San Diego Padres second baseman/outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr.'s lack of power has been one of the bigger storylines in 2026. The 27-year-old Dominican entered Tuesday's clash against the hosting Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field with only three home runs in 319 at-bats. He flipped the narrative for at least one night, though, going 2-for-5 at the plate with two solo home runs and a strikeout as the Padres' leadoff hitter. Tatis is now hitting a strong .284 on the season with a .728 OPS and five home runs. He went deep off starter Matthew Boyd in the first inning on Tuesday, followed by another solo shot off reliever Javier Assad later in the game. Tatis' underlying metrics have always been hinting at a power surge eventually in 2026, and his buy-low window might already be shut. The three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner ranks in the 96th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 80th percentile in xwOBA, the 67th percentile in barrel rate, and the 66th percentile in xSLG. After coming into June with just one homer, Tatis homered four times in June, and many more could be coming in the second half.

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Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. put forth his best effort on Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays, but it was not enough in the team's 10-4 loss. Witt went 3-for-4 at the plate with two home runs and three RBI to boost his season average to .294 and his OPS to .846. The 26-year-old former second overall pick in 2019 finished June with only three long balls, but he came into Tuesday's contest hitting .293 (22-for-75) during the month with a homer, five doubles, seven RBI, 11 stolen bases, and 14 runs scored in 20 games and 90 plate appearances. He also entered Tuesday's clash against Tampa with a strong .288/.363/.456 slash line with an .819 OPS, 10 homers, 33 RBI, 28 steals, and 42 runs scored in 309 at-bats in 2026 in his fifth year in the big leagues. The two-time All-Star is one of the best and most consistent five-category producers in fantasy at the premier position of shortstop. Witt is a must-start in fantasy lineups every day he's in the starting lineup.

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Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that the injection that veteran right-hander Max Scherzer (back, side) received "did what it should" to free up the left side of his back more, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. "He's encouraged with how he feels physically," Schneider said. The three-time Cy Young winner and future Hall of Famer will most likely need a couple of minor-league rehab starts at Triple-A Buffalo to build back up before he returns to the major-league roster, per Schneider. The news means that the 41-year-old will not return to the Jays before the All-Star break in mid-July, although he could be ready to roll for the start of the second half, barring a setback on his rehab assignment. The eight-time All-Star just hasn't been able to stay healthy in the last couple of seasons as he nears the end of a fantastic career, and fantasy managers should have plenty of better upside starting pitching options to choose from. In his six starts in 2026 with Toronto, Scherzer has limped to a 1-4 record, 10.23 ERA (8.78 FIP), 1.73 WHIP, and 14:11 K:BB in 22 innings.

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Colorado Rockies outfielder Brenton Doyle (groin, oblique) was scheduled to play a full minor-league rehab game in center field for Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday, but he was scratched from the lineup before first pitch due to groin tightness, according to MLB.com. Doyle has been on the 10-day injured list since May 21 with a left-oblique contusion. The 28-year-old former fourth-round pick in 2019 out of Shepherd University was nearing a return to the big-league roster in early July, but it's now unclear if he'll have a shot to rejoin the Rockies before the mid-July All-Star break. In four rehab games before being scratched on Tuesday, Doyle was 4-for-16 at the plate. It's unclear when Doyle will be ready to return to game action, but it's yet another setback for a declining player that won't be guaranteed regular playing time in Colorado when he's reinstated from the IL. Before his oblique injury, Doyle was slashing just .207/.279/.270 with a homer, four RBI, 21 runs, nine stolen bases, and a 32.8% strikeout rate in 43 games played. He's now only rostered in 31% of Yahoo leagues.

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San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman (leg) appeared to tweak something in his right leg while making a play in the sixth inning against the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, according to Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News. Chapman remained in the game to hit but was eventually pulled from the contest after he popped out and wasn't running well down the base line. Luis Arraez moved from second base to third base, while Jonah Cox entered the game to play the keystone for the Gigantes. Before leaving, Chapman went 0-for-3 at the plate with a strikeout to drop his season average to .235 and his OPS to .692. The 33-year-old veteran will almost certainly undergo testing to reveal the severity of his leg injury, and fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now. Don't expect Chapman to be in the lineup for Wednesday's game in Arizona. Chapman continues to provide counting stats for fantasy managers as an everyday player, but overall, he's been a disappointment, coming into Tuesday's game hitting .237 (72-for-304) with seven homers, 42 RBI, and 35 runs scored in his 83 games and 349 plate appearances.

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Boston Red Sox left-hander Connelly Early (elbow) was removed from his start early on Tuesday night against the Washington Nationals in the fifth inning with "left-elbow discomfort," according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Before leaving, Early looked good at Fenway Park, throwing four scoreless innings with three hits allowed, two walks and five strikeouts in a no-decision in the eventual 8-1 loss. It's unclear how serious the 24-year-old southpaw's elbow injury is, but with the All-Star break quickly approaching in mid-July, this might be the last we see of Early until late July. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Wednesday for an update on his condition. In his second year in the majors with Boston in 2026, Early entered his outing on Tuesday with a 7-5 record, 3.59 ERA (4.72 FIP) and 1.25 WHIP with 88 strikeouts and 32 walks in 87 2/3 innings across his 16 starts. His strikeout rate has come down from 36.7% in four starts as a rookie in 2025 to 23.5% this year, but he remains one of the more intriguing young left-handed arms in the game, and he's rostered in 63% of Yahoo leagues. Don't be surprised if Early requires a trip to the IL.

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Since being called up for his MLB debut on June 16, Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt is hitting .211/.295/.237 with zero home runs, two RBI, four runs scored, and five stolen bases across 44 plate appearances. The 21-year-old does not profile as much of a power threat, as he's logged a 3.4% barrel rate in the majors after posting a 3.7% barrel rate across 261 plate appearances at Triple-A before his promotion. However, Pratt is known as an elite defensive prospect at shortstop, which should help extend his runway as the Brewers' everyday shortstop. Pratt has demonstrated an ability to get on base, logging a 13% walk rate at Triple-A and an 11.4% walk rate in his small sample of big league plate appearances so far. As long as that holds, Pratt should be able to continue to provide value on the basepaths. Fantasy managers should temper their overall expectations for Pratt, but he could be a viable source of speed to target on the waiver wire.

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Across 25 1/3 innings (25 games) in 2026, Washington Nationals right-hander Clayton Beeter has recorded a 3-1 record with a 3.20 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 28 strikeouts, and six saves. The 27-year-old's control of the strike zone remains a major concern, as he's posted a 16.5% walk rate this season and owns a 16.2% walk rate for his big-league career. Still, Beeter is averaging 95.6 miles per hour on his fastball and has struck out 25.7% of the batters he's faced this season. Washington has opted for a committee approach to the ninth inning so far this season, so fantasy managers should not expect Beeter to see every save opportunity for the Nationals. Still, Beeter missed nearly a month of action earlier this season with a forearm injury and is still first in saves among relievers currently on Washington's active roster. Fantasy managers in need of saves should target Beeter on the waiver wire in leagues where he remains available.

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Across 184 plate appearances entering play on Tuesday, San Francisco Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos was hitting .267/.310/.436 with five home runs, 21 RBI, and 21 runs scored. Ramos missed over a month after suffering a quad strain in mid-May, but he returned to the Giants lineup on Sunday and homered in his second game back on Monday. The 26-year-old has been a consistent presence at the plate in recent seasons, topping 20 home runs and 65 RBI in both 2024 and 2025. Ramos' underlying power metrics remain strong so far in 2026, as he's logged a 13.6% barrel rate and a 49.6% hard-hit rate. Ramos is a poor defensive outfielder and has been much better against left-handed pitching than right-handed pitching in his career, both of which may keep him out of the Giants lineup on occasion. Still, he profiles as a quality source of power and run production for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.

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After opening 2026 in a bullpen role, New York Mets left-hander Sean Manaea was moved back to the team's rotation in mid-June. Across 20 innings (four starts) since the switch, Manaea has recorded a 4.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 19 strikeouts. At 34 years old, Manaea should no longer be expected to provide the same production he once did at his peak. The veteran's average fastball velocity is down to 90.6 miles per hour this season, and he posted a 5.64 ERA across 60 2/3 innings (15 games, 12 starts) in 2025. Still, Manaea posted a 24% K-BB rate even amidst his struggles last season, and he's still just two years removed from logging a 3.47 ERA and 12 wins across 181 2/3 innings in 2024. Now that he's back in the Mets rotation, Manaea could be a viable starting pitcher streamer for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.

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Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel had the start of his 2026 season delayed by knee and hamstring injuries that held him out until June 22. Across 30 plate appearances since returning, Teel is hitting .231/.333/.346 with one home run, six RBI, and four runs scored. The 24-year-old has struggled to find his timing at the plate, striking out in 40% of his plate appearances. However, Teel was impressive after making his MLB debut in 2025, hitting .273 with eight home runs, 35 RBI, 38 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 297 plate appearances. Teel also dominated Triple-A pitching in his rehab appearances before returning this season, logging a 1.054 OPS across 34 trips to the plate. Once Teel finds his rhythm, he could provide top-12 catcher production for fantasy managers in the second half of 2026.

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Washington Nationals infielder Nasim Nunez has struggled at the plate so far this season, hitting .232/.319/.274 with zero home runs, 27 RBI, and 33 runs scored across 279 plate appearances. However, the 25-year-old has been a major fantasy asset on the basepaths, logging an MLB-high 32 stolen bases in 35 attempts. Nunez also profiles as a high-end defender at second base, which has helped keep him in the Nationals lineup on a near-everyday basis despite his limited output at the plate. With a 0.0% barrel rate and a 19.9% hard-hit rate, fantasy managers should not expect Nunez to provide any real value outside of stolen bases. Still, for deeper league managers who have power to spare but might be in desperate need of speed, Nunez could be worth targeting on the waiver wire.

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Seattle Mariners first baseman/outfielder Luke Raley (forearm) is sitting out for a third straight game due to a forearm injury in Tuesday's game against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels, per MLB.com. Weston Wilson is making the start in right field for the M's and is batting ninth against Angels right-hander Jose Soriano. Raley remains day-to-day for now, and it's unclear if his forearm injury is serious enough to land him on the 10-day injured list. The left-handed-hitting slugger has been pretty beat up of late and has hit just .125 (7-for-56) with a homer, two doubles, four RBI, three runs scored, four walks, and 20 strikeouts in 19 games played during June. Raley is now only rostered in 13% of Yahoo leagues after his tough month of June. His upside is limited in mixed fantasy leagues because he's in a platoon in Seattle's outfield against right-handed pitchers. Despite a .283 average (49-for-206) on the year, Raley does have some value for his left-handed pop (14 homers) in the right matchups when he's in the starting lineup.

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Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (back) exited Tuesday's game early against the Cleveland Guardians with back discomfort, according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. Seager was unable to get loose and was removed from the contest before even taking an at-bat. Cameron Cauley will take over at the 6 in Cleveland. The severity of Seager's back injury is unknown right now, but for an aging player who has already been on the injured list multiple times in 2026, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Texas shut the 32-year-old down going into July. In addition to injuries limiting Seager to 50 games in his 12th year in the big leagues, he has hit a disappointing .182/.292/.374 with a career-worst .667 OPS, 10 home runs, 25 RBI, 28 runs scored, and a stolen base in 219 plate appearances. Although he has walked 12.8% of the time, Seager is also sporting a career-worst 26.9% strikeout rate. Check back for an update on Seager's status, which should come no later than Wednesday morning.

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Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani will not pitch in Wednesday's series finale in Sacramento against the Athletics and will be pushed back to start in Friday's game at home against the division-rival San Diego Padres, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. The Dodgers will go with a bullpen game on Wednesday at Sutter Health Park. Ohtani will have a final start in the first half of the season on July 10 against the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks. The 31-year-old four-time MVP and five-time All-Star has been outstanding on the mound for the Dodgers in 2026, going 8-2 with a 1.58 ERA (2.56 FIP) and 0.90 WHIP with 86 strikeouts and 24 walks in 79 1/3 innings pitched across his 13 starts. Ohtani has been a bit more vulnerable on the mound lately, though, allowing 11 runs (nine earned) on 18 hits (one homer) while walking six and striking out 19 in 18 2/3 frames in his last three starts. In his first meeting with the Friars on May 20, Ohtani threw five shutout innings with two walks and only four K's for his fourth win of the year. Despite being a bit more human of late as a pitcher, Ohtani should be considered a must-start this Friday in L.A. against a weak Padres offense.

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San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames (back) is sitting out for the second straight game on Tuesday against the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks due to back spasms, according to MLB.com. Casey Schmitt will make the start at the 6 again and will bat third in the order versus D-backs right-hander Brandon Pfaadt. Adames left Sunday's contest against the Philadelphia Phillies early with back spasms and hasn't played since. For now, he's being considered day-to-day. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Wednesday to see if Adames is active for the series finale in the desert. If he doesn't play on Wednesday, Adames' next chance to play will be in Friday's series opener in Denver against the Colorado Rockies after a day off on Thursday. The 30-year-old Dominican is hitting just .231 (74-for-321) on the year, but he's on track for a third straight 30-homer campaign with 14 long balls in 81 games played. Adames will be glad to see the calendar flip to July, as he went 17-for-86 (.198) with six homers, three doubles, nine RBI, 12 runs, seven walks, and 26 strikeouts in 23 games in June.

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The Toronto Blue Jays announced that first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (back) has been scratched from Tuesday's starting lineup against the visiting New York Mets due to back tightness. Sean Keys will make the start at first base for Toronto and will bat cleanup against Mets right-hander Nolan McLean. It's a bit concerning for Guerrero's fantasy managers after he left last Friday's game against the Chicago Cubs early with a back injury. The 27-year-old Canadian returned the very next day, but his back issue has cropped up again, which means he's likely to sit out at least a few days this time around. Perhaps the five-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner hasn't been fully healthy for much of the first half of the season, which would help explain his .268/.347/.348 slash line with a .695 OPS, only four home runs, 34 RBI, 45 runs scored, and six stolen bases in his 299 at-bats. For now, we'll consider Vladdy day-to-day, but this could quickly turn into an injured-list situation if he is unable to return to the Jays' lineup by this weekend.

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The Miami Marlins announced that they activated catcher/first baseman Liam Hicks (back) from the 10-day injured list. Hicks is starting at first base and is batting leadoff for the Fish on Tuesday on the road against the Colorado Rockies and right-hander Tanner Gordon at hitter-friendly Coors Field. Fantasy managers will want to get the 27-year-old Canadian back in their starting lineups immediately. It's a great week for him to return from the IL with games in Denver and at hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park in Sacramento this weekend. The former ninth-rounder by the Texas Rangers in 2021 out of Arkansas State University is having a breakout campaign in 2026, slashing .278/.359/.472 with an .831 OPS, 13 home runs, 53 RBI, 40 runs scored, and a stolen base in his 248 at-bats in just his second year in the majors. In just three career at-bats against Gordon, Hicks has a home run and two RBI. Fantasy managers have caught on and added Hicks before he landed on the IL. He's now rostered in 83% of Yahoo leagues.

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Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said that middle infielder Matt McLain worked out in center field on Tuesday, according to FOX 19's Charlie Goldsmith. The Reds have a need in center field with both Blake Dunn (elbow) and Dane Myers (shoulder) going on the injured list recently, and McLain could give them a right-handed bat at the position to close out the first half of the season. The 26-year-old former 17th overall pick in 2021 out of UCLA is batting just .199/.303/.344 with a .646 OPS, eight home runs, 25 RBI, 31 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases across 256 at-bats in his third year in the big leagues, leading to rookie Edwin Arroyo taking over the majority of the playing time at the keystone in 2026. McLain moving to center field would open up another avenue for him to get into Cincy's lineup, but it remains to be seen if he'll see enough starts there to gain outfield eligibility in fantasy leagues. TJ Friedly is starting in center and batting ninth for the Reds on Tuesday against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander Brandon Sproat.

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Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said that right-hander Hunter Greene (elbow) will come off the 60-day injured list to make his 2026 season debut on Saturday versus the Baltimore Orioles, according to Charlie Goldsmith of FOX 19. The hard-throwing former second overall pick threw 82 pitches in 6 1/3 scoreless innings in his final minor-league rehab start on Sunday with Triple-A Louisville, and he didn't allow a single run in 14 1/3 minor-league innings while striking out 13 and walking two during his three rehab starts. Greene has been on the IL since having surgery on March 11 to remove bone spurs from his right elbow, but he's finally ready to rejoin the Reds' starting rotation. Since he shouldn't be facing any restrictions with his workload on the Fourth of July, fantasy managers should be looking to throw him right into the fire against the O's, a team that ranks third in strikeouts in 2026. Green is rostered in 73% of Yahoo leagues and is an absolute must-add anywhere he's still available. He has the potential to be a fantasy ace in the second half of the season.

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