McCullers set to return, Diamondbacks still dealing with injuries

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 28: What you need to know for Saturday

Todd Zola: The first of a dozen matinees gets going at 1:05 p.m. ET, with another early tilt starting five minutes later. Ten contests populate the 4 p.m. ET block, leaving only three evening affairs.

• The Arizona Diamondbacks are already missing OF Corbin Carroll and C Gabriel Moreno and will probably take on the Miami Marlins at home this afternoon without 1B Josh Naylor. Manager Torey Lovullo indicated that Naylor was removed Friday night with neck stiffness and will need a day off before hopefully returning Sunday. Lovullo also reported that Jordan Lawlar will be out several weeks after suffering a Grade 1 hamstring sprain. Since being optioned to Triple-A Reno in late May, Lawlar posted a .281/.403/.594 line with five steals in 16 games.

• The Houston Astros will activate Lance McCullers Jr. in advance of Saturday's evening home tilt against the Chicago Cubs. He's been on the 15-day IL with a sprained foot. The veteran returns from a minimal stay, with the club opting to eschew a rehab assignment. McCullers has completed several bullpen sessions and fielding drills with no issues, but he could be on a pitch count. He was beginning to find a groove before getting hurt with 33 strikeouts over his prior 21 1/3 innings, spanning four starts.

• The Astros may be without SS Jeremy Pena for McCullers return after he was hit in the ribs by a pitch Friday night. Initial imaging came back clean, rendering Pena as day-to-day.

• Jordan Westburg aggravated a jammed finger that cost him three games earlier this week. The issue resurfaced after he slid into second base on a double. The Baltimore Orioles reported that X-rays were negative, but Westburg's status for Saturday afternoon's home date with the Tampa Bay Rays is up in the air.

• The Texas Rangers placed OF Wyatt Langford on the 10-day IL with a strained left oblique. He's eligible to return on July 5, but the club anticipates a longer visit. Alejandro Osuna filled in for Langford for the past two games and should continue to garner more action.

• Zach Neto missed Friday night's game after jamming his right shoulder Tuesday night. The club hoped after keeping him out on Wednesday, then with Thursday's off day that Neto could return Friday but he needed at least one more day. A follow-up MRI revealed no damage, so the expectation is for Neto to return this weekend when the Los Angeles Angels host the Washington Nationals.

• The Cleveland Guardians held 3B Jose Ramirez out of Friday night's interleague meeting with the St. Louis Cardinals. Ramirez is nursing a bruised forearm after being hit by a pitch on Thursday. X-rays were negative, leaving Ramirez as questionable for this afternoon's Game 2 in Progressive Field.

• The Boston Red Sox will be without Marcelo Mayer for the final two games of their series with the Toronto Blue Jays. The rookie was placed on the bereavement list prior to Friday night's contest. He's expected to be back with the club on Monday.

June 27: What you need to know for Friday

Todd Zola: A full complement of 15 evening affairs constitute Friday's slate, with action getting underway at 6:40 ET in the Steel City with the Pittsburgh Pirates hosting the New York Mets. Rain will be a factor in a few spots, but not enough to place anything in jeopardy of being played.

• The Mets are awaiting word on Thursday night starter Griffin Canning, who left the game with an ankle issue after hurling 2⅔ scoreless innings. The club is fearful it is his Achilles, which means Canning could be facing an extended absence. New York's rotation is already operating without Kodai Senga, Tylor Megill and Sean Manaea.

• Mitch Garver left Thursday night's game after being hit in the jaw by a foul ball while catching. The 34-year-old veteran has played 20 games behind the plate over the season's first half, which has allowed the Seattle Mariners to use Cal Raleigh as DH 17 times, thus keeping his bat in the lineup while resting his legs once or twice a week. As a precaution, the club scratched top prospect Harry Ford from his scheduled minor league start last night. The 22-year-old backstop has posted a .311/.426/.469 line with Triple-A Tacoma and is considered one of the top catching prospects in the minors.

• A pair of superstars have seemingly avoided major injuries after the Cleveland Guardians and Toronto Blue Jays exchanged hit batsmen yesterday. Jose Ramirez and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. were both hit in the arm. X-rays on both players came back negative, leaving the two men as "day-to-day."

• On Thursday, Lars Nootbaar missed his second straight game nursing an intercostal issue. He received an injection for the pain Tuesday night, a procedure that requires two days before the resumption of activity, so the St. Louis Cardinals are optimistic that Nootbaar will be available tonight for their road date with the Guardians. He has swatted a homer in three of his past five games.

• The San Diego Padres will be without Robert Suarez for tonight's road date with the Cincinnati Reds. The closer will be serving the final game of a two-game suspension for hitting Shohei Ohtani after warnings were issued. The initial punishment was three games, but Suarez got it reduced upon appeal. Adrian Morejon captured a save Wednesday. He'll be in the mix again tonight, along with Jason Adam and Jeremiah Estrada.

June 26: What you need to know for Thursday

Todd Zola: Today's nine-game schedule gets underway with a trio of 1:10 p.m. ET contests, followed by five more matinees. The sole evening affair is an NL East showdown in Citi Field with the New York Mets trying to even their four-game series with the Atlanta Braves. The Mets dropped the first two games before prevailing 7-3 last night.

• After playing a pair of rehab games with Triple-A Syracuse, Mark Vientos could be activated by the Mets prior to tonight's game with the Braves. Vientos will reportedly be back with the club, but it isn't clear if he'll return to the lineup today or tomorrow.

• Willi Castro started his first game since last Saturday yesterday, though he came off the bench on Tuesday. Castro was nursing a sore wrist. It's been an odd season for the Minnesota Twins super utilityman. He's pacing towards career highs in almost everything but stolen bases. His steals (and success rate) plummeted last season and that's carrying over to this year. Castro was 33-for-38 in 2023, then fell to 14-for-23 last year. He has only three swipes in four tries this year.

• The St. Louis Cardinals placed OF Jordan Walker on the IL with appendicitis. It's unclear, but it's likely that he'll require an appendectomy, keeping him out of action longer than the minimum 10-day stint, and perhaps until the All-Star break. Walker has been primarily facing only left-handed pitching and is still struggling this season, with a career low .562 OPS.

• Shota Imanaga is earmarked to return today after missing almost eight weeks with a left hamstring sprain. He threw three rehab games, the final one lasting 4 1/3 innings with eight strikeouts and two walks. The lefty compiled 72 pitches in the outing, so while he probably won't throw the 90 or so pitches he usually makes, Imanaga should be able to complete five frames in this afternoon's road affair with the Cardinals.

• With Reese Olson not quite ready to return, the Detroit Tigers will promote veteran Dietrich Enns for today's home start against the Athletics. Enns last appeared in the majors as a reliever with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021. He spent the last three seasons overseas, the first two in Japan before heading to Korea. The 34-year-old lefty has been starting for Triple-A Toledo, posting a 2.89 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 62 1/3 innings.