Casey Mize Likely to Pitch on Sunday Against Cleveland
Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize (groin) is likely to return from the 15-day injured list to start against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians on Sunday in the series finale, but the Tigers are waiting for him to complete his bullpen session on Thursday before setting that in stone, according to Evan Woodbery of MLive Media Group. Right-hander Jack Flaherty will get the ball for Friday's series opener, with lefty Tarik Skubal (elbow) returning from the IL to pitch on Saturday in Game 2. Mize has been sidelined with inflammation in his right groin since late May, but he looked good during his lone minor-league rehab start, allowing just one run in five innings with five strikeouts for Single-A Lakeland on Tuesday. The 29-year-old former first overall pick in 2018 out of Auburn University has never been a big strikeout artist, but he has a career-best 26.5% strikeout rate in 2026 and has posted a strong 2.27 ERA (2.41 FIP) and 0.96 WHIP with 49 strikeouts and 12 walks in his nine starts for Detroit before landing on the IL. Don't dismiss Mize as a matchup-based streamer in fantasy leagues. He's rostered in just over half of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLive Media Group - Evan Woodbery
Source: MLive Media Group - Evan Woodbery
Tarik Skubal to Start on Saturday Against Guardians
Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal (elbow) will return from the 15-day injured list and start on Saturday against the Cleveland Guardians, manager A.J. Hinch told Jason Beck of MLB.com. Right-hander Jack Flaherty will go in the series opener on Friday, with Casey Mize (groin) returning from the IL to pitch in the series finale on Sunday. Skubal had surgery on his left elbow in early May to remove loose bodies from his arm, but he has made a rapid recovery and will return this weekend for the Tigers and fantasy managers. In his lone minor-league rehab start for High-A West Michigan on Sunday, the back-to-back American League Cy Young winner threw five scoreless innings and struck out six while tossing 54 pitches. Skubal will probably be a bit limited length-wise on Saturday in his first start back in the Tigers' rotation, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect too much. The 29-year-old southpaw and two-time All-Star went 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings across his seven starts this year before landing on the IL.
Source: MLB.com - Jason Beck
Source: MLB.com - Jason Beck
Is Deshaun Watson Still a Usable Dynasty Asset?
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has not reached 1,200 passing yards or double-digit touchdowns in any season since 2020, and yet with the starting job in Todd Monken's new-look offense purportedly up for grabs, there may be life left in both his NFL and fantasy careers. Between Watson and Shedeur Sanders, whoever wins the starting quarterback role will find themselves somewhat insulated by the team's recent and heavy investments into the offensive infrastructure. After seeming to hit big on tight end Harold Fannin Jr. and running back Quinshon Judkins in the 2025 Draft, Cleveland spent four 2026 Day 1 or 2 picks on the offensive side of the ball and eight in total. When at his best, Watson possessed a rushing element absent from Sanders' game, and with Monken having spent the last three seasons with Lamar Jackson in Baltimore, that could become a factor in his decision to name a starter. Still stuck at RotoBaller's dynasty WR30 with a realistic chance of reclaiming the starting job, the 30-year-old Watson is a low-cost addition who could provide usable depth to a contending superflex squad.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Lane Johnson's Foot is Healthy
Philadelphia Eagles veteran offensive tackle Lane Johnson (foot) is healthy during offseason workouts, according to Zach Berman of The Athletic. Including the playoffs, Johnson missed the Eagles' final eight games last year due to a Lisfranc foot injury, but he's apparently healthy again and ready for his 14th year in the league this fall. The 36-year-old is a six-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro, so getting him back healthy will be a huge plus as the Eagles' offense looks to bounce back from a disappointing showing in 2025. Johnson will serve as the team's starting right tackle for the upcoming 2026 regular season, which is great news for running back Saquon Barkley, quarterback Jalen Hurts, and the rest of the Eagles' offense.
Source: The Athletic - Zach Berman
Source: The Athletic - Zach Berman
Eli Stowers Suffers Leg Injury at Minicamp
Philadelphia Eagles rookie second-round tight end Eli Stowers (leg) had a sleeve on his right leg and wasn't doing much during mandatory minicamp practice on Wednesday, according to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Stowers' injury most likely isn't very serious, but the Eagles will ease him in during offseason workouts. We'd be surprised if he isn't ready for the start of training camp at the end of next month. The 23-year-old from Vanderbilt will most likely work for a backup role behind Dallas Goedert as he heads into his first season in the NFL with the Eagles. Stowers was converted from a quarterback to a TE in college, so he has plenty of development to do as a pass-catcher at 6-foot-4 and 239 pounds. Although Stowers is unlikely to have much of a role in Philly in 2026 behind Goedert, he has intriguing long-term value in dynasty/keeper leagues due to his above-average athleticism. In his last two collegiate seasons at Vanderbilt, Stowers had 111 total receptions for 1,407 yards and nine touchdowns in 25 games played.
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Jeff McLane
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Jeff McLane
Is Quinshon Judkins Capable of a League-Winning Breakout?
Cleveland running back Quinshon Judkins was part of an impressive Browns 2025 rookie class, falling just two yards shy of 1,000 yards from scrimmage before a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle ended his season. While teams around the league continue to practice without pads, Judkins has reportedly looked decisive and confident in the media-accessible portions of organized team activities and minicamp, signaling that the gruesome injury from almost six months ago should not hold him back in year two. While the Browns offense is still a work in progress, new head coach Todd Monken led the league's run-heaviest offense in two of his three seasons in Baltimore, while ranking second in the third, which could help to create one of the safest floors in fantasy if Judkins can hold onto the bell cow role he looked to be establishing as a rookie. Even factoring in a gradual ramp-up period to begin the year and a Week 16 contest in which he saw only 26 total snaps before the injury, Judkins' 16.4 carries per game were the eighth-most in the league. If either Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders can provide anything close to a representative level of quarterback play behind what looks to be an improved offensive line with a dynamic young group of pass catchers, Cleveland could see enough scoring opportunities to make Judkins a legitimate breakout candidate and a potential value at his current ranking of RotoBaller's dynasty RB11.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Matt Chapman Homers Twice, Going Off So Far in June
San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman is definitely starting to heat up as the summer approaches. In the team's wild 11-10 win at Oracle Park on Wednesday night over the visiting Washington Nationals, Chapman went 4-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, a double, three RBI, and three runs scored to boost his season average to .262 and his OPS to .754. Both of the 33-year-old's homers were of the solo variety as the Giants marched back from an eight-run deficit to win the ballgame. So far in June, Chapman has gone 15-for-32 (.469) with five home runs, two doubles, 18 RBI, and seven runs scored in 10 games played. The former first-rounder by the Athletics in 2014 out of California State University, Fullerton, only has six home runs on the season, but it looks like he might be coming out of his early-season funk, especially in the power department. Under the hood, he still ranks in just the 22nd percentile in xwOBA and the 29th percentile in hard-hit rate.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Is it Time to Move on From Xavier Legette in Dynasty Leagues?
When Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette was selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, he came into the league with one of the stranger collegiate careers in recent memory. Never topping 11 receptions, 113 yards, or one score in any of his first four seasons at South Carolina, he exploded for 72 catches, 1,255 yards, and seven touchdowns as a fifth-year senior. While almost everything about his profile screamed fool's gold, his physical makeup paired with the draft capital was enough for dynasty drafters to envision a sky-high ceiling and take a swing, with Legette climbing as high as WR38 in consensus dynasty rankings before ever taking an NFL snap. Through two seasons in the league, it can reasonably be said that the experiment has not worked out, with Legette totaling 84 catches for 860 yards and seven touchdowns to this point in his career. While he has shown sporadic flashes, he's yet to establish any usable fantasy consistency, having put together back-to-back top 40 finishes only once, with WR32 and WR25 results in Weeks 8 and 9 of his rookie season. With Jalen Coker and Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan seemingly locked into the top two-receiver spots in Carolina, Legette's opportunities will likely still be limited heading into year three, and he has fallen to WR118 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is Ryan Ward Worth Picking Up Following Hot Start to MLB Career?
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Ryan Ward could be playing his way into a larger role with a great start to his MLB career. The 28-year-old lefty is 8-for-30 (.267) with a pair of doubles, three home runs, and a 14.3% barrel rate through his first nine games. He's currently in a strict platoon with Alex Call, starting against righties and sitting against lefties, but he has shown enough power potential to be worth a look in deep leagues. In Triple-A before his promotion, he was hitting .254 with six homers and a .370 wOBA. He is getting enough playing time in an excellent lineup to be a deep-league add right away, and he could work his way to standard-sized league relevance if he keeps mashing.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rashod Bateman Unlikely to See a Dynasty Revival in New-Look Offense
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman has had a disappointing early career since being drafted in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. While missing four games in 2025, he still saw the second-most playing time of all Ravens receivers, but he was unable to follow up on his career-high 756 receiving yards from the previous season, and he's yet to top the 46 receptions of his rookie campaign. His 2024 season also looks to be an outlier from a touchdown perspective, as his nine scores that year mark the only instance of him finding the end zone more than twice. With Baltimore welcoming in an entirely new coaching staff and spending third and fourth-round picks on receivers Ja'Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt, while subsequently saying goodbye to tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar, the Ravens offense could look entirely different in 2026, and Bateman's role is far from secured. Under contract through his age-30 season, Bateman's prospects of a fantasy-relevant breakout are looking bleak, and the sixth-year veteran has fallen to RotoBaller's dynasty WR112.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Bryan Hudson Continues to Emerge as Potential Ninth-Inning Option
Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Bryan Hudson issued one walk but no hits in his one shutout inning to earn his third save of the season on Wednesday night against the Braves. Seranthony Dominguez worked a clean eighth inning ahead of Hudson, with both relievers preserving a narrow 2-1 lead. The White Sox will continue to mix and match Dominguez, Grant Taylor, and Hudson, but for now, Hudson is definitely growing into enough of a role to be worth grabbing in deeper leagues. Hudson has a 2.32 ERA in 31 innings with a 21.1% K%.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Gregory Soto Struggles Again, is he in Danger of Being on the Hot Seat?
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Gregory Soto got the job done on Wednesday to earn his ninth save, but it wasn't a clean and neat outing. He only needed eight pitches, all strikes, to get through the inning, but he gave up two hits, including a two-run blast by Shohei Ohtani. The 31-year-old lefty is 4-1 in his 30 games this season with a 3.38 ERA and 3.10 FIP, and he has racked up 34 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings. While he has been effective overall, he has given up five runs in his last two appearances, so he'll need to get things turned around if he wants to maintain his role as the team's top closer. If he continues to struggle, Dennis Santana and Evan Sisk could be more in the mix for saves for the Pirates.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Marvin Mims Jr. Remains a Frustrating Dynasty Hold
Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. has been a frustrating dynasty hold for much of his young career. Through three years in the league, he has flashed legitimate playmaking upside, but he's never logged higher than a 36.5% season-long snap share, and with the addition of Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos receiver room, that is unlikely to change in 2026. Mims is entering the final season of his rookie contract, and while his path to playing time looks to be blocked for at least one more year, dynasty managers with the luxury to do so should continue to hold until he has the chance to potentially reach free agency at the age of 25. With 4.38 speed and a proven history of making plays behind the defense whenever given the opportunity, the door is not fully closed for Mims to find a more impactful role on his second contract.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Devin Vassell Bounces Back Wednesday With 18 Points
San Antonio Spurs guard/forward Devin Vassell scored 18 points in Wednesday's 107-106 loss in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. After being limited to 11 points in Game 3, Vassell quickly found his offensive stride again, making three three-pointers in the first quarter. He finished 5-for-8 from outside, going 6-for-9 overall from the field. In 40 minutes of action, Vassell also recorded five rebounds, four assists, and one steal. This was Vassell's highest-scoring outing since Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City. He's made 48% of his triples in the Finals, and getting Vassell good looks from deep could be a key factor in surviving Saturday's elimination game.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Can an Expanded Role Lead to a Matthew Golden Breakout?
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden was one of the most debated rookies entering the 2025 season, with many considering his first-round selection in the NFL Draft a reach. For most of the season, the debate seemed to be settled, but with Golden saving his best performance for the playoffs, his supporters left the year with optimism for 2026. Golden caught four passes for 84 yards and his first touchdown of the season in a Wild Card loss to the Bears, and with the Packers allowing Romeo Doubs to walk in free agency and trading away Dontayvion Wicks, Golden has a realistic chance at an every-down role and the second receiver spot in two-receiver sets alongside breakout candidate Christian Watson. Through three seasons in the league, slot receiver Jayden Reed has run only nine total routes out of formations with two or fewer receivers on the field, and with the Packers deploying 11 personnel less than 21 other teams in the league in 2025, the path for an expanded role is evident for Golden. While a breakout of his own requires a fair bit of projection, at RotoBaller's dynasty WR47, the soon-to-be-23-year-old first-rounder is worth inquiring about in trade conversations after a disappointing rookie season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Elvis Alvarado Earns First Save, a Name to Watch in A's Committee?
Athletics relief pitcher Elvis Alvarado closed out his team's 4-3 win on Wednesday night after Hogan Harris pitched the eighth inning. Alvarado faced the middle of the Brewers' lineup and struck out Christian Yelich and Brice Turang as part of his 1-2-3 ninth inning. Alvarado has allowed nine runs in his 14 innings this year for a 5.79 ERA, but he also has 18 strikeouts and a 30.5% K%. He only has this one save, but he is stepping into a bigger role. Harris, Mason Barnett, and Mark Leiter Jr. are all still in the mix as well, but Alvarado is worth monitoring with his elite strikeout stuff and the potential to continue to trend into a larger role.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Dylan Harper Continues to Shine for Spurs in Finals
San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper had another fantastic performance off the bench in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks on Wednesday, finishing a 107-106 loss with 21 points, four rebounds, and three assists. He missed only four of 12 field-goal attempts and went 3-for-6 from deep. Harper turned only 20 in March, but he's playing like an experienced veteran in his first Finals appearance. Through four games, the second-generation NBA player has averaged 16.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 31.0 minutes per game. It will be interesting to see how Harper copes with the pressure of an elimination game on Saturday night, with San Antonio down 3-1 in the series.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Dak Prescott Showing No Signs of Slowing Down
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has finished as the QB10 or better in six of the seven seasons in which he's played at least 16 games, with his only sub-QB1 season coming in 2018 in the form of a QB14 finish. While he has missed extended time in three of the past six seasons, when healthy, Prescott is one of the most consistent fantasy quarterbacks. Heading into 2026 with what again projects to be one of the league's highest scoring offenses, another top 10 season is very much in the cards, but at RotoBaller's dynasty QB14, Prescott remains criminally underrated. At almost 33 years old, he is closer to the end than the beginning, but with no signs of slowing for anything other than injury, he is a high-ceiling trade target who could still deliver a handful of league-winning seasons.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Garrett Cleavinger Emerging as Deep-League Waiver Target?
Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Garrett Cleavinger earned his second save of the season on Wednesday in his team's 7-5 win over the Red Sox. Cleavinger gave up a home run to Caleb Durbin and issued a walk ot Isiah Kiner-Falefa, but he struck out Andruw Monasterio to end the game. Closer Bryan Baker had worked in each of the previous two games, earning back-to-back saves. Baker has a 1.98 ERA and 18 saves this season, tied for the second-most in the majors. Cleavinger isn't likely to supplant Baker anytime soon, barring injury, but he has been effective in a setup role and could earn an occasional save chance like this one. The 32-year-old lefty is 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA and 4.02 FIP across his 15 1/3 innings this season. Cleavinger can be useful in leagues that value setup stats, but he's best left for deep leagues, while Baker continues to be so effective.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Victor Wembanyama Records Second Finals Double-Double
San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama recorded his second double-double in the 2026 NBA Finals on Wednesday, finishing with 24 points and 13 rebounds in a heartbreaking 107-106 loss to the New York Knicks. The Spurs, including Wembanyama, were on fire early and built a 29-point lead. However, their offense collapsed in the second half, allowing the Knicks to mount the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. Wembanyama tallied three blocks but was limited to one assist. He finished 9-for-25 from the field, including 2-for-8 from beyond the arc, and was 4-for-7 at the free-throw line. San Antonio's leader missed a pair of free throws late in the game. To cap off a disappointing night, Wembanyama was assessed a flagrant foul 1, bringing his playoff total to three flagrant points and putting him one away from an automatic suspension.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Karl-Anthony Towns Limited by Foul Trouble in Game 4 Against Spurs
New York Knicks forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns was limited to 13 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists in a dramatic 107-106 win in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. The veteran star picked up two fouls in the opening 1:02 and ended up logging just 26 minutes due to foul trouble. When he was on the floor, Towns was effective. Posting a double-double in 26 minutes is no mean feat, and he missed only one of his five field-goal attempts, going 4-for-4 at the line. Towns has now managed just 24 points over the last two games, but the Knicks are still on the cusp of winning the championship. O.G. Anunoby, who tallied a playoff career-high 33 points on Wednesday, has taken over the offensive duties from Towns.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jalen Brunson Posts Second Consecutive 30-Point Game in Finals
New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 36 points in Wednesday's 107-106 Game 4 win over the San Antonio Spurs. He tallied nine points in the fourth quarter as the Knicks capped a 29-point comeback. Brunson finished 12-for-25 from the field, 3-for-7 from three, and 9-for-11 at the line. He grabbed five rebounds, dished out seven assists, and made an impact defensively with three steals. While Brunson struggled with efficiency early in the series, he has scored 30-plus points in three of the four Finals games. He'll undoubtedly spearhead the Knicks' efforts again on Saturday night, with a chance to clinch the championship.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
OG Anunoby Completes Historic Knicks Comeback
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby scored a playoff career-high 33 points in a huge 107-106 comeback win in Game 4 against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. The Knicks erased a 29-point deficit, marking the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. Anunoby's final bucket came 2.1 seconds from the end of the fourth quarter, when he tipped in the game-winner after Jalen Brunson's missed three-pointer. Across 41 minutes, Anunoby was incredible from downtown, going 7-for-9, and finished 10-for-15 overall from the field. He had four rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block. Anunoby has come alive offensively recently and will look to keep it up in Game 5 on Saturday night, when the Knicks have a chance to win their first championship since 1973.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Luke Musgrave Suffers Undisclosed Injury
Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave (undisclosed) suffered an undisclosed injury during offseason practice on Tuesday, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Head coach Matt LaFleur wouldn't specify Musgrave's injury, but he was on the treadmill in the rehab area to start Wednesday's practice. With training camp still over a month away, the Packers aren't going to push the 25-year-old in practice in early June. The former second-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft out of Oregon State became an interesting waiver-wire pickup in fantasy leagues when Tucker Kraft (knee) suffered a season-ending torn ACL last year, but unfortunately, Musgrave never became a big part of the Packers' passing attack and finished with only 24 receptions on 31 targets for 252 yards and no touchdowns in 17 games (10 starts). Kraft is tracking toward being ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season this fall, so Musgrave will merely be battling for a backup role at TE in Green Bay this summer.
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
Kodai Senga to Resume a Rehab Assignment on Thursday
New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (arm, back) will resume a minor-league rehab assignment on Thursday for Double-A Binghamton, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. Senga was scratched from a rehab start on Tuesday with ulnar nerve irritation in his right arm, but it apparently wasn't a very serious issue. The Japanese native originally went on the injured list due to lumbar spine inflammation in late April. The 33-year-old has only made five starts for the Mets in 2026 in his fourth year in the majors, and he did not look good, going 0-4 with 21 runs allowed (20 earned) on 26 hits (five homers) while walking 13 and striking out 23 in 20 innings pitched. Senga was an All-Star in his first year with the Mets in 2023, going 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 202:77 K:BB in his 29 starts, but he only made one start the following year due to injury. He had a solid 3.02 ERA in 22 starts in 2025, but he fell off late in the year and was sent to the minors to work on his mechanics. He has not bounced back since and is now on the waiver wire in most mixed fantasy leagues. It's unclear how many rehab starts he might need before being an option to return to Queens.
Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
Hunter Brown Fans Seven in Five Innings in Rehab Start
Houston Astros right-hander Hunter Brown (shoulder) looked good on Wednesday night in what could be his final minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits while walking two and striking out seven in five innings against Triple-A Sacramento. Brown threw 45 of his 74 pitches for strikes in the contest and generated 11 swings and misses while averaging 96.4 mph on his fastball. The 27-year-old could very well be making his next start with the Astros after working his way back from a Grade 2 strain in his right shoulder that landed him on the injured list in early April. If Brown is reinstated from the 60-day IL to rejoin Houston's starting rotation, his next outing would come next week versus the Detroit Tigers. The former fifth-rounder in 2019 out of Wayne State University will be a must-start when he returns after proving to be a fantasy ace in his breakout season in 2025. In his two starts this year before injuring his shoulder, he had a 0.84 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 17 K's in 10 2/3 innings.
Source: Milb.com
Source: Milb.com
Dodgers to Put Will Smith on the Injured list on Thursday
The Los Angeles Dodgers will place catcher Will Smith (neck) on the 10-day injured list on Thursday (backdated to Saturday) and will recall catcher Chuckie Robinson from Triple-A Oklahoma City in a corresponding move, according to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. Smith will head to the shelf after missing the last four games with soreness in his neck, but he'll be eligible to return from the IL on June 19. In the meantime, Dalton Rushing will receive a short-term fantasy boost as L.A.'s primary catcher. Rushing has actually been more productive than Smith in 2026 in fewer plate appearances, entering Wednesday's game in Pittsburgh with a .286/.364/.552 slash line, a .917 OPS, eight home runs, 21 RBI, and 19 runs scored over his 105 at-bats. Smith hasn't been as productive so far this year, and he's hit just .209 (9-for-43) with two homers, two doubles, four RBI, seven runs scored, eight walks, and eight strikeouts in his last 13 games. Despite the disappointing numbers so far this year, Smith should be held in most fantasy baseball leagues.
Source: The Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
Source: The Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
Mick Abel Strikes Out Five in First Rehab Start on Wednesday
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Mick Abel (elbow) put together a strong performance in his first rehab appearance with Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday, striking out five across three scoreless innings (47 pitches). The 24-year-old has been on the 15-day injured list since mid-April due to inflammation in his right elbow. Across 20 1/3 innings (four appearances) before the injury, Abel recorded a 1-2 record with a 3.98 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, and 23 strikeouts. While Abel's overall line is not particularly impressive, his last start before the injury was a 10-strikeout, seven-scoreless-inning gem against the Boston Red Sox. The hard-throwing right-hander will likely need at least one more rehab start before he's ready to return to the Twins rotation, but he appears to be close to full health. Abel profiles as a solid waiver wire stash target for fantasy managers in need of strikeout upside ahead of his return.
Source: milb.com
Source: milb.com
Konnor Griffin Progresses to Throwing from 90 Feet on Wednesday
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin (elbow) made throws from as far as 90 feet on Wednesday and "felt fine," per DK Pittsburgh Sports. The young shortstop has been on the 10-day injured list since late May due to a flexor strain in his right elbow. Across 208 plate appearances before the injury, Griffin hit .270/.327/.402 with four home runs, 22 RBI, 30 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases. While it's a positive sign that the 20-year-old has resumed throwing, it appears he will need a bit more time before he's ready to return to the Pirates lineup. Upon his return, Griffin profiles as a high-upside bat with five-category production potential for fantasy managers. In his absence, Pirates infielder Jared Triolo has received the majority of the team's playing time at shortstop.
Source: DK Pittsburgh Sports
Source: DK Pittsburgh Sports
Max Fried Set to Undergo New Imaging on Injured Elbow This Week?
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone failed to provide an exact date but said that starting pitcher Max Fried (elbow) will undergo new imaging on his elbow later this week, per Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Fried has been on the 15-day injured list since mid-May due to a bone bruise in his pitching elbow, but he has advanced to throwing long toss and appears to be making steady progression towards a return. The 32-year-old recorded a 4-3 record with a 3.21 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts across 61 2/3 innings (10 starts) before getting injured. Fried's 20.8% strikeout rate is underwhelming for fantasy managers, but he projects as an excellent source of both ratios and wins upon his return. Fried will likely need at least a few rehab starts before he's ready to return to the Yankees, so he's likely still multiple weeks away from his return at a minimum.
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
RADIO



