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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The Kansas City Royals announced on Tuesday that right-hander Stephen Kolek has been transferred from the paternity list to the family medical emergency list. Kolek missed his last start on Friday in a matchup against the Chicago White Sox, and he could now miss another start this Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays. It's unclear if his move to the family medical emergency list is at all related to his paternity leave, and it's unclear when Kolek might rejoin KC's starting rotation. The 29-year-old former 11th-round pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018 out of Texas A&M University has only made nine starts (52 innings) in 2026 in his first full season with the Royals, going 4-2 with a 4.15 ERA (4.54 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 34 strikeouts and 11 walks. With a career strikeout rate of just 16.9%, Kolek is primarily a low-upside, matchup-based streamer in deeper fantasy baseball leagues. If he rejoins the team soon and starts on Thursday against Tampa, we wouldn't recommend using him as a streamer.

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Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz (shoulder) is serving as the team's designated hitter and is batting leadoff for Tuesday's contest in Kansas City against Royals left-hander Noah Cameron, according to MLB.com. Jonathan Aranda is starting at first base and batting second. Diaz was pulled from Sunday's series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks with a strained left shoulder, but he's back in there for Tuesday's series opener against KC after a scheduled day off on Monday. Fantasy managers will want to get him back into their starting lineups in all traditional formats, especially with how well he has swung the bat in June. The 34-year-old Cuban veteran has gone 36-for-92 (.391) with a homer, six doubles, 15 RBI, and 14 runs scored in 25 games and 109 plate appearances, boosting his season slash line to .336/.416/.515 with a .932 OPS. Diaz is also hitting .400 with a .900 OPS and an RBI in a small sample size of five career at-bats against Cameron.

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New York Yankees left-hander Max Fried (elbow) will throw another live batting practice session on Sunday, manager Aaron Boone told Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. Fried threw a two-inning simulated game at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday for the first time since going on the injured list in mid-May and apparently didn't suffer any setbacks. If he has another successful live session on Sunday, the Yankees could clear him to start a minor-league rehab assignment. The 32-year-old southpaw and three-time All-Star is making good progress, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to be a realistic option to rejoin New York's starting rotation until after the All-Star break in mid-July. He has been a must-start since joining the Yankees before last season, going 23-8 with a 2.94 ERA (2.98 FIP) and 1.08 WHIP with 239 strikeouts and 70 walks in 257 innings pitched across his 42 starts. Fried was 4-3 this year with a 3.21 ERA (2.71 FIP), 1.00 WHIP, and 50:19 K:BB in 61 2/3 innings across 10 starts before going on the IL with an elbow injury.

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Updating a previous report, Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss said on Tuesday that it's a "long shot" that outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring) will return before the All-Star break in mid-July, according to Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Acuna is going through a full pre-game workout at Truist Park on Tuesday, but the Braves aren't going to rush him back after his second stint on the injured list this year with a strained left hamstring. It means that Eli White should continue to see regular playing time in Atlanta's outfield to close out the first half of the 2026 campaign. Acuna's fantasy managers must remain patient and hope he's ready to roll right after the All-Star break, which runs from Monday, July 13, through Thursday, July 16. The five-time All-Star and former MVP hasn't lived up to expectations so far this year with a .251/.373/.421 slash line, .793 OPS, seven home runs, 22 RBI, 15 steals, and 31 runs scored in his 53 games played across 236 plate appearances. Acuna has league-winning five-category upside when healthy, but he hasn't played in over 100 games since 2023.

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Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (hip) is sitting out of the team's starting lineup on Tuesday versus the Houston Astros at Daikin Park, according to MLB.com. Ryan Kreidler is starting in center field and will hit seventh for the Twins against Astros right-hander Mike Burrows. Buxton will miss the first two games of the series in Houston after an MRI exam showed a right-hip impingement. For now, we'll consider the All-Star outfielder to be day-to-day. If he doesn't return for Wednesday's series finale against the Astros, Buxton's next chance to play will be in Friday's series opener in the Bronx against the New York Yankees after a scheduled day off on Thursday. The 32-year-old veteran has been money for fantasy managers again in 2026 and has managed to stay healthy, slashing .268/.325/.573 with an .898 OPS, 25 home runs, 43 RBI, 56 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in his 302 at-bats. After setting new career highs with 35 home runs and 83 RBI in 126 games last year, Buxton is on pace to best those numbers if he can stay healthy the rest of the way.

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The Milwaukee Brewers announced on Tuesday that they optioned left-hander Robert Gasser to the rookie-level Arizona Complex League and selected the contract of right-hander Garrett Stallings from Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move. Gasser is being sent to the lower levels of the minors for a bit after allowing three earned runs on seven hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out five in 5 2/3 innings against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds on Monday for a no-decision in the team's 5-3 victory. In his third year in the majors, the 27-year-old former second-round pick in 2021 by the San Diego Padres out of the University of Houston has gone 1-3 with a 4.54 ERA (4.98 FIP) and 1.29 WHIP with 36 strikeouts and 13 walks in 35 2/3 innings across his seven starts. Gasser's 23.4% strikeout rate and 8.4% walk rate are improvements from last season, and he should be a candidate to re-enter Milwaukee's rotation in the second half of the season after the mid-July All-Star break.

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Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez (wrist) is starting at third base and will bat cleanup for the Reds in Tuesday's contest against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander Brandon Sproat at American Family Field, per MLB.com. Suarez was hit by a pitch on his left wrist on Sunday and was held out of Monday's series opener against Milwaukee as a precaution. The 34-year-old Venezuelan corner infielder will now return to Cincy's starting nine as he looks to snap out of his funk at the plate. He's hitting just .185 (15-for-81) with four home runs, four doubles, 14 RBI, five runs scored, four walks, and 32 strikeouts in 22 games in June. The two-time All-Star hasn't really been good all year in his return to the Reds in 2026, slashing .208/.276/.376 on the season with a career-worst .652 OPS, eight home runs, 29 RBI, 18 runs scored, and a career-worst 33.2% strikeout rate. Suarez is rostered in 70% of Yahoo leagues, but his .195 xBA and .261 xwOBA don't exactly give fantasy managers hope that the veteran slugger will turn things around in his 13th year in the league.

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Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring) is going through a full pre-game workout at Truist Park on Tuesday, according to Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Acuna has already missed over three weeks with a left-hamstring strain, but the Braves are in no rush to bring him back to the major-league roster since it's the second time he has been on the 10-day injured list with the same injury this year. It appears that the former MVP is getting closer to returning to the Braves, but he could still be asked to go on a minor-league rehab assignment, meaning he's not guaranteed to come back before the All-Star break in July. The five-time All-Star has had a very disappointing 2026 season so far, as he has slashed just .251/.373/.421 with a .793 OPS, seven home runs, 22 RBI, 15 stolen bases, and 31 runs scored in his 195 at-bats while dealing with injuries once again. Acuna still has five-category upside for fantasy managers, though, so he needs to remain stashed in an IL spot in all leagues until he's ready to return.

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Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (groin) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting third for the Royals in Tuesday's contest at home against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays and right-hander Griffin Jax, according to MLB.com. Caglianone is good to go following Monday's off day. The young left-handed slugger was pulled from Sunday's game early with soreness in his left groin. The 23-year-old former sixth overall pick in 2024 out of the University of Florida has taken a big step in 2026 in his second year in the majors and will carry a .265/.337/.481 slash line, .818 OPS, 14 home runs, 30 RBI, 39 runs scored, and three steals in 268 at-bats into Tuesday's action. Cags' 30.3% strikeout rate isn't ideal, though, and he has gone 10-for-45 (.222) with six home runs, a triple, 10 RBI, 10 runs scored, three walks, and 16 strikeouts in his last 11 games played. The power from the left side is real, but Caglianone's frequent swing-and-miss doesn't make him an ideal target for batting average or on-base percentage. He's currently rostered in 78% of Yahoo leagues.

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St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante is coming off a rough outing, allowing five earned runs on a career-high 11 hits over 6 2/3 innings against the Miami Marlins on June 27. One bad start should not erase an otherwise useful season. Pallante is 9-5 with a 3.83 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 68 strikeouts across 89 1/3 innings and 16 starts. Strikeouts are not the reason to add him. Pallante owns an 18.2% strikeout rate, but his 54.0% ground-ball rate and .309 xwOBA allowed help explain how he has kept his ratios manageable. His 3.96 FIP is also close to his actual ERA, giving fantasy managers less reason to expect a major collapse. A 36% roster rate on Yahoo keeps Pallante available in most leagues. He remains a solid 12-team addition for wins and ratios, though fantasy managers should expect occasional contact-heavy outings.

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San Diego Padres infielder/outfielder Samad Taylor has done everything he can to keep a job since his June 3 promotion. The 27-year-old is batting .319/.402/.375 with one home run, 11 RBI, 12 runs, and six stolen bases over 72 at-bats. San Diego has kept him in left field and hit him second in five straight games through June 29, including against righties and lefties. Taylor's speed is the hook. His 29.3 feet-per-second sprint speed ranks in the 95th percentile, and he has converted six of seven steal attempts. His batted-ball profile is much weaker, with an 84.8 mph average exit velocity, 24.5% hard-hit rate, and 2.0% barrel rate, so his .319 average is unlikely to last. Ramon Laureano (hip) is expected to miss the rest of the season after surgery, leaving Taylor with a clear path to playing time for the foreseeable future. His Yahoo availability remains high, with only 18% of leagues rostering him. Taylor is a must-add in 12-team formats for steals and runs.

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Texas Rangers outfielder Brandon Nimmo (shoulder) will miss another game on Tuesday against the hosting Cleveland Guardians, according to MLB.com. Ezequiel Duran will make another start in right field for Texas and will bat fifth against Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee. Nimmo suffered an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder after he crashed into the outfield wall on Sunday, and he'll be missing a second straight game as a result. The Rangers haven't ruled out a trip to the injured list for Nimmo, who is undergoing more tests on Tuesday. With Wyatt Langford (hamstring) going back on the IL over the weekend, both Duran and Alejandro Osuna could be regulars in the Rangers' outfield to close out the first half of the season. In his first year in Texas, Nimmo has slashed .262/.333/.420 with a .753 OPS, eight home runs, 29 RBI, 35 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 82 games, numbers that have been fairly disappointing in his 11th season in the big leagues. Check back on Wednesday to see if Nimmo can return to the diamond.

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Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Troy Melton has settled right back in after missing his June 15 start with lower-back tightness. He is 4-1 with a 2.39 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and 25 strikeouts over 37 2/3 innings across six starts. Melton has completed at least five innings each time out and allowed only two runs over 12 innings in his first two starts after his back issue. Against the Houston Astros on June 25, he carried a perfect game into the sixth before finishing with one run and six strikeouts over six frames. His strikeout ceiling is the clear concern, with Melton averaging only 5.97 strikeouts per nine innings. His next start against the New York Yankees is a tougher test. Still, his ratios and steady workload are difficult to ignore. Melton carries a 41% Yahoo roster rate, leaving him available in most leagues. He is a worthwhile addition in 12-team formats, though fantasy managers should remain selective with his matchups.

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Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Sproat has started to look like the arm fantasy managers hoped for. Over his last three starts, he has posted a 2.87 ERA and 0.64 WHIP with 19 strikeouts and three walks across 15 2/3 innings. His best outing came June 23, when he held the Cincinnati Reds to one hit over six scoreless frames and set a career high with 10 strikeouts. His full-season line still shows why some caution is needed. Sproat owns a 5.43 ERA and 1.35 WHIP through 69 2/3 innings, and his 10.8% walk rate can turn an outing bad quickly. The upside is real, though, with a 24.7% strikeout rate and a fastball averaging 96.8 mph. Milwaukee is keeping him in its six-man rotation for now. Yahoo lists Sproat at 21% rostered, leaving him within reach in most formats. He is a worthwhile 12-team addition for fantasy managers willing to bet on the recent improvement.

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Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Nick Gonzales has provided a steady batting-average floor in a regular role at third base. He is hitting .295/.351/.370 with three home runs, 35 RBI, 44 runs, and four stolen bases over 292 at-bats. Gonzales has remained productive over his last 30 games, batting .279 with three homers, 13 RBI, and 21 runs. He has usually hit fourth when in the lineup. Fantasy managers should not expect much power, though. Gonzales owns an 85.7 mph average exit velocity, 37.8% hard-hit rate, and 3.0% barrel rate, so average and runs remain the main reasons to roster him. His eligibility at second base, third base, and shortstop adds value, although Pittsburgh sat him against right-hander Aaron Nola on June 29, showing that his playing time is not completely locked in. Only 24% of Yahoo leagues currently roster Gonzales. He is a solid addition in 12-team formats for fantasy managers seeking average, runs, and infield flexibility.

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Kansas City Royals reliever Alex Lange was called upon in a save situation on Monday after his recent disastrous appearance. Two days after allowing five runs while recording one out in a 22-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox, he retired the side in order for his seventh save on June 28. That vote of confidence matters. Kansas City used Lucas Erceg in the seventh and Matt Strahm in the eighth before turning to Lange with a one-run lead. His ratios remain a concern, however. Lange has a 4.95 ERA and 1.49 WHIP with 37 strikeouts and 21 walks over 36 1/3 innings in 2026, but he has converted all seven of his save chances in June. Carlos Estevez (shoulder) remains on the 60-day injured list and felt discomfort after a June 27 bullpen session, which could give Lange a longer leash as the closer. At 23% rostered on Yahoo, Lange is a priority add in 12-team leagues for fantasy managers chasing saves, but it could be a bumpy ride.

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