Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly could be a trade candidate this summer if the D-backs fall further from contention by late July, but ESPN's Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan put the odds of the veteran hurler being dealt at 30 percent. Kelly doesn't have raw stuff and has the second-lowest average fastball velocity among pitcher with 90 innings in 2025, but he makes up for it with an elite changeup and has pinpoint location with his other offspeed offerings. The 36-year-old was instrumental to the Snakes' World Series run back in 2023, striking out 28 hitters in 24 innings with a 2.25 ERA in the postseason. If he is traded this summer, the most likely suitors are the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs. Kelly entered his start on Friday with a 7-3 record, 3.39 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 93:25 K:BB in 93 innings over 16 starts this year.

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St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker (appendix), who dealt with appendicitis on Tuesday and was placed on the 10-day injured list, could start a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Saturday, according to manager Oliver Marmol. Walker's condition was caught early and was treated with antibiotics, allowing him to avoid surgery. The 23-year-old also missed time recently with inflammation in his left wrist. He's eligible to come off the IL next Wednesday, and the Cardinals think he could be back with the team by then. How much Walker plays when he returns is a big question, though, as he continues to struggle offensively in the big leagues. He had gone 3-for-18 with three runs in June and is currently hitting just .210 (37-for-176) with only three home runs while being in the first percentile in whiff rate.

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Miami Marlins outfielder Dane Myers will retreat to the bench for Friday's series opener in the desert against the hosting Arizona Diamondbacks. Javier Sanoja will draw into the starting lineup in center field for the Fish and will bat ninth against Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly. Myers is hitting an even .300 (48-for-160) on the year but has gone 5-for-31 (.161) with a double and two RBI in his last eight starts, so the former sixth-rounder by the Detroit Tigers will get a mental break on Friday. The 29-year-old has very limited power but is most attractive for his speed on the bases (eight steals) in NL-only leagues. Sanoja will have minimal DFS upside as a deep sleeper on Friday night at the bottom of the batting order. The Venezuelan native has gone 37-for-156 (.237) this year in a bench role with only one long ball, 15 RBI, 18 runs scored and three stolen bases.

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Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (ankle, elbow, shoulder) is scheduled to begin a new minor-league rehab assignment on Sunday for Triple-A Nashville, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. It sets him up to tentatively make his long-awaited return to Milwaukee's starting rotation next weekend in Miami against the Marlins. Woodruff had right-shoulder surgery in October of 2023 and hasn't pitched in the big leagues since. The 32-year-old veteran was close to his 2025 debut twice already this year before having setbacks with his ankle and elbow. If he avoids a third setback on Sunday, his next outing should be with the Brew Crew. Fantasy managers may want to temper expectations for the former ace, but if he's fully healthy, he should be useful in all formats in the second half of the season.

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Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez (hand) is back at third base and is batting fifth in Friday's series opener against the visiting Miami Marlins and right-hander Eury Perez at Chase Field. Suarez missed the last two games after being hit by a pitch on his right hand on Monday against the Chicago White Sox, but he'll be active this weekend in the desert and should be returned to all starting fantasy lineups for his elite power. The 33-year-old Venezuelan veteran currently ranks fourth in baseball with 25 home runs and is tied for second with Seiya Suzuki with 67 RBI going into Friday's action, also adding a .251/.323/.569 slash line, .892 OPS and 48 runs scored in his 283 at-bats. He's hitting over .300 with 10 home runs and 25 RBI in the month of June. Suarez is hitless in just two career at-bats versus Perez.

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Colorado Rockies right-handed pitcher Anthony Molina was optioned to Triple-A on Friday evening. In a corresponding move, the Rockies activated left-handed pitcher Kyle Freeland from the 15-day injured list. The 23-year-old has logged just 8 2/3 innings in the major leagues this season. During this stint, Molina has posted a high 7.27 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP. He struck out just six batters but did not allow a free pass. During the 2024 campaign, Molina made his MLB debut and logged 59 2/3 innings of work. The 23-year-old operated primarily out of the bullpen but did make one start. He posted a 6.79 ERA with a 1.58 WHIP. Fantasy managers should expect Molina to likely return to the rotation at Triple-A Albuquerque. He will likely be in the mix to return to Colorado later this summer.

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Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto (shoulder) remains out of action for Friday's series opener against the visiting Washington Nationals. Veteran Kevin Newman is making the start at the 6 and will bat ninth against Nationals right-hander Jake Irvin. Neto aggravated his surgically-repaired right shoulder when he jammed it sliding into second base on a stolen-base attempt on Tuesday and then sat out Wednesday's series finale against the Boston Red Sox. The 24-year-old isn't feeling good enough to return on Friday after a scheduled day off on Thursday. Neto avoided structural damage, so he could return to the lineup this weekend against the Nats. It's great news for one of the best young players in the game at the premium shortstop position. DFS gamers should be able to find better sleepers at shortstop than Newman, who has gone 15-for-77 (.195) this year with no homers.

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The Cleveland Guardians have activated left-handed pitching prospect Erik Sabrowski (elbow) from the 60-day injured list prior to their contest on Friday evening against the St. Louis Cardinals. Sabrowski has been on the injured list since the start of the campaign due to left elbow inflammation. The 27-year-old made his MLB debut last summer and was quite productive during his first taste of MLB action. Through 12 2/3 innings of work, the southpaw did not allow a run and held a strong 0.79 WHIP. During this stint, he struck out 19 batters and posted an 8.5% walk rate. Through 44 career innings at the Triple-A level, Sabrowski has held a modest 4.50 ERA with a 1.68 WHIP. Fantasy managers should expect Sabrowski to be eased into action in a low-leverage role. However, if he enjoys similar success as he did last season, he could eventually have a high-leverage role.

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The Texas Rangers will place outfielder Wyatt Langford (oblique) on the 10-day injured list with a mild left-oblique strain, according to MLB.com's Kennedi Landry. We had a pretty good feeling that Langford would eventually land on the IL when it was announced on Friday that he was out of the starting lineup against the division-rival Seattle Mariners with an oblique injury. Even though it's considered mild, the 23-year-old also missed time in spring training with a similar injury. Depending on how he recovers in the coming weeks, there's a chance he won't be ready to rejoin the big-league lineup for the second half of the season on July 18 coming out of the All-Star break. With clear 20-20 potential, Langford needs to be held onto in all fantasy leagues while he recovers. All three of Josh Smith, Alejandro Osuna and Sam Haggerty could see playing time in left field for Texas with Langford out.

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Boston Red Sox relievers Liam Hendriks (hip) and Justin Slaten (shoulder) are both in the midst of throwing programs, with Hendriks playing catch up to 150 feet, according to the Boston Herald's Gabrielle Starr. Hendriks landed on the injured list back on May 30 with right-hip inflammation but resumed throwing in the middle of June. However, the 36-year-old veteran is a ways off from a return and most likely won't be back in Boston's bullpen as a setup man until after the mid-July All-Star break. The Australian native is a three-time All-Star and has 116 career saves, but he missed all of last year due to injury and was rusty in 14 relief outings with Boston this year, allowing 11 runs (10 earned) with seven walks and 12 K's in 13 2/3 frames. Slaten has been out a month with shoulder inflammation and also likely won't be back until the second half.

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Baltimore Orioles right-handed pitching prospect Brandon Young has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. In a corresponding move, the Orioles recalled right-handed pitcher Kade Strowd from Norfolk. Young is considered the No. 19-ranked prospect in the system on MLB.com. The 26-year-old made his MLB debut earlier this season. Through his first three starts in the majors (12 2/3 innings), Young has struggled, posting a high 7.11 ERA with a 1.97 WHIP. During this stint, Young has tallied 11 punchouts but allowed free passes at a 15.0% rate. However, at Triple-A this season, Young has been quite productive, posting a 2.73 ERA with a stellar 0.84 WHIP. Fantasy managers should expect Young to return to Baltimore later this season as a spot starter.

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Updating a previous report, Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (forearm) is now in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener at Fenway Park against the division-rival Boston Red Sox and right-hander Brayan Bello, playing first base and batting third in the order. Guerrero was not in the initial starting lineup on Friday after being removed from Thursday's series finale early against the Cleveland Guardians after being hit by a pitch in his right forearm. Thankfully, X-rays came back negative for any fractures, and the 26-year-old All-Star will now return to action for the weekend series. Fantasy managers in all leagues need to get Vladdy back in their starting lineups. Not only does he have the highest xBA (.326) in the league, but he's also hitting a cool .417 with a 1.273 OPS, two home runs and 10 RBI in 24 career at-bats against Bello.

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The San Francisco Giants are promoting right-handed pitching prospect Carson Seymour to the major leagues. Seymour is currently considered the No. 20-ranked prospect in the system on MLB.com. Seymour has spent the 2024 campaign and the first half of the 2025 season with Triple-A Sacramento. In 2024, Seymour logged 134 1/3 innings of work at Triple-A and posted a 4.82 ERA with a 1.57 WHIP. During this stretch, he struck out 132 hitters. Through 74 innings this season, Seymour has taken a step forward, posting a 3.89 ERA with a 1.35 WHIP. He has tallied an impressive 83 punchouts while allowing 37 free passes. While the 26-year-old has been deployed as a starter in the minor leagues, he may begin his time in the major leagues in a long relief role. As a result, he is only worth monitoring in deeper NL-only formats.

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Boston Red Sox right-hander Nick Burdi (foot, hip) has been shut down with a hip injury, according to the Boston Herald's Gabrielle Starr. Burdi has been out since June 15 with a foot injury and had been rehabbing at Triple-A Worcester, but now he's dealing with a foot injury and will miss more time. Given the timing, it's highly likely that the 32-year-old veteran reliever won't return to the big-league bullpen until after the mid-July All-Star break. Burdi had only appeared in four games out of Boston's bullpen before his injury, tossing 5 1/3 scoreless frames with two walks and five strikeouts. He's not really on the fantasy radar in any leagues at this time. In his sixth MLB season in 2025, Burdi has compiled a 5.34 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, one save, 44 strikeouts and 21 walks in 35 relief appearances with four different teams since debuting in the majors in 2018 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

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Boston Red Sox outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) could start a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday, according to the Boston Herald's Gabrielle Starr. The plan is for Yoshida to play the outfield at Triple-A Worcester. The 31-year-old Japanese outfielder has yet to play in 2025 after having right-shoulder surgery last October and served strictly as a DH for the team last year, so this could be a sign that the Red Sox are planning to trade Jarren Duran before the July 31 deadline this summer. Yoshida has made plenty of contact in his two big-league seasons in Boston, hitting .285 with a .343 on-base percentage, but his 25 home runs in 248 games has left a lot to be desired from fantasy managers. Still, Yoshida will be worth a pickup in at least deep-mixed leagues whenever he returns if he's playing regularly for the Red Sox.

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Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman (quadriceps) did some hitting on Friday and will take some grounders on Saturday, according to manager Alex Cora. Bregman has been feeling really good, but there's still no timetable for him to start a minor-league rehab assignment, and all signs are pointing toward him not returning to the big-league roster until the start of the second half of the season. The 31-year-old two-time All-Star and former Silver Slugger winner has been out since late May but started running early in June and is making good progress. However, the BoSox aren't going to rush him back with the end of the first half of the year quickly approaching. The former first-rounder has leaned more into his power in his first year in Boston and was hitting a strong .299 (59-for-197) with 11 home runs and 35 RBI before his injury. Bregman should be stashed in all fantasy leagues.

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As expected, New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos (hamstring) was officially activated from the 10-day injured list and is starting in Friday's series opener in Pittsburgh against the Pirates and right-hander Mitch Keller. Vientos will be eased in as the designated hitter and will bat sixth in the order, with Brett Baty at third base and hitting behind him in the seven-hole. The 25-year-old Vientos broke out for the Mets last year with 27 homers and 71 RBI in 111 regular-season games, but he was hitting just .230/.298/.380 with a below-average .678 OPS, six homers, 21 RBI and 49 strikeouts in 53 games before his hamstring injury. An xwOBA in the 19th percentile and a 32nd percentile chase rate doesn't bode well for his chances of a rebound, but the power is certainly there. Vientos might need to pick things up to fend off Baty as the regular third baseman in the second half of 2025.

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Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jake Fraley (shoulder) said he has a partial tear in the labrum of his left shoulder, according to FOX 19's Charlie Goldsmith. The injury ties back to a recent diving catch that Fraley made in the outfield, but he's also had issues with the same shoulder for four years, with the tear taking place recently. He will go for a third opinion before the team makes a determination on the next steps for Fraley. While nothing is official yet, this doesn't sound very good. At the very least, the 30-year-old veteran could be out well into the second half of the season, and in a worst case, he could require season-ending surgery. The good news for the Reds is that they just got Austin Hays (foot) back from the injured list, and he, Will Benson and Rece Hinds will be the options moving forward for Cincy in right field with Fraley sidelined.

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Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford (oblique), who is out of Friday's lineup against the division-rival Seattle Mariners, said he's dealing with a very minor left-oblique strain. The Rangers haven't made a decision yet on whether to put him on the injured list, and Langford thinks the team will give him a few days before making a final decision. Langford was pulled from Wednesday's game early and also missed time back in spring training with an oblique injury, so we'd be surprised if he avoids a trip to the IL, especially with the All-Star break quickly approaching. The 23-year-old former first-rounder out of Florida has clear 20-20 potential but has gone 17-for-76 (.224) with two homers, eight RBI and 25 K's in 18 games in June. Fantasy managers should be preparing for a potential lengthy absence. Josh Smith, Alejandro Osuna and Sam Haggerty are all options to play left field if Langford misses additional time.

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Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (hamstring) will not start in Friday's series opener against the visiting San Francisco Giants. Michael Taylor will make the start in center field for the Pale Hose and will bat ninth against Giants right-hander Landen Roupp. Robert was pulled early from Wednesday's series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks with tightness in his hamstring and will not return to action despite having an off day on Thursday. Given his history with lower-body injuries, fantasy managers should not be surprised if the 27-year-old outfielder is held out through the All-Star break in mid-July. The Cuban slugger does have 22 steals in 249 at-bats this year, but he's struggled immensely otherwise with a .185/.270/.313 slash line and a .584 OPS. He's one of the most likely trade candidates this summer, but his hamstring injury isn't helping matters for the White Sox.

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