Week 11 is now in the books and as always fantasy rosters are in chaos. We are heading towards the end of June which is the perfect time to become aggressive in your approach to build for the rest of the season. So without further adieu, here is the next installment of the walking wounded.
Adam Jones (OF-BAL)
Jones missed a few games during Week 11 with a shoulder injury but did return as the designated hitter for a couple days. He was out of the lineup on Sunday but is expected to be back in the outfield for the Orioles on Tuesday. Jones is always a solid fantasy option despite his recent injury, so don’t let it concern you.
Jose Altuve (2B-HOU)
Altuve has missed several games with a hamstring injury but appears ready to return for Week 12. He was a major loss for fantasy owners last week but should be set to go for a full week coming up. He has stolen 17 bases thus far so it will be interesting to see whether he has any hesitation attempting steals going forward.
Freddie Freeman (1B-ATL)
Freeman’s injured wrist cost him the entire weekend and is now the subject of a serious concern. He will have an MRI on Monday so we should know more after those results come in. It is looking more and more like he could be headed to the disabled list because he was still experiencing pain when taking swings on Sunday. Check back in early this week for further updates but be prepared to go with an alternative during Week 12.
Hunter Pence (OF-SF)
It’s been a rough year for Hunter Pence who missed the first six weeks of the season with a fractured forearm. He came back for a few weeks before being shut down again with tendinitis in his left wrist. He is wearing a splint now and is not close to returning. Pence should continue to be stashed because he is a consistent fantasy contributor and will be a welcome addition back to your lineup when he does return.
Travis d’Arnaud (C-NYM)
After being traded twice for Cy Young Award winners, d’Arnaud has finally shown he can be a productive big league hitter. However, injuries have constantly derailed his short career. He recently returned from a fractured hand only to suffer a hyper-extended elbow on Saturday during a collision at the plate. Fortunately, x-rays came back negative so d’Arnaud is considered day-to-day right now.
Jeurys Familia (RP-NYM)
Familia has developed into one of the better closers in the league converting 19 saves thus far. However, he is dealing with a groin injury that he appeared to sustain last Friday against the Braves. It isn’t known yet exactly how long he might be out, but the Mets will clearly want to be cautious with him. Look for Bobby Parnell to get some save opportunities if the Mets can actually score some runs and have a lead heading into the ninth inning.
Carlos Gonzalez (OF-COL)
It was only a matter of time before CarGo returned to the injury report because he just cannot stay away. He had remained healthy this season but was forced out of Sunday’s game with a sprain of his left hand. As of now it does not appear to be a serious injury, but with Gonzalez you can never be sure. He does have ten home runs thus far, but he has fallen far from grace as a fantasy contributor compared to where he was just a couple years ago.
Jered Weaver (SP-LAA)
Weaver was once a fantasy ace but has fallen on hard times the past couple years. He has been abysmal so far posting a dreadful 4.75 ERA with only 49 strikeouts in 96.2 innings. Now he has landed on the disabled list with hip irritation which could sideline him for several weeks. We should know more after Monday when has an MRI so check back in later this week for an update on his long-term status. He is only worth holding onto if you are in a deep league with sufficient roster slots.
Pablo Sandoval (3B-BOS)
Some things in fantasy baseball are truly predictable. Pablo Sandoval getting injured and failing to deliver statistically are a couple of those things. Kung Fu Panda has failed to deliver on his ridiculous free agent contract batting a pedestrian .270 with six home runs and 23 RBI. He suffered a sprained ankle on Saturday and was forced to miss Sunday’s game. However, he is expected back in the lineup on Tuesday after the Red Sox off day on Monday.
Michael A. Stein, Esq. is the Chief Justice of Fantasy Judgment, the industry's premier dispute resolution service, and is also the co-host of the Fantasy Alarm podcast. You can contact him at michael.stein@fantasyjudgment.com or on Facebook and Twitter (@FantasyJudgment),
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Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.
José Soriano allowed three runs over five innings while not factoring in the decision Thursday against the Blue Jays.
Soriano left with a 4-3 lead, but it was erased quickly after his departure. The 26-year-old was not exactly dominant in his outing with eight hits allowed and four free passes, but he did strike out six to help balance things out a smidgen. Soriano takes an even ERA of 4.00 into a scheduled start against the Padres in San Diego on Tuesday. There should be better options for that one.