RADIO
Bubba Wallace May Have a Strong Performance at Chicagoland
Bubba Wallace of 23XI Racing will start in eighth for the Eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Wallace will start inside the top 10 at the site for the first time in his first race there with 23XI. In two previous races at Chicagoland, with Richard Petty Motorsports, Wallace's best finish is 23rd. Through 18 races so far this season, Wallace has eight top-10 finishes with an average finish of 17.0. At 1.5-mile Intermediate tracks this year, Wallace has three top-10 finishes, including a fifth-place finish at Kansas. In practice for this week's race, Wallace displayed top-5 speeds in the five-, 10-, and 15-consecutive-lap average categories in practice. Although Wallace's high starting position leaves little Place Differential upside, he does have a fast enough car to place in the top five and be a great DFS option for tournaments.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Byron Buxton Aggravates Hip Injury, Pulled Early on Sunday
The Minnesota Twins said that outfielder Byron Buxton (hip) was removed from Sunday's series finale early in New York against the Yankees due to a "re-aggravation of a prior hip injury," according to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic. Buxton had a hit in his only plate appearance on the day and was replaced in center field by Kyler Fedko. The 32-year-old could have injured his hip during his stolen base attempt in the first inning. Buxton missed four games earlier this week due to a hip impingement but had returned to the starting lineup for Saturday's contest at Yankee Stadium. It's unclear how serious the injury is, but given Buxton's lengthy injury history, it would not be a surprise to see him land on the 10-day injured list to give him an extended break during the upcoming All-Star break from July 13-16. If he's just day-to-day, Buxton's next chance to play will come on Tuesday against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians after a scheduled day off on Monday. The two-time All-Star doesn't run much these days, but his resurgence in power the last two years has made him fantasy relevant in all leagues. Buxton has hit 25 homers in 74 games in 2026 after clubbing 35, driving in 83 runs, and stealing 24 bases in 126 games in 2025.
Source: The Athletic - Brendan Kuty
Source: The Athletic - Brendan Kuty
Joey Logano Qualifies Outside of the Top 30 at Chicagoland
Team Penske's Joey Logano is starting 31st for this week's Eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Compared to his past races from 2019 on back, this is the lowest starting position of Logano's Cup career at Chicagoland. In 11 races at the site, Logano has six top-10 finishes, all of which came in his last six Cup events. After 18 races so far this season, Logano has 10 top-20 finishes, including two at 1.5-mile Intermediate oval tracks with an overall average finish of 20.8. In practice for this week's race, Logano ranked 29th in 10 consecutive lap averages, 22nd in 15 consecutive lap averages, 13th in 20 consecutive lap averages, and fifth in 25 consecutive lap averages. Although Logano has struggled at times on Intermediate ovals, Logano's practice speeds indicate that he still has the equipment to compete for a top-20 finish. Due to his upside, Logano is best suited as a cash game play for DFS.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Shohei Ohtani Back in Dodgers Lineup Against Padres
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (biceps) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting leadoff in Sunday's series finale against the division-rival San Diego Padres and left-hander JP Sears, according to MLB.com. Ohtani was pulled as a precaution from Friday's contest in L.A. against the Pads after he felt something in his biceps muscle late in the game. The Dodgers gave Ohtani the day off in Saturday night's win, and now that he's back in the starting nine, he should be returned to all starting fantasy lineups, even against a southpaw. The 32-year-old four-time MVP has gone 1-for-12 so far in three games in July, but he hit .333 (30-for-90) with eight homers, three doubles, a triple, 19 RBI, and 23 runs scored in 24 games played in June, and he remains a must-start, five-category contributor as a hitter in fantasy leagues. He has hit .258 (25-for-97) with six of his 18 home runs this year against left-handed pitchers, and Ohtani has four hits and an RBI in eight career at-bats against Sears.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Is Alex Bowman Worth Consideration for Tournament DFS Lineups at Chicagoland?
Alex Bowman will start in the 12th position for this week's Eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Bowman is the track's most recent winner as he won at the site in 2019. In five prior races at Chicagoland, Bowman has three top-10 finishes and an average finish of 18.6. With 14 races completed in the 2026 season, Bowman has three top-10 finishes with an average finish of 22.6. One of Bowman's top-10 finishes this year came at Texas, another track of a similar type to Chicagoland. In practice for this week's race, Bowman ranked as high as 16th in 15 consecutive lap averages. The No. 48 Chevrolet driver does start high enough to be a potential Place Differential risk, as his practice speeds indicate that he will finish in the top 20. However, with Bowman still aligned with one of the best teams in the field, he is worth consideration for tournament DFS lineups.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Ty Gibbs Could Contend at Chicagoland
Don't be surprised if Ty Gibbs contends for the win at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday evening. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has been stout at the intermediate tracks this season, posting finishes of fifth at Las Vegas, sixth at Darlington, ninth at Kansas, and sixth at Charlotte. For the eero 400 on Sunday evening in the Windy City, Gibbs qualified fifth and also posted the fifth-fastest lap in practice. As far as track history goes, Gibbs has never raced at Chicagoland Speedway in the major NASCAR series, but the Cup Series hasn't raced at this track since 2019, so there are quite a few drivers that do not have much experience. As far as DFS goes this weekend, Gibbs is a tournament play at $9.0K on DraftKings, as he has some dominator upside but not much Place Differential potential. Still, he's in a Toyota, and those cars have all the speed right now.
Source: ifantasyrace
Source: ifantasyrace
Chris Buescher Qualifies Third at Chicagoland
The Roush-Fenway Keselowski Racing Fords brought some good speed to Chicagoland Speedway this weekend, and it was apparent in qualifying, with Chris Buescher leading the way with a third-place effort. His teammate and team owner, Brad Keselowski, was fourth-fastest, so that was a good run for that team as well. As far as race expectations, there's no reason to think that Buescher won't be able to compete for a top-10 finish in the eero 400 on Sunday. The No. 17 Ford has been stout on this track type this season, with finishes of sixth at Las Vegas, ninth at Darlington, 10th at Kansas, and fifth at Texas. Buescher also had the eighth-best 10-lap average during practice on Friday, showing that the No. 17 Ford has good long-run speed for the race on Sunday night.
Source: Jayski
Source: Jayski
Brad Keselowski Has Best Qualifying Result of Season at Chicagoland
Brad Keselowski typically doesn't qualify very well, and that has been quite apparent this season. His average starting position thus far in 2026 is a worse-than-average 22.1. That's why it was a bit surprising to see Keselowski's name near the top of the qualifying results at Chicagoland this weekend, as the No. 6 Ford ended up fourth-fastest in the session. This will be Keselowski's first start better than 12th since Darlington back in March, a race that he nearly won. So what should we expect out of Keselowski on Sunday? Although a race-winning effort may be out of the question, a top-10 finish (and possible top-five) probably isn't. The No. 6 Ford has posted solid finishes on intermediate tracks this season, with a 10th at Las Vegas, a second at Darlington, a sixth at Kansas, a 13th at Texas, and a 15th at Charlotte. When it comes to DFS, Keselowski is strictly a tournament play, as he offers no Place Differential upside, but if he sneaks in and leads a bunch of laps, it wouldn't take a lot for him to hit value at his $8.0K salary on DraftKings.
Source: Autoweek
Source: Autoweek
Corey Heim an Easy DFS Play at Chicagoland
After winning at the San Diego Naval Base Coronado a couple of weeks ago, Corey Heim is back in Cup Series action for 23XI Racing this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway--and the young driver picked up right where he left off. Heim posted the sixth-fastest lap in practice on Friday evening, and was third-best when it came to 10-lap average, showing that the No. 67 Toyota had good long-run speed for the race. Then qualifying happened, and because of his early draw, Heim ended up with the 28th-best lap. That's good news for DFS players, though, as Heim is now a great Place Differential play in daily fantasy games. And at just a $7,500 driver salary on DraftKings, he's affordable as well. Heim has a 15th-place finish at Kansas this season as well as a 19th-place result at Charlotte, both of which are somewhat comparable to Chicagoland.
Source: Jayski
Source: Jayski
Gleyber Torres Hasn't Resumed Hitting
Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres (oblique) has been doing work on the base paths, but hasn't resumed hitting yet. Torres landed on the Injured List on June 17 due to an oblique strain. He received a cortisone shot to help his recovery progress, but it has still been slow for Torres. The fact that Torres isn't swinging yet should basically rule him out until after the All-Star break. Once he's able to do that, Torres will likely still need a minor league rehab assignment before he returns to the Tigers' lineup. This is the second time that Torres has suffered this oblique injury this season. The Tigers are likely going to bring him along slowly, so fantasy managers might not see him until closer to August. Zach McKinstry has been getting most of the reps at second base while Torres is out.
Source: mlb.com
Source: mlb.com
Maikel Garcia is Not Swinging Yet
Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (hand) doesn't appear to be making a ton of progress in his rehab work. Garcia has been sidelined since June 23 due to a muscle strain in his left hand. He continues doing rehab work, but Garcia is unable to swing a bat yet. This news should basically rule out Garcia until after the All-Star break. He'll need to start swinging a bat, and then he'll likely go on a minor league rehab assignment. The Royals should give a better update on his status during the break. In the meantime, Nick Loftin figures to continue seeing the bulk of the playing time at the hot corner. Fantasy managers should continue to hold Garcia with positive news, hopefully in the near future.
Source: mlb.com
Source: mlb.com
Munetaka Murakami is Nearing Rehab Assignment
Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (hamstring) was able to run the bases without any issues for the second straight day ahead of Sunday's game against the Cleveland Guardians. Barring any setbacks, Murakami is expected to head to Triple-A Charlotte to begin a minor league rehab assignment early next week. The lefty slugger has been sidelined since May 30 due to a right hamstring strain. If everything goes well, Murakami could return to the White Sox lineup for the final series before the All-Star break against the Athletics. At worst, it sounds like the White Sox should have Murakami back after the break, which is huge for this offense. Murakami blasted 20 home runs with 41 RBI before landing on the shelf at the end of May.
Source: Scott Merkin
Source: Scott Merkin
Jeremy Pena Could Return Next Weekend
Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (calf) is expected to play in some minor league rehab games this week. Pena landed on the Injured List last Tuesday due to a calf strain. He has been doing some light work, but he appears to be ready for game action. Barring any setbacks, the Astros are hopeful that Pena can return for the final series before the All-Star break against the Texas Rangers. Pena was swinging a hot bat before he landed on the shelf, so hopefully this doesn't cool him off. Nick Allen figures to continue seeing a majority of the playing time at shortstop while Pena is out.
Source: Chandler Rome
Source: Chandler Rome
Dustin May is Scheduled to Start on Monday
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Dustin May (ankle) is scheduled to take the mound against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday. This is positive news after the right-hander was forced to make an early exit from Thursday's outing. He took a comebacker off the ankle, and it was unclear if he was going to require a stint on the Injured List. He'll avoid a stint on the shelf and take the ball in an important divisional matchup on Monday. This decision will push Michael McGreevy back a day, so he'll pitch in one of the doubleheader contests on Tuesday. May has struggled during his last two outings, but was excellent throughout most of the month of June. Fantasy managers looking for pitching help should consider scooping him up off the waiver wire.
Source: Daniel Guerrero
Source: Daniel Guerrero
Shea Langeliers Remains Out on Sunday
Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (thumb) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the Miami Marlins. This marks the second straight game that Langeliers has missed due to a left thumb contusion. The A's are off on Monday, so the team is hopeful to get him back for Tuesday's series opener versus the Detroit Tigers. In his absence, Brian Serven will draw the start behind the plate and bat ninth against right-hander Eury Perez. Fantasy managers should check back ahead of Tuesday's game for another update on Langeliers. In the meantime, they should pull him out of their lineups on Sunday with him missing his second straight contest.
Source: mlb.com
Source: mlb.com
Josh Jung Out on Sunday With Sore Knee
Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (knee) fouled a ball off his knee on Saturday in the loss to the Detroit Tigers and came in feeling sore, which is why he's out of the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. Jung is being evaluated to determine if he'll be available off the bench on Sunday at Globe Life Field. With Jung out, Ezequiel Duran will start at the hot corner and bat cleanup for Texas against Tigers right-hander Casey Mize. Until we know more on Jung's knee injury, he should be considered day-to-day. His next chance to return will be on Tuesday against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels after a scheduled day off on Monday. The 28-year-old, who has a long injury history early in his career, has managed to stay healthy in 2026 and has been a big-time value in fantasy, hitting .297/.362/.449 with an .811 OPS, nine home runs, 34 RBI, 41 runs, and a stolen base in his 323 at-bats. Since June 18, Jung has gone 18-for-62 (.290) with a homer, six doubles, four RBI, and nine runs scored in 15 games played.
Source: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
Source: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
Chandler Simpson Back in Action Against Astros
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson (fingers) is starting in left field and will hit fifth against the hosting Houston Astros and right-hander Peter Lambert for the series finale on Sunday, per MLB.com. Simpson is returning to the starting nine after missing the last two games with soreness in his right index and middle fingers. The 25-year-old speedster hasn't hit a single home run in his first 190 regular-season games played, but he's still plenty useful in fantasy baseball leagues for his contact skills and speed on the basepaths. The former second-rounder has been hot lately, batting .386 (17-for-44) with four doubles, two RBI, six stolen bases, and three runs scored in his last 12 games since June 19. Simpson is returning to a .278/.317/.331 slash line on the year with a .648 OPS, 16 RBI, 20 stolen bases, and 35 runs scored in his 299 at-bats in his sophomore season. He has never faced Lambert in his major-league career.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Angel Martinez Takes Batting Practice for First Time
Cleveland Guardians outfielder Angel Martinez (foot) took batting practice on Saturday for the first time since landing on the 10-day injured list on June 16 with a fractured left foot, according to MLB.com. An MRI exam and CT scan showed a non-displaced fracture after Martinez left the game on June 13 against the division-rival Detroit Tigers. At the time, he was estimated to need four to six weeks to recover. Barring a setback, Martinez could return to the big-league roster at the end of July. The 24-year-old had his walking boot removed last week. Before his foot injury, the 24-year-old Dominican switch-hitter was batting .239 (54-for-226) with 11 home runs, 33 RBI, 28 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in his 66 games in his third year in the majors. Martinez was struggling in 11 games in June before fracturing his foot, going 9-for-41 (.220) with two homers, two doubles, four RBI, four runs, one steal, one walk, and 12 strikeouts. He's walking just 2.9% of the time in 2026, so Martinez's plate discipline must improve for him to gain more traction off the waiver wire when he's healthy. He's currently rostered in just 15% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Tanner Bibee Succeeding With Greater Sinker Usage
Since allowing seven earned runs (five home runs) in three innings in a loss to the Washington Nationals on May 25, Cleveland Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee has leaned more on his sinker, and in his six starts since, he's posted a 2.29 ERA with just eight walks and 28 strikeouts in 39 1/3 innings for a 2-2 record. Through his rough outing against the Nats, Bibee's sinker usage was at 15.8%. In his six starts since, he's used it 37.2% of the time as his primary pitch. "The sinker last year, the start of this year," said Bibee, "it was kind of like a surprise pitch. But now it just feels like a real weapon, where I can really lean on it to get quick outs, like I've been getting. Or I still can have guys freeze on it. It opens up a lot of stuff." In his first 13 starts, Bibee's opponents hit .313 against his four-seam fastball, with a 56.1% hard-hit rate, and hit .295 with a 47.8% hard-hit rate against his cutter. In his last six starts, opponents are 1-for-21 against his four-seamer with a 26.7% hard-hit rate and 3-for-28 against his cutter with a 26.1% hard-hit rate. The 27-year-old has slightly tweaked his changeup as well, so that it mimics his cutter more. Fantasy managers have to like what they've seen from Bibee as the second half of the season quickly approaches.
Source: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
Source: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
Jose Ramirez Hitting Off a Tee, to Return Before All-Star Break?
Cleveland Guardians All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez (hand) has started hitting off a tee and will progress to overhand batting practice in the coming days, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. General manager Chris Antonetti said that Ramirez has met each checkpoint so far in his recovery from surgery to fix a fractured hamate bone in his hand, but he still has more boxes to check. The Guardians remain hopeful that J-Ram can return before the All-Star break from July 13-16. The 33-year-old Dominican switch-hitter had the stitches removed from his surgically-repaired left hand earlier this week and is making good progress. Ramirez hasn't lived up to his lofty expectations so far in 2026, but if he's healthy in the second half, he still can carry a fantasy team. Through his first 72 games (314 plate appearances) in 2026 in his 14th year in the league, Ramirez is slashing .239/.339/.418 with a .757 OPS, 10 homers, 33 RBI, 24 steals, and 42 runs scored. J-Ram should be stashed in all fantasy baseball leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
Source: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
Max Fried to Throw Another Live Bullpen Next Week
New York Yankees left-hander Max Fried (elbow) is facing hitters again on Sunday at Yankee Stadium, and manager Aaron Boone told Jorge Castillo of ESPN that the plan is for Fried to throw another live bullpen session on Thursday or Friday of next week before going on a minor-league rehab assignment. The 32-year-old veteran southpaw has been sidelined since the middle of May with a bone bruise in his left elbow, but he's progressing nicely and could be ready to rejoin the Yankees' starting rotation for the start of the second half of the season on July 17, barring a setback on his rehab assignment. The three-time All-Star was 4-3 with a 3.21 ERA (2.72 FIP) and 1.00 WHIP with 50 strikeouts and 19 walks in 61 2/3 innings over 10 starts in his second season in the Bronx this year before landing on the injured list. He led the league with 19 wins in his first year with the Yankees, and he's a must-start in fantasy when he's active. Fried should not be floating around on any waiver wires due to his elbow injury.
Source: ESPN.com - Jorge Castillo
Source: ESPN.com - Jorge Castillo
Josh Bell Worth a Look as Power Source Off the Waiver Wire
Minnesota Twins first baseman Josh Bell has now gone deep four times in his last five games, which will inevitably draw attention to him on the waiver wire in fantasy baseball leagues from managers seeking a power surge. In Minnesota's 11-4 win over the New York Yankees in the Bronx on the Fourth of July on Saturday, Bell went 3-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, a double, three RBI, and a strikeout to boost his season average to .247 and his OPS to .738. The 33-year-old veteran left-handed slugger now has 13 round-trippers on the year while adding 59 RBI, 45 runs scored, and a .247/.304/.434 slash line in 316 at-bats in his 11th year in the majors and first with the Twins. Bell is striking out over 20% of the time this year, but fantasy managers seeking a power boost can't ignore his hot streak of late. And in his last 18 games since June 14, he's gone 21-for-66 (.318) with six homers, five doubles, a triple, 19 RBI, and 13 runs scored across 73 plate appearances. Bell is widely available, as he's rostered in just 18% of Yahoo leagues right now.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Sean Burke a Priority Waiver-Wire Pickup After 11-Strikeout Performance?
Chicago White Sox right-hander Sean Burke is gaining steam as a priority waiver-wire pickup after another strong performance on Saturday in the team's 3-1 win over the division-rival Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Burke allowed just one earned run on seven hits (a solo home run) while walking none and striking out a season-high 11 batters in six innings for a no-decision. The 26-year-old generated 16 swings and misses on his 95 pitches in the outing. Burke is now 5-4 in 2026 with a 3.56 ERA (3.73 FIP) and 1.22 WHIP with 106 strikeouts and 33 walks in 98 2/3 innings over his 18 appearances (14 starts) for the Pale Hose in his third year in the big leagues. The former third-rounder in 2021 out of the University of Maryland has gone 3-1 with 12 earned runs allowed (3.24 ERA) with 15 walks and 46 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings in his last six starts. Burke has boosted his strikeout rate from 22.3% last year to 25.8% in 2026, and he also has a career-low 8% walk rate. Fantasy managers who need rotation help should look his way heading into the second half. Burke is rostered in 56% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Yoshinobu Yamamoto Picks Up Fifth Straight Quality Start in Win Over Padres
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto dominated the division-rival San Diego Padres on Saturday night in a 3-0 victory to post his fifth straight quality start. Yoshinobu threw seven shutout innings at Dodger Stadium with only three hits allowed, two walks, and 10 strikeouts for his ninth win of the year. It was the 27-year-old's second scoreless outing of the 2026 season, and he's now 9-5 with a 2.49 ERA (3.25 FIP) and 0.88 WHIP with an even 100 strikeouts and 21 walks in 104 2/3 innings pitched across 16 starts in his third year in the league. The Japanese star hurler hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in each of his last eight starts. In that span, Yamamoto has allowed only nine earned runs (1.48 ERA) while walking 11 and striking out 52 in 54 2/3 innings while going 6-2. He's set to face the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks next week in his final start before the All-Star break. Yamamoto faced the D-backs in his first start of the year on March 26, allowing two earned runs with no walks and six K's in six innings for his first quality start of the season. He's a must-start every time he toes the rubber with one of the best offenses in the league backing him.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Yordan Alvarez Hits Two Homers on Saturday, Including Game-Winner
Houston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez bolstered his case as the favorite for the American League MVP award in 2026 with another multi-homer performance in the team's 10-8 win on Saturday against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays at Daikin Park. Alvarez went 3-for-4 at the plate as the designated hitter with six RBI to raise his season batting average to .324 and his OPS to 1.078. The 29-year-old left-handed slugger had a solo shot for his first homer of the day before launching a walk-off, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to send the Rays home. It was Alvarez's fourth multi-homer game of the season, and the three-time All-Star and former AL Rookie of the Year is now slashing .324/.433/.645 in his 89 games and 388 plate appearances. The Cuban slugger leads the league in a variety of categories, including home runs (29), RBI (67), runs scored (62), hits (104), on-base percentage (.433), slugging percentage (.645), OPS (1.078), and total bases (207). He's by far the favorite for the AL MVP as we near the end of the first half of the season.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Nationals Call Up Pitching Prospect Eddy Yean, Worth a Look in Deep Leagues?
Washington Nationals right-handed pitching prospect Eddy Yean is being called up to the major leagues from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday, according to Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. In a corresponding move, the Nationals designated outfielder Robert Hassell III for assignment to clear space on the team's 40-man roster. Yean, a 25-year-old Dominican hurler, will make his big-league debut after going 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and 19 walks in 40 innings over 39 relief appearances this year at Rochester. Yean is not listed among MLB Pipeline's top-30 Nationals prospects in 2026 and will most likely have a lower-leverage role in the Nats' bullpen for his first stint in the majors just before the All-Star break from July 13-16. Fantasy managers in all formats can probably hold off on Yean for now, as he could be sent right back to Rochester sooner rather than later.
Source: The Athletic - Spencer Nusbaum
Source: The Athletic - Spencer Nusbaum
Brandon Woodruff to Go Back on Injured List With Inflamed Labrum
Milwaukee Brewers veteran right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder), who was pulled from his start on Saturday after just four innings because his velocity dipped against the Arizona Diamondbacks, will go back on the 15-day injured list with an inflamed labrum in his right shoulder, manager Pat Murphy told Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. Woodruff was on the IL with the same injury earlier this year and missed six weeks. The 33-year-old veteran is likely looking at a potential return to Milwaukee's starting rotation in early April in a best-case scenario. In a worst-case scenario, we won't see Woodruff again in 2026 due to ongoing shoulder issues and a drop in velocity. Remember, he missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from capsule surgery in his right shoulder, and he made only 12 starts last year. Woodruff hasn't been bad in his nine starts in 2026, posting a 2.98 ERA (3.20 FIP), 0.84 WHIP, and 47:10 K:BB in 45 1/3 frames, but durability issues have to have fantasy managers extremely concerned going forward.
Source: USA Today Sports - Bob Nightengale
Source: USA Today Sports - Bob Nightengale
Salvador Perez Returns From Elbow Injury on Sunday
Kansas City Royals catcher/first baseman Salvador Perez (elbow) is serving as the team's designated hitter and is batting sixth versus the visiting Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander Aaron Nola in the series finale at Kauffman Stadium, according to MLB.com. A sore elbow has kept Perez out for each of the last two games, but he'll return for the series finale in KC. The 36-year-old Venezuelan backstop is running out of steam offensively in his 15th year in the majors (all with the Royals), as he enters Sunday's contest with a .201/.241/.327 slash line with a career-worst .568 OPS, 10 home runs, 30 RBI, and 29 runs scored across his 81 games (340 plate appearances). Fantasy managers may want to keep Perez on the bench until he shows some signs of life at the plate. In eight career at-bats against Nola, Perez is hitting .250 with an .875 OPS, a home run, and three RBI. Perez has five hits in his last 35 plate appearances with two doubles, two RBI, a run scored, no walks, and 12 strikeouts across nine games played.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
James Tibbs III No Longer on the Stash Radar Amid Triple-A Skid?
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect James Tibbs III has had a brief stint at Triple-A Oklahoma City and has seen his fantasy value as a stash candidate drop. Over his last 14 contests with the Comets, the outfielder has posted a much lower .208/.365/.375 line with just two long balls. However, over his previous 21 games, the No .10-ranked prospect in the Dodger system carried a much higher .269/.400/.603 line with a stellar 1.003 OPS, two doubles, and an eye-catching eight long balls. Overall, the 23-year-old Florida State product has held his own at Triple-A this season, carrying a .285/.407/.563 slash line with a .970 OPS and 21 long balls. However, with Teoscar Hernandez back in action, Tibbs no longer has an immediate path to join the MLB roster. For now, given his slump and lack of a clear path to at-bats, Tibbs enters Week 14 as a mid-range stash candidate for those in deeper 12+ team leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Hector Rodriguez Not Slowing Down at Triple-A, on the Verge of a Call-Up?
Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect Hector Rodriguez has continued his dominant play at Triple-A Louisville and is solidifying himself as a top-stash candidate among outfield prospects ahead of Week 15 of the fantasy season. Over his last 22 contests with the Bats, Rodriguez has posted a sharp .329/.396/.732 slash line with four doubles, nine home runs, two stolen bases, and a 23:7 K:BB. Prior to this impressive stretch at the dish, the 22-year-old was still very productive at the plate but was nowhere near as effective, holding a .274/.353/.465 line over his first 60 games in the regular season. Currently, the Reds do not have a clear path for Rodriguez as both JJ Bleday and Noelvi Marte occupy the corner outfield spots. However, Bleday is currently in the midst of a 7-for-53 skid, which could open the door for the team's No. 5-ranked prospect. For now, Rodríguez is a top stash target for those in 12+ team, five-outfielder leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
