In The Field
C Mitch Garver left Thursday's game early with a jaw injury. 3B Jose Ramirez left Thursday's game early after getting hit by a pitch from Kevin Gausman. X-rays came back negative on his right forearm. He was back in the lineup on Saturday. In the same game, 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also left the game early after a hit-by-pitch on his right forearm. X-rays were negative for Guerrero Jr. as well. 3B Royce Lewis started a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul on Friday. Lewis has continued to struggle to stay on the field. When healthy this year, Lewis has been plagued by a low BABIP (.222), which is why he is hitting .202 with 2 HR, 10 R, 9 RBI, and 0 SB despite strong underlying skills (15% K, 12% Barrels, and 42% Hardhit). 3B/OF Matt Vierling played both 3B and OF on his rehab assignment in preparation for when he comes back. He was activated on Saturday. The Tigers will continue to mix and match at the major league level, so it looks like Vierling will not have a full-time role when he returns, which hampers his fantasy value because he is an accumulator and not elite in any one category. The Athletics are expected to extend 2B Zack Gelof's rehab another week. He has been out since March 24 with a fractured hamate bone. Gelof is looking at an early July return. He makes for an interesting pickup given his power/speed combo (17 HR/25 SB) last year, albeit with a low average (.211 AVG). SS Zach Neto had an MRI on his right shoulder after injuring it sliding into a base. Imaging came back negative, which is a huge sigh of relief for the Angels and fantasy owners. Neto is having another monster season (.272 AVG with 12 HR/13 SB in 262 PA). 2B Jorge Mateo (elbow) has started baseball activities and is expected to start a rehab assignment soon. Mateo hit .180 with 1 HR, 7 R, 3 RBI, and 14 SB in a part-time role before hitting the IL. He will return as a bench bat that has very little fantasy value outside of his stolen bases. OF Wyatt Langford was not in the Rangers' lineup on Wednesday due to left side tightness. The hope was that rest would prevent an IL stint, but that was not the case. He was placed on the 10-day IL on Friday. Langford is hitting .232 with 13 HR, 32 R, 31 RBI, and 11 SB. His strikeout rate has risen this year to 26% which is why his average has fallen. He still hits the ball hard (13% Barrels and 47% Hardhit) but will need to cut down on the strikeouts to be a five-category contributor. OF Alejandro Osuna played left on Friday and is expected to get the majority of the reps while Langford is out. OF Daulton Varsho (hamstring) has resumed running this week. He had suffered a minor setback earlier in the week. He is getting close to a rehab assignment. SS Jeremy Pena got good news on Friday when imaging on his ribs came back negative, meaning he did not have a fracture. He is considered day-to-day. This is what fantasy owners wanted to hear as he has been having a great year (.324 AVG with 11 HR, 48 R, 40 RBI, and 15 SB). 2B/3B Jordan Westburg aggravated his left finger injury on Friday. He had missed three games earlier in the week for the same injury. X-rays came back negative, so he is day-to-day. Westburg has struggled to stay healthy and has not built on his breakout 2024 season. He is hitting .222 with 7 HR, 20 R, 14 RBI, and 1 SB. OF Anthony Santander (shoulder) still has not been able to pick up a bat. This means that he does not have a timetable for a return and is likely not going to return before the All-Star break. DH Joc Pederson (hand) is progressing well and has been cleared to remove the splint on his hand. Once he starts swinging a bat, we will have a better indication of his return date. DH Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) is expected to start a rehab assignment on Tuesday. The Red Sox want him to play the outfield during the assignment, which will be a big change because he only played DH in 2024. 3B Alex Bregman (quad) hit on Friday and took ground balls on Saturday. He has been running, so he is getting close to a rehab assignment. OF Luis Robert Jr. was not in the White Sox lineup on Friday due to hamstring tightness. Robert Jr. has struggled with injuries throughout his career and is struggling on the field this year (.185 AVG with 8 HR, 27 R, 32 RBI, and 22 SB). 1B Ryan Mountcastle (hamstring) is hoping to return when first eligible on July 30. He has been able to start hitting and is progressing on schedule. C Shea Langeliers (oblique) started a rehab assignment on Wednesday with Triple-A Sacramento. He has been out since June 6. Langeliers was hitting .237 with 10 HR, 25 R, 27 RBI, and 4 SB before going on the IL. OF Tyler O'Neill (shoulder) had his rehab assignment moved to Double-A Chesapeake on Tuesday. OF Yordan Alvarez (hand) has started swinging a bat. Currently, he is hitting off a tee, and as he progresses to facing velo either off a machine or live arm, it will give us a better indication of when he will be back. 2B Michael Massey (ankle) started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha. Massey has struggled this year (.202 AVG with 2 HR, 10 R, 14 RBI, and 1 SB). 2B Luke Keaschall (forearm) has started hitting off a tee. This is good news for the promising youngster who fractured his forearm in late April. He isn't expected back until after the All-Star break, but he showed potential in his seven-game sample before getting hurt (8% K, 12% Barrels, and .368 AVG). The Tigers sent SS Trey Sweeney to Triple-A on Friday. SS/OF Javier Baez will get the majority of the starts with 3B Zach McKinstry also getting the occasional start there as well.
On The Mound
Lance McCullers Jr. (foot) was an option to start on Saturday earlier in the week, and that is exactly what happened. This meant that he would skip a rehab assignment and return when first eligible. McCullers has a 4.91 ERA and 1.43 WHIP through 29.1 IP this year. He had been pitching better prior to going on the injured list (3.27 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 28% K, 11% BB, and 4.08 xFIP in June). Jon Gray (wrist) was able to complete another bullpen on Wednesday. This was his third and is expected to have 1-2 more before the Rangers decide what the next step is going to be. Gray hasn't pitched this season and is coming off a year in which he bounced between the rotation and bullpen because of struggles (4.47 ERA and 1.31 WHIP). Reese Olson (finger) went 4 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, and 5 K in his rehab start for Triple-A Toledo. It looks like he is ready to return to the Tigers' rotation. He had pitched well before the injury (2.96 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 25% K, and 10% BB). Shane Bieber (elbow) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday. He is targeting a mid-July return, and we will get more information on his stuff once he starts a rehab assignment. Shane McClanahan (triceps) threw off a mound on Wednesday. This was his first time throwing off a mound since he was shut down earlier this month and had to go get a second opinion on his triceps/nerve issue. Cody Bradford had the internal brace procedure done on his left elbow on Wednesday. He will be out for the rest of 2025 and a good chunk of 2026. Luis Gil (lat) is going to throw a 35-pitch live session next week, and the results will determine if he will be sent out on a rehab assignment. Gil is looking at a late July return. Bowden Francis (shoulder) has started throwing from 60-90 feet as he progresses in his shoulder rehab. Francis is trying to get healthy and return to the form he showed last year (3.30 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 17% K:BB) and not this year (6.05 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, and 9% K:BB). Grayson Rodriguez (lat) threw a bullpen on Friday that included breaking balls, which was another step in his recovery. He hasn't progressed to live BP sessions yet, so it is looking like he won't be able to return until August. Tyler Wells (elbow) is working his way back from UCL surgery and has progressed to throwing bullpens. He is getting close to facing live hitters and is projected for an early August return date. Kyle Bradish (eblow) is scheduled to throw live batting practice on Sunday at the Orioles complex in Florida. He is in line with Rodriguez and Wells for an August return. Zach Eflin was removed from Saturday's start with lower back tightness. He had given up 4 ER in the first inning on 28 pitches. Nathan Eovaldi (triceps) was activated off the 15-day IL on Friday and started against the Mariners (3 IP, 3 ER, 2 BB, and 2 K). He now has a 1.87 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and 2.79 SIERA. Kutter Crawford is going to have wrist surgery, which is going to put him out for the rest of the season. Jordan Hicks (toe) is expected to be activated early next week. He is also going to be used in the bullpen and not as a starter in Boston.
In The Bullpen
Felix Bautista did not record a save this week but has looked dominant in June (0.00 ERA, 0.56 WHIP, 44% K, and 9% BB). The Yankees still appear to be in a committee with Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, but it is interesting that Williams got both save chances this week. Pete Fairbanks picked up two saves this week and is now up to 15 SV on the year. Grant Taylor picked up a save on Sunday and a hold on Wednesday. He would be the guy to pick up. Jhoan Duran took a loss on Tuesday but bounced back with two saves (12) to end the week. Josh Hader had a monster week with 4 SV, and Bryan Abreu picked up 2 W. Robert Garcia got the lone save chance for the Rangers.
Players to add this week:
SP Jose Soriano (LAA)- Jose Soriano has a 3.99 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 3.82 SIERA through 17 GS. He has plus velocity and is a primary sinker baller, which is why his strikeout rate is below average. Soriano is able to succeed because he has an elite ground ball rate (66% GB), which limits hard contact and home runs (0.37 HR/9). He is not an elite starter but has value in deeper mixed leagues.
OF Jo Adell (LAA)-Jo Adell is hitting .234 with 18 HR, 31 R, 42 RBI, and 3 SB. He has cut his strikeout rate to a manageable 25% K. Adell has combined that with the ability to hit the ball hard (15% Barrels and 48% Hardhit). He is on pace for a 30 HR/10 SB season with a .230 AVG, which would easily be a career best season.
C Dillon Dingler (DET)-Dillon Dingler played himself into being the regular catcher for the Tigers. He is hitting .268 with 8 HR, 24 R, 34 RBI, and 0 SB. He has shown good underlying skills (25% K, 9% Barrels, and 44% Hardhit). Dingler should also get better as he gets more accustomed to being a major leaguer.
2B Christian Moore (LAA)-Christian Moore has struggled out of the gate (.190 AVG in 14 GP) but has shown his upside in terms of power (3 HR, .262 ISO, 11% Barrels). His chase rate isn't a problem, so his 35% strikeout rate should come down as he gets more experience. He also has the ability to steal bases. He has 25 HR/10 SB potential over the course of a full season. It will likely come with a lower average, but that is still a playable projection at 2B.
1B/OF Ryan O'Hearn (BAL)-Ryan O'Hearn has played his way into an everyday player and not just a strong side platoon bat. He is hitting .296 with 11 HR, 32 R, 30 RBI, and 3 SB. The average is going to take a hit with more at-bats against LHP, but his counting stats should increase. O'Hearn has excellent skills (11% BB, 17% K, 9% Barrels, and 50% Hardhit). It also helps that he has both 1B and OF eligibility in most leagues.
OF Luke Raley (SEA)- Luke Raley recently returned from the IL. He has hit .333 with 1 HR, 2 R, 6 RBI, and 0 SB in that time period. On the year, he is hitting .239 with 3 HR, 12 R, 14 RBI, and 2 SB. Raley offers a power-speed combo (22 HR/11 SB in 2024) with a lower average. He also will sit against most LHP, so his value increases in daily formats.
2B Zack Gelof (OAK)- The Athletics are expected to extend Zack Gelof's rehab another week. He has been out since March 24 with a fractured hamate bone. Gelof is looking at an early July return. He makes for an interesting pickup given his power/speed combo (17 HR/25 SB) last year, albeit with a low average (.211 AVG).
DH Giancarlo Stanton (NYY)- Giancarlo Stanton is healthy and playing regularly. He is hitting .235 with 0 HR, 1 R, 2 RBI, and 0 SB. Stanton offers power upside and is going to be in a good position for counting stats, hitting in the Yankees' lineup. The Yankees are slated to face seven RHP this week but this is a play for the foreseeable future not just the next week.
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