Fantasy baseball: White Sox ready for Teel’s returnAfter a lengthy injury absence, Kyle Teel is finally ready to return to the Chicago White Sox. Geoff Burke-Imagn ImagesESPN FantasyJun 21, 2026, 09:40 AM ETClose
Everything that happens in and around MLB has some additional context when viewed from a fantasy baseball perspective. From lineup changes to minor league call-ups to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy baseball.
Our fantasy baseball buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around MLB.
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June 22: Monday’s news to know
By Todd Zola
All 13 games on today’s docket are evening affairs, beginning at 6:10 p.m. ET with the Detroit Tigers hosting the New York Yankees. A pair of contests will have to contend with Mother Nature, as rain is expected when the New York Mets host the Chicago Cubs and when the Washington Nationals entertain the Philadelphia Phillies. The four teams on the sidelines today are the Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners, and San Francisco Giants.
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The Chicago White Sox open the week one game behind the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central, though the clubs are tied in the loss column. They open an important three-game set tonight on the South Side, and the White Sox could get a boost with the return of Kyle Teel behind the plate. The young backstop is expected back early this week, possibly tonight. He has been on the shelf all season due to an LCL sprain in his right knee and a right hamstring sprain.
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Yesterday’s scheduled contest between the Toronto Blue Jays and Cubs was postponed, with the makeup set for Monday, August 6, at Wrigley Field. Since the scheduled starters did not warm up, they’ll both take the hill tonight, with Dylan Cease working at home against the Houston Astros and Shota Imanaga getting the call in Queens against the Mets, weather permitting.
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Bobby Witt Jr. was unable to return from a Grade 1 strain in his right knee, suffered last Thursday. He missed Friday’s contest, but Saturday’s off day wasn’t sufficient to allow Witt to reenter the Kansas City Royals lineup yesterday. Witt’s fantasy managers in weekly leagues are faced with a tough decision since an IL stint is still on the table. However, he was feeling better yesterday, with the club expected to evaluate him before tonight’s road tilt with the Tampa Bay Rays. It’s a 6:40 p.m. ET game, so his availability should be known prior to the pickup lock in ESPN leagues.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers will be without starting catcher Will Smith for at least the next three series, beginning tonight when they visit the Minnesota Twins. Smith has been out since June 6 due to neck inflammation. He was eligible to be activated from the 10-day IL last Friday, but yesterday, manager Dave Roberts indicated that Smith will not accompany the club on their nine-game road trip. Dalton Rushing will continue to serve as the primary backstop, backed up by Chuckie Robinson.
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The Miami Marlins placed Liam Hicks on the 10-day IL due to lower back strain. He’s the backup catcher but also appears at first base and DH, so he’s missed only five games so far this season. The club will get a better feel for how long Hicks will be out later this week. Brian Navarreto was called up from Triple-A Jacksonville to serve as the reserve receiver. Griffin Conine was activated from the 60-day IL and he’ll likely replace Hicks elsewhere in the lineup. Hicks checks in as the No. 5 catcher on the ESPN Player Rater.
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Be sure to check out the recent fantasy lineup advice as well as the MLB betting tips for Monday.
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June 21: Sunday’s news to know
Elmer Rodriguez of the New York Yankees will make his fourth start of the season. Gregory Fisher/Icon SportswireBy Todd ZolaToday’s 15-game schedule gets started with a pair of 1:35 p.m. ET contests. The fantasy period ends with the Philadelphia Phillies entertaining the New York Mets at 7:20 p.m. ET.
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One of the slate-opening games features the New York Yankees hosting the Cincinnati Reds in the rubber game of an interleague series. Gerrit Cole was initially set to take the hill, but the club opted to call up Elmer Rodriguez for a spot start, giving the rest of the rotation an extra day of rest. Rodriguez was summoned to make three starts for the Yankees earlier in the season, then was optioned back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Since his short stay in the majors, Rodriguez has made five starts, posting a 4.68 ERA and 1.40 WHIP, with 25 strikeouts and 15 walks in 25 frames.
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Austin Wells is expected to be behind the plate for the Yankees today. He’s been out since June 6 with cervical headaches but is ready to return. Wells was struggling before the injury, posting a .533 OPS, after averaging .715 over the prior two seasons. He’ll likely be the primary catcher but will garner more frequent off days than the usual starting backstop.
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Mick Abel was expected to be activated from the 15-day IL to start for the Minnesota Twins in the rubber game of their road series with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Abel has been sidelined for over two months with elbow inflammation. He was impressive in rehab, throwing with a higher velocity than when he was healthy earlier in the season, but he experienced a setback during a bullpen session last Friday and is slated for imaging. Mike Paredes lines up to take the hill for the Twins.
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The Texas Rangers scratched Nathan Eovaldi from yesterday’s home date with the San Diego Padres with a sore left knee. MacKenzie Gore filled in with a quality start, but the Padres evened the series with an extra-inning win. Eovaldi’s injury isn’t serious, and he’s expected to take the hill in today’s rubber game.
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The Baltimore Orioles placed Adley Rutschman on the 7-day concussion IL after experiencing lingering symptoms after being hit in the helmet by an errant throw on Thursday night. Samuel Basallo and Sam Huff will continue to fill in behind the plate until Rutschman clears protocol.
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Just a week after returning from an extended absence with a wrist injury, Jordan Lawlar is back on the 10-day IL with a strained right hamstring. Instead of recalling Ryan Waldschmidt, the Diamondbacks will use Jorge Barrosa in center field and summoned Tim Tawa to fill the open roster spot. The Diamondbacks sent Waldschmidt to Triple-A Reno to work on his plate approach. In the four games since returning to the Aces, he’s batting .333/.400/.722 with five strikeouts and a walk in 20 plate appearances.
