Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal (elbow) will return from the 15-day injured list and start on Saturday against the Cleveland Guardians, manager A.J. Hinch told Jason Beck of MLB.com. Right-hander Jack Flaherty will go in the series opener on Friday, with Casey Mize (groin) returning from the IL to pitch in the series finale on Sunday. Skubal had surgery on his left elbow in early May to remove loose bodies from his arm, but he has made a rapid recovery and will return this weekend for the Tigers and fantasy managers. In his lone minor-league rehab start for High-A West Michigan on Sunday, the back-to-back American League Cy Young winner threw five scoreless innings and struck out six while tossing 54 pitches. Skubal will probably be a bit limited length-wise on Saturday in his first start back in the Tigers' rotation, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect too much. The 29-year-old southpaw and two-time All-Star went 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings across his seven starts this year before landing on the IL.

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Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize (groin) is likely to return from the 15-day injured list to start against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians on Sunday in the series finale, but the Tigers are waiting for him to complete his bullpen session on Thursday before setting that in stone, according to Evan Woodbery of MLive Media Group. Right-hander Jack Flaherty will get the ball for Friday's series opener, with lefty Tarik Skubal (elbow) returning from the IL to pitch on Saturday in Game 2. Mize has been sidelined with inflammation in his right groin since late May, but he looked good during his lone minor-league rehab start, allowing just one run in five innings with five strikeouts for Single-A Lakeland on Tuesday. The 29-year-old former first overall pick in 2018 out of Auburn University has never been a big strikeout artist, but he has a career-best 26.5% strikeout rate in 2026 and has posted a strong 2.27 ERA (2.41 FIP) and 0.96 WHIP with 49 strikeouts and 12 walks in his nine starts for Detroit before landing on the IL. Don't dismiss Mize as a matchup-based streamer in fantasy leagues. He's rostered in just over half of Yahoo leagues.

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San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman is definitely starting to heat up as the summer approaches. In the team's wild 11-10 win at Oracle Park on Wednesday night over the visiting Washington Nationals, Chapman went 4-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, a double, three RBI, and three runs scored to boost his season average to .262 and his OPS to .754. Both of the 33-year-old's homers were of the solo variety as the Giants marched back from an eight-run deficit to win the ballgame. So far in June, Chapman has gone 15-for-32 (.469) with five home runs, two doubles, 18 RBI, and seven runs scored in 10 games played. The former first-rounder by the Athletics in 2014 out of California State University, Fullerton, only has six home runs on the season, but it looks like he might be coming out of his early-season funk, especially in the power department. Under the hood, he still ranks in just the 22nd percentile in xwOBA and the 29th percentile in hard-hit rate.

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Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Ryan Ward could be playing his way into a larger role with a great start to his MLB career. The 28-year-old lefty is 8-for-30 (.267) with a pair of doubles, three home runs, and a 14.3% barrel rate through his first nine games. He's currently in a strict platoon with Alex Call, starting against righties and sitting against lefties, but he has shown enough power potential to be worth a look in deep leagues. In Triple-A before his promotion, he was hitting .254 with six homers and a .370 wOBA. He is getting enough playing time in an excellent lineup to be a deep-league add right away, and he could work his way to standard-sized league relevance if he keeps mashing.

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Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Gregory Soto got the job done on Wednesday to earn his ninth save, but it wasn't a clean and neat outing. He only needed eight pitches, all strikes, to get through the inning, but he gave up two hits, including a two-run blast by Shohei Ohtani. The 31-year-old lefty is 4-1 in his 30 games this season with a 3.38 ERA and 3.10 FIP, and he has racked up 34 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings. While he has been effective overall, he has given up five runs in his last two appearances, so he'll need to get things turned around if he wants to maintain his role as the team's top closer. If he continues to struggle, Dennis Santana and Evan Sisk could be more in the mix for saves for the Pirates.

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Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Bryan Hudson issued one walk but no hits in his one shutout inning to earn his third save of the season on Wednesday night against the Braves. Seranthony Dominguez worked a clean eighth inning ahead of Hudson, with both relievers preserving a narrow 2-1 lead. The White Sox will continue to mix and match Dominguez, Grant Taylor, and Hudson, but for now, Hudson is definitely growing into enough of a role to be worth grabbing in deeper leagues. Hudson has a 2.32 ERA in 31 innings with a 21.1% K%.

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Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Garrett Cleavinger earned his second save of the season on Wednesday in his team's 7-5 win over the Red Sox. Cleavinger gave up a home run to Caleb Durbin and issued a walk ot Isiah Kiner-Falefa, but he struck out Andruw Monasterio to end the game. Closer Bryan Baker had worked in each of the previous two games, earning back-to-back saves. Baker has a 1.98 ERA and 18 saves this season, tied for the second-most in the majors. Cleavinger isn't likely to supplant Baker anytime soon, barring injury, but he has been effective in a setup role and could earn an occasional save chance like this one. The 32-year-old lefty is 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA and 4.02 FIP across his 15 1/3 innings this season. Cleavinger can be useful in leagues that value setup stats, but he's best left for deep leagues, while Baker continues to be so effective.

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Mariners' SP George Kirby recorded 10 strikeouts in 6 innings but took the loss in a 7-2 loss to Baltimore on Wednesday, Jun. 10.

Rays' SP Drew Rasmussen recorded 13 strikeouts in 7 innings collecting the win in a 7-5 win over the Red Sox on Wednesday, Jun. 10.

New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (arm, back) will resume a minor-league rehab assignment on Thursday for Double-A Binghamton, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. Senga was scratched from a rehab start on Tuesday with ulnar nerve irritation in his right arm, but it apparently wasn't a very serious issue. The Japanese native originally went on the injured list due to lumbar spine inflammation in late April. The 33-year-old has only made five starts for the Mets in 2026 in his fourth year in the majors, and he did not look good, going 0-4 with 21 runs allowed (20 earned) on 26 hits (five homers) while walking 13 and striking out 23 in 20 innings pitched. Senga was an All-Star in his first year with the Mets in 2023, going 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 202:77 K:BB in his 29 starts, but he only made one start the following year due to injury. He had a solid 3.02 ERA in 22 starts in 2025, but he fell off late in the year and was sent to the minors to work on his mechanics. He has not bounced back since and is now on the waiver wire in most mixed fantasy leagues. It's unclear how many rehab starts he might need before being an option to return to Queens.

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Houston Astros right-hander Hunter Brown (shoulder) looked good on Wednesday night in what could be his final minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits while walking two and striking out seven in five innings against Triple-A Sacramento. Brown threw 45 of his 74 pitches for strikes in the contest and generated 11 swings and misses while averaging 96.4 mph on his fastball. The 27-year-old could very well be making his next start with the Astros after working his way back from a Grade 2 strain in his right shoulder that landed him on the injured list in early April. If Brown is reinstated from the 60-day IL to rejoin Houston's starting rotation, his next outing would come next week versus the Detroit Tigers. The former fifth-rounder in 2019 out of Wayne State University will be a must-start when he returns after proving to be a fantasy ace in his breakout season in 2025. In his two starts this year before injuring his shoulder, he had a 0.84 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 17 K's in 10 2/3 innings.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers will place catcher Will Smith (neck) on the 10-day injured list on Thursday (backdated to Saturday) and will recall catcher Chuckie Robinson from Triple-A Oklahoma City in a corresponding move, according to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. Smith will head to the shelf after missing the last four games with soreness in his neck, but he'll be eligible to return from the IL on June 19. In the meantime, Dalton Rushing will receive a short-term fantasy boost as L.A.'s primary catcher. Rushing has actually been more productive than Smith in 2026 in fewer plate appearances, entering Wednesday's game in Pittsburgh with a .286/.364/.552 slash line, a .917 OPS, eight home runs, 21 RBI, and 19 runs scored over his 105 at-bats. Smith hasn't been as productive so far this year, and he's hit just .209 (9-for-43) with two homers, two doubles, four RBI, seven runs scored, eight walks, and eight strikeouts in his last 13 games. Despite the disappointing numbers so far this year, Smith should be held in most fantasy baseball leagues.

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Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin (elbow) made throws from as far as 90 feet on Wednesday and "felt fine," per DK Pittsburgh Sports. The young shortstop has been on the 10-day injured list since late May due to a flexor strain in his right elbow. Across 208 plate appearances before the injury, Griffin hit .270/.327/.402 with four home runs, 22 RBI, 30 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases. While it's a positive sign that the 20-year-old has resumed throwing, it appears he will need a bit more time before he's ready to return to the Pirates lineup. Upon his return, Griffin profiles as a high-upside bat with five-category production potential for fantasy managers. In his absence, Pirates infielder Jared Triolo has received the majority of the team's playing time at shortstop.

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Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Mick Abel (elbow) put together a strong performance in his first rehab appearance with Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday, striking out five across three scoreless innings (47 pitches). The 24-year-old has been on the 15-day injured list since mid-April due to inflammation in his right elbow. Across 20 1/3 innings (four appearances) before the injury, Abel recorded a 1-2 record with a 3.98 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, and 23 strikeouts. While Abel's overall line is not particularly impressive, his last start before the injury was a 10-strikeout, seven-scoreless-inning gem against the Boston Red Sox. The hard-throwing right-hander will likely need at least one more rehab start before he's ready to return to the Twins rotation, but he appears to be close to full health. Abel profiles as a solid waiver wire stash target for fantasy managers in need of strikeout upside ahead of his return.

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Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Adolis Garcia (shoulder) was removed from Thursday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays early after pulling a muscle in his right shoulder area, according to Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Garcia is being evaluated further. The 33-year-old Cuban was holding his right arm after making a throw to home plate while trying to throw out George Springer in the seventh inning of the Phillies' eventual 7-4 win at the Rogers Centre. Garcia was replaced in right field by Steward Berroa after he went 0-for-3 at the plate with a walk and a strikeout. Until we know more about the severity of Garcia's shoulder injury, we'll consider him day-to-day. If the injury isn't serious, Garcia could be back on the field for the Phillies as soon as Friday's series opener in Milwaukee against the Brewers after a scheduled day off on Thursday. The two-time All-Star has continued to trend downward in 2026 in his first year in Philly, as he's currently hitting under the Mendoza Line with seven homers, 21 RBI, 21 runs, and three steals across his 67 games played.

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New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone failed to provide an exact date but said that starting pitcher Max Fried (elbow) will undergo new imaging on his elbow later this week, per Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Fried has been on the 15-day injured list since mid-May due to a bone bruise in his pitching elbow, but he has advanced to throwing long toss and appears to be making steady progression towards a return. The 32-year-old recorded a 4-3 record with a 3.21 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts across 61 2/3 innings (10 starts) before getting injured. Fried's 20.8% strikeout rate is underwhelming for fantasy managers, but he projects as an excellent source of both ratios and wins upon his return. Fried will likely need at least a few rehab starts before he's ready to return to the Yankees, so he's likely still multiple weeks away from his return at a minimum.

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Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (hamstring) took part in infield drills for the second straight day on Wednesday and is scheduled for an MRI on Friday, per C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. The 24-year-old was placed on the 10-day injured list with a hamstring strain on June 1, but he appears to be making a speedy recovery and could return to the Reds lineup in short order. Across 257 plate appearances before getting injured, De La Cruz hit .280/.346/.509 with 12 home runs, 37 RBI, 40 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. De La Cruz's production fell off a cliff in 2025 when he attempted to play through a quad injury, which could lead the Reds to bring him along more slowly this time around. Fantasy managers should check back for a more definitive return timeline following the results of De La Cruz's upcoming MRI on Friday.

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Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (knee, shoulder) was experiencing shoulder soreness after his most recent rehab start and will not return to the Cubs rotation over the weekend as originally planned, per Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times. Boyd has been on the 15-day injured list since early May after suffering a torn meniscus in his knee. While it appears that the veteran left-hander is ready to return from the knee ailment, he may now be facing a larger issue with his shoulder. Boyd was arguably Chicago's best starting pitcher in 2025, recording a 14-8 record with a 3.21 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 154 strikeouts across 179 2/3 innings (31 starts). However, the injury bug has come back to bite Boyd, who pitched just 202 2/3 innings across a four-season stretch from 2021 through 2024. Fantasy managers should check back for further updates on Boyd.

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Baltimore Orioles closer Ryan Helsley (elbow) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, per Roch Kubatko of MASN. Helsley has been on the 15-day injured list due to elbow inflammation since late April, but he appears to be on the doorstep of a return to the big leagues. Across 10 2/3 innings (12 games) before the injury, Helsley pitched to a 2.53 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with 15 strikeouts and seven saves. While Helsley's 15.2% walk rate in a small sample size is a bit of a concern, he averaged 98.9 miles per hour on his fastball and struck out 32.6% of the batters he faced. Upon his return, he should slot back in as the primary closer in Baltimore.

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Seattle Mariners right-hander George Kirby may have taken his sixth loss of the season in Wednesday's 7-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, but he still pitched very well for his fantasy managers. Kirby picked up a quality start by allowing three earned runs on seven hits (one homer) while walking three and striking out a season-high 10 in six innings of work. Everything was going well for Kirby through five shutout innings before he gave up all three runs on three extra-base hits in the sixth frame. He has now been handed a loss in four of his last five outings, but Wednesday's outing hopefully will help the 28-year-old turn things around after he had an ERA over 7.00 in his last four starts. After his strong outing on Wednesday, Kirby now has a 4.07 ERA on the season and 1.31 WHIP with 74 strikeouts and 21 walks in 84 innings across his 14 starts for the M's. The Orioles aren't the best matchup in baseball, but fantasy managers should be willing to roll the dice and start Kirby again for his rematch with Baltimore next week.

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