Seattle Mariners rookie infielder Cole Emerson (back) remains out of the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles due to back spasms, but he took swings in the cages and is feeling a little bit better, according to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times. Emerson is expected to avoid a stint on the injured list. Cole Young is making another start at the 6 and is batting leadoff, with Miles Mastrobuoni starting at second base and hitting eighth against Orioles right-hander Brandon Young. It will be the third straight game that Emerson will start on the bench due to back spasms, but he could return to the starting nine as soon as Thursday's series finale at Camden Yards. With J.P. Crawford (hand) on the IL right now, Emerson will be Seattle's preferred option at shortstop when he recovers from his back injury. In his first 62 major-league at-bats, the 20-year-old former first-rounder in 2023 has hit .242 (15-for-62) with four home runs, five doubles, 10 RBI, and nine runs scored across 69 plate appearances. Emerson is one of the more intriguing young infield prospects in the majors.

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (wrist) is missing a fifth straight game on Wednesday against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies due to a left-wrist injury, according to MLB.com. Myles Straw is making another start in center field and is batting eighth against Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo. An MRI exam on Varsho's wrist came back negative on Tuesday, so he should be considered day-to-day with a good chance to return in Friday's series opener against the division-rival New York Yankees after a scheduled day off for Toronto on Thursday. Varsho entered Tuesday's game against Philly off the bench as a pinch-runner and recorded a stolen base in a win over the Phils. The 29-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder hasn't really moved the needle all that much for fantasy managers in 2026, producing a .256/.331/.408 slash line, .738 OPS, five home runs, 17 RBI, five stolen bases, and 27 runs scored across his 211 at-bats. Straw has hit .333 with three RBI in nine career at-bats against Luzardo, but he's still an easy fade in DFS.

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Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (neck) is missing a fourth straight game on Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, according to MLB.com. Dalton Rushing will make another start behind the dish and catch right-hander Shohei Ohtani while batting eighth against Pirates right-hander Jared Jones. Manager Dave Roberts initially said that Smith's neck injury was not serious, but with each passing day that he remains out, the possibility of him landing on the injured list increases. The good news is that the 31-year-old veteran backstop did some throwing and took batting practice in the batting cage before Tuesday's win over Pittsburgh. Check back to see if Smith is feeling good enough to play in Thursday's series finale against the Bucs. The three-time All-Star could be starting to slow down offensively in his eighth year in the big leagues, as he enters Wednesday's contest with a disappointing .249/.338/.382 slash line with a career-low .720 OPS, six home runs, 23 RBI, and 23 runs scored in his 52 games played in 2026.

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The Toronto Blue Jays announced that they reinstated veteran right-hander Max Scherzer (forearm, ankle) from the 15-day injured list, and he will start Wednesday night's game against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies. Not only is Scherzer not nearly as dominant as he was in his prime, but he has battled injuries continuously over the last couple of seasons. The future Hall of Famer is back in Toronto's starting rotation, though, and he will look to tame the surging Phillies in his first big-league start since April 24. Scherzer has been sidelined with right-forearm tendinitis and also battled inflammation in his left ankle. The three-time Cy Young winner only got up to 3 2/3 innings and 73 pitches in his final minor-league rehab assignment last week, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to have a very long leash on Wednesday night at the Rogers Centre. We recommend fading the 41-year-old veteran after he recorded a 9.64 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, and 10:8 K:BB in 18 2/3 innings over his five starts for the Blue Jays earlier this year.

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Minnesota Twins right-hander Mick Abel (elbow) is starting a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday, according to MLB.com. The 24-year-old has been out since late April with right-elbow inflammation, but he will return to game action on the farm and should be back in Minnesota's starting rotation by the end of the month. He is scheduled to throw three innings or around 50 pitches in his first rehab start on Wednesday with the Saints, meaning he will likely need at least one or two more starts in the minors before being reinstated from the 15-day injured list. The former first-rounder in 2020 by the Philadelphia Phillies has only appeared in four games (three starts) for the Twins in 2026, posting a 3.98 ERA (2.76 FIP) and 1.57 WHIP with 23 strikeouts and 10 starts across 20 1/3 innings pitched. Because of his strikeout upside and guaranteed rotation spot with the Twins this year, Abel is worth a look as a stash candidate as he nears a return to the big leagues. Abel is currently rostered in only 13% of Yahoo leagues.

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Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (hamstring) remains out of the starting lineup on Wednesday at Camden Yards against the visiting Seattle Mariners. With Samuel Basallo (wrist) also missing another contest, Sam Huff will make another start behind the dish and catch right-hander Brandon Young while batting ninth against Mariners right-hander George Kirby. Rutschman is sitting out a third straight game due to left-hamstring tightness, and he's currently considered day-to-day. Check back on Thursday to see if Rutschman is ready to return for the series finale against the M's. The two-time All-Star switch-hitter has picked it up at the plate so far in June, going 9-for-25 (.360) with a homer, two doubles, a triple, seven RBI, and five runs scored in six games to boost his season slash line to .267/.343/.489 with an .832 OPS and eight home runs. Hopefully, his hamstring injury doesn't interrupt his hot streak at the dish.

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Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo (wrist) is sitting out of a third straight game on Wednesday versus the visiting Seattle Mariners due to left-wrist discomfort, per MLB.com. With fellow catcher Adley Rutschman (hamstring) also out for a third straight contest, Sam Huff is doing the catching for right-hander Brandon Young and will bat ninth against Mariners right-hander George Kirby. Basallo is dealing with a bony growth in his left wrist and is considered day-to-day. Fantasy managers should check back on Thursday to see if he's available for the series finale against Seattle at Camden Yards. The 21-year-old left-handed slugger also missed some time recently with an abdominal injury, so he's been a bit banged up lately. In his first full season in the majors in 2026, the Dominican backstop is slashing a solid .263/.327/.475 with an .801 OPS, nine home runs, nine doubles, 27 RBI, and 25 runs scored for the O's across his 56 games and 199 plate appearances.

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The Atlanta Braves announced on Wednesday that they placed outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring and selected the contract of infielder Rowdy Tellez to the major-league roster in a corresponding move. It's the second time this year that Acuna has been on the IL with the same injury, and he missed just over two weeks back in May with a Grade 1 left-hamstring strain. The injury occurred the second time on Tuesday night against the Chicago White Sox, when Acuna was attempting to beat out a ground ball to third base in the fourth inning. He came up limp just before reaching the first-base bag and eventually hobbled off the field with a trainer. Fantasy managers shouldn't just assume that Acuna will miss another two weeks this time around. In his absence, both Mauricio Dubon and Eli White could see additional playing time in the Braves' outfield. Although the former MVP isn't producing up to his normal All-Star standards in 2026, Acuna should still be held in an IL spot in all traditional fantasy leagues while he rehabs.

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San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames (lower body) is sitting out for just the second time all year on Wednesday against the Washington Nationals due to some lower-body pain that he felt on Tuesday, manager Tony Vitello told John Shea of The San Francisco Standard. When asked for a specific area of pain, Vitello said, "knee to hip." It doesn't sound like a serious issue, so with a scheduled day off on Thursday as well, Adames could be back for Friday's series opener at Oracle Park against the Chicago Cubs. Casey Schmitt, who is having a breakout campaign for the Gigantes in 2026, is starting at shortstop and will bat leadoff on Wednesday in the series finale against Nationals left-hander Foster Griffin. The 30-year-old Adames has been a disappointment in his second year in the Bay Area after clubbing 30 homers and driving in 87 in 160 games last year, as he enters Wednesday's action with a .234/.281/.431 slash line with 11 homers, 29 RBI, and a 28.1% strikeout rate. Adames has gone hitless in his last four games and has gone 6-for-34 (.176) with three homers, a double, six RBI, and six runs in nine games so far in June.

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The New York Mets recalled their No. 20 prospect, right-handed pitcher Jonathan Pintaro, from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday, according to MLB Pipeline. Pintaro, 28, made two relief appearances for the Mets earlier this year and tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen with no hits allowed, one walk, and three strikeouts. The former undrafted free agent made his big-league debut in 2025 and allowed two earned runs with two walks and a strikeout in just two-thirds of an inning in one relief appearance. The 6-foot-2, 235-pounder has gone 2-0 with a 3.16 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 38:13 K:BB with one save in 31 1/3 relief innings over 19 appearances at Syracuse in 2026. The converted starting pitcher throws a mid-90s fastball from a low three-quarters arm slot, which has allowed lefties to feast off of him. Pintaro has also had trouble throwing strikes consistently, which is something he'll obviously need to change if he wants to stick around in Queens. In a likely multi-inning relief role for New York, Pintaro has very little fantasy appeal.

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Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect Cooper Pratt has continued his hot surge at the plate at Triple-A Nashville and is now firmly on the stash radar. Over his last 14 games of action with the top club in the Brewers system, Pratt has posted an elite .333/.410/.481 line with an .891 OPS. During this stretch, Pratt has hit one double, gone deep twice, and swiped five stolen bases. Prior to this surge, the former sixth-round selection carried a much lower .217/.344/.375 line with a modest .719 OPS. Last summer, the team's No. 4-ranked prospect spent his entire campaign at the Double-A level, where he posted a .238/.343/.348 line with a low .691 OPS. If Pratt can extend this surge, he should be in the mix to reach the majors before the end of the first half, making him a viable stash target in deeper leagues.

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St. Louis Cardinals infield prospect Blaze Jordan has put together a strong start to the Triple-A regular season and has made a strong case to earn the call to the majors before the end of the first half. Jordan was initially selected in the third round of the 2020 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox. He eventually joined the Cardinals in the trade that sent Steven Matz to the Red Sox last summer. With Triple-A Memphis this season, Jordan has looked more than comfortable, carrying a stellar .309/.369/.529 slash line with 17 doubles, 10 home runs, and two stolen bases. This is a stark improvement compared to the low .198/.242/.366 line he posted during his first stint with the Redbirds last summer. While Alec Burleson remains the team's primary first baseman, Jordan could carve out a role at the hot corner given Nolan Gorman's inconsistencies. For now, he is worth stashing in deeper 12+ team leagues with multiple N/A spots as his MLB debut continues to loom closer.

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Washington Nationals first base prospect Abimelec Ortiz continues to enjoy great success at the top level of the minor leagues and is making a strong case to join the Nationals later this month. Over his last 15 games at Triple-A Rochester, the slugging first baseman has carried an elite .333/.394/.794 line with a 1.188 OPS. During the impressive stretch, Ortiz has hit five doubles and gone deep eight times while carrying a 12:6 K:BB. Last summer, Ortiz split his time between Double-A and Triple-A in the Rangers system and enjoyed his best success at the top club, carrying a .283/.388/.565 line with a stellar .923 OPS. Given his current production at Triple-A, the 24-year-old remains on the path to debut in the coming weeks. Those looking for a high-upside power bat should consider stashing him in 12+ team leagues, as he would join one of the game's most potent offenses in D.C.

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Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect Hector Rodriguez has enjoyed a strong start to the Triple-A regular season and could be the next top prospect called up from the Reds system to make an impact in the majors. Earlier in June, the Reds turned to their top infield prospect, Edwin Arroyo, who joined several young and emerging players on the MLB roster, including Sal Stewart. Rodriguez is currently the team's No. 5-ranked prospect in the system on MLB.com, but has been among the best hitters at the Triple-A level this season. Across 62 games at Louisville, the outfielder has posted a strong .273/.352/.470 line with 10 doubles, 11 home runs, and four stolen bases. Over his last 28 games, Rodriguez has carried a higher .509 SLG with an .862 OPS. While there may not be a clear spot for him at the moment, his high-end production could force the team's hands shortly after the All-Star break. For now, he is a viable outfielder to stash in deeper 12+ team, five-outfielder leagues with multiple N/A spots.

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New York Yankees right-handed pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez made his MLB debut earlier this season but was optioned back to the minors once Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole both returned from the injured list. In his brief taste of the major leagues, Rodriguez made three starts and logged 13 innings to the tune of a 4.15 ERA and a 1.85 WHIP. His high 14.1% walk rate limited much of his production in this brief stint. However, at Triple-A this season, Rodriguez has looked quite comfortable, posting a strong 2.74 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 46 innings. While his command has remained an issue at this level (21 total talks), he has totaled 49 punchouts and limited the damage. With fellow top prospect Carlos Lagrange being shifted to the bullpen, Rodriguez remains a viable option to replace a starter on the MLB roster in the event of an injury. However, given his unstable command, managers should only consider stashing him in deeper 12+ team leagues with multiple N/A spots.

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Atlanta Braves right-hander Hurston Waldrep (elbow), who is currently on the 60-day injured list, had his minor-league rehab assignment transferred to Double-A Columbus on Tuesday, according to Grant McAuley of 929 The Game. Waldrep will make a rehab start there on Thursday after already having two two-inning outings in the Florida Complex League as he works his way back from right-elbow surgery. The 24-year-old has at least three more weeks of ramping up before he's considered an option for the big-league starting rotation, so it might not be until after the mid-July All-Star break that we see him back with the Braves. The former first-rounder in 2023 out of the University of Florida deserves some stash consideration in deeper fantasy leagues after he had a 2.88 ERA (3.21 FIP), 1.19 WHIP, and 55:22 K:BB in 56 1/3 innings pitched across 10 outings (nine starts) for Atlanta while going 6-1 last year. Waldrep's underlying metrics show that he was a bit fortunate in 2025, but he should have a starting rotation spot waiting for him in the second half of 2026. He's currently rostered in just 5% of Yahoo leagues.

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The Cincinnati Reds recalled right-handed pitching prospect Chase Petty from Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday and optioned right-hander Zach McCambley to Louisville in a corresponding move, the team announced. It will be Petty's second stint in the big leagues this year after he allowed seven earned runs on 10 hits (two homers) while walking three and striking out only two in 10 2/3 frames in his two starts with the Reds. The 23-year-old former first-rounder by the Minnesota Twins in 2021 also struggled in his MLB debut in 2025, surrendering 14 runs (13 earned) while walking eight and fanning seven in just six innings over three outings (two starts) in Cincy. The New Jersey native will come up this time around to provide the Reds' bullpen with some depth after an extra-inning game on Tuesday night at Petco Park in which they used six different relievers. Per MLB Pipeline, Petty is ranked as the team's No. 7 prospect, but in a relief role, he will not have much fantasy upside in a short-term role in single-year formats after his latest call-up.

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Kansas City Royals left-hander Noah Cameron has quietly produced quality starts in four of his last five outings and should be gaining traction on the waiver wire in fantasy baseball leagues. In his latest outing on Sunday against the division-rival Minnesota Twins, Cameron won his third game of the year by limiting the Twins to an unearned run on just three hits while walking none and striking out seven in six innings. Through his first six starts in 2026, Cameron had a 5.40 ERA with 22 runs allowed (19 earned), 28 strikeouts, and 11 walks in 31 2/3 innings. But in six starts since then, he has yet to allow more than three earned runs in any of his starts and has posted a strong 2.38 ERA (1.95 FIP) with 35 strikeouts and only six walks across 34 innings pitched. Cameron has punched out at least seven batters in three of his last four starts, as well, and he's allowed only four hits in his last 13 innings pitched over two starts. He has clearly turned things around on the mound and is gaining more traction off the waiver wire. Cameron should definitely be scooped up for his next scheduled start against the Houston Astros. He is rostered in 44% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.

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Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger got off to a rough start to June, going hitless in his first 19 plate appearances over five games with a run scored, two walks, and six strikeouts. He closed out May with six hits in 11 at-bats with three doubles and an RBI in three games, though, and he's recorded four hits (one double) and two RBI in eight plate appearances in his last two contests. Overall, the 30-year-old right-handed slugger is batting .238/.293/.414 with a .708 OPS, 10 home runs, 39 RBI, 30 runs scored, and a stolen base in 64 games and 259 plate appearances in his second year with the Rangers. Burger hit a dismal .170 in April, but he bounced back in May to hit .290 (27-for-93) with five home runs, seven RBI, 18 RBI, 18 runs, and a steal in 26 games. He still strikes out 26.3% of the time, which isn't ideal for fantasy managers looking for a boost in average or on-base percentage, but Burger still has enough pop to be worth a look off the waiver wire for corner-infield depth. He's currently rostered in just 22% of Yahoo leagues.

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Washington Nationals outfielder Jacob Young came into the 2026 season with just five home runs in his first three years in the league. He's only hitting .237 (49-for-207) in his first 66 contests this season, but he's already up to eight home runs in his 223 plate appearances. The 26-year-old former seventh-round pick in 2021 out of the University of Florida stole 33 bases in 2024 in his first full season in the majors, too, so he has some speed to spare, even if he has only swiped five bags in 2026. Fantasy managers in search of outfield depth in deeper leagues should consider adding Young while he's hot early in June. In eight games so far this month, Young has gone 6-for-22 (.273) with a homer, two triples, two RBI, four runs scored, and a stolen base in 22 plate appearances. With plenty of wheels and a boost in power this year, Young has become more attractive in deep formats. He's currently rostered in just 2% of Yahoo leagues, so he's widely available.

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