Cincinnati Reds middle infielder Matt McLain is making his first career start in center field and will bat eighth in Wednesday's contest on the road against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers and left-hander Shane Drohan, per MLB.com. The Reds need a right-handed-hitting center fielder, with both Blake Dunn (elbow) and Dane Myers (shoulder) currently on the injured list. The 26-year-old former 17th overall pick in the 2021 MLB draft out of UCLA has lost out on playing time at second base to rookie Edwin Arroyo while coming into Wednesday's game with a .198 average (51-for-257) with eight home runs, 25 RBI, 11 stolen bases, 31 runs scored, and a 25.9% strikeout rate. McLain's strikeout rate is actually a career low, and he also has a career-best 11.8% walk rate, so positive regression should be coming his way in the second half. However, an everyday role in Cincy's lineup the rest of the way isn't guaranteed, which is why he's rostered in only 33% of Yahoo leagues now. He's been ice-cold at the plate in his last 11 games, going 3-for-27 (.111) with a double, two runs scored, a steal, four walks, and 14 strikeouts.

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The Kansas City Royals announced on Wednesday that they transferred left-hander Kris Bubic (elbow, shoulder) to the 60-day injured list after it was announced earlier in the day that he was heading back to KC to be evaluated after being scratched from his scheduled minor-league rehab start. Bubic was initially placed on the 15-day IL on May 15 with soreness in his left elbow before encountering a setback in mid-June due to left-shoulder discomfort. Something else popped up this week, and now Bubic probably won't be an option to rejoin the Royals' starting rotation until August. Given that this is his second setback in his recovery, there's the potential for the 28-year-old southpaw to join fellow lefty Cole Ragans (elbow) in being shut down for the rest of the season. Bubic was a first-time All-Star in 2025 in his sixth year in the league and was 3-2 with a 4.11 ERA (3.72 FIP) and 1.23 WHIP with 51 strikeouts and 26 walks in 50 1/3 innings across his nine starts earlier this year. He's now rostered in under 50% of Yahoo leagues with no timetable for a return in the second half.

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Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (calf) was doing some light on-field running at Daikin Park on Wednesday with a trainer, according to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. The Astros placed Pena on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday with a strained left calf, but it's obviously not a very serious injury, and the team is hoping that he'll be ready to return when he's eligible to come off the IL. Raynel Delgado is starting at shortstop and batting ninth for Houston on Wednesday against the visiting Minnesota Twins and right-hander Taj Bradley, but Nick Allen and potentially Brice Matthews could also see action at the 6 until Pena makes his way back. Pena, 28, is by no means an elite, high-end option at the shortstop position in fantasy, but he is more than serviceable across most categories and is having a fine season despite a handful of injury issues. Through 183 at-bats in 2026, the Dominican infielder is hitting .295/.356/.443 with a .799 OPS, six homers, 21 RBI, 34 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. Keep him stashed in an IL spot in all leagues.

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Baltimore Orioles right-handed closer Ryan Helsley (elbow) was dealing with some right-elbow discomfort, which is why he was not used on Wednesday in the 6-1 win over the visiting Chicago White Sox at Camden Yards, according to Jake Rill of MLB.com. Helsley is being checked out now, and manager Craig Albernaz said more information will come in the next few days. The MASN broadcast of the game showed Helsley in the bullpen holding his right arm after he stopped warming up, and he flexed his hand a few times and was rubbing his right elbow area with his other hand. This should have the O's and fantasy managers very concerned, as the 31-year-old veteran already missed seven weeks earlier this year due to inflammation in his right elbow. Helsley is a prime candidate to go back on the injured list before the All-Star break, with Rico Garcia once again being the top candidate for saves in Baltimore. Check back on Helsley's status on Thursday, but in the meantime, fantasy managers should run to the waiver wire and add Garcia, who is rostered in only 21% of Yahoo leagues.

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Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said the goal for injured right-hander Edward Cabrera (hamstring) is for him to throw off a mound in bullpen sessions before the All-Star break in mid-July, according to Casey Drottar of MLB.com. Cabrera was placed on the 15-day injured list with a moderate strained left hamstring last week. If the 28-year-old resumes throwing bullpen sessions in early July, he'll have a pretty good shot to rejoin Chicago's starting rotation following the break. However, it's unclear if the Cubs will want to send him on a minor-league rehab start before he's reinstated. In his first year on the North Side of Chicago, the Dominican hurler has been extremely volatile for fantasy managers, going 5-4 with a 5.10 ERA (5.07 FIP) and 1.39 WHIP with 65 strikeouts and 29 walks in 72 1/3 innings pitched across his 14 starts. Injuries have also been an issue. In his four starts in June, Cabrera really struggled, posting an 8.35 ERA (6.87 FIP) with six homers allowed, 18 strikeouts, and nine walks in 18 1/3 frames. Fantasy managers won't be in a rush to get him back into their starting lineups in the second half.

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Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Brandon Young has reached five innings in seven straight starts, and none of those outings included more than three earned runs. He also gave fantasy managers a little more swing-and-miss than usual on Friday, striking out a season-high eight while allowing two runs over five frames against Washington. Young is now (6-2) with a 3.11 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 57 strikeouts in 72 1/3 innings. His next turn is scheduled for Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds. Young is not going to carry a fantasy staff in strikeouts, but the steady workload and clean ratios have made him useful. He has worked his way onto 40% of Yahoo rosters and can be used as a streamer against the Reds this week. In most leagues, Young is more of a matchup play than a must-add for fantasy managers looking for innings and solid ratios.

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Chicago Cubs right-hander Javier Assad came out of the bullpen and took a step backward in Tuesday's 9-7 win over the San Diego Padres, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks over 2 2/3 innings. All four runs came on eighth-inning homers by Gavin Sheets and Fernando Tatis Jr. The rough appearance raised Assad's season ERA to 4.53, though he still carries a solid 1.12 WHIP through 51 2/3 innings. One bad night should not completely wipe away his recent work. From June 7 through June 24, Assad posted a 1.96 ERA and 0.78 WHIP across 23 innings while making three starts and one long-relief appearance. His role is now the bigger question after coming out of the bullpen in Tuesday's game. Despite the rough performance, Assad has been solid enough this season to be added in 15-team formats. Managers in standard 12-team leagues can wait until Chicago gives him another start and keeps him in the starting rotation.

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Athletics infielder Max Muncy has not exactly torn the cover off the ball since returning from a fractured left hand, but he has supplied some useful pop. Over 18 games since June 8, Muncy is 13-for-57 with three home runs and 13 RBI. He now has five homers, 20 RBI, 22 runs, and three steals across 149 at-bats this season. That is not enough to make him a shallow-league priority, especially with a 32.9% strikeout rate and recent work from the seventh spot. Still, Muncy is hitting the ball much harder than he did last season, posting a 48.5% hard-hit rate and 11.3% barrel rate. Yahoo lists him at 7% rostered, and his eligibility at second base, third base, and shortstop makes him easier to fit into a lineup. He is a reasonable add in 15-team formats and someone to monitor for fantasy managers searching for infield help in 12-team leagues.

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Los Angeles Dodgers infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman delivered his best game since returning from right ankle surgery, going 4-for-5 with a three-run homer, four RBI, and two runs in Tuesday's 9-3 win over the Athletics. It was his first homer of the season, and he is now hitting .395/.452/.579 with eight RBI in 38 at-bats since making his season debut on June 17. The sample is small, but he has struck out only seven times. Edman has started nine games since his debut, mostly batting sixth or seventh. His eligibility at second base, third base, and outfield adds to the appeal, though he has yet to attempt a steal after ankle surgery. Still, only 18% of Yahoo leagues have Edman rostered. He is worth adding in leagues with 12 or more teams, as long as his playing time remains steady.

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New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez is finally starting to heat up. He has gone deep four times over his last 15 games while batting .278 with seven RBI and six runs. That stretch includes a 415-foot blast against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, giving him nine homers across 180 at-bats this season. Alvarez also posted an .821 OPS in June after returning from right meniscus surgery earlier in the month. The strikeouts are still part of the package, but few widely available catchers can match his power. Alvarez owns a 17.8% barrel rate and has even received time at designated hitter as the Mets look for ways to keep his bat in the lineup. He is rostered in just 20% of Yahoo leagues and should be picked up in two-catcher formats. Managers in deeper one-catcher leagues should also give him a look while the power is rolling.

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Athletics reliever Hogan Harris has gone nearly three weeks without a save, and his recent work has not helped his case for more chances. Over his last seven appearances, the left-hander has allowed five earned runs on 10 hits and two walks in six innings. That works out to a 7.50 ERA and 2.00 WHIP. Harris still leads the club with six saves, though, and his 47 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings are enough to keep him in the late-inning mix. The Athletics have not settled on anyone. Elvis Alvarado remains part of the committee, while Mason Barnett earned the team's most recent save on Saturday. Harris is too risky for shallow leagues, but his 10% Yahoo roster rate leaves him widely available for managers scrambling for saves in 15-team formats. He is a little easier to roster in leagues that reward solds, as Harris has racked up 10 holds and six saves in 41 games this season.

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Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect Jesus Made continues to show off the skillset that has made him MLB's top-ranked prospect. The switch-hitter recorded a three-hit game over the weekend and has two steals in his last four contests, bringing his season-long slash line to .281/.355/.441 with seven home runs and 23 steals while competing as one of the youngest players at Double-A. The 6-foot-1 Dominican is also walking at a 10.2 percent rate with a low 15.1 percent strikeout rate, showing he's not overmatched at that level. A test at Triple-A could happen in the second half, and his elite talent could help him earn a late-season debut in the majors despite his age. With above average hit, power, and run tools, fantasy managers would be wise to keep the 19-year-old on their radar in the event of an eventual call-up.

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Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker (knee) was away from the team on Tuesday while being evaluated at Stanford University for his knee injury, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. "I wouldn't say that his progress has stopped... it hasn't progressed as efficient as we'd like. So he's down there going through another exam," manager Mark Kotsay said. The A's placed the 31-year-old veteran outfielder on the 10-day injured list on June 12 with a bone bruise in his left knee, but he has been slow to recover, making it unlikely that he's back with the big-league squad before the mid-July All-Star break. Until Rooker can progress to facing live pitching, we won't have a better read on a clear timeline for his return. Before his knee injury, the two-time All-Star was hitting .200/.281/.389 with a .670 OPS, 10 home runs, 29 RBI, 20 runs scored, a 32% strikeout rate, and two stolen bases in 48 games across 203 plate appearances. Rooker has reached the 30-homer mark in his previous three seasons, but he's seriously in danger of coming up well short of that mark in 2026, barring a big second-half surge.

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Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (hip) remains absent from the starting lineup for Wednesday's tilt against the hosting Houston Astros at Daikin Park due to a hip injury, according to MLB.com. Ryan Kreidler is making another start in center field for the Twins and will bat seventh versus Astros right-hander Tatsuya Imai. Buxton is officially day-to-day with a right-hip impingement, and his next chance to rejoin the starting nine will come in Friday's series opener in the Bronx against the New York Yankees after the Twins are off on Thursday. The Twins and fantasy managers are definitely keeping their fingers crossed that the 32-year-old two-time All-Star won't need a stint on the injured list at the very end of the first half of the season. Buxton has a long injury history in his 11 years in the majors, but he's stayed healthy in 2026 and has been marvelous with a .268/.325/.573 slash line, .898 OPS, 25 home runs, 43 RBI, 56 runs, and seven steals in 73 games played after clubbing a career-high 35 homers and driving in 83 with 24 steals in 126 games in 2025. Check back on Buxton's status on Friday.

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Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (hand) will continue his rehab in Arizona to start the month of July, but he's hoping to start a minor-league rehab assignment before the mid-July All-Star break, according to MLB.com. Pasquantino suffered a fractured hamate bone in his right hand during an at-bat on June 13 and had surgery the following day. The Royals also placed the Pasquatch on the 10-day injured list on June 14. Barring a setback during his rehab assignment, the left-handed slugger should return to the Royals starting lineup after the All-Star break in mid-July. The 28-year-old former 11th-round selection in 2019 out of Old Dominion University broke out with 32 RBI and 113 RBI in 160 games in 2025 in his fourth year in the big leagues, but before his injury in 2026, he was hitting just .224 (57-for-254) with six homers, 32 RBI, and a career-high 17.5% strikeout rate. Despite Pasquantino's slow start this year, he can provide game-changing power from the left side if he's healthy in the second half, and he's rostered in 64% of Yahoo leagues right now.

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Kansas City Royals senior vice president Scott Sharp said that left-hander Kris Bubic (elbow, shoulder) will be scratched from his minor-league rehab start on Wednesday night, according to Sports Radio 810. Bubic will return to Kansas City for further evaluation, and there is no timetable for his return from the 15-day injured list. The 28-year-old southpaw has been on the shelf since being placed on the IL in the middle of May with soreness in his left elbow, and he was pulled off his rehab in mid-June due to discomfort in his left shoulder. Bubic has avoided any structural damage in his elbow or shoulder, but because he hasn't been able to take the next step in his return, the Royals will have another look. At the very least, Bubic won't return to KC's starting rotation until late July in a best-case scenario. The former first-rounder in 2018 out of Stanford University was 3-2 earlier this year before his elbow injury with a 4.11 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 51 strikeouts in 50 1/3 innings pitched over nine starts. Bubic has mixed-league fantasy value when healthy, but his uncertain timetable makes his second-half outlook very cloudy.

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Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (hand) is making good progress after having surgery to fix a fractured hamate bone in his left hand, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. Ramirez had the stitches removed from his hand on Tuesday, is feeling good, and could soon resume swinging a bat in his rehab process. The 33-year-old was previously able to resume gripping a bat and has been doing fielding drills while throwing at 140 feet. The seven-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger winner broke his left hamate bone against the Detroit Tigers on June 13 and was placed on the 10-day injured list the next day. The Guardians said he'd miss around five to seven weeks of action, with this Tuesday marking the two-week mark since J-Ram had surgery. Assuming Ramirez has no setbacks, he's still another three to five weeks away from returning to the big-league roster. Although his numbers are down compared to his lofty standards, Ramirez must be held in all fantasy formats. He's still logged a .757 OPS with 10 home runs, 18 doubles, 33 RBI, and 24 stolen bases while appearing in each of the team's first 72 games.

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Toronto Blue Jays veteran right-hander Max Scherzer (back) said he's traveling with the team out west and will make a minor-league rehab start on Friday with High-A Vancouver, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. Scherzer will rejoin the team in Seattle on Saturday, throw a side session on Sunday, and determine his next steps from there. The Blue Jays have already said that the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer will require multiple rehab starts, so Scherzer won't be an option to rejoin Toronto's starting rotation next week, and he most likely won't be a realistic option to come off the 15-day injured list until after the All-Star break in mid-July. The three-time Cy Young winner has once again had an injury-plagued season with the Jays. He's been out since mid-June due to back spasms on the left side of his back, and before that, he had a lengthy stay on the IL with forearm tendinitis. Scherzer has only been able to make six starts in 2026 and has gone 1-4 with a rough 10.23 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, 14 strikeouts, and 11 walks in 22 innings. Fantasy managers should continue to ignore the fading star.

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The Toronto Blue Jays announced on Wednesday that they placed outfielder/designated hitter George Springer on the paternity list and recalled outfielder Jonatan Clase from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move. With Springer now away from the team for the birth of his child, Sean Keys will serve as the DH for Wednesday's series finale against the New York Mets and right-hander Freddy Peralta at the Rogers Centre. Springer will be away from the team for up to three days, so he could miss most of the upcoming series against the Seattle Mariners that starts on Friday, July 3. The 36-year-old veteran and four-time All-Star hasn't been able to replicate his resurgent 2025 campaign, when he hit .309/.399/.560 with 32 home runs, 84 RBI, and 18 stolen bases in 140 regular-season games. Through 63 contests and 279 plate appearances in 2026, the 13-year veteran is slashing just .221/.308/.373 with a .681 OPS, eight home runs, 21 RBI, 29 runs, and six steals. Fantasy managers should not be expecting him to return to his 2025 form in the second half.

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Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (back) is starting at first base and is batting in the two-hole for Wednesday's series finale against the visiting New York Mets and right-hander Freddy Peralta, per MLB.com. Guerrero was scratched from Tuesday's starting lineup due to back tightness, but he's back in there a day later. The 27-year-old five-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger has been among the biggest fantasy disappointments in 2026, as he comes into Wednesday's game with a .268/.347/.348 slash line, .695 OPS, only four home runs, 34 RBI, 45 runs scored, and six stolen bases in his first 299 at-bats. The buy-low window for fantasy managers is still wide open for Vladdy, who should rebound in the second half based on his .294 expected batting average, .415 expected slugging percentage, and .347xwOBA. Guerrero ranks in the 65th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 35th percentile in hard-hit rate, and the 65th percentile in walk rate. He'll be searching for his first hit against Peralta, whom he has gone hitless against in six career at-bats.

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