Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (neck) is expected to avoid the injured list after leaving Thursday's game early due to neck spasms. Kepler felt his neck tighten up when he was in the on-deck circle in the first inning. He then tried to bunt for a base hit and attempted a head-first slide into first base before being pulled. "It's a little stiff when I look to my right, but the docs and trainers said it's just muscular and it should clear up within a couple days," said Kepler, who will travel with the Twins to Oakland for their upcoming road trip. Fantasy managers will have to check back later to see if Kepler is back in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the A's and right-hander Joey Estes. The 31-year-old left-handed hitter remains a decent source of power in deeper fantasy leagues when he's active against right-handed pitching.

The St. Louis Cardinals activated right-hander Giovanny Gallegos (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list on Friday and optioned right-hander Adam Kloffenstein to Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move. Rookie outfielder Victor Scott II was also returned to Memphis after serving as the 27th player for Thursday's contest against the San Francisco Giants at Rickwood Field. The two teams are off on Friday before resuming the series on Saturday, at which point the 32-year-old Gallegos will be back in St. Louis' bullpen. He's been sidelined since early May due to a right-shoulder impingement. Gallegos has been a key late-inning man for the Cardinals in the past, but he wasn't pitching well before his injury and didn't look great on his minor-league rehab assignment, either. He's returning to a 12.00 ERA and 2.33 WHIP with 13 K's and a save in nine innings pitched this year.

The New York Mets have tweaked their starting rotation slightly, moving right-hander Luis Severino up to Sunday's contest at Wrigley Field against the Cubs, with left-hander David Peterson being pushed back. Severino will now get a better matchup, as he was previously slated to start against the first-place New York Yankees on Tuesday. Peterson will now likely start early next week in a tougher matchup against the Bombers. Severino allowed a season-high six earned runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out one in 6 1/3 innings his last time out against the Rangers. Overall, he's been serviceable with a 3.52 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 84 1/3 innings and 14 starts, but he's also carrying a career-low 17.4% strikeout rate. Peterson is a perfect 3-0 with a 3.97 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with only 12 K's in 22 2/3 innings over his four starts for the Mets in 2024.

Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte is getting a day of rest in Friday's contest in Philadelphia against the Phillies. Rookie infielder Blaze Alexander will take his place at second base and will bat in the eight-hole against Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker. As far as we know, it looks like Marte is just getting a day to rest after serving as the designated hitter for Arizona on Thursday. The 30-year-old Dominican switch-hitter is a must-start in all fantasy leagues when he's active, as he's hit a productive .280 (81-for-289) with 15 home runs, 42 RBI, three steals and 50 runs scored this year. Marte has been even better in June, going 21-for-63 (.333) with five long balls, three doubles, 13 RBI, 10 walks and two steals in 17 games. Alexander has swung the bat well in his first 51 MLB games, but he'll have limited upside in the eight-hole for DFS managers.

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh will take a seat for Friday's series opener against the visiting Diamondbacks with a left-hander on the mound. He'll be replaced by Cristian Pache in center field, while Pache will hit eighth against Diamondbacks lefty Jordan Montgomery. It will be the first day off for Marsh since he returned from the injured list after starting the last five games. Marsh typically finds himself on the bench against left-handed pitchers and is batting just .128 (5-for-39) with 21 strikeouts against southpaws this season. Against righties, though, he's been solid with a .300 average (42-for-140) with all six of his home runs. Pache isn't recommended as a DFS sleeper near the bottom of the lineup. He's gone just 14-for-66 (.212) on the year with no home runs and is hitless in three career at-bats against Montgomery.