The Detroit Tigers haven't indicated a timetable for outfielder Kerry Carpenter's (spine) return after he went on the injured list on May 29 (retroactive to May 27) with what the Tigers called lumbar-spine inflammation. Carpenter had been dealing with a lingering back issue and underwent tests the previous evening. The Tigers recently altered his diagnosis to a lumbar-spine stress reaction, which has been described by doctors as a crack in the bone that tends to appear clearly on MRIs and CT scans. It can take six weeks or three months for a stress fracture to settle down, so Carpenter's return isn't on the horizon. Before his injury, the 26-year-old had a 1.004 OPS against right-handed pitching, good for seventh in MLB. Carpenter should be able to return to full strength once the injury is healed, but he remains without a timetable and has yet to resume baseball activities.

Cincinnati Reds pitching prospect Rhett Lowder has been very good in three June starts for Double-A Chattanooga. The 22-year-old right-hander has a 3.29 ERA this month with 12 strikeouts and two walks in 13 2/3 innings. The seventh overall pick in the 2023 draft out of Wake Forest is known for his excellent control and his devastating changeup. Lowder has the feel, the savvy, and the stuff to contribute at the big-league level this season. He will need to continue to show consistency at Double-A. If he does, he could find himself in Cincinnati and firmly on the fantasy radar by the end of the season. The top prospect for the Reds and one of the top pitching prospects in baseball would warrant immediate waiver-wire attention should he get the call this season.

San Francisco Giants second baseman Thairo Estrada hit a three-run, walk-off homer to lift them to a 7-6 win over the Chicago Cubs on Monday. Estrada's homer was his ninth and capped off a night that saw him finish with two hits, four RBI, and a walk in five plate appearances. The home run snapped a string of 20 consecutive games where Estrada had not gone deep. He is slashing .243/.277/.401 with 39 RBI and 37 runs scored. Estrada's versatility as a middle infielder offers some value and remains a solid fantasy option in leagues with 12 or more teams.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ homered and drove in three runs in Monday's 7-6 loss at the San Francisco Giants. Happ's eighth home run was a three-run shot in the top of the seventh inning that gave the Cubs a 6-3 lead as he finished with two hits and a walk in four plate appearances. He is slashing .229/.340/.400 with 36 RBI, 34 runs scored and six stolen bases. Happ is hurting fantasy managers with his batting average but makes up for it with his power and speed as he is on pace for 18 homers and could approach 15 steals.

Houston Astros outfield prospect Jacob Melton (wrist) is back in action for Double-A Corpus Christi. In his first action since May 22, Melton is 1-for-6 in two games since his return to the lineup. The speedy 23-year-old has hit .264 with five home runs and 24 RBI to go with 10 stolen bases at Double-A this season. The Astros top prospect slugged 23 homers and stole 46 bases across two levels of the minors last season. The second-round pick in the 2022 draft out of Oregon State has the power-speed combination that will catch the eye of fantasy managers for years to come. A debut in Houston this season is not out of the question, but next year is the more likely scenario.