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MacKenzie Gore Throws on Friday, Up in the Air for Next Start
Texas Rangers left-hander MacKenzie Gore (lat) will be re-evaluated after playing catch on Friday, according to MLB.com. No official announcement has been made about his next scheduled start. Gore is currently considered day-to-day after leaving his last start on Monday against the Colorado Rockies with left-lat tightness. However, an MRI exam came back negative, and reports have suggested that he could make his next turn in Texas' rotation for Sunday's series finale against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim. The 27-year-old southpaw was a first-time All-Star in 2025 with the Washington Nationals, but he has been hard to trust in fantasy so far in his first year with the Rangers, as he's gone 3-4 with a career-high 4.78 ERA (3.97 FIP) and 1.33 WHIP with 55 strikeouts and 24 walks in 49 innings pitched across 10 starts. Typically, we wouldn't recommend a struggling pitcher coming off an injury in fantasy, but if he makes his start on Sunday, he'll be hard to ignore in starting lineups against an Angels team with a .693 OPS.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Corey Seager Hoping to Return for Next Homestand
Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (back) did some jogging at Angels Stadium and also did some stuff in the weight room before the game against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night, according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. Seager said it's "definitely the goal" to return for the next homestand, but he needs to see how his back responds to some workouts before he can do full baseball activities. Texas' next homestand begins on Monday against the Houston Astros and runs through Sunday, May 31, versus the Kansas City Royals. The 32-year-old veteran is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list on Monday, but it might take him a bit longer than that. Ezequiel Duran has been filling in at shortstop for the Rangers with Seager out. Although durability is a major concern at this point in his career, Seager is still rostered in over 90% of Yahoo leagues, even though he's hurt and is currently hitting just .179 (28-for-156) with seven home runs, 20 RBI, 22 runs scored, and a stolen base through his first 42 games in 2026.
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
Taj Bradley Reinstated From Injured List, Starting Against Boston
The Minnesota Twins announced on Saturday that they reinstated right-hander Taj Bradley (pectoral) from the 15-day injured list and designated right-handed reliever Luis Garcia for assignment in a corresponding move. Bradley will make his return and start on Saturday at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox after spending just over two weeks on the shelf with a pectoral injury. The 25-year-old former fifth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018 was in the midst of a breakout campaign with Minnesota through his first eight starts before getting hurt, going 4-1 with a .287 ERA (3.48 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 52 strikeouts and 17 walks across 47 innings pitched. Fantasy managers searching for a starting pitching upgrade should be looking at Bradley, who is rostered in 76% of Yahoo leagues. He threw only 42 pitches in a 1 2/3 innings with Triple-A St. Paul in his lone minor-league rehab start, though, so expect him to be limited from a pitch-count perspective in his return in Boston on Saturday.
Source: Minnesota Twins
Source: Minnesota Twins
Logan Webb Ready to Return to Rotation After Friday's Rehab Start?
San Francisco Giants right-hander Logan Webb (knee) made a minor-league rehab start on Friday night at Triple-A Sacramento, and he could be on the verge of coming off the 15-day injured list to make his next start next week against the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks. Webb allowed an unearned run on two hits while walking three and striking out two in 3 1/3 innings of work on Friday for Sacramento, throwing 62 pitches. Nothing is official yet, but if Webb rejoins the Giants' starting rotation next week, he will most likely make his next appearance against Arizona on Wednesday. The 29-year-old two-time All-Star has been on the shelf the last couple of weeks due to bursitis in his right knee. Webb's return could push Trevor McDonald back to Sacramento. Webb, who hasn't been himself with an ERA over 5.00 in his first eight starts in 2026, will be a pretty risky fantasy play if he returns next Wednesday to face the D-backs, who rank 11th in baseball with a .711 OPS.
Source: Milb.com
Source: Milb.com
Zach Neto Powers Angels to Victory With Two Homers
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto set the tone for the struggling Angels on Friday night in Anaheim in their 9-6 victory over the division-rival Texas Rangers. Neto went 2-for-4 at the plate out of the leadoff spot with two solo home runs and a hit-by-pitch to raise his season average to .221 and his OPS to .757. The 25-year-old got the offense going in the bottom of the first inning with a solo shot off veteran right-hander Jacob deGrom. He is hitting just .200 (15-for-75) in 20 games (89 plate appearances) since the beginning of May, but he has added five home runs, two doubles, a triple, nine RBI, 13 runs scored, and two stolen bases over that span as well. Since May 13, Neto has gone 8-for-33 (.242) with four long balls, a double, six RBI, and six runs scored for the Halos. Neto has a weak .213 xBA and a .327 xwOBA, and he's also in just the 38th percentile in hard-hit rate for the season. He's still well on pace for his third straight 20-homer season, but Neto needs to make better and more consistent contact -- he currently leads the league with 73 strikeouts in 239 plate appearances.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Casey Schmitt Emerging as a Must-Add After Recent Hot Streak
San Francisco Giants infielder Casey Schmitt went 0-for-4 with an RBI in Friday's 9-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox. He had an RBI groundout in the bottom of the fifth inning, giving him 23 RBI on the season. The 27-year-old has been on fire at the plate, hitting .346 (9-for-26) with three home runs, five RBI, and four runs scored over his last six games. Overall, he's slashing .286/.329/.516 with nine home runs and three stolen bases across 173 plate appearances. The 27-year-old bats in the heart of the order, continues to play left field (four games so far in the OF) for the Giants, and qualifies at first, second, and third base already on Yahoo. With Schmitt hitting well and qualifying at multiple positions, he becomes a must-add in all formats as he's only rostered in just 45% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues.
Source: MLB
Source: MLB
Kevin Alcantara to Earn Promotion to MLB, Worth Adding for Elite Power Upside?
Chicago Cubs outfield prospect Kevin Alcantara continues to deliver for Triple-A Iowa. The 23-year-old has homered three times over his last nine games and has up to 15 long balls on the season. Overall, Alcantara is slashing .242/.339/.567 with 15 home runs, 32 RBI, 27 runs, and three stolen bases in 41 games at Triple-A. With Alcantara raking in the minors, he is set to be recalled by the Cubs. According to Bruce Levine of WSCR-AM, Alcantara is "walking into Wrigley." The 6-foot-6 Cubs prospect has plus power and a .906 OPS this season, but has struck out a whopping 33.0% of the time. Fantasy managers searching for power and looking to improve their outfield should take a chance on Alcantara, as he's widely available, rostered in just 1% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues.
Source: Bruce Levine
Source: Bruce Levine
Mets to Promote Prospect Jonathan Pintaro to the Majors After Impressive Start
The New York Mets are planning to recall right-hander reliever Jonathan Pintaro from Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday. The 28-year-old made his MLB debut last year and allowed two runs and two walks while striking out one over 2/3 of an inning. Pintaro has bounced back from that outing and has been terrific in Triple-A this season, posting a 2.81 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a 32:12 K:BB across 25 2/3 frames. He is the Mets' No. 20 prospect and will likely be used in a multi-inning relief role. His stay with the Mets could be short, as it depends on when left-hander reliever A.J. Minter (hip/lat) is reinstated from the 60-day injured list. Pintaro is mainly an add-in for deep leagues for fantasy managers looking for help with ratios.
Source: Will Sammon
Source: Will Sammon
Colt Emerson Remains a Priority Target Despite Early Struggles in the Big Leagues
Seattle Mariners shortstop/third baseman Colt Emerson went 1-for-3 in Friday's 2-0 win over the Kansas City Royals, raising his average from .091 to .143 on the season. The Mariners top prospect was hitless in his previous six at-bats before hitting a single during the top of the fifth inning. Overall, Emerson has struggled since his promotion to the big leagues on May 17, slashing .143/.294/.357 with a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored across five games. He is hitting in the bottom of the order and continues to handle third base for the Mariners while Brendan Donovan (groin) is on the injured list with a left groin muscle strain. Emerson is an above-average hitter and slashed .307/.405/.515 with nine home runs, nine steals (on 11 attempts), and an 11.3% walk rate in High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A last season. The 22-year-old also hit seven home runs and stole 10 bases in just 38 games in Triple-A Tacoma before getting the call to the show in May. Despite struggling early on in the majors, Emerson remains a must-add in all leagues due to his incredible upside and is only rostered in 23% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues.
Source: MLB
Source: MLB
Rays-Yankees Postponed on Saturday
Saturday's game between the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees was postponed due to inclement weather. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader on September 22. Fantasy managers will need to replace any players from the Rays and Yankees. Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen was set to face Yankees left-hander Ryan Weathers on Saturday at Yankee Stadium, but this matchup will be pushed back to Sunday. Weathers owns a (2-2) record along with a 3.58 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 61:13 K:BB across 50 1/3 innings, while Rasmussen (4-1) has a 3.19 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts over 48 frames in 2026.
Source: New York Yankees
Source: New York Yankees
Bubba Chandler Shows his Strikeout Upside With Career-High 11 Strikeouts
Pittsburgh Pirates young right-hander Bubba Chandler had his best start of the season on Friday night in Toronto against the Blue Jays, but he still picked up his sixth loss of the season. Chandler, who has had issues with his control in his first full season in the big leagues in 2026 with the Bucs, was outstanding on Friday night in Canada, allowing three runs (one earned) on just two hits while walking three and striking out a career-high 11 in five innings of work to lower his season ERA to 4.79. The 23-year-old former third-rounder in 2021 threw 99 pitches and generated 22 swings and misses. It was definitely a nice rebound outing for Chandler, who allowed five runs (four earned) with four walks and only two strikeouts in a season-low three innings in his last appearance on May 16 against the Philadelphia Phillies. His strikeout upside makes him intriguing, but he does not have an ideal upcoming matchup against the division-rival Chicago Cubs at home next week. In his first start against Chicago on April 12, Chandler allowed three earned runs on five hits (two homers) while walking two and fanning four in 5 1/3 frames for a no-decision.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Max Meyer is Must-Add During Hot Stretch
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Max Meyer is beginning to open eyes with the way he has been pitching on the mound lately. Over the last five starts, Meyer has allowed zero earned runs in three of those contests. During that span, Meyer has also struck out five or more batters in every start. The right-hander has looked great with a 2.85 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 60 strikeouts through 10 starts this season. The potential has always been there with Meyer being taken in the first-round from the 2020 Draft. He appears to be putting it all together at the big league level now. Fantasy managers should check the waiver wire and scoop up Meyer if he's available.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Max Muncy Exits After Getting Hit by a Pitch on the Wrist
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (wrist) made an early exit from Friday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Muncy was taken out of the game after taking a 95.5 mph pitch off his hand/wrist area during the eighth inning. The expectation is that Muncy will undergo X-rays to determine the severity of the injury. For now, fantasy managers should consider Muncy as day-to-day. He was 0-3 at the plate before making his exit from the contest. Miguel Rojas and Santiago Espinal are candidates to take over at third base if Muncy misses any time. UPDATE: X-rays came back negative on Muncy's right wrist on Friday night.
Source: Bill Plunkett
Source: Bill Plunkett
Grant Taylor Earns Save, New Closer on the South Side?
Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Grant Taylor was tasked with pitching the final frame of Tuesday's game against the Seattle Mariners. Taylor didn't have any issues as he struck out the side to earn his first save of the season. After that outing, Taylor holds a 1.78 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and a 15:4 K:BB ratio across 19 appearances this season. The White Sox haven't won any games since then, so it's unclear if this was a one-time thing or if Taylor is going to be the closer moving forward. Seranthony Dominguez has blown three saves and holds a 4.82 ERA across 18.2 innings this season. It wouldn't be shocking to see the White Sox give Taylor a chance at the closer role moving forward.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Bryan King Earns Fifth Save, Remains Closer in Houston?
Houston Astros relief pitcher Bryan King was asked to work out of danger in the eighth inning of Friday's game against the Chicago Cubs. King entered the game with two on and two outs in the eighth inning. He was able to escape without any damage and tossed a perfect ninth inning to earn his fifth save of the season. Enyel De Los Santos and Bryan Abreu have been in the mix for saves as well, but it appears that King is the favorite right now. Josh Hader (biceps) is eligible to return from the Injured List soon. It doesn't sound like any of these relievers are going to have great long-term value. King is the reliever to roster in Houston until Hader reclaims the closer role.
Source: mlb.com
Source: mlb.com
