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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July 1: What you need to know for Tuesday
Todd Zola: In the United States, it's Bobby Bonilla Day. North of the border, it's Canada Day, with the Toronto Blue Jays hosting the New York Yankees at 3:07 p.m. ET. The typical Tuesday evening docket starts at 6:35 p.m. ET, with the first of 14 more games.
Rain has been a recurring theme over the first half, so it's not a surprise that July begins with several games in jeopardy due to bad weather. The game between the Washington Nationals and the Detroit Tigers is most likely to be delayed or postponed, followed by the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres at Citizens Bank Park. Everything on the Atlantic coast will be dealing with the threat of rain.
The Blue Jays played shorthanded last night with Bo Bichette getting scratched after stepping on a baseball in warmups and George Springer leaving early after an awkward slide into third base. However, both were expected to be in the lineup for Tuesday's matinee with the Yankees, but Bichette is not in the starting lineup.
The Yankees also lost a starter in last night's 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays with Trent Grisham exiting early due to a sore hamstring. Grisham was replaced by Jasson Dominguez. With Giancarlo Stanton back, the club has been rotating Grisham, Dominguez, Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt. Grisham is listed as day-to-day, but if he misses more action, Dominguez would likely be the regular replacement.
The Atlanta Braves have shuffled their rotation, flip-flopping Grant Holmes and Didier Fuentes with Holmes taking the hill (weather permitting) tonight at home against the Los Angeles Angels. The switch keeps Holmes on four days of rest while giving the 20-year-old Fuentes extended rest between outings.
The Baltimore Orioles have scratched Charlie Morton from Tuesday night's scheduled start. The veteran is dealing with low-grade right elbow tendinitis, so Brandon Young will take the hill in Arlington against the Texas Rangers. The club hopes that Morton can return on Friday.
The Colorado Rockies are about to launch a six-game homestand, but they'll be without C Hunter Goodman, their best hitter over the season's first half. Goodman is ticketed for the IL as a result of a sore hamstring. He has already missed the past four games. Braxton Fulford will take over as the primary backstop with journeyman Austin Nola being summoned from Triple-A Albuquerque to serve as the backup.
The Athletics called up OF Colby Thomas from Triple-A Las Vegas. JJ Bleday was optioned as the corresponding move. Thomas is one of the top Athletics prospects. He was hitting .301/.368/.549 with seven steals in 75 games with the Aviators. As a right-handed hitter, Thomas could be a platoon partner for Tyler Soderstrom or Lawrence Butler, but initially will be confined to pinch hitting against left-handed relievers, while occasionally subbing for CF Denzel Clarke. Clarke is batting only .198/.243/.277 but has generated seven defensive runs saved while scoring high in Statcast's defensive measures.
June 30: What you need to know for Monday
Todd Zola: Eight games comprise today's docket, all of them being evening affairs. Action gets underway at 6:35 p.m. ET with the Philadelphia Phillies hosting the San Diego Padres. Rain has been an issue for most of the month of June, so it's not surprising that we're on "weather watch" again here on the last day of the month. In addition to the Phillies-Padres contest, fans at the NL Central matchup between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals should bring umbrellas as both Pennsylvania games will probably be wet.
The Padres are set to call up Matt Waldron to start tonight. The knuckleballer takes the rotation spot vacated by Ryan Bergert who is on the 15-day IL after being struck in the forearm by a comebacker last week. Yu Darvish and Michael King are both throwing, with Darvish facing live batters. The club hopes that he will return by the All-Star break, with King soon thereafter. In the interim, Waldron will fill in. After missing the first two months of the season due to an oblique injury, he's been pitching for Triple-A El Paso, posting a 5.24 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. Minor league numbers are less concerning from a knuckleballer since so much depends on defense.
Bryce Harper (wrist) took live batting practice on Saturday. He was so impressive that the Phillies may opt to eschew a rehab stint and activate him in advance of tonight's tilt with the Padres. He last started for the Phillies on June 5.
Marcelo Mayer is expected to rejoin the Boston Red Sox for tonight's home date with the Cincinnati Reds. The rookie missed the weekend while on the bereavement list. He's not getting the results yet, but Mayer has been stinging the ball. He's only hitting .200 in June, in large part because of a 32.1% strikeout rate. However, he's posted a ridiculous 63.6 HardHit% this month. The league average is 41.7%.
Jordan Westburg missed his second consecutive game after re-injuring the finger that he initially hurt a week ago. The Baltimore Orioles hope that he's able to return tonight when they visit the Texas Rangers.
After missing two straight games following being hit in the jaw by a foul tip, Mitch Garver was behind the plate on Sunday with Cal Raleigh serving as the DH. The Seattle Mariners have rested Raleigh just once this season. He's been their DH 19 times while catching 64 contests.
Josh Naylor missed his second consecutive game while nursing a sore neck. He was missed as the Miami Marlins surprisingly swept all three games in the desert this weekend. The Arizona Diamondbacks hope to have Naylor back tonight when they open a key home series against the San Francisco Giants. Pavin Smith handled first base with Randal Grichuk and Tim Tawa backfilling at DH.