Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo (wrist) is doing the catching for right-hander Kyle Bradish in Thursday's series finale at Camden Yards and will bat fifth against Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo, per MLB.com. Basallo has been dealing with a bony growth on his left wrist and was held out of the starting lineup for each of the last three games. It's something that he could deal with going forward, but for now, the left-handed slugger will return to the O's lineup for the series finale against Seattle. The Dominican backstop will return to a .263/.327/.475 line with an .801 OPS, nine home runs, 27 RBI, and 25 runs scored in his 179 at-bats in his first full year in the majors. Basallo has been much better against right-handers this year, going 36-for-133 (.271) against them with eight of his nine home runs on the year. The young catcher has struggled so far in June, though, with just two hits in 22 plate appearances over eight games.

From RotoBaller

Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (hamstring) is back in the team's starting lineup for Thursday's series finale against the visiting Seattle Mariners and right-hander Bryan Woo, serving as the designated hitter and batting third in the order, per MLB.com. Rutschman will return to the O's lineup after missing the last three games with tightness in his left hamstring. The 28-year-old switch-hitter has been swinging the bat much better of late, going 13-for-42 (.310) with a homer, four doubles, a triple, 10 RBI, and seven runs scored in his last 11 games since May 27. Overall, the former first overall pick out of Oregon State is slashing .267/.343/.489 with a career-best .832 OPS, eight home runs, 36 RBI, and 25 runs scored in 48 games across 204 plate appearances in his fifth year in the big leagues. Fantasy managers will want to get the two-time All-Star back into their starting lineups now that he's been cleared of his hamstring injury. In three career at-bats against Woo, Rutschman has a home run and two RBI.

From RotoBaller

Seattle Mariners rookie infielder Colt Emerson (back) is starting at shortstop and will bat ninth for Seattle in Thursday's series finale against the hosting Baltimore Orioles and right-hander Kyle Bradish at Camden Yards, according to MLB.com. Emerson didn't play in any of the last three games due to a bout with back spasms, but he's feeling good enough to play on Thursday. The 20-year-old infield prospect is one of the most intriguing young power/speed threats in baseball, although he won't carry a ton of DFS appeal at the bottom of the Mariners' batting order in his return. In his first 19 games in the big leagues, Emerson has gone 15-for-62 (.242) with four home runs, five doubles, a triple, 10 RBI, and nine runs scored across 69 plate appearances. He will play regularly for the M's at the 6 with J.P. Crawford (hand) on the injured list currently. Emerson has only five walks and 21 strikeouts early on, so he'll need to make more contact to capitalize on his potential.

From RotoBaller

Washington Nationals corner infield prospect Yohandy Morales continues to produce at Triple-A Rochester, drawing a walk, stealing a base, and scoring a run in his latest contest despite going 0-for-3 at the plate. For the season, the Nats' 28th-ranked prospect is slashing a robust .336/.414/.584 with 14 home runs and three steals. The former second-round draft pick is set to blow past his home run total from last season (15), and has seen almost a six percent drop in strikeout rate year-over-year while maintaining a solid 10.7 percent walk rate. The 6-foot-3 slugger owns a 92.3 percent average exit velocity (EV) this season (90th percentile) and a max EV of 113.1 mph (93rd percentile), along with a 12.4 percent barrel rate and 52.9 percent hard-hit rate, so he's got some fantasy-friendly power potential. However, despite having the ability to play either corner infield spot or designated hitter, there isn't a current path to playing time on the MLB roster, so it may take an injury to get him to the majors. Regardless, managers in deep leagues looking for a sneaky source of home runs and counting stats should consider stashing the 24-year-old ahead of an eventual call-up.

From RotoBaller

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Quinn Priester (shoulder), who had been pitching in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, has been returned from his minor-league rehab assignment and remains on the 60-day injured list, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Priester hasn't really had any luck trying to battle through symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome, and this could be the final straw before the Brewers have him undergo season-ending surgery. The 25-year-old's velocity has been way down, and he's had trouble commanding the baseball while pitching in the minor leagues. In eight rehab starts in the ACL and for High-A Wisconsin and Triple-A Nashville, Priester has allowed 28 earned runs on 22 hits (one homer) while walking 24 and striking out only 18 in 16 innings pitched. It's unclear what the next step is for Priester, but it's beginning to look more and more unlikely that he'll be able to help Milwaukee out in 2026. He's rostered in just 13% of Yahoo leagues and can probably be cut in more formats.

From RotoBaller

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Tony Santillan has put together arguably his worst MLB season so far in 2026, recording a 5.88 ERA and 1.58 WHIP with 25 strikeouts across 26 innings. However, with Reds closer Emilio Pagan (hamstring) on the 15-day injured list due to a Grade 2 hamstring strain, Santillan has two saves on the year and may be Cincinnati's preferred option in the ninth inning. There are major red flags in Santillan's profile that fantasy managers should be aware of before buying in. The 29-year-old's average fastball velocity is down from 96.2 miles per hour in 2025 to 94.6 mph in 2026, and his K-BB rate has dipped from 15.3% to 10.3%. He's also allowed nine home runs (3.12 HR/9) on the year and pitches in one of the most homer-friendly home parks in all of baseball in Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park. Fantasy managers in desperate need of saves may still have use for Santillan, but his profile is riddled with risk.

From RotoBaller

Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Lazaro Montes has been a big-time power bat in the minors for the last few seasons, belting 21 home runs in 2024 and another 32 a season ago, but at his current pace, the 6-foot-5 slugger could even outdo last season's total. The left-handed hitter is in the midst of a home run barrage at Double-A Arkansas, blasting six long balls in his last eight games alone, while batting .394 (13-for-33) over that stretch, which has also seen an improved strikeout rate of 17.9 percent over that span (27.8 percent for the season). The native of Cuba's recent run of production has pushed his batting average to .240 with a strong 12.7 percent walk rate and an outstanding .904 OPS. The strikeouts will likely remain part of his profile (career 27.1 percent in the minors), which could limit his batting average, but he's helped offset that with a strong walk rate (career 14.8 percent), and the power is legit. Montes could be ticketed for Triple-A soon, and if the 21-year-old can continue to develop his hit tool, a late-season debut in the majors is a possibility.

From RotoBaller

Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Brody Hopkins will get his next shot at proving his recent run of success is for real when he takes the mound for Triple-A Durham on Thursday night in Nashville against a formidable lineup made up of hot-hitting Brewers prospects. Over the right-hander's last six appearances, he's pitched to a 1.42 ERA while striking out 32 batters across 25 1/3 innings pitched. The Rays' top pitching prospect had an issue walking batters for most of the season, even during his recent success, but has improved considerably over his last two appearances, recording a 16:3 K:BB in 10 IP. If that is the trend going forward, the 24-year-old's momentum should carry him to a major league debut in the coming weeks. With his strikeout upside and the control problems hopefully a thing of the past, the 6-foot-4 hurler has emerged as a solid stash candidate in deeper leagues, so managers will want to keep an eye on his progress, starting Thursday night.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno has once again dealt with injuries this season, landing on the 10-day injured list in mid-April due to an oblique strain. However, the 26-year-old has been productive when healthy, hitting .266/.345/.434 with five home runs, 22 RBI, 22 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 165 plate appearances. Moreno's 11.2% barrel rate and 46.6% hard-hit rate are both career-bests, and he's maintained above-average contact ability with an 18.2% strikeout rate. The ability to stay healthy will likely always be a concern for Moreno, who has yet to log more than 380 plate appearances in any of his MLB seasons. Still, he's undoubtedly a viable starter in two-catcher fantasy formats. In leagues where he remains on the waiver wire, Moreno should be a priority target for fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

New York Yankees pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange was effective in his latest start out of the bullpen for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, allowing one earned run on three hits and a walk while striking out three batters in 2 2/3 innings pitched. The hard-throwing Dominican recently transitioned to a reliever, with the expectation that the big league club could leverage him in that same role. As a starter, the Yankees' fourth-ranked prospect held a 4.41 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and a 17.5 percent K-BB% in 49 IP, but through two relief appearances, he's posted a 1.35 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and a 25.9 percent K-BB%, so the move appears to be working out for now. The right-hander's strikeout potential is what makes him intriguing for fantasy, but a move to middle relief has dealt a blow to his worthiness as a stash candidate. Only those managers in very deep leagues desperate for strikeouts should consider stashing him, especially since it may come at the cost of WHIP due to his control issues.

From RotoBaller

St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Quinn Mathews has started to turn it on over his last two starts with Triple-A Memphis, allowing just four hits and two walks while striking out 15 across 12 scoreless innings. The 25-year-old's overall line for the season is less appealing, as he's pitched to a 4.01 ERA with a 15.8% walk rate across 51 2/3 innings (12 starts). Still, Mathews is considered to be one of the top pitching prospects in the Cardinals' system and could be proving that he's figured something out with his recent performance. With St. Louis in the thick of the National League playoff picture and searching for high-end starting pitching at the big-league level, it could be only a matter of time before Mathews is called up for his MLB debut. In deeper leagues, fantasy managers may want to consider stashing Mathews off the waiver wire.

From RotoBaller

Across 212 plate appearances in 2026, Texas Rangers utility man Ezequiel Duran is hitting .292/.346/.453 with four home runs, 35 RBI, 27 runs scored, and five stolen bases. The 27-year-old is outperforming his underlying metrics at the plate, as he's benefitted from a .375 batting average on balls in play despite posting an underwhelming 38.9% hard-hit rate. Still, Duran's ability to play basically any position other than pitcher, catcher, and center field makes him an incredibly valuable asset to the Rangers and allows him to find everyday playing time while cycling around the diamond. Even if Duran's batting average comes down a bit as his BABIP regresses, he should still provide relatively balanced five-category production for fantasy managers. With his multi-positional eligibility, Duran should be a priority waiver wire target for deep-league fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Detroit Tigers outfield prospect Max Clark continues to hold his own at Triple-A, though he is not excelling to the point where a call-up to the majors feels like it is right around the corner. The Tigers' top-ranked prospect (MLB No. 7) is just 10-for-49 (.204) over his last 13 games, but on the bright side, three of his four home runs came during that stretch, and he also maintained an 11:12 BB:K over that span. For the season, the former third-overall draft pick is slashing .253/.341/.382 with four home runs, 12 steals, and solid walk (11.2 percent) and strikeout rates (16.7 percent). The organization has made it clear they are in no rush to bring him up to the majors, and if he is not hitting well, then his debut could be delayed a bit longer than previously anticipated. Look for the 21-year-old to earn a promotion this season, but it might be sometime after the All-Star break. With a skillset that could make him a five-category contributor, though, the left-handed hitter is still one of the top bats to stash in most fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

After opening 2026 in a bench role, Cincinnati Reds first baseman Nathaniel Lowe has emerged as a near-everyday player and a key piece of his team's lineup. Across 166 plate appearances on the year, Lowe is hitting .252/.337/.497 with nine home runs, 25 RBI, and 16 runs scored. The 30-year-old's .497 slugging percentage is the best mark of his career and a marked improvement from the .381 SLG he posted across 609 plate appearances in 2025. Lowe's power surge is backed up by his 13% barrel rate, his highest since 2020. He's also made a concerted effort to get the ball in the air, as his 14.1-degree average launch angle is by far the steepest of his career. Between the changes he's made at the plate, his playing time situation, and his hitter-friendly home park in Cincinnati, Lowe is emerging as a power bat to target on the waiver wire.

From RotoBaller

The Pittsburgh Pirates have recalled outfield prospect Esmerlyn Valdez, according to MLB Pipeline. Valdez is the ninth-ranked prospect in the Pirates system and has hit three home runs in his last four games at Triple-A. The 22-year-old got a brief run with Pittsburgh in early May and hit two home runs in five games, but he also struck out nine times in 18 plate appearances. Valdez has showcased big-time power upside during his time in Triple-A this season, hitting .255/.388/.526 with 13 home runs, 38 RBI, and 33 runs scored across 237 plate appearances. He's kept his minor league strikeout rate to a manageable 21.5% in 2026, but he's struggled with swing-and-miss in the past. Fantasy managers should not expect Valdez to help them with batting average or speed, but his power potential could still make him an appealing waiver wire target.

From RotoBaller

Colorado Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy (illness) remains under the weather and is out of the starting lineup on Thursday in the series finale at Coors Field against the visiting Chicago Cubs, according to MLB.com. Troy Johnston is making another start in right field and will bat fifth against Cubs right-hander Edward Cabrera. McCarthy was scratched from Wednesday's lineup due to illness and will miss a second straight contest. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Friday to see if he's feeling good enough to return to action for the series opener in Sacramento against the Athletics. The 28-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder has taken advantage of more playing time in the last month in Denver with both Mickey Moniak (ankle) and Brenton Doyle (oblique) on the injured list. The speedy outfielder is currently slashing .282/.326/.448 with four home runs, 27 RBI, 22 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases in his 174 at-bats in his first year in Colorado.

From RotoBaller

New York Mets outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (back) said he expects to return from his spine injury this season, according to Chelsea Janes of SNY. Robert said his back has been responding better in recent days, so he might run on the field by the end of the week. However, he doesn't know if the issue will fully subside or if it will be something he will have to play through the rest of the way. It's not exactly a ringing endorsement for fantasy managers who have been stashing the 28-year-old Cuban slugger, who is currently on the 60-day injured list. Robert has been sidelined since late May due to lumbar spine disc irritation. It sounds like he's making some progress of late, but there remains no timetable for his return to the Mets. Robert has always teased elite power/speed upside, but he has only delivered on that potential once, back in 2023 with the Chicago White Sox. There's no guarantee he'll be a reliable fantasy asset again in 2026 after hitting .224 (19-for-85) with two home runs, eight RBI, 10 runs, and two steals in 24 games to kick off his first year with the Mets. Robert is rostered in under half of Yahoo leagues currently.

From RotoBaller

Detroit Tigers veteran right-hander Justin Verlander (hip) had a rough showing in his minor-league rehab start on Wednesday for Triple-A Toledo, allowing four earned runs on five hits (four home runs) while walking two and striking out three in 5 2/3 innings of work for the Mud Hens. It was in stark contrast to his first rehab start with Toledo on June 2, when he threw five shutout innings over 64 pitches. Despite the ugly results on Wednesday, the good news is that Verlander averaged 92.9 mph with his fastball and got up to 86 pitches in the outing, meaning his next start could be back in the big leagues for the Tigers against his former team, the Houston Astros. That would be a solid matchup for the 43-year-old three-time Cy Young winner and former MVP, but he still won't be recommended as a fantasy streamer after having not pitched in the majors since March 30. And in his lone start in 2026 for Detroit, Verlander allowed five earned runs in 3 2/3 innings to the Arizona Diamondbacks. He's going to be plugged back into the Tigers' starting rotation, but the future Hall of Famer doesn't have much left, and fantasy managers should have better upside options at their disposal.

From RotoBaller

Kansas City Royals right-hander Seth Lugo's (head) CT scan came back clear, and he will continue to be monitored, according to the team. Lugo was hit in the forehead by a 106.6 mph line drive off the bat of Texas Rangers outfielder Brandon Nimmo on Wednesday night in a scary scene at Kauffman Stadium. The veteran hurler was able to get up right away, although he quickly had a large lump on his head and was pulled from the game as a precaution. The 36-year-old will also likely be put through concussion tests, but for now, he appears to have avoided a serious injury. Lugo's next scheduled start on Monday against the Washington Nationals is up in the air, though, and fantasy managers will want to check back again in the next few days. Before leaving on Wednesday, Lugo allowed an earned run on three hits with one walk and two strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings pitched. The savvy veteran doesn't light up the radar gun or punch out hitters at a high rate, limiting his fantasy upside, but he's still a matchup-based streaming option in the right matchups.

From RotoBaller

Detroit Tigers right-handed reliever Kenley Jansen (pelvis) was a bit "rusty" in his minor-league rehab outing on Wednesday at Triple-A Toledo, but manager A.J. Hinch said he is still on track to be reinstated after a minimum stay on the 15-day injured list, according to Evan Woodbery of MLive Media Group. It points to Jansen returning for Friday's series opener in Cleveland against the division-rival Guardians, which is the first day he's eligible to come off the IL. The 38-year-old veteran allowed three earned runs on two hits while walking one and striking out one in two-thirds of an inning during his rehab outing on Wednesday with the Mud Hens. With Jansen out recently, the Tigers have mixed and matched in the ninth inning with right-handers Will Vest and Kyle Finnegan. Jansen wasn't exactly pitching great before his pelvis injury, going 1-3 with a 4.80 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, seven saves, and a 19:9 K:BB -- but given his experience, he's likely to be Detroit's primary option for saves again once he's activated. Just don't expect Jansen to have a very long leash if he continues to be inconsistent.

From RotoBaller