June 28, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers left-hander
Robert Gasser (elbow) has been throwing live batting practice and could be in line for a rehab assignment "soon," according to Brewers manager Pat Murphy. Gasser underwent Tommy John surgery in June of 2024, so he'll likely need many rehab appearances to ramp up for big-league action. Gasser made his major league debut with Milwaukee in 2024 and had pitched to a 2.57 ERA and 1.04 WHIP across 28 innings (five starts) before getting injured. Gasser's small-sample strikeout rate of 14% was underwhelming, but he showed significantly better strikeout stuff (28% K rate) across 135 1/3 innings of work at Triple-A in 2023. Milwaukee's #11 ranked prospect per MLB.com, Gasser, could be a valuable late-season addition for fantasy managers if all goes well in his rehab.
--Will BradySource: MLB
June 28, 2025
Baltimore Orioles left-handed pitcher
Cade Povich (hip) tossed 75 pitches in his rehab outing on Thursday against Triple-A Gwinnett. In this outing, the lefthander struggled as he logged just 4 1/3 innings of work and allowed seven hits and five runs (three earned). He struck out just three batters and allowed one walk. Povich hit the 15-day IL with left hip inflammation earlier in June. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he could be in the mix to return to Baltimore next week, given that he was already able to take on a sizeable workload in his first rehab outing. Before his injury, the southpaw struggled, posting a high 5.15 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP through 64 2/3 innings of work. Given his inconsistencies in the majors, he is only worth targeting in deep AL-only formats.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
June 28, 2025
Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitching prospect
Chase Burns is slated to make his second career MLB start on Monday when the Reds travel to Boston to face the Red Sox. Burns made his MLB debut on Tuesday evening, facing the New York Yankees and striking out eight batters across five innings of three-run ball. The Reds selected Burns with the second overall pick in last year's MLB draft out of Wake Forest. Burns made his professional debut at the start of the 2025 campaign and was dominant before earning the call to the majors. Across 66 total innings split between High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A, the hard-throwing right-hander struck out 89 batters while holding a 1.77 ERA. He should be viewed as a must-start option in all formats going forward.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
June 28, 2025
The New York Mets are moving reliever
Brooks Raley's (elbow) rehab assignment from Single-A St. Lucie to Double-A Binghamton, per Newsday's Laura Albanese. Raley was sharp in three outings with St. Lucie, striking out six and walking none in three innings. The veteran left-hander has been out of action since undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2024. Before the injury, Raley was a key piece in the Mets' bullpen. In 61 2/3 innings pitched for the team across 2023 and 2024, he recorded a 2.48 ERA with 70 strikeouts. He won't threaten Mets closer
Edwin Diaz for saves, but Raley could be in line for high-leverage work against left-handed batters when he returns.
--Will BradySource: Laura Albanese - Newsday
June 28, 2025
According to MassLive's Christopher Smith, Boston Red Sox right-hander
Tanner Houck (elbow) will pitch in relief in his next rehab outing with Triple-A Worcester. Relaying quotes from Red Sox Manager Alex Cora, Smith writes that the Red Sox aren't looking to move Houck to the bullpen full-time. Houck has been on the injured list since May 14 with a right flexor pronator strain. Before the injury, he had pitched to an 8.04 ERA and 1.69 WHIP across 43 2/3 innings (nine starts), recording zero wins and just 32 strikeouts. Things haven't gone much better for Houck in his rehab appearances so far, as he's allowed five earned runs and three walks in 2 2/3 innings. Until Houck shows signs of turning his season around, he should remain off the radar of fantasy managers.
--Will BradySource: Christopher Smith - MassLive
June 28, 2025
Boston Red Sox right-hander
Jordan Hicks (toe) was throwing gas in his most recent rehab outing with Triple-A Worcester. According to MassLive's Christopher Smith, he hit 100.1 mph while recording a scoreless inning with two strikeouts, allowing one hit and one walk. He could be activated as soon as Monday. Acquired from the San Francisco Giants as part of the
Rafael Devers trade, Hicks has yet to pitch for the Red Sox while rehabbing a toe injury. With Hicks' move back to the bullpen, he could be an interesting addition for fantasy managers. In his last full season as a reliever in 2023, Hicks recorded 12 saves and 81 strikeouts across 65 innings pitched. He's likely behind
Aroldis Chapman in the pecking order for saves in Boston, but could be next in line should Chapman falter.
--Will BradySource: Christopher Smith - MassLive
June 28, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher
Alek Manoah (elbow) is scheduled to throw a two-inning bullpen session on Tuesday. Manoah threw a 25-pitch bullpen session on June 24, but this one will be a little longer. The right-hander continues to work his way back from right elbow surgery. The hope is that Manoah can go on a rehab assignment soon, assuming Tuesday's session goes well. He would need a few rehab games before being cleared to rejoin the Blue Jays rotation. Manoah might be able to help the Jays at some point in August. That being said, Manoah isn't someone that needs to be rostered in fantasy formats right now.
--Andy WebbSource: Arden Zwelling
June 28, 2025
Detroit Tigers outfielder
Parker Meadows is out of the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Minnesota Twins. Meadows will get a day off after playing in each of the last eight games. He has struggled since returning from the injured list, so maybe some time on the bench will help him.
Matt Vierling (shoulder) has been activated off the injured list and will cover center field versus right-hander
Bailey Ober on Saturday. Meadows figures to lose playing time going forward with Vierling back in the mix.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
June 28, 2025
New York Yankees first baseman
Ben Rice is absent from the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Athletics. Rice will take a seat here after starting in each of the last three games. During that span, Rice went 1-for-10 at the plate, so it looks like he could use a day off. In his absence,
Austin Wells will do the catching, while
Giancarlo Stanton serves as the designated hitter versus left-hander
JP Sears. Rice figures to be back in the mix following this contest.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
June 28, 2025
Detroit Tigers outfielder
Matt Vierling (shoulder) has been activated off the 10-day injured list ahead of Saturday's game against the Minnesota Twins. Vierling is back in the mix after missing most of the season due to right shoulder inflammation. Vierling was a valuable bat last season, so hopefully he can pick up where he left off. He'll cover center field and bat seventh versus right-hander
Bailey Ober on Saturday. In a corresponding move, infielder
Trey Sweeney has been optioned to Triple-A Toledo. Vierling should have at least deep league value, assuming he plays regularly in the outfield.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
June 28, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar
Shohei Ohtani gave his team a big lift during Friday's game against the Kansas City Royals. Ohtani got the fun started early with a leadoff home run off left-hander
Noah Cameron in the first inning. He would later hit an RBI-triple in the fifth inning. Ohtani now has seven hits over his last five games. He finished this game 2-for-3 with a home run, triple, two RBI, two runs scored, and a walk in the win. This was Ohtani's 29th blast of the season, which puts him on pace to hit nearly 60 long balls this season.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
June 28, 2025
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher
David Festa bounced back nicely on the mound during Friday's outing against the Detroit Tigers. Festa looked like a completely different pitcher as he tossed arguably his best outing of the season. The right-hander threw 5 ⅔ scoreless innings, allowing two hits, and striking out six batters in the win. It has been an ugly start to the season for Festa who holds a 5.40 ERA, 1.42 WHIP across 36.2 innings of work. He'll look to keep the good times rolling against the Miami Marlins next week. Festa has some low-end streaming value for that one.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
June 28, 2025
Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher
Robert Stephenson (biceps) is expected to begin throwing again on Monday. Stephenson continues to work his way back from a right biceps injury that has sidelined him since early June. The right-hander still remains without a timetable, but is likely going to need a rehab assignment before returning to the Angels bullpen. The hope is that Stephenson can be back around the All-Star break. Stephenson doesn't offer enough upside in the bullpen to warrant rostering in fantasy formats right now.
--Andy WebbSource: Jeff Fletcher
June 28, 2025
San Diego Padres starting pitcher
Yu Darvish (elbow) pitched a simulated game this past Wednesday at Single-A Lake Elsinore, and it went well, so the team is "getting closer to putting together a plan" for when the veteran hurler will return to the mound for the Padres. While vague, it appears he's continuing to progress, so one would expect a couple of rehab starts to follow before rejoining San Diego's rotation, which would put him on track to return after the All-Star break in a best-case scenario. The Padres are also without
Michael King, so they could use the rotation help. The 38-year-old has yet to pitch for the team this season, but was effective in his 16 starts in 2024, posting a 3.31 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a 16.9 percent K-BB%, so fantasy managers in need of pitching help could consider stashing him for when he returns.
--Jarod RuppSource: 97.3 The Fan
June 28, 2025
New York Yankees starting pitcher
Marcus Stroman (knee) will start Sunday's home game against the Athletics, according to manager Aaron Boone. The veteran has been sidelined with knee inflammation, but has recovered and completed three minor league rehab starts, although they came with a 6.97 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, and a 9:5 K:BB in 10 1/3 IP. Before the injury, the 34-year-old righty made three starts for New York, posting an 11.57 ERA, 2.04 WHIP, and a 7:7 K:BB in 9 1/3 IP. Fantasy managers thinking of picking up the former 2x All-Star may want to see him string together a couple of solid outings before doing so, although the Athletics have been shut out in three of their last five games, so perhaps it is a good spot for Stroman to get going.
--Jarod RuppSource: Gary Phillips
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