As for his next steps, manager Dan Wilson said, "We're just kind of reassessing after each start, but we'll see". The Mariners have dealt with several rotation injuries this season, so they will gladly welcome their ace back when he is ready. The good news is that Gilbert has upped his pitch count in each of his rehab outings. Fantasy managers should look for more definitive news as to when he may rejoin the Mariners, but it seems as though he is close.
--Connelly DoanSource: Jesse Borek - MLB.com
June 11, 2025
It wasn't a clean outing, but Detroit Tigers relief pitcher
Will Vest picked up his 11th save of the season in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Orioles. Vest came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning up by three. He allowed a leadoff home run to
Jordan Westburg but then got the next three hitters out, ending the game with a strikeout. The 30-year-old has emerged out of nowhere as the Tigers primary option for saves this season, converting all but two save opportunities with five wins, a 1.89 ERA, a 0.93 WHIP, and a 9.18 K/9 rate in 33 1/3 innings of work.
Tommy Kahnle and
Tyler Holton have also seen a few save opportunities along the way, but Vest seems to be the clear option and has been deployed for multiple innings somewhat frequently, making him a solid fantasy option.
--Connelly DoanSource: MLB.com
June 11, 2025
Detroit Tigers first baseman
Spencer Torkelson continued to hit for high-end power in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Orioles. Torkelson went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and two strikeouts. The 25-year-old turned on a fifth-inning
Cade Povich fastball, getting it just over
Colton Cowser's glove in straight-away center. The former top fantasy prospect is now providing the power fantasy managers had dreamed of, slashing .237/.341/.509 with 16 HR and 47 RBI in 273 plate appearances. He should continue to be a solid fantasy option while hitting in one of baseball's most surprisingly productive offenses.
--Connelly DoanSource: MLB.com
June 11, 2025
Chicago Cubs outfielder
Ian Happ had a solid game at the plate in Tuesday's 8-4 win over the Phillies. Happ went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a two-run HR, three RBI, and two walks. The 30-year-old lined a third-inning
Mick Abel hanging off-speed offering into the right-field seats for a solo shot and put the Cubs ahead in the sixth inning with a two-run moonshot off of
Taijuan Walker. Happ has put up decent offensive numbers overall, slashing .255/.345/.397 with seven HR, 42 runs scored, 29 RBI, and three stolen bases in 275 plate appearances. His power decrease could be due to him not hitting the ball as hard this season. However, he should continue to provide fantasy value while hitting at the top of one of baseball's stronger lineups.
--Connelly DoanSource: MLB.com
June 11, 2025
New York Yankees catcher
Austin Wells had a great game at the plate in Tuesday's 10-2 win over the Royals. Wells went 2-for-5 with a double, a three-run home run, five RBI, and a strikeout. The 25-year-old skyed a fourth-inning
Noah Cameron changeup just over the right-field fence to put the Yanks up 5-1. Wells has provided power and RBI from a fantasy perspective, slashing .227/.294/.476 with 11 HR, 41 RBI, and three stolen bases in 211 plate appearances. This profile makes him a solid option in points leagues, and while his batting average is a detriment in roto leagues, his exposure to a strong lineup should continue to help with his counting stats.
--Connelly DoanSource: MLB.com
June 11, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals utilityman
Brendan Donovan (toe) exited Tuesday's 10-9 loss to the Blue Jays in the ninth inning due to "left-toe discomfort." Donovan, who batted third and played left field, went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. He was also hit by a pitch. Donovan explained after the game that his toe had started bothering him during the game, and while he wanted to finish out the game, the team felt it was best to replace him defensively in the ninth inning. He did downplay the discomfort, but fantasy managers should keep an eye on the team's lineups in the coming days. The 28-year-old has had a solid overall season offensively, slashing .310/.379/.440 with four home runs, 26 RBI, and three stolen bases in 278 plate appearances.
--Connelly DoanSource: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - X.com
June 10, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect
Andrew Painter allowed six runs on eight hits and no walks with four strikeouts across five innings in Tuesday's 8-1 loss against Triple-A Worcester. Painter took the loss and conceded a lot of hard contact in this outing, with a 92.8 average exit velocity. The whiffs weren't quite there either for the 22-year-old with only seven on 44 swings. Painter has stumbled a bit in June as he's allowed 10 runs in nine innings. He ranks as the number five overall prospect on MLB.com and will likely make his MLB debut at some point this season.
--Kyle McCarthySource: MiLB.com
June 10, 2025
New York Mets pitching prospect
Blade Tidwell allowed three runs on four hits and one walk while striking out five in Tuesday's 5-3 loss against Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Tidwell came in to pitch after opener Dedniel Nuñez and took the loss as he surrendered a good amount of hard contact, allowing a 91.3 average exit velocity. He was able to generate 10 whiffs on 38 swings and deliver in the strikeout category. This start brings the 24-year-old's season ERA to 4.14 to go with a 1.21 WHIP and a 69:24 K:BB in 58.2 innings. Tidwell made his MLB debut on May 4 and coughed up six runs in 3.2 innings, but we will likely see him in the majors again later in the summer.
--Kyle McCarthySource: MiLB.com
June 10, 2025
Chicago Cubs catching prospect
Moises Ballesteros went 2-for-5 with a solo home run against Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday. Ballesteros got the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning with a 416-foot blast to right field. The 21-year-old came up for a brief stint with the big league club and had only a .466 OPS in 16-at at-bats. He's posted strong numbers all season at Triple-A, however, hitting .337/.389/.507 with an impressive 18:28 BB:K. Ballesteros played DH in all five games in the majors, and there's a chance he is called up again at some point later this summer.
--Kyle McCarthySource: MiLB.com
June 10, 2025
Chicago Cubs outfield prospect
Owen Caissie went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in Tuesday's 8-5 loss against Triple-A Louisville. Caissie has gotten off to a blazing start in June, hitting .345/.441/.586 two home runs in 29 at-bats. The 22-year-old's prodigious raw power has been on display all season, with his quality of contact ranking among the best in Triple-A. His 18.6 percent barrel rate ranks sixth best. A concern with Caissie has been the prevalent swing-and-miss with a 33.5 percent strikeout rate. He is currently ranked as the number 46 prospect on MLB.com. The Cubs' outfield is pretty crowded for the time being, but an injury could open the door for Caissie at some point this season. He'd make for a solid speculative add in most formats.
--Kyle McCarthySource: MiLB.com
June 10, 2025
New York Yankees infielder
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (neck) left Tuesday's game early against the hosting Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium with "neck tightness," according to the team. Chisholm was replaced in the seventh inning at third base by
Oswald Peraza after he stole a base in the sixth inning. The 27-year-old went 1-for-4 with a double, a run scored and a strikeout in addition to his 10th steal of the season before leaving in the eventual 10-2 victory. We should know more about Chisholm's status after he's put through tests, but hopefully he won't need a second trip to the injured list this year. Peraza would be the obvious candidate to see additional playing time at the hot corner in the Bronx if Chisholm misses any more time. Chisholm came into Tuesday's game hitting just .214, but his power/speed combo in New York's potent offense makes him fantasy relevant in all leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Newsday - Erik Boland
June 10, 2025
Detroit Tigers outfielder
Matt Vierling (shoulder) resumed throwing this week and is completing all other baseball activities on a daily basis, according to MLive's Evan Woodbery. Vierling was placed on the 10-day injured list on May 27 with right-shoulder inflammation and he received an injection last Thursday. The 28-year-old has been bothered by his shoulder injury all year and was only able to play in four games before going back on the IL. In four games played this year, he's gone 2-for-11 with two RBI and a strikeout for the first-place Tigers. It remains to be seen when Vierling will be able to return or what role he'll even have when he does rejoin the big-league roster, but in addition to the outfield, he has the ability to fill in at the hot corner and should at least play against left-handed pitchers. He had a career-high 16 long balls and 57 RBI in 144 games for Detroit last year.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLive - Evan Woodbery
June 10, 2025
Detroit Tigers right-hander
Alex Lange (lat) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session in Lakeland, Florida, on Wednesday, according to MLive's Evan Woodbery. Lange was cleared to face live hitters after a successful bullpen session on Saturday. The 29-year-old has been on the 60-day injured list all year while recovering from lat surgery. There's no timetable for his return, but barring a setback as he ramps his arm up, Lange is expected to return to the Tigers at some point this year. Expect Lange to have a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment, meaning we probably won't see him until some point in the second half. The former first-rounder by the Chicago Cubs in 2017 out of LSU had a career-high 26 saves in 2023 in Motown but posted a career-worst 4.34 ERA with only two saves last year before going down with his lat injury.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLive - Evan Woodbery
June 10, 2025
Detroit Tigers right-hander
Jose Urquidy (elbow), who continues to recover from Tommy John surgery that he had in June of 2024, threw another bullpen session on Tuesday, according to MLive's Evan Woodbery. Urquidy tossed around 20 pitches in his previous bullpen on June 5 and is scheduled to ramp up his workload this week, according to manager A.J. Hinch. The 30-year-old veteran is on the 60-day injured list and will need a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment before the Tigers even think about having him return to the major leagues. Urquidy isn't expected to return until late in the 2025 season, if at all, which means fantasy managers in single-year leagues shouldn't count on relying on him. When he does return, there's a good chance he'll serve in a long-relief role out of Detroit's bullpen.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLive - Evan Woodbery
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