RADIO
Kris Bubic Suffers Setback in First Rehab Outing
Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic (shoulder) suffered a setback in his recovery as he exited his first rehab outing early on Tuesday. Bubic allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits in 1 1/3 innings during the outing with Triple-A Omaha. Manager Matt Quatraro said Bubic's forearm feels good, but his shoulder did not respond well to the start. Bubic is scheduled to see a doctor this weekend for further evaluation. Bubic was placed on the 15-day injured list on May 18 with left elbow soreness after his May 14 start against the White Sox, but will now be further evaluated for another injury. What was initially expected to be a short absence has dragged on. In nine starts before the injury, he went 3-2 with a 4.11 ERA. Managers in deeper 12+ team leagues should still view him as a viable stash option heading into Week 12, as he was very productive on the bump last season, logging 116 1/3 innings to the tune of a 2.55 ERA.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Shohei Ohtani Returns to Lineup on Saturday After Injury Scare
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (knee) was held out of Friday's lineup against the White Sox due to left-knee inflammation, but he is back in the starting nine ahead of their contest on Saturday. Ohtani experienced discomfort in his left knee and hamstring area following a stolen-base attempt (nullified by a foul ball) and was removed as a precaution. Fortunately, the superstar avoided a major injury and is back at the top of the Dodger lineup serving as the designated hitter. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status in case the team opts to give him rest days at the dish and potentially modify his short-term pitching schedule. Through 67 games in the batter's box, Ohtani has posted a stellar .305/.421/.543 line with 15 doubles, 13 home runs, and six stolen bases, and remains a must-start option in all formats.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Paul Sewald Remains Priority Target for Saves on the Waiver Wire
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Paul Sewald has settled in as the primary closer and continues to deliver strong results in high-leverage situations. Sewald owns a 3.20 ERA and 0.71 WHIP with 28 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings across 28 appearances. He has already recorded 16 saves and has been particularly sharp in recent outings, posting a 1.29 ERA over his last seven appearances. His command has been excellent, and he has limited hard contact while generating consistent swing-and-miss with his sweeper-and-fastball combination. While the Diamondbacks' bullpen has some depth behind him, Sewald has earned the trust of the coaching staff in the ninth inning and looks like the clear closer moving forward. For fantasy managers in need of saves, he remains a reliable and productive option in leagues where he's still available, as he is currently rostered in about 65% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Out of Lineup With Back Tightness
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (back) is out of the lineup on Saturday due to back tightness. Manager John Schneider commented before the game that the five-time All-Star's back tightened up during Friday's contest and that his absence on Saturday is purely precautionary to avoid aggravating the issue. The good news is that he is feeling better, and the hope is that with minimal time off, he can return to full health. His status is considered day-to-day, with updates likely to provide more clarity ahead of Sunday's game. The usually durable and reliable first baseman has hit just three home runs this season and is enduring what would be considered a down year by his standards, despite posting a .280 batting average. Charles McAdoo will get the start at first base on Saturday and is batting eighth in the lineup.
Source: Mitch Bannon
Source: Mitch Bannon
Giancarlo Stanton Suffers Setback While Running the Bases
New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (calf) suffered a setback earlier this week while running the bases. Manager Aaron Boone said that the 36-year-old felt a tweak earlier in the week and that additional imaging may be needed to determine the extent of the injury. There had been some hope that Stanton would return to the lineup at some point during the Yankees' upcoming homestand, but that optimism is now in jeopardy. Given his extensive injury history, the team would be wise to continue taking a cautious approach with his recovery. As such, there is no timetable for his return until more is known about the severity of the setback.
Source: Bryan Hoch
Source: Bryan Hoch
Carlos Estevez Ramping Up Intensity and Volume
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Carlos Estevez (shoulder) has begun throwing from flat ground and has ramped up both the intensity and volume of his work. While there have been no reports regarding the total number of throws or the distance involved, it is nonetheless a positive sign for a pitcher who has missed most of the season with a right rotator cuff strain. There is no timetable for his return, nor is it known what the next steps in his recovery will be, but it is evident that the 33-year-old is on the mend and moving in the right direction. The Royals will likely continue to bring him along slowly, given the nature of the injury and concerns surrounding his velocity during Spring Training. When he does return, there is no guarantee he will reclaim the role of the team's closer, despite the uncertainty developing at the back end of the bullpen between Lucas Erceg and Alex Lange.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Cole Ragans Tosses Second Bullpen
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans (elbow) threw his second successful bullpen session on Friday. He did this just two days after tossing 23 pitches on Wednesday. The fact that he continues to make progress and is able to keep throwing is a positive sign, considering he has missed more than a month with a left elbow impingement and also experienced a setback during his recovery. The next steps for the 28-year-old southpaw will be determined after this weekend and will be based on how he feels. If he emerges without any issues and is ready to continue throwing, he could begin facing live hitters shortly thereafter. All that being said, there is currently no timetable in place for his return. Ragans has struggled to find success this season, posting just one win in eight starts. Both his 4.84 ERA and 1.42 WHIP are the highest those marks have been since his rookie campaign, though injuries may have played a role in his disappointing season.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Ryan Helsley to Make Rehab Appearance on Saturday
Baltimore Orioles reliever Ryan Helsley (elbow) is set to make his second rehab appearance with Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday. After tossing a scoreless inning on Thursday, manager Craig Albernaz said the right-handed pitcher feels good enough to pitch again. He will look to build on his first outing, during which his fastball averaged 97.7 miles per hour and topped out at 99.7 mph. He also needed just 14 pitches to retire all three batters he faced, with 12 of those pitches going for strikes. Helsley has been sidelined since the end of April with right elbow inflammation and is aiming to return soon to provide some much-needed stability to the Orioles' bullpen. The 31-year-old has seven saves this season and should provide an immediate boost to fantasy lineups upon his return, which could be sooner rather than later.
Source: Jake Rill
Source: Jake Rill
Should Jackson Holliday be Rostered in More Fantasy Leagues?
Baltimore Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday had surgery to fix a broken hamate bone in his hand back in spring training and had multiple setbacks along the way during his rehab, which is why he didn't make his 2026 season debut until May 19. The 22-year-old former first overall pick in 2022 out of Stillwater High School in Oklahoma hit only .229/.300/.360 with a .659 OPS in his first two big-league seasons, but he did produce 17 home runs and 17 stolen bases in 149 games in 2025 in his first full year in the majors in Baltimore. Holliday has only hit .215 (14-for-65) with three home runs, 11 RBI, 11 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 22 games across 76 plate appearances since making his season debut in May, but he did hit his third career grand slam earlier this week against the Seattle Mariners. So far in 10 games in June, Holliday has gone 6-for-32 (.188) with a homer, a double, a triple, five RBI, four runs scored, four walks, and 11 strikeouts. There's no doubt he's still trying to get locked in at the plate after getting a late start to the season, but fantasy managers should be keeping a close eye on the post-hype prospect. Holliday could quickly become a waiver-wire darling if/when he starts to heat up. He's only rostered in 40% of Yahoo leagues right now.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Jacob Latz Gaining Steam as Waiver-Wire Pickup for Saves
Texas Rangers left-handed reliever Jacob Latz has become manager Skip Schumaker's clear favorite for save chances in 2026. The 30-year-old southpaw has been outstanding for the Rangers so far this season, going 2-1 with a 1.69 ERA (2.52 FIP), 0.62 WHIP, a career-high 10 saves, 33 strikeouts, and seven walks in 32 innings pitched over his 25 appearances (one start). And since blowing his second save of the year on May 13 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Latz has really excelled, giving up just one earned run on five hits (one homer) while walking two, striking out 16, winning two games, and picking up five saves in 10 1/3 innings pitched. Latz made things interesting in his appearance on Wednesday against the Kansas City Royals, loading the bases with no outs, but he escaped for his 10th save of the year. He then picked up his second win of the year the following night. Latz has only given up runs in four of his 25 appearances in 2026 and is somehow rostered in under half of Yahoo leagues at the moment. If you need saves and Latz is on the waiver wire, the decision should be easy to pick him up.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Emilio Pagan to Have Another MRI Exam on Saturday
Cincinnati Reds right-handed reliever Emilio Pagan (hamstring) threw 20 pitches in his first bullpen session on June 8 and was scheduled to throw another bullpen on Wednesday, according to MLB.com. Pagan is scheduled to undergo another MRI exam on Saturday to give the team an idea of how he's healing from a Grade 2 left-hamstring strain that landed him on the 15-day injured list on May 6. There's a chance that Pagan will return to Cincy's bullpen before the end of June, but it will all depend on how quickly he resumes facing live hitters. The 35-year-old veteran had six saves in his first 15 appearances earlier this year before injuring his hamstring, but it came with a career-worst 6.43 ERA (5.82 FIP) and 1.43 WHIP in 14 innings. The Reds' bullpen has been among the league's worst since Pagan landed on the IL, though, so even though he wasn't pitching all that well before his injury, he's expected to immediately return to the ninth-inning role whenever he's reinstated. It's why Pagan is still rostered in over 60% of Yahoo leagues while he's on the shelf.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Matthew Boyd Plays Long Toss on Friday
Chicago Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd (knee, shoulder) played catch and long toss on Friday with no issues, according to MLB.com. The team will monitor Boyd in the coming days with hopes that he can progress "rapidly," according to manager Craig Counsell. The Cubs were initially hoping the veteran southpaw could come off the 15-day injured list to start against the San Francisco Giants this weekend, but they scrapped those plans earlier in the week. The 35-year-old has been out since May 6 due to a left meniscus injury that required surgery, and then he reported shoulder soreness on Tuesday after his most recent bullpen session. Depending on how Boyd bounces back from his throwing session on Friday, he could be an option to come off the IL to make the start next Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field. Boyd, a first-time All-Star in 2025, gave up 17 runs (16 earned) on 25 hits while walking six and fanning 31 in 24 innings in his first five starts this year before landing on the shelf. Odds are against Boyd returning to his 2025 form, but he can still be a useful deep-league streamer when he's 100% healthy. He's currently rostered in 55% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Bo Bichette on a Homer Binge, Homers Two More Times on Friday
New York Mets infielder Bo Bichette stayed hot at the plate in Friday night's 7-5 win over the division-rival Atlanta Braves at Citi Field by going 2-for-3 with two home runs and a career-high six RBI to raise his season batting average to .232 and his OPS to .635. Bichette got things going right away for New York, with a leadoff bomb in the first inning, followed by a grand slam in the second frame. Bichette has now homered three times in the last two games after previously not going deep since a two-homer performance against the Washington Nationals on May 19. After an ice-cold start to his Mets tenure in 2026, Bichette has picked things up offensively and is hitting .308 (12-for-39) with three homers, two doubles, a triple, 12 RBI, and five runs scored in 10 games so far in June. The two-time All-Star is hitting only .232 (64-for-276) on the year, but he has added eight homers, 40 RBI, and 33 runs scored in his 300 plate appearances. Under the hood, Bichette ranks in the 77th percentile in hard-hit rate, but he sits in just the 52nd percentile in xwOBA.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Charlie Condon a Priority Target for Managers Seeking a Power Bat
Colorado Rockies first baseman/outfielder Charlie Condon was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, and he's already knocking on the door of the major leagues. The 23-year-old continues to hit the ball well in his first year at Triple-A, slashing .251/.385/.474 with 11 homers, 34 RBI, a 15.5% walk rate, a 24.2% strikeout rate, and 109 wR+. His 112.6 mph max exit velocity this year ranks in the 91st percentile, and his 105.7 mph EV90 is in the 82nd percentile. He also has an impressive 8.7% barrel rate and a 45% hard-hit rate. The idea of his right-handed power bat coming to the friendly confines of Coors Field should excite plenty of fantasy baseball managers. While there's admittedly some whiff in his game, for the most part, Condon's swing decisions are encouraging. He only chases 18.5% of the time, which ranks in the 90th percentile and is quite impressive for a power bat. It seems like his MLB debut could happen any day now, so fantasy managers should get ahead of the waiver wire rush and add Condon now.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Could Leo De Vries Make His MLB Debut in 2026?
Athletics infield prospect Leo De Vries is only 19 years old, but there's a chance that he could make an impact in fantasy baseball as early as this year. Acquired from the Padres in last summer's Mason Miller trade, De Vries is a teenager who is capable of playing either spot on the left side of the infield. He projects as a shortstop long-term, and the nice pairing of his defensive and offensive production should offer him a long major league career. Across 53 Double-A games this year, he's slashing .283/.369/.385 with five home runs, 20 steals, a 10.5% walk rate, a 21.0% strikeout rate, and 103 wRC+. Although we don't anticipate the A's would shuttle him right from Double-A to the majors, his numbers so far suggest that he's worthy of a promotion to Triple-A. Since it's only June, De Vries could spend a couple of months contributing in Triple-A before joining the major league club for the final stretch of the regular season and (potential) playoff push. His plus-plus speed makes him an intriguing waiver wire stash in deeper redraft leagues, even if his MLB debut is at least a couple of months away.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
