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 5: Friday's news to know
By 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.
The New York Yankees reported 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 re-evaluated 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.
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 due to a blister, last pitching on May 20. He is returning without having undertaken a rehab assignment, instead getting ramped up via bullpen sessions.
In last night's game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers, Max Muncy hit a hard ground ball, fielded well behind the bag by Ildemaro Vargas. The pitcher was late covering first, so Vargas started rushing towards 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 tonight with lefty Foster Griffin on the hill.
Muncy was diagnosed with a sore knee, but did clear the league's concussion protocol. Even so, Muncy is expected to miss tonight'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.
A pair of promising starting pitchers were demoted to Triple-A yesterday 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 yesterday 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.
Brent Rooker missed last night'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 tonight's effort will be more than just "opener duty," but he will likely be limited to around 65 pitches.
Be sure to check out the latest fantasy lineup advice as well as the MLB betting tips for Friday.
June 4: Thursday's news to know
By Todd Zola
Today's nine-game slate gets underway at 1:05 p.m. ET with the Philadelphia Phillies going for the sweep at home over the San Diego Padres. Three more matinees follow, with five evening affairs closing out the action.
The Padres released Nick Castellanos and called up Samad Taylor to fill his roster spot. Castellanos had posted only a .191/.221/.339 line in 122 plate appearances. Taylor was hitting .319/.406/.500 with nine steals for Triple-A El Paso. With Ramon Laureano on the IL, Taylor and Jase Bowen could see reps in left field. However, both hit from the right side, so it's unclear exactly how the playing time will be distributed.
Josh Hader made his 2026 debut last night and successfully converted his first save opportunity in the Houston Astros' 11-9 come-from-behind win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The lefty had been sidelined with left biceps tendinitis and a strained left shoulder. He threw 11 out of his 17 pitches for strikes, topping out at 96.2 mph, a bit higher than he averaged last season.
The Boston Red Sox plan on using Brayan Bello as a traditional starter for today's rubber game with the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. Bello served as the "bulk reliever" in four of his past five outings, recording an 0.71 ERA and an 0.91 WHIP with 22 strikeouts and three walks spanning 25⅓ innings. In the lone game he did start over this stretch, he surrendered seven earned runs in five frames to the Atlanta Braves.
The Kansas City Royals played their fourth straight game without Maikel Garcia. He has been dealing with a lingering sore right hamstring, with Nick Loftin covering third base in his absence. His status for tonight's road date with the Minnesota Twins is unclear.
The Twins will send reliever Andrew Morris to the hill to start the first game of their four-game series with the Royals. After Morris, the Twins are expected to use a parade of relievers in lieu of a "primary pitcher."
The Arizona Diamondbacks announced that Corbin Burnes has been diagnosed with a teres major strain while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He's been shut down and, thus, a return this season is in jeopardy. The club is hopeful that he'll still be able to make it back in September, but there will be no official timeline until he's cleared to resume throwing.