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.

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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.

June 2: Royals rookie recalled and all you need to know for Monday

Todd Zola: Only seven games populate the Monday slate, with the Miami Marlins and Colorado Rockies getting things started in South Beach at 6:40 p.m. ET. It's great to start the week with no threat of rain anywhere on the docket.

• The big news doesn't involve a player with a game tonight, but fantasy managers should be excited that the Kansas City Royals have announced that they'll be calling up top prospect Jac Caglianone in advance of their Tuesday series opener on the road against the St. Louis Cardinals. The No. 6 selection in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft posted a .931 OPS in 38 games for Double-A Northwest Arkansas and then recorded a 1.093 mark for Triple-A Omaha, earning him the MLB promotion. Caglianone's power should play, even in spacious Kauffman Stadium. As is the case for most young sluggers, plate skills should dictate early success. Caglianone excels in that area, spearheading optimism for a smooth transition. He begins the season eligible at first base in ESPN leagues, although Caglianone could pick up outfield eligibility as he's been playing right field lately, ostensibly to get him ready to take over for the recently released Hunter Renfroe. If you're in an ESPN standard league, you're probably going to want to put in a waiver claim on him if he hasn't yet been snatched up.

• In more news about a player with today off, Corbin Burnes managed only 4 2/3 innings in yesterday's 3-1 win by the Arizona Diamondbacks over the Washington Nationals. Burnes signaled to the dugout after throwing a pitch one out shy of potentially qualifying for a win, then left the field with the trainer. Burnes was diagnosed with elbow information and is scheduled for imaging today. After recording a 5.28 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP in his first three starts, the 30-year-old righty had registered a 1.84 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP with 40 strikeouts over his next 49 innings.

• Switching to help for tonight's lineups, the plan for the Boston Red Sox to shift Kristian Campbell to first base is on hold with Abraham Toro handling the position well and contributing offensively. Over his last 10 games, Toro is batting .406/.406/.688. He's eligible at both first and third base, which comes in handy finding a spot for him in a fantasy lineup on a night with openings due to the abbreviated schedule. The switch-hitter matches up well against Tyler Anderson and the Los Angeles Angels' poor bullpen for tonight's series opener in Fenway Park.

• Christian Yelich left yesterday's game after being hit in the hand by a pitch in the first inning. He stayed in the game but was replaced when scheduled to bat in the third inning. X-rays were negative, but the area remains swollen and sore, so Yelich is questionable tonight when the Milwaukee Brewers prepare for a road series with the Cincinnati Reds.

• Is tonight the night that 3B Royce Lewis snaps an 0-for-30 drought? The Minnesota Twins are in Sacramento to open a series against the Athletics. The temperature is expected to be in the low 80s with the wind blowing out to center field at 10 mph. This is the best spot to look for hitters to fortify a fantasy lineup on a short slate, though both clubs are starting solid hurlers with Joe Ryan on the hill for the visitors and the home team countering with Luis Severino.

• Mookie Betts missed all three games of the Los Angeles Dodgers' weekend set with the New York Yankees, but he's expected to return to action at some point during the four-game series with the New York Mets that starts tonight at Dodger Stadium. However, it may not be tonight, so continue to have a pivot until Betts is ready.