Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (nose) is out of the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener for the Freeway Series against the Los Angeles Angels, according to MLB.com. Muncy was involved in a scary collision at first base on Thursday night with Diamondbacks infielder Ildemaro Vargas and was removed from the game after being checked on by trainers. The good news is that the 35-year-old passed concussion testing and is day-to-day, so Muncy could be back in the starting nine for Game 2 of the Freeway Series at Dodger Stadium on Saturday. Santiago Espinal is starting at third and will bat ninth on Friday versus Angels left-hander Reid Detmers. Muncy enters Friday's action hitting .254/.347/.513 with an .860 OPS, 14 home runs, 22 RBI, and 40 runs scored in his 189 at-bats for the Blue in his 11th year in the majors. Durability has become an issue for Muncy late in his career, but when healthy, he's still valuable in most fantasy leagues for his power and run production in the heart of the Dodgers' stacked lineup.

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Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jorge Soler (hip) is serving as the team's designated hitter and is batting cleanup for the Angels in Friday's series opener in the Freeway Series against the hosting Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Roki Sasaki, according to MLB.com. Soler was pulled early from Wednesday's game against the Colorado Rockies as a precaution with a left-hip injury, but he's back in there as the DH after the team had a scheduled day off on Thursday. The 34-year-old Cuban veteran slugger is batting just .220 (47-for-214) on the season with nine home runs, 33 RBI, and 28 runs scored in 58 games across 243 plate appearances. Soler remains an asset for power and run production in deeper leagues, but he will continue to be a drag on your on-base percentage and batting average. In 14 games since May 19, Soler is hitting .236 (13-for-55) with a homer, double, triple, five RBI, and seven runs scored across his 58 plate appearances. He has gone hitless in just three career at-bats against Sasaki.

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Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto is back at shortstop and is batting leadoff for the Halos on Friday for the start of the Freeway Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Roki Sasaki, according to MLB.com. Whiplash caused Neto to miss the team's last three games, but he's back in there for a series this weekend at Dodger Stadium. The 25-year-old hasn't helped fantasy managers with his average this year, hitting .231 (54-for-234), but he remains an asset in points leagues with 10 home runs, 27 RBI, 42 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in 60 games across 274 plate appearances. Now that he's back on the field, fantasy managers should return him to all starting lineups in traditional formats. Neto will be looking for his first hit against Sasaki, whom he's gone hitless against in just three career at-bats. The starting shortstop has been better at the plate recently, batting .324 (11-for-34) with two homers, four doubles, five RBI, 10 runs, and a steal in his last nine contests.

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Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Ildemaro Vargas (thigh) is not in the team's starting lineup for Friday's game against the visiting Washington Nationals after colliding at first base with Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy in Thursday's walk-off win, according to MLB.com. LuJames Groover, who was called up from Triple-A Reno on Friday, will make his major-league debut on Friday, starting at first base and batting fifth against Nationals left-hander Foster Griffin. Vargas should be considered day-to-day with his thigh injury, and he could be back in Arizona's starting nine as early as Saturday at Chase Field against the Nats. After a strong start at the plate that came out of nowhere for the 34-year-old Venezuelan infielder, Vargas has predictably cooled down offensively. He's hitting .283 (60-for-212) on the season with seven home runs, but he's been ice-cold in his last 15 games, going 5-for-50 (.100) with a double, six RBI, two runs, three walks, and five strikeouts. There's a good chance we may have already seen Vargas' peak in 2026.

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The Miami Marlins announced on Friday that top left-handed pitching prospect Thomas White (shoulder) will likely miss the rest of the 2026 season after suffering a left-shoulder capsular sprain, according to Isaac Azout of Fish on First. The timeline for White's return is 12 to 16 weeks. It's another massive blow to the Marlins' farm system, as the team's second-ranked prospect, lefty Robby Snelling (elbow), is also out for the year after having an internal-brace surgery for a torn UCL in his left elbow. The 21-year-old White was likely looking at an MLB promotion in the second half of this year if he hadn't injured his left shoulder. The former 35th overall pick in 2023 went 0-3 with a 4.01 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and 35:15 K:BB in 24 2/3 innings across seven starts in the minors with Single-A Jupiter and Triple-A Jacksonville before being placed on the seven-day injured list at the end of May. The Marlins' top two pitching prospects now face major setbacks to their development and probably won't be in play in the big leagues until some point in the second half of the 2027 campaign.

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Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said that right-hander Chris Bassitt (back) is traveling on Friday to rejoin the club, and as long as his back checks out, he should make his next start on Monday versus the Seattle Mariners, according to Jake Rill of MLB.com. Bassitt was pulled from his last start on Thursday against the Boston Red Sox due to tightness in his lower back, but it apparently isn't that big of a deal and won't cause him to miss a turn in the starting rotation. Even though the 37-year-old veteran has escaped a serious injury, we wouldn't recommend him as a streamer to begin next week against the M's, who currently rank 12th in the majors with a .715 team OPS. Bassitt is nearing the end of his career and is currently 4-4 with a 5.27 ERA (4.77 FIP) and 1.63 WHIP with 37 strikeouts and 22 walks in 56 1/3 innings across his 12 outings (10 starts) in his first year in Baltimore. He's sporting a career-low 14.2% strikeout rate, which is why he's rostered in only 11% of Yahoo leagues.

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Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis, who is at Triple-A St. Paul, worked with former Twins first baseman Justin Morneau for over an hour on Friday, according to Declan Goff. Since his demotion to the minors after hitting .163 (17-for-104) with three home runs, with a career-high 31.1% strikeout rate through 31 games in 2026, Lewis has turned things around at the plate. Through 14 games with the Saints, Lewis has gone 20-for-56 (.357) with 10 home runs, 22 RBI, and 14 runs scored across 63 plate appearances. Not only has the former first overall pick in 2017 made changes to his swing, but he could also be shifting across the diamond to play first base whenever he rejoins the Twins at the big-league level. Lewis has never reached the 20-homer mark in his four years in the majors, but he has displayed high-end power from the right side in stretches in Minnesota. For his power upside alone, the 27-year-old is worth stash consideration in deeper fantasy leagues before he gets the call back to the Twins. Right now, Lewis is rostered in 20% of Yahoo leagues.

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The Milwaukee Brewers announced on Friday that they recalled right-handed pitching prospect Craig Yoho from Triple-A Nashville. In a corresponding move, the Brewers placed pitcher DL Hall (pectoral) on the 15-day injured list after he was injured in Thursday's contest. Yoho, who is the team's No. 27 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is expected to fill a bullpen role in his return to the big leagues, leaving him little fantasy appeal. The 26-year-old former eighth-round selection in 2023 out of Indiana University Bloomington made his big-league debut last year and allowed seven earned runs on eight hits (one homer) while walking nine and striking out seven in 8 2/3 relief innings. He gets the call for the first time in 2026 after allowing only four runs (two earned) with five walks and 24 strikeouts in 18 innings out of the bullpen at Nashville. The 6-foot-2, 237-pounder's nasty changeup is his bread-and-butter pitch and induces plenty of swings and misses and soft contact. Without a clear path to saves in his return to the majors, though, Yoho can be ignored in most fantasy leagues.

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After their gut-wrenching 7-6 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Thursday night after they blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning, the Athletics designated right-handed reliever Joel Kuhnel for assignment, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. Kuhnel, who had been part of the team's closer-by-committee approach this year, picked up a hold but was hit with the loss on Thursday night by allowing four earned runs on five hits in just two-thirds of an inning. The 31-year-old former 11th-round pick by the Cincinnati Reds in 2016 out of the University of Texas at Arlington allowed seven earned runs on 10 hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out just one in 4 2/3 innings in his last four appearances out of the bullpen to inflate his season ERA to 4.21 (3.96 FIP). With Kuhnel now out of the picture for the A's bullpen, left-hander Hogan Harris could be the current favorite for saves in Sacramento.

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Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (hamstring) is sitting out for a sixth straight game on Friday in Minnesota against the division-rival Twins, according to MLB.com. Nick Loftin will make another start at the hot corner for the Royals and will hit eighth against Twins right-hander Zebby Matthews. Garcia entered Thursday's series opener against the Twins as a pinch-hitter, though, so it would not be a surprise to see him return to action for the third game of the series at Target Field on Saturday. After being named an All-Star for the first time in his career in 2025, the 26-year-old Venezuelan third baseman has underwhelmed in 2026, hitting .268 (60-for-224) with three home runs, 21 RBI, 28 runs scored, and four stolen bases across 57 games and 247 plate appearances. He was beginning to heat up before his hamstring injury, though, going 11-for-32 (.344) with two doubles, three RBI, and two runs scored in nine games since May 22.

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Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker (knee) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting cleanup for the A's in Friday's series opener at Daikin Park against the hosting Houston Astros and right-hander Peter Lambert, per MLB.com. Rooker has been bothered by some knee soreness of late, which is why the A's gave him the day off on Thursday in the final game of the series at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. The team probably also wanted to give the right-handed slugger a day of mental rest after a really rough start to his 2026 campaign. The 31-year-old veteran outfielder enters Friday's action with a .195/.276/.360 slash line, .635 OPS, eight home runs, 26 RBI, 16 runs scored, and two steals in his 164 at-bats. Rooker has gone 5-for-37 with a homer, two RBI, four runs scored, two walks, and 13 strikeouts in his last 10 games. Fantasy managers are looking for any signs of life from Rooker at this point, but it might be wise to keep him benched until that happens. He's gone hitless in just one career at-bat against Lambert.

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St. Louis Cardinals rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt (lower body) is still dealing with some lower-body soreness and remains out of the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener at Busch Stadium against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds, according to MLB.com. Bryan Torres is starting at the keystone for St. Louis and will hit fifth in the batting order against Reds right-hander Brady Singer. Wetherholt was held out of the lineup on Wednesday and will start on the bench again on Friday despite the team having a scheduled day off on Thursday. He's considered day-to-day for now. Fantasy managers will need to check back on Saturday to see if he's back in the lineup for Game 2 of the series. Wetherholt, a former seventh overall pick in 2024 out of West Virginia University, has held his own in his first year in the big leagues as a full-time player, hitting .249/.357/.400 with a .757 OPS, nine homers, 25 RBI, seven steals, and 40 runs scored in 58 games and 266 plate appearances. In 10 games since May 23, Wetherholt is hitting .293 (12-for-41) with two doubles, an RBI, five runs, and a stolen base.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Friday that they selected the contract of rookie infielder LuJames Groover from Triple-A Reno and optioned infielder Jose Fernandez to Reno in a corresponding move. James, who is considered the team's No. 10 prospect per MLB Pipeline, earned his first big-league call-up after hitting .322/.421/.452 with an .873 OPS, three home runs, 16 doubles, a triple, 39 RBI, 37 runs scored, and two steals in 56 games across 256 plate appearances this year for the Aces. The 24-year-old former second-rounder in 2023 out of North Carolina State University can play both third and first base, and he could get some run against left-handed pitching if infielder Ildemaro Vargas misses some time after colliding at first base with Max Muncy on Thursday night. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues can hold off on acquiring the 6-foot-2, 212-pounder, who has a hit over power profile.

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The Houston Astros reinstated second baseman Jose Altuve (oblique) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and optioned infielder Zach Dezenzo to Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move, according to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. Altuve is right back in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Athletics and right-hander Jack Perkins, starting at the keystone and batting fifth at Daikin Park. The 36-year-old former MVP and nine-time All-Star is returning from a Grade 2 strained left oblique that kept him out since May 16. The Venezuelan veteran did not require a minor-league rehab stint, which means he could be a bit rusty at the plate upon his return this weekend. Altive has finally felt the effects of Father Time in 2026, as he enters Friday's action with a .245/.326/.380 slash line, .706 OPS, four home runs, 12 RBI, 27 runs, and one stolen base across 42 games and 185 plate appearances. There's still time for Altuve to turn things around now that he's back to full health, and he's rostered in 85% of Yahoo leagues despite his slow start and oblique injury.

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The St. Louis Cardinals activated outfielder Lars Nootbaar (heels) from the 60-day injured list on Friday and optioned infielder Thomas Saggese to Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move, according to Tamar Sher. Nootbaar will finally be making his 2026 season debut after he had surgery in the offseason to fix deformities in both of his heels. The 28-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder should play regularly in St. Louis against right-handers, although the Cardinals could initially ease him back into the fold after his long layoff from major-league games. In 12 minor-league games, Nootbaar slashed .257/.409/.543 with three home runs. The former eighth-round pick in 2018 out of USC has teased fantasy managers in his five years in the big leagues, but perhaps he can break out if he can put his foot injuries behind him once and for all. In his first five years with the Red Birds, Nootbaar slashed .242/.341/.406 with a .747 OPS, 58 home runs, 194 RBI, and 28 stolen bases in 527 games played. In deep-mixed leagues, Nootbaar is worth a look on the waiver wire as outfield depth now that he's back. He's currently rostered in just 2% of Yahoo leagues.

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New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (rib), who was placed on the 10-day injured list on Friday with a stress fracture in his rib, said he doesn't "like talking timetables... That stuff's all made up." Judge said he thinks he sustained the injury on an awkward dive in Houston back in April. The 34-year-old three-time MVP won't be re-evaluated for another four to six weeks, so fantasy managers have to prepare for the possibility that the superstar outfielder won't be back until after the mid-July All-Star break. In the meantime, with Giancarlo Stanton (calf) and Jasson Dominguez (shoulder) still on the injured list, rookie outfielder Spencer Jones is back with the big-league club to provide outfield depth in the Bronx. Jones will start in right field and bat sixth for the Bombers in Friday's series opener against the division-rival Boston Red Sox and right-hander Sonny Gray at Yankee Stadium. Despite an extended absence for Judge, he should not be dropped in any fantasy baseball leagues. He heads to the IL with a 2.48/.375/.533 slash line, .907 OPS, 17 homers, 38 RBI, 43 runs, and five stolen bases in 214 at-bats.

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The Texas Rangers announced on Friday that they activated outfielder Wyatt Langford (forearm) from the 10-day injured list before the series opener at Globe Life Field against the visiting Cleveland Guardians and left-hander Parker Messick. The Rangers are getting a serious boost with the returns of both Langford and shortstop Corey Seager (back) for the start of their series against the Guardians. Langford has been sidelined since late April due to a Grade 1 flexor strain in his right forearm. He hit just .200 with a homer, two RBI, four runs scored, and a steal in 15 plate appearances during his minor-league rehab assignment, but Langford, when right, is one of the more intriguing young power/speed threats in the game. The 24-year-old former fourth overall pick in 2023 out of the University of Florida was hitting just .238 (19-for-80) with a homer and four RBI before going on the IL this year. Durability has become a major concern with Langford, but he did hit 38 homers, drive in 136, and steal 41 bases in 268 games in his first two big-league seasons with the Rangers.

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The Boston Red Sox transferred left-hander Garrett Crochet (lat) to the 60-day injured list on Friday, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. The move doesn't come as a surprise, as the Red Sox needed the 40-man roster spot, and Crochet has already been on the IL for around 40 days due to what was initially a left-shoulder injury. The 26-year-old southpaw had a setback during his rehab last week, when he suffered a low-grade lat strain. Before that, Crochet was struggling to get his mechanics dialed back in. Now that he's on the 60-day IL, fantasy managers won't get him back until some point in July, potentially after the mid-July All-Star break. The former 11th overall pick by the Chicago White Sox in 2020 out of the University of Tennessee was a second-time All-Star in 2025 and finished second in the American League Cy Young voting after going 18-5 with a career-best 2.59 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 255:46 K:BB in 32 starts. Crochet had an ERA over 6.00 in six starts this year before going on the IL, but he also had 37 K's in 30 innings, and he should remain stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy baseball leagues.

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The New York Yankees announced that outfielder Jasson Dominguez (shoulder) is starting a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday. Barring a setback on his rehab assignment, Dominguez could return to the Yankees' big-league roster at some point late next week. The 23-year-old Dominican switch-hitter is recovering from a left-shoulder AC joint sprain that he suffered when he crashed into the outfield wall. The Yankees placed superstar outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) on the IL on Friday, and he could be sidelined through the mid-July All-Star break due to a stress fracture in his rib. With Giancarlo Stanton (calf) still sidelined as well, Dominguez figures to play regularly in the Yankees' outfield once he returns. The Martian didn't make the Opening Day roster out of spring training and only played in nine games for the Yanks before his shoulder injury, going 6-for-30 (.200). Still, Dominguez has enough power/speed upside to be attractive as a waiver-wire pickup in at least deep-mixed fantasy leagues. He is rostered in under 10% of Yahoo leagues right now.

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Detroit Tigers right-handed reliever Kenley Jansen (pelvis), who is eligible to come off the 15-day injured list next Friday, is throwing a bullpen session on Friday, according to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. Jansen has been out since May 28 with inflammation in his pelvis, but the veteran reliever is already throwing off a mound and could be ready to return to start next weekend if he continues to progress and can avoid any setbacks. Although Will Vest and Enmanuel De Jesus have the Tigers' last two saves with Jensen on the shelf, right-hander Kyle Finnegan is considered the best option for saves in the short term until Jansen can return to the back end of the Tigers' bullpen. The 38-year-old Jansen has seven saves in 15 innings pitched in his first year in Motown, but he has shown his age, going 1-3 with a 4.80 ERA (5.84 FIP) and 1.20 WHIP with 19 strikeouts and nine walks in his 18 relief appearances. He's going to need to pitch better upon his return to hold off Finnegan in the ninth inning for the rest of the 2026 season. Jansen is currently rostered in 68% of Yahoo leagues.

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