Fantasy baseball: Slugfest in Vegas and more Tuesday newsHome plate was a very busy place in the Brewers-Athletics game played in Las Vegas. Ian Maule/Getty ImagesESPN FantasyJun 9, 2026, 10:37 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 9: Tuesday’s news to know
By Todd Zola
Get ready for the standard Tuesday slate with 15 evening affairs. The Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners get things going at 6:35 p.m. ET in Camden Yards. The action concludes at Las Vegas Ballpark with the Athletics and Milwaukee Brewers playing Game 2 of their series.
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Last night’s slugfest in Las Vegas lasted 12 innings and featured 11 home runs en route to a Brewers’ 15-14 victory. Similar weather is expected tonight, with temperatures in the low 90s and a gentle breeze blowing out to right field. Keep in mind that Sutter Health Park (the Athletics’ main venue) plays pitcher-friendly in the Pacific Coast League, but relative to MLB, it is a hitter’s haven. In the PCL, Las Vegas Ballpark is hitter-friendly, so it is even more favorable for major league batters than Sutter Health Park. Expect another high-scoring affair tonight.
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The St. Louis Cardinals optioned Victor Scott II to Triple-A Memphis yesterday. He had recorded a 57 wRC+ and his defensive metrics slipped from last season. He’ll be replaced by Nathan Church, who is slated to come off the IL today. His wRC+ was only 88 when he was placed on the 10-day IL due to a shoulder strain on May 22, but he was playing better defense. Bryan Torres could also see reps in center field. Both Church and Torres are left-handed batters, so it will be interesting to see who plays center field against southpaw starters. Tonight, the Cardinals visit the New York Mets, with righty Freddy Peralta getting the nod.
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The Pittsburgh Pirates hope to have Oneil Cruz back tonight when they open a home series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Cruz, currently the No. 1 hitter on the ESPN Player Rater, left Saturday’s game after cutting his hand on a slide into home plate, then he was held out of Sunday’s contest. With yesterday’s off day, the club is hopeful that the cut healed sufficiently for Cruz to swing a bat.
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The Los Angeles Angels placed Vaughn Grissom on the 10-day IL as a result of a strained left oblique. He’d been filling in at first base for the sidelined Nolan Schanuel but missed four straight games. Prior to getting hurt, he was riding a modest seven-game hitting streak, going .321/.394/.571 over that stretch. Trey Mancini was called up to handle first base. He made his first MLB appearance since 2023, contributing a 3-for-4 effort with a run scored and an RBI in a 5-4, 10-inning loss to the Houston Astros.
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The Toronto Blue Jays are set to activate Dylan Cease from the 15-day IL to start tonight’s home tilt with the Philadelphia Phillies. Cease has been out due to a left hamstring sprain. He threw 75 pitches in a rehab start, so he should be under no restrictions for tonight’s interleague matchup.
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Be sure to check out the newest fantasy lineup advice as well as the MLB betting tips for Tuesday.
June 8: Monday’s news to know
Samuel Basallo seems no worse for wear as he returns to action behind the plate for the Baltimore Orioles. Kevin Sousa/Getty ImagesBy Todd ZolaMonday offers an abbreviated eight-game slate, with all games being played under the lights. Action commences in Camden Yards with the Baltimore Orioles hosting the Seattle Mariners at 6:35 p.m. ET.
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Following a one-game absence due to abdominal discomfort, Samuel Basallo was behind the plate for the Orioles yesterday. He’s been playing fairly regularly, seeing action at first base and DH in addition to catching.
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The Mariners were without SS J.P. Crawford for the second straight game yesterday due to an injury he suffered on Friday after getting hit in the hand by a pitch. Colt Emerson covered shortstop with Patrick Wisdom filling in at third base.
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The Tampa Bay Rays will deploy lefty Ian Seymour as tonight’s opener against the Boston Red Sox, then turn to right-hander Mason Englert for bulk relief. This will force Red Sox interim manager to decide whether to start lefty-swinging Masataka Yoshida or righty Andruw Monasterio. The rest of Boston’s batting order may move up or down depending on the pitcher, but injuries and struggles have stripped the club of the depth to play platoons.
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The Los Angeles Angels will reportedly call up Denzer Guzman from Triple-A Salt Lake, presumably to play third base. The 22-year-old infielder has appeared 41 times at shortstop and 14 at third base on the farm. He was batting .338/.403/.571 in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. Even though production is typically inflated there, that line is still impressive, especially at his age. Guzman struggled in a 13-game taste of the majors last season, fanning 22 times in 43 plate appearances. In 58 games this season, his strikeout rate is a career-best 17.9% with a solid 10.1% walk rate.
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The Athletics expect both Max Muncy and Jacob Wilson back this week, as they’re rehabbing with Triple-A Las Vegas. Wilson will be reinstalled as the everyday shortstop but it isn’t clear exactly where Muncy will play. Currently, Zack Gelof is handling third base with Jeff McNeil at the keystone, but all three can play multiple positions, with McNeil also able to shag some flies in the outfield. Muncy is forcing the issue with a .370/.400/.778 line over eight games, albeit in the hitter-friendly PCL.
