MLB Player News

Ugh. Snell missed the first seven weeks of the season while recovering from shoulder fatigue and then returned to make just one poor start before being shelved again. Charlie Barnes was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday to take his place on the active roster. No word yet on how long Snell is expected to be sidelined before, but traditionally loose bodies in the elbow take 2-3 months of recovery time if they are surgically removed.

Buxton winds up sitting out the entire three-game series in Houston due to a right hip impingement. The 32-year-old fantasy star should benefit from Thursday’s off day and figures to be ready for Friday’s series opener against the Yankees. It’ll be Ryan Kreidler handling center field with Josh Bell at DH for the third consecutive game on Wednesday night.

Baldwin finds himself back atop Atlanta’s lineup for the second straight contest. He’s gone 3-for 48 with one homer and 22 strikeouts in 12 games since returning from the injured list as he struggles to regain his timing at the dish. There’s zero reason for fantasy managers to panic since his track record suggests he’ll snap out of it and get back on track eventually.

Helsley had been warming up, but then sat down in the bullpen and was caught on camera flexing his elbow and grabbing it, which didn’t inspire a lot of confidence in his health. Considering he was already on the injured list earlier this season with elbow inflammation, this is not a great sign. We’ll wait for more word from the Orioles, but Rico Garcia would operate as the high-leverage reliever again if Hesley were to miss time, but that would not mean he gets every save chance.

Kremer allowed four hits and one walk. He gave up a homer to Sam Antonacci on the second pitch of the game but held Chicago scoreless after that. This was only his third start of the year after a quad injury kept him sidelined since late April. He’s pitched well in the small sample and now has a 20:3 K/BB ratio in 17 innings. His next start lines up at home against the Cubs.

Schultz struck out seven and looked fantastic through four innings, but things unraveled in the fifth, and multiple inherited runners scored. This was the rookie’s first start since May 24 as he missed over a month due to a knee injury. Walks remain a problem for the left-hander, and he’ll look for better results next time out against the Red Sox.

Baltimore was being no-hit through four innings before O’Neill hit a solo blast off Noah Schultz to begin the fifth. He also made an impressive diving catch, but was later pinch-hit for and remains in a very part-time role for the Orioles. O’Neill has started against just one of the past nine right-handers the team has faced. He’s signed through 2027 as part of a three-year, $49.5 million deal he was given as a free agent.

Antonacci took Dean Kremer deep on the second pitch of the game, but it was the only run Chicago could muster. The rookie hit just one homer from April 15 through June 13, but he’s left the yard four times since then. He was already profiling as a strong fantasy asset with batting average, runs scored, and stolen-base upside, but the recent power uptick is surely welcomed. He’ll remain a must-start fantasy option as the White Sox head to Cleveland for a four-game set beginning Thursday.

Clase has been recalled with George Springer headed to the paternity list. However, Clase is also not in the lineup against a left-handed pitcher on Wednesday, so he might not play much in the few games Springer misses.

Congrats to George and his growing family. Springer had a hot stretch earlier in the month, but is hitting .239/.340/.398 in 23 games in June with three home runs, three steals and 13 RBI. He is not a player you have to move on from in shallower formats, but you might be able to find more production on the waiver wire in 10 and 12-team leagues.

Scherzer is traveling with the Blue Jays on their road trip, so he will make a rehab start Friday with Vancouver, then rejoin the team in Seattle on Saturday. From there, he will throw a bullpen on Sunday, and the team will determine next steps from there. Scherzer could return right after the All-Star break, but he would remain off the fantasy radar outside of the deepest formats until we can see him pitch deep into an MLB game.