June 8, 2025
Seattle Mariners catcher
Cal Raleigh will head to the bench ahead of Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. This is a well deserved rest day for Raleigh who is in the middle of a hot stretch at the plate. The switch-hitting catcher blasted two home runs during Friday's contest. In his absence,
Mitch Garver will start behind the plate and bat cleanup versus left-hander
Tyler Anderson. Garver does hit better versus left-handed pitching, but isn't someone worth rostering as a part-time player. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups ahead of first pitch.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
June 8, 2025
Colorado Rockies outfielder
Brenton Doyle is out of the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the New York Mets. Doyle is in the middle of an ugly slump, so hopefully a day off will help him get back on track. He's currently 3-for-31 over his last eight games. The offensive struggles have made Doyle a popular drop candidate lately, but he does have good upside with the bat. In the meantime,
Sam Hilliard will cover center field and bat sixth versus right-hander
Tylor Megill on Sunday.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
June 8, 2025
Seattle Mariners outfielder
Julio Rodriguez (lower leg) is in Sunday's lineup. Rodriguez will cover center field and bat in the two-hole. The 24-year-old exited Saturday's game after taking a line drive on his foot. However, after the game, his X-rays came back negative, and he was cleared to play on Sunday. Over his last eight contests, Rodriguez has begun to heat up at the plate, posting a strong .387/.406/.452 slash line with a triple, four stolen bases, and a 9:1 K:BB. Before this recent surge at the plate, the former top prospect held a slightly lower .272/.316/.457 line over his last 23 games. This afternoon, Rodriguez is a viable target in DFS facing Los Angeles left-hander
Tyler Anderson, who enters this game holding a most 3.86 ERA.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
June 8, 2025
The Arizona Diamondbacks are promoting left-handed pitcher
Kyle Backhus to the major leagues. In a corresponding move, the Diamondbacks are designating catcher
Aramis Garcia for assignment. Backhus has yet to appear in the major leagues. This season, the left-hander has been one of the most reliable bullpen arms in Triple-A Reno. Across 24 1/3 innings of work, Backhus has posted a strong 2.22 ERA with a 1.44 WHIP. Across this stint, he has struck out an impressive 36 batters while allowing just 10 free passes. Last season, he held a much higher 3.94 ERA with a 1.34 WHIP across 32 innings of work. Fantasy managers should expect Backhus to have a role as a middle-relief option in the Arizona bullpen. However, with
A.J. Puk (elbow) still on the 60-day IL, Backhus could eventually become a top left-hander in the Arizona bullpen.
--Andy SmithSource: Arizona Diamondbacks
June 8, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder
Andy Pages is not in Sunday's lineup when the Cardinals face the St. Louis Cardinals. Pages has been a regular in the Dodgers' lineup throughout the majority of the season. Over his last 15 contests, Pages has held a stellar .339/.364/.532 slash line with three doubles, three home runs, and a 5:3 K:BB. Through 61 total games, Pages has posted a .288/.332/.489 slash line with nine doubles, one triple, 12 home runs, and 39 RBI. Under the hood, Pages has generated a strong .281 xBA with a .345 xwOBA, which suggests he should continue to see steady production throughout the summer. This afternoon,
Hyeseong Kim will get the nod in the center field and will bat in the nine-hole. The Dodgers are a viable target in DFS facing St. Louis right-hander
Michael McGreevy.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
June 8, 2025
Chicago Cubs right-handed pitcher
Porter Hodge (oblique/hip) completed another bullpen session on Saturday. Hodge threw 30 pitches. Hodge was also able to complete a session earlier this week on Wednesday. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he could be nearing a rehab assignment, as he has yet to face any setbacks following these bullpen sessions. Before the injury, Hodge was deployed as a high-leverage option in the bullpen. Across 19 1/3 innings of work, Hodge posted a 5.12 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP. During this stretch, he struck out 19 batters but showed weak command of his pitches, posting a 13.1% walk rate. He tallied two saves and six holds. When he returns, fantasy managers should expect Hodge to share the closer role alongside
Daniel Palencia.
--Andy SmithSource: Taylor McGregor
June 8, 2025
Chicago Cubs left-handed pitcher
Shota Imanaga (hamstring) completed a 37-pitch bullpen session on Saturday. Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports reported that the left-hander is set to pitch in an Arizona game on Monday. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression as he may only need a few rehab outings before returning to the major leagues. Before his injury, Imanaga logged 44 2/3 innings of work to the tune of a 2.82 ERA and an impressive 1.10 WHIP. During this stretch, he struck out just 34 batters but showed strong control of his pitches, allowing walks at a 7.7% rate. However, under the hood, Imanaga generated a high 4.59 xERA with a .254 xBA, which suggests he could face some regression when he returns to the bump. When he returns, Imanaga will replace either
Ben Brown or
Cade Horton in the starting rotation.
--Andy SmithSource: Taylor McGregor
June 8, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies right-handed pitcher
Zack Wheeler (paternity) is set to return from the paternity list on Monday to face the Chicago Cubs. The ace of the Philadelphia rotation has been sidelined over the past week due to the birth of his child. However, Wheeler is in line to make a quick return to the rotation. Before missing time, Wheeler logged 76 innings to the tune of a 2.96 ERA with a stellar 0.92 WHIP. Across this stretch, Wheeler has tallied 94 punchouts and allowed walks at an impressive 6.1% rate. Under the hood, the right-hander sits in the 96th percentile in xERA and 94th percentile in xBA. He has also allowed hard contact at a strong 32.4% rate. Fantasy managers should continue to view Wheeler as a high-end SP1 in all formats going forward.
--Andy SmithSource: Scott Lauber
June 8, 2025
The Houston Astros have designated right-handed pitcher
Forrest Whitley for assignment. This transaction opened a spot on the roster for left-handed pitcher Brandon Walker, who is slated to start Sunday's contest against the Cleveland Guardians. Whitley has dealt with injuries this season and has only logged 7 1/3 innings of work. During this brief stint, Whitley has allowed nine hits and 10 earned runs. He has struck out just eight batters and allowed six free passes. Last season, Whitley made his MLB debut and logged 3 1/3 innings of work and did not allow a run. Through 126 1/3 career innings at the Triple-A level, the 27-year-old has held a 6.27 ERA with a 1.54 WHIP. Given his lack of success in the minor and major leagues, Whitley may not draw much interest on waivers.
--Andy SmithSource: Brian McTaggart
June 8, 2025
Houston Astros outfielder
Jose Altuve is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale in Cleveland against the Guardians. Rookie
Jacob Melton will make the start in left field and will hit seventh against Guardians right-hander
Tanner Bibee. Altuve will get a day off after starting in each of the team's last 25 games. The 35-year-old nine-time All-Star and former MVP doesn't have excellent counting stats this year with nine homers, 24 RBI, 29 runs scored and five stolen bases, but he has hit .328 with five of his nine home runs on the year in his last 17 games to raise his season slash line to .261/.306/.396 in 245 at-bats. However, the Venezuelan's xBA of .236 suggests there's more regression coming for the aging star. Melton, one of the team's top prospects, has gone 3-for-16 with two RBI, two runs and a steal in his first six MLB games.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
June 8, 2025
Houston Astros rookie outfielder
Cam Smith (illness) is returning to right field and will bat sixth on Sunday against the hosting Cleveland Guardians and right-hander
Tanner Bibee at Progressive Field. Smith returns to Houston's starting lineup after missing the last two games due to an illness. Fantasy managers might want to keep the young outfielder on their benches, though, since the 22-year-old has only one hit with eight strikeouts in his last 17 at-bats. After tearing it up in spring training in the Grapefruit League, last year's 14th overall selection out of Florida State has struggled in his first MLB regular season with only three home runs, 18 RBI, 19 runs scored and three stolen bases in 163 at-bats. He has walked 17 times and fanned 54 times in his 183 plate appearances. Smith has not faced Bibee this year before Sunday.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
June 8, 2025
The Cleveland Guardians optioned outfielder
Jhonkensy Noel to Triple-A Columbus on Sunday and recalled outfielder
Johnathan Rodriguez from Columbus in a corresponding move, according to MLB.com's Tim Stebbins. With Lane Johnson battling injuries pretty much all year to this point, Noel has had plenty of opportunities to showcase his power in Cleveland's outfield, but he's failed to do so. The 23-year-old Dominican has hit just .146 (15-for-103) with two home runs, nine RBI, 12 runs scored, three walks and 34 strikeouts in 107 trips to the plate over his 46 games in his second MLB season. Since the start of May, he had gone 5-for-48 (.104) in 23 games, so he'll go down to the farm to find ways to make more contact. The right-handed-hitting Rodriguez will now be in line for a platoon in right field with
Nolan Jones.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
June 8, 2025
Washington Nationals shortstop
CJ Abrams is receiving a breather in Sunday's series finale against the visiting Texas Rangers. With Abrams on the bench,
Nasim Nunez will make the start at the 6 and will hit ninth against Rangers left-hander
Jacob Latz. This will be Abrams' first game off since returning from a hip injury that he dealt with in April. He could use the day off, as he's gone 7-for-55 (.127) with no homers, three doubles, an RBI, two steals, nine runs scored, two walks and 11 strikeouts in his last 14 games since May 23. The 24-year-old former first-rounder remains a fine source of power and speed from the shortstop position and has an xBA of .283 despite his current .261 batting average. He's added eight homers and 11 stolen bases in 203 at-bats. Nunez has never faced Latz and should be avoided in DFS.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
June 8, 2025
Texas Rangers outfielders
Adolis Garcia and
Wyatt Langford both find themselves on the bench for Sunday's series finale in Washington D.C. against the Nationals.
Sam Haggerty will start in right field and hit in the two-hole, while
Alejandro Osuna is in left field and hitting eighth against Nationals right-hander
Trevor Williams. Garcia, who has been slumping all year, recently took four games off for a "mental break." Since returning, the 32-year-old has gone 4-for-15 with an RBI and a steal in four games. Langford will be getting his first day off since April 27. The 23-year-old former first-rounder has 11 homers and 11 steals in 207 at-bats in his second big-league season, but he's hitting under .200 with a strikeout rate over 30% in his last 20 games. Neither Haggerty nor Osuna have faced Williams in their careers, but Haggerty is the better DFS sleeper in the two-hole.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
June 8, 2025
The Houston Astros have promoted left-handed pitching prospect
Brandon Walter ahead of his start on Sunday against the Cleveland Guardians. In a corresponding move, the Astros designated right-handed pitcher
Forrest Whitley for assignment. Walter has made a start in Houston this season and tossed five shutout frames with five punchouts and three hits against the Tampa Bay Rays. Last season, Walter made his MLB debut and logged 23 innings to the tune of a 6.26 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP. Over his last five outings at Triple-A Sugar Land, the southpaw has found success, holding a 1.88 ERA with a strong 0.88 WHIP. During this stretch, Walter has tallied 28 punchouts and allowed just one free pass. This afternoon, he is worth a look in deeper formats as a streaming option, given his earlier success in the majors and strong production at Triple-A.
--Andy SmithSource: Brian McTaggart
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