Chicago Cubs right-hander Ben Brown (neck) has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his neck, manager Craig Counsell told 104.3 The Score. "It's a very similar injury to 2024," Counsell said. Brown will be limited in his activity for the next month before the Cubs decide where to go from there. Back in 2024, Brown suffered a neck injury in early June and never pitched again that year, so this is obviously a very concerning diagnosis for the reliever-turned-starter. Injuries to their starting rotation have been a problem all year long, and Chicago's starting depth is very thin once again with Brown and Edward Cabrera (hamstring) landing on the injured list. In 20 appearances (eight starts) in 2026, the 26-year-old Brown has been excellent, going 4-2 with a 1.85 ERA (2.50 FIP), 0.94 WHIP, one save, 65 strikeouts, and 19 walks in 68 innings pitched. Fantasy managers planning on stashing Brown while he recovers need to prepare for a very lengthy absence.

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Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber (back) is serving as the team's designated hitter and is batting in the two-hole for Thursday's contest in D.C. against the division-rival Washington Nationals and right-hander Cade Cavalli, according to MLB.com. Lower-back tightness kept Schwarber out of the Phillies' starting lineup for the last two games, but the All-Star slugger is now back and should be returned to all starting lineups in traditional fantasy leagues. The 33-year-old three-time All-Star and Silver Slugger winner currently leads all of baseball with 29 home runs while slashing .252/.367/.594 with a .961 OPS, 52 RBI, 51 runs scored, and a stolen base in 76 games across 338 plate appearances. Schwarbs has clubbed four home runs in his last four games (three homers last Saturday) and is hitting .306 (22-for-72) with seven long balls, 13 RBI, and 15 runs scored in 20 games so far in June. He still has plenty of swing and miss to his game, but it's all worth it for the elite raw power that he provides from the left side of the plate. Schwarber has hit .167 with one RBI and a .777 OPS in six career at-bats versus Cavalli.

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The Houston Astros reinstated right-handed reliever Bryan Abreu from the restricted list on Thursday and optioned pitcher Colton Gordon to Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Abreu missed the team's series in Toronto this week against the Blue Jays due to a personal matter, but he will return to the back end of the bullpen on Thursday as the Astros start a new series in Motown against the Detroit Tigers. The 29-year-old Dominican hurler opened the 2026 season as the team's primary option at closer with left-hander Josh Hader on the injured list, but he squandered that opportunity and was quickly demoted after struggling early on. Abreu is currently 2-3 on the season with a 6.39 ERA (6.77 FIP), 1.82 WHIP, five saves, 33 strikeouts, and 24 walks in his 25 1/3 relief innings. Since allowing three earned runs to the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 2, Abreu has allowed just two runs (one earned) while walking one and striking out eight in six innings for two saves. With Hader back healthy, though, Abreu's fantasy stock has fallen once again. He's currently rostered in just 19% of Yahoo leagues.

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The Texas Rangers announced on Thursday that they activated shortstop Corey Seager (concussion) from the seven-day concussion injured list and placed infielder/outfielder Cody Freeman (back) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to June 22) with a herniated disc in his back in a corresponding move. Seager should be right back in Texas' starting lineup for their contest in Toronto on Thursday against the Blue Jays and right-hander Kevin Gausman. The veteran left-handed-hitting shortstop will return to the big-league roster after missing two weeks with a mild concussion that he suffered in a collision at home plate in early June. Fantasy managers haven't been too happy with Seager in 2026 between his injuries and poor play. He is returning to a rough .186/.284/.373 slash line with nine home runs in his 47 games played in his 12th year in the majors. The five-time All-Star and two-time World Series MVP has time to bounce back in the second half of 2026, though, as long as he can stay healthy, which is something he has struggled with in his career.

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Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement (hip) is starting at shortstop and is batting second for Toronto in Thursday's contest against the visiting Texas Rangers and left-hander MacKenzie Gore, according to MLB.com. Clement missed the last two games for the Jays with soreness in his left hip, and he also missed a few games last weekend with the same issue. He's feeling better now, though, and will return to the field for Thursday's series opener against Texas. Fantasy managers may want to continue to sit Clement, who has hit a cold spell at the plate recently, going 2-for-19 (.105) with a run scored, one walk, and four strikeouts in his last six games. The 30-year-old utility infielder has slashed .292/.313/.437 this year with a .750 OPS, seven home runs, 28 RBI, 35 runs scored, and two stolen bases in his 295 at-bats. Clement lacks power and speed, but his high contact rate and multi-position eligibility make him an asset in fantasy for depth. In seven career at-bats against Gore, Clement has one RBI, a .143 average, and a .365 OPS.

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Boston Red Sox infielder Caleb Durbin (finger) will return for Thursday's series opener against the division-rival New York Yankees at Fenway Park, starting at third base and batting sixth against Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler, per MLB.com. Durbin rejoins Boston's starting lineup a day after being pulled from Wednesday's contest early against the Colorado Rockies due to a partial dislocation of his left pinkie finger. The 26-year-old former 14th-round selection by the Atlanta Braves in 2021 out of Washington University in St. Louis has struggled to a .218/.273/.362 slash line, .636 OPS, five home runs, 30 RBI, 25 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in his 229 at-bats in his first year in Beantown. However, he's become a popular waiver-wire pickup recently since going 20-for-65 (.308) with four home runs, five doubles, eight RBI, 10 runs scored, and three stolen bases in his 19 games in June. Durbin could be battling some pain with his finger in his return on Thursday, and he's gone hitless in five career at-bats against Schlittler.

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Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect Hector Rodriguez continued to show off the power at Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday, smacking his eighth home run in his last 15 games for the Bats. In those 15 games, the left-handed slugger is hitting .351 (20-for-57), and for the season, he owns a .289/.366/.540 slash line with 18 home runs and six steals. The surge has likely put the Dominican on the verge of making his major league debut, though there is no clear path to playing time at the moment. There is some chase in his profile, ranking in the 14th percentile at 35.8 percent, which could be exploited at the major league level, but a 113 mph max exit velocity in 2026 shows the kind of power in his bat. Already being on the 40-man roster will make it easier for the team to bring the 22-year-old up when they're ready, but that may not be until after the All-Star break. Nevertheless, fantasy managers in deep 12+ team leagues scouring the wire for home runs and RBI may want to consider stashing him away in an NA spot until then.

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Miami Marlins pitching prospect Karson Milbrandt continued to avoid trouble in his latest outing at Triple-A Jacksonville, allowing just one run but working around three hits and a whopping five walks in only four innings pitched. The right-hander was able to get out of jams the way he usually does, by striking out seven of the 20 batters faced in the contest. Through three starts at Triple-A, the Marlins' fourth-ranked prospect has pitched to a 1.20 ERA (3.76 FIP) and 1.27 WHIP, but just a 6.8 percent K-BB% due to a high walk rate. In 12 games on the season between Double-A and Triple-A, the former third-rounder has recorded a strong 35.1 percent strikeout rate, but the command could be what is keeping him from making his major league debut. Two of Miami's rotation arms right now are Ryan Gusto (6.00 ERA, 1.61 WHIP) and recently converted reliever Tyler Phillips (4.94 ERA as a starter), and although they'll get Janson Junk back in July, they could use some more help. Milbrandt is not on the 40-man roster, which could also delay his debut, but look for him to get the call after the All-Star break, and he could be a worthwhile stash in deep leagues for his strikeout upside.

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Across 329 plate appearances in 2026, Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll is hitting .279/.365/.537 with 13 home runs, 42 RBI, 48 runs scored, and nine stolen bases. The 25-year-old's relative lack of aggression on the basepaths is a bit surprising considering he stole 32 bases in 143 games last season. However, Carroll's production looks elite, as he's logged strong underlying contact metrics with a 12.3% barrel rate and a 47.9% hard-hit rate. As long as Carroll stays healthy, his 10.9% walk rate and his presence at the top of a strong Diamondbacks lineup should allow him to clear 100 runs scored for the fourth consecutive campaign. Even with his speed decline, Carroll should be valued as an elite fantasy outfielder.

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Milwaukee Brewers outfield prospect Luis Lara continues to shine for Triple-A Nashville, recording an impressive four-hit game on Tuesday, and after going 1-for-2 with a pair of walks on Wednesday, the Brewers' fifth-ranked prospect is now slashing a robust .328/.439/.462 with seven home runs and 20 steals. On the downside, the 5-foot-7 Venezuelan's eye-opening power surge to begin the season has fizzled out, having not hit a home run since May 6, which is a 36-game stretch now without one, and he's been stuck on 20 steals since June 10 after he's come up empty in his last three stolen base attempts. Nevertheless, the switch-hitter is showing an advanced approach, striking out at just a 13.7 percent rate (88th percentile) and walking at a rate higher than that of 14.7 percent (79th percentile). The team has shown confidence in the 21-year-old, recently rewarding him with a seven-year, $31 million contract, so expect to see him in the majors in the coming weeks. Don't expect much power, but with the ability to hit for average, draw walks, steal plenty of bases, and score runs, Lara makes for a solid stash in most 12-team leagues.

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Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero put on a show in Thursday's series finale against the visiting Kansas City Royals at Tropicana Field in a 13-2 blowout victory, going 3-for-5 at the plate with three home runs, six RBI, and a strikeout to boost his season average to .285 and his OPS to .896. Caminero's first two long balls of the day came off veteran starter Seth Lugo, and then he took position player Tyler Tolbert deep in the eighth inning for his 19th homer of the 2026 season. It was the first three-homer game of his career and the second time that he has driven in six runs in a single contest. The 22-year-old Dominican right-handed slugger came into Thursday's clash with the Royals with a .279/.374/.486 slash line, .860 OPS, 16 homers, 37 RBI, and 46 runs scored in 290 at-bats in his fourth year in the big leagues. Caminero hit 45 homers and drove in 110 in his breakout last year, and he's now 10th in the league in home runs this year and 14th in OPS. He's one of the best all-around hitters in the game and is a must-start in fantasy every day.

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Across 340 plate appearances as a rookie this season, Detroit Tigers shortstop/third baseman Kevin McGonigle has hit .283/.388/.428 with six home runs, 28 RBI, 47 runs scored, and nine stolen bases. The 21-year-old has demonstrated an elite approach at the plate, as he's walked in 14.1% of his plate appearances while logging just a 12.9% strikeout rate. Still, fantasy managers expecting more five-category production from the former top prospect may be disappointed with his power output, as he's hit just six home runs and posted uninspiring barrel (8.1%) and hard-hit (36.6%) rates. However, McGonigle has begun to reach a new level in June, slugging .479 with three home runs this month after slugging just .297 in May. McGonigle may not have 25-homer upside, but he could continue to boost his power output over the summer months as the weather heats up in Detroit. In redraft leagues where managers may view McGonigle as a negative in the power category, there may be a buy-low opportunity on the talented infielder.

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Milwaukee Brewers infield/outfield prospect Jett Williams continues to scuffle at Triple-A, but has provided glimpses of what's possible over the last three games. The Brewers' third-ranked prospect has shown some power after cracking a double in Wednesday's contest, he's stolen three bases, scored five runs, and posted a 3:5 BB:K over that three-game span. He even had a two-homer game as recently as June 16. Unfortunately, he's hitting just .163 in 26 games since May 22 with an elevated 25.6 percent strikeout rate, so he'll need to turn it around if the team is going to consider him for a call-up to the majors. The former first-rounder hit 17 home runs and stole 34 bases a season ago, so there is a lot to like about his fantasy potential, and his positional versatility should offer multiple paths to playing time, but fantasy managers will likely have to wait until sometime in the second half before the 22-year-old makes his big league debut. As such, the right-handed hitter doesn't warrant stash consideration in most leagues at the moment.

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San Diego Padres outfielder/second baseman Fernando Tatis Jr. has had an extremely strange season so far in 2026, hitting .283/.347/.367 with three home runs, 28 RBI, 35 runs scored, and 19 stolen bases across 338 plate appearances. After hitting 25 home runs across 691 plate appearances in 2025, Tatis Jr.'s power has inexplicably fallen off a cliff in 2026. However, a closer look at the 27-year-old's profile suggests that better days are ahead. Tatis Jr.'s 10.5% barrel rate and 52.5% hard-hit rate are right in line with his numbers from a season ago. He's hit the ball more on the ground this season, but not enough to explain such a drastic difference in power output. Tatis Jr.'s numbers elsewhere are strong, as his 20.1% strikeout rate is the second-best mark of his career, and he's on pace to reach 35-40 stolen bases. In leagues where Tatis Jr.'s value has fallen significantly, he profiles as a prime buy-low candidate.

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Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Dylan Cease has been one of the better arms in baseball so far this season, recording a 4-3 record with a 2.75 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 118 strikeouts across 78 2/3 innings (14 starts). The 30-year-old was placed on the 15-day injured list in late May due to a hamstring issue, but he was able to return quickly and has allowed just three earned runs across 16 2/3 innings (three starts) since rejoining the Blue Jays rotation. With a 36.2% strikeout rate, Cease has provided incredible swing-and-miss value for fantasy managers. However, managers may have reason to look to sell high. For one, Cease's 10.7% walk rate seems likely to keep his WHIP higher than one would normally hope from a fantasy ace. If the right-hander's 0.57 HR/9 regresses toward his career norm (1.04 HR/9), his ERA will likely rise. Even in the strikeout category, Cease's 36.2% strikeout rate this season is significantly higher than his previous best of 31.9% in 2021. Cease will likely continue to provide high-end value, but fantasy managers may be able to sell high on him at his peak if they act quickly.

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Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins (elbow) made his second rehab start over the weekend, this time at High-A instead of the Complex League, and will likely need a couple more before rejoining Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs' top-ranked pitching prospect made two starts at Triple-A earlier this year, but subsequently went on the injured list with elbow inflammation. The right-hander is coming off a 2025 season in which he struck out 97 batters in 78 innings pitched (31.0 percent K%) and posted a 2.19 ERA with a 1.03 WHIP. With Chicago's major league rotation in shambles due to a plethora of injuries, the team could look to Wiggins in the second half of the season to help fortify the rotation. With an upper-90's fastball and an arsenal that gets plenty of whiffs, fantasy managers should put the 6-foot-6 hurler on their radar, as the 24-year-old could quickly become one of the top arms to stash in the coming weeks.

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Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale has been dominant so far in 2026, recording an 8-5 record with a 2.14 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 99 strikeouts across 84 innings (14 starts). The veteran left-hander's average fastball velocity of 96 miles per hour is his highest since his rookie season in 2010, and his 22.8% K-BB rate remains elite. As long as Sale stays healthy, he should continue to provide ace-level production for fantasy managers. However, injury risk is a major piece of the 37-year-old's profile at this point in his career. Sale has thrown more than 125 2/3 innings in just one season since 2019. For fantasy managers who have starting pitching depth but may be lacking in other areas, selling Sale at the peak of his value may prove to be a wise decision. It would require a major haul, but managers should at least consider selling high on Sale, given his significant track record of missed time due to injury.

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New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (ribs) has been sidelined since late May due to a stress fracture in his rib and is not due to be re-evaluated until around the All-Star break. Across 261 plate appearances before the injury, Judge hit .248/.375/.533 with 17 home runs, 38 RBI, 43 runs scored, and five stolen bases. The 34-year-old was showing some slight signs of decline relative to 2025, as his strikeout rate had risen from 23.6% to 27.6% while his barrel rate had dipped from 24.7% to 21.4%. Still, Judge remains one of the absolute best hitters in baseball when healthy and has the potential to swing fantasy leagues if he can return to full strength for the final two months of the regular season. For fantasy managers who can afford to stash Judge through the remainder of his injury absence, exploring buy-low opportunities might prove fruitful.

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Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Zac Veen extended his hit streak to 24 games on Wednesday and has also reached base safely via hit or walk in 28 straight games now, a streak dating back to May 22. Since then, the Rockies' 13th-ranked prospect has hit .397 (46-for-116) with 14 doubles, four triples, seven home runs, and four stolen bases. The surge has left him with an outstanding .329/.416/.573 slash line for the season, with 11 home runs, 14 steals, and better-than-average walk (13.0 percent) and strikeout rates (20.4 percent). The former first-rounder boasts plenty of power to hit for extra bases, with a max exit velocity this season of 113.4 mph (95th percentile), and together with his baserunning ability, has the makings of a potential multi-category contributor for fantasy. The 24-year-old debuted back in early 2025, but looks very ready for another shot in the majors now, which could come by the end of July. Managers should consider him a high-end stash option in deeper leagues for his multi-category potential.

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The New York Mets announced on Thursday that they placed infielder Marcus Semien (hip) on the 10-day injured list with a left hip-flexor strain and recalled infielder Ronny Mauricio from Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move. It's unclear when the 35-year-old veteran injured his hip, but he played in all 18 innings of the team's doubleheader on Wednesday against the visiting Chicago Cubs. In his first year in Queens, Semien has shown his age, slashing just .214/.271/.341 with a career-worst .613 OPS, nine home runs, 29 RBI, 30 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 80 games across 318 plate appearances. If anything, Semien's IL stint will give the three-time All-Star a mental break, and it's very possible we won't see him until the second half of the season. With Jorge Polanco still on the 60-day IL, Mauricio could get some decent run as the team's primary second baseman with Semien sidelined. Given Semien's declining offensive profile in his 14th year in the majors, he's no longer a must-hold in mixed fantasy leagues. He's currently rostered in 42% of Yahoo leagues.

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