June 26, 2025
Houston Astros starting pitcher
Hunter Brown continued his impressive campaign during Thursday's outing against the Philadelphia Phillies. Brown was tough to hit as he allowed only three hits while recording nine strikeouts over seven innings of work. This marked the sixth straight start that Brown has allowed two earned runs or less in a start. The right-hander has also struck out nine batters or more in three of his last four starts. Brown will take his league-leading 1.74 ERA along with a 0.89 WHIP into his next start against the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies offense has struggled this season, but playing in Coors Field is not always fun for pitchers.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
June 26, 2025
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher
Daniel Palencia got into a little bit of trouble, but was able to recover during Thursday's outing against the St. Louis Cardinals. Palencia hit
Willson Contreras with a pitch and gave up a hit to put himself in a dangerous situation. He was able to work through the inning by recording three strikeouts to earn his eighth save of the season. Things got a little heated afterwards with Contreras not liking Palencia celebrating. It looks like the Cubs are going to continue leaning on Palencia until he gives them a reason not to trust him. Palencia is a solid option for saves right now and he should be rostered in most fantasy formats where saves matter.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
June 26, 2025
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher
Shota Imanaga made his return to the mound for Thursday's outing against the St. Louis Cardinals. This was Imanaga's first start since suffering a hamstring injury in early May. Imanaga didn't look rusty at all as he tossed five scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and one walk with three strikeouts in the win. The Cubs didn't want to push Imanaga too hard during his first game back, but this was an excellent outing from him. He'll look to keep the good times rolling against the Cleveland Guardians in his next start.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
June 26, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop
Wander Franco was found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic on Thursday, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Franco will receive a two-year suspended prison sentence, with the primary condition being that he doesn't approach minors with sexual intentions. The 24-year-old was formally charged with sexual abuse and sexual exploitation against a minor, as well as human trafficking, in July of last year. He was placed on administrative leave by MLB last August and remains on the league's restricted list. While it appears that Franco may not actually have to do any prison time, it's still unlikely that he sets foot back onto a field in the big leagues for the Rays or any other organization.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
June 26, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander
Zac Gallen is in a contract year and is posting career-worst numbers in almost every category, sparking speculation that he could be traded at this year's deadline if the team doesn't make a run before July 31. While Gallen's stuff hasn't necessarily declined, he's allowing too much damage when hitters make contact with his offerings. ESPN's Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan believe there's a 30 percent chance Gallen is traded, and teams like the Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs could be suitors. The 29-year-old now has a rough 6.97 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 39:21 K:BB in 51 2/3 innings this year and has allowed nine homers in his last five starts. It's possible contending teams aren't willing to give up enough for Gallen if they don't think he can turn it around in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan
June 26, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman
Eugenio Suarez is in a contract year and is sitting near career-highs in isolated power and wRC+ despite turning 34 years old before the July 31 trade deadline. ESPN's Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan believe it's a coin flip as to whether Arizona trades the veteran power hitter this summer, but it would make sense to open up a spot at third base for infield prospect
Jordan Lawlar, who continues to rake in the minor leagues. Suarez's fielding metrics have declined in recent seasons, but he's still an acceptable defender at third base and could be used as a full-time designated hitter by a contender. The D-backs aren't out of the National League wild-card race by any means, but they might need a hot stretch before late July to make them consider hanging onto Suarez, who currently ranks fourth in baseball with his 25 home runs.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan
June 26, 2025
The Kansas City Royals could look to move veteran right-hander
Seth Lugo at this year's trade deadline with a
Nathan Eovaldi-type deal awaiting him in free agency this winter, according to ESPN's Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan. That could especially be the case if the Royals continue to struggle going into late July with lefty
Cole Ragans (shoulder) on the injured list. Despite not possessing eye-popping strikeout rates or velocity, Lugo has posted mid-3.00s or lower ERAs for five straight seasons. His ability to strand runners and limit hard contact has been impressive and has been helped by the fact that he can keep hitters off balance with nine different pitches. Lugo currently is sporting an ERA under 3.00 with a 1.04 WHIP, but with only 68 strikeouts in 83 innings and an xERA of 4.69. The Cubs, Astros, Blue Jays, Padres and Dodgers are potential landing spots if Lugo is dealt.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan
June 26, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander
Shane Baz was at the top of his game in Thursday's 4-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Field, tossing a season-high eight scoreless innings while giving up only three hits, walking one and striking out nine to lower his season ERA to 4.37 and pick up his eighth win of the year. Although this was his third straight win, the 26-year-old wasn't sharp last time out against the Detroit Tigers, allowing five earned runs while walking four in 5 1/3 frames. The former 12th overall pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2017 has had trouble limiting runs this year and has a below-average 21.9% strikeout rate and sub-optimal 9.7% walk rate, but he's been fortunate to rack up the wins for fantasy managers. The bright side is that there's room for improvement in the second half in his first full season removed from Tommy John surgery.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
June 26, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander
Kevin Gausman was extremely stingy in the team's 6-0 win over the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Thursday's series finale. Gausman hurled eight shutout innings while allowing only two hit, walking one and striking out six to lower his season ERA to 4.21. It was a very nice bounce-back outing for the 34-year-old veteran after he gave up a season-high seven earned runs in 4 1/3 innings for a loss in his last outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks. This was easily Gausman's best start in June, as he had allowed a total of 17 earned runs on 20 hits (four homers) while walking 12 and striking out 23 over 20 innings in his previous four starts. It's not going to get any easier next time out, though, as he's currently set up to toe the rubber against the division-rival New York Yankees at home next week.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
June 26, 2025
ESPN's Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan put the chances of Milwaukee Brewers right-hander
Freddy Peralta being traded this summer at 20 percent. Peralta has been a steady presence in Milwaukee's starting rotation for the last eight years, averaging 140 innings pitched with a 3.49 ERA in the last four seasons. The 29-year-old Dominican hurler currently has a league-high eight wins in 17 starts with a tidy 2.90 ERA (3.90 FIP), 1.13 WHIP and 98:34 K:BB in 93 innings with a career-high 94.9 mph average velocity. He has a very cheap $8 million option for the 2026 season, but with the Brew Crew in the thick of the race in both the National League Central and the NL wild card, it would be a pretty big surprise if he were traded by July 31. Potential teams that could be looking to acquire Peralta include Boston, Houston, Toronto, St. Louis, Arizona, San Diego and Baltimore.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan
June 26, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers third base prospect
Brock Wilken (knee) is facing an eight- to 10-week recovery timeline after suffering a dislocated left patella when he was injured last week while celebrating Double-A Biloxi's first-half championship, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Todd Rosiak. Wilken and the Brewers have agreed on a non-surgical route, but he will not be back in action on the farm until late in the second half of the minor-league season. The 23-year-old former 18th overall pick in 2023 out of Wake Forest is considered the team's No. 18 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and was hitting .230 (51-for-222) with 18 home runs, 41 RBI, 42 runs and two steals in 65 games for Biloxi before his serious knee injury. With his 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame, Wilken provides plenty of raw power for a corner infielder, but he's unlikely to make his MLB debut until next year, especially after this injury.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Todd Rosiak
June 26, 2025
Miami Marlins outfielder
Derek Hill (wrist) will start a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday night, according to MLB.com's Christina De Nicola. Hill will resume playing in games in the minors after missing the last month with a sprained left wrist. If the 29-year-old can avoid setbacks with the Jumbo Shrimp this weekend, it's possible he will rejoin the major-league roster for next week's series against the visiting Minnesota Twins, which begins on Tuesday. The former first-rounder in 2014 by the Detroit Tigers went 17-for-73 (.233) with two home runs, five RBI, 11 runs scored and six stolen bases in 23 games for the Fish this year before his injury. At best, Hill will be in a platoon role in the outfield for one of the worst teams in the big leagues, which limits his fantasy appeal to NL-only formats. His most attractive trait is his 95th percentile sprint speed.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
June 26, 2025
New York Mets third baseman
Mark Vientos (hamstring) said he will come off the 10-day injured list to rejoin the big-league roster on Friday before the series opener in Pittsburgh against the Pirates. Vientos should return to regular playing time for the Mets when he's back between third base and designated hitter. The 25-year-old went 5-for-28 with six RBI and four runs scored in seven minor-league rehab games with Triple-A Syracuse and will return to a .230/.298/.380 slash line with six home runs, 21 RBI and 22 runs scored at the big-league level. Vientos was a breakout star for the Mets in 2024 with 27 home runs and 71 RBI in 111 regular-season games, but he hasn't looked like that same hitter so far in 2025 with a strikeout rate in the 40th percentile and a chase rate in the 32nd percentile. He can still provide pop and RBI in a strong lineup, but the average is going to remain low.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
June 26, 2025
New York Mets left-handed starter
Sean Manaea (elbow, oblique) played catch on Thursday after being shut down earlier this week. An MRI revealed that Manaea is dealing with a loose body in his left elbow, but it appears that he has avoided a more serious injury. He is expected to complete his current minor league rehab assignment next week. Manaea has yet to pitch for the Mets this year after suffering a right oblique injury in spring training. The 33-year-old veteran is coming off a very solid 2024 in which he threw 181 2/3 innings with a 3.47 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 184 strikeouts. He'll have every chance to reclaim a prominent role in the Mets rotation when he does indeed make his return to the big-league mound.
--Will BradySource: Anthony DiComo - MLB.com
June 26, 2025
Baltimore Orioles left-hander
Cade Povich (hip) will make his first minor-league rehab start on Thursday with Triple-A Norfolk, according to The Baltimore Sun's Matt Weyrich. It might only take Povich one or two rehab starts before he's activated from the 15-day injured list after initially being sidelined in the middle of June due to inflammation in his left hip. The 25-year-old southpaw has continued to struggle as a starter in the big leagues for the O's in his second year in the majors in 2025, posting a 2-5 record, 5.15 ERA (4.09 FIP) and 1.50 WHIP with 23 walks in 64 2/3 innings, but he has also fanned 68 in his 13 appearances (12 starts). It's possible that Povich will rejoin the starting rotation next week against the Texas Rangers, which would make him an intriguing deep-league streamer given the Rangers' offensive struggles.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
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