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Elly De La Cruz in the Lineup After Injury Scare
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (ankle) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting leadoff on Monday for the series opener against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers and left-hander Robert Gasser, according to MLB.com. De La Cruz twisted his ankle in Sunday's loss to the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates, but he stayed in the game after having his ankle taped. With the star shortstop serving as the DH, Matt McLain will start at the 6 and bat eighth, with Edwin Arroyo playing second base and hitting in the nine-hole. De La Cruz might not be exactly 100% healthy, but the 24-year-old Dominican should be in all starting lineups in traditional leagues as a five-category contributor. The two-time All-Star is hitting .268/.339/.480 with a career-high .819 OPS, 12 home runs, 38 RBI, 10 stolen bases, and 42 runs scored across 63 games and 280 plate appearances. De La Cruz has gone 21-for-71 (.296) at the plate against southpaws this year, adding five of his 12 home runs against them in 78 plate appearances.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Brandon Nimmo Out With Shoulder Soreness, Undergoing MRI
Texas Rangers outfielder Brandon Nimmo (shoulder) is out of the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the Cleveland Guardians and will undergo an MRI exam on his shoulder, according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. Nimmo said he was "OK," but acknowledged he's dealing with soreness. With Wyatt Langford (hamstring) going back on the injured list over the weekend, the Rangers can ill-afford for Nimmo to join him on the shelf as the end of the first half of the season nears. Alejandro Osuna is starting in left field on Monday, with Ezequiel Duran starting in right field and batting third against Guardians left-hander Parker Messick. Nimmo played all nine innings in Sunday's series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays, but he banged up his shoulder while crashing into the outfield wall. For now, fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day and check back on Tuesday to see if he's active for Game 2 of the series in Cleveland. In his first year with the Rangers, Nimmo has hit .262/.333/.420 with a .754 OPS, eight home runs, 29 RBI, 35 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 82 games and 354 plate appearances.
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Evan Grant
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Evan Grant
Tyler Soderstrom Lands on Injured List With Hip Impingement
The Athletics announced on Monday that they placed first baseman/outfielder Tyler Soderstrom (hip) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to June 28) with a left-hip impingement. In corresponding moves, the club selected infielder Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and recalled infielder Darell Hernaiz from Triple-A Las Vegas. Soderstrom was forced from Saturday's game early with his hip injury and will now head to the sidelines after being held out of the lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Los Angeles Angels. He'll be eligible to come off the IL on July 8, but with the All-Star break the following week, Soderstrom could very well just be held out as a precaution until the second half. With Soderstrom out for at least 10 days, Colby Thomas should see more playing time for the A's in left field. The 24-year-old Soderstrom should be held in all fantasy leagues while he recovers from his hip injury. The former first-rounder in 2020 is an emerging power bat in a hitter-friendly home park after he clubbed 25 homers, drove in 93 runs, and stole eight bases in a breakout 2025 campaign. He's currently slashing .242/.343/.460 with an .803 OPS, 13 homers, 41 RBI, and 41 runs scored across his 80 games in 2026.
Source: A's Communications
Source: A's Communications
A's Place Jacob Wilson on Injured List With Thumb Inflammation
The Athletics placed shortstop Jacob Wilson (thumb) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to June 26) on Monday with right-thumb inflammation, according to the team. In corresponding moves, the A's selected the contract of infielder Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and recalled infielder Darell Hernaiz from Triple-A Las Vegas. Wilson will land on the IL with a thumb injury despite missing the last four games with soreness in his left shoulder. It's unclear exactly how serious his thumb injury is, but if it's minor, Wilson will have a shot to return in early July before the All-Star break. While he's out, look for Alika Williams to continue to see starts at the 6 in Sacramento. Wilson, a former sixth overall pick in 2023 out of Grand Canyon University, burst onto the scene in 2024 in his MLB debut and was a first-time All-Star in 2025, but he has been mediocre for fantasy purposes in 2026. He makes lots of contact and rarely strikes out, but there are plenty more interesting shortstops that provide more power/speed upside. Wilson is hitting .277 (56-for-202) with only four home runs, 26 RBI, 23 runs, and two stolen bases in 50 games played for the A's this year.
Source: A's Communications
Source: A's Communications
Trent Grisham Could Return on Wednesday or Friday
New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham (hamstring) could come off the 10-day injured list for the team on either Wednesday or Friday, manager Aaron Boone told Jorge Castillo of ESPN. It seems likely that Grisham will play in a minor-league rehab game on Tuesday first. If Grisham returns on Wednesday, he'll be back in action for the series finale against the visiting Detroit Tigers. If the Yankees wait until Friday, he'll return to face the Minnesota Twins for the start of a weekend series. The 29-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder will return to primary center field duties in the Bronx, at least against right-handed pitchers. After a career year in 2025 in which he hit 34 homers and drove in 74 runs in 143 regular-season games, Grisham is slashing .232/.341/.406 with a .747 OPS, eight home runs, 35 RBI, 40 runs, and six steals in 66 games played this year. Fantasy managers holding Grisham will be hoping that he can pick up where he left off in June, going 13-for-36 (.361) with a homer, two doubles, a triple, four RBI, seven runs scored, and two steals in nine games.
Source: ESPN.com - Jorge Castillo
Source: ESPN.com - Jorge Castillo
Spencer Schwellenbach Could Return in Late August/Early September
Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) will likely head to Florida within the next week or two to ramp up his throwing program, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. If that is gauged as the start of his spring training, Schwellenbach could become a candidate for Atlanta's starting rotation in late August or early September. The 26-year-old former second-round pick in 2021 out of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is recovering from surgery to remove bone spurs from his right elbow. We'll have a better idea of a more specific timeline for a return once he starts facing live hitters, but barring a setback, Schwellenbach should be back with the Braves by the end of the 2026 regular season. He has been strong for the Braves and fantasy managers in 38 starts (234 1/3 regular-season innings) in his first two years in the big leagues, going 15-11 with a 3.23 ERA (3.27 FIP) and 1.01 WHIP with 235 strikeouts and 41 walks. Schwellenbach won't have a ton of time to contribute in fantasy when he comes off the 60-day injured list, but his upside makes him an interesting stash in fantasy leagues. He's currently rostered in 24% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Dodgers Reinstate Teoscar Hernandez From the Injured List
The Los Angeles Dodgers reinstated outfielder Teoscar Hernandez (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list on Monday and optioned outfielder Ryan Ward to Triple-A Oklahoma City in a corresponding move, according to Dodgers reporter Kirsten Watson. Nothing is official yet, but Hernandez should be right back in L.A.'s starting lineup for Monday's series opener in Sacramento against the Athletics and rookie left-hander Gage Jump. Hernandez is returning to the two-time defensive World Series champions after a month on the shelf due to a strained left hamstring. During four minor-league rehab games at OKC last week, the right-handed-hitting outfielder went 3-for-14, with all three of his hits clearing the fences. His return could push utility man Tommy Edman to second base more often with the Blue. The 33-year-old Dominican was having a strong season at the plate in 2026 before his hamstring injury, slashing .276/.348/.436 with a .785 OPS, seven home runs, 31 RBI, 30 runs scored, and two stolen bases in his 181 at-bats. Fantasy managers will want to get Hernandez back in their starting lineups to begin the week in all traditional formats.
Source: Kirsten Watson
Source: Kirsten Watson
Nick Pivetta Throws a Light Bullpen Session
San Diego Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta (elbow) started playing catch in late May and threw a light bullpen session on June 27, per MLB.com. He was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 14 after an MRI exam showed a flexor strain in his right elbow, and Pivetta was transferred to the 60-day IL on June 2. The 33-year-old Canadian native is making slow progress and probably won't be a realistic option to return to the Padres' starting rotation until sometime in August. He was the Padres' most consistent starter in 2025 in his first year with the team, going 13-5 with a career-best 2.87 ERA (3.49 FIP) and 0.98 WHIP with a career-high 190 strikeouts and 50 walks in 181 2/3 innings pitched across his 31 starts in SD. Regression was coming for Pivetta, though, and he went 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA (1.22 FIP), 1.12 WHIP, and 24:6 K:BB in just four starts this year before landing on the shelf. Pivetta's strong showing last year has bought him plenty of rope with fantasy managers stashing him in an IL spot, but he'll be a major question mark if/when he returns to the Friars in the second half of 2026. He's currently rostered in 72% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Emilio Pagan Impresses in Rehab Outing, Joining Reds Next?
Cincinnati Reds right-handed reliever Emilio Pagan (hamstring) looks to be on the verge of returning from the 15-day injured list after working a scoreless inning with one hit allowed while throwing eight strikes on his nine pitches with Triple-A Louisville on Sunday, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. It was Pagan's second rehab appearance for Louisville after he tossed six pitches in a perfect inning on Friday. The 35-year-old veteran has been sidelined since suffering a left-hamstring strain while pitching against the division-rival Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on May 5. He could rejoin the Reds' bullpen for their next series this week against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers, and given the way Cincy's bullpen has struggled with Pagan out, fantasy managers should not be surprised if manager Terry Francona reinserts Pagan as the primary ninth-inning arm right away, especially with both Tony Santillan (oblique) and Graham Ashcraft (elbow) also on the IL. Before injuring his hamstring, Pagan, who has 71 career saves, had a rough 6.43 ERA and 1.43 WHIP, but with six saves in his 15 appearances. Fantasy managers desperate for saves should be looking to add Pagan, who is rostered in only 65% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Sheldon
Source: MLB.com - Mark Sheldon
Hunter Greene Looks Ready for 2026 Debut With Reds
In what is expected to be his final minor-league rehab start, Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene (elbow) looked great on Sunday with Triple-A Louisville, tossing 6 1/3 shutout innings with one hit allowed, no walks, and four strikeouts to pick up the win against Triple-A St. Paul. Greene threw 54 of his 82 pitches for strikeouts and retired his final 16 batters in a row after allowing a double to open the top of the second inning. In his three rehab starts -- two with Louisville and one in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League -- the hard-throwing right-hander threw 14 1/3 scoreless innings. Manager Terry Francona and Greene both expected Sunday to be his final rehab game before coming off the 60-day injured list to rejoin Cincy's starting rotation for the first time in 2026. The 26-year-old former second overall pick had arthroscopic surgery on March 11 to remove bone chips in his right elbow, which dated back to last October. Greene will most likely debut this weekend against the Baltimore Orioles, and he should be scooped up immediately if he remains available on any waiver wires for his ace upside in fantasy. Right now, he's rostered in 72% of Yahoo leagues. UPDATE: Greene told reporters on Monday that he'll make his season debut later this week with the Reds.
Source: Milb.com
Source: Milb.com
Will Smith Not Expected to Return for Start of Next Homestand
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (neck) isn't doing any baseball activities at this time and is unlikely to be activated from the 10-day injured list when the Dodgers' next homestand starts on Thursday, July 2, against the division-rival San Diego Padres, according to MLB.com. Initially, the Dodgers thought that Smith would be able to avoid a trip to the IL, but instead he's been on the shelf since June 11 with inflammation in his neck. The 31-year-old veteran backstop even received a cortisone injection in his neck, which doesn't appear to have helped much. At this point, it's unlikely that we'll see the three-time All-Star back in L.A.'s starting lineup before the mid-July All-Star break. Before getting hurt, the former 32nd overall pick in 2016 out of the University of Louisville was slashing .249/.338/.382 with a .720 OPS, six homers, 23 RBI, and 23 runs scored, numbers that aren't up to Smith's high standards. Rushing has been a short-term fill-in for fantasy managers in two-catcher leagues, but he's hit .220 (13-for-59) with two homers, five doubles, six RBI, eight runs, seven walks, and 19 strikeouts in 18 games played in June.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Yankees Place David Bednar on Paternity List
The New York Yankees announced on Monday that they placed right-handed reliever David Bednar on the paternity list and recalled right-handed reliever Jake Bird from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in a corresponding move. Bednar will now be away from the Yankees for up to three days and will most likely miss their three-game series against the visiting Detroit Tigers that starts on Monday. With Bednar away from the team for few days this week, right-hander Fernando Cruz will likely be first up for saves for the Yankees if the situation arises in the ninth inning for manager Aaron Boone. The 31-year-old Bednar has gone 2-3 with a 3.09 ERA (2.67 FIP), 1.23 WHIP, 16 saves, 40 strikeouts, and 12 walks in his 35 innings out of New York's bullpen in 2026 in his first full year in the Bronx. The two-time All-Star is currently tied for seventh in the majors with his 16 saves in 33 appearances in his eighth year in the majors.
Source: New York Yankees
Source: New York Yankees
Carlos Estevez to be Re-Evaluated After Potential Setback With Shoulder
Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez (shoulder) suffered a shoulder injury while rehabbing his foot on May 6. He threw a bullpen session on June 27, but his right shoulder didn't feel great, so the Royals will re-evaluate him in the coming days, according to MLB.com. Estevez initially went on the 15-day injured list on April 1 with a foot injury, but he was transferred to the 60-day IL on June 15 with a right rotator-cuff strain in his shoulder. It's unclear exactly what is wrong with the 33-year-old Dominican veteran now, but he's unlikely to come off the IL to rejoin the Royals' bullpen before the All-Star break next month, and depending on what the team finds this week, Estevez could be out well into the second half of the season. Right-hander Lucas Erceg was the next man up for saves in KC with Estevez hurt early in April. Erceg has 12 saves, but he has since been booted from the closer's role in favor of Alex Lange, who has converted all seven of his save opportunities in June. It's becoming harder to justify holding Estevez in fantasy baseball leagues as we near the end of the first half. He's currently rostered in 42% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Marcus Semien has Grade 3 Flexor Strain, Out 4-6 Weeks
New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (elbow) was diagnosed with a Grade 3 hip-flexor strain, and he will be out four to six weeks at a minimum, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Semien tried to play through the injury until it severely limited his movement. Outfielder Tyrone Taylor had a Grade 1.5 to 2 flexor strain and missed 28 days. The 35-year-old Semien had been showing signs of decline offensively in recent years, but playing through injury in 2026 in his first year in New York had really tanked his numbers. In 80 games (318 plate appearances) in his 14th year in the majors, the three-time All-Star hit .214/.271/.341 with a career-worst .613 OPS, nine home runs, 29 RBI, 30 runs scored, six stolen bases, and a 21.4% strikeout rate, which is his worst mark since 2017 with the Athletics. There's no guarantee Semien will bounce back in the second half for the last-place Mets if he can return fully healthy in the second half. For the foreseeable future, Brett Baty will serve as the team's primary option at the keystone in Queens.
Source: New York Post - Jon Heyman
Source: New York Post - Jon Heyman
Liam Hicks Likely to Come Off the Injured List on Tuesday?
Miami Marlins catcher/first baseman/designated hitter Liam Hicks (back) took part in a full day of baseball activities on June 26 and is swinging without limitations and can catch. If Hicks continues to make progress, MLB.com suggests he's likely to come off the 10-day injured list when he's first eligible on Tuesday. Hicks was put on the IL on June 21 with a lower-back strain, but it looks like fantasy managers will get him back this week. The 27-year-old left-handed-hitting Canadian backstop has had a breakout in his second season in the big leagues, slashing .278/.359/.472 with an .831 OPS, 13 home runs, 53 RBI, 40 runs scored, and a stolen base across 73 games played and 288 plate appearances in 2026. For fantasy purposes, it's the perfect time for managers to get Hicks back, with Miami in Colorado and Sacramento at Coors Field and Sutter Health Park, respectively -- two of the most hitter-friendly parks in the league. In 16 games in June before his back injury, Hicks had gone 18-for-58 (.310) with two homers, two doubles, a triple, eight RBI, and 13 runs scored. Get ready to plug him back into all starting fantasy lineups this week.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
