Don't hesitate to get Harper and Chisholm back into lineups

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.

Key links: RP depth chart | Player Rater | Scoring leaders
Wednesday's lineup advice | Start a new league

June 4: What you need to know for Wednesday

Todd Zola: Only three afternoon affairs populate Wednesday's slate, but action gets underway early in South Florida with the Miami Marlins hosting the Colorado Rockies at 12:10 p.m. ET.

• Hopefully fantasy managers returned Bryce Harper to their lineups last night as the Philadelphia Phillies slugger went deep in his first game back after missing five games due to being plunked in the elbow by a pitch.

• The same goes for Jazz Chisholm Jr., except his "welcome back" homer came after being out of action for the New York Yankees since April 29. Chisholm spent the first month of the season at second base, but with DJ LeMahieu healthy, Chisholm will switch from the keystone to the hot corner.

• Mookie Betts didn't leave the yard in his return, but he collected a pair of hits in his first game back after being sidelined for four contests due to a fracture on the top of his toe. It's not fully healed, but if Betts can handle any discomfort, he'll be on the field.

• George Kirby appears to have escaped major injury after the Seattle Mariners righty was hit in the face by a 103-mph line drive last night. The ball deflected off Kirby's hand before striking his jaw. He'll be further examined today, after which Kirby's status will be clarified.

• Brandon Woodruff was hit on his throwing arm by a comebacker during a rehab outing with Triple-A Nashville. The Milwaukee Brewers hoped to get Woodruff back soon after the righty missed half of 2023 and all last season recovering from shoulder surgery and a hip issue. Woodruff will undergo imaging today.

• Pablo Lopez was warming up for the sixth inning last night when he alerted the Minnesota Twins dugout that something was wrong. He left the game due to a tight right shoulder and is considered day-to-day, pending further evaluation.

• Hunter Greene also completed five frames before having to exit last night. The righty may have re-injured a previous groin injury. The Cincinnati Reds will know more after Greene gets an MRI today.

• Be wary of starting players from the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals tonight with rain expected around Busch Stadium all day. It should mostly clear up by first pitch, but there may be lingering showers.

June 3: Caglianone's debut

• As Jac Caglianone gets set to make his MLB debut for the Kansas City Royals, he is currently rostered in 39.1% of ESPN leagues. He is listed in the expected starting lineup as the team's DH, batting sixth.

• Tristan H. Cockcroft writes about why you should add him to your fantasy rosters here.

• In Eric Karabell's prospects blog, he compares the rookie to Atlanta Braves 1B Matt Olson -- another large, left-handed hitter who hits for prodigious power with an expected batting average in the .250 range.

• David Purdum reports that Caglianone is +525 to hit a home run tonight in his MLB debut against the St. Louis Cardinals at ESPN BET. As of 1 p.m. ET, Caglianone was the most heavily bet player in DraftKings' RBI market and the second-most heavily bet player in the book's home run market.

• THE BAT X, a system created by Derek Carty using advanced methods like those used in MLB front offices, projects the likelihood of Caglianone hitting a home run today at 7.9%, with an expected value of $50.50. (In other words, if you were to wager $1 on this bet on 100 different days, you would win some and you would lose some, but in the end you would expect to come away with $50.50 in profit on your $100 investment.)

June 3: What you need to know for Tuesday

Todd Zola: After a light Monday, all 30 teams are in action today, with the festivities beginning at 6:40 p.m. ET with a pair of contests. While a couple of games may be wet, only one is in jeopardy. In what will be a common refrain in the summer months, late afternoon rain in Tampa will be an issue, perhaps causing a delay or postponement at George Steinbrenner Field. For tonight's affair between the Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers, it's best to have a pivot from players on those teams. Since the game is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. ET, any alternate options will need to start play later than that.

• The Philadelphia Phillies shuffled their rotation for their road series with the Toronto Blue Jays with Zack Wheeler on the paternity list. Cristopher Sanchez moves up a day to start tonight with Mick Abel being recalled to take the hill tomorrow.

• Mookie Betts is expected to return tonight when the Los Angeles Dodgers try to even their home series with the New York Mets, after the visitors got the jump last night with a 4-3 win in 10 innings. Betts has been absent for four games with a fracture on the tip of a left toe. It's not fully healed, but so long as Betts can handle the pain, he'll be in the lineup.

• The Mets lost 3B Mark Vientos to a hamstring injury in last night's win and will reportedly recall Ronny Mauricio. Mauricio missed 2024 with multiple knee surgeries for a torn UCL. After his 20-day rehab assignment expired, he was assigned to Triple-A Syracuse where Mauricio generated a .515/.564/.818 line, stealing four bases in five tries over nine games. The 24-year-old infielder has not played in back-to-back games, so he'd likely share third base with Brett Baty while Vientos is sidelined.

• The Athletics called up JJ Bleday prior to last night's home matchup with the Minnesota Twins. With Miguel Andujar on the 10-day IL thanks to a sore oblique, Bleday's stint with Triple-A Las Vegas lasted only six games, over which he batted .370/.433/.519 with a pair of pilfers.

• The Detroit Tigers welcomed Parker Meadows back last night. He made his 2025 debut after missing the first 60 games with a nerve issue in his right arm. Meadows led off, sparking the club to a 13-1 road victory over the Chicago White Sox with a 2-for-4 evening, scoring three times, though curiously none on one of Kerry Carpenter's three homers. Justyn-Henry Malloy was optioned to Triple-A Toledo to clear a roster spot for Meadows.

• The Baltimore Orioles outfield garnered a boost last night with Colton Cowser returning from an extended absence. Cowser started the first four games of the season but has been on the shelf with a broken left thumb. He's expected to take over in left field, with the occasional visit to center field.

• With Luke Weaver expected to be out over a month with a hamstring issue, Devin Williams is back closing games for the New York Yankees. Despite a hiccup a week ago when Williams gave up two runs while still securing a save in Anaheim, Williams has been solid lately, yielding just those two runs over his last 10 innings. He fanned 15 with only two walks over that 11-game span.