June 30, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman
Josh Naylor (neck) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the San Francisco Giants. This marks the third game in a row that Naylor has missed due to neck spasms. This doesn't seem like an issue that would land Naylor on the injured list. For now, fantasy managers should consider Naylor as day-to-day until further notice. In the meantime,
Pavin Smith will cover first base and bat third versus right-hander
Logan Webb on Monday. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups with Naylor sidelined once again.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
June 30, 2025
Texas Rangers starting pitcher
Tyler Mahle (shoulder) is dealing with a rotator cuff strain, according to Rangers' president of baseball operations
Chris Young. Mahle was placed on the injured list on June 12 due to shoulder soreness. It seems like a fairly significant injury that has stopped Mahle from throwing for now. The team is having Mahle rest right now, so his return to the mound isn't on the horizon. There is no timetable for his return, but some point in July seems possible.
--Andy WebbSource: Kennedi Landry
June 30, 2025
New York Yankees catcher
Austin Wells (finger) won't be available for Monday or Tuesday's game due to a circulation issue in his finger. Wells underwent testing to rule out any blood clots and those came back negative. The team plans to give him a few days to rest, but expect Wells back in the lineup on Wednesday. This could result in a trip to the injured list if the injury doesn't get better. For now, fantasy managers can consider him day-to-day and rule him out for the next two contests. In the meantime,
J.C. Escarra will be behind the plate and bat eighth versus right-hander
Max Scherzer on Monday.
--Andy WebbSource: Chris Kirschner
June 30, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop
Bo Bichette (knee) has been scratched from the lineup for Monday's series opener against the division-rival New York Yankees due to right-knee discomfort, according to Sportsnet's Shi Dividi. Bichette came off the field in the middle of his round of batting practice.
Ernie Clement is now starting at the 6 and will hit leadoff against Yankees left-hander
Carlos Rodon. For now, fantasy managers should consider Bichette day-to-day, but with the All-Star break looming, don't be surprised if they play it safe and send him to the injured list, either. After an injury-plagued and disappointing 2024 campaign, the 27-year-old former second-rounder has bounced back in 2025, slashing .272/.311/.427 with 11 home runs, 49 RBI, 39 runs scored and four stolen bases in 356 at-bats. Clement will be DFS sleeper who is hitting .286 in seven career at-bats against Rodon.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet.ca - Shi Davidi
June 30, 2025
Texas Rangers outfielder
Evan Carter (personal) is absent from the team's lineup for Monday's series opener against the visiting Baltimore Orioles due to personal reasons, according to MLB.com's Kennedi Landry.
Michael Helman will draw the start in center field and will bat ninth against Orioles left-hander
Trevor Rogers. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Tuesday to see if Carter is back for Game 2 of the series. The 22-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder usually sits against southpaws, but he's on the strong side of a platoon in center for Texas and has swung the bat well in 99 at-bats in 2025, hitting .283/.372/.444 with an .816 OPS, four home runs, 11 RBI, 17 runs and eight stolen bases. Carter's power/speed upside makes him fantasy relevant in most leagues. Helman will be playing in just his 11th big-league game and second with the Rangers in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
June 30, 2025
The Baltimore Orioles announced on Monday that they recalled right-handed pitching prospect
Brandon Young from Triple-A Norfolk and placed right-hander
Zach Eflin (back) on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move with lower-back discomfort. Young, the team's No. 19 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will make a quick return to the big leagues after recently being sent down. The 26-year-old hasn't fared well at the big-league level in three spot starts this year against the Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers, surrendering 10 earned runs on 16 hits (two homers) while walking nine and striking out 11 in 12 2/3 innings. With lefty
Cade Povich (hip) nearing his return from the IL, it's likely that Young will occupy a long-relief role in the O's bullpen for the time being, so fantasy managers in deeper leagues looking for rotation help should look elsewhere.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baltimore Orioles
June 30, 2025
The Baltimore Orioles announced on Monday that they placed right-hander
Zach Eflin (back) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to June 29) with lower-back discomfort and recalled rookie right-hander
Brandon Young from Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move. Eflin injured his back during his start on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays and will now be out through the All-Star break. It remains to be seen if the 31-year-old veteran will be ready for his first turn through the rotation to start the second half in late July. Eflin has not been very reliable for fantasy managers in his first full season in Baltimore, recording a bloated 5.95 ERA (5.72 FIP) and 1.43 WHIP with only 42 strikeouts and 11 walks in 62 innings pitched over his 12 starts. Fantasy managers in deep-mixed leagues can drop Eflin for other options to close out the first half.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baltimore Orioles
June 30, 2025
Baltimore Orioles infielder
Jordan Westburg (finger) remains out of the starting lineup for Monday's series opener on the road in Texas against the Rangers.
Ramon Urias will make another start at third base and will bat fifth against Rangers left-hander
Patrick Corbin. Westburg aggravated a left index-finger injury on Friday and will now miss his third straight start. While the 26-year-old is considered day-to-day, the chances of him going back on the injured list are increasing each day he's held out. However, he was able to swing the bat on Sunday. After being a first-time All-Star last year, Westburg has struggled in 2025 while struggling to stay healthy, slashing .228/.286/.434 with seven home runs, 14 RBI, 20 runs and one steal in 136 at-bats. He's the team's starting third baseman when healthy. Urias is hitting .333 with two RBI in nine career at-bats against Corbin.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
June 30, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies right-handed pitching prospect
Andrew Painter will be on the roster for the MLB Futures Game during the All-Star break, but he will not be pitching. The Phillies want to keep Painter on their plan, according to manager Rob Thomson. Painter is still on the comeback trail after having Tommy John surgery in July of 2023, and although he has already made 13 starts with Single-A Clearwater and Triple-A Lehigh Valley this year, the Phillies are taking it slow with the No. 5 overall prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline. The 22-year-old former first-rounder in 2021 should already be stashed in all dynasty/keeper leagues, and he could become a priority addition in redraft leagues as well if he joins Philly's starting rotation in the second half of 2025. Painter currently has a 4.18 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 57:19 K:BB in 51 2/3 innings on the farm.
--Keith HernandezSource: Philadelphia Inquirer - Lochlahn March
June 30, 2025
Cincinnati Reds right-hander
Hunter Greene (back, groin) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session in Boston on Wednesday, according to FOX 19's Charlie Goldsmith. If Greene comes out of that session fine, he'll throw again in Philadelphia before embarking on a minor-league rehab assignment. The 25-year-old's rehab process from a back and groin injury has gone well, but fantasy managers should not expect to have him back until the start of the second half of the season in late July. He last made a start for the Reds on June 3 versus the Milwaukee Brewers. Despite the long layoff, Greene is deserving of being stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues. Before his injury, the hard-throwing hurler had gone 4-3 with a 2.72 ERA and 0.97 WHIP with 73 strikeouts and 14 walks in 59 2/3 innings over his 11 starts as the Reds' ace.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX 19 - Charlie Goldsmith
June 30, 2025
Atlanta Braves right-hander
Spencer Strider gave up two runs and five hits in seven innings in the loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday, his longest start since September of 2023. Strider had only four strikeouts, though, the first time he had fewer than six K's in nine career starts of seven frames or more. The 26-year-old's velocity isn't quite what it was before he had elbow surgery in April of last year, but he has improved his fastball velocity steadily while also improving his secondary pitches. He has a 2.25 ERA in his last four starts and an MLB-leading 33 K's in 24 innings during that span after having a 5.40 ERA in his first five starts in 2025. While Strider's 2025 season has been far from perfect, he could easily return to his pre-injury form in the second half and be a fantasy ace. Fantasy managers should lock him into their lineups for his next outing against the Baltimore Orioles.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - David O'Brien
June 30, 2025
Atlanta Braves outfielder
Jurickson Profar will be back in the team's starting lineup on Wednesday against the visiting Los Angeles Angels after serving an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. Profar played just four games with the Braves before being hit with the 80-game suspension, but he's coming off a career year with the San Diego Padres in which he hit .280 with 24 home runs, 85 RBI and an .839 OPS, which was more than 100 points above his career .725 OPS. Even if the 31-year-old doesn't come close to matching that kind of output upon his return, he should at least provide an offensive boost from what Atlanta was getting from
Eli White and
Alex Verdugo in left field. Manager Brian Snitker said he plans to hit Profar in the heart of the order upon his return, which will give him plenty of chances to drive in runs for fantasy managers.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - David O'Brien
June 30, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said that outfielder/designated hitter
Anthony Santander (shoulder) is getting close to starting a hitting progression. Atkins also said that Santander suffered a left-shoulder subluxation (partial separation) when he crashed into the outfield wall in early May in a game against the Los Angeles Angels. After being a first-time All-Star in 2024 in his final year with the Baltimore Orioles, Santander has been a big free-agent bust so far in 2025 in Toronto, slashing .179/.273/.304 with a .577 OPS, only six home runs, 18 RBI and 55 strikeouts in 209 plate appearances before his shoulder injury. It's good news that the 30-year-old Venezuelan is close to resuming baseball activities, but he won't be back until after the All-Star break as he looks to turn around his awful first half with the Jays.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet.ca - Shi Davidi
June 30, 2025
The Athletics announced on Monday that they optioned
JJ Bleday to Triple-A Las Vegas and recalled outfield prospect
Colby Thomas from Las Vegas in a corresponding move. Bleday is hitting just .191/.288/.358 on the season with a .645 OPS, eight home runs, 22 RBI, 30 runs, one stolen base and a 57:28 K:BB in 62 games in his third year with the team. After rejoining the big-league squad a month ago after a stay on the farm, the 27-year-old left-handed hitter started just nine of 26 games and hit .135/.273/.324 with a strikeout rate over 35 percent. The former first-rounder by the Miami Marlins in 2019 out of Vanderbilt did hit a career-high 20 home runs last year in Oakland, but he's quickly fallen out of favor with an A's team that isn't afraid to give their young prospects a shot the rest of the 2025 season.
--Keith HernandezSource: A's Communications
June 30, 2025
The Athletics announced on Monday that they selected the contract of outfielder prospect
Colby Thomas from Triple-A Las Vegas. Thomas, the team's No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, gets the call to the big leagues for the first time after hitting .297 (92-for-310) with 17 home runs, 21 doubles, two triples, 70 RBI, 63 runs scored and seven stolen bases in 76 games for the Aviators this year. The 24-year-old former third-rounder in 2022 out of Mercer University has raw power that could play immediately for those searching for outfield depth in deep-mixed and AL-only leagues, although he might be in more of a platoon role in his first taste of the big leagues. Over a full season, Thomas certainly has 20-plus-homer upside while also giving fantasy managers the potential four double-digit stolen bases. He's also capable of playing anywhere in the outfield, giving him a better avenue for regular playing time.
--Keith HernandezSource: A's Communications
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