New York Yankees first baseman/designated hitter Ben Rice hasn't started a game at catcher this year, but with Giancarlo Stanton's (elbows) return looming, manager Aaron Boone said Rice could start some games behind the plate. The Yankees are going to have a logjam for DH duties when Stanton returns to the big-league roster, possibly as soon as next week, so the Yankees are going to need to get creative as they look for ways to keep Rice's bat in the lineup. The 26-year-old left-handed slugger is breaking out in his second MLB season with 12 home runs, 25 RBI, 33 runs scored and two stolen bases in 57 games played this year. He's hitting .240 (46-for-192), but his xBA of .295 indicates more good times are on the way. His 94.4 mph average exit velocity ranks sixth in all of baseball, and he's tied with Matt Olson for seventh with a 55.9% hard-hit rate.

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New York Yankees right-handed reliever Luke Weaver (hamstring) said he felt "great" after throwing his second bullpen session on Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium. Weaver landed on the 15-day injured list on June 3 with a strained hamstring and received a platelet-rich plasma injection, and now he's no longer feeling anything in his leg. The 31-year-old veteran was given a return timetable of four to six weeks, but he appears to be making good progress and could be back on the short end of that timeline, barring a setback when he resumes facing live hitters. Before his injury, Weaver took over primary closing duties from Devin Williams, who got off to a rough start in his first year in New York. Weaver has eight saves with a stingy 1.05 ERA, 0.70 WHIP and 24 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings, although he could return to the eighth-inning setup role with Williams settling down of late.

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New York Yankees outfielder/designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (elbows) went 1-for-4 with an RBI double and a strikeout in his second minor-league rehab game with Double-A Somerset in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday against Double-A Portland. Stanton's double had an exit velocity of 110.6 mph off the bat, and he's now 3-for-4 with four RBI in his first two rehab games. The 35-year-old former MVP has been out all season with tennis elbow in both of his arms, but he's finally playing in games again and could make his 2025 debut by next week, barring a setback during his rehab assignment. Stanton might not play regularly because he'll be limited to DH duties the rest of the year, but for his power alone, he's worth a waiver-wire pickup if he's available in your league. The five-time All-Star has 429 round-trippers in his 15 years in the big leagues.

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Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement (lower body) suffered what appeared to be a left-knee injury in the eighth inning in Wednesday's win over the St. Louis Cardinals while diving for a ground ball at third base and left the game, but he said he's OK. Manager John Schneider also said that Clement is fine. "They just forced me to come out - just precautionary because we have the off day tomorrow," Clement said. The 29-year-old had a big game before exiting, recording three hits, including his fourth home run of the year, as the Blue Jays swept the Cardinals in St. Louis. With a day off coming on Thursday, it's possible that Clement will be ready to roll for Friday's series opener in Philadelphia against the Phillies. Clement makes a lot of contact at the plate but is primarily an AL-only asset in fantasy because he lacks considerable power and speed.

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The Minnesota Twins announced on Wednesday that they transferred right-hander Pablo Lopez (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list to make room on the 40-man roster for left-hander Joey Wentz, who they claimed off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Lopez is dealing with a Grade 2 right teres major muscle strain in his right shoulder and was already expected to miss at least two months, so his move to the 60-day IL isn't all that notable. The 29-year-old Venezuelan hurler should be stashed in most fantasy leagues while he recovers, as he was in the midst of a strong season before his injury, going 5-3 with a 2.82 ERA (2.98 FIP) and 1.07 WHIP with 61 punchouts and 14 walks in 60 2/3 innings over 11 starts. With both Lopez and Zebby Matthews (shoulder) on the IL, David Festa and Simeon Woods Richardson have joined Minnesota's rotation.

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Tampa Bay Rays ace Shane McClanahan (triceps) is "kind of in a shut-down mode," according to manager Kevin Cash, and will visit with another nerve specialist before the team determines the next step in his recovery. McClanahan threw a successful bullpen session last Friday, but apparently he's had a setback since then. This doesn't sound good, but we'll have to wait and see what the specialist says. The 28-year-old southpaw hasn't pitched all year and might be in danger of being shut down for the rest of the 2025 season, depending on his diagnosis. Even if he is cleared to resume his throwing program going forward, fantasy managers shouldn't expect McClanahan to return to the major-league starting rotation until sometime later in the second half. McClanahan made the All-Star squad his last two seasons in 2022 and 2023 and has 456 K's in 404 2/3 innings in his first three MLB seasons.

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Texas Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (triceps) took a step in the right direction on Wednesday by playing catch, according to DLLS Sports' Jeff Wilson. The Rangers are still unsure when Eovaldi will return from the 15-day injured list, though. He is eligible to come back this Friday, but that isn't going to happen since he hasn't gotten back on a mound yet following a right-triceps injury that put him on the shelf on May 29. In the meantime, Jacob Latz could remain in Texas' starting rotation. The 35-year-old should remain stashed in all fantasy formats, and hopefully he'll be able to return from the IL before the end of June. In his first 12 starts of the year in 2025, Eovaldi had gone 4-3 with a 1.56 ERA (2.32 FIP) and league-best 0.81 WHIP with 73 strikeouts and 10 walks in 69 1/3 innings pitched. He should remain a high-floor fantasy starter whenever he returns.

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Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cody Bradford (elbow) faced hitters for a live batting practice session on Wednesday. Bradford reportedly looked good during his 22-pitch session, according to manager Bruce Bochy. The organization is hopeful to continue stretching out Bradford, assuming he doesn't suffer any setbacks from this session. There isn't a timetable for his return, but the hope is that Bradford should be able to return to the starting rotation around July. He has been sidelined all season long due to an elbow sprain. Fantasy managers can leave Bradford on the waiver wire until he's closer to getting back on the big league mound.

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Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Jackson Jobe (elbow) received some bad news on Wednesday. Jobe will reportedly undergo Tommy John surgery on his elbow, which will sideline him for the rest of the season. The right-hander was placed on the injured list at the end of May due to a right elbow flexor strain. It was apparently worse than that, so he'll miss the second half of the season and part of the 2026 campaign as well. This is frustrating to both fantasy managers and baseball fans in general as Jobe is one of the top prospects in the Tigers system. Fantasy managers in redraft formats can safely drop Jobe with him done for the 2025 season. The Tigers should give a better timetable on his eventual return at a later date.

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New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. (neck) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Kansas City Royals. This is great news after Chisholm was forced to exit early on Tuesday due to neck tightness. It appears his removal was precautionary and he's ready to go on Wednesday. Chisholm will cover third base and bat fifth versus left-hander Kris Bubic. Fantasy managers can safely get Chisholm back in their lineups on Wednesday.

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San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey (neck) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday. Bailey was scratched from the lineup ahead of Tuesday's contest with neck spasms. He has now been diagnosed with a neck strain and will miss at least a week of action. Andrew Knizner will do the catching on Wednesday and figures to see a majority of the time behind the plate while Bailey is out. In a corresponding move, Logan Porter has been recalled from Triple-A and will serve as the backup catcher. Bailey hasn't done enough at the plate to warrant holding through the injury.

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New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Kansas City Royals. Dominguez will now head to the bench for the second time in the last three games. It's a bit odd to see Dominguez heading to the bench after a three-hit game on Tuesday. He's slashing .246/.340/.402 with six home runs and 25 RBI this season. The potential is through the roof, but it might take some time for Dominguez to adjust to the big league level. Regardless, he's worth rostering in most 12-team formats. Trent Grisham will cover center field and bat seventh versus left-hander Kris Bubic on Wednesday.

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Chicago White Sox infielder Chase Meidroth is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Houston Astros. Meidroth will get a rest day here after starting in nine straight games. During that span, Meidroth is 12-for-33 with four RBI and at least one hit in seven of his last nine contests. He doesn't offer a ton of power, but his contact ability makes him worth a look in deep leagues. Vinny Capra will cover shortstop and bat ninth versus right-hander Ryan Gusto on Wednesday.

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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sounded open to the idea of stretching right-hander Ben Casparius out moving forward in order to serve in a traditional starting role and not just as an opener, according to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya. Right-hander Tony Gonsolin (elbow) is on the injured list, while the Dodgers recently got relievers Michael Kopech and Kirby Yates back from the IL, which lessens the need for Casparius in the bullpen. The 26-year-old made the start at Petco Park on Wednesday in the series finale against the division-rival San Diego Padres, and he's stretched out right now to go around three innings or 45 pitches. Casparius has gone at least three innings in only four of his 21 appearances this year, but that could change going forward. He's been solid with a 4-1 record, 2.93 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 44:7 K:BB in 40 innings and would have even more fantasy value as a starter.

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Athletics rookie first baseman Nick Kurtz received the day off in Wednesday's series finale against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels for rest purposes after he recently returned from the injured list due to a hip injury. Tyler Soderstrom got the start at first base and hit third in the batting order for the A's in Anaheim. Kutz returned to the lineup on Monday and went 1-for-8 with a double and three strikeouts in the first two games of the series against the Halos. The 22-year-old former fourth overall pick last year out of Wake Forest quickly worked his way up through the minors and has impressive long-term upside, especially in the power department. He stands at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds and should continue serving as the team's regular first baseman the rest of the way. In his first 102 MLB at-bats, Kurtz has hit .235 with five long balls, 15 RBI and 11 runs scored.

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Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson (hamstring) is considered day-to-day with left-hamstring tightness after missing a second straight game in Wednesday's series finale against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels. The team is hopeful that he could return for Friday's series opener in Kansas City against the Royals after a day off on Thursday. The 23-year-old former first-rounder was scratched from Tuesday's loss to the Halos and was also held out of the lineup on Wednesday as a precaution. The good news is fantasy managers should have him back at some point this weekend against the Royals. Wilson has been amazing through 64 games in 2025, slashing .366/.402/.520 with a .922 OPS, eight home runs, 38 RBI, 36 runs scored and five stolen bases. Although he rarely strikes out (16 times in 272 plate appearances), Wilson is due for regression in the average department.

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Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays (foot) had another MRI exam on Wednesday morning because of persistent pain in his left food, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer's Gordon Wittenmyer. The good news is that the MRI still showed no fracture in his foot, and he's been diagnosed with a deep bone bruise. The 29-year-old will be re-evaluated on Friday. Hays has served as the team's regular left fielder this year when he's been healthy, but the problem is he's already been on the injured list several times and doesn't appear close to a return to the big leagues. The former third-rounder by the Baltimore Orioles in 2016 has slashed .303/.346/.555 with a .901 OPS, six home runs, 25 RBI, 23 runs and two steals in his 119 at-bats. In the month of June with Hays on the IL, the Reds have mostly used a combination of Will Benson and Spencer Steer in left field.

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Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo was in the early National League Cy Young conversation before allowing 20 earned runs on 21 hits (three homers) while walking five and striking out six in just 5 2/3 innings in his last two starts against the Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays. The 27-year-old southpaw was able to get back on track in Wednesday's 7-2 win over the visiting Chicago Cubs, giving up just one earned run on five hits while walking none and fanning 10 in six innings of work to pick up his sixth win of the season. It appears his last two starts were just a blip on the radar and he's now back on track after shutting down one of the best offenses in baseball in the Cubs. Luzardo remains a must-start in fantasy and has an excellent matchup next up on the docket next week against his former team, the Miami Marlins.

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Detroit Tigers infielder Colt Keith will make his first career start at third base and will bat seventh on Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles and right-hander Zach Eflin at Camden Yards. Third base has been a revolving door of mediocrity for the first-place Tigers this year among the likes of Zach McKinstry, Javier Baez and Andy Ibanez. Keith has been taking ground balls at the hot corner recently and will now get his first not at the hot corner in an actual game. The move allows Spencer Torkelson to start at first base, with Kerry Carpenter moving to the designated hitter spot. Keith initially came up as a third baseman in the minors, but he moved to the keystone after shoulder surgery in 2022. He may not gain eligibility for fantasy at third, but the Tigers figure to keep his bat in the lineup as much as possible. Keith has gone 5-for-19 (.263) with a double and two RBI in seven games in May.

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Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen had just one hit in Wednesday's game at PNC Park against the visiting Miami Marlins, but it was a big one. Serving as the designated hitter in the two-hole, McCutchen hit a three-run bomb off Cal Quantrill in the sixth inning. The five-time All-Star and former MVP is in the twilight of his career but remains an everyday player for the last-place Pirates. McCutchen came into Wednesday's series finale against the Fish hitting .264/.356/.393 with a decent .749 OPS, five home runs, 22 RBI, 20 runs scored and a stolen base in 59 games played. The 38-year-old former first-rounder isn't going to provide much power or counting stats, but he extended his current hitting streak to five games with his sixth home run of the year on Wednesday.

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