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 1 What you need to know for Sunday
Todd Zola: The first game of the month starts at 1:05 p.m. ET, followed by the usual 13 afternoon affairs. Tonight's ESPN Sunday night game features a rarity with Yoshinobu Yamamoto garnering his second start this week when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the New York Yankees. Ryan Yarbrough will be tasked with helping to prevent a sweep by the defending World Champions.
Houston Astros OF/DH Yordan Alvarez was thought to be close to returning from a sore hand, but a closer examination revealed a fracture that is only 60% healed. It was initially missed due to swelling in the area. The club has shut the slugger down until the break is fully healed. There is no timetable, but Alvarez is expected to be out at least two more weeks. The Astros will also be without OF Chas McCormick after he was placed on the 10-day IL with a sore oblique. Shay Whitcomb has been called up from Triple-A Sugar Land to take McCormick's roster spot. Whitcomb can fill in on the left side of the infield and corner outfield, as well as serve as DH. The 26-year-old was mashing on the farm, putting up a .275/.357/.599 line with six steals.
The Toronto Blue Jays could be without OF Daulton Varsho again after he hurt his hamstring attempting to leg out a triple. He pulled up lame halfway to third base, then hopped the rest of the way before being helped to the ground by Athletics third baseman Max Schuemann. Varsho missed the first month of the year recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Since returning, he batted only .198, but he clubbed eight homers in 23 games. Myles Straw, Jonatan Clase and recently recalled Alan Roden are candidates to see more action in Varsho's stead.
The struggling Colorado Rockies lineup is getting a makeover. Kyle Farmer is ticketed for most of the action at first base after Michael Toglia was optioned to Triple-A Alburquerque. Farmer will be joined on the right side of the infield by Thairo Estrada, who made his Rockies debut after being sidelined since the spring with a fractured wrist. The club also signed Orlando Arcia to fill in around the infield as well as serving as DH.
In what on the surface seems like a curious move, the Tampa Bay Rays optioned OF Chandler Simpson and his 19 stolen bases in 35 games to Triple-A Durham to further work on his defense, specifically route running and improving his throwing. Fantasy managers were thrilled with Simpson's .285 average and plethora of pilfers, but the Rays are built on pitching and defense and, on a defensive runs saved per innings basis, Simpson was one of the worst outfielders in MLB. A former second baseman, Simpson has plus speed, so the Rays hope he can develop better instincts and benefit from his athleticism.
May 31: What you need to know for Saturday
Todd Zola: Saturday's action gets underway at 2:20 p.m. ET in Wrigley Field with the Chicago Cubs entertaining the Cincinnati Reds. Lefty Drew Pomeranz will serve as the Cubs opener with righty Ben Brown expected to handle bulk innings.
Mookie Betts missed Friday night's World Series rematch between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees with a fractured toe. Despite X-rays showing a break, Betts hopes to miss only a handful of games since his availability is mostly a matter of pain tolerance.
The Detroit Tigers will be without SP Jackson Jobe after he was placed on the IL with a Grade 1 flexor strain. The rookie has struggled over the first two months, so the injury will allow him to reset during rehab. His likely replacement is Sawyer Gipson-Long, a 27-year-old right-hander who last appeared in the majors in 2023.
The Minnesota Twins expect OF Matt Wallner to return from the IL in advance of Saturday's road date with the Seattle Mariners. He has been sidelined since mid-April with a Grade 3 left hamstring strain. Wallner began the season with an impressive .847 OPS from the leadoff spot. After batting 8-for-25 with five homers in six rehab games, Wallner should be inserted back at the top of the order.
Despite turning heads in batting practice prior to last night's game between the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays, OF Yordan Alvarez remained on the IL another day. The club hopes he can return for Saturday night's tilt in Minute Maid Park.
The Yankees are optimistic that 3B Jazz Chisholm Jr. returns this weekend, perhaps Saturday night as they try to even their interleague set with the Dodgers. Chisholm has been shelved with a strained oblique since late April. He's expected to take over at third base.
Baltimore Orioles 1B Ryan Mountcastle was lifted from Friday night's contest in the eighth inning with a sore right hamstring. His status is unclear, pending further testing. The anticipation was for Mountcastle to benefit with the renovation in left field at Camden Yards, but he's only clubbed two homers this season, albeit both at home.
May 30: What you need to know for Friday
Todd Zola: The Chicago Cubs are at home this weekend, which means a 2:20 p.m. ET matinee in Wrigley Field kicks off the Friday slate. The Cincinnati Reds are the guests for the three-game set. The starting time for the Baltimore Orioles/Chicago White Sox contest has been moved to 4:30 p.m. to help make sure the game finishes before a set of heavy storms settles over Camden Yards. The White Sox announced that Jared Shuster will open this contest, followed by Sean Burke, who will handle the "bulk" workload. Evening action begins at 6:45 p.m. ET with the Philadelphia Phillies hosting the Milwaukee Brewers. Rain is expected in the later innings, but the game is expected to be played.
Earlier this week, the Brewers surprisingly optioned SP Logan Henderson to Triple-A. To fill his spot in the rotation tonight, DL Hall will serve as the opener, followed by Quinn Priester. Hall is slated to throw more than just an inning, though he's not stretched out to be a traditional starter. Hall suffered a lat sprain early in spring training and was only recently activated from the 60-day IL. Last Monday, he tossed 33 pitches, covering 2 1/3 innings in his 2025 debut.
The Los Angeles Angels are averaging the 10th-highest runs per game in May, and on Friday they'll get Mike Trout back. He has been out all month due to a bone bruise in his left knee. Trout was batting only .179 on the season, but he did hit nine homers in April. He'll probably share outfield and DH duties with Jorge Soler.
Houston Astros 1B Christian Walker sat out last night's 13-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays after having been hit in the right hand by a pitch on Wednesday. X-rays were negative, so the club hopes that Walker will be able to play tonight.
The Minnesota Twins are expected to activate Byron Buxton from the 7-day IL prior to tonight's road date with the Seattle Mariners. Buxton has been in the league's concussion protocol since bumping heads with Carlos Correa two weeks ago.
May 29: What you need to know for Thursday
Todd Zola: Last night's Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies rainout will be made up today as an old-fashioned doubleheader, with the opener at 1:05 p.m. ET. The nightcap is part of the four regularly scheduled games.
With Ronald Acuna Jr. back in action for the Braves, Alex Verdugo and Eli White are ticketed to platoon in left field. They're both slated to start today with the Phillies deploying lefty Cristopher Sanchez in Game 1 and righty Zack Wheeler in Game 2.
Toronto Blue Jays SS Bo Bichette didn't start last night as he's nursing a tight back. However, he pinch hit in the ninth inning and came through with a two-run homer, accounting for the only runs in the Blue Jays' 2-0 road win over the Texas Rangers. It's unclear whether Bichette will rejoin the starting lineup when the teams meet again tonight.
Houston Astros 1B Christian Walker is questionable for tonight's home date with the Tampa Bay Rays after he was hit in the hand by a pitch last night, though post-game X-rays were negative. Mauricio Dubon, who was getting the evening off as the starting second baseman, replaced Walker at first base. If Walker misses more action, Dubon could stay at first with Brendan Rodgers handling the keystone. In more Astros news, OF Pedro Leon could be activated tonight as the knee sprain he suffered in the spring is fully healed. Finally, SP Ronel Blanco is out for the season, though it isn't clear yet if he'll require Tommy John surgery or the internal brace procedure.