Fantasy baseball: Smith expected to rejoin Dodgers lineup, and more news for SundayWill Smith is expected to return to the Dodgers’ lineup tonight for their matchup with the Angels. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn ImagesESPN FantasyJun 7, 2026, 10:50 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 7: Sunday’s news to know
By Todd Zola
Today’s slate gets going at 1:35 p.m. ET with a trio of games. One is the finale of a two-game series in the Bronx between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Yesterday’s game was rained out and rescheduled for a split-admission doubleheader on Saturday, August 29. Saturday’s starting pitchers have been pushed to today, with Cam Schlittler and Ranger Suarez taking the hill.
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The Yankees placed C Austin Wells on the 10-day IL with cervical headaches. The starting backstop is experiencing a frustrating season with a .166/.278/.255 line. J.C. Escarra and Ali Sanchez will fill in behind the plate while Wells is sidelined.
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The Los Angeles Angels will be without Jorge Soler after placing him on the 10-day IL with a left oblique strain. His roster spot was filled by the return of 1B Nolan Schanuel from the injured list.
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Will Smith was scratched from the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup last night after waking up with a sore neck. Dalton Rushing filled in during last night’s 9-2 win over the Angels. Manager Dave Roberts is optimistic that Smith will return to the lineup in today’s finale of the Freeway Series, with the Dodgers capturing the first two games.
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The Texas Rangers placed Danny Jansen on the 10-day IL with a strained right forearm. He’s been out since last Tuesday, with the club finally deciding to give him another week to recover. Kyle Higashioka and Elias Diaz will handle the workload behind the plate.
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Jac Caglianone had to leave yesterday’s game in the first inning after hurting his shoulder running into the right-field wall in foul territory. Lane Thomas replaced him and will likely continue to see action if Caglianone remains out. The Kansas City Royals should provide an update before today’s weekend finale with the Minnesota Twins.
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Michael Harris II missed yesterday’s game after experiencing back tightness in Friday’s affair. Mauricio Dubon replaced Harris in center field for the Atlanta Braves, and will likely stay in the lineup today if Harris remains sidelined against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
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Be sure to check out the newest fantasy lineup advice as well as the MLB betting tips for Sunday.
June 6: Saturday’s news to know
By Todd Zola
Byron Buxton hurt his shoulder crashing into the wall while making a catch Friday and eventually exited for a pinch-hitter. Matt Blewett/Imagn ImagesThe Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners kick off the first of 10 afternoon affairs at 1:10 p.m. ET. The five-game evening slate gets going at 7:35 p.m. ET.
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J.P. Crawford had to leave Friday night’s contest in the third inning after being hit in the hand by a pitch and is questionable to play today. X-rays were negative, but the Mariners might hold Crawford out for a game or two. Patrick Wisdom entered as the replacement, taking over at third base, while Colt Emerson shifted to shortstop.
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Byron Buxton exited Friday’s affair in the bottom of the third inning after hurting his shoulder crashing into the wall while making a catch in the top of the frame. Buxton stayed on the field for the final two outs but left for a pinch-hitter. Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton indicated that Buxton would likely miss today’s matinee. The Twins and Kansas City Royals have split the first two games of their four-game series.
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Michael Harris II was replaced by Eli White in center field for the ninth inning of the Atlanta Braves’ 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates last night after experiencing back tightness. Harris went 2-for-5 with a run scored and is batting a robust .303/.338/.516 through 61 games. The club expects him back in Saturday’s lineup.
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Daulton Varsho left last night’s game in the fourth inning with lingering left wrist inflammation. X-rays after the game were negative, but he’s considered day-to-day and might not play today when the Toronto Blue Jays try to even their series in Rogers Centre with the Baltimore Orioles, who took last night’s opener, 13-3.
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JJ Wetherholt missed his second straight game Friday for the St. Louis Cardinals. He sat out Wednesday with lower-body soreness, and the club hoped Thursday’s off day would allow him to take the field for the opener of their series with the Cincinnati Reds. Instead, Bryan Torres handled the keystone in the Cardinals’ 10-3 victory.
June 5: Forecaster findings
By Tristan H. Cockcroft
Fantasy baseball’s Week 11 could mark the return of several notable pitchers from the IL, particularly in the American League.
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Two-time defending Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal could rejoin the Detroit Tigers as early as next Friday, in time for the team’s series opener on the road against the Cleveland Guardians. That would be 37 days following surgery to remove a loose body from his elbow, an operation that typically requires a three-month recovery timetable. Skubal could, however, require more minor league rehabilitation starts before returning, so be careful when assuming his return in the absence of an official announcement, especially if you play in a league with weekly transactions.
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Active wins leader and surefire Hall of Famer Justin Verlander could also rejoin the Tigers rotation as early as next Tuesday’s home series opener against the Minnesota Twins. He tossed five shutout innings in a Tuesday rehab start for Triple-A Toledo. That return date would align him for a favorable two-start week, with the second turn coming against the Guardians in Cleveland.
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Max Scherzer, second on the active wins list, might be ready to rejoin the Toronto Blue Jays around midweek, likely Wednesday at home against the Philadelphia Phillies. Scherzer was scheduled for his second minor league rehab start for Triple-A Buffalo on Friday.
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Hunter Brown, the Houston Astros’ Opening Day starter, made his third minor league rehab start for Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, throwing 57 pitches. He’s on track for a fourth and perhaps final rehab outing on Tuesday, which would align him to rejoin the MLB rotation Sunday of Week 11. As with Skubal, Brown would be a risky start in a league with weekly transactions.
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The Athletics play their one-week stretch at Las Vegas Ballpark, home of the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators (the Athletics’ own minor league affiliate), with three home games apiece against the Milwaukee Brewers (Monday-Wednesday) and Colorado Rockies (Friday-Sunday). Las Vegas Ballpark has been one of the most hitter-friendly venues in professional baseball, with the Aviators and their opponents combining for a .292 batting average, a .500 slugging percentage and 91 homers over 30 games this season (through Thursday). Park factors for the venue are therefore close to those of the Athletics’ usual home field this season, Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park, which has played as the second-most hitter-friendly environment behind only Colorado’s Coors Field. Lean most heavily upon Athletics batters (and their opponents), while avoiding all pitchers in these series, if possible.
*Be sure to check out the full Forecaster prior to locking in your lineups for Week 11.
June 5: Friday’s news to know
Aaron Judge of the Yankees is expected to be out for multiple months. APBy Todd Zola”Play ball” will be exclaimed at Wrigley Field at 2:20 p.m. ET today and then the Chicago Cubs will take on the San Francisco Giants. All other action will wait until at least 6:40 p.m. with a pair of contests kicking off the 14-game evening slate.
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The New York Yankees declared that Aaron Judge will be out for an unknown extended period of time as a result of a stress fracture on the first rib of his right side. He’ll be reevaluated in four to six weeks, after which a course of action will be determined. The club expects the slugger to return this season, but he’s looking at a multiple-month absence. Spencer Jones was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and he’ll help fill in, along with Jose Caballero and Max Schuemann. Jasson Dominguez is embarking on a rehab assignment, and Giancarlo Stanton is targeting mid-June for his return.
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The Cubs were initially planning on starting Ben Brown but have decided to give him an extra day of rest and are activating Edward Cabrera from the 15-day IL to start the matinee. Cabrera has been out because of a blister, last pitching May 20. He is returning without having undertaken a rehab assignment, instead getting ramped up via bullpen sessions.
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In last night’s game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers, Max Muncy hit a hard ground ball, which was fielded well behind the bag by Ildemaro Vargas. The pitcher was late covering first, so Vargas started rushing toward the bag and ended up colliding with Muncy. Vargas is expected to miss tonight’s home date with the Washington Nationals and is listed as “day-to-day” with a bruised left thigh and rib cage. Pavin Smith replaced Vargas at first base, but it will likely be Jose Fernandez drawing the start Friday with lefty Foster Griffin on the hill.
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Muncy was diagnosed with a sore knee, but he did clear the league’s concussion protocol. Even so, Muncy is expected to miss Friday’s home matchup with the Los Angeles Angels. The Dodgers’ crosstown rivals are giving the nod to lefty Reid Detmers, so Muncy may have been on the bench, regardless. Santiago Espinal replaced Muncy last night and will likely handle the hot corner tonight.
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A pair of promising starting pitchers were demoted to Triple-A Thursday, with the Boston Red Sox sending Brayan Bello to Triple-A Worcester and the Diamondbacks farming Brandon Pfaadt to Triple-A Reno. Bello had performed well as a bulk reliever but was hit hard Thursday afternoon with the Baltimore Orioles posting a six-spot in the first inning. The club is committed to Bello as a starter but opted for him to work out his woes on the farm. Jake Bennett is his logical replacement. As for Pfaadt, he had been working out of the bullpen, posting a terrible 7.80 ERA and 1.87 WHIP spanning 15 innings. The Diamondbacks still envision him as a starter, so they’re sending him down to get stretched out.
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Brent Rooker missed Thursday’s game due to a sore knee. Athletics manager Mark Kotsay deemed the move precautionary and hopes to have his DH back in the lineup tonight when the club opens a road set against the Houston Astros. Jack Perkins is set to return to the A’s rotation tonight with Aaron Civale and Luis Severino both on the shelf. Perkins has been working in long relief, so Friday’s effort will be more than just “opener duty,” but he will likely be limited to around 65 pitches.
