Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that starting pitcher Max Scherzer (back) played catch on Monday and could throw off a mound on Tuesday, per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. Scherzer was placed on the 15-day injured list in mid-June due to back spasms. Before the back injury, the veteran right-hander missed roughly six weeks with forearm and ankle issues. Scherzer has struggled mightily even when healthy this season, recording a 1-4 record with a 10.23 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts across 22 innings (six starts). Scherzer's myriad injury issues may help explain some of his difficulties on the mound. Still, the 41-year-old's days as a reliable starting pitcher option for fantasy managers may be behind him. It's unclear whether Scherzer will require a rehab start before returning to the mound for Toronto, but he will likely remain sidelined through the All-Star break either way.

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Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that outfielder/third baseman Addison Barger (elbow, back) suffered a stress reaction in his back and will be shut down for a couple of weeks, per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. Barger was working his way back from an elbow injury that has sidelined him since early May, but it appears he will remain on the shelf through the All-Star break at the least. It's been a nightmarish season so far for Barger, who also missed time earlier in the year with an ankle issue and has logged just 28 MLB plate appearances in 2026. The 26-year-old emerged as a quality big-side platoon bat in 2025, hitting .243 with 21 home runs across 502 plate appearances. Without him, Toronto will likely continue to rely on Nathan Lukes and Yohendrick Pinango as their primary corner outfielders.

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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Monday that right-hander Tyler Glasnow (back) has resumed a throwing progression, but that the team is still "being very cautious right now" to avoid any more setbacks, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. It's unclear when Glasnow will be cleared to take the next step in his rehab and throw off a mound, but he will not return from the 60-day injured list before next month's All-Star break. The Dodgers initially didn't think Glasnow would be out for long with his back injury, but the hard-throwing 32-year-old veteran had a setback and is being brought along slowly now. He has been on the IL since early May due to lower-back spasms. Despite the unclear return timeline -- it could be August before Glasnow is back in the big-league starting rotation -- he's a must-stash in all fantasy baseball leagues for his strikeout upside on the best team in baseball. Glasnow was 3-0 with a 2.72 ERA (3.25 FIP) and 0.83 WHIP with 49 strikeouts and 13 walks in 39 2/3 frames across his seven starts before his back injury.

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Detroit Tigers right-hander Keider Montero will shift to his team's bullpen "for now," per Jason Beck of MLB.com. The 25-year-old has made 16 appearances (15 starts) for Detroit so far this season, recording a 4-5 record with a 3.39 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 56 strikeouts across 87 2/3 innings. With just a 16.1% strikeout rate, Montero has not provided much swing-and-miss value for fantasy managers. Still, he's limited free passes (5.2% walk rate) and hard contact (7.7% opponent barrel rate). The Tigers have multiple veterans in their current starting rotation who may not be with the team after the trade deadline, which could open the door for Montero to return to a fantasy-relevant role. However, he currently projects for a bulk relief role and can likely be dropped in shallower leagues.

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New York Mets outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (back) is set to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Robert Jr. has been sidelined since late April with lumbar spine disc irritation, but it appears he could be on the doorstep of a return to the big leagues. Across 98 plate appearances before the injury, Robert Jr. hit .224/.327/.329 with two home runs, eight RBI, 10 runs scored, and two stolen bases. The 28-year-old had lowered his strikeout rate to a career-best 17.3%, but he also logged just a 2.9% barrel rate. When fully healthy, Robert Jr. carries high-end power/speed upside. However, he's only reached 450 plate appearances once in seven MLB seasons.

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The Milwaukee Brewers expect right-hander Logan Henderson (back) to return from the 15-day injured list before the mid-July All-Star break, manager Pat Murphy told Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Constitution. Henderson struck out seven in three innings during his first minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Nashville on Sunday and will make one more rehab start before rejoining Milwaukee's starting rotation in early July. The 24-year-old threw only 50 pitches on Sunday, so he still needs to be a little more stretched out before the Brewers feel comfortable welcoming him back to the big-league roster. Even though Henderson isn't back in the majors just yet, his return is on the horizon, and fantasy managers in need of rotation help should be looking to grab him off the waiver wire right now. He's only rostered in 40% of Yahoo leagues, and he could be a difference-maker for fantasy teams in the second half. Before his back injury, the former fourth-rounder in 2021 out of McLennan Community College was 2-1 with a 2.74 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 30:6 K:BB in 23 innings over five starts.

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Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said that right-handed reliever Emilio Pagan (hamstring) will be activated from the 15-day injured list on Tuesday, according to Charlie Goldsmith of FOX 19. Francona also said it "makes sense" to put Pagan in the ninth-inning closer's role. The 35-year-old veteran reliever will rejoin Cincy's bullpen for the first time since being put on the IL in early May due to a Grade 2 strained left hamstring. Pagan wasn't exactly pitching well in the closer's role earlier this year for the Reds before his hamstring injury, as he had a 6.43 ERA and 1.43 WHIP with 11 strikeouts in 14 innings pitched, but he also had six saves in his 15 appearances, and he is the most experienced closer in Cincy's bad bullpen with 71 career saves. It makes even more sense for Pagan to immediately return as the Reds' closer with both Tony Santillan (oblique) and Graham Ashcraft (elbow) out with injuries. Pagan is only rostered in 65% of Yahoo leagues. This is your reminder to go and pick Pagan up if you need saves.

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New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (calf) has restarted a running program and will take live at-bats against left-hander Max Fried (elbow) on Tuesday, per Newsday's David Lennon. However, a timeline for Stanton's return remains unclear. The oft-injured 36-year-old veteran initially landed on the 10-day injured list back on April 28 with a calf injury, and then he had his rehab paused after he suffered a right-calf strain on June 11. He's making progress once again, but given how slow he has recovered, fantasy managers shouldn't necessarily be expecting the right-handed slugger to be back with the Yankees before next month's All-Star break. The final test for Stanton will likely be to run at full speed, and he'll also most likely need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before being officially reinstated from the IL. Most fantasy managers have decided that the former MVP and five-time All-Star's durability issues just aren't worth the hassle for his power anymore. Stanton is only rostered in 23% of Yahoo leagues at this time, and he was hitting .256 (23-for-90) with three home runs, 14 RBI, eight runs, a steal, and a 30.2% strikeout rate in 96 plate appearances before going on the shelf.

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New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that left-hander Max Fried (elbow) is scheduled to throw a two-inning simulated game on Tuesday and throw 30 pitches, according to David Lennon of Newsday. It will be the first time that Fried has faced live hitters since the Yankees put him on the 15-day injured list on May 16 with a bone bruise in his left elbow. The 32-year-old All-Star southpaw is making good progress, but he won't have enough time to get stretched out to rejoin the big-league starting rotation before the All-Star break in the middle of July. Fried, who is a three-time All-Star, was excellent in his first year in pinstripes in 2025, when he won a league-high 19 games and posted a 2.86 ERA (3.07 FIP), 1.10 WHIP, and 189:51 K:BB in 195 1/3 innings across his 32 regular-season starts. Before going on the IL with his elbow injury, Fried went 4-3 with a 3.21 ERA (2.71 FIP) and 1.00 WHIP with 50 K's and 19 walks in 10 starts. In a best-case scenario, Fried will be ready to roll in late July, and he should not be floating around on any waiver wires at this time.

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New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. (head) is leaving Monday's game early against the visiting Detroit Tigers after colliding with outfielder Jasson Dominguez in the fourth inning in the Bronx, according to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. Chisholm took an elbow to the head and was being checked for a concussion by the medical staff. Before being replaced at second base by Oswaldo Cabrera, Chisholm went 0-for-1 at the plate with a strikeout. Fantasy managers should check back later on Monday evening to see if Chisholm passed through the league's concussion protocol. If not, there's a good chance he'll land on the seven-day concussion injured list. The two-time All-Star came into Monday's series opener against Detroit with just a .223 batting average (63-for-283), but he also has 12 home runs, 33 RBI, 24 stolen bases, and 42 runs scored in his 80 games and 320 plate appearances as one of the most valuable players eligible at the second base position in fantasy baseball. If Chisholm is forced to miss additional time, veteran Amed Rosario could see more playing time at the keystone in addition to Cabrera.

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San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames (back) is out of the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener in Arizona against the division-rival Diamondbacks due to back spasms, according to MLB.com. Casey Schmitt, who was out on Sunday with an illness, will start at shortstop and bat third for the Gigantes against Diamondbacks left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez. Adames was pulled from Sunday's game in the eighth inning due to back spasms and will sit out the first game of the week in Arizona. He's considered day-to-day for now, so fantasy managers will want to check back in on Tuesday to see if he's available for Game 2 of the series at Chase Field. While Adames won't help your fantasy team's batting average or on-base percentage much, he's still on pace for a third straight 30-homer season with 14 long balls in 81 games across 342 plate appearances to this point in his second year in the Bay Area. He could be a popular trade candidate before August's deadline, too, and a move to a contending team would only boost his second-half fantasy value.

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San Francisco Giants infielder/outfielder Casey Schmitt (illness) is starting at shortstop and is batting third for the Giants in Monday's series opener on the road against the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks and left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, according to MLB.com. Schmitt was under the weather and didn't play on Sunday in the series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies, but he's back to begin the week and will move to the 6 with regular shortstop Willy Adames sitting due to back spasms. The 27-year-old is in the midst of a breakout in 2026 in his fourth year in the big leagues, slashing .290/.316/.508 with an .825 OPS, 16 home runs, 42 RBI, 37 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in 75 games across 313 plate appearances in a regular utility role for San Fran. He's not only having a career year, but he's eligible at first base, second base, third base, and the outfield in Yahoo leagues. Schmitt is hitting .280 (28-for-100) with four homers, three doubles, nine RBI, 10 runs, and two steals in 24 games in June and is batting .625 with a 2.042 OPS, two homers, and three RBI in just eight career at-bats against Rodriguez.

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Seattle Mariners first baseman/outfielder Luke Raley (forearm) is out of the starting nine for Monday's series opener against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels, according to MLB.com. It is the second straight start that Raley will miss due to soreness in his left forearm. Victor Robles is starting in right field again and will bat eighth against Angels right-hander Ryan Johnson. Raley should be considered day-to-day and could return to the starting lineup as early as Game 2 of the series at T-Mobile Park on Tuesday. The 31-year-old veteran left-handed slugger has interesting pop, but he lacks a ton of fantasy upside in mixed leagues because he doesn't play regularly against left-handed pitchers. In 206 at-bats this year, he's slashing .238/.302/.485 with a .788 OPS, 14 home runs, 35 RBI, 25 runs scored, and a stolen base in 73 games played. Raley has been awful in 19 games (61 plate appearances) in June, going 7-for-56 (.125) with a homer, two doubles, four RBI, three runs scored, four walks, and 20 strikeouts.

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Seattle Mariners outfielder Dominic Canzone (hamstring) is back in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels and right-hander Ryan Johnson, serving as the designated hitter and batting third, per MLB.com. Canzone is back in action on Monday after sitting out Sunday's series finale against the Cleveland Guardians with right-hamstring soreness. The 28-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder has been one of the team's most consistent hitters this year and already is up to a career-high 12 home runs, slashing .274/.349/.542 with an .891 OPS, 33 RBI, 29 runs scored, and a stolen base in 190 at-bats. He is hitting .323 (21-for-65) with five home runs, three doubles, a triple, and 11 runs scored in 22 games in June, but he's cooled off of late, going 3-for-23 with a homer, two RBI, three walks, and nine strikeouts in his last eight contests. Canzone lacks fantasy upside in shallow-mixed leagues because he rarely plays against lefties, but he's hitting a nice .281 (48-for-171) with 11 of his 12 long balls against righties this year.

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Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez (wrist) is out of the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener on the road against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers due to a wrist injury, according to MLB.com. Sal Stewart will man the hot corner and bat second, with Spencer Steer starting at first and batting third versus Brewers left-hander Robert Gasser. Suarez was pulled from Sunday's loss to the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates early when he was hit by a pitch on his left wrist in the sixth inning. Thankfully, X-rays and a CT scan on the 34-year-old veteran's wrist came back clean, which has the Reds optimistic that he'll be back during the series this week against the Brewers. The 34-year-old Venezuelan has struggled in his return to the Reds in 2026, hitting just .208/.276/.376 with a career-low .652 OPS, eight home runs, 29 RBI, 18 runs scored, and a career-high 33.2% strikeout rate in 217 plate appearances. He has really struggled in 22 games in June, going 15-for-81 (.185) with four homers, four doubles, 14 RBI, five runs, four walks, and 32 strikeouts. The strikeouts continue to pile up, making fantasy managers wonder if Suarez is even worth the power at this point in his career.

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Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (leg) is out of Monday's starting lineup for the series opener against the Minnesota Twins after reporting "left-leg soreness," manager Joe Espada told Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Pena is visiting with team doctors. With Pena out to begin the week, Nick Allen, who is back from the injured list, will start at the 6 and bat eighth for the Astros against Twins right-hander Zebby Matthews. Until we have more specifics on the 28-year-old Dominican's leg injury, fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day. The former third-round pick in 2018 out of the University of Maine has battled various injuries in 2026, but when available, he's been solid, slashing .295/.356/.443 with a .799 OPS, six home runs, 21 RBI, 34 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in 48 games and 202 plate appearances as the Astros' starting shortstop. Check back on Tuesday to see if Pena is ready to rejoin the action for Game 2 of the series at Daikin Park in Houston.

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Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (ankle) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting leadoff on Monday for the series opener against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers and left-hander Robert Gasser, according to MLB.com. De La Cruz twisted his ankle in Sunday's loss to the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates, but he stayed in the game after having his ankle taped. With the star shortstop serving as the DH, Matt McLain will start at the 6 and bat eighth, with Edwin Arroyo playing second base and hitting in the nine-hole. De La Cruz might not be exactly 100% healthy, but the 24-year-old Dominican should be in all starting lineups in traditional leagues as a five-category contributor. The two-time All-Star is hitting .268/.339/.480 with a career-high .819 OPS, 12 home runs, 38 RBI, 10 stolen bases, and 42 runs scored across 63 games and 280 plate appearances. De La Cruz has gone 21-for-71 (.296) at the plate against southpaws this year, adding five of his 12 home runs against them in 78 plate appearances.

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The Athletics announced on Monday that they placed first baseman/outfielder Tyler Soderstrom (hip) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to June 28) with a left-hip impingement. In corresponding moves, the club selected infielder Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and recalled infielder Darell Hernaiz from Triple-A Las Vegas. Soderstrom was forced from Saturday's game early with his hip injury and will now head to the sidelines after being held out of the lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Los Angeles Angels. He'll be eligible to come off the IL on July 8, but with the All-Star break the following week, Soderstrom could very well just be held out as a precaution until the second half. With Soderstrom out for at least 10 days, Colby Thomas should see more playing time for the A's in left field. The 24-year-old Soderstrom should be held in all fantasy leagues while he recovers from his hip injury. The former first-rounder in 2020 is an emerging power bat in a hitter-friendly home park after he clubbed 25 homers, drove in 93 runs, and stole eight bases in a breakout 2025 campaign. He's currently slashing .242/.343/.460 with an .803 OPS, 13 homers, 41 RBI, and 41 runs scored across his 80 games in 2026.

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Texas Rangers outfielder Brandon Nimmo (shoulder) is out of the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the Cleveland Guardians and will undergo an MRI exam on his shoulder, according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. Nimmo said he was "OK," but acknowledged he's dealing with soreness. With Wyatt Langford (hamstring) going back on the injured list over the weekend, the Rangers can ill-afford for Nimmo to join him on the shelf as the end of the first half of the season nears. Alejandro Osuna is starting in left field on Monday, with Ezequiel Duran starting in right field and batting third against Guardians left-hander Parker Messick. Nimmo played all nine innings in Sunday's series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays, but he banged up his shoulder while crashing into the outfield wall. For now, fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day and check back on Tuesday to see if he's active for Game 2 of the series in Cleveland. In his first year with the Rangers, Nimmo has hit .262/.333/.420 with a .754 OPS, eight home runs, 29 RBI, 35 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 82 games and 354 plate appearances.

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The Athletics placed shortstop Jacob Wilson (thumb) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to June 26) on Monday with right-thumb inflammation, according to the team. In corresponding moves, the A's selected the contract of infielder Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and recalled infielder Darell Hernaiz from Triple-A Las Vegas. Wilson will land on the IL with a thumb injury despite missing the last four games with soreness in his left shoulder. It's unclear exactly how serious his thumb injury is, but if it's minor, Wilson will have a shot to return in early July before the All-Star break. While he's out, look for Alika Williams to continue to see starts at the 6 in Sacramento. Wilson, a former sixth overall pick in 2023 out of Grand Canyon University, burst onto the scene in 2024 in his MLB debut and was a first-time All-Star in 2025, but he has been mediocre for fantasy purposes in 2026. He makes lots of contact and rarely strikes out, but there are plenty more interesting shortstops that provide more power/speed upside. Wilson is hitting .277 (56-for-202) with only four home runs, 26 RBI, 23 runs, and two stolen bases in 50 games played for the A's this year.

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