Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker (knee) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting cleanup for the A's in Friday's series opener at Daikin Park against the hosting Houston Astros and right-hander Peter Lambert, per MLB.com. Rooker has been bothered by some knee soreness of late, which is why the A's gave him the day off on Thursday in the final game of the series at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. The team probably also wanted to give the right-handed slugger a day of mental rest after a really rough start to his 2026 campaign. The 31-year-old veteran outfielder enters Friday's action with a .195/.276/.360 slash line, .635 OPS, eight home runs, 26 RBI, 16 runs scored, and two steals in his 164 at-bats. Rooker has gone 5-for-37 with a homer, two RBI, four runs scored, two walks, and 13 strikeouts in his last 10 games. Fantasy managers are looking for any signs of life from Rooker at this point, but it might be wise to keep him benched until that happens. He's gone hitless in just one career at-bat against Lambert.

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St. Louis Cardinals rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt (lower body) is still dealing with some lower-body soreness and remains out of the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener at Busch Stadium against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds, according to MLB.com. Bryan Torres is starting at the keystone for St. Louis and will hit fifth in the batting order against Reds right-hander Brady Singer. Wetherholt was held out of the lineup on Wednesday and will start on the bench again on Friday despite the team having a scheduled day off on Thursday. He's considered day-to-day for now. Fantasy managers will need to check back on Saturday to see if he's back in the lineup for Game 2 of the series. Wetherholt, a former seventh overall pick in 2024 out of West Virginia University, has held his own in his first year in the big leagues as a full-time player, hitting .249/.357/.400 with a .757 OPS, nine homers, 25 RBI, seven steals, and 40 runs scored in 58 games and 266 plate appearances. In 10 games since May 23, Wetherholt is hitting .293 (12-for-41) with two doubles, an RBI, five runs, and a stolen base.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Friday that they selected the contract of rookie infielder LuJames Groover from Triple-A Reno and optioned infielder Jose Fernandez to Reno in a corresponding move. James, who is considered the team's No. 10 prospect per MLB Pipeline, earned his first big-league call-up after hitting .322/.421/.452 with an .873 OPS, three home runs, 16 doubles, a triple, 39 RBI, 37 runs scored, and two steals in 56 games across 256 plate appearances this year for the Aces. The 24-year-old former second-rounder in 2023 out of North Carolina State University can play both third and first base, and he could get some run against left-handed pitching if infielder Ildemaro Vargas misses some time after colliding at first base with Max Muncy on Thursday night. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues can hold off on acquiring the 6-foot-2, 212-pounder, who has a hit over power profile.

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The Houston Astros reinstated second baseman Jose Altuve (oblique) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and optioned infielder Zach Dezenzo to Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move, according to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. Altuve is right back in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Athletics and right-hander Jack Perkins, starting at the keystone and batting fifth at Daikin Park. The 36-year-old former MVP and nine-time All-Star is returning from a Grade 2 strained left oblique that kept him out since May 16. The Venezuelan veteran did not require a minor-league rehab stint, which means he could be a bit rusty at the plate upon his return this weekend. Altive has finally felt the effects of Father Time in 2026, as he enters Friday's action with a .245/.326/.380 slash line, .706 OPS, four home runs, 12 RBI, 27 runs, and one stolen base across 42 games and 185 plate appearances. There's still time for Altuve to turn things around now that he's back to full health, and he's rostered in 85% of Yahoo leagues despite his slow start and oblique injury.

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The St. Louis Cardinals activated outfielder Lars Nootbaar (heels) from the 60-day injured list on Friday and optioned infielder Thomas Saggese to Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move, according to Tamar Sher. Nootbaar will finally be making his 2026 season debut after he had surgery in the offseason to fix deformities in both of his heels. The 28-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder should play regularly in St. Louis against right-handers, although the Cardinals could initially ease him back into the fold after his long layoff from major-league games. In 12 minor-league games, Nootbaar slashed .257/.409/.543 with three home runs. The former eighth-round pick in 2018 out of USC has teased fantasy managers in his five years in the big leagues, but perhaps he can break out if he can put his foot injuries behind him once and for all. In his first five years with the Red Birds, Nootbaar slashed .242/.341/.406 with a .747 OPS, 58 home runs, 194 RBI, and 28 stolen bases in 527 games played. In deep-mixed leagues, Nootbaar is worth a look on the waiver wire as outfield depth now that he's back. He's currently rostered in just 2% of Yahoo leagues.

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New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (rib), who was placed on the 10-day injured list on Friday with a stress fracture in his rib, said he doesn't "like talking timetables... That stuff's all made up." Judge said he thinks he sustained the injury on an awkward dive in Houston back in April. The 34-year-old three-time MVP won't be re-evaluated for another four to six weeks, so fantasy managers have to prepare for the possibility that the superstar outfielder won't be back until after the mid-July All-Star break. In the meantime, with Giancarlo Stanton (calf) and Jasson Dominguez (shoulder) still on the injured list, rookie outfielder Spencer Jones is back with the big-league club to provide outfield depth in the Bronx. Jones will start in right field and bat sixth for the Bombers in Friday's series opener against the division-rival Boston Red Sox and right-hander Sonny Gray at Yankee Stadium. Despite an extended absence for Judge, he should not be dropped in any fantasy baseball leagues. He heads to the IL with a 2.48/.375/.533 slash line, .907 OPS, 17 homers, 38 RBI, 43 runs, and five stolen bases in 214 at-bats.

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The Texas Rangers announced on Friday that they activated outfielder Wyatt Langford (forearm) from the 10-day injured list before the series opener at Globe Life Field against the visiting Cleveland Guardians and left-hander Parker Messick. The Rangers are getting a serious boost with the returns of both Langford and shortstop Corey Seager (back) for the start of their series against the Guardians. Langford has been sidelined since late April due to a Grade 1 flexor strain in his right forearm. He hit just .200 with a homer, two RBI, four runs scored, and a steal in 15 plate appearances during his minor-league rehab assignment, but Langford, when right, is one of the more intriguing young power/speed threats in the game. The 24-year-old former fourth overall pick in 2023 out of the University of Florida was hitting just .238 (19-for-80) with a homer and four RBI before going on the IL this year. Durability has become a major concern with Langford, but he did hit 38 homers, drive in 136, and steal 41 bases in 268 games in his first two big-league seasons with the Rangers.

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The Boston Red Sox transferred left-hander Garrett Crochet (lat) to the 60-day injured list on Friday, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. The move doesn't come as a surprise, as the Red Sox needed the 40-man roster spot, and Crochet has already been on the IL for around 40 days due to what was initially a left-shoulder injury. The 26-year-old southpaw had a setback during his rehab last week, when he suffered a low-grade lat strain. Before that, Crochet was struggling to get his mechanics dialed back in. Now that he's on the 60-day IL, fantasy managers won't get him back until some point in July, potentially after the mid-July All-Star break. The former 11th overall pick by the Chicago White Sox in 2020 out of the University of Tennessee was a second-time All-Star in 2025 and finished second in the American League Cy Young voting after going 18-5 with a career-best 2.59 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 255:46 K:BB in 32 starts. Crochet had an ERA over 6.00 in six starts this year before going on the IL, but he also had 37 K's in 30 innings, and he should remain stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy baseball leagues.

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The New York Yankees announced that outfielder Jasson Dominguez (shoulder) is starting a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday. Barring a setback on his rehab assignment, Dominguez could return to the Yankees' big-league roster at some point late next week. The 23-year-old Dominican switch-hitter is recovering from a left-shoulder AC joint sprain that he suffered when he crashed into the outfield wall. The Yankees placed superstar outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) on the IL on Friday, and he could be sidelined through the mid-July All-Star break due to a stress fracture in his rib. With Giancarlo Stanton (calf) still sidelined as well, Dominguez figures to play regularly in the Yankees' outfield once he returns. The Martian didn't make the Opening Day roster out of spring training and only played in nine games for the Yanks before his shoulder injury, going 6-for-30 (.200). Still, Dominguez has enough power/speed upside to be attractive as a waiver-wire pickup in at least deep-mixed fantasy leagues. He is rostered in under 10% of Yahoo leagues right now.

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Detroit Tigers right-handed reliever Kenley Jansen (pelvis), who is eligible to come off the 15-day injured list next Friday, is throwing a bullpen session on Friday, according to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. Jansen has been out since May 28 with inflammation in his pelvis, but the veteran reliever is already throwing off a mound and could be ready to return to start next weekend if he continues to progress and can avoid any setbacks. Although Will Vest and Enmanuel De Jesus have the Tigers' last two saves with Jensen on the shelf, right-hander Kyle Finnegan is considered the best option for saves in the short term until Jansen can return to the back end of the Tigers' bullpen. The 38-year-old Jansen has seven saves in 15 innings pitched in his first year in Motown, but he has shown his age, going 1-3 with a 4.80 ERA (5.84 FIP) and 1.20 WHIP with 19 strikeouts and nine walks in his 18 relief appearances. He's going to need to pitch better upon his return to hold off Finnegan in the ninth inning for the rest of the 2026 season. Jansen is currently rostered in 68% of Yahoo leagues.

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Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal (elbow) will make a minor-league rehab start at High-A West Michigan on Sunday instead of at Triple-A Toledo because of weather concerns, according to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. This will be Skubal's first rehab start since having bone chips removed from his left elbow in early May. Because of the non-invasive procedure, the back-to-back Cy Young winner has recovered very quickly and has been throwing off a mound over the last couple of weeks. Depending on how Skubal fares in his outing on the farm this weekend, he could be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to rejoin Detroit's starting rotation at some point late next week. The talented 29-year-old southpaw will have ample time to build his trade value up before this year's deadline in early August. Before having elbow surgery, Skubal went 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings pitched over his first seven starts of the 2026 campaign. He'll go right back to being a must-start in all fantasy baseball formats once he's back from the IL.

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The New York Yankees officially announced on Friday that they placed outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to June 2) with a stress fracture of his right rib and recalled rookie outfielder Spencer Jones from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in a corresponding move. Judge will be out for an extended period of time and won't be re-evaluated for another four to six weeks. Depending on how he recovers, there's a good chance we won't see the superstar slugger until after the All-Star break in mid-July. The injury to Judge will put a real strain on New York's outfield, as they are already missing Giancarlo Stanton (calf) and Jasson Dominguez (shoulder). Jones, who has light-tower power from the left side, will get a second shot in the Bronx this year after struggling following his first MLB call-up. Judge heads to the IL with a .248/.375/.533 slash line, .907 OPS, 17 homers, 38 RBI, 43 runs scored, and five steals in 214 at-bats. He obviously should not be dropped in any fantasy leagues while he recovers.

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After suffering an oblique strain in Spring Training, Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller did not make his 2026 debut until May 13. However, the 27-year-old has been impressive across 21 innings since returning to Seattle, pitching to a 1.71 ERA and 0.86 WHIP with 20 strikeouts. One of Miller's four appearances so far this season has come in relief as Seattle juggles its impressive rotation depth. Still, Miller has worked at least five innings in every outing and has also significantly out-pitched Mariners veteran Luis Castillo, with whom he is ostensibly competing for a rotation spot. Miller battled injury and underperformance in 2025, posting a 5.68 ERA across 90 innings. Early on in 2026, he looks to have regained his form from 2024, when he recorded a 2.94 ERA and 0.98 WHIP with a 17.9% K-BB rate across 180 1/3 innings. In any league where he's not already rostered, Miller should be a priority waiver wire target for fantasy managers.

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After a relatively slow start to the season in which he posted a .754 OPS through the end of April, Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo caught fire in May. Across 77 plate appearances last month, the 21-year-old hit .338/.376/.597 with four home runs, 16 RBI, and 13 runs scored. Basallo's 12.1% barrel rate and 48.4% hard-hit rate are solid for any position, but profile as elite for his position. Additionally, Baltimore's ability to rotate him between catcher and designated hitter with Adley Rutschman should help keep Basallo fresh throughout the year and in the lineup on an everyday basis. Basallo struggled in a small sample size of 118 plate appearances after making his MLB debut as a 20-year-old in 2025, logging a .559 OPS. However, the top prospect looks to be realizing his immense potential in 2026 and is an absolute must-add in any fantasy league where he is currently unrostered.

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New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (calf) is expected to return to the big leagues in "about a couple weeks," per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The superstar shortstop has been on the 15-day injured list due to a calf strain since late April. Lindor was off to a slow start before suffering the injury, hitting .226/.314/.355 with two home runs, five RBI, 14 runs scored, and two stolen bases across 105 plate appearances. Still, the 32-year-old entered 2026 coming off three consecutive seasons with at least 31 home runs, 86 RBI, 107 runs scored, and 29 stolen bases. When healthy, Lindor profiles as an elite fantasy shortstop and a true five-category producer. While Heyman's timeline still leaves some room for interpretation, it appears Lindor may be on track to return to the Mets before the end of June.

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There had been thought that New York Mets infielder Jorge Polanco (Achilles, wrist) might come off the 10-day injured list to rejoin the Mets for their series opener in San Diego against the Padres on Friday night, but he will remain on his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse instead, according to Mike Puma of The New York Post. Polanco probably won't come off the IL to join the Mets now until next Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals for the start of a homestand in Queens. It's been a long absence for Polanco, who has been sidelined since mid-April with bursitis in his left Achilles and a right-wrist contusion, but he should play regularly as the team's designated hitter when he returns. The 32-year-old Dominican switch-hitter got off to a rough start in 2026 in his first season with the Mets, going 10-for-56 (.179) with a homer, two RBI, and three runs scored in 14 games before going down with multiple injuries. Polanco's Achilles bursitis is something that he could have to manage for the rest of the season. He is eligible at second and third base in most fantasy leagues and can provide some pop as infield depth. Polanco is currently rostered in just 23% of Yahoo leagues.

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Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Edward Cabrera (finger) has been activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start on Friday against the San Francisco Giants. The 28-year-old last pitched on May 20 before being placed on the IL due to a blister issue. Before the injury, Cabrera recorded a 3-2 record with a 4.00 ERA, 1.35 ERA, and 47 strikeouts across 54 innings (10 starts). The right-hander's average fastball velocity had dipped from 97 miles per hour in 2025 to 95.9 mph, and his strikeout rate had fallen from 25.8% to 20.7%. It's possible that blister issues had been plaguing Cabrera before he hit the shelf, which could explain his downturn in production. Now that he's back, fantasy managers should monitor closely for an uptick in his velocity and strikeout rate.

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After spending nearly two months in the minor leagues, Cincinnati Reds third baseman/outfielder Noelvi Marte was recalled by the big league club on Wednesday. The 24-year-old got off to a miserable start to his 2026 season after breaking camp with Cincinnati, hitting .138/.219/.138 with a 31.9% strikeout rate across 38 plate appearances. However, Marte has absolutely crushed Triple-A pitching since being sent down, slashing .369/.409/.575 with eight home runs, 27 RBI, 31 runs scored, and nine stolen bases across 176 plate appearances. The former top prospect has had MLB success as recently as 2025, when he posted a .748 OPS with 14 home runs and 10 stolen bases across 360 plate appearances. He may also now have a chance to work his way into everyday playing time in Cincinnati, as Reds third baseman/designated hitter Eugenio Suarez has posted a .645 OPS with a 30.3% strikeout rate across 142 plate appearances so far this season. A chance to reset himself in the minors may have been just what Marte needed, and he profiles as a must-roster waiver wire target now that he's back in the big leagues.

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Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) has been sidelined on the 15-day injured list since experiencing a dramatic drop in velocity and a feeling of "dead arm" during a start on April 30 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Woodruff then had a minor procedure to address a cyst in his shoulder joint. He was on track to start against the St. Louis Cardinals on May 27, but he pulled the plug because he didn't feel right. The 33-year-old two-time All-Star made a significant mechanical change during a 42-pitch live batting practice session on Wednesday, lowering his arm slot to help correct the slow creep of bad habits that have accompanied his comeback from right-shoulder surgery. "Ever since surgery, my release point has been getting higher, and I've been pinching my [shoulder] off," Woodruff said. He has bounced back nicely since his BP session on Wednesday, and he could pitch in some Arizona Complex League games soon as he tries to make it back to Milwaukee's starting rotation before the mid-July All-Star break. Woodruff is confident he'll return and make multiple starts before the All-Star break, and because of his track record before shoulder surgery as a fantasy ace, he's currently rostered in 87% of Yahoo leagues.

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Washington Nationals left-hander DJ Herz (elbow) has been sent on a rehab assignment in the Florida Coast League. The 25-year-old is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in April 2025. Herz made his MLB debut with Washington in 2024, recording a 4-9 record with a 4.16 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 106 strikeouts across 88 2/3 innings (19 starts). Herz consistently struggled with command during his time in the minors before his debut, but he kept his walk rate to a manageable 9.4% while striking out an impressive 27.7% of the batters he faced in his first taste of the big leagues. Given how long he's been out, Herz will likely require an extensive rehab stint before he's ready to return to Washington. However, his ability to miss bats gives him considerable fantasy upside and could make him worth stashing off the waiver wire ahead of his eventual activation.

From RotoBaller