Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz has taken a step forward in his second year with Pittsburgh, posting a .286 average and a .846 OPS. The 28-year-old went 2-for-3 on Sunday with a solo home run and continues to earn steady playing time in the middle of the order. He has already hit eight home runs, putting him on pace to surpass his previous career high of 12, and his added power has been a welcome development for the Pirates lineup. This recent stretch has strengthened his case as a high-end waiver wire target as we approach the heart of the season.

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White Sox rookie outfielder Sam Antonacci has put together an excellent start to his first MLB season, slashing .286/.386/.379 and working his way into everyday lineups. He is hitting .348 in June and appears to be continuing his upward trend with three multi-hit games in his last six outings. He has also added eight stolen bases in 48 games and profiles as a contact-first hitter from the left side. Fantasy managers should take advantage of the opportunity to add him as he looks to build on his early success. His playing time has become more stable as he continues to earn trust within the White Sox lineup.

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Giants 21-year-old Bryce Eldridge has flashed strong production in his second year with the club after appearing in just 10 games last year. He is slashing .288/.363/.450 with a .813 OPS across 25 games this season. Eldridge, a first round pick in the 2023 draft, is the number one ranked prospect in the Giants system and 17th overall in MLB Pipeline rankings. His 55.2 percent hard-hit rate sits well above league average and points to sustained offensive upside. Fantasy managers should treat him as a priority waiver wire target before he forces his way into everyday lineups and gains wider attention.

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Nationals top prospect Eli Willits has earned a promotion to High-A after an impressive start with Single-A Fredericksburg. The fourth overall ranked prospect in the MLB Pipeline hit .299 with a .497 slugging percentage and a .911 OPS across 46 games. He added 28 stolen bases, flashing an elite speed tool to add to his offensive profile. The promotion is another step in a steady rise through the Nationals organization. Willits remains several levels away from the majors, but his all-around game makes him an intriguing dynasty play moving forward.

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Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal (elbow) took another encouraging step toward his return on Sunday, tossing five scoreless innings in a rehab start with High-A West Michigan. Skubal allowed just two hits and struck out six batters, continuing a strong recovery from the left elbow injury that landed him on the injured list on May 4. The Tigers are hopeful the 29-year-old can rejoin the rotation for this weekend's series against the Guardians. Before the injury, Skubal looked every bit like the ace Detroit expected, posting a 2.70 ERA and 0.95 WHIP across 43 1/3 innings. A two-time All-Star and one of the favorites in the American League Cy Young race entering the season, Skubal remains an elite fantasy option once activated.

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New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga took the mound for a rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday. Senga tossed five innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits while walking two batters. On a positive note, Senga was able to build up to 91 pitches during this outing. His overall results haven't been great, but it's about getting Senga healthy right now. The expectation is that Senga will need to make at least one more rehab start before being activated. Senga was hit around during his five starts before landing on the shelf. He could be someone worth stashing in deep leagues, but he can remain on the waiver wire in most formats right now.

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Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin (elbow) is unlikely to be back in the lineup anytime soon. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington mentioned on Sunday that Griffin is looking at a "more relaxed timetable" in his recovery. The 20-year-old has been out since the end of May due to a flexor strain in his right elbow. Griffin has been taking grounders, but hasn't been throwing the ball at all. The team will continue to evaluate him, but it sounds like they'll continue to be cautious with their prized shortstop. It seems possible that Griffin could be sidelined for the rest of the month. He'll still need to go on a rehab assignment once he's cleared to hit again. Fantasy managers should continue to hold him and hope he can contribute in the second half of the season.

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Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen (pelvis) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday. Jansen threw a successful bullpen session on Friday. He appears to be feeling good enough to get back into game action. Jansen has been sidelined since late May due to pelvic inflammation. He could be activated when first eligible on June 12, but we'll see how his first rehab outing goes for him. Jansen has posted a 4.80 ERA, 1.20 WHIP with seven saves across 15 innings this season. The right-hander is worth rostering in most leagues where saves matter. He should return as the primary closer once he's activated off the Injured List.

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Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Casey Mize (adductor) is scheduled to make a minor league rehab start at Single-A Lakeland on Tuesday. Mize has been sidelined since late May due to right adductor inflammation. The expectation is that Mize will only need one rehab start before rejoining the Tigers' rotation. There's a chance that Mize is back in the mix by the next weekend series versus the Cleveland Guardians. This season, Mize owns a 2.27 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and a 49:12 K:BB ratio across nine starts. The right-hander has looked strong early in the season and is worth scooping up for fantasy managers seeking pitching help right now.

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Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (knee) was forced to make an early exit from Sunday's game against the Minnesota Twins. It's unclear when the injury happened, but Witt was pulled from the game in the seventh inning due to right knee soreness. Before leaving, Witt was 0-for-4 at the plate, so possibly the knee issue was impacting his swing. For now, Witt should be considered day-to-day until the team gives further information. The Royals are off on Monday, so there's a chance that Witt doesn't miss any games. Josh Rojas and Nick Loftin are potential replacements if Witt does miss time.

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Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (hip) is set to make his second rehab start with Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday, per Evan Woodbery of MLive Media Group. The 43-year-old made just one start in 2026 before being placed on the injured list with a hip injury. Verlander was shelled in his lone outing, allowing five earned runs across 3 2/3 innings of work against the Arizona Diamondbacks. However, the veteran right-hander had a decent year in 2025 for the San Francisco Giants, recording a 4-11 record with a 3.85 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 137 strikeouts across 152 innings (29 starts). Verlander also pitched well in his first rehab outing at Triple-A, striking out three across five scoreless innings on June 2. Upon his return, Verlander could be a worthy streaming option for deeper-league managers in certain matchups.

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New York Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried (elbow) is expected to throw from 120 feet this week and will also undergo another round of imaging to determine if he can start working off the mound, per Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Fried is working his way back from a bone bruise in his pitching elbow that led to him being placed on the 15-day injured list in mid-May. Across 61 2/3 innings (10 starts) before the injury, the veteran left-hander had recorded a 4-3 record with a 3.21 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts. Fried's 12.9% K-BB rate was his worst since his rookie season in 2017, but opponents had hit just .196 with one home run against him. The 32-year-old appears to be making progress, but he likely remains at least a month or so away from returning to the big leagues. Fantasy managers should be looking for ways to stash Fried, unless he suffers a setback.

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Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer (forearm) said that he will "be able to go Wednesday," per Hazel Mae of MLB Network. The veteran has been on the 15-day injured list since late April, but he threw 73 pitches across a 3 2/3-inning rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Friday. Scherzer struggled across 18 2/3 innings (five starts) before getting injured, recording a 1-3 record with a 9.64 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, and 10 strikeouts. The 41-year-old logged a 5.19 ERA across 85 innings with Toronto in 2025, so it's fair to wonder how much he has left in the tank at this point in his career. Still, the Blue Jays' rotation has been ravaged by injury in 2026. Scherzer should have a runway of at least a few starts to prove he can still be effective and could be worth targeting on the waiver wire in deeper fantasy leagues. If he returns on Wednesday, his first start back will come at home against the Philadelphia Phillies.

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Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (neck) remains out of his team's starting lineup for its Sunday matchup against the Los Angeles Angels. Smith was scratched from the Dodgers' lineup on Saturday due to neck stiffness. The 31-year-old is in the midst of a slight down year at the plate so far, hitting .249/.338/.382 with six home runs, 23 RBI, and 23 runs scored across 201 plate appearances. However, Smith owns a career-best 13.4% barrel rate, and his .275 xBA and .494 xSLG both suggest that he's been a bit unlucky in his results. There's been no indication from the Dodgers that the team expects an extended absence from Smith, but this current neck injury is still worth monitoring for fantasy managers. Dalton Rushing is catching and batting sixth in Smith's place on Sunday and would likely see the majority of the playing time behind the plate for the Dodgers if Smith were to hit the injured list.

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St. Louis Cardinals rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt (groin) is starting at second base and is batting leadoff for the Red Birds in Sunday's series finale at Busch Stadium against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds and right-hander Rhett Loweder, according to MLB.com. Wetherholt is back on the diamond after missing the last three games due to a groin injury. The 23-year-old former seventh overall pick from West Virginia University is the Cardinals' starting second baseman in his first year in the major leagues, and he has held his own through 225 at-bats to this point with a .249/.357/.400 slash line, .757 OPS, nine home runs, 25 RBI, seven stolen bases, and 40 runs scored in 58 games and 266 plate appearances. Wetherholt has been even better in his last 13 ballgames, going 16-for-53 (.302) at the plate with a homer, two doubles, three RBI, two stolen bases, and seven runs scored for St. Louis. Get the young infielder back into your starting lineups in traditional leagues against a young pitcher coming off a three-week stay on the injured list.

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Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Ildemaro Vargas (thigh) remains out of the starting lineup for his team's Sunday matchup against the Washington Nationals. The 34-year-old has not made a start since colliding with Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy on Thursday. Vargas has emerged as a key piece early on in 2026 for Arizona, hitting .282/.313/.441 with seven home runs, 37 RBI, 30 runs scored, and one stolen base while logging near-everyday playing time at first base. However, Vargas has cooled off considerably after a red-hot start to the year. The veteran hit just .227 with one home run in May after finishing April with a .378 average and six long balls. In Vargas' absence on Sunday, recently promoted Diamondbacks prospect LuJames Groover will make his third straight start at third base and bat eighth.

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Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (shoulder) is not in the team's starting lineup on Sunday for the series finale against the division-rival Minnesota Twins at Target Field, per MLB.com. Tyler Tolbert is making the start in right field for KC and is batting out of the nine-hole versus Twins rookie hurler Connor Prielipp. The Royals pulled Caglianone from Saturday's contest early due to soreness in his right shoulder. Right now, fantasy managers should consider the 23-year-old left-handed power hitter as day-to-day. The Royals have a scheduled day off on Monday, so Cags could be ready to rejoin the starting lineup for Tuesday's series opener versus the Texas Rangers. In his first full major-league season after the Royals took him sixth overall in 2024 out of the University of Florida, Caglianone has hit a modest .250/.326/.403 with a .729 OPS, six home runs, 15 RBI, 21 runs, and two steals in 60 games played. He isn't getting too much exposure against lefties and has gone 11-for-52 (.212) against southpaws with two of his six home runs.

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Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (shoulder) will start on the bench for Sunday's series finale at Target Field against the division-rival Kansas City Royals, according to MLB.com. Ryan Kreidler will make another start in center field for the Twins and will bat seventh against Royals left-hander Noah Cameron. Buxton smashed into the outfield wall in Friday's game against the Royals and was pulled early, and he will now miss a second straight start as a result. However, the 32-year-old veteran's injury isn't considered all that serious, so he could be back on the field for Tuesday's series opener against the division-rival Detroit Tigers after a scheduled off day on Monday. The two-time All-Star has just five stolen bases and isn't expected to run much at this point in his career, but he has been a strong asset in the power department yet again in 2026 with 18 home runs and 28 RBI in 55 games across 248 plate appearances. Check back on Tuesday to see if Buxton is back in the starting nine. He's been a must-start in traditional leagues in his 12th season in the majors.

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Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (thumb) is sitting out of Sunday's game against the division-rival Minnesota Twins for the second straight day as he deals with a right-thumb injury that he suffered on a wild pitch that hit him on Friday, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Perez is dealing with some swelling in his thumb, but the Royals are hopeful that he'll be feeling back to normal by Tuesday's contest against the Texas Rangers, according to manager Matt Quatraro. Carter Jensen is doing the catching on Sunday for left-hander Noah Cameron and will bat eighth against Twins rookie Connor Prielipp. Perez, 36, is starting to slow down offensively in his 15th year in the big leagues. The nine-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger winner enters Sunday's action batting just .204 (48-for-235) with nine home runs, 26 RBI, and 22 runs scored, and durability will likely continue to be an issue as he nears the end of his amazing MLB career.

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Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson (thumb) is not in the team's starting lineup for Sunday's series finale in Miami against the Marlins, per MLB.com. Cedric Mullins is making another start in center field for the Rays and is batting fifth against Marlins right-hander Sergio Alcantara. Simpson injured his left thumb in Friday's series opener in Miami and will sit out for a second straight game. Fantasy managers should consider the speedster to be day-to-day and check back on his status to see if he's available to play in Monday's series opener against the division-rival Boston Red Sox. The 25-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder still has not homered since debuting in the big leagues last year, but his elite speed makes up for it for fantasy managers. Simpson had 44 thefts a year ago and is up to 14 steals through 60 games and 250 plate appearances in 2026 while also batting .276 (64-for-232) with four doubles, a league-leading four triples, 12 RBI, and 30 runs scored for the Rays.

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