Milwaukee Brewers rookie left-hander Connor Thomas (elbow) had a setback after appearing in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on May 25 and will have surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow, according to MLB.com. Thomas had been recovering from left-elbow arthritis and will now miss even more time. He initially landed on the 15-day injured list on April 8 and was transferred to the 60-day IL on May 18. The 27-year-old southpaw will now miss even more time, meaning he won't be an option for Milwaukee's bullpen until some point in the second half of the season, if at all. Thomas only appeared in two games in his first taste of major-league action earlier this year before getting hurt, and he allowed a whopping 12 earned runs on 12 hits (three homers) while walking two and fanning five in just 5 1/3 innings.

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Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy said that outfielder Blake Perkins (shin) is running at "90-95%" and could play in minor-league games in Arizona in mid-June. Perkins' progress from a right-shin fracture stalled in the middle of May, but now it sounds like he's on the right track. Barring a setback from the 28-year-old, he could return to the big-league roster and make his 2025 debut in late June. The switch-hitting outfielder fractured his shin in spring training. When Perkins is able to return, he'll most likely serve as outfield depth for the Brew Crew, limiting his fantasy appeal. In 121 games with Milwaukee in 2024 in his second year in the majors, Perkins hit .240/.316/.332 with a below-average .647 OPS, six home runs, 13 doubles, two triples, 43 RBI, 23 stolen bases and 54 runs scored in 434 plate appearances. Speed is the biggest draw with Perkins in fantasy.

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Boston Red Sox catcher Carlos Narvaez and outfielder Wilyer Abreu are out of the starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Connor Wong is doing the catching and batting ninth, and Ceddanne Rafaela is in right field and hitting eighth against Rays right-hander Shane Baz. Narvaez has been one of the most valuable catchers in baseball this year and has taken over starting duties from Wong in Beantown by hitting .282 (48-for-170) with six homers, 22 RBI and 28 runs scored. His .244 xBA signals regression is likely coming, though. It's just the second time all year that Abreu is sitting against a righty, and it comes with the 25-year-old recording just two hits in 14 at-bats with eight K's in seven games in June. With top outfield prospect Roman Anthony now in town, Abreu could start to lose more playing time.

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Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (elbow) was hit on the right elbow by a 108.2 mph comebacker with Triple-A Nashville on June 3 in what was supposed to be his final minor-league rehab start. However, Woodruff is only dealing with bruising. With the swelling going down, the Brewers are hopeful that the 32-year-old veteran could resume throwing early this week. He could then move to a bullpen session around June 17 and throw live batting practice shortly after. Woodruff hasn't pitched in the big leagues since September of 2023 after having right-shoulder surgery that knocked him out all of last year. He's posted a 2.11 ERA with 34 strikeouts over 38 1/3 innings in his nine rehab starts and is poised to help fantasy managers in all formats once he eventually makes his 2025 debut, which could come in late June.

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The Boston Red Sox are calling up outfield prospect Roman Anthony from Triple-A Worcester on Monday, a source tells Mass Live's Christopher Smith. Anthony isn't in the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays, but he's heading to Boston and should play regularly in the Red Sox's outfield, making him a must-add off the waiver wire if he's available in your league. Per MLB Pipeline, the 21-year-old former second-rounder in 2022 was the No. 1 overall prospect in all of baseball. He gets the call-up after slashing .288/.423/.491 with a .913 OPS, 10 home run, 29 RBI, 45 runs scored and three steals in 58 games with Worcester. On Saturday, Anthony clobbered a 497-foot grand slam at an exit velocity of 115.6 mph, showing just the kind of damage he can do offensively. Although Kristian Campbell homered on Sunday, the fellow rookie could find himself on the bench more often now that Anthony is in town.

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The Cincinnati Enquirer's Gordon Wittenmyer reports that Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays (foot) is eyeing a possible return from the 10-day injured list by the end of the series this week against the Cleveland Guardians that runs from Monday through Wednesday. Hays is on the IL with a left-foot contusion but ditched his walking boot last week and apparently will rejoin the big-league roster without going on a minor-league rehab assignment. The 29-year-old is very injury-prone and has already been on the IL multiple times in 2025, but when healthy, he's seen regular playing time in left field for Cincy and has swung the bat well. In 119 at-bats this year, the former third-rounder by the Baltimore Orioles in 2016 has hit .303 with six home runs, 25 RBI, 23 runs scored and two steals. If he's available on your league's waiver wire, scoop him up now.

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Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene (groin) is headed to Los Angeles on Monday for a second medical opinion on his back and his injured groin, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer's Gordon Wittenmyer. Greene landed on the 15-day injured list last Wednesday with a right-groin strain and is now also apparently dealing with a back ailment. Second opinions usually aren't a good sign, but the good news is that Greene isn't dealing with an injury to his right arm. The hard-throwing 25-year-old is eligible to come off the IL on June 19, but it remains to be seen if that will happen, and it will likely depend on what doctors say on Monday. Until he's able to return, veteran left-hander Wade Miley is expected to work in Cincy's starting rotation. Greene needs to be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy formats while he recovers.

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The St. Louis Cardinals announced on Monday that they sent right-handed pitching prospect Michael McGreevy and right-hander Matt Svanson to Triple-A Memphis and recalled right-handers Riley O'Brien and Chris Roycroft from Memphis in corresponding moves. McGreevy, the club's No. 10 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will head back to the minors for more seasoning after making a spot start in Sunday's series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers in what was just his fourth MLB start after debuting last year. The 24-year-old took the loss against the defending World Series champions and allowed four runs on eight hits while walking none and striking out five in six innings of work. McGreevy has the makings of a solid big-league starter eventually and has held his own in his first six big-league outings (six starts), posting a 2.34 ERA and 0.81 WHIP with 28 K's and only three walks in 34 2/3 frames.

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Cincinnati Reds infielder/outfielder Spencer Steer is not in the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener in Cleveland against the Guardians at Progressive Field. Christian Encarnacion-Strand is starting at first base and will bat cleanup, while Santiago Espinal is at the hot corner and is hitting seventh against Guardians right-hander Luis L. Ortiz. Steer just hasn't gotten going in 2025, but it's important to note he was battling through a shoulder injury early in the year. He's currently slashing a disappointing .226/.294/.327 with a career-worst .621 OPS, four homers, 20 RBI and 24 runs scored in 59 games. His xBA of .230 doesn't suggest things will get much better anytime soon, either. Encarnacion-Strand has hit just .229 (16-for-70) on the year, but he's looked good since returning from the injured list and already has five homers in 18 games on the season.

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The Cleveland Guardians announced on Monday that they activated outfielder Lane Thomas (foot) from the 10-day injured list and optioned infielder Will Wilson to Triple-A Columbus in a corresponding move. It's unclear if Thomas will be in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the visiting Cincinnati Reds, so fantasy managers will have to check back a bit later. So far in 2025, Thomas has been plagued by injuries, first a wrist contusion and most recently by plantar fasciitis in his right foot. The 29-year-old has played in just 17 games as a result in his first full season in Cleveland and has gone just 7-for-59 (.119) at the plate with three RBI, two runs and a stolen base. Thomas was set to be the Guardians' primary center field this year, but if he doesn't turn things around offensively, he might find himself on the bench more often than not.

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The Atlanta Braves announced that right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery to reconstruct the UCL in his right elbow on Monday, and the surgery was performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, TX. Smith-Shawver will miss the rest of the 2025 season and most likely at least half of next year as well. The 22-year-old suffered the injury to his elbow during his start on May 29 and was placed on the 60-day injured list shortly after. Fantasy managers should have already dropped him in single-year formats for another healthy body. It's a major blow to a Braves team that continues to be hit hard by injuries this year. Before going down, the former seventh-rounder was making strides in just his third MLB season and had gone 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 42 K's and 21 walks in 44 1/3 frames over nine starts.

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Colorado Rockies third base/outfield prospect Charlie Condon continues to perform well at High-A Spokane, collecting three hits, including a double, in four at-bats on Sunday, while also walking once and scoring three times. Through 17 games for the Indians, the 22-year-old is hitting .339 (21-for-62) with four doubles, a pair of home runs, 12 RBI, and 18 runs scored. The third overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft is also walking (16) more than he is striking out (14), which has led to a phenomenal .488 OBP. Despite missing so much time to begin the year, the Rockies' top prospect does not appear to be overmatched and should be a candidate for a promotion in the near future. Fantasy managers may have to wait until 2026 to see his 70-grade power on displayat Coors Field, but with the state of the Rockies' offense, a 2025 debut is not off the table.

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Texas Rangers right-hander Josh Sborz (shoulder) is making progress from right-shoulder surgery that he had last November and started throwing breaking pitches during a bullpen session in late May, according to The Dallas Morning News' Shawn McFarland. The 31-year-old has been throwing off a mound for almost a month and is getting close to being cleared to face live hitters. After that, Sborz will be cleared for what will likely be a lengthy minor-league rehab start. Because he's on the 60-day injured list, Sborz won't be eligible to make his 2025 debut until at least early July. The best bet is that we don't see him until the second half, at which point he'll be a candidate to join the big-league bullpen down the stretch. In his four years with Texas, Sborz has posted a 4.86 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, one save and a 28.7% strikeout rate over 150 innings.

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Texas Rangers left-hander Cody Bradford (elbow) incorporated breaking pitches into his bullpen session back on May 31 and is hoping to face live hitters at some point this week, according to The Dallas Morning News' Shawn McFarland. Bradford has been on the shelf all year to this point due to a sprained left elbow, but once he resumes facing live hitters, he could be several weeks from potentially being activated from the injured list. Most likely, we won't see him back in the big leagues until after the All-Star break in mid-July. Once the 27-year-old southpaw is healthy, he'll be an option for pitching-hungry fantasy managers in deep-mixed and AL-only leagues, although it's unclear if he'll join Texas' starting rotation. In his second year in the big leagues in 2024, Bradford had a 3.54 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 70 K's and 13 walks in 76 1/3 innings over 14 outings (13 starts).

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According to multiple reports, Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who is currently on trial in the Dominican Republic on charges that include sexual abuse of a minor, was charged on Sunday with illegal possession of a gun. Franco was arrested on Nov. 10 after an altercation broke out, and a Glock 19 was found in his vehicle. The 24-year-old was formally charged last July in the Dominican Republic with sexual and commercial exploitation of a minor, and the trial is ongoing. MLB's investigation into the allegations against Franco are ongoing, too. Once one of the most promising young shortstop's in the game, Franco most likely won't ever step foot back on a big-league field again despite signing an 11-year, $182 million deal back in November of 2021. He has not played since the allegations initially surfaced in August of 2023.

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Washington Nationals right-hander Josiah Gray (elbow, forearm) has progressed to throwing bullpen sessions of 30 pitches at the team's spring training complex after having Tommy John surgery and internal-brace procedure on July 24 of last year. The 27-year-old is making progress from elbow reconstruction, but even if he doesn't have any setbacks as he continues to ramp up his arm, he's not expected to be available for the Nationals until later in the second half of the 2025 season. At that point, he won't have much fantasy appeal and will likely be on a strict workload limit. Once Gray begins facing live hitters, a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment will likely follow. The former second-round pick by the Cincinnati Reds in 2018 was a first-time All-Star in 2023, when he had a 3.91 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 143:80 K:BB in 159 innings over 30 starts.

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Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Ha-Seong Kim (shoulder) started back-to-back games at designated hitter on his minor-league rehab assignment on May 28 and 29 and then started at second base on June 1. Kim made his first start at shortstop on June 5 and is expected to take most of the allotted 20 days on his rehab assignment to build up to regular work at the 6, according to MLB.com. The 29-year-old has yet to play in 2025 while recovering from surgery on his right shoulder to fix a torn labrum. He's currently on the 60-day injured list but could make his debut with the Rays in mid-to-late June, barring a setback. When Kim is finally ready to return to the big leagues, he's expected to be Tampa's regular shortstop. In his 10 rehab games with Triple-A Durham, he's gone 7-for-34 (.206) with two doubles, four RBI and two steals. Kim can provide modest speed numbers for fantasy managers in deep-mixed leagues.

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San Francisco Giants right-hander Justin Verlander (pectoral) is expected to throw another simulated game on Wednesday at Coors Field in Colorado before the team's game against the Rockies, according to MLB.com. Verlander continues to recover from a strained right pectoral muscle that landed him on the 15-day injured list on May 22. Barring a setback, the 42-year-old three-time Cy Young winner is expected to rejoin the team's starting rotation in the middle of June. He tossed 35 to 40 pitches during his first simulated game this past Friday and should be expected to build on that workload this week. If Verlander avoids a setback on Wednesday, he could be cleared to come off the IL without going on a minor-league rehab assignment. The nine-time All-Star is no longer the dominant pitcher he once was and was 0-3 with a 4.33 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and weak 18.2% strikeout rate before his injury.

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San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee (back) sat out the last two games of the series against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday and Sunday after experiencing upper-back soreness. However, MLB.com reports that Lee could return for Tuesday's series opener in Colorado against the division-rival Rockies. Lee appeared as a pinch-hitter in Saturday's game, which was a sign that his injury wasn't all that serious. Fantasy managers should expect to have him back in the lineup this week in a great hitting environment at Coors Field. Daniel Johnson received two straight starts in center field for the Giants with Lee missing the last two games. When Lee does come back, he'll be returning to a .276/.330/.436 slash line with a .766 OPS, six home runs, 32 RBI, 35 runs and six stolen bases in 243 at-bats. The Japanese outfielder has gone 5-for-19 (.263) with three doubles, an RBI and a steal in seven games in June.

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New York Mets right-hander Frankie Montas (lat) made his fourth minor-league rehab start on Sunday with Triple-A Syracuse and allowed three earned runs on four hits (two homers) while walking three and striking out two in 3 2/3 innings. He threw 43 of his 76 pitches for strikes. The 32-year-old veteran is on the 60-day injured list and hasn't pitched at all during the regular season after injuring his lat in spring training. The Mets are in no rush to bring Montas back, so fantasy managers should expect him to make a few more rehab starts before potentially returning to the starting rotation in late June or early July. In his four rehab starts, Montas has a 9.00 ERA and 2.00 WHIP with eight walks and nine K's in 12 innings. The Dominican hurler made just one appearance in 2023 due to injury and was up and down in 30 starts with the Reds and Brewers last year, posting a 4.84 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 150 2/3 frames.

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