RADIO
Rhett Lowder to Return on Sunday, Worth a Waiver-Wire Pickup?
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Rhett Lowder (shoulder) will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to start on Sunday in St. Louis against the division-rival Cardinals, manager Terry Francona told Charlie Clifford of NBC 5 Cincinnati. Lowder has been cleared to rejoin the Reds' starting rotation this weekend after allowing three runs with no walks and eight strikeouts in five innings during his minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday. He was able to get up to 70 pitches. The 24-year-old former seventh overall pick in 2023 out of Wake Forest University will be a shaky fantasy baseball streamer on Sunday at Busch Stadium after being sidelined since early May with a right-shoulder injury. Before his stint on the IL, Lowder went 3-3 with a 5.40 ERA (3.77 FIP) and 1.41 WHIP with 27 strikeouts and 18 walks in 38 1/3 innings over his first eight starts. Lowder has only made 14 starts in the big leagues since debuting in Cincy in 2024 and has struggled with injuries, but his high-end velocity and strikeout upside make him worth stash consideration in deeper leagues now that he's on the cusp of a return. He's currently rostered in just 6% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: NBC 5 Cincinnati - Charlie Clifford
Source: NBC 5 Cincinnati - Charlie Clifford
Garrett Whitlock Feels "Really Good" After Throwing Side Session
Boston Red Sox right-handed reliever Garrett Whitlock (knee) said he "felt really good" after throwing a side session on Tuesday, according to Gabrielle Star of the Boston Herald. Whitlock slipped on a wet mound over a week ago and then landed on the 15-day injured list on May 28 with inflammation in his knee. The 29-year-old's injury isn't believed to be all that serious, so he could be ready to return on the first day he's eligible to come off the IL without going on a minor-league rehab assignment. Whitlock has zero saves (10 in his six-year career) and is merely a late-inning setup man for the BoSox, which limits his fantasy baseball appeal to deeper leagues when he's healthy. Before injuring his knee, the former 18th-round pick by the New York Yankees in 2017 out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham was 3-1 with a 3.20 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 25:6 K:BB in 19 2/3 innings pitched out of the bullpen. Outside of holds leagues, Whitlock isn't very attractive to fantasy managers. He's rostered in just 14% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
Cal Raleigh to Start Rehab Assignment on Sunday
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (oblique) will start a minor-league rehab assignment this Sunday at High-A Everett, according to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. From there, the plan is for Raleigh to transition to Triple-A Tacoma and play the rest of the week there. After that, the Mariners will reassess Raleigh's status. Barring a setback once the left-handed slugger resumes playing in games, he could rejoin the active MLB roster for the start of a homestand on June 16. The 29-year-old former third-round pick in 2018 out of Florida State University was a first-time All-Star in 2025 after he led the league in home runs (60) and RBI (125) in 159 regular-season games. Things have not gone swimmingly for Raleigh so far in 2026, though, as he currently owns a .161/.243/.317 slash line with an ugly .560 OPS and 31.5% strikeout rate in 181 plate appearances. Fantasy managers must hold him through his slump and injury, though, and hope he can turn things around when he returns. Raleigh has elite raw power at the catching position and has slugged at least 30 homers in each of his last three seasons.
Source: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
Source: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
Aaron Judge Out Again With Rib/Shoulder Injury
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (rib, shoulder) will miss a second straight start on Wednesday against the visiting Cleveland Guardians, according to MLB.com. Utility man Jose Caballero will make another start in right field in the Bronx and will bat sixth against Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams. Judge is currently considered day-to-day with a rib/shoulder injury that he's been playing through for a while now. It's unclear if the injury is serious enough to potentially send the 34-year-old three-time MVP to the 10-day injured list. It could help explain why Judge has hit just .163 (8-for-49) with only one home run, two doubles, eight RBI, five runs scored, seven walks, and 15 strikeouts in 13 games since May 17 to drop his season slash line to .248/.375/.533. Check back on Thursday to see if Judge is feeling good enough to return to the starting nine for the series finale against the Guards. The Yankees can ill-afford to send another outfielder to the IL, with both Giancarlo Stanton (calf) and Jasson Dominguez (shoulder) still out.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Maikel Garcia Remains Sidelined With Hamstring Injury on Wednesday
Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (hamstring) is missing another game on Wednesday in Cincinnati against the Reds, per MLB.com. Nick Loftin will make another start at the hot corner and will bat eighth for the Royals against Reds right-hander Chase Burns. Garcia will miss a fourth straight game with a right-hamstring injury, and if he misses any more time going into the latter part of the week, the Royals could be forced to send him to the 10-day injured list. The 26-year-old Venezuelan infielder is currently hitting .268/.325/.384 on the season with a .709 OPS, only three home runs, 21 RBI, 28 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 224 at-bats across 56 games in his fifth year in the big leagues. Garcia was a first-time All-Star in 2025, when he set career highs in homers (16) and RBI (74) while also adding 23 stolen bases and 81 runs scored in 160 games played. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Thursday to see if he's available to face the division-rival Minnesota Twins for the series opener on the road.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
J.T. Realmuto Back From Wrist Injury to Face Padres
Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (wrist) is doing the catching for left-hander Cristopher Sanchez and will bat seventh on Wednesday against the visiting San Diego Padres and right-hander Walker Buehler, according to MLB.com. Realmuto was hit on the left wrist by a pitch in Sunday's series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and despite having a scheduled day off on Monday, he remained out for Tuesday's series opener against SD. The 13-year veteran is back in action for Game 2 of the series at Citizens Bank Park, but fantasy managers may want to continue to leave the struggling Realmuto on their benches. The three-time All-Star has shown his age in 2026 (35 years old) and is hitting just .220 (28-for-127) with two home runs, nine RBI, 11 runs scored, and a stolen base in 39 games played. Realmuto has only had three career at-bats against Buehler and is hitless against him. Since May 18, Realmuto has gone 6-for-29 (.207) at the plate with a solo homer, three walks, and seven strikeouts in 10 games played.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Samad Taylor Worth an Add After Impressive Start to Triple-A Season?
The San Diego Padres are calling up second baseman/outfielder Samad Taylor to the big leagues on Wednesday, according to Milb Central. Taylor will get the call from Triple-A El Paso to take the roster spot of veteran outfielder Nick Castellanos, who was designated for assignment. The 27-year-old will get the call to the big leagues after hitting an impressive .319/.406/.500 with a .906 OPS, seven home runs, 25 RBI, 35 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in 51 games and 222 plate appearances on the farm. The former 10th-round selection by the Cleveland Guardians back in 2016 has only appeared in 38 big-league games with the Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners since debuting in the majors back in 2023, so he doesn't have much experience. Taylor could get some run in SD's outfield now that Castellanos is out of the picture, but he's no lock to play regularly and could quickly be shuttled back to El Paso. In 83 plate appearances in the majors, Taylor has gone 15-for-73 (.205) with no homers, four RBI, eight steals, seven walks, and 24 strikeouts in 38 games.
Source: Milb Central
Source: Milb Central
Lars Nootbaar Worth Stashing Ahead of Season Debut?
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (heels), who is expected to come off the 60-day injured list to make his 2026 season debut on Friday against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds, hit his third minor-league home run on Wednesday in his 12th rehab game, per MLB reporter John Denton. Nootbaar had double heel surgery last October and has yet to play for the Cardinals this year. The 28-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder has teased power upside in the past, but he hasn't taken advantage of regular playing time in St. Louis has also been limited by injuries along the way. The former eighth-rounder in 2018 out of USC has slashed .242/.341/.406 with a .747 OPS in his five major-league seasons (all with the Red Birds). Fantasy managers in mixed leagues should probably take a wait-and-see approach on Nootbaar as he returns to the big leagues following a long absence. He's currently rostered in just 2% of Yahoo leagues, but he should be playing regularly in St. Louis upon his return, at least against right-handed pitching.
Source: MLB.com - John Denton
Source: MLB.com - John Denton
Nick Castellanos Designated for Assignment by Padres
The San Diego Padres have designated outfielder Nick Castellanos for assignment on Wednesday and recalled utility man Samad Taylor from Triple-A El Paso. Castellanos, who signed a one-year deal with the Padres this offseason, has struggled in 2026, hitting just .191 with a .560 OPS, four home runs, and 20 RBI in 39 games. The move clears a roster spot as the Padres continue to shuffle their outfield and infield depth. Taylor, who has played both the outfield and second base, gets another opportunity in the big leagues. While the Padres currently have a crowded outfield, his versatility could help him carve out a role in the near term. With Triple-A this season, Taylor has posted an impressive .319/.406/.500 line with seven doubles, seven home runs, and nine stolen bases over 51 games.
Source: Kevin Acee
Source: Kevin Acee
Gabriel Moreno Emerging As Viable Starting Option at Catcher Position
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno has dealt with injuries again in 2026, but he remains a high-upside option at a thin position when healthy. The 26-year-old is hitting .260 with three home runs, 19 RBI, and three stolen bases in 123 at-bats. After returning from a stint on the injured list in early May, Moreno has gone on to hold a .253/.326/.398 line with three doubles, three home runs, and three stolen bases. When he's been on the field, Moreno has shown the ability to hit for average and get on base at a solid clip. While he has typically been placed at the bottom of the batting order, the backstop has recently begun to move up to the cleanup spot against right-handed pitching, which has bolstered his scoring opportunities. He's still widely available in most leagues, sitting at just 40% rostered on Yahoo. For managers looking for catcher help with some long-term appeal, Moreno is worth picking up.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is Antonio Senzatela the Closer to Roster in Colorado?
Colorado Rockies right-hander Antonio Senzatela has been one of the more surprising and effective relievers in baseball this season after transitioning from the rotation to the bullpen. The veteran has posted a 1.30 ERA and 0.89 WHIP with 26 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings while picking up three saves. After struggling mightily as a starter in 2025 (holding an overall 6.65 ERA across 130 frames), Senzatela has found a new role in high-leverage situations. He's been used in multi-inning appearances and has also closed games for the Rockies in recent weeks, earning two saves over his last 10 appearances. A move to a winning team ahead of the trade deadline could also boost his save opportunities if he were to join a club that lacks a proven ninth-inning option. For managers in need of saves in deeper leagues, he remains a worthwhile addition as he is emerging as the preferred ninth-inning option in Colorado over Juan Mejia.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Hurston Waldrep Seeing Value Increase as High-Upside Stash Candidate?
Atlanta Braves right-hander Hurston Waldrep is gaining attention as a high-upside stash candidate as he works his way back from elbow surgery. The 24-year-old former first-round pick has shown flashes of plus stuff when healthy. He recently began a rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League and is currently targeting a return in late June to early July. While he's not expected to be an immediate rotation contributor, the combination of his pedigree and the Braves' need for pitching depth makes him an interesting speculative add. During the 2025 season, Waldrep held his own during his first extended taste in the majors, logging 56 1/3 innings with a 2.88 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. For managers who can afford to stash a high-ceiling arm with a chance to contribute later this summer, Waldrep is worth considering now before his value potentially rises.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
JoJo Romero Emerging as Priority Closer Handcuff to Roster?
St. Louis Cardinals left-hander JoJo Romero has been effective in high-leverage situations this season and stands as the clear handcuff to closer Riley O'Brien. Romero owns a 2.96 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 26 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings. While O'Brien has locked down the closer role, he has begun to struggle as of late, allowing 10 earned runs (11 total runs) with two blown saves over his last 11 innings. He also has closing experience from last season, when he shared the role with O'Brien down the stretch and converted eight of nine save opportunities. Overall, last summer, Romero posted a stellar 2.07 ERA with 24 holds while operating in a high-leverage role. For fantasy managers in standard saves leagues, Romero is a smart, low-cost speculative add as O'Brien's primary handcuff. For those in leagues that reward holds, Romero continues to hold high-end value as he should remain a go-to option in high-leverage spots.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Quinn Priester Moving his Rehab to Arizona Complex League
After struggling in the higher levels of the minor leagues on his rehab assignment, Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Quinn Priester (shoulder) is being moved to the Arizona Complex League as he attempts to return from thoracic outlet syndrome, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Doctors continue to believe that Priester won't need surgery to relieve the symptoms of TOS, a condition in which the nerves running down his neck and into his arm and torso are compressed. Surgery would end Priester's season and would put him in jeopardy of being ready for 2027 as well. The 25-year-old former first-rounder by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019 hasn't had much success in seven rehab starts so far, allowing a whopping 25 earned runs on 21 hits while walking 19 and striking out 14 in 13 1/3 innings. Priester's velocity is not only down, but he's struggling with his control on the mound. He couldn't make it out of the first inning in two of his rehab outings. There's no timetable for Priester's return, and if he continues to struggle in the ACL, surgery might be on the table. Priester is rostered in just 15% of Yahoo leagues at this juncture.
Source: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
Source: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
Cole Ragans Resumes Playing Catch, Still No Timetable for a Return
MLB.com reports that Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (elbow) resumed playing catch on Monday, June 1. Ragans, who has been on the 15-day injured list since May 8 with a left-elbow impingement (valgus extension overload), was shut down on May 23 when he felt stiffness after throwing 4 1/3 innings (68 pitches) in his first minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Omaha. It's positive news that Ragans is throwing again, but there remains no timetable for his return. The 28-year-old southpaw became a fantasy ace in 2024, going 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA (2.99 FIP) and 1.14 WHIP with a career-high 223 strikeouts and 67 walks in 186 1/3 innings across his 32 starts. However, he has dealt with injuries ever since, and the 2024 campaign is the only time that Ragans has gone over 100 innings at the big-league level. Durability has become a major concern, but due to his strikeout upside, Ragans remains rostered in over 90% of Yahoo leagues. Barring another setback with his left elbow, Ragans might be able to return to KC's starting rotation by the end of June.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
