RADIO
Sam Antonacci Settling in as Leadoff Hitter, Can Be a Multi-Category Addition
Chicago White Sox outfielder Sam Antonacci has become a fixture at the top of the exciting young lineup on the South Side. Antonacci is hitting .307 with five doubles, three homers, nine walks, and four stolen bases. He has a .386 wOBA and a .466 SLG, showing he has some very solid power to go with his speed. Antonacci is up to four homers and 11 stolen bases on the season and has scored 37 runs as well. Especially against righties, Antonacci can be a solid source of run creation with the potential to pick up power numbers and add solid stolen base production. He still has multi-positional eligibility in many formats and can be a versatile way to fill in your roster with the potential to contribute across the board, while not hurting your roster in any category.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
River Ryan Lands on Minor-League Injured List With Hamstring Issue
Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitching prospect River Ryan (hamstring) is heading to the seven-day minor-league injured list with a hamstring issue, sources told Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Ryan missed time earlier in Triple-A Oklahoma City's season with hamstring trouble and had his start skipped this week. The 27-year-old former 11th-round pick by the San Diego Padres in 2021 out of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke is currently listed by MLB Pipeline as L.A.'s No. 6 prospect. He made his big-league debut with the Dodgers in 2024 and looked good in a small sample size of just four starts, allowing only four runs (three earned) on 15 hits while walking nine and striking out 18 in 20 1/3 innings pitched. In eight starts at OKC in 2026, Ryan has gone 3-1 with a 4.46 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 43:8 K:BB in 36 1/3 innings pitched. It's a tough break for Ryan to go on the minor-league IL, but it doesn't mean he won't be an option for the Dodgers' starting rotation in the second half of the 2026 season. He's currently rostered in 11% of Yahoo leagues and is still a pitching prospect to stash in deeper leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Giants to Promote Drew Cavanaugh After Stellar Triple-A Play
The San Francisco Giants announced on Friday that they selected the contract of catching prospect Drew Cavanaugh from Triple-A Sacramento after they placed catcher Daniel Susac (back) on the 10-day injured list with a lower-back strain. Cavanaugh, who is not listed as one of the team's top-30 prospects per MLB Pipeline, gets his first call to the big leagues after hitting a combined .311/.449/.550 with a .999 OPS, nine home runs, 34 RBI, 49 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 54 games across 227 plate appearances with Sacramento and Double-A Richmond this year. Cavanaugh is making his big-league debut in Friday's series opener against the visiting Atlanta Braves and right-hander Reynaldo Lopez, doing the catching and batting eighth for the Gigantes. For at least the next 10 days, Cavanaugh will share catching duties in the Bay Area with veteran Eric Haase. The 24-year-old former 17th-round selection in 2023 out of Florida Southern College should only be a consideration for a waiver-wire pickup in deep two-catcher formats.
Source: San Francisco Giants
Source: San Francisco Giants
Hurston Waldrep Back in Atlanta, Worth a Waiver-Wire Pickup?
The Atlanta Braves announced on Friday that they recalled right-hander Hurston Waldrep from Triple-A Gwinnett to replace the injured Robert Suarez (elbow) on the major-league roster. Waldrep will be making his 2026 season debut when he gets into a game for the Braves after having surgery back in February to remove loose bodies from his right elbow. The 24-year-old former 24th overall pick in 2023 out of the University of Florida posted a 3.52 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 13 strikeouts and 11 walks in 15 1/3 innings over just five starts in the rookie-level Florida Complex League and at Double-A Columbus and Gwinnett this year before Friday's call-up. He could start in a relief role in Atlanta, but with Spencer Strider, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Spencer Schwellenbach all on the injured list, Waldrep figures to get a shot in the starting rotation sooner rather than later. Waldrep looked great at the big-league level in 2025, going 6-1 with a 2.88 ERA (3.21 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 55 K's and 22 walks in 56 1/3 innings across 10 appearances (nine starts). Fantasy managers desperate for pitching upside should swoop on Waldrep now. He's rostered in only 5% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Atlanta Braves
Source: Atlanta Braves
Braves Place Robert Suarez on Injured List With Elbow Inflammation
The Atlanta Braves announced on Friday that they placed right-handed reliever Robert Suarez (elbow) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to June 23) with right-elbow inflammation and recalled right-hander Hurston Waldrep from Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move. The Braves initially said that Suarez hasn't pitched since last Friday due to tightness in his right forearm, but now they're saying he has elbow inflammation. The 35-year-old will most likely undergo more tests to determine if he's dealing with any structural damage in his arm. Even if an MRI exam comes back clean, Suarez will be out through the All-Star break in the middle of July. The Venezuelan reliever was an All-Star in each of the last two seasons with the San Diego Padres, when he racked up 76 saves as their closer, but he has taken a back seat to Raisel Iglesias in 2026 in his first year in Atlanta. Suarez has still been lights-out as a high-leverage setup man, going 4-0 with a 0.56 ERA (2.45 FIP), 0.84 WHIP, four saves, 26 strikeouts, and six walks in 32 innings pitched. With Suarez out at least until late July, Dylan Lee should serve as Atlanta's primary setup man in front of Iglesias. UPDATE: Per MLB.com's Mark Bowman, an MRI exam on Suarez's elbow came back negative.
Source: Atlanta Braves
Source: Atlanta Braves
Jacob Wilson Sitting Again With Shoulder Injury
Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson (shoulder) remains out of the starting lineup for Friday's series opener in Anaheim against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels, according to MLB.com. Alika Williams will make another start at the 6 for the A's and will bat ninth against rookie right-hander Walbert Urena. It will be the second straight game that Wilson has missed after leaving Wednesday night's game early against the San Francisco Giants with a left-shoulder injury. As of now, Wilson is being considered day-to-day, but that could change quickly if he cannot get back on the field during this weekend's series against the Halos. The 24-year-old former sixth overall pick in 2023 out of Grand Canyon University has a career-high 11.7% strikeout rate and career-low 4.7% walk rate, but Wilson still makes contact more than most and sits at a .277 batting average (56-for-202). The problem is he lacks power (four homers) and speed (two stolen bases) upside at a premier position. Check back to see if Wilson is ready to return to the starting nine on Saturday.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Mike Trout Hopeful to Return in Time for All-Star Game
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (hamstring) said he has progressed to light jogging on Friday and didn't have any pain, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. Trout is scheduled to swing the bat on Saturday and is pleased with his progress. He is still hopeful that he can return from the 10-day injured list in time for the All-Star game in mid-July, but he ruled out participating in the Home Run Derby. "I'm leaning toward not doing it. Obviously it'd be cool to do it, but I probably won't do it. I was thinking about it, but then hurt my leg. So that's what kind of threw it off there," Trout said. The 34-year-old three-time MVP and 11-time All-Star will be a starter in the All-Star game if he's cleared to play by then, but he's not going to push it. Although he's hitting only .234 (62-for-265), Trout was having a resurgent campaign in 2026 before his hammy injury, producing 17 home runs, 12 doubles, 36 RBI, 54 runs scored, and seven stolen bases across 74 games and 335 plate appearances. Fantasy managers should keep the aging superstar in an IL spot in all leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Rhett Bollinger
Source: MLB.com - Rhett Bollinger
Luis Arraez Returns From Foot Injury to Face Braves
San Francisco Giants infielder Luis Arraez (foot) is starting at second base and batting leadoff for the Giants in Friday's series opener against the visiting Atlanta Braves and right-hander Reynaldo Lopez, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports. Arraez was pulled from Wednesday's game early against the Athletics after fouling a ball off his right foot, and he sat out of Thursday's series finale as a result. X-rays on Arraez's foot came back negative, though, and he'll return for the first game of the weekend series at Oracle Park on Friday against a pitcher he's very familiar with. Arraez is hitting .379 with an .848 OPS and an RBI in 29 career at-bats against Lopez. The 29-year-old three-time batting champion has been a hit machine again in 2026 in his first year in the Bay Area, as he enters action on Friday with a .321/.358/.445 slash line, .803 OPS, only three home runs, 30 RBI, 40 runs scored, and six stolen bases in his 299 at-bats. Fantasy managers will want to get Arraez back into their starting lineups in traditional formats as San Fran's table-setter.
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
Kyle Tucker Back in Action for Series Opener Against Padres
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker (back) is starting in right field and will hit sixth for Friday's series opener at Petco Park against the division-rival San Diego Padres and right-hander Walker Buehler, according to MLB.com. Back spasms have kept the struggling Tucker out of L.A.'s starting lineup since Monday, but he'll return for the first game of a crucial weekend series in San Diego as he looks to break out of his offensive funk. After signing a massive four-year, $240 million deal with the Dodgers in January, the 29-year-old left-handed slugger has disappointed in a big way to the tune of a .234/.333/.374 slash line, .707 OPS, six home runs, 40 RBI, 44 runs scored, six stolen bases, and a 20.4% strikeout rate in 318 plate appearances. The former fifth overall pick by the Houston Astros in 2015 has been even worse in June, going 14-for-66 (.212) with two homers, a double, 13 RBI, seven runs scored, and two steals in 19 games played. Tucker has faced Buehler only twice in his career and has one hit.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Max Meyer Officially Reinstated and Starting on Friday
The Miami Marlins announced on Friday that they reinstated right-hander Max Meyer from the bereavement list to make the start against the hosting St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Meyer is back in Miami's starting rotation after missing the week due to a personal family matter. The 27-year-old has been great for the Fish and fantasy managers alike in 2026, so he should be returned to most starting lineups on Friday as well. The former third overall pick of the 2020 MLB draft out of the University of Minnesota has gone a perfect 8-0 this year with a 2.80 ERA (3.33 FIP) and 1.16 WHIP with a career-high 102 strikeouts and 34 walks in 90 innings across his first 16 starts. In his first matchup against St. Louis at home on April 20, Meyer took a no-decision, allowing two earned runs on three hits while walking two and striking out eight in 5 1/3 innings pitched. Meyer has not allowed over two earned runs in any of his four starts in June while allowing only six earned runs, walking nine, and striking out 28 in 23 1/3 innings pitched.
Source: Miami Marlins
Source: Miami Marlins
Bobby Witt Jr. Returns to the Lineup as DH on Friday
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (knee) is serving as the team's designated hitter and will bat second for the Royals in Friday's series opener on the road against the division-rival Chicago White Sox, per MLB.com. Josh Rojas will start at shortstop and bat seventh. While Witt isn't all the way back from a sprained MCL in his knee, he will make his first start since June 18. Even at less than 100%, Witt is better than most players in the league, and he'll return on Friday to a .294/.368/.465 slash line, .833 OPS, 10 home runs, 32 RBI, a league-leading 28 stolen bases, 40 runs scored, and a league-leading 4.3 WAR in 76 games across 337 plate appearances. Fantasy managers will be hoping that Witt's little injury layoff in the last week won't slow him down. In 17 games so far in June, he has gone 21-for-65 (.323) with a homer, four doubles, six RBI, 11 stolen bases, and 12 runs scored in 77 plate appearances. Even as the DH, Witt needs to be returned to all starting fantasy lineups on Friday in traditional formats. If he doesn't suffer a setback with his knee on Friday, expect him to return to the 6 on either Saturday or Sunday.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jackson Holliday Back in Lineup for Series Opener Against Nats
Baltimore Orioles middle infielder Jackson Holliday (groin) is starting at second base and batting eighth for Friday's series opener against the visiting Washington Nationals and left-hander Andrew Alvarez at Camden Yards, according to MLB.com. Holliday didn't start the last four games for the O's while nursing a groin injury, but he'll be back this weekend against the Nats as he looks to finally get his bat going in what has been an injury-plagued season for the former first overall pick. The 22-year-old left-handed hitter didn't make his 2026 season debut until May 19 due to a fractured hamate bone in his hand that required surgery back in spring training. Holliday teased 20-20 upside in 2025 in his first full season in the big leagues with 17 homers and 17 stolen bases, but so far in 30 games (99 plate appearances) in 2026, he's hitting .198 (17-for-86) with four homers, 12 RBI, 11 walks, and 30 stolen bases. There's still plenty of upside, but it's hard to recommend Holliday off the waiver wire with the way he's been swinging it, especially at the bottom of Baltimore's batting order. He's currently rostered in under 30% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Cooper Ingle Batting Fifth in MLB Debut, a Must-Add Ahead of Friday's Contest?
Cleveland Guardians catching prospect Cooper Ingle has been called up from Triple-A Columbus and will serve as the designated hitter while batting fifth in his major-league debut in Friday's series opener against the visiting Seattle Mariners and veteran right-hander Luis Castillo, according to Zack Meisel of The Athletic. The 24-year-old left-handed-hitting backstop is considered the Guards' No. 3 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and he gets the call after hitting .284/.416/.551 with a .967 OPS, 12 home runs, 41 RBI, 33 runs scored, and a stolen base in 51 games at Columbus this year. The former fourth-rounder in 2023 out of Clemson University could also receive playing time in the outfield in Cleveland and is certainly worth a look for fantasy managers desperate for help at the catcher position. Ingle has recently started developing more power at the plate, and he's an intriguing upcoming offensive player due to his excellent discipline at the dish. He's only rostered in 2% of Yahoo leagues right now.
Source: The Athletic - Zack Meisel
Source: The Athletic - Zack Meisel
Shane McClanahan Being Pushed Back for Extra Rest
Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan, who was slated to start on Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, will be pushed back in the starting rotation several days to give him a breather, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The Rays want to monitor McClanahan's workload heading into the end of the first half of the season after he missed the last two-plus seasons due to elbow injuries. Additionally, the 29-year-old southpaw has gone 0-3 with a 5.79 ERA in his last four starts. The good news is that it doesn't appear that McClanahan is dealing with anything physically, so hopefully, a little rest will do him good as the mid-July All-Star break approaches. Overall, the former 31st overall pick in 2018 out of the University of South Florida has gone 6-5 for the Rays in his return in 2026 with a 3.30 ERA (3.40 FIP) and 1.22 WHIP with 73 strikeouts and 28 walks in 73 2/3 innings pitched across his 15 starts. If the two-time All-Star can stay healthy in the second half, he could easily rebound and be a major pitching asset for fantasy managers.
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
James Tibbs III Remains High-End Stash for Home Run Potential
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect James Tibbs III is producing eye-popping numbers this season at Triple-A Oklahoma City. The outfielder has 20 homers and 64 RBI while hitting .291 with 66 runs scored. The 23-year-old is doing everything he can to prove that he is worthy of a call-up, but that is tough on a loaded Dodgers major league roster, competing with the likes of Andy Pages, Kyle Tucker, Alex Call, and Ryan Ward in their current outfield. Tibbs was a first-round pick of the San Francisco Giants in 2024 (No. 13 overall) and was moved to the Boston Red Sox in the trade that sent Rafael Devers to San Francisco. The Dodgers then acquired Tibbs in a trade with Boston, and he has put up very good numbers in the minor leagues since. He makes for a solid stash for fantasy managers in deep leagues that have five-outfielder spots, given the high-end power upside he has flashed at Triple-A. However, the crowded Dodger outfield does limit his appeal in shallower formats.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
