June 30, 2025
Texas Rangers outfielder
Evan Carter went 3-for-4 with a double and two steals in his team's 6-4 loss to the visiting Seattle Mariners. He also singled twice, scored a run, and drew a walk. Carter has heated up to close out the month, notching a hit in seven straight appearances with three multi-hit efforts in that span. He's chipped in three steals during the streak, too, and has been much more productive in June with a .333/.421/.530 through 66 at-bats. The former top prospect's strikeout rate has significantly improved so far, posting a near-ten-point drop from the undesirable 26.5% he sported in 2024 (15.9%).
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
June 30, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder
Jordan Walker (appendix) appears to be on track to come off the 10-day injured list on Friday before the series opener at Wrigley Field against the division-rival Chicago Cubs, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Daniel Guerrero. Walker landed on the IL last week due to appendicitis, but he didn't need surgery and has already played in two minor-league rehab games with Triple-A Memphis. The 23-year-old former first-rounder could see his playing time continue to dip upon his return since he's hit just .210/.267/.295 with a career-worst .562 OPS, three home runs, 23 RBI and 63 strikeouts in 191 plate appearances over 55 games in his third year in the big leagues. Walker is currently in the second percentile in strikeout rate and the 16th percentile in chase rate, which doesn't bode well for a rebound in the second half.
--Keith HernandezSource: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Daniel Guerrero
June 30, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that outfielder
Lars Nootbaar (intercostal) will likely be out of the lineup until at least Tuesday against the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates due to a left intercostal injury that he's been dealing with of late. Nootbaar aggravated the injury during a swing on Saturday in the win over the Cleveland Guardians and did not start in the series finale on Sunday. The Cardinals open a series in Pittsburgh on Monday, but fantasy managers should expect the 27-year-old left-handed hitter to be out of the lineup for a second straight game against left-hander
Andrew Heaney. If Nootbaar is unable to return by Tuesday or later this week, he could land on the 10-day injured list heading into the All-Star break. Nootbaar is a starting outfielder for St. Louis when healthy and is batting just .227 (68-for-299) with 11 home runs, 35 RBI, 44 runs and four stolen bases.
--Keith HernandezSource: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Daniel Guerrero
June 30, 2025
The Athletic's Chandler Rome reports that the Houston Astros have placed shortstop
Jeremy Pena (ribs) on the 10-day injured list with a fracture in his ribs. Oof. Pena was plunked by a pitch in the ribs a few days ago, and while initial X-rays returned negative for the Dominican Republic native, new findings have him facing an IL stint. It's unfortunate news for the Astros and fantasy managers, as Pena was a stud from the leadoff spot in 2025. It's unclear precisely how severe the injury is, and there's been no word on a timetable for his return. Teammate
Mauricio Dubon has gotten the start at shortstop in his stead over the last two contests, and figures to do so primarily while he's out. However, it's worth noting Dubon hasn't been that effective against right-handed pitching thus far (.227).
--Alex CiullaSource: Chandler Rome
June 30, 2025
MLB.com's Mark Sheldon reports that Cincinnati Reds outfielder
Jake Fraley (shoulder) recently received a cortisone shot to help him play through a torn labrum. Fraley suffered the injury attempting a diving catch a week ago against the Yankees and has since sought three opinions on his ailing shoulder. This isn't the first time that the 30-year-old has dealt with shoulder issues (subluxation), who also noted he's looking for a protective brace to aid him on tough catches at the wall, or ones similar to how he sustained the issue. With the team in Boston on a road trip, Fraley will hang back in Cincinnati to continue rehab and strengthening work. If the cortisone does its job, he should return when he's eligible in a few weeks (Jul. 18).
--Alex CiullaSource: Mark Sheldon
June 30, 2025
Los Angeles Angels outfielder
Taylor Ward went 3-for-5 with three doubles in Sunday's 7-4 extra-innings loss to the Washington Nationals. He added an RBI and a run scored. Ward is just 19-for-93 in June (.204), but he's been much better over the last week-plus. The Fresno State product has an extra-base hit in seven of his last ten appearances (seven doubles, two homers) and a solid .270 average (10-for-37) over that span. He's up to 20 home runs already in 2025, collecting five fewer than his personal-best set a season ago in nearly half as many games. However, he's still batting a paltry .216 through 81 contests and raised his strikeout rate back up to an undesirable 27.0% this season.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
June 30, 2025
Washington Nationals shortstop
CJ Abrams went 2-for-6 with a triple and three RBI in Sunday's 7-4 road win against the Los Angeles Angels. He also doubled and struck out. Abrams picked up his third triple of the season -- and first in two months -- in the eleventh inning off Angels pitcher
Connor Brogdon to score teammates
Daylen Lile and
Drew Millas and make it 7-4 Nats. He also notched another run batted in on a double in the seventh. The 24-year-old has been spectacular in June, sporting a .308/.368/.505 triple slash with four homers, eight steals, 20 runs scored, and 12 RBI. It's raised his overall average to a strong .287, which would be his best by 40 points if it holds.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
June 30, 2025
Texas Rangers shortstop
Corey Seager went deep for the third straight game in the team's 6-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. Seager's two-run homer off right-hander
Carlos Vargas tied the game at 3 with one out in the bottom of the 10th. The five-time All-Star drove in another run on a sacrifice fly in the 12th to conclude a 1-for-4, one-walk day. Despite his recent power surge, June has been a struggle for Seager. After spending most of May on the injured list with a strained hamstring, Seager has hit .185/.358/.358 in 23 games this month. Overall, he's slashing .244/.342/.430 with 10 HRs, 23 RBI, and 26 runs in 225 plate appearances. While those are above-average numbers, they're below Seager's standards. The good news for fantasy managers is that Seager ranks in the top 7% of the league in xSLG and xwOBA, making him a candidate for positive regression.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
June 30, 2025
Chicago White Sox reliever
Mike Vasil picked up his second save of the year in a 5-2 win over the San Francisco Giants on Sunday. Vasil entered a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the top of the eighth and got
Heliot Ramos to ground into an inning-ending double play. The right-hander stayed in to begin the ninth, striking out
Rafael Devers before issuing a walk to Wilmer Flores. Once again, though, Vasil induced an inning-ending double play - this time to
Mike Yastrzemski. Vasil ended his day with 1 2/3 scoreless innings and 17 pitches. The 25-year-old has been an effective innings-eater for Chicago, having recorded a 2.73 ERA across 56 frames. However, he's not typically on the radar for save opportunities.
Grant Taylor has recently been Chicago's top choice to close games, but he was off Sunday after getting a six-out save Saturday.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
June 30, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates reliever
Dennis Santana began serving a three-game suspension on Sunday. Major League Baseball issued the right-hander a four-game ban for "aggressive conduct toward a fan" in Detroit on June 20. However, the league reduced the punishment by a game after Santana's appeal. The 31-year-old will be available out of the Pirates' bullpen beginning Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Santana has been a rare bright spot for the last-place Pirates this season, having pitched to a 1.50 ERA with a 0.78 WHIP, 28:6 K:BB, nine holds, and five saves in 36 innings.
--Connor ByrneSource: Colin Beazley - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
June 30, 2025
Washington Nationals infielder
Paul DeJong (face) is heading to D.C. to rejoin the team, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports. The Nationals will have to make a corresponding roster move if they activate DeJong before Tuesday's series opener against the Detroit Tigers. DeJong suffered a gruesome injury when Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander
Mitch Keller hit him in the face with a 92.7 mph fastball on April 15. As a result, he required surgery to repair his sinuses and orbital plate. Before going on the shelf, DeJong hit .204/.246/.276 with no home runs in 57 plate appearances while mostly playing third base. The Nationals haven't gotten much production from anyone this year at the hot corner. They promoted standout prospect
Brady House two weeks ago, but the 22-year-old has slumped to a .231/.268/.288 line in 56 homer-less trips to the plate.
--Connor ByrneSource: Andrew Golden - The Washington Post
June 30, 2025
Chicago White Sox right-hander
Jesse Scholtens (elbow) was pulled off his minor league rehab assignment earlier this month because of discomfort in his pitching elbow. Scholtens missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in February 2024. He returned this year to combine for 22 2/3 innings of 5.96 ERA ball at the High-A and Triple-A levels before succumbing to more elbow troubles. Now 31 years old, Scholtens made it to the majors for the first time in 2023 and recorded a 5.29 ERA with 6.14 K/9 and 3.18 BB/9 over 85 innings (26 appearances, 11 starts).
--Connor ByrneSource: Chicago White Sox
June 30, 2025
Houston Astros outfielder
Chas McCormick (oblique) is at the team's spring training facility in Florida to face live pitching, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. It's another positive step for McCormick in his recovery from the strained left oblique that sent him to the injured list on May 30. Before suffering the injury, McCormick hit .256/.347/.302 with no home runs and two RBI in 53 plate appearances. He also struggled last year after posting impressive numbers in his first three seasons. From 2021-23, McCormick combined to bat .259/.336/.449 with 50 homers, 164 RBI, and 27 steals over 1,184 trips to the plate.
--Connor ByrneSource: Brian McTaggart - MLB.com
June 30, 2025
Cleveland Guardians infielder
Gabriel Arias (ankle) was diagnosed with a left-ankle sprain after exiting in the third inning of Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Joe Noga of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Arias needed to be carted off the field when he sustained what looked to be a painful-looking ankle injury while diving for a ground ball in the third inning. X-rays on the ankle came back negative, but his sprain is likely to be significant enough to land him on the injured list, although no official report has been made yet. Fantasy managers will want to proactively plan to be without Arias in the short term.
Daniel Schneemann entered the game for Arias at shortstop following the injury. Arias has been an above-average defensive shortstop for the Guardians, although he has struggled offensively, slashing .231/.293/.369 with six home runs, 31 RBI, and 28 runs scored in 255 at-bats.
UPDATE: Arias is scheduled to have an MRI exam on Monday.--Nicho RoesslerSource: Joe Noga
June 30, 2025
Minnesota Twins right-hander
Zebby Matthews (shoulder) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session at Target Field on Sunday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Matthews was diagnosed with a moderate subscapularis strain in his right shoulder on June 8 and has been on the injured list since. Matthews, a 25-year-old right-hander, is one of the Twins' top pitching prospects, so they are likely to slow-play his recovery rather than rush him back into action. Throwing a bullpen on Sunday suggests that Matthews and the Twins are ready to start ramping up the process, and he will likely continue to throw a few additional bullpens before facing live batters or beginning a rehab stint. In the meantime,
David Festa has been called up in Matthews' absence and had a nice start against the Tigers on Friday night, going 5 2/3 shutout innings.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: Star Tribune
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