MLB News

Joc Pederson • DH • Rangers

Joc Pederson is Gaining Deep League Value

Texas Rangers outfielder Joc Pederson has been putting together a solid stretch of play lately. Over the last week. Pederson is slashing .357/.438/.571 with one home run and two RBI. He owns a .984 OPS over the last month of action. At this point in his career, Pederson is strictly a platoon bat, but that doesn't mean he can't offer fantasy value. He has blasted nine homers this season with 25 RBI and 28 walks in 68 games. The 34-year-old has enough pop in his bat to warrant looking at in deep leagues right now. His nine long balls have already matched his season total from a year ago. Fantasy managers should scoop him up while he's hot at the plate.

4 hours ago

José Soriano • SP • Angels

Jose Soriano is Set to Start on Friday

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jose Soriano (chest) was scratched ahead of his scheduled start against the Athletics on Thursday. Soriano is dealing with chest tightness and leg soreness, so the team will give him another day to rest. Angels' manager Kurt Suzuki confirmed on Thursday that Soriano will take the ball against the Athletics on Friday. It looks like they wanted to give Soriano an extra day to get 100 percent healthy. Soriano was unhittable to begin the season, but he has come back down to Earth. Over the last nine starts, Soriano has a 4.74 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, and a 43:26 K:BB ratio. Fantasy managers should get him back in their lineups ahead of Friday's game.

4 hours ago

Bobby Witt Jr. • SS • Royals

Bobby Witt Jr. Leaves with Knee Discomfort

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (knee) was forced to make an early exit from Thursday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Witt appears to have suffered a right knee injury when he landed awkwardly while trying to make a play in the fourth inning. He was replaced by Tyler Tolbert shortly after that. Before leaving the game, Witt went 2-for-2 at the plate with a home run and two RBI. The team is calling it right knee discomfort, which means Witt should be considered day-to-day right now. The Royals could have Witt undergo further testing. Fantasy managers should check back for another update on Friday, but Tolbert could see more action at shortstop for a few days.

4 hours ago

Hunter Greene • SP • Reds

Hunter Greene Begins Rehab Assignment

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene (elbow) is set to begin a minor league rehab assignment with rookie level Arizona Complex League on Thursday. Greene has yet to pitch this season after having surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow. He has finally been cleared to begin a rehab assignment after a few successful bullpen sessions. The right-hander will likely need several rehab starts before rejoining the Reds' rotation. Greene is heading in the right direction, but likely won't make his MLB debut until some point in July.

5 hours ago

Moisés Ballesteros • C • Cubs

Moises Ballesteros Optioned to Triple-A

Chicago Cubs catcher Moises Ballesteros was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday. The struggling slugger will head to the minor leagues and hopefully work out some kinks. This season, Ballesteros is slashing .231/.303/.385 with six home runs, 23 RBI, and 17 walks in 59 games. Over the last 34 games, Ballesteros is hitting .128 with one homer and seven RBI, so a reset could be needed. The Cubs haven't made a corresponding move, but will need to do that ahead of Friday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. The expectation is that the Cubs will likely mix in different options at designated hitter with Ballesteros in Triple-A.

5 hours ago

Jazz Chisholm Jr. • 2B • Yankees

Jazz Chisholm Jr. Departs Early After Fouling a Ball Off his Groin

New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. (groin) was pulled from Thursday's contest against the Chicago White Sox in the fourth inning after fouling a ball off his groin area, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Chisholm fell to the ground and was eventually removed from the game after a trainer came out to check on him. Before leaving early, Chisholm went 0-for-1 at the plate in the Bronx in the series finale against the Pale Hose. He was replaced at second base by Jose Caballerlo, who moved over from shortstop. We should know more about the 28-year-old's status shortly, but for now, we'll consider him day-to-day. Chisholm came into Thursday's contest with a weak .229 batting average (57-for-249) and .317 on-base percentage, but he's also one of just a few players in the league already with 10 home runs and 20 stolen bases in his first 69 games played. He's also added 30 RBI and 37 runs scored in his 284 plate appearances and is rostered in 99% of Yahoo leagues as the top fantasy second baseman.

6 hours ago

Adley Rutschman • C • Orioles

Adley Rutschman Leaves Early Thursday After Being Hit in the Head

Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (head) was hit in the side of the helmet by an errant throw while trying to beat out a groundball on the infield with one out in the ninth inning in Thursday's 3-0 loss in Seattle to the Mariners, according to Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun. Rutschman was noticeably shaken up and left the game with a trainer, likely to be checked for a concussion. The 28-year-old switch-hitting backstop went 0-for-4 at the plate on the day with two strikeouts to drop his season average to .254 and his OPS to .787. At the very least, Rutschman most likely won't be in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener in Los Angeles against the Dodgers, and if he has a concussion, he'll likely land on the seven-day injured list. The good news for the O's is that they have a more than capable catcher already on the roster in Samuel Basallo to pick up the slack if Rutschman misses extended time. Rutschman is universally rostered in fantasy for his power and run production at the weak position of catcher. He came into Thursday's series finale at T-Mobile Park with a .259/.335/.467 slash line, eight homers, 40 RBI, and 26 runs scored in 197 at-bats.

7 hours ago

Trea Turner • SS • Phillies

Trea Turner Leaves Game After Being Hit by Pitch in First Inning

Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (calf) left Thursday night's game against the division-rival New York Mets early at Citizens Bank Park after he was hit by a pitch in his right calf in the bottom of the first inning, according to Paul Casella of MLB.com. It's the second time this week that Turner left early after being hit by a pitch. Turner initially stayed in the game after being hit and came around to score in the first frame, but he was eventually replaced at the 6 by Edmundo Sosa. The severity of the 32-year-old three-time All-Star's injury is unknown as of right now, but we'll consider him day-to-day until we know more. The fact that Turner stayed in the game initially leads us to believe that he should be alright. In his 12th year in the big leagues, Turner has shown signs of decline at the plate, as he entered Thursday's clash with the Mets with a .223/.274/.334 slash line, career-low .608 OPS, seven home runs, 21 RBI, 15 stolen bases, and 42 runs scored in 72 contests over 318 plate appearances. If Turner is forced to the injured list, Sosa would take over as the Phillies' starting shortstop.

7 hours ago

José Soriano • SP • Angels

Jose Soriano Scratched From Start on Thursday With Chest Injury

Los Angeles Angels right-hander Jose Soriano (chest) has been scratched from his scheduled start in Sacramento on Thursday night against the division-rival Athletics due to a chest injury, according to MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger. Ryan Johnson was called up from Double-A Rocket City to make the start against the A's in Soriano's place. The 27-year-old Soriano complained of chest and leg injuries during his last start on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays, and he apparently still isn't feeling great. It's unclear at this time if Soriano's injuries are serious enough to send him to the injured list. Fantasy managers will want to check back later on Thursday night or early on Friday for more information on his status. The Dominican hurler has gone 8-4 with a 2.79 ERA (3.88 FIP) and 1.23 WHIP with 92 strikeouts and a league-high 42 walks in 87 innings across his 15 starts in 2026 in his fourth year in the majors. Soriano was nearly unhittable in the first month-plus of the season, but he has come back to Earth in his last eight starts since May 4, posting a 4.67 ERA (4.88 FIP), 43 strikeouts, and 26 walks in 44 1/3 frames. His sell-high window has closed quickly.

7 hours ago

Christian Moore • 2B • Angels

Christian Moore a Must-Add After Stellar Play at Triple-A?

With All-Star outfielder Mike Trout (hamstring) going on the 10-day injured list on Thursday, the Los Angeles Angels are calling up second baseman Christian Moore from Triple-A Salt Lake in a corresponding move, according to The Athletic's Sam Blum. Moore was drafted as a second baseman and has seen most of his time in the minors at the keystone, but he had recently been playing left field with the Bees and is starting in left field on Thursday against the division-rival Athletics and rookie left-hander Gage Jump in his first game back in the big leagues. The 23-year-old former eighth overall pick in 2024 out of the University of Tennessee rose quickly through the Angels' farm system and made his major-league debut in 2025, but he hit under .200 with a .284 on-base percentage, .655 OPS, seven home runs, 16 RBI, 20 runs, three steals, and a 33.7% strikeout rate in 53 games played. Moore hit .333/.468/.585 with a 1.053 OPS, nine homers, 45 RBI, 55 runs, and 10 steals in 51 games at Salt Lake before his call-up. For his power alone, Moore is worth a look off the waiver wire in deeper fantasy leagues, and he could gain outfield eligibility fairly soon.

7 hours ago

Mike Trout • CF • Angels

Mike Trout Going on Injured List With Hamstring Injury

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (hamstring) is heading to the 10-day injured list with a hamstring injury, sources told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. In a corresponding move, the Angels are calling up infielder Christian Moore. It's unclear exactly how serious Trout's injury is, but he'll be on the shelf until at least June 28 with yet another injury. The 34-year-old three-time MVP and 11-time All-Star has had a resurgent 2026 season to this point, and he was in the midst of an eight-game hitting streak with three home runs, five RBI, seven runs, and two steals before landing on the IL. In his 16th year in the big leagues, Trout has hit .234/.394/.472 with an .866 OPS, 17 home runs, 36 RBI, a league-leading 54 runs scored, and seven stolen bases across 74 games and 335 plate appearances. If his hamstring injury isn't that serious, Trout could return to the Angels before the All-Star break in mid-July. In the meantime, Jose Siri will likely start in center in Anaheim. Although Trout no longer hits for average, he can still contribute elsewhere, and he still gets on base plenty. Keep him stashed in an IL spot everywhere. UPDATE: Trout said that his concern level with his right hamstring is "pretty low," according to Bally Sports West's Erica Weston.

9 hours ago

George Lombard Jr. • SS • Yankees

George Lombard Jr. Lands on Minor-League Injured List With Sprained Fingers

Top New York Yankees prospect George Lombard Jr. (fingers) was placed on the seven-day injured list at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with "a couple" sprained fingers on his left hand, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Lombard was injured in Tuesday's game with the Rail Riders when a runner slid into his glove at second base. The good news is that aside from Lombard's sprained fingers, tests on his left hand came back clean. The Yankees have "no idea" how long Lombard might be out for. He's considered baseball's No. 18 prospect in 2026, and he's currently hitting .258 with an .833 OPS in 62 games this year with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Double-A Somerset, adding eight homers, 25 RBI, 12 steals, and 48 runs scored across 287 plate appearances. The 21-year-old should be stashed in dynasty/keeper leagues, and he could be an alternative option for the Bombers later this season at the 6 if they aren't happy with the combination of Anthony Volpe/Jose Caballero. In Yahoo leagues, Lombard is eligible at second base, third base, and shortstop, and he's rostered in only 4% of leagues.

10 hours ago

Francisco Lindor • SS • Mets

Francisco Lindor to Start a Rehab Assignment on Friday

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (calf) will start a minor-league rehab assignment for Double-A Binghamton on Friday, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. It lines up with a previous report that the Mets expect Lindor to return from the 10-day injured list before the end of June. The 32-year-old five-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger has been sidelined since the end of April with a left-calf strain, but he's nearing his return to the major-league roster. When Lindor returns to Queens, he'll resume starting duties at shortstop, allowing the Mets to move Bichette back to third base. It will mean less frequent playing time for the left-handed-hitting Brett Baty. Before landing on the IL, Lindor was hitting just .226 (21-for-93) with two home runs, five RBI, 14 runs scored, and two stolen bases for the Mets in his first 24 games played. Although it wasn't a great start, Lindor still has plenty of time to turn things around in 2026, and he should be rostered everywhere.

10 hours ago

Ryan Jeffers • C • Twins

Ryan Jeffers Doing All Baseball Activities

Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers (hand) has been running, throwing, lifting weights, doing catching drills, and, as of June 10, taking dry swings, according to MLB.com. Jeffers landed on the 10-day injured list on May 19 with a left-hamate bone fracture in his hand and had surgery on May 20. His next steps will be determined by how he handles his current workload. The next step for the left-handed-hitting backstop will be to gain clearance to face live pitching. After that, he'll likely require a minor-league rehab assignment before returning to the major-league roster. At this time, it's unclear if Jeffers will have enough time to make it back before the All-Star break in mid-July. Before fracturing his hand, the 29-year-old former second-rounder in 2018 out of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington was hitting a strong .295 (36-for-122) with seven home runs, 26 RBI, 26 runs scored, and a stolen base as the Twins' primary catcher. At the moment, he's only rostered in 30% of Yahoo leagues while he rehabs. With Jeffers out, Victor Caratini and Alex Jackson have been sharing time behind the plate in Minnesota.

10 hours ago

Trei Cruz • CF • Tigers

Prospect Trei Cruz Being Called Up From Triple-A, Worth a Look in Deep Leagues?

The Detroit Tigers are calling up outfield prospect Trei Cruz to the big leagues on Thursday after placing utility man Wenceel Perez (face) on the 10-day injured list, a source told Ari Alexander of 7 News. Cruz is the son of former big-leaguer Jose Cruz Jr. and the grandson of Jose Cruz. He becomes a third-generation big-leaguer now that he's in the majors for the first time. The 27-year-old Canadian native will give manager A.J. Hinch plenty of options off the bench for however long he's up in the majors. Cruz, a former third-round pick in 2020 out of Rice University, has hit just .225/.331/.326 with a .657 OPS, two home runs, 17 RBI, 20 runs scored, and a stolen base in 38 games in 2026 with Single-A Lakeland and Toledo. His biggest strength is his versatility, being able to hit from both sides and play pretty much every position on the diamond (he has experience everywhere except catcher, pitcher, and first base). MLB Pipeline has Cruz listed as Detroit's No. 22 prospect. What Cruz lacks in power, he makes up for with a mature approach at the plate and a high hard-hit rate. Most likely, Cruz will be a bench player for the Tigers.

11 hours ago

Maikel Garcia • 3B • Royals

Maikel Garcia Remains Out of Action With Hand Injury

Kansas City Royals infielder/outfielder Maikel Garcia (hand) remains sidelined for Thursday's series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals, according to MLB.com. Nick Loftin will make another start at the hot corner for KC and will bat seventh against Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore. Garcia is dealing with soreness in his left hand and will miss a second straight game. It's an injury that he has been dealing with for a while now, and it's unclear if it's serious enough to land him on the injured list. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Friday to see if Garcia is back in action. The 26-year-old Venezuelan has hit .257 (9-for-35) in 11 games in June with a double, a triple, nine RBI, four runs scored, and a stolen base through 39 plate appearances. Garcia is rostered in most fantasy leagues because of his ability to contribute across all categories, although his counting stats have been lacking a bit so far in 2026. He enters Thursday's game with a .266/.326/.378 slash line, .705 OPS, only three home runs, 30 RBI, 32 runs scored, and five steals in his 259 at-bats for the Royals.

11 hours ago

Adolis García • RF • Phillies

Adolis Garcia to Have Season-Ending Lat Surgery on Wednesday

The Philadelphia Phillies announced on Thursday that outfielder Adolis Garcia (lat) will have season-ending surgery on his right lat on Wednesday, and it will be performed by Dr. Anthony Romero. Garcia's recovery is projected to take six to eight months for a full return to play, and he is expected to be ready for the start of the 2027 season. It's a tough break for the 33-year-old Cuban in his first year in Philly. The veteran outfielder was struggling with the Phillies before his lat injury, though, and he'll finish the year with a disappointing .195/.270/.329 with seven home runs, 21 RBI, 21 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 67 games across 259 plate appearances. The two-time All-Star hit a career-high 39 home runs and drove in 107 runs in 148 games in 2023 on his way to leading the Rangers to their first-ever World Series championship, but he has declined rapidly since then, and injuries certainly haven't helped. Garcia's season-ending injury could help rookie outfielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. stick around the rest of the year after his recent call-up. He deserves attention for his raw power from the left side of the plate in deeper fantasy leagues.

11 hours ago

Hagen Smith • SP • White Sox

Hagen Smith Still Worth Stashing Amid Shoulder Injury?

Chicago White Sox pitching prospect Hagen Smith (shoulder) has been shut down for two weeks with a left shoulder impingement, delaying his MLB debut until some time later in the second half of the season. Chicago's fourth-ranked prospect had been performing well as of late, yielding just three earned runs on nine hits and six walks while striking out 25 over his last three starts (14 innings) heading into Saturday before getting tagged for eight runs (seven earned) and allowing a whopping four home runs in 4 1/3 innings of work in his latest outing. It felt like the left-hander's major league debut could come at any time, but fantasy managers will now have to wait until he returns to the mound and can prove to be effective once again. Without a clear timeline for return and knowing a debut won't come anytime soon, the 22-year-old is likely only worth stashing in the deepest of formats, but he could become one of the top arms to stash in all leagues later this year once he gets rolling again.

12 hours ago

Karson Milbrandt • SP • Marlins

Karson Milbrandt Continues to Deal at Triple-A, a Top Arm to Stash?

Miami Marlins pitching prospect Karson Milbrandt has looked right at home during his short time at Triple-A Jacksonville, allowing just one run on five hits in 11 innings so far for the Jumbo Shrimp. One critique could be that he has also walked six batters during that time, which registers as a 15.4 percent walk rate, and he's struck out seven batters, which is a 20.5 percent strikeout rate, quite a dip from the 38.3 percent rate we saw through nine starts at Double-A. Nevertheless, he's been able to limit damage, and if he keeps it up, a debut in the majors should happen later this year. Despite multiple blows to the starting rotation, the team has resisted calling up the 6-foot-2 hurler, but assuming he gets the walks under control and returns to his high-strikeout ways, look for the Marlins' fifth-ranked prospect to make a debut by August. For those who want to get ahead of that, the 22-year-old is worthy of stash consideration in most leagues for his strikeout potential. The former third-round draft pick will take his next turn on the mound on Saturday for Jacksonville for those who want to monitor his progress.

12 hours ago

Caleb Durbin • 3B • Red Sox

Does Caleb Durbin Still Have Deep-League Waiver Wire Appeal?

Boston Red Sox infielder Caleb Durbin got off to a disastrous start to the 2026 season, hitting .183 with one home run across 182 plate appearances through the end of May. However, the 26-year-old has started to turn it around a bit in June, hitting .220/.250/.415 with two home runs, four RBI, six runs scored, and one stolen base across 44 plate appearances this month. Durbin entered play on Thursday riding a 15-at-bat hitless streak, so fantasy managers should take note that his hot streak to open June may have been a mirage. Still, Durbin was a far more productive player across 506 plate appearances with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2025, hitting .256 with 11 home runs and 18 stolen bases. He's also remained a fixture in the Boston lineup and may have a chance to work his way out of the extended slump in what's looking like it may be a lost season for the Red Sox. In deeper leagues, Durbin may still be worth targeting on the waiver wire ahead of a possible second-half bounce-back.

12 hours ago

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