San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill (concussion) was activated off the 7-day injured list on Sunday. Merrill is back in action after missing a little over a week due to a concussion. When healthy, Merrill is a stud, but keeping him on the field has been a problem this season. Merrill is slashing .304/.349/.474 with five home runs and 26 RBI in 44 games this season. He'll bat second and cover center field versus right-hander Seth Lugo on Sunday. Fantasy managers should make sure to get Merrill activated and back in their lineups.

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Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman is absent from the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Goodman will take a seat after starting in each of the last three games. During that span, Goodman went 3-for-12 with a double, two RBI, and two walks. Goodman has been one of the few bright spots for this offense this season. He should be rostered in basically all fantasy formats right now. Braxton Fulford will cover behind the plate and bat eighth versus right-hander Brandon Pfaadt on Sunday.

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Colorado Rockies infielder Thairo Estrada (hand) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. This marks the fifth straight game that Estrada has missed due to a bruised right hand. The organization was hopeful Estrada wouldn't require a stint on the injured list. However, it's getting to the point where the Rockies might need to place Estrada on the shelf. In the meantime, Kyle Farmer will cover second base and bat seventh versus right-hander Brandon Pfaadt on Sunday.

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Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Casey Mize (leg) was forced to make an early exit from Sunday's outing against the Tampa Bay Rays. He was pulled out in the sixth inning after a visit with the training staff after showing a dip in velocity. Mize appeared to be flexing his right leg, so possibly his departure is due to cramping or dehydration. Before exiting, Mize tossed five innings, allowing one earned run on five hits while striking out five batters. Fantasy managers should check back for an update on his status following the contest.

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Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto is out of the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the Houston Astros. This appears to be a rare rest day for Neto who has started in every game since May 26. He has been in a bit of a slump lately with only two hits over his last four games. It looks like a good time to give him a day off and let him recharge. Kevin Newman will cover shortstop and bat eighth versus right-hander Ryan Gusto on Sunday.

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New York Mets catcher Hayden Senger is being recalled to the major leagues. In a corresponding move, the Mets are sending catcher Francisco Alvarez to Triple-A Syracuse. Senger made his MLB debut earlier this season and appeared in 13 games. During this brief taste, Senger posted a .179/.207/.214 slash line with one double, a walk, and nine strikeouts. At Triple-A this season, Senger has posted a modest .240/.286/.323 line with two doubles and two round-trippers across 27 games. Fantasy managers should expect Senger to likely serve as the No. 2 backstop during this stint in the big leagues. As a result, Luis Torrens should see the majority of the starting opportunities going forward. Through 45 games this season, Torrens has held a .232/.309/.344 line.

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Baltimore Orioles outfielder Tyler O'Neill (shoulder) is set to resume his rehab assignment on Sunday with High-A Aberdeen. O'Neill has been dealing with some soreness in his shoulder, which has halted his rehab assignment. However, the 30-year-old appears to be back on track. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, as he could be activated from the 10-day IL in the coming weeks. O'Neill initially hit the injured list with a left shoulder impingement on May 18. Before his injury, O'Neill was off to a slow start to the campaign, posting a .188/.280/.325 slash line with two home runs and two stolen bases through 24 contests. When he returns to Baltimore, fantasy managers should expect him to have close to an everyday role in the starting nine.

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Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson will receive his first day off on Sunday when the Cubs conclude a series against the Seattle Mariners. The shortstop has been a staple of the starting nine for each of the Cubs' first 76 games. Across this stint, Swanson has posted a solid .241/.293/.428 line with 10 doubles, 14 home runs, and seven stolen bases. Under the hood, Swanson has generated a .347 xwOBA, .264 xBA, .487 xSLG, and a 12.4% barrel rate, all of which are above the average marks. This afternoon, Nico Hoerner will shift to shortstop, which will open the keystone for Vidal Brujan. Swanson should be expected to return to the starting nine on Monday when they open a series against the Cardinals. This afternoon, the Cubs are best to fade in DFS facing right-hander Logan Gilbert.

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Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll (hand) is remaining on the bench on Sunday when the Diamondbacks continue a series against the Colorado Rockies. The superstar outfielder has been held out of action over the past three games due to a bruised left hand. Fantasy managers should continue to keep an eye on his status leading up to their next contest on Monday evening against the White Sox. This afternoon, Randal Grichuk will get the nod in right field and will bat in the six-hole. Before the injury, Carroll held a .235/.366/.618 slash line with one triple, three triples, two home runs, and a 13:6 K:BB over his last nine contests. Through 72 total games, Carroll has performed at an elite level, hitting 20 home runs, swiping 10 bags, with a .255/.341/.573 line.

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Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo went 2-4 with a home run, a walk, and two RBI in his team's 5-3 win over the Colorado Rockies. Perdomo now has eight home runs on the season, surpassing his previous career high of six in 2023. He's also hitting .260 with 39 runs, 51 RBI, and 11 stolen bases. Perdomo has slowed down in June after a red-hot start to the season, hitting just .183 for the month. Even still, he's playing every day and providing balanced five-category production for a Diamondbacks lineup that ranks third in MLB in runs scored.

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Chicago White Sox outfielder Mike Tauchman (groin) remains out of the starting nine on Sunday when the White Sox conclude a series against the Toronto Blue Jays. The outfielder has been held out of action over the past two games. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he may miss additional time during the start of the week. This afternoon, the White Sox will give Michael A. Taylor the starting nod in right field. He will bat in the nine hole. Tauchman has been productive across his limited 28-game stint this season. During this stretch, Tauchman has held a .258/.365/.464 line with four long balls. The White Sox are best to fade in DFS facing Toronto right-hander Chris Bassitt.

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Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jose Soriano threw 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball in his team's 9-1 victory over the Houston Astros. The young righty allowed three hits and three walks but struck out 10 while recording the win. It's the third consecutive excellent start for Soriano, as he's struck out 28 batters while allowing just two earned runs over his last 20 2/3 innings pitched. Soriano's ERA now sits at 3.39 for the season through 93 innings (16 starts). However, walks remain an issue, as his 10.9% walk rate has contributed to an elevated 1.42 WHIP. Soriano's next start will be at home against the Washington Nationals.

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The New York Mets have optioned catcher Francisco Alvarez to Triple-A Syracuse and recalled fellow backstop Hayden Senger, the team announced. It's a surprising fall from grace for Alvarez, who has been the Mets' primary catcher since 2023. Alvarez swatted 25 home runs and drove in 63 runs that year and continued to produce solid numbers during an injury-shortened 2024. However, this season hasn't gone well for the 23-year-old. It started poorly when he suffered a fractured hamate bone in his hand during spring training. Alvarez didn't debut until April 25 as a result, and he has since batted an underwhelming .236/.319/.333 with three home runs and 11 RBI in 138 plate appearances. The 23-year-old did go yard and collect two hits in a win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday, but it wasn't enough to save him from a demotion. For now, the Mets will rely on Luis Torrens as their main backstop. Torrens has minimal offensive upside, having hit .232/.309/.344 with one HR and 13 RBI in 139 trips to the plate.

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Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer (thumb) will come off the 60-day injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Guardians. Scherzer, out for almost three months with a thumb injury, jumped over his final hurdle Sunday when he threw a successful 30- to 40-pitch bullpen session. "My stuff is fine," the 40-year-old told me Hazel Mae and Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. "I'm trying everything I can to manage this (thumb) and make sure I can recover." Scherzer made just one start this season, a three-inning debut March 29, before landing on the shelf. More recently, he has performed well in two Triple-A rehab starts. While the three-time Cy Young winner has been unreliable over the past couple of years because of injuries, there's enough upside to merit a look on the fantasy waiver wire.

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Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe hit two home runs and recorded four RBI in his team's 9-1 victory over the Houston Astros. Before Saturday night, O'Hoppe had been struggling mightily in June. He had just four hits and zero homers in the month before this breakout game. Despite the rough stretch, O'Hoppe has been a power asset with 16 home runs this season. However, he's been a drag on batting average (.233) and runs (24). With a 33.2% strikeout rate and a .268 on-base percentage, managers should expect O'Hoppe's struggles in those categories to continue. Thanks to his power, O'Hoppe remains a starting catcher across all league formats, but his upside is limited.

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Minnesota Twins outfielder/infielder Willi Castro is out of the team's lineup Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers. He's dealing with soreness in his right wrist. The hope is that it won't be a lingering issue for Castro, who has gotten off to a nice start this season. The defensively versatile 28-year-old is hitting .280/.362/.456 with seven homers, 17 RBI, 34 runs scored, and three steals over 218 plate appearances. With Castro sitting Sunday, DaShawn Keirsey Jr. will start in left field and bat ninth against Brewers right-hander Quinn Priester.

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St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Victor Scott II is not in the team's lineup for Sunday's matchup with the Cincinnati Reds. Jose Herrera will man center field and bat ninth in Scott's place against Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott. The 23-year-old Scott has emerged as a productive regular in the Cardinals' lineup this season. He has already stolen 21 bases while batting .241/.331/.326 with three homers, 24 RBI, and 34 runs scored across 261 plate appearances.

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Washington Nationals first baseman Nathaniel Lowe hit a pair of solo home runs Saturday night in his team's 7-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lowe has been hitting for more power this season. He's racked up 12 homers in 319 plate appearances after hitting 16 in 565 plate appearances last year. However, his power surge has been accompanied by a drop in average. A lifetime .267 hitter, Lowe has hit .227 this season and his strikeout rate has jumped from 22.1% to 27.3%. Lowe is receiving regular playing time with the Nationals, so he remains an acceptable corner infield option in deep leagues. Lowe is a player to monitor as the MLB trade deadline approaches. For now, fantasy managers can use Lowe as a streamer while he's swinging a hot bat.

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The Minnesota Twins will start left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday. Right-hander David Festa was previously penciled in to start for the Twins. Coulombe, who hasn't thrown more than 1 2/3 innings in any of his 25 appearances this year, will work as an opener. The 35-year-old has pitched to a microscopic 0.46 ERA with 22 strikeouts and four walks over 19 2/3 frames.

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Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford (back) is returning to the starting nine on Sunday when they conclude a series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Langford has been held out of action in the previous two games due to lower back stiffness. However, the former top prospect was able to avoid a lengthy absence. This afternoon, the Florida product is slated to bat in the two-hole and cover center field. After a disappointing May where Langford posted an underwhelming .189/.275/.349 slash line with two doubles and five home runs, he has begun to turn the corner. Since June 1, Langford has posted a solid .254/.314/.397 line with three doubles and two long balls. Langford is a solid play in DFS this afternoon, facing Pittsburgh left-hander Bailey Falter.

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