RADIO
Jack Flaherty Injures his Leg on Friday Against the Guardians
Detroit Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty (leg) left his start early on Friday against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians due to left-leg discomfort, according to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. Flaherty's tough 2026 season continued, as he not only departed early with an injury, but he also took his eighth loss of the year in a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Cleveland at Progressive Field. Before hitting the showers early on Friday night, Flaherty allowed two earned runs on three hits while walking one and striking out one in only three innings. It's unclear right now if his injury is serious enough to warrant a trip to the injured list. The good news for the Tigers is that they have both left-hander Tarik Skubal (elbow) and right-hander Casey Mize (groin) returning to their starting rotation this weekend on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. The 30-year-old Flaherty entered his start on Friday with an elevated 5.31 ERA (4.12 FIP) and 1.58 WHIP with 77 strikeouts and 33 walks in 62 2/3 innings over his 14 starts in his second year in Motown.
Source: The Athletic - Cody Stavenhagen
Source: The Athletic - Cody Stavenhagen
Spencer Strider Leaves Early on Friday With Arm Soreness
The Atlanta Braves announced that right-hander Spencer Strider (arm) left his start early on Friday against the division-rival New York Mets with a trainer due to right-arm soreness. Strider allowed seven earned runs on six hits (three home runs) while walking one and striking out three in just three innings for his second loss of the season in the 7-5 defeat at the hands of the Mets at Citi Field. The 27-year-old's velocity was down, leading to the Braves' training staff coming out to check on Strider before he was pulled from the game. The severity of his injury is unclear right now, but we should have more information on Strider on Saturday morning, so fantasy managers will want to check back them to see if this is something that could land him on the 15-day injured list. Keep in mind that Strider had an internal-brace procedure that limited him to two starts in 2024. He came into Friday's contest with a 4-1 record and 4.00 ERA, but his ugly outing against New York pushed his season ERA up to 5.31. If Strider's latest arm injury is serious, youngster Hurston Waldrep could be next in line to join Atlanta's starting rotation.
Source: Atlanta Braves
Source: Atlanta Braves
Chase Dollander Likely Headed for UCL Surgery
Colorado Rockies pitcher Chase Dollander (elbow) was recently transferred to the 60-day Injured List and might have thrown his last pitch this season. Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer confirmed on Friday that Dollander is likely heading for surgery to repair his UCL. The right-hander has been sidelined since May due to a sprained elbow. The injury isn't getting better for Dollander, so it sounds like the team is opting to have the surgery. It's unclear if it'll be the full Tommy John surgery or the internal brace procedure. If he does have surgery, Dollander likely won't be back on the mound until mid-season in 2027. He posted a 3.89 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and a 47:18 K:BB ratio across 10 appearances (three starts) with the Rockies this season.
Source: Chris Schmaedeke
Source: Chris Schmaedeke
Casey Mize to Return on Sunday
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Casey Mize (adductor) will be activated off the 15-day Injured List ahead of Sunday's game. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch confirmed on Friday that Mize will rejoin the team and start versus the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday. Mize is back in action after being sidelined since late May due to right adductor inflammation. Through nine starts, Mize has a 2.27 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and a 49:12 K:BB ratio across 47.2 innings this season. It's worth noting that Mize only threw 55 pitches during his most recent rehab start. He might not see a full workload during his first start back against Cleveland on Sunday. The right-hander is still worth stashing given his success on the mound early this season.
Source: Evan Woodbery
Source: Evan Woodbery
Seth Lugo is Placed on 7-Day Concussion Injured List
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo (head) was placed on the 7-day concussion Injured List on Friday. This doesn't come as a surprise after Lugo was drilled in the head by a comebacker off the bat of Brandon Nimmo during Wednesday's game. Lugo underwent a CT scan, which came back negative. The right-hander will now need to pass the league's concussion protocol before taking the mound again. In a corresponding move, reliever Eli Morgan has been recalled from Triple-A Omaha. Fantasy managers will need to check back for another update on Lugo. It's possible that Lugo doesn't miss another start, but we'll need to see how he progresses.
Source: Kansas City Royals
Source: Kansas City Royals
Max Fried to Throw Off Mound on Saturday
New York Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried (elbow) is scheduled to throw off the mound on Saturday, according to manager Aaron Boone. The skipper continued by saying recent imaging on Fried's left elbow showed increased healing. The southpaw is ready for the next step in his recovery process. His first throwing session on Saturday will be "touch and feel," considering it's the first time that he has thrown since landing on the Injured List in May. There is still more work to be done, but this is an encouraging sign for the southpaw. There should be another update on his status following Saturday's session. If everything goes well, Fried might be able to go on a rehab assignment before the end of the month.
Source: Gary Phillips
Source: Gary Phillips
Corey Seager is Day-to-Day with Minor Injuries
Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (ribs, face) was absent from the starting lineup during Friday's loss to the Boston Red Sox. Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said Seager is day-to-day with rib and jaw injuries that he suffered during Thursday's game. Seager appears to have picked up a pair of injuries during a home plate collision with Carter Jensen on Thursday. Ezequiel Duran started at shortstop on Friday and could see more action over there this weekend. This doesn't sound like something that will require a stint on the Injured List. Fantasy managers should check back on Saturday for another update on Seager.
Source: Shawn McFarland
Source: Shawn McFarland
Jacob Wilson Activated, Playing on Friday
Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson (shoulder) was activated off the 10-day Injured List ahead of Friday's game against the Colorado Rockies. Wilson is back in the mix after being sidelined since May 11 due to a dislocated left shoulder. He won't miss a beat as Wilson is at shortstop and batting fifth against the Rockies on Friday. Before landing on the shelf, Wilson was slashing .292/.311/.398 with three home runs and 19 RBI in 39 games. There's enough upside with the bat to warrant rostering Wilson in most fantasy formats right now. His return to the field will mean reduced playing time for Alika Williams. In a corresponding move, outfielder Brent Rookier (knee) was placed on the 10-day Injured List.
Source: Athletics
Source: Athletics
Brent Rooker Lands on 10-Day Injured List
Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker (knee) was placed on the 10-day Injured List, retroactive to June 9. Rooker was out of the lineup on Tuesday and Wednesday due to a knee issue. The team will officially place him on the shelf due to a bone bruise in his left knee. His timetable to return is unclear at the moment. The A's will likely wait the 10 days and see how he progresses before making any further decisions. In a corresponding move, infielder Jacob Wilson (shoulder) was reinstated from the Injured List. Shea Langeliers, Jonah Heim, and Carlos Cortes are all candidates to see time at designated hitter while Rooker is down.
Source: Athletics
Source: Athletics
Caleb Kilian Officially Named Giants Closer
San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello has officially named right-handed reliever Caleb Kilian as the team's closer, according to Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News. Right-hander Ryan Walker, who was recalled from the minors on Friday, will be in a "fireman" role. The 29-year-old Kilian and Keaton Winn have been involved in a closer-by-committee situation, but Vitello has made it clear that Kilian will be his preferred choice in the ninth inning now that Walker is back in the fold. In his first year in the Bay Area, Kilian has recorded a 3.34 ERA (4.75 FIP), 1.18 WHIP, his first four career saves, 32 strikeouts, and 15 walks in 29 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. Since blowing the save on May 29 against the Colorado Rockies, Kilian has tightened things up, throwing 4 2/3 scoreless innings with three hits allowed, three walks, five strikeouts, one win, and one save for the Gigantes. Fantasy managers desperate for saves should consider picking Kilian up, but just know that his leash will probably be very short. Kilian is rostered in fewer than 10% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: The San Jose Mercury News - Justice delos Santos
Source: The San Jose Mercury News - Justice delos Santos
No Structural Damage for Shohei Ohtani
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee) is feeling "fine-ish," according to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. Ohtani had imaging on his injured knee on Friday, which showed no structural damage. Roberts said that he expects Ohtani back as the designated hitter this weekend in the series against the Chicago White Sox and to make his next pitching start as scheduled on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Dodgers pulled the 31-year-old four-time MVP as a precaution with left-knee inflammation in Thursday's win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Roberts thought that Ohtani would be active for Friday's series opener in Chicago, but the team decided to give him an extra day of rest. All indications are that Ohtani will be fine, so hopefully, fantasy managers can plug him back into their starting lineups on Saturday. The Japanese superstar remains a must-start in fantasy as both a hitter and a pitcher. Ohtani is slashing .305/.421/.543 with a .964 OPS, 13 homers, 40 RBI, 48 runs, and six stolen bases. As a pitcher, he's in the mix in the National League Cy Young picture with a 6-2 record, 1.06 ERA (2.67 FIP), 0.84 WHIP, and 73:21 K:BB in 11 starts (67 2/3 innings).
Source: The Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
Source: The Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
Jake McCarthy Remains Absent With Illness on Friday
Colorado Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy (illness) is still under the weather and is sitting out of the lineup for Friday's series opener in Las Vegas against the hosting Athletics, according to MLB.com. Troy Johnston is getting another start in right field and will hit fifth for the Rockies against rookie left-hander Gage Jump. McCarthy remains day-to-day with an illness and is missing his third straight game. Hopefully, he'll be feeling good enough to return to the starting nine for Game 2 of the series in Vegas on Saturday against the A's. The 28-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder has played well this year in his first season with the Rockies, slashing .282/.326/.448 with a .775 OPS, four home runs, 27 RBI, 22 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases in his 174 at-bats. McCarthy doesn't have much pop (even at Coors Field), but his speed on the base paths makes him useful as outfield depth in deeper leagues, especially while both Mickey Moniak (ankle) and Brenton Doyle (oblique) are on the injured list. He has gone 9-for-32 (.281) with a homer, three doubles, three RBI, four runs, and a steal in seven games so far in June.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Willy Adames Returns From Lower-Body Injury
San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames (lower body) is starting at shortstop and will bat sixth on Friday against the Chicago Cubs and right-hander Javier Assad, according to MLB.com. Adames ended up missing just one game with a lower-body injury, but he is back in action for the series opener against Chicago after a scheduled day off on Thursday. The 30-year-old Dominican has been streaky this year and is batting only .234 (63-for-269) in 67 games with 11 home runs, 29 RBI, 34 runs scored, and one stolen base. Adames is still useful for his power at the shortstop position, and he has three home runs in nine games in June, but he's also hitting just .176 (6-for-34) during the month with a double, six RBI, six runs scored, five walks, and 12 strikeouts in 39 plate appearances. He has faced Assad just six times in his MLB career and is batting .167 against him with a .542 OPS, no home runs, and no RBI.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Mets Expect Francisco Lindor to Play in Games "This Month"
President of baseball operations David Stearns said on Friday that he expects shortstop Francisco Lindor (calf) to play in games for the New York Mets "this month," according to Chelsea Janes of SNY. Lindor played two simulated innings on Friday and faced a minor-league pitcher. Manager Carlos Mendoza said that Lindor will repeat that multiple times next week, which could lessen the need for a minor-league rehab assignment. However, it probably won't eliminate the need for a rehab assignment entirely. The 32-year-old five-time All-Star has been out since straining his left calf on April 22, but he could be ready to rejoin the big-league roster in time for the Mets' next homestand, which begins on June 22. Lindor's return will allow New York to shift Bo Bichette back to third base, which will make regular playing time harder to come by for Brett Baty. Lindor got off to a rough start at the plate in his 93 at-bats before injuring his calf, hitting .226 with two homers, five RBI, 14 runs, and two stolen bases, but he belongs on fantasy rosters in all leagues with his expected return to come before the calendar flips to July.
Source: SNY - Chelsea Janes
Source: SNY - Chelsea Janes
Tigers Activate Kenley Jansen From the Injured List on Friday
The Detroit Tigers activated right-handed reliever Kenley Jansen (pelvis) from the 15-day injured list on Friday, the team announced. Jansen spent the minimum time on the IL with pelvic inflammation that sidelined him in late May. The veteran reliever only made one minor-league rehab appearance with Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday and gave up three runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning. The 38-year-old four-time All-Star has a longer leash than most closers because he has 483 saves in his 17-year MLB career. Jansen should return to primary save duties in Detroit now that he's healthy, but things could change quickly in Detroit if he continues to struggle late in games. He has already blown four saves and currently sports a 1-3 record, 4.80 ERA (5.84 FIP), and 1.20 WHIP with seven saves, 19 strikeouts, and nine walks in his 15 innings this year. Jansen is rostered in 68% of Yahoo leagues, so he could be available to be scooped up if you are searching for saves. If Jansen continues to stumble, both Will Vest and Kyle Finnegan are next up for save opportunities.
Source: Tigers PR
Source: Tigers PR
