After starting the 2026 season on the injured list while rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery, New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe was initially optioned to Triple-A upon his return to full health. However, Volpe was recalled by the Yankees in mid-May and has played well since, hitting .281/.425/.469 with one home run, seven RBI, six runs scored, and two stolen bases across 40 plate appearances. While Volpe is still technically behind Jose Caballero on the Yankees' shortstop depth chart, he's started each of the Yankees' last two games at short and could be pushing Caballero back into a super utility role. A former top prospect, Volpe has largely struggled at the plate since breaking into the big leagues in 2023. Still, he's just 25 years old and has power/speed upside in an everyday role. In deeper leagues, fantasy managers may want to consider targeting Volpe on the waiver wire.

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Washington Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli put forth another strong effort on Tuesday, allowing one run and striking out seven across six innings of work in his team's win over the Cleveland Guardians. Across 59 2/3 innings (12 starts) this season, Cavalli has posted a 3-3 record with a 3.62 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and 68 strikeouts. He's been particularly effective of late, recording 24 strikeouts over his last 19 1/3 innings pitched (three starts). Cavalli's inflated WHIP could be a symptom of bad luck as well, as opposing batters are currently posting an unsustainably high .361 batting average on balls in play against him. Heading into his next scheduled start against the Miami Marlins on Monday, Cavalli profiles as a prime waiver wire target with upside.

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After opening 2026 on the injured list while rehabbing from an elbow injury, Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Troy Melton was activated for his season debut on Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles. The 25-year-old picked up a win in his first time out, allowing two hits, three walks, and one earned run while striking out three across 5 2/3 innings of work. Melton was utilized mostly in a bulk relief role upon making his MLB debut in 2025, finishing the year with a 2.76 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 36 strikeouts across 45 2/3 innings (16 games). However, injuries and underperformance in the Tigers' rotation should allow Melton an extended runway to prove himself as a starter in 2026. The young right-hander may not offer the highest strikeout upside, but he's been effective at the big league level to this point in his career. Particularly in deeper formats, Melton profiles as a prime waiver wire target for fantasy managers.

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Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Kris Bubic (elbow) is currently on the 15-day injured list as he battles elbow soreness. However, the 28-year-old began a full throwing program on Saturday and could be working his way towards a return to the big league mound in early June. Bubic was off to a solid start to his 2026 season before getting injured, recording a 3-2 record with a 4.11 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 51 strikeouts across 50 1/3 innings (nine starts). He struggled to a 12.6% walk rate before hitting the injured list, but the poor command could have been a symptom of his elbow discomfort. If Bubic is pain-free upon his return, his results may be more in line with his performance in 2025, when he posted a 2.55 ERA across 116 1/3 innings (20 starts). His profile carries some risk of re-injury, but Bubic's upside could make him worth stashing off the waiver wire ahead of his impending injury return.

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Toronto Blue Jays third baseman/outfielder Addison Barger (elbow) is going to start throwing "probably tomorrow," manager John Schneider told Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. Barger could now return quickly to the major-league roster after missing more than two weeks with right-elbow inflammation. It's unclear at this time if the Blue Jays will require Barger to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before he's officially reinstated from the 10-day injured list. The left-handed-hitting outfielder has also missed time in 2026 due to injuries to both of his ankles, which is why he has only appeared in nine games in his third big-league season. The 26-year-old former sixth-rounder in 2018 slashed .243/.301/.454 with a .756 OPS, 21 home runs, 74 RBI, and four stolen bases in 135 regular-season games last year in his first full season in the majors. Barger doesn't have incredible plate or on-base skills as a hitter, but he has decent power and can produce runs for fantasy managers in points leagues when he's healthy. He should play regularly against right-handed pitchers when he comes off the IL, possibly in early June.

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Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (hernia) is expected to miss six to 10 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a hernia on May 22. The 33-year-old was off to a rough start to the 2026 season before hitting the injured list, hitting .206/.244/.303 with three home runs, 19 RBI, 16 runs scored, and four stolen bases across 176 plate appearances. However, Story is just one season removed from hitting 25 homers and stealing 31 bags across 157 games in 2025. His barrel rate dropped from 9.8% in 2025 to 3.8% in 2026, which could be directly linked to the hernia issue. If health was the reason for his struggles in 2026, Story could be poised for a second-half surge upon his return to the Red Sox lineup. In leagues with deeper roster formats, fantasy managers may want to consider stashing Story through his injury for his high-end power/speed upside.

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Cincinnati Reds right-handed reliever Emilio Pagan (hamstring) will receive a second MRI exam to check on his healing on Friday, May 29, according to MLB.com. Pagan has been on the 15-day injured list since May 6 with a Grade 2 left-hamstring strain that he suffered at Wrigley Field while pitching against the division-rival Chicago Cubs. The 35-year-old has reportedly been throwing on his knees, but if his MRI shows considerable healing, he could be cleared to up the intensity of his throwing program. Barring a setback once Pagan resumes throwing off a mound, he could return to the back end of the Reds' bullpen. Pagan was initially given a four- to eight-week timetable for a return. The 10-year MLB veteran had six saves in 15 relief appearances before his hamstring injury, but he was also sporting an ugly 6.43 ERA (5.79 FIP) and 1.43 WHIP in 14 innings pitched. The Reds' bullpen has been shaky since Pagan was placed on the IL, making it very probable that he's reinserted as manager Terry Francona's primary closer when he's ready to return. He's currently 64% rostered in Yahoo leagues.

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Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (groin) is absent from the starting lineup for Wednesday's series finale against the division-rival San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park, according to MLB.com. Jose Fernandez will make the start at third base for the Snakes and will hit seventh against Giants right-hander Trevor McDonald. It's not a surprise that Arenado is sitting on Wednesday in a day game after he was pulled from Tuesday night's game early with tightness in his right groin. The D-backs have a day off on Thursday, so fantasy managers will want to check back to see if he's available to play in Friday's series opener in Seattle against the Mariners. If it's an injury that keeps the veteran out for an extended period of time, Fernandez would continue to see most of the playing time at third in Arizona. The eight-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger isn't the offensive player he once was in his prime with the Colorado Rockies, although he has hit a decent .271 (46-for-170) on the year with seven home runs, 27 RBI, 27 runs, and a stolen base across his first 51 games in his first year with the Diamondbacks.

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Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (elbow) is back in the starting lineup and is hitting in the two-hole for Wednesday's series finale in Toronto against the visiting Miami Marlins and right-hander Eury Perez, according to MLB.com. Guerrero sat out the last two games as a precaution with a right-elbow contusion after he was hit by a pitch over the weekend, but he's back in action on Wednesday and should be returned to all starting fantasy lineups in traditional leagues. The 27-year-old Canadian slugger has been light on power so far this year (just three home runs) and has struggled in May, going 14-for-75 (.187) with one homer, seven RBI, 14 runs scored, two steals, 13 walks, and eight strikeouts in 22 games and 93 plate appearances. Vlad has hit .333 (8-for-24) in his last eight games, though, and he's still hitting a strong .287 on the season with a .386 on-base percentage in 223 plate appearances. The buy-low window is still very much open.

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Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani's (hand) removal from Tuesday's win over the Colorado Rockies after taking a pitch off his pitching hand was precautionary, manager Dave Roberts told Katie Woo of The Athletic. He is expected to make his start on Wednesday, and no imaging was required. However, it's to be determined if Ohtani will also serve as the designated hitter. Ohtani went 0-for-2 and was hit by a pitch in Tuesday's 15-6 drubbing of the last-place Rockies and was pulled after being hit on the hand in the fourth inning. Despite the injury scare, fantasy managers should keep Ohtani in their starting lineups for Wednesday's action against the Rockies. The 31-year-old four-time MVP and five-time All-Star has been better as a pitcher than a hitter in 2026 going 4-2 with a stingy 0.73 ERA (2.38 FIP) and 0.84 WHIP with 54 strikeouts and only 13 walks in 49 innings across his eight starts. He should also be a must-start in traditional fantasy leagues if he's in the batting order as the DH. The Rockies as a team rank 22nd in baseball with a .685 OPS.

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Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts was struggling mightily at the plate before the team's outburst on Tuesday night in a 15-6 win over the visiting Colorado Rockies. Betts finally showed some life at the plate by going 3-for-5 with two home runs, five RBI, and a strikeout to boost his season average to .190 and his OPS to .679. Since returning from the injured list on May 11, Betts has gone 11-for-56 (.196) with four homers, a double, eight RBI, six runs, three walks, and seven strikeouts. In his last seven games, he had gone just 4-for-29 (.138), but the move to the cleanup spot on Tuesday seemed to spark the 33-year-old veteran to life offensively. Betts got the scoring started with a two-run blast in the first inning. Although the former MVP and eight-time All-Star is still hitting under the Mendoza Line for the season, he does have six home runs in just 84 at-bats, and it might be a good time to try and see if you can still buy low on him.

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The New York Mets announced on Wednesday that they have transferred outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (back) to the 60-day injured list. Robert was initially placed on the 10-day injured list with lumbar spine disc herniation on April 30, and he hasn't been able to resume baseball activities, which has led to his placement on the 60-day IL. It's bad news for a last-place Mets team that has had terrible luck with injuries to key players in 2026. If the 28-year-old outfielder doesn't make progress soon, he could be advised to go under the knife, which would almost certainly knock him out for the rest of the season. It's becoming harder and harder for fantasy managers to continue stashing him in an IL spot in shallow mixed leagues. The Cuban slugger was hitting only .224 (19-for-85) with two home runs, eight RBI, 10 runs scored, and two stolen bases at the time of his injury, too. Robert's injury has paved the way for both rookie outfielders Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing to make their MLB debuts, and they should have plenty of runway for extended playing time now.

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New York Mets infielder Jorge Polanco (Achilles, wrist) is starting a minor-league rehab assignment on Wednesday with Double-A Binghamton, according to Mike Mayer of Metsmerized. In addition to left-Achilles bursitis that Polanco has been dealing with since the middle of April, the 32-year-old veteran is also rehabbing from a right-wrist contusion. But now that he's been cleared to play in games on the farm, he could rejoin the major-league roster by some time next week, barring a setback with either of his injuries. The Mets could desperately use some offensive upgrades, as they currently rank dead-last in all of baseball with a .643 OPS. When Polanco returns, he will most likely be the Mets' full-time designated hitter. It's been a rough start to his Mets tenure, as along with the injuries, he was hitting only .179 (10-for-56) with a homer in his first 14 games. Polanco did have 26 homers and 78 RBI in 138 games with the Seattle Mariners last year, though, and he also has a 30-homer campaign in his 12-year career. He's widely available on the waiver wire (24% rostered in Yahoo leagues) if you need a potential power upgrade who is eligible at both second and third base.

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Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez was at it again in the team's 10-7 loss to the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Tuesday night, going 2-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, four RBI, and two strikeouts. Alvarez is now hitting .303 on the season with a 1.045 OPS as one of the best hitters in the game. The 28-year-old left-handed slugger mashed a three-run blast in the third inning and a solo shot in the eighth, but the Astros' comeback attempt fell short. Fantasy managers were a bit worried when Alvarez missed Sunday's contest with a back injury, but he only missed one game and has hit three homers in two games since returning to the lineup. It's been nice to see Alvarez bounce back in 2026 after an injury-plagued 2025 campaign. In addition to his .303 average and 1.045 OPS, he has a .414 on-base percentage, .631 slugging percentage, 18 home runs, 37 RBI, 34 runs scored, and a stolen base across 55 games. Alvarez also ranks in the 93rd percentile in hard-hit rate, the 100th percentile in xwOBA, and the 100th percentile in expected slugging, so the underlying metrics absolutely support his strong season at the plate.

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Diamondbacks right-hander Corbin Burnes continues to progress in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, and a return around the All-Star break is beginning to look realistic. The 31-year-old has not pitched since June 1, 2025, but remains one of the premier starting pitchers in baseball when healthy. Burnes was dominant before the injury in his first season with Arizona, posting a 2.66 ERA with 63 strikeouts across 64 innings in 11 starts. The three-time All-Star is expected to begin live throwing soon, which is another encouraging step in his recovery process. Fantasy managers searching for second-half upside should strongly consider stashing Burnes now before his roster percentage begins to climb closer to his return.

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Rockies right-hander Antonio Senzatela continues to trend upward in the back end of the bullpen and is becoming a speculative waiver wire target for saves. The closer role in Colorado has largely been a committee effort, but Senzatela's production has stood out. The veteran owns a 1.13 ERA with a dominant 0.78 WHIP, positioning himself for more high-leverage opportunities moving forward. With Victor Vodnik and Jimmy Herget currently on the injured list, Senzatela is tied for the team lead among active pitchers with three saves. He has quietly become one of the Rockies' most reliable bullpen arms, and fantasy managers searching for saves should monitor him closely as opportunities continue to open up in Colorado.

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Philadelphia Phillies shortstop prospect Aidan Miller (back) resumed light baseball activities last week, so hopefully that means he'll be swinging a bat soon, and although there has been no additional update from the Phillies since then, the 21-year-old should be on fantasy managers' stash radar if a rehab stint is on the way in the coming weeks. The Phils' top-ranked prospect has been out all year with a lower back injury that cropped up late last season and has lingered into 2026. Despite the back issue, the right-handed hitter finished strong in 2025 and put together a final slash line of .264/.392/.433 with 14 home runs and 59 stolen bases over 116 games (108 at Double-A). Proactive managers should consider stashing the former first-rounder ahead of time, as his combination of power and speed, with the likelihood of a decent batting average, gives him multi-category appeal for fantasy, which would make him a priority stash once he gets rolling at Triple-A.

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Rangers left-hander Jacob Latz recorded a four-out save for his sixth of the season on Tuesday, allowing a solo home run while striking out two to secure the victory. It was his fifth save opportunity in May, as Latz continues to emerge as the preferred ninth-inning option in Texas. The 29-year-old has excelled in high-leverage situations this season, posting a 2.16 ERA with a dominant 0.60 WHIP. Opponents also hold just a .166 expected batting average against him, largely due to his fastball, which ranks in the 98th percentile with a run value of nine. Latz appears to have full control of the closer role in his fifth season with the Rangers, making him an elite-level waiver wire target as save opportunities continue to increase.

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Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald worked around a solo home run to earn his 13th save of the season on Tuesday while striking out one in Arizona's win. It was the sixth save in his last eight appearances, as Sewald continues to strengthen his grip on the closer role. The veteran right-hander owns a 3.98 ERA with a stellar 0.79 WHIP and 23 strikeouts across 20 innings this season. Sewald is now tied for second in the National League in saves in his first year back with Arizona. His ability to limit baserunners has helped minimize damage in late innings, and he remains a high-level fantasy target as save opportunities continue to pile up.

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St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez continued his power display at Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday, belting two home runs in a 4-for-6 effort, giving him six home runs in his last 12 games and 13 on the season. The Cards' third-ranked prospect is still striking out way too much with a 33.0 percent K%, which has limited him to a .247 average, but an 8.0 percent BB% shows the 6-foot-3 slugger has a decent eye at the plate, too. Once on base, the former second-round draft pick uses his wheels, swiping 11 bags so far this season after a 54-steal campaign in 2025. His combination of power and speed is what makes him intriguing for fantasy, and with the power surge he has been on, an MLB debut could be just around the corner. The 22-year-old is a top hitter to stash for home runs and stolen bases, just know that he may not offer much in the way of batting average when he gets to the majors.

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