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Salvador Perez Returns From Thumb Injury on Tuesday
Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (thumb) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting fifth for the Royals on Tuesday against the visiting Texas Rangers and right-hander Nathan Eovaldi at Kauffman Stadium, per MLB.com. Perez will return to the starting nine after missing the last two games with a minor thumb injury. The 15-year Venezuelan veteran has been a stalwart for the Royals in his long tenure with the team, but the veteran catcher has shown clear signs of decline so far in 2026 with a weak .204/.254/.345 slash line, career-worst .599 OPS, nine home runs, 26 RBI, 22 runs scored, 12 walks, and 49 strikeouts in 256 plate appearances over his 61 games played. Additionally, he's hitting .190 with a .428 career OPS and just one RBI in 21 at-bats versus Eovaldi. Fantasy managers may want to keep Perez on their benches, even though he's back from injury. In 16 games since May 18, Perez has gone 12-for-59 (.203) with two homers, a double, six RBI, five runs, five walks, and eight K's.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Bobby Witt Jr. Back in Action After Injury Scare
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (knee) is back in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the visiting Texas Rangers and right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, starting at shortstop and batting second, according to MLB.com. Witt was pulled from Sunday's game prematurely with soreness in his right knee, but after an off day on Monday, the star shortstop is back in the starting nine and should be returned to all starting fantasy lineups. The 25-year-old former first-rounder in 2019 will return to a .280/.354/.456 slash line, .810 OPS, nine home runs, 27 RBI, 23 stolen bases, and 33 runs scored across his 261 at-bats in his fifth year in the big leagues. Witt hasn't been as productive recently, hitting .233 (14-for-60) with two home runs, four doubles, four RBI, 10 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in 15 games since May 23, but the five-category contributor is a must-start when he's active. He's batting .333 with a 1.000 OPS and three RBI in 12 career at-bats versus Eovaldi.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Michael Harris II Returns From Back Injury to Face White Sox
Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II (back) is starting in center field for the Braves and will hit out of the two-hole for Tuesday's contest in Chicago against the White Sox and left-hander Brandon Eistert, per MLB.com. Harris was sidelined for the last two games with tightness in his back, but he'll return for the series opener on the South side on Tuesday, and fantasy managers should return him to their starting lineups in traditional leagues. The 25-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder is in the midst of one of his best years in the big leagues, slashing .306/.340/.523 with an .863 OPS, 13 home runs, 40 RBI, 30 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 62 games across 235 plate appearances for the first-place Bravos. He's been even better in his last 17 games since May 19, too, going 24-for-69 (.348) with five home runs, four doubles, 16 RBI, 12 runs scored, and a stolen base in that span. Harris has never faced Eistert in his big-league career. Against lefties this year, Harris has gone 24-for-81 (.296) with four of his 13 long balls.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Rockies Promote No. 6-Ranked Prospect Cole Carrigg to Major Leagues
The Colorado Rockies are promoting top outfield prospect Cole Carrigg to the major leagues ahead of Tuesday's contest against the Chicago Cubs. Currently, the outfielder sits as the team's No. 6 overall-ranked prospect on MLB.com. Carrigg joined the Rockies in the third round of the 2023 MLB Draft and has enjoyed a dominant start to the regular season at the Triple-A level. With Albuquerque, Carrigg has posted a dominant .338/.414/.529 line with a stellar.943 OPS. Across this 57-game stint, the outfielder has hit six home runs and swiped an impressive 30 bags. During the 2025 campaign, Carrigg stole 46 bags while going deep 15 times across 123 games at Double-A. With Tyler Freeman now joining Brenton Boyle, Jordan Beck, and Mickey Moniak on the injured list, Carrigg could be given ample at-bats in this lineup. His elite raw speed makes him a worthwhile waiver wire target in 12-team standard leagues.
Source: Colorado Rockies
Source: Colorado Rockies
Daulton Varsho Remains Out on Tuesday With Wrist Injury
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (wrist) will start on the bench again for Tuesday's game against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies at the Rogers Centre, according to MLB.com. Nathan Lukes is starting in center field and will bat second for the team against Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler. The Blue Jays have said that they are optimistic that Varsho won't need a trip to the injured list, but this will be his fourth straight missed game due to inflammation in his left wrist. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Wednesday to see if he's cleared to rejoin the starting nine in Toronto. The 29-year-old former second-round pick in 2017 out of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has been a very modest fantasy asset offensively this year, slashing .256/.331/.408 with a .738 OPS, five home runs, 17 RBI, 26 runs scored, and four stolen bases in his 211 at-bats. He's been ice-cold at the plate lately, too, going 7-for-41 (.171) with two doubles, a triple, an RBI, four runs scored, seven walks, and nine strikeouts in 15 ballgames since May 22. UPDATE: Manager John Schneider said that an MRI exam on Varsho's injured left wrist came back negative, according to Sportsnet's Shi Davidi.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Byron Buxton Back From Shoulder Injury on Tuesday
Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (shoulder) is starting in center field and batting leadoff for the Twins on Tuesday against the division-rival Detroit Tigers and right-hander Troy Melton, according to MLB.com. It will be Buxton's first game since he was pulled from Friday's game early against the Kansas City Royals due to a right-shoulder contusion after he crashed into the outfield wall. The 32-year-old veteran should be returned to starting lineups in all traditional leagues. The two-time All-Star has carried over the momentum from last year, when he clubbed a career-high 35 home runs while driving in 83 and stealing 24 bases in 126 games. So far in 2026, Buxton is hitting .257 (58-for-226) with 18 home runs, 28 RBI, 41 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 55 games played. Since May 13, he's hitting .262 (16-for-61) with five homers, three doubles, seven RBI, 10 runs, and a steal in 16 contests. He has yet to face Melton in his career.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Chandler Simpson Returns to Rays Lineup on Tuesday
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson (thumb) is starting in left field and will hit in the three-hole for the Rays on Tuesday at Tropicana Field against the division-rival Boston Red Sox and left-hander Payton Tolle, according to MLB.com. Simpson returns to action after missing the last three games due to soreness in his left thumb. The 25-year-old former second-round pick in 2022 out of Georgia Institute of Technology is still searching for his first major-league home run after debuting in Tampa last season, but what he lacks in power, he makes up for in speed and contact abilities. Simpson will return to a .276/.312/.328 slash line with a .639 OPS, a league-leading four triples, 12 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and 30 runs scored in his 250 plate appearances and 61 games played in 2026. In DFS, Simpson is an easy fade against a left-hander, as he's hitting just .230 (17-for-74) against southpaws on the season. He has gone hitless in just three career at-bats against Tolle.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Will Smith Continues to Sit With Neck Injury
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (neck) continues to sit out of the starting lineup for the team's Tuesday matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, per MLB.com. Dalton Rushing will catch for left-hander Eric Lauer and will bat eighth against Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes. This will be Smith's third straight missed game due to stiffness in his neck, but manager Dave Roberts said over the weekend that the team expects him to return soon. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Wednesday to see if the veteran backstop is feeling good enough to return. The 31-year-old three-time All-Star has been a bit of a disappointment so far this year for fantasy managers, slashing .249/.338/.382 with a .720 OPS, six home runs, 23 RBI, and 23 runs scored in 52 games across 201 plate appearances. Fantasy managers setting DFS lineups should look to avoid Rushing at the bottom of the batting order against one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Colt Emerson Remains Out on Tuesday With Back Injury
Seattle Mariners rookie infielder Colt Emerson (back) remains out of the starting lineup for Game 2 of the series against the hosting Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards on Tuesday, according to MLB.com. Infielder Cole Young will make another start at the 6 and will bat eighth against Orioles left-hander Trevor Rogers. Emerson will miss a second straight game after he was scratched from Monday's series-opening win in Baltimore due to tightness in his back. The M's placed regular shortstop J.P. Crawford on the injured list on Monday with a hand contusion, so Seattle has become pretty thin up the middle of late. Ryan Bliss was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma and will make his second straight start at the keystone on Tuesday. Emerson, one of the top middle-infield prospects in the game, has hit .242/.319/.548 with an .867 OPS, four home runs, 10 RBI, and nine runs scored in his first 19 big-league games since being called up. Check back on Wednesday to see if he returns to the starting nine for the Mariners.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Pirates Adding Catching Prospect Rafael Flores Jr. to Taxi Squad
The Pittsburgh Pirates have placed catcher/first base prospect Rafael Flores Jr. on their taxi squad on Tuesday, according to Pirates reporter Alex Stumpf. Flores, 25, made his major-league debut in 2025 with the Bucs, but he only appeared in seven games and went 3-for-15 with two doubles, two walks, and seven strikeouts. He could be on the verge of a return to the big leagues despite hitting just .207 (39-for-188) with four home runs, 27 RBI, 21 runs scored, 29 walks, and 62 strikeouts in 53 games and 219 plate appearances for Triple-A Indianapolis this year. Per MLB Pipeline, the 6-foot-3, 232-pounder is the Pirates' eighth-ranked prospect. Flores has some intriguing power potential, especially with eligibility as a catcher, but he also swings and misses quite often, and he really struggled back in spring training at the plate. He's a work in progress behind the dish, but he has the potential to stick at the position long term, despite his size. If he rejoins the Pirates in the near future, he's likely to operate in a bench role.
Source: Alex Stumpf
Source: Alex Stumpf
Has Recent Slowdown Hurt Franklin Arias' Chances for an MLB Debut in 2026?
Boston Red Sox shortstop prospect Franklin Arias has cooled recently after a strong start to his 2025 campaign at Double-A Portland, going 3-for-24 (.125) over his last seven games. Despite the slowdown, Boston's top-ranked prospect recorded a 4:4 BB:K during that stretch, which was good for a better-than-average 13.8 percent walk and strikeout rate, so expect the young Venezuelan to get rolling again soon. All in all, the right-handed hitter is slashing .311/.389/.588 with a .416 wOBA and 147 wRC+ through 47 games, and should be headed to Triple-A soon. At just 20 years old, the Red Sox may opt to keep him in the minors for the entire year, but should he get hot at Triple-A, Arias may force the issue, and fantasy managers would be wise to keep an eye on his development.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Mets Reinstate Francisco Alvarez From the Injured List
The New York Mets announced on Tuesday that they reinstated catcher Francisco Alvarez (knee) from the 10-day injured list and optioned catcher Hayden Senger to Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move. The Mets initially said that Alvarez would be out for six to eight weeks due to surgery to fix a torn meniscus in his right knee, but he is returning after just four weeks. He is catching right-hander Freddy Peralta on Tuesday and will bat ninth against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander Dustin May. In four minor-league rehab games with Triple-A Syracuse, Alvarez went 3-for-13 at the plate with two doubles. The 24-year-old Venezuelan backstop might be eased back in by the Mets, but he's the unquestioned primary catcher in Queens when he's healthy. Alvarez will return to a .241/.317/.393 slash line with four home runs, 10 RBI, and 12 runs scored in his 112 at-bats in 2026. Injuries have been an issue for the catcher in the big leagues, but he did hit 25 homers in 2023 in his first full season with the Mets.
Source: New York Mets
Source: New York Mets
Kaelen Culpepper a Must-Stash with Momentum at Triple-A
Minnesota Twins infield prospect Kaelen Culpepper could be ticketed for a major league debut in the very near future after his recent run of success at Triple-A. The Twins' second-ranked prospect's 12-game hit streak came to an end this past Saturday after an 0-for-4 at the plate (though he managed to get on base once after getting hit and he also drove in a run), but during the hit streak, the former first-rounder went 17-for-49 (.347) with five home runs, three steals, and a 9:9 BB:K. It raised his season-long slash line to .265/.371/.491 with 14 home runs, 13 steals, and a strong 12.7 percent walk rate (18.4 percent strikeout rate). The right-handed hitter's success should earn him a promotion to the majors in the coming weeks, and with a solid all-around skillset, the 23-year-old makes for one of the top bats to stash in most fantasy leagues for his potential to be a multi-category contributor.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Brewers Sign Luis Lara to Seven-Year Extension, On the Verge of MLB Promotion?
Milwaukee Brewers outfield prospect Luis Lara has agreed to a seven-year, $31 million contract extension that includes three club options and can max out at $79 million. The 21-year-old has dominated Triple-A this season, and the long-term commitment gives fantasy managers another reason to keep him on the radar. Lara has enjoyed a dominant season with Triple-A Nashville, carrying an elite .343/.453/.505 line with seven home runs and 18 stolen bases. While Lara is still a stash candidate, his impressive start to the season has put him on the verge of a promotion, much sooner than anticipated. Fantasy managers in deeper formats should continue to view him as a top prospect to stash among hitters, while dynasty managers should treat the extension as another sign that Milwaukee views him as a major part of its long-term outfield picture.
Source: Jeff Passan
Source: Jeff Passan
Ralphy Velazquez Emerging as Stash Candidate for Power Upside
Cleveland Guardians first base prospect Ralphy Velazquez belted a home run at Triple-A Columbus on Sunday, his first since being promoted to the Clippers back on May 18. Though he's hitting just .241 in 14 games at that level, the left-handed slugger has turned it around as of late, going 5-for-15 (.333) with four of those five hits going for extra bases (two doubles, one triple, one home run). The former first-rounder is coming off a 22-home run season in 2025 and was slashing .317/.414/.566 with seven home runs through 36 games this season at Double-A Akron before his promotion. If he can build on the recent momentum, the Guardians' second-ranked prospect should receive a second-half call-up to the big leagues. Until then, the 21-year-old remains a stash consideration in deep leagues for his power potential.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
