RADIO
Bryan Hudson Continues to Emerge as Potential Ninth-Inning Option
Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Bryan Hudson issued one walk but no hits in his one shutout inning to earn his third save of the season on Wednesday night against the Braves. Seranthony Dominguez worked a clean eighth inning ahead of Hudson, with both relievers preserving a narrow 2-1 lead. The White Sox will continue to mix and match Dominguez, Grant Taylor, and Hudson, but for now, Hudson is definitely growing into enough of a role to be worth grabbing in deeper leagues. Hudson has a 2.32 ERA in 31 innings with a 21.1% K%.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Gregory Soto Struggles Again, is he in Danger of Being on the Hot Seat?
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Gregory Soto got the job done on Wednesday to earn his ninth save, but it wasn't a clean and neat outing. He only needed eight pitches, all strikes, to get through the inning, but he gave up two hits, including a two-run blast by Shohei Ohtani. The 31-year-old lefty is 4-1 in his 30 games this season with a 3.38 ERA and 3.10 FIP, and he has racked up 34 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings. While he has been effective overall, he has given up five runs in his last two appearances, so he'll need to get things turned around if he wants to maintain his role as the team's top closer. If he continues to struggle, Dennis Santana and Evan Sisk could be more in the mix for saves for the Pirates.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Elvis Alvarado Earns First Save, a Name to Watch in A's Committee?
Athletics relief pitcher Elvis Alvarado closed out his team's 4-3 win on Wednesday night after Hogan Harris pitched the eighth inning. Alvarado faced the middle of the Brewers' lineup and struck out Christian Yelich and Brice Turang as part of his 1-2-3 ninth inning. Alvarado has allowed nine runs in his 14 innings this year for a 5.79 ERA, but he also has 18 strikeouts and a 30.5% K%. He only has this one save, but he is stepping into a bigger role. Harris, Mason Barnett, and Mark Leiter Jr. are all still in the mix as well, but Alvarado is worth monitoring with his elite strikeout stuff and the potential to continue to trend into a larger role.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Garrett Cleavinger Emerging as Deep-League Waiver Target?
Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Garrett Cleavinger earned his second save of the season on Wednesday in his team's 7-5 win over the Red Sox. Cleavinger gave up a home run to Caleb Durbin and issued a walk ot Isiah Kiner-Falefa, but he struck out Andruw Monasterio to end the game. Closer Bryan Baker had worked in each of the previous two games, earning back-to-back saves. Baker has a 1.98 ERA and 18 saves this season, tied for the second-most in the majors. Cleavinger isn't likely to supplant Baker anytime soon, barring injury, but he has been effective in a setup role and could earn an occasional save chance like this one. The 32-year-old lefty is 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA and 4.02 FIP across his 15 1/3 innings this season. Cleavinger can be useful in leagues that value setup stats, but he's best left for deep leagues, while Baker continues to be so effective.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Kodai Senga to Resume a Rehab Assignment on Thursday
New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (arm, back) will resume a minor-league rehab assignment on Thursday for Double-A Binghamton, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. Senga was scratched from a rehab start on Tuesday with ulnar nerve irritation in his right arm, but it apparently wasn't a very serious issue. The Japanese native originally went on the injured list due to lumbar spine inflammation in late April. The 33-year-old has only made five starts for the Mets in 2026 in his fourth year in the majors, and he did not look good, going 0-4 with 21 runs allowed (20 earned) on 26 hits (five homers) while walking 13 and striking out 23 in 20 innings pitched. Senga was an All-Star in his first year with the Mets in 2023, going 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 202:77 K:BB in his 29 starts, but he only made one start the following year due to injury. He had a solid 3.02 ERA in 22 starts in 2025, but he fell off late in the year and was sent to the minors to work on his mechanics. He has not bounced back since and is now on the waiver wire in most mixed fantasy leagues. It's unclear how many rehab starts he might need before being an option to return to Queens.
Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
Hunter Brown Fans Seven in Five Innings in Rehab Start
Houston Astros right-hander Hunter Brown (shoulder) looked good on Wednesday night in what could be his final minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits while walking two and striking out seven in five innings against Triple-A Sacramento. Brown threw 45 of his 74 pitches for strikes in the contest and generated 11 swings and misses while averaging 96.4 mph on his fastball. The 27-year-old could very well be making his next start with the Astros after working his way back from a Grade 2 strain in his right shoulder that landed him on the injured list in early April. If Brown is reinstated from the 60-day IL to rejoin Houston's starting rotation, his next outing would come next week versus the Detroit Tigers. The former fifth-rounder in 2019 out of Wayne State University will be a must-start when he returns after proving to be a fantasy ace in his breakout season in 2025. In his two starts this year before injuring his shoulder, he had a 0.84 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 17 K's in 10 2/3 innings.
Source: Milb.com
Source: Milb.com
Dodgers to Put Will Smith on the Injured list on Thursday
The Los Angeles Dodgers will place catcher Will Smith (neck) on the 10-day injured list on Thursday (backdated to Saturday) and will recall catcher Chuckie Robinson from Triple-A Oklahoma City in a corresponding move, according to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. Smith will head to the shelf after missing the last four games with soreness in his neck, but he'll be eligible to return from the IL on June 19. In the meantime, Dalton Rushing will receive a short-term fantasy boost as L.A.'s primary catcher. Rushing has actually been more productive than Smith in 2026 in fewer plate appearances, entering Wednesday's game in Pittsburgh with a .286/.364/.552 slash line, a .917 OPS, eight home runs, 21 RBI, and 19 runs scored over his 105 at-bats. Smith hasn't been as productive so far this year, and he's hit just .209 (9-for-43) with two homers, two doubles, four RBI, seven runs scored, eight walks, and eight strikeouts in his last 13 games. Despite the disappointing numbers so far this year, Smith should be held in most fantasy baseball leagues.
Source: The Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
Source: The Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
Mick Abel Strikes Out Five in First Rehab Start on Wednesday
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Mick Abel (elbow) put together a strong performance in his first rehab appearance with Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday, striking out five across three scoreless innings (47 pitches). The 24-year-old has been on the 15-day injured list since mid-April due to inflammation in his right elbow. Across 20 1/3 innings (four appearances) before the injury, Abel recorded a 1-2 record with a 3.98 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, and 23 strikeouts. While Abel's overall line is not particularly impressive, his last start before the injury was a 10-strikeout, seven-scoreless-inning gem against the Boston Red Sox. The hard-throwing right-hander will likely need at least one more rehab start before he's ready to return to the Twins rotation, but he appears to be close to full health. Abel profiles as a solid waiver wire stash target for fantasy managers in need of strikeout upside ahead of his return.
Source: milb.com
Source: milb.com
Konnor Griffin Progresses to Throwing from 90 Feet on Wednesday
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin (elbow) made throws from as far as 90 feet on Wednesday and "felt fine," per DK Pittsburgh Sports. The young shortstop has been on the 10-day injured list since late May due to a flexor strain in his right elbow. Across 208 plate appearances before the injury, Griffin hit .270/.327/.402 with four home runs, 22 RBI, 30 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases. While it's a positive sign that the 20-year-old has resumed throwing, it appears he will need a bit more time before he's ready to return to the Pirates lineup. Upon his return, Griffin profiles as a high-upside bat with five-category production potential for fantasy managers. In his absence, Pirates infielder Jared Triolo has received the majority of the team's playing time at shortstop.
Source: DK Pittsburgh Sports
Source: DK Pittsburgh Sports
Max Fried Set to Undergo New Imaging on Injured Elbow This Week?
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone failed to provide an exact date but said that starting pitcher Max Fried (elbow) will undergo new imaging on his elbow later this week, per Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Fried has been on the 15-day injured list since mid-May due to a bone bruise in his pitching elbow, but he has advanced to throwing long toss and appears to be making steady progression towards a return. The 32-year-old recorded a 4-3 record with a 3.21 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts across 61 2/3 innings (10 starts) before getting injured. Fried's 20.8% strikeout rate is underwhelming for fantasy managers, but he projects as an excellent source of both ratios and wins upon his return. Fried will likely need at least a few rehab starts before he's ready to return to the Yankees, so he's likely still multiple weeks away from his return at a minimum.
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Adolis Garcia Pulled Early on Wednesday With Shoulder Injury
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Adolis Garcia (shoulder) was removed from Thursday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays early after pulling a muscle in his right shoulder area, according to Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Garcia is being evaluated further. The 33-year-old Cuban was holding his right arm after making a throw to home plate while trying to throw out George Springer in the seventh inning of the Phillies' eventual 7-4 win at the Rogers Centre. Garcia was replaced in right field by Steward Berroa after he went 0-for-3 at the plate with a walk and a strikeout. Until we know more about the severity of Garcia's shoulder injury, we'll consider him day-to-day. If the injury isn't serious, Garcia could be back on the field for the Phillies as soon as Friday's series opener in Milwaukee against the Brewers after a scheduled day off on Thursday. The two-time All-Star has continued to trend downward in 2026 in his first year in Philly, as he's currently hitting under the Mendoza Line with seven homers, 21 RBI, 21 runs, and three steals across his 67 games played.
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Lochlahn March
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Lochlahn March
Elly De La Cruz Takes Infield on Wednesday, Scheduled for MRI on Friday
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (hamstring) took part in infield drills for the second straight day on Wednesday and is scheduled for an MRI on Friday, per C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. The 24-year-old was placed on the 10-day injured list with a hamstring strain on June 1, but he appears to be making a speedy recovery and could return to the Reds lineup in short order. Across 257 plate appearances before getting injured, De La Cruz hit .280/.346/.509 with 12 home runs, 37 RBI, 40 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. De La Cruz's production fell off a cliff in 2025 when he attempted to play through a quad injury, which could lead the Reds to bring him along more slowly this time around. Fantasy managers should check back for a more definitive return timeline following the results of De La Cruz's upcoming MRI on Friday.
Source: The Athletic - C. Trent Rosecrans
Source: The Athletic - C. Trent Rosecrans
Ryan Helsley Set to Begin Rehab Assignment on Thursday
Baltimore Orioles closer Ryan Helsley (elbow) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, per Roch Kubatko of MASN. Helsley has been on the 15-day injured list due to elbow inflammation since late April, but he appears to be on the doorstep of a return to the big leagues. Across 10 2/3 innings (12 games) before the injury, Helsley pitched to a 2.53 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with 15 strikeouts and seven saves. While Helsley's 15.2% walk rate in a small sample size is a bit of a concern, he averaged 98.9 miles per hour on his fastball and struck out 32.6% of the batters he faced. Upon his return, he should slot back in as the primary closer in Baltimore.
Source: MASN - Roch Kubatko
Source: MASN - Roch Kubatko
Matthew Boyd Hits Setback in Rehab, Will Not Return to Cubs Rotation This Weekend
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (knee, shoulder) was experiencing shoulder soreness after his most recent rehab start and will not return to the Cubs rotation over the weekend as originally planned, per Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times. Boyd has been on the 15-day injured list since early May after suffering a torn meniscus in his knee. While it appears that the veteran left-hander is ready to return from the knee ailment, he may now be facing a larger issue with his shoulder. Boyd was arguably Chicago's best starting pitcher in 2025, recording a 14-8 record with a 3.21 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 154 strikeouts across 179 2/3 innings (31 starts). However, the injury bug has come back to bite Boyd, who pitched just 202 2/3 innings across a four-season stretch from 2021 through 2024. Fantasy managers should check back for further updates on Boyd.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times - Vinnie Duber
Source: Chicago Sun-Times - Vinnie Duber
Caleb Durbin Stays Hot With Two Solo Homers Against Tampa
Boston Red Sox infielder Caleb Durbin, who came into Wednesday's game at Tropicana Field against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays with an average under the Mendoza Line and just one homer on the year, went 3-for-4 at the plate with two solo home runs to raise his season average to .204 and his OPS to .594. Both of the 26-year-old's long balls came off Rays relievers late in what was an eventual 7-5 loss on the road. Despite Durbin's ugly season-long numbers, he has actually been seeing the ball well of late, hitting .341 (15-for-44) with two home runs, five doubles, a triple, nine RBI, six runs scored, and a stolen base in his last 12 games played. Fantasy managers in shallow-mixed leagues are going to need to see more out of Durbin to consider adding him off the waiver wire after such a bad start to his first year in Beantown in 2026. The former 14th-round pick by the Atlanta Braves in 2021 out of Washington University in St. Louis is rostered in under 10% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
