Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes allowed three earned runs on five hits in Thursday's 8-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs. The 22-year-old fell to 3-3 on the season, striking out two batters while allowing four free passes. Skenes cruised through the first four innings in this one, but ran into trouble in the fifth, letting up a home run to Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson to give Chicago its first run of the game. He'd retire the next two batters, but Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki would jack back-to-back long balls before he could escape the inning. Fortunately, they were all solo shots, but the Cubs would chase him from the mound afterward. It was just the second time this season that the California native struck out fewer than six batters, and the first time he walked more than two. Skenes will look for better results his next time out, which projects to come against the St. Louis Cardinals early next week.

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Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Thursday's 8-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. He added two singles, scored twice, struck out, and drew a walk. The 30-year-old stuffed the stat sheet on Thursday, but like most of his teammates, did most of his damage once Pirates starter Paul Skenes exited the contest. Happ has been a run-scoring machine in 2025, collecting 26 in 32 outings -- one behind fellow outfielder Kyle Tucker for fifth-most in the league. He's traded some of his power for contact this season, bolstering a .279 average with an xBA of .297 (88th percentile). Furthermore, the former first-round pick has dipped his strikeout rate to a solid 16.7%. If those figures hold, they'd easily be career-bests.

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Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson went 2-for-4 with a home run and a single in Thursday's 8-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Georgia native connected on his sixth long ball of the season off of Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes to give the Cubbies their first run of the game -- sparking their eventual comeback. That marks back-to-back multi-hit efforts for Swanson with two homers in his last three outings. He's been a bit spotty this season, as he's registered eight multi-hit games thus far, but also 13 contests with none. The 31-year-old's strikeout percentage (28.3%) is up a few ticks and currently a career high. However, he's garnering a hard-hit ball more often (48.9%) and holds a .253 xBA, which is quite a bit off his .213 average (27-for-127).

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Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds went 1-for-3 with a home run, a walk, and two RBI in his team's 8-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. The veteran outfielder put the Pirates on the board in the bottom of the first inning to give them a 1-0 lead. He drove in his second run on a fielder's choice in the eighth to bring them within two runs of Chicago. However, that'd be the final run they could push across. Reynolds broke out of a 0-for-16 slump at the dish a few days ago with a two-hit effort and followed that up by blasting his fourth homer of the season -- and first in two weeks. He hasn't quite come around yet regarding his average (.238), but that should begin to pick up soon, as statcast has him pegged for a serviceable .267 xBA, which is closer to what we expect from him.

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The New York Yankees are promoting infield prospect Jorbit Vivas to the major leagues. In a corresponding move, the Yankees are placing infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. (oblique) on the 10-day injured list. Vivas has enjoyed an impressive start to the Triple-A regular season and is being rewarded with an early promotion. Through the first 26 games of the regular season, Vivas has posted a strong .319/.426/.436 slash line with five doubles, two home runs, and four stolen bases. Last summer, Vivas struggled during his first taste of Triple-A action, where he held a .225/.347/.366 slash line across 93 games. Fantasy managers in deeper formats should consider targeting Vivas on the waiver wire, as he could find a role at the keystone if Oswald Peraza were to continue to struggle in the batter's box.

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Colorado Rockies pitching prospect Zach Agnos tallied his second career save on Thursday evening during their victory over the San Francisco Giants. Agnos pitched a clean frame. He did not allow a hit, but he also did not tally a punchout. This was his second-straight game tallying a save. Since making his MLB debut on April 20, Agnos has logged seven 1/3 innings of work without allowing a run. He has tallied just one punchout but has been trusted in high-leverage situations. Given his recent usage, fantasy managers should view the East Carolina product as the favorite for saves in Colorado for the time being. Earlier this season, in Triple-A, Agnos held a 2.25 ERA across eight innings. While he does not carry high strikeout upside, he is worth a look in deeper formats, as he could finish the season with double-digit saves.

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Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo went 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk in Thursday's 4-2 win over the New York Mets. He also struck out once. The 25-year-old seems to be heating up again at the dish after a brief cold spell, brandishing a hit in four straight appearances with two two-hit games in that span. Perdomo collected five RBIs during that stretch, with three extra-base hits (two HRs, one double). He's been exceptional on the season -- slashing .275/.387/.459 with five home runs, seven steals, and 25 RBI with 16 runs scored. Perhaps the most impressive part of his profile is his discerning eye at the plate, as the switch-hitting shortstop garners one of the best walk rates in the league (15.8%), while striking out at one of the fewest (10.1%[97th percentile]).

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Chicago White Sox infield prospect Chase Meidroth (thumb) had a productive return on Thursday during their victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. Meidroth went 1-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored. The former fourth-round pick was held out of action for a week due to a thumb injury. However, the infielder returned to his leadoff spot on Thursday and looked comfortable at the plate. Through his first 10 games in the majors, Meidroth has performed quite well, holding a .267/.389/.300 slash line. Meidroth was included in the package that sent Garrett Crochet to the Boston Red Sox during the winter. Fantasy managers should expect Meidroth to continue to have an everyday role in the Chicago starting nine. Given his role in the lineup, he is worth adding in 12+ team formats.

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Boston Red Sox second base/outfield prospect Kristian Campbell (ribs) is viewed as day-to-day heading into their weekend series against the Minnesota Twins. The budding star was stretched from Thursday's lineup due to rib soreness. However, this injury does not appear serious, and the Georgia Tech product could return to the starting nine as early as Friday evening. Campbell was able to break camp with the MLB roster and has enjoyed an impressive start to his MLB career, holding a .301/.407/.495 slash line with four long balls and two stolen bases. Under the hood, Campbell has generated a strong .364 xwOBA while drawing walks at an elite 15.4 percent rate. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status leading up to Friday's game. If he were to sit out, David Hamilton should see opportunities at the keystone.

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The Chicago Cubs are expected to recall third base prospect Matt Shaw to the majors to operate as their No. 1 third baseman later this season. The top prospect in Chicago was able to break camp with the major league roster but was optioned after his first 18 games. During his first taste of the majors, the Maryland product held a .172/.294/.241 slash line with one double and a home run. However, since returning to Triple-A Iowa, Shaw has begun to flip the script and is showcasing his elite upside. Through 10 games at the top level of the minor leagues, Shaw has posted a strong .324/.457/.486 line. Throughout the season, the Cubs have had a revolving door at the hot corner. Currently, Jon Berti has emerged as the top option but he hold a career .261/.339/.365 line at the majors. Fantasy managers in deeper 15-team formats should continue to stash Shaw as he continues to work out his struggles at Triple-A.

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New York Yankees utility man Jazz Chisholm Jr. landed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to April 30) with a right oblique strain. The Yankees recalled infielder Jorbit Vivas from Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes-Barre in a corresponding move. Chisholm exited Tuesday's contest against the Baltimore Orioles with discomfort in his right oblique and proceeded to rest on Wednesday, with the Yankees having an off day on Thursday. Although Chisholm has downplayed the injury since leaving Tuesday's game, it turns out that he will need some additional time to heal. Chisholm is struggling to maintain consistency at the plate in 2025, slashing .181/.304/.410 with seven home runs, 17 runs scored, and 17 RBI. In his absence on Tuesday, Pablo Reyes filled in at second base for the Yankees. It is possible that Oswaldo Cabrera or Oswald Peraza could fill in at second base for the Yankees in the short term as well.

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Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning on Thursday against Craig Yoho to give the White Sox a comfortable 4-0 lead over the Milwaukee Brewers as they held on to win 9-0 in the ballgame and get their eighth win of the season. Vargas has been tearing it up at the plate lately, slashing .455/.520/.636 over his last seven days. On the season, he is now up to .222/.311/.333 with two home runs, 12 RBI, and 12 runs scored. Vargas began the season batting at the top of the order, but after a slow start, he's been batting towards the bottom half. Should he continue this production level, White Sox Manager Will Venable may need to consider moving him back to the top of the lineup, which will only increase Vargas' value down the stretch. Next up for Vargas and the White Sox is a three-game home series against the Houston Astros.

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Cincinnati Reds first baseman Spencer Steer enjoyed a solid afternoon against the St. Louis Cardinals' pitching staff as he went 2-for-3 with a home run, one RBI, one run scored, and one walk. There was a rain delay in this game, but that didn't stop Steer and the Reds from producing at the plate, as they went on to win 9-1 to salvage getting swept in the three-game series against the Cardinals. Steer has gotten off to a slow start to the season, as he missed most of spring training with a shoulder injury, but has come on of late, slashing .286/.355/.500 in his last seven days. On the season, he is still slashing .189/.267/.316 with three home runs, 15 RBI, and nine runs scored. Fantasy managers who have held on this long may reap the benefits soon, as Steer has hit 20-plus home runs in the last two seasons and is a career .241 hitter.

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Colorado Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon swatted his third home run of the season in the seventh inning against future Hall-of-Famer Justin Verlander. The home run was a solo shot, bringing the Rockies within one run of the San Francisco Giants. The Rockies then scored two more runs in the eighth inning off of Tyler Rogers to walk away with the 4-3 victory. It's been a struggle for McMahon in 2025, as he's slashing an ugly .152/.280/.267 with three home runs, nine runs scored, and five RBI to go with one stolen base. McMahon is a career .240 hitter, so fantasy managers who have held on this long should see some progression as we get closer to summer in Coors Field. Thursday's game against the Giants was the first of a four-game series, so they have three games left on the road before they start a six-game homestand on Tuesday.

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Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. came up in the eighth inning with two runners on and one out against Justin Slaten and sent his fourth home run of the season into the left field bleachers. In that moment, the Blue Jays were down 2-1 in the game, so the home run could not have come at a better moment. Before that at-bat, Guerrero Jr. was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts on the evening. The three-run shot provided the spark the team needed to hold onto a 4-2 victory, win back-to-back nights, and take the three-game series 2-1 against their AL division rivals, the Boston Red Sox. Next for Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays is a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians at home. He will look to keep it rolling, as he is now slashing .267/.358/.422 on the season.

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Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (knee) landed on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with a left knee bone bruise, Jeff Fletcher, Angels beat writer, reports. Trout was hustling out a ground ball on Wednesday and was removed from the game after seemingly coming up limping. After the game, Trout told reporters his knee was feeling better, but he was left out of the lineup Thursday and is now on the injured list. The Angels have downplayed the injury thus far, and manager Ron Washington added that the injury is not believed to be significant and that there is no structural damage. This is likely a proactive measure to sideline Trout for 10 days and have him return after the minimal stay on the injured list. However, no timeline has been announced yet. With Trout out of the lineup, Jorge Soler shifted to right field with Tyler Ward and Jo Adell occupying the other two outfield spots.

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Los Angeles Angels left-handed pitching prospect Sam Aldegheri tossed seven shutout innings during Thursday's start against Double-A Knoxville. He allowed just five hits and three walks. He struck out a season-best eight batters. This was a nice bounce-back outing for Aldegheri as he allowed five runs and six hits in his previous start. Through 21 1/3 innings of work with Double-A this summer, Aldegheri has posted a modest 3.37 ERA with a 1.36 WHIP. He has struck out 24 batters but showed weak command of his pitches as he has served up 12 walks. Fantasy managers should expect Aldegheri to push for a Triple-A promotion in the coming weeks if he can build off Thursday's start. He made his MLB debut in 2024 and logged 13 innings to the tune of a 4.85 ERA.

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New York Yankees outfield prospect Everson Pereira went 2-for-5 with two home runs during their contest against Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday. This was Pereira's second-straight game tallying multiple hits. Over his last seven games, the No. 14-ranked prospect in the Yankee system has held a .333/.400/.778 slash line with four round-trippers. Through his first 18 games of the Triple-A regular season, Pereira has posted a solid .284/.355/.522 slash line with one double, five home runs, and two stolen bases. Last summer, Pereira held a similar .265/.364/.512 line across 40 games at the Triple-A level. Pereira made his MLB debut in the 2023 season and could be in the mix to return to the Bronx later this summer if he continues this steady production.

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Tampa Bay Rays shortstop prospect Carson Williams went 2-for-3 with a home run during Thursday's contest against Triple-A Jacksonville. This was his third home run of the season and second in his previous two games. Through his first 28 games at the top level of the minor leagues, the infield prospect has struggled at times as he currently holds a modest .185/.312/.359 slash line with just three doubles, three long balls, and three stolen bases. Last summer, Williams spent his entire campaign with Double-A Montgomery, where he posted a .256/.352/.469 line with 20 doubles and 20 home runs. Fantasy managers should expect the No. 8-ranked prospect in the sport to push for a second-half MLB debut if he continues to improve at Triple-A.

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Boston Red Sox right-hander Tanner Houck turned in a quality start in a 4-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday. Houck allowed one run on four hits over seven innings while striking out six but had to settle for a no-decision in the contest. The outing was encouraging for the veteran hurler, who has struggled in 2025, posting a 0-2 record, 6.38 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 30 strikeouts over 36 2/3 innings of work. Houck has been a reliable fantasy starting pitcher over much of his career, so fantasy managers will want to stay patient with him despite the early-season struggles.

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