RADIO
Max Scherzer Ready to Rejoin Toronto's Starting Rotation?
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer (forearm) is getting closer to returning to the team's starting rotation after making a minor-league rehab start on Friday with Triple-A Buffalo, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. Scherzer tossed 3 2/3 innings on 73 pitches on Friday, giving up three runs on five hits while walking one and striking out five. His fastball averaged 93.4 mph and touched 95.7 mph, which are very encouraging for the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer. The Blue Jays are without Jose Berrios (elbow) and Cody Ponce (knee) for the rest of the season, along with Bowden Francis (elbow), and Dylan Cease (hamstring) and Shane Bieber (elbow) are on the injured list as well, so getting Scherzer back will be a big plus for this pitching staff. Scherzer has dealt with injuries over the last two seasons with the Jays, including his thumb, forearm, elbow, and ankle. When on the mound in Toronto, Scherzer has a 5.99 ERA in his 22 starts. It's clear he's no longer the dominant arm that we've become accustomed to, and it remains to be seen if he can give the team reliable innings the rest of the way.
Source: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson
Source: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson
Daulton Varsho Out on Saturday With Wrist Injury
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (wrist) is out of the starting nine for Saturday's tilt at home against the division-rival Baltimore Orioles after he left Friday's game early with inflammation in his left wrist, per MLB.com. Myles Straw will start in center field in his place and bat in the nine-hole versus Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish. Varsho is considered day-to-day for now, and fantasy managers will want to check back in on Sunday to see if he's available for the series finale at the Rogers Centre. The 29-year-old left-handed-hitting center fielder comes into Saturday's action with a very modest .256/.331/.408 slash line, .738 OPS, five home runs, 17 RBI, 26 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 61 games across 236 plate appearances in his fourth year in Toronto. Varsho has been cold at the plate recently, going just 7-for-41 (.171) with two doubles, a triple, one RBI, four runs scored, seven walks, and nine strikeouts in his last 13 games since May 22. Fantasy managers will want to avoid Straw in the nine-hole in DFS formats.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Mickey Moniak Resumes Baseball Activities, No Timeline for a Return
Colorado Rockies outfielder Mickey Moniak (ankle), who went on the 10-day injured list on May 22 with right-ankle tendinitis, has resumed baseball activities, according to Kevin Henry of The Denver Gazette. "He's feeling better. He hit off the tee some while we were in Anaheim," manager Warren Schaeffer said. The skipper also said that Moniak could need a minor-league rehab assignment before returning to the big-league lineup, and there remains no timeline for a return. The 28-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder continues to thrive in Colorado, as he's hitting .280/.335/.607 with a .942 OPS, 12 home runs, 28 RBI, 21 runs scored, and a stolen base in his first 43 games in 2026. However, fantasy managers may want to sell high on him once he returns from the IL, as he currently sits with an xwOBA of just .324 and an expected batting average of just .228. Moniak ranks in just the 51st percentile in hard-hit rate and is in the fifth percentile in chase rate.
Source: The Denver Gazette - Kevin Henry
Source: The Denver Gazette - Kevin Henry
JJ Wetherholt Remains Sidelined With Groin Injury
St. Louis Cardinals rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt (groin) continues to sit out Saturday's game at Busch Stadium against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds, according to MLB.com. Bryan Torres will make another start at the keystone for the Cards and will bat seventh against Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo. Wetherholt is missing a second straight game due to groin soreness. The injury isn't considered serious, so Wetherholt could be back in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale. The 23-year-old former seventh overall pick out of West Virginia University in 2024 has been a full-time starter for St. Louis at the keystone in his first year in the big leagues, and he hasn't disappointed. Wetherholt is currently slashing .249/.357/.400 with a .757 OPS, nine home runs, 25 RBI, 40 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in his first 225 MLB at-bats. The young infielder has been even better in his last 13 games since May 19, too, batting .302 (16-for-53) with a homer, two doubles, three RBI, seven runs scored, and two stolen bases, so fantasy managers are hoping he can return this weekend.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Maikel Garcia Back From Hamstring Injury to Face the Twins
Kansas City Royals infielder Maikel Garcia (hamstring) is serving as the designated hitter and will bat cleanup for the Royals in Saturday's contest against the division-rival Minnesota Twins and right-hander Joe Ryan at Target Field, per MLB.com. Josh Rojas is starting at third base. Garcia is returning from a right-hamstring strain that kept him out of each of the team's last six games, although he did enter as a pinch-hitter in both of the last two games. Now that he's back in KC's starting nine, fantasy managers will want to get him back in there on Saturday against Ryan, whom he's hit .313 against in his career with an .833 OPS, a home run, and three RBI in 16 at-bats. The 26-year-old Venezuelan infielder will return to a .267/.327/.382 slash line, .709 OPS, three home runs, 22 RBI, 28 runs scored, and four stolen bases in his 225 at-bats in 2026. In 15 games since May 16, Garcia has gone 15-for-55 (.273) with three doubles, four RBI, and four runs scored.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
J.P. Crawford Out With Hand Injury on Saturday
Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford (hand) is sitting out of the starting lineup for Saturday's game on the road against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, according to MLB.com. Colt Emerson will make the start at shortstop for the M's and will bat eighth against Tigers right-hander Keider Montero. Infielder Patrick Wisdom is starting at the hot corner for Seattle. Crawford was pulled from Friday's series opener early in Detroit after being hit by a pitch on the hand. X-rays were negative, though, and he's considered day-to-day with a chance to return on Sunday for the series finale. The 31-year-old veteran is on pace to set a new career high in home runs (he's at 10), but otherwise, he continues to do very little for fantasy managers, slashing .228/.356/.409 with a .766 OPS, 23 RBI, 31 runs scored, and a stolen base in his 55 games and 233 plate appearances. Crawford is only rostered in 16% of Yahoo leagues at this point.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Randal Grichuk Goes Yard Twice Against Phillies, Can he Keep it Up?
Outfielder Randal Grichuk has only played in 23 games for the Chicago White Sox this year, but he has made an immediate impact, and that continued in a big way in Friday's 8-6 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Grichuk went 2-for-3 at the plate with two solo home runs to boost his season average to .263 and his OPS to .849. The 34-year-old veteran began the 2026 campaign with the New York Yankees, but he was quickly cut after just 16 games played, when he went 6-for-31 (.194) with no homers, two RBI, one walk, and 10 strikeouts. Both of Grichuk's homers on Friday night came off Phillies left-handed starter Jesus Luzardo, with the White Sox combining for five long balls on the night. The former first-rounder back in 2009 is now up to six home runs with 17 RBI and 16 runs scored in his 80 at-bats with the Pale Hose, but fantasy managers in mixed leagues should hold off on adding Grichuk, whose playing time will be limited to the short side of a platoon against southpaws. He's hitting .167 (5-for-30) against righties this year and .320 (16-for-50) with five of his six homers against lefties.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Luis Garcia Jr. Stays Hot With Two Homers on Friday Night
Washington Nationals infielder Luis Garcia Jr. had a big game on Friday night in the team's 14-1 blowout victory at Chase Field against the hosting Arizona Diamondbacks, going 2-for-6 at the plate with two home runs and six RBI to boost his season batting average to .263 and his OPS to .745. Garcia got the Nats going early in the first inning with a two-run blast, and he capped things off later in the ballgame with a grand slam in the sixth inning. It was the 26-year-old's second multi-homer game of the 2026 season. He's not hitting .263/.291/.454 on the year with seven home runs, 37 RBI, 23 runs scored, and two stolen bases in his 58 games across 203 plate appearances in his seventh year in D.C. Fantasy managers will want to keep riding Garcia as long as he stays hot with the lumber. After his strong performance on Friday night against the D-backs, he is hitting .300 (12-for-40) with four dingers, a double, a triple, 15 RBI, and five runs scored in his last 11 games since May 23. Garcia is currently rostered in only 42% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Roki Sasaki Punches Out 10, is it Time to Jump on Board?
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki continued to trend upward with an excellent start on Friday against the crosstown-rival Los Angeles Angels. Sasaki picked up a no-decision, but he was dynamite, throwing seven shutout innings with only two hits allowed, two walks, and a season-high 10 strikeouts to lower his season ERA to 4.03. The matchup against the last-place Halos was a friendly one, and Sasaki delivered for his best start of the 2026 season. The 24-year-old Japanese native has gone 3-3 in his second year in the big leagues with a 1.26 WHIP, 60 strikeouts, and 21 walks in 58 innings pitched over 11 starts. Sasaki came into his sophomore season with L.A. with a reputation for being wild and allowing too many walks. He struggled to a 6.35 ERA and 7.17 FIP with 13 walks in 22 2/3 innings in his first five starts of the year, but since then, he has allowed only 11 runs (10 earned) while walking eight and fanning 38 in 35 1/3 frames across six starts. With his control improving, it's time for fantasy managers to jump on board in more leagues. Sasaki has at least seven K's in three of his last four starts and has not walked more than two batters in an outing since April 12.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Ryan Helsley Could Start Rehab Assignment Next Week
Baltimore Orioles right-handed closer Ryan Helsley (elbow) completed his first bullpen session on May 30 at Camden Yards, throwing 15 to 20 pitches. He threw another bullpen on June 5 in Toronto and could start a minor-league rehab assignment next week, according to MLB.com. Helsley has been on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to April 29) since May 1 with right-elbow inflammation, but his return to the O's bullpen could be right around the corner if he avoids a setback during his rehab assignment. The hard-throwing right-hander was Baltimore's clear-cut closer to begin the 2026 season before he injured his elbow, and he should immediately return to that role once he's reinstated from the IL. Before going down, Helsley was 0-2 with a 2.53 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, seven saves, 15 walks, and seven walks in 10 2/3 innings to start his Orioles tenure. Until he returns, Rico Garcia has emerged as manager Craig Albernaz's primary saves option out of the bullpen. Helsley is currently rostered in 84% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Adley Rutschman Powers O's to Blowout Win With Four Hits, Five RBI
Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman was at his best on Friday in the team's 13-3 win over the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. The 28-year-old switch-hitting backstop couldn't be stopped at the plate in this one, going a perfect 4-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, five RBI, four runs scored, and a walk to boost his season average to .273 and his OPS to .858. He was all the offense Baltimore needed, and he got the party started right away in the first inning with a solo home run off Blue Jays starter Trey Yesavage. Rutschman is now hitting .273/.352/.506 on the season with eight home runs, 36 RBI, and 25 runs scored in 46 games across 196 plate appearances. The two-time All-Star dealt with injuries in 2025 in his fourth year in the big leagues and played in a career-low 90 games, but he's back on track in 2026 and is hitting .279 (12-for-43) with a homer, four RBI, a triple, 10 RBI, and nine runs scored in his last 12 games since May 24.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Willy Adames Heating Up, Clubs Two Homers in Win Over Cubs
San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames continued to swing a hot bat in the 18-3 blowout win over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday, going 2-for-2 at the plate with two home runs, four RBI, four runs scored, and two walks to raise his season batting average to .250 and his OPS to .756. It was an impressive day for San Fran's offense at the friendly confines of Wrigley, as Adames, Matt Chapman, and Casey Schmitt all had two-homer days -- just the third time in franchise history that has been accomplished. The 30-year-old Adames is now hitting .250/.296/.460 on the year with 11 home runs, 29 RBI, 34 runs scored, and a stolen base in 63 games across 270 plate appearances in his second year with the Gigantes. Like most Giants hitters, Adames got off to a slow start in 2026, but he has turned things around recently, going 17-for-56 (.304) with six home runs, four doubles, a triple, 14 RBI, and 15 runs scored in his last 14 games. Eight of his 11 homers on the year have come in his last 17 games, a stretch in which he's gone 19-for-64 (.297).
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Matt Chapman has Monster Two-Homer, Eight-RBI Game Against Cubs
San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman had a day to remember at the friendly confines of Wrigley Field on Friday in an 18-3 drubbing of the Chicago Cubs. Chapman finished the day 2-for-3 at the plate with two home runs, eight RBI, and one strikeout to boost his batting average to .241 on the year and his OPS to .684. The 33-year-old has not had the best season offensively, but in just one day, he doubled his home run total. Chapman hit a grand slam off Cubs starter Edward Cabrera in the fourth inning, added a three-run blast in the sixth frame off reliever Ethan Roberts, and tacked on a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning. In addition to Chapman, both Casey Schmitt and Willy Adames left the yard two times apiece, marking just the third time in Giants history that three different players had two homers each. Chapman could be turning things around at the plate after a slow start in the first two months, as he's hit .310 (18-for-58) with three home runs and five doubles in his last 16 games. He's only rostered in 68% of Yahoo leagues, but his buy-low window could be closing fast.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Casey Schmitt Continues Breakout Season With Two Homers on Friday
San Francisco Giants utility man Casey Schmitt continued his breakout 2026 campaign on Friday in the 18-3 blowout win over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, going 4-for-6 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI, three runs scored, and a walk to raise his season average to .293 and his OPS to .884. The 27-year-old wasn't the only Giants player to have a monster day at the friendly confines of Wrigley, though, as both shortstop Willy Adames and third baseman Matt Chapman matched him with two-homer performances. It was quite the offensive display for the Gigantes, and just the third time in franchise history that three different players had two home runs in the same game. Schmitt has been on a heater this season and already has a career-high 15 long balls in 222 at-bats, adding 38 RBI, 31 runs scored, and five stolen bases in his 56 contests (237 plate appearances). Making him more attractive to fantasy managers is the fact that he's eligible at first, second, and third base, in addition to the outfield, in Yahoo leagues. Scoop him up if he's still available in your league.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Royce Lewis Rejoins MLB Roster, Worth Adding in All Leagues?
The Minnesota Twins recalled third baseman Royce Lewis from Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday and designated outfielder James Outman for assignment in a corresponding move, according to Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Lewis was sent to the minors in the middle of last month after starting the year with a horrid .163/.261/.279 slash line, a .539 OPS, three home runs, and a career-worst 31.1% strikeout rate in 31 games and 119 plate appearances. The 27-year-old turned things around at the plate with the Saints, though, going 20-for-60 (.333) with 10 home runs, 22 RBI, 14 runs scored, five walks, and 13 strikeouts in 15 games over 67 plate appearances to earn a trip back to the big leagues. Lewis also got some work in at first base down on the farm, so the Twins could try to mix him in at both corner-infield spots as he looks to rebound from his atrocious start at the plate in 2026. Lewis' strikeouts probably won't suddenly go away, but he can be a strong source of power when he's in the zone in fantasy baseball leagues, and he's rostered in only 21% of Yahoo leagues right now.
Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press - Betsy Helfand
Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press - Betsy Helfand
