MLB News

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman/outfielder Addison Barger (elbow) is throwing out to 120 feet and taking batting practice, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. He will progress to hitting off a pitching machine soon, and the hope is that he will start a minor-league rehab assignment by mid-to-late next week. The 26-year-old has already been on the injured list twice this year, first with injuries to both his ankles, and lately with right-elbow inflammation. The former sixth-rounder in 2018 has only appeared in nine games in 2026 and has gone 1-for-22 at the plate with two RBI, five walks, and seven strikeouts in 28 plate appearances. Despite a lost season so far due to injuries, he is still rostered in 21% of Yahoo leagues. If he can avoid a setback with his elbow in the minor leagues, Barger should be back with the big-league roster by the end of June. Barger doesn't have excellent plate discipline, but he can still be an asset in points leagues the rest of the way in an everyday role against right-handed pitching. In his first full year in the majors in 2025, Barger hit .243/.301/.454 with a .756 OPS, 21 homers, 74 RBI, 61 runs, and four stolen bases in 135 regular-season games played.

Toronto Blue Jays veteran right-hander Shane Bieber (elbow) is likely to make another minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo before rejoining the Blue Jays' starting rotation, manager John Schneider told Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. Toronto isn't pushing the 31-year-old to make his 2026 season debut, but he should be ready after one more start in the minors. The former American League Cy Young winner looked good in his last rehab start with Buffalo, throwing six scoreless innings with one walk and five strikeouts on Thursday. In four total rehab starts in the rookie-level Florida Complex League and with Buffalo and Single-A Dunedin, Bieber has posted a 6.00 ERA and 1.75 WHIP with 12 strikeouts and only one walk in 12 innings thrown. Bieber's impending return to the big leagues will probably be bad news for lefty Patrick Corbin. The two-time All-Star returned from Tommy John surgery to make his Blue Jays debut last year, going 4-2 in seven regular-season starts with a 3.57 ERA (4.47 FIP), 1.02 WHIP, and 37:7 K:BB in 40 1/3 innings. Nobody should be expecting him to return to his Cy Young form from back in 2020, but Bieber absolutely has the potential to be a matchup-based streamer in mixed fantasy leagues the rest of the way, and he's currently rostered in less than half of Yahoo leagues.

New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham (hamstring) was pulled from Friday's game early against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays with right-hamstring tightness, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Manager Aaron Boone said that Grisham injured his hamstring rounding first in the sixth inning, but there are no tests imminent, and the Yankees will see how he feels on Saturday morning. If needed, outfielder Jasson Dominguez (shoulder) could be in play to come off the 10-day injured list, per Boone. Before leaving, Grisham went 1-for-4 at the plate with two RBI in the eventual 8-5 loss to the Jays at the Rogers Centre. Rookie Spencer Jones shifted from right field to center field, with Max Schuemann entering the game to play right in the Bronx. If Dominguez isn't quite ready to come off the IL, speedster Jose Caballero could see additional starts in the outfield for the Yankees. For now, fantasy managers should consider Grisham day-to-day. The 29-year-old slugged a career-high 34 homers and drove in 74 in 143 regular-season games last year for the Yanks, but he hasn't been as prolific with the power in 66 games so far in 2026, producing just eight homers and 33 RBI.

Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar (lower leg) was a late scratch for Friday's game against the Athletics with left-calf/shin/ankle soreness from a foul ball on Sunday at Coors Field, according to Kevin Henry of The Denver Gazette. With Tovar sitting out on Friday night in Las Vegas, Willi Castro made the start at shortstop and hit leadoff for Colorado against A's rookie left-hander Gage Jump. Fantasy managers should consider Tovar day-to-day for now. Check back to see if he's available to start for the Rockies for Game 2 of the series against the A's on Saturday. The 24-year-old Venezuelan shortstop has been extremely disappointing for his fantasy managers yet again in 2026. Tover had a career year in 2024, hitting .269/.295/.469 with 26 home runs, 78 RBI, a league-high 45 doubles, and six stolen bases in 157 games played, but since then, he has produced only 14 home runs in the last two seasons. He entered Friday's action with a lowly .211/.259/.332 slash line, .591 OPS, five homers, 23 RBI, 20 runs, and four steals in 66 games across 251 plate appearances. Tovar is now rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

The St. Louis Cardinals optioned infielder Nolan Gorman to Triple-A Memphis on Friday, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Cardinals are changing things up in the infield. Gorman could probably use a reset offensively after slashing just .194/.279/.318 with a .598 OPS, seven home runs, 26 RBI, and 19 runs scored through 62 games and 229 plate appearances so far in 2026 in his fifth year in the big leagues. In addition to hardly producing at all for the Red Birds, Gorman is striking out at a 32.3% clip and has just three hits in his last 50 at-bats with 27 strikeouts and five walks over a span of 17 games. Gorman will head down to the farm to work on his approach at the plate, but it might already be too late for him to reclaim a starting role in St. Louis for the rest of the season. In Yahoo leagues, Gorman is rostered in just 3% of formats.