Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos had the stick working in a 14-4 rout of the division-rival Atlanta Braves on Thursday, going 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and a strikeout to raise his season average to .248. The home run was his eighth of the season, and it ended a month-long drought without a round-tripper. The Phillies are going to need more where that came from with superstar outfielder and last year's National League MVP Bryce Harper (thumb) out six weeks with a fractured thumb. Fantasy managers will also be hoping that Castellanos' big home run on Thursday will jump start him for a big month of July. The 30-year-old right-handed slugger is now up to an even 40 RBI in his first season in Philadelphia.

Houston Astros closer Ryan Pressly picked up his 17th save of the season in the 2-1 win on Thursday in a makeup game against the New York Yankees. Pressly didn't allow a hit and didn't walk a batter while striking out two in his scoreless inning of work to shut things down. The 33-year-old right-hander has now recorded back-to-back saves, so there's a good chance he won't be available if a save situation arises in the first game of the weekend series against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. Pressly imploded in a blown save and a loss last Thursday against the Yankees when he gave up four runs in just a third of an inning, but he's bounced back nicely with saves in his last three outings without allowing a single run while striking out five and walking none.

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Adrian Houser (elbow) left his start early on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates with right elbow tightness, according to the team. Houser only made it through 2 1/3 innings, and he'll be in danger of missing his next start. The Brewers have dealt with a lot of injuries to their starters in the first half of the season, but thankfully they'll be getting left-hander Aaron Ashby (forearm) back this weekend. If Houser misses a turn in the rotation or is forced to the injured list, Chi Chi Gonzalez would be a candidate to join the rotation. Entering his start on Thursday, Houser was 4-8 with a 4.50 ERA and 1.45 WHIP while striking out 57 and walking 30 in 74 innings over 14 starts. The 29-year-old's weak 17.7% strikeout rate doesn't give him much fantasy upside.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (ribs) had a strong minor league rehab start for Double-A Portland on Thursday, allowing four hits and one run while walking none and striking out seven in four innings pitched. Sale threw 36 of his 52 pitches for strikes, and the only question now is whether the left-hander will make one or two more rehab starts before making his 2022 season debut. The 33-year-old southpaw was scheduled to only go three innings on Thursday. If Sale can avoid a setback in his next rehab outing, he could put himself on track to rejoin Boston's rotation on July 10 or 11. Sale has made only nine starts in the last two seasons due to injuries, but the seven-time All-Star has ace-like ability when he's right.

Los Angeles Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts said "early next week is certainly a possibility" for outfielder Mookie Betts (ribs) to return from the injured list. There's also a chance that Betts will play some second base when he returns in order to minimize his throwing, according to Roberts. The 29-year-old took batting practice on Thursday, and there's a chance that he'll be back as early as July 4 next Monday. The Dodgers could also ease Betts back into action without having him throw by using him as the designated hitter. Either way, fantasy managers won't complain, as Betts is a no-brainer must-start fantasy asset when healthy. The former MVP was hitting .273/.349/.535 with an .884 OPS, 17 home runs, 40 RBI, 53 runs scored and six stolen bases in 60 games before he was injured.

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (ankle) has returned to the starting lineup on Thursday for the series opener against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Mitch White. Machado will serve as the designated hitter and will bat second in his first game since Father's Day on June 19. The 29-year-old superstar has hit a red-hot .328/.400/.545 with a .945 OPS, 12 home runs, 46 RBI, 48 runs scored and seven stolen bases in 285 plate appearances over 66 games, and he should absolutely be returned to all starting lineups in single-year leagues against the Dodgers. Ha-Seong Kim will continue to man third base, and he's hitting eighth in the batting order on Thursday.

The Oakland Athletics optioned outfielder Cristian Pache to Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday and also placed infielder Jed Lowrie (shoulder) on the injured list. In corresponding moves, Adam Oller was optioned to Las Vegas, infielder Vimael Machin was called up, right-hander Adrian Martinez was called up to start against the Seattle Mariners on Thursday and Skye Bolt was reinstated from the injured list. Pache needs to work on his swing down in the minors after hitting .159 with two home runs, 13 RBI and one stolen base in 68 games in his first year in Oakland. Lowrie, meanwhile, has hit .185 with three long balls and 16 RBI in 151 at-bats. Bolt, who is starting in center field and batting sixth against Seattle Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert on Thursday, could see regular playing time in center now. Machin has had a breakout year in the minors and is worth a peek in deep mixed and AL-only leagues if he sees enough playing time around the infield.

Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford said his suspension has been reduced from five games to four games, and he's beginning to serve it on Thursday night against the Oakland Athletics. Crawford was suspended for his role in a benches-clearing brawl with the division-rival Los Angeles Angels last Sunday. The 27-year-old will miss the entire weekend series against the A's, so fantasy managers need to get him out of their lineups in leagues that allow daily lineup moves. Dylan Moore is starting at shortstop and is hitting eighth against A's right-hander Adrian Martinez on Thursday, and he's likely to cover the 6 while Crawford is suspended. Crawford barely hit over the Mendoza Line in the month of June, so hopefully he'll be better when the calendar flips to July.

Seattle Mariners outfielder Kyle Lewis (concussion) did some baserunning drills before taking early batting practice on Thursday, and he could be getting closer to a minor league rehab assignment. Outfielder Mitch Haniger (ankle) played catch and also took batting practice, but he's still not running at full speed yet. Lewis appears to be on track to return before Haniger, but there's no guarantee that either player will be back before the All-Star break. Lewis has only had 15 at-bats for Seattle this year, going 4-for-15 (.267) with two home runs and three RBI. Haniger has played in just nine games due to injuries, and he's gone 7-for-35 (.200) with three home runs and seven RBI in 36 plate appearances. Both Lewis and Haniger should be everyday players once they return to Seattle's roster.

Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts (ribs), who is on the injured list with a right-rib fracture, is taking batting practice on Thursday at Dodger Stadium. The team is hopeful that he will return by the All-Star break, although he could initially be limited to designated hitter duties. The 29-year-old superstar landed on the injured list on June 18, but he resumed baseball activities on Wednesday and is getting closer to a return. Until Betts returns, expect Eddy Alvarez and Trayce Thompson to continue splitting playing time in right field for the Blue. Before his injury, Betts was swinging it well with a .273/.349/.535 slash line with an .884 OPS, 17 home runs, 40 RBI, 53 runs scored and six stolen bases.

The Chicago Cubs placed outfielder Jason Heyward (knee) on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with right knee inflammation. In corresponding moves, the team selected Narciso Crook's contract from Triple-A Iowa and moved Michael Hermosillo to the 60-day injured list. Heyward's IL placement is retroactive to June 27. The 32-year-old veteran hasn't done much offensively this year, so don't feel compelled to hold onto him in deeper leagues. He's hit just .204/.278/.277 with one home run, 10 RBI, 15 runs scored and one stolen base in 48 games to this point of the season. Rafael Ortega and Nelson Velazquez are likely to continue with a platoon situation in right field for the foreseeable future with Heyward on the injured list.

Contrary to a previous report, the Washington Nationals reported offer of 13 years and $425 million to outfielder Juan Soto is inaccurate, according to sources. There is no evidence that the two sides are in active contract negotiations, especially considering the Lerner family is currently exploring a sale of the team. It appears that a new huge contract extension for Soto isn't imminent after all. The 23-year-old Dominican is hitting just .224 on the year, but he continues to get on base (league-high 63 walks with a .375 on-base percentage), and he's also added 14 home runs, 32 RBI, 43 runs scored and five stolen bases in 76 games this year as an elite fantasy contributor.

Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford is not in the starting lineup on Thursday against the Oakland Athletics. If he doesn't get into the game on Thursday, Crawford will finish the month of June with a disappointing .202/.263/.289 slash line with one home run, nine RBI, 12 runs scored and two stolen bases in 26 games to drop his season line to .261/.343/.381 with five home runs, 21 RBI, 32 runs scored and three stolen bases in 306 plate appearances. Dylan Moore is starting at shortstop and is hitting eighth on Thursday against A's right-hander Adrian Martinez. Moore will be a low-upside deep sleeper in DFS on Thursday, as he's hitting just .163 (16-for-98) with three homers, 10 RBI and 10 steals on the season for the M's.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Friday. The 31-year-old has been sidelined since early June due to right shoulder inflammation. He threw 36 pitches in a live batting practice session this past Tuesday. There isn't a clear timeline for Stroman at this point but he appears to be headed in the right direction. Over nine starts this year, the right-hander has struggled to the tune of a 5.32 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP.

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Trevor Richards (neck) has begun a rehab assignment at Triple-A Buffalo. The 29-year-old landed on the 15-day injured list due to a strained neck back on June 18. He's been having a rough year out of the pen, pitching to a 6.59 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP across 28.2 innings. He's been struggling mightily with his control, averaging 5.0 BB/9, which is way up from last year's 2.8 BB/9 average.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (foot) will be held out of the starting lineup for the fourth consecutive game on Thursday as the team takes on the Philadelphia Phillies. According to David O'Brien of The Athletic, Acuna joined the team for pregame stretching and batting practice on Thursday. There's a chance he could be available off the bench as a pinch-hitter on Thursday, but Braves manager Brian Snitker hasn't received confirmation of his availability from the team trainer yet. Regardless, Acuna appears to be getting close to a return and Snitker is hopeful that Acuna will be back in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the Cincinnati Reds.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's game against right-hander Luis Garcia and the Houston Astros. Aaron Judge, Joey Gallo and Giancarlo Stanton will be covering the outfield for the game. Hicks has been scuffling at the plate lately, recording just one hit over his last 18 at-bats. The 32-year-old has appeared in 66 games this year and he's slashing .218/.338/.284 with three home runs, seven stolen bases, 18 RBI and 24 runs. He should remain on waivers in all but the deepest of fantasy leagues at this point.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi (leg) told reporters that he believes he's ready to return to action and that he's just waiting to hear his next move from the organization. Odorizzi made his second rehab start on Wednesday. Pitching at Double-A Corpus Christi, he tossed five scoreless frames, allowing just three hits and no walks while striking out six. Odorizzi was off to a strong start to the year prior to suffering strains and sprains to the ligaments of his right foot and ankle. He has a 3.13 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP over seven starts with the Astros this season. His main problem at this point might be that the Astros have a seemingly complete rotation. Cristian Javier joined the starting rotation after Odorizzi's injury and Javier has been fantastic lately. He pitched seven scoreless, no-hit innings against the New York Yankees in his last outing, striking out 13 batters along the way. Astros manager Dusty Baker appears to have a tough decision to make regarding his rotation soon.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zach Eflin (knee) has received a cortisone shot in his right knee. Eflin was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right knee bruise this past Tuesday and the move was retroactive to June 26. He originally stated that he'd be able to return after the minimum 15 days. However, Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Eflin's cortisone shot makes it more likely that he'll be out for more than the minimum 15 days. Left-hander Bailey Falter will be taking Eflin's spot in the rotation, starting with Friday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Falter has made seven appearances (three starts) this year and has pitched to a 4.50 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP.

Talks are intensifying between the Washington Nationals and outfielder Juan Soto regarding a second offer from the team for 13 years and $425 million, which will increase the initial $350 million offer by $75 million. Soto is just 23 years old, but he was a first-time All-Star in 2021 and has proven to be one of the best all-around hitters in baseball in five years in the majors. He's hitting just .224 this year through 76 games, but Soto also has a .375 on-base percentage, an .812 OPS, 14 home runs, 15 doubles, 32 RBI, 43 runs scored and five stolen bases in 333 plate appearances on a bad Nationals team. Soto has a whopping 112 home runs, 344 RBI and 37 stolen bases in his five MLB seasons to this point and remains a must-start in fantasy.