Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. exited Wednesday's game against the Cardinals in the 4th inning after fielding a Jordan Walker ground ball and landing awkwardly on his right knee. He stayed in briefly — going 2-for-2 with a home run, two runs, and two RBI — but was pulled for a pinch hitter the following half-inning. Manager Matt Quatraro confirmed Witt would undergo additional testing Thursday morning. This is the second knee incident in 12 days: Witt missed a June 7 game with the same knee but returned two days later after Quatraro said there was no structural damage.
The Phillies announced Wednesday that outfielder Adolis García will undergo latissimus dorsi repair surgery next week, ending his first season in Philadelphia. García, who signed a one-year, $10M deal with the club in December after six seasons with Texas, suffered the lat injury last week and was placed on the 60-day IL. Recovery is projected at 6–8 months, putting him on schedule for 2027 Opening Day. Tanner Banks was also optioned to clear room, with Seth Johnson called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
A travel-related logistical issue has pushed back Elly De La Cruz's first rehab appearance at Triple-A Louisville's affiliate in Gwinnett. Manager Terry Francona's original schedule called for Elly to play five innings at shortstop Friday, serve as DH Saturday, and play a full game Sunday — a progression that would allow activation as early as June 23 against Milwaukee. The delay is not injury-related; Francona indicated the hamstring remains approximately 90% healed and on track. His Friday on-field debut is postponed at minimum one day.
Who's Hot This Week
Greene began a minor league rehab assignment Thursday in the Arizona Complex League — his first live pitching since undergoing bone-chip removal surgery from his right elbow before the season. He has not thrown a single MLB inning in 2026. That context cuts both ways: it creates uncertainty, but it also means some managers have already dropped him for more immediate returns. In 2025, Greene was a legitimate SP2 with triple-digit velocity and a double-digit K/9 on full health. If he progresses through the AZL efficiently (typically 2–3 rehab starts before a higher-level assignment), a mid-July MLB return becomes plausible. Stash in any format where bench depth allows it — the ceiling is a top-20 pitcher returning in the back half.
Worth Reading
A quick-hit list of four surging hitters available in mid-sized leagues, with FAAB bid guidance and ownership thresholds by league size. Useful if you're sitting on a decision about a corner infield or outfield spot and need a second opinion — the piece is practical and skips the filler context.
The full profile on why Rumfield has been flying under the radar since his January trade to Colorado. The piece traces his spring training (5 HR, 13 RBI) through his current .354 OBP and breaks down why Coors Field is a legitimate amplifier for his approach rather than a stat-padding gimmick. If you are on the fence about his standard-league add, this will settle it.
The most comprehensive closer situation roundup of the week — covers the Muñoz slump, Megill's oblique tightness, and the Kansas City situation in detail. Essential reading if you are trying to make sense of the Bullpen Bulletin below, and a good source for FAAB planning if any of the volatile saves situations apply to your league.
Right knee discomfort; exited Wednesday's game in the 4th inning while fielding a ground ball. Manager Matt Quatraro ordered additional testing Thursday morning — no MRI results announced as of issue time. This is the same knee that forced him out of a June 7 game against Minnesota, though that examination showed no structural damage. He was 2-for-2 with a home run before exiting.
Latissimus dorsi tear requiring surgical repair, placed on the 60-day IL last week. Surgery scheduled for next week; Phillies project a 6–8 month recovery, putting him on track for 2027 Opening Day. Garcia had signed a one-year, $10M deal and was providing depth in the Phillies outfield before the injury. Seth Johnson was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill the roster spot.
Right hamstring strain, on the IL since June 8. A follow-up MRI shows approximately 90% healing — on schedule medically. A logistical travel issue delayed his planned Thursday arrival in Gwinnett with Triple-A Louisville's affiliate, pushing his Friday shortstop appearance back by at least a day. Manager Terry Francona confirmed the hamstring is not the issue. Revised activation target is now June 24–26 rather than the original June 23.
Jacob Misiorowski has utterly shattered 2026 projections. The Milwaukee Brewers' right-hander enters Friday's start at 8-2 with a 1.36 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, and a 13.7 K/9 rate across 14 starts — strikeout numbers that would lead the NL at the end of a normal season, not halfway through June. His most recent start was a complete game shutout against the Phillies in which he struck out 15 batters, allowed one hit, and threw zero walks. He has now recorded eight or more strikeouts in nine consecutive outings.
The foundation is a 99.7 mph average fastball — one of the hardest in baseball — combined with steadily improving sequencing as he enters his second full MLB season. The FanGraphs starting pitcher chart for today dubs it 'Miz Day' because his matchup projects as one of the cleanest starts of the week. His arsenal grade has climbed to match the velocity: he has dialed up secondary usage to exploit batters sitting dead red. The K% jump is a direct result of that pitch-mix evolution, not just a velocity gift.
Two concerns keep him off the SP1 conversation entirely. His walk rate remains elevated at 10.8% — nearly one free pass every inning across a full season's projection. And his 1.35 HR/9 is a number that will bite him in hitter-friendly parks or against patient lineups that wait for the count. When Misiorowski is on, he is as dominant as anyone in baseball. When he falls behind early in counts and has to come to the plate, the ERA has no cushion for the walks.
Wednesday's slate featured two clear closer statements: Alex Lange locked down the Royals' win against Washington with a scoreless ninth (19 pitches, 68% strike rate, five whiffs) — the clearest sign yet that Kansas City's previously muddled ninth-inning situation has finally resolved in his favor. Louis Varland recorded his 14th save in Boston by striking out the side in just 10 pitches, a 90% strike rate against the 2–3–4 hitters. The KC closer role has formally flipped; Varland continues to tighten his grip on Toronto's ninth.
Read the full Ledger →| Closer | Team | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Lange | Kansas City Royals | 🟡 Watch | Taking over Kansas City's save opportunities after weeks of a deteriorating committee. Wednesday's close (19 pitches, scoreless, five whiffs against the 3–4–5–6 Nationals hitters) was his best-looking ninth-inning work of the season. The Royals have not made a formal announcement, but the deployment pattern is clear. Available in most leagues at a likely sub-25% ownership — add now before the formal designation drives FAAB prices up. |
| Louis Varland | Toronto Blue Jays | 🟡 Watch | Varland leads Toronto's closer committee with 14 saves after the Blue Jays benched Jeff Hoffman from the ninth-inning role. The current hierarchy is Varland, then Tyler Rogers, then Hoffman — and Varland is claiming roughly 55–60% of save opportunities when he's pitching well. He struck out the side Wednesday in 10 pitches for his 14th save. Not locked in, but the clear #1 arm in the committee. Add in any format if he's available. |
| Andrés Muñoz | Seattle Mariners | 🟡 Watch | Muñoz converted just two of his last five save opportunities and has allowed a run in three of those five outings — a jarring departure from a 2025 season in which he allowed only two home runs across 62+ innings. He remains Seattle's primary closer and the talent is unquestionable, but the June blip is significant enough to monitor. If José Ferrer earns a ninth-inning chance while Muñoz is struggling, the committee risk in Seattle becomes real. Hold firmly but keep eyes open. |
Full game highlights from Wednesday's Blue Jays at Red Sox AL East matchup, with Louis Varland's 14th save as the headliner: three batters, three strikeouts, 10 pitches, 90% strikes.
White Sox vs. Yankees Wednesday game highlights featuring the Chicago 5-1 win, including Grant Taylor closing in the ninth — the latest evidence in his quiet buildup toward a formal closer designation.
Jazz Chisholm posted pre-game trash talk on Wednesday — "I think there should be more trash talk in baseball!!! Anyone agrees!? Anyway free smoke at 7" — before exiting Thursday's game when a foul ball hit him in the groin. He is day-to-day.
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