Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans (shoulder) appears to be headed in the right direction. Ragans received positive results from his follow-up MRI, according to Royals manager Matt Quatraro. Now, the plan is for Ragans to begin throwing again as early as Monday. The left-hander still has plenty of work ahead of him, but appears to be making the right steps forward now. Ragans has been sidelined since early June due to a shoulder injury. The expectation is that Ragans will be out until late July or early August. Fantasy managers should continue to hold Ragans on their IL, assuming they have a spot available.

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Kansas City Royals infielder Maikel Garcia is out of the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. This is a rare off day for Garcia who has started in every game since June 3. Garcia could use a rest day after going 6-for-28 at the plate over the last seven games. In his absence, Nick Loftin will take over at third base and bat seventh versus right-hander Anthony DeSclafani on Sunday. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups with Garcia taking a seat here.

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Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez is out of the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the Houston Astros. This appears to be a routine rest day for Hernandez who has started in each of the last three games. During that span, Hernandez has gone 1-for-10 at the plate, so a rest day looks like it's needed. In his absence, Esteury Ruiz will make his first start since being recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City earlier in the week. Ruiz will bat ninth and play right field versus right-hander Ryan Gusto on Sunday.Update: Hernandez is getting scans on his left foot after fouling a ball off it last night, according to manager Dave Roberts. This explains why he's out of Sunday's lineup and could be sidelined for a few days because of the issue.

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San Diego Padres relief pitcher David Morgan will serve as the opener ahead of Sunday's game against the Texas Rangers. It looks like the Padres have decided to go bullpen-game here. The expectation is that Morgan will throw an inning or two before Kyle Hart takes over for the bulk of the innings. Morgan has been a fairly decent option out of the bullpen, but doesn't offer much streaming upside as an opener. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere for help ahead of Sunday's slate.

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Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Daniel Lynch IV (elbow) was placed on the 15-day injured list ahead of Sunday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The left-hander is dealing with left elbow nerve irritation. There is no word on how long Lynch is expected to be sidelined. The expectation is Lynch is probably be sidelined for most of July. He posted a 2.59 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and 29/22 K/BB ratio across 39 appearances with the Royals this season. In a corresponding move, right-hander Jonathan Bowlan has been recalled to take the spot on the active roster.

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Los Angeles Dodgers infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman is absent from the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the Houston Astros. This appears to be a routine rest day for Edman who has started in each of the last six games. During that span, Edman went 2-for-17 at the plate, so he could use a day off to get his mind back on track. In his absence, Hyeseong Kim will take over second base while Andy Pages covers center field versus right-hander Ryan Gusto on Sunday.

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Colorado Rockies outfielder Kris Bryant (back) has been sidelined most of the season with lumbar degenerative disease. It's a chronic back condition that is likely to require maintenance throughout the rest of his playing time. Bryant recently told reporters that his back isn't responding well when he attempts to run. That being said, Bryant is scheduled to consult with doctors this week regarding an experimental treatment for his back. The 33-year-old is unlikely to play again this season and might not be able to play ever again. Hopefully, Bryant will be able to find a treatment that does help with his issues.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers have promoted right-handed pitcher Emmet Sheehan before his start on Sunday afternoon against the Houston Astros. Sheehan made one start in the majors this season and allowed one run across four innings of work. During this start, he struck out six batters and allowed just three hits. Through 17 2/3 innings at Triple-A this season, Sheehan has flashed elite strikeout upside, tallying 31 while posting a strong 4.58 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP. Sheehan made his MLB debut in 2023 but was shut down during the 2024 campaign, recovering from a hybrid Tommy John operation. In 2023, Sheehan held a 4.92 ERA with 64 strikeouts across his first 60 1/3 MLB innings. Fantasy managers should view Sheehan as a top waiver wire option this weekend, given his high strikeout potential.

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Colorado Rockies outfielder Tyler Freeman (hamstring) is not in Sunday's lineup when the Rockies conclude a series against the White Sox. According to Thomas Harding of MLB.com, the outfielder is dealing with a sore right hamstring. Harding noted that this minor injury has not affected his play. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status in case this injury begins to linger. Freeman has been one of the most productive hitters over the past month. In his last 19 games, Freeman has held .379/.474/.470 slash line with six doubles, nine runs, and seven stolen bases. This afternoon, the Rockies will give prospect Yanquiel Fernandez the starting nod in right field and will bat in the eighth hole. The Rockies are a viable stack in DFS facing right-hander Shane Smith.

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New York Yankees right-handed pitching prospect Cam Schlittler is set to make his MLB debut on either Tuesday or Wednesday, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Schlittler has been one of the most productive pitchers in the Yankee system and is being rewarded with a promotion. Schlittler began the campaign with Double-A but needed just 53 innings to prove he was ready to move up to Triple-A. With Double-A Somerset, Schlittler posted a 2.38 ERA with a 1.21 WHIP. Through 23 2/3 innings with Triple-A, Schlittler was quite impressive, tallying 35 strikeouts while serving up just nine free passes. With Clarke Schmidt (forearm) slated to undergo Tommy John surgery, Schlittler could have a path to remain in the majors for the foreseeable future. He is worth adding in all 12+ team formats.

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New York Yankees second/third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (shoulder) is out of the lineup due to a sore shoulder. Bryan Hoch of MLB.com noted that Chisholm has been dealing with this injury for several weeks, and it has affected his throwing more than his hitting. While this injury does not appear to be serious, fantasy managers should expect the Yankees to occasionally keep him out of the lineup to provide him rest. Over his last 11 games, Chisholm has been one of the most productive hitters in the sport, launching five home runs and adding two doubles. The 27-year-old should be expected to return to the starting nine on Tuesday when they begin a series against the Seattle Mariners. This afternoon, Oswald Peraza will cover the hot corner.

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Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitcher Carson Spiers (shoulder) is set to move his rehab assignment to Triple-A on Tuesday. Spiers has been on the 60-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement since April 20. Spiers completed his first rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League on July 3. In this start, Spiers tossed 2 1/3 shutout innings with two hits, no walks, and four punchouts. Earlier this season, the 27-year-old tossed 13 1/3 innings for the Reds and posted a 6.08 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP. Last season, the right-hander logged a season-high 90 2/3 innings in the major leagues but struggled, posting a 5.46 ERA with a 1.53 WHIP. When he does return from the injured list, he will likely be deployed in a long relief role.

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Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitching prospect Lazaro Estrada has been optioned to Triple-A. Estrada was promoted to the major leagues earlier this week. However, Estrada logged just four innings of work during his first stint in the major leagues. He allowed one earned run and struck out four batters. He did not serve up a walk. Earlier this season, during his time with Triple-A Buffalo, Estrada saw all of his time as a starter and posted a 4.75 ERA with a 1.37 WHIP. During this stretch, Estrada tallied 66 strikeouts and allowed 21 walks. Fantasy managers should expect the No. 25-ranked prospect in the system to continue to operate as a starter in he minor leagues. However, when he does return to the majors, he will likely revert to the bullpen.

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The Toronto Blue Jays have activated right-handed pitcher Ryan Burr (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list before their contest against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. Burr has been unable to pitch all season due to a shoulder injury. The 31-year-old logged 12 2/3 innings of rehab work and posted a 3.65 ERA with a strong 1.05 WHIP. Last season, Burr was deployed primarily out of the bullpen in Toronto. Across 32 2/3 innings, the right-hander held a 4.13 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP. He showcased high strikeout upside as he tallied strikeouts at a high 33.6% rate, but held a modest 8.6% walk rate. Under the hood, Burr generated a solid 3.56 xERA with a .222 xBA. Fantasy managers should expect Burr to have a middle-relief role in the Toronto bullpen.

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The Toronto Blue Jays have promoted outfielder Joey Loperfido to the major leagues. In a corresponding move, the Blue Jays have placed second baseman Andres Gimenez (ankle) on the 10-day injured list with a left ankle sprain. Loperfido made his MLB debut last season but has yet to appear in an MLB game this season. Through 81 games in the majors last season (split between time in Houston and Toronto), Loperfido held a .214/.264/.350 slash line with four home runs and four stolen bases. This season, the Duke product has been very productive at Triple-A, holding a .278/.354/.422 slash line with 20 doubles and six round-trippers. With Daulton Varsho (hamstring) still sidelined, Loperfido could carve out a role in center field. He is worth adding in AL-only formats for the time being.

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New York Mets outfielder Jesse Winker (oblique) could return to action on Tuesday when the Mets begin a series in Baltimore, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Winker has been on the 60-day injured list since the start of May due to a right oblique strain. Winker has appeared in four games during his rehab assignment. Through this brief stint, he has gone 3-for-11 at the dish with a double and a home run. Fantasy managers should continue to keep a close eye on his status leading up to Tuesday's game. Before the injury, Winker held a modest .239/.321/.418 line with five doubles and a home run. When he does return, fantasy managers should expect Winker to see time at DH on the strong side of a platoon.

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Boston Red Sox right-handed pitcher Hunter Dobbins (elbow) struck out eight batters across five innings. He is reba outing with Double-A Portland on Saturday. He allowed just two hits and one run. He did not serve up a walk. Dobbins has been on the 15-day IL since the end of June due to a right elbow strain. Dobbins completed a bullpen on July 1 and looked dominant in his first rehab outing. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he could be activated in the coming days, as he looked quite comfortable in his rehab outing. The 25-year-old made his MLB debut earlier this season and posted a 4.10 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP across 59 1/3 innings of work. During this stretch, Dobbins struck out 43 hitters but showed strong command, serving up walks at a 6.5% rate. When he does return to Boston, he should have a role in the starting rotation.

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Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Andres Gimenez (ankle) was placed on the 10-day injured list before their contest on Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels. Gimenez suffered a left ankle sprain during their contest on Wednesday. He eventually returned to the starting nine on Friday but faced a setback during that game. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as the team has not provided a definitive timeline. In a corresponding move, the Blue Jays promoted outfielder Joey Loperfido from Triple-A Buffalo. Over his last 11 games, Gimenez has been very productive at the plate, posting a .342/.390/447 slash line with a double and a home run. While Gimenez is sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Ernie Clement and Davis Schneider to see most of the opportunities at the keystone.

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Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Seranthony Dominguez (back) has been unavailable to pitch for the past two days due to a sore back. Jake Rill of MLB.com noted that Dominguez suffered this minor injury because he "slept funny." Dominguez made his last appearance on June 30 when he tossed 1 2/3 innings of one-run ball (unearned run) with three strikeouts. Since June 1, Dominguez has been one of the most dominant relief pitchers in baseball, having not allowed an earned run while maintaining a 0.92 WHIP through 13 innings of work. In total, Dominguez has posted a 3.15 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP across 34 1/3 innings. He has struck out 45 hitters while allowing walks at an eight 14.4% rate. While Dominguez remains sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Felix Bautista to remain the top closer while Gregory Soto, Yennier Cano, and Bryan Baker see other high-leverage options.

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The Cleveland Guardians have recalled infielder from Triple-A Columbus, per MLB.com's Tim Stebbins. Wilson's promotion is the corresponding move for outfielder Lane Thomas' placement on the 10-day IL with right foot plantar fasciitis. The 26-year-old Wilson has appeared in 24 games for Cleveland so far this season, slashing .176/.263/.235 with an elevated 39% strikeout rate. He's been far better at Triple-A, hitting .308 with eight home runs, 24 RBI, and 27 runs scored in 149 plate appearances. Wilson should remain off the radar of fantasy managers until he proves more consistent production in the big leagues or another injury opens up a path to regular playing time.

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