Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitcher Jared Jones has struggled through six starts since returning from the UCL surgery he underwent in May of 2025, pitching to the tune of a 5.76 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, and nine walks in 25 innings pitched. It's expected that one is to struggle from an injury like he suffered; however, the 24 year old second round pick in 2020 has been a highly viewed pitching prospect for the Pirates after he had a nice rookie campaign in 2024, where he had a 4.14 ERA (3.97 xERA) and really strong strikeout and swing and miss numbers (26.2 percent strikeout rate and 30.2 percent whiff rate). So far through his six starts in 2026, his fastball velocity remains elite (97th percentile); however, his strikeout rate is down (22.7 percent), and he's getting hit hard (90.3 mph average exit velocity and 40.8 percent hard-hit rate), all while demonstrating average control (8.2 percent walk rate). Additionally, Jones has only worked five innings once and is averaging only four innings per start, so he is being handcuffed a bit by pitch count and is inefficient. All this to say, Jones has tremendous upside, and while he is not necessarily a must-start at this time, he is still a strong person to roster that can be useful down the stretch as he continues to ramp up from his return from injury.

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The Colorado Rockies have seven games at Coors Field this week, and shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, who has struggled this season slashing only .209/.255.330, should have an opportunity to get hot at the plate with the Rockies play in the hitter friendly ballpark all week. While Tovar has been useless in fantasy in 2026, he is still a career .251 hitter with a .701 OPS in his five seasons with the Rockies. Unfortunately, under the hood, Tovar has been just as bad as his surface-level stats: .278 xwOBA and .220 xBA, but fantasy Managers who are in a pinch at their middle infield position may want to look Tovar's way at least this week, to see if a week-long home stretch can get him going. Tovar is not necessarily someone fantasy managers should be blowing all their FAAB on, but more of a look if injuries are catching up to their team or you are looking for a deep-sleeper hitter for Week 15.

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New York Yankees switch-hitter Jasson Dominguez has struggled mightily in 2026, slashing .214/.250/.405 with three home runs, eight RBI, four stolen bases, and only seven runs scored. Dominguez has seen a massive increase in playing time and opportunity due to injuries to Yankees outfielders Aaron Judge (ribs) and Giancarlo Stanton (calf), and, unfortunately, has not been able to do much with it. That being said, Dominguez is playing every day in a Yankees lineup, and has the prospect pedigree that makes him a higher-upside stash than others in a five-outfielder format. In his last full season at the Minor league level in 2024, Dominguez slashed .314/.375/.504, and last season with the Yankees he slashed .257/.331/.388 with 23 stolen bases. He has the upside to become a five-category contributor; he just hasn't been playing to his potential. Fantasy managers in deeper formats where five outfielders are required should continue to take a shot on Dominguez simply based on his upside compared to what else may be available in deeper leagues.

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Cincinnati Reds 28-year-old outfielder JJ Bleday has cooled off a bit at the plate of late, as he's only hitting .163 with a .628 OPS in June; however, he's still hitting .241 with a .859 OPS on the season with 13 home runs, three stolen bases, 29 runs scored, and 37 RBI. In May, Bleday was unstoppable at the plate, hitting .301 with a 1.018 OPS, but inevitably cooled off. Through 232 plate appearances, Bleday's batted ball metrics and underlying data remain rock-solid, with a .371 xwOBA (88th percentile), .264 xBA (72nd percentile), 10 percent barrel rate (51st percentile), and 45 percent hard-hit rate (71st percentile). He's accomplished all of this even while keeping his plate discipline in check, with a 23.2 percent chase rate, 25.2 percent whiff rate, and 19.3 percent strikeout rate while walking at a 13.8 percent clip. All this to say, nothing under the hood showcases that continued regression is on the horizon for Bleday. Fantasy managers who have seen Bleday dropped in their leagues after a slow June should consider adding him to their roster, especially in five outfielder formats.

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Cincinnati Reds 24-year-old outfielder Noelvie Marte has had a tough season thus far in 2026, slashing only .191/.258/.371 with four home runs, four stolen bases, 12 runs scored, and six RBI. On June 26, he delivered a pinch-hit, two-run go-ahead home run to help seal the win for the Reds against the Pirates, but outside of that, to this point, Marte has been fairly useless from a fantasy standpoint. It's important to note that in 2025, he hit .263 with a .748 OPS, 14 home runs, 10 stolen bases, and 51 RBI. He has the talent and upside to be a five-category contributor; he's just not playing well right now. At this time, Marte is more a speculative add in deeper, five-outfield leagues than more of a must-add player off the waiver wire. Fantasy managers can queue him up on their waiver wire and see how he does over the next week or two, because when he gets hot, it can happen quickly and with a lot of upside.

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Twins' SP Connor Prielipp recorded 10 strikeouts in 6 innings in a 3-2 win over the Rockies on Sunday, Jun. 28.

Nationals' 2B Luis Garcia Jr. had five RBIs going 3-for-5 with two home runs in a 6-4 win over Baltimore on Sunday, Jun. 28.

Braves' SP Chris Sale recorded 10 strikeouts in 6 innings but took the loss in a 3-2 loss to San Francisco on Sunday, Jun. 28.

Minnesota Twins rookie left-hander Connor Prielipp came into his start on Sunday against the Colorado Rockies with an ERA over 5.00 through his first 11 major-league starts over 55 2/3 innings pitched. After a strong start to his big-league career, Prielipp had cooled off a bit, but he reminded fantasy managers on Sunday that he still has plenty of swing-and-miss upside. The 25-year-old southpaw allowed two earned runs on six hits while walking none and striking out a season-high 10 batters in six innings for a no-decision on Sunday in the Twins' 3-2 win over the Rockies at Target Field. Priliepp generated an impressive 20 swings and misses in the outing and didn't allow a walk for the first time since his MLB debut on April 22. He is now 2-5 on the year with a 4.96 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, and 65:23 K:BB in 61 2/3 innings pitched across 12 starts. In his previous four starts in June, Prielipp allowed 16 runs (13 earned) on 26 hits (two homers) while walking eight and striking out 20 in 22 1/3 innings pitched, so Sunday's start was a nice step in turning things around going into July. He has a tough upcoming matchup against the New York Yankees, but fantasy managers in deeper leagues in search of more strikeouts should have Prielipp on their radar. He's rostered in just 9% of Yahoo leagues.

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There is perhaps no hitter in baseball hotter than Washington Nationals infielder Luis Garcia Jr. right now. In the Nationals' 6-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles in Sunday's series finale, Garcia went 3-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, five RBI, and three runs scored to boost his season batting average to .279 and his OPS to .850. The left-handed-hitting infielder has been seeing the ball extremely well in his last six games, going 10-for-19 with six long balls to raise his season slash line to .279/.307/.543 with 16 home runs, 55 RBI, 33 runs scored, and two stolen bases in his 270 plate appearances in his seventh year in the majors. The 26-year-old Garcia needs only three more home runs to set a new career high in that category. He has only three steals after swiping 36 over the last two seasons, but fantasy managers looking to ride the hot hand right now off the waiver wire should look no further than Garcia, who is rostered in 59% of Yahoo leagues at the moment. His fantasy ceiling isn't incredibly high, but a player with second base eligibility and 20-homer power is relevant in most fantasy leagues.

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Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Logan Henderson (back) had a strong minor-league rehab start on Sunday with Triple-A Nashville, throwing three shutout innings with one hit allowed, one walk, and seven strikeouts against Triple-A Gwinnett. It was a fine showing in Henderson's first time back in game action since straining his lower back in late May. The 24-year-old former fourth-round pick in 2021 out of McLennan Community College should have a starting rotation spot waiting for him in Milwaukee when he's ready after going 201 with a 2.74 ERA (2.41 FIP) and 1.04 WHIP with 30 strikeouts and six walks in 23 innings over his first five starts in 2026. He impressed in his major-league debut last year as well, going 3-0 with a 1.78 ERA (3.02 FIP), 0.99 WHIP, and 33:8 K:BB in 25 1/3 frames across his five starts for the Brew Crew. It's unclear exactly when he'll be reinstated from the 15-day injured list, but barring a setback on his rehab assignment, he could come back to make a start for Milwaukee before next month's All-Star break. Henderson is rostered in only 39% of Yahoo leagues.

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Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale had a much-needed bounce-back performance in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park, allowing two runs (one earned) on eight hits while walking one and striking out 10 in six innings of work. It was Sale's sixth loss of the 2026 season, but it was a turnaround after having failed to go six innings in any of his previous three starts versus the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and Chicago White Sox. The 37-year-old veteran southpaw has now had two games this year with double-digit strikeouts, and he now holds a 2.10 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 109:22 K:BB in 90 innings pitched in his 15 starts in his 16th year in the big leagues. Sale will be a must-start for fantasy managers in his next scheduled outing against the last-place New York Mets. The division-rival Mets currently have the second-worst OPS (.672) in all of baseball, ahead of only the San Diego Padres. Sale has allowed more than three earned runs in just one of his 15 starts, and it came all the way back on April 6 against the Los Angeles Angels in his third start of the season.

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Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic (elbow) had another successful minor-league rehab appearance for Triple-A Omaha on Saturday, tossing two scoreless innings with two hits allowed, no walks, and no strikeouts against Triple-A Columbus. In his first rehab outing on Wednesday with the Storm Chasers, the 28-year-old southpaw threw a perfect inning. He is slowly working his way back after being placed on the 15-day injured list on May 18 with soreness in his left elbow. Bubic was nearing a return before being shut down with discomfort in his left shoulder after a rehab appearance on June 9. Based on how slowly his rehab assignment is currently going, it's unlikely that Bubic will be fully stretched out enough to rejoin the Royals' starting rotation before the All-Star break in mid-July. The former first-rounder in 2018 out of Stanford University should be an option for fantasy managers in deep-mixed leagues, at the very least, when he comes off the IL next month. Before injuring his elbow, Bubic went 3-2 with a 4.11 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with 51 strikeouts in 50 1/3 innings pitched over his nine starts. He was a first-time All-Star in 2025, when he went 8-7 with a career-low 2.55 ERA (2.89 FIP), 1.18 WHIP, and 116:39 K:BB in 116 1/3 innings and 20 starts.

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Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (groin) was scratched from the lineup for his team's game against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday due to left groin soreness, per Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Across 297 plate appearances in 2026, Caglianone is hitting .265/.337/.481 with 14 home runs, 30 RBI, 39 runs scored, and three stolen bases. The 23-year-old has been on an absolute tear in June, hitting .322 with nine home runs and 19 RBI across 102 plate appearances this month. With a 16.8% barrel rate and a 58.4% hard-hit rate, Caglianone carries top-tier power upside when healthy. Fantasy managers will have to hope that Caglianone's injury is nothing serious and that he will be able to return to the Royals lineup for the start of their three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday. With Caglianone out of the lineup on Sunday, Kansas City moved catcher Salvador Perez to first base and plugged outfielder Starling Marte in as the designated hitter.

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Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (ankle) suffered a sprained ankle after taking an awkward fall during his team's loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, per Charlie Goldsmith of FOX 19. De La Cruz was able to stay in the game and may be able to avoid missed time, but Reds manager Terry Francona said that De La Cruz will be reevaluated on Monday. Even if De La Cruz avoids a stint on the injured list, fantasy managers should be aware that the speedster may now be playing through an ankle injury, fresh off his return from the injured list due to a hamstring strain. Across 280 plate appearances in 2026, De La Cruz is hitting .268/.339/.480 with 12 home runs, 38 RBI, 42 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. He's struggled since returning from the hamstring strain that caused him to miss the first three-plus weeks of June, recording just two hits in his first 23 plate appearances off the IL. De La Cruz is an elite fantasy shortstop who produces across all five categories when healthy, but he may not be operating at full strength as the Reds head into a four-game set against the Milwaukee Brewers.

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New York Mets right-hander Clay Holmes (leg) said he got another X-ray on his leg last week, and "everything checked out," according to Chelsea Janes of SNY. He has been throwing on flat ground and is going to throw off a mound next week. Holmes said he won't need a full spring training ramp-up, but he wouldn't set a specific target date for his return from the 60-day injured list in the second half of 2026. The 33-year-old is recovering from a fractured right fibula, and he's not expected to be ready to rejoin the Mets' starting rotation until late July or early August in a best-case scenario. In his second year with New York before getting hurt, Holmes was pitching very well, going 4-4 with a 2.39 ERA (3.22 FIP) and 1.10 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and 18 walks in 52 2/3 innings across nine starts. However, the two-time All-Star was a clear sell-high candidate in fantasy after his hot start, with a 3.83 xERA and .306 xwOBA thanks to a still mediocre 20.9% strikeout rate. Holmes also had a hard-hit rate in the 16th percentile. He's only rostered in 23% of Yahoo leagues after his significant leg injury.

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The Boston Red Sox moved outfielder Roman Anthony (finger, wrist) to the 60-day injured list on Sunday, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. Although it has been a disappointing first full season in the big leagues for Anthony in 2026 due to injury, the transaction changes nothing for him in terms of his timeline for a return. The 22-year-old former top outfielder prospect has missed two months due to a partially torn tendon in his right ring finger. We won't have a clear timetable for his return until he resumes significant baseball activities, but at the very least, he won't be back with the BoSox until at least late July. Most likely, his absence will extend into August, so fantasy managers stashing him in an IL spot must remain patient. The former second-rounder in 2022 has as much power/speed upside of any young outfielder in the game, but injuries have defined his time in the majors so far. After his call-up in 2025, Anthony impressed with a .292/.396/.463 slash line, eight homers, 18 doubles, 32 RBI, 48 runs, and four steals in 71 games, but he ended the year on the IL and couldn't help Boston in the postseason. Through just 30 games in 2026, Anthony went 25-for-109 (.229) with a homer and five RBI.

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Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez (hand/wrist) exited early from his team's loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday after being hit by a pitch in the hand/wrist area. X-rays for Suarez were inconclusive, and the team will send him for a scan on Monday, per Charlie Goldsmith of FOX 19. It's been a rough season so far for Suarez, who is hitting .208/.276/.376 with eight home runs, 29 RBI, and 18 runs scored across 217 plate appearances. The 34-year-old's strikeout rate currently sits at a career-worst 33.2%, and his 7.2% barrel rate is his lowest since 2017. While the exact nature of Saurez's injury remains unclear, he could be headed for a trip to the injured list if further testing on his hand/wrist shows structural damage. If Suarez misses time, Reds first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and outfielder/third baseman Noelvi Marte would likely see the largest increases in playing time.

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Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn snapped a recent power outage with a big game in Sunday's series finale in a 9-4 victory over the division-rival Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park. O'Hearn went 3-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, four RBI, three runs scored, and a strikeout to raise his average to .286 and his OPS to .821 on the year. The 32-year-old veteran left-handed slugger had a solo shot in the fifth inning off Reds starter Brady Singer before hitting a three-run bomb in the eighth inning. Before his power display on Sunday in Pittsburgh, O'Hearn had hit just one home run in his previous 16 contests. Overall in 2026, in his first year with the Bucs, O'Hearn has been a consistent offensive producer, slashing .286/.342/.479 with 13 home runs, 50 RBI, and 38 runs scored in his 284 plate appearances as an everyday player. The difference has been his improvement against same-handed pitchers, as he entered Sunday's action hitting .250 (18-for-72) with three of his 11 homers against lefties.

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Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said that the team does not expect first baseman Spencer Horwitz (hamstring) to return until after the All-Star break, per Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Horwitz was placed on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with a left hamstring injury. Across 295 plate appearances in 2026, Horwitz has hit .280/.386/.455 with 10 home runs, 33 RBI, 36 runs scored, and one stolen base. Horwitz has the same number of walks (40) as strikeouts on the year and had emerged as the Pirates' primary leadoff hitter before the injury. With Horwitz on the shelf, Pirates outfielder/first baseman Ryan O'Hearn will likely shift his focus to the infield. Outfielders Tyler Callihan and Esmerlyn Valdez could see the biggest boost in playing time as a result of Horwitz's absence.

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