Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson helped lead the team's offensive barrage in an 11-1 blowout of the Detroit Tigers on Saturday. With the Reds leading 2-1 in the top of the fifth inning, Stephenson stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and connected on a grand slam against right-hander Jack Flaherty. Stephenson added a double and an additional run scored in a 2-for-5 afternoon. An oblique injury sidelined Stephenson through April, but the 28-year-old has logged quality production since he made his season debut May 2. Stephenson is hitting .262/.336/.475 with six homers and 22 RBI in 137 plate appearances. However, Stephenson's 35% strikeout rate (up from 22.7 last year) and unsustainable .377 batting average on balls in play point to negative regression. He tallied two more strikeouts Saturday in an otherwise excellent performance.

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St. Louis Cardinals second baseman/outfielder Brendan Donovan (toe) was not in the lineup for the team's game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. However, Donovan will return Sunday if he's able to get through batting practice Saturday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. Donovan has missed four games in a row with a sprained big toe on his left foot, but the Cardinals have been reluctant to place him on the 10-day injured list. The versatile 28-year-old has been one of the Cardinals' best players this season. He's slashing .310/.379/.440 with four home runs, 26 RBI, and 35 runs scored over 278 plate appearances.

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Texas Rangers right-hander Tyler Mahle (shoulder) battled shoulder soreness in a start against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday, manager Bruce Bochy revealed. The Rangers cruised to a 16-4 win in that game, but Mahle yielded four earned runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings. Arm problems have been a significant hindrance over the past couple of years for Mahle. He underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2023 as a member of the Twins. Mahle returned last August with the Rangers, but shoulder troubles ended his season after just three starts. Mahle may start Sunday against the Chicago White Sox, though it seems increasingly possible he will require a stint on the 15-day injured list. In that case, the club could recall righty Kumar Rocker from Triple-A Round Rock to take the ball. Rocker is with the Rangers in Arlington, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. The 25-year-old has dealt with his own shoulder woes this season and struggled to an 8.87 ERA in 23 1/3 innings in the bigs. Mahle, on the other hand, has registered a stingy 2.34 ERA (4.14 xERA) over 77 frames.

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The St. Louis Cardinals have activated outfielder Jordan Walker (wrist) from the 10-day injured list, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. The team optioned Michael Siani to Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move. Walker will bat seventh and start in right field as the Cardinals take on the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. It'll be Walker's first action since May 28, when he began dealing with inflammation in his left wrist. The former standout prospect, 23, batted a woeful .215/.273/.310 with three home runs, 23 RBI, and a career-worst 33.1% strikeout rate in 172 plate appearances prior to his IL stint. The Cardinals have received better production in right from Alec Burleson, but he'll shift to left for Saturday's game. Slumping left fielder Lars Nootbaar will take a seat for at least one game.

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The Baltimore Orioles have activated catcher Gary Sanchez (wrist) from the 10-day injured list and optioned fellow backstop Maverick Handley to Triple-A Norfolk, per Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com. Sanchez is returning after landing on the IL back on April 28. Signed to a one-year, $8.5 million contract in free agency, Sanchez batted an ugly .100/.200/.100 with no home runs, four RBI, and 12:1 K:BB in 35 plate appearances before suffering his injury. He hit a far more encouraging .367 with three homers in seven games with Norfolk. The 32-year-old has typically been a capable hitter, and he should give the Orioles a credible backup to Adley Rutschman. With Rutschman entrenched as the starter, Sanchez has minimal fantasy value.

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New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos (hamstring) will start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse early next week, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Vientos landed on the 10-day injured list with a low-grade right hamstring strain on June 3, continuing a disappointing start to the season for the 25-year-old. After bursting on the scene last year with 27 home runs and 71 RBI, Vientos has batted a mediocre .230/.294/.380 with six HRs and 21 RBI in 208 plate appearances this season. Brett Baty has been the Mets' primary third baseman with Vientos out, while Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuna have also picked up starts. With Vientos likely to return in the next couple of weeks, the team could option either Mauricio or Acuna to Triple-A.

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Boston Red Sox outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) is making progress as he works back from offseason surgery on his right shoulder. Yoshida returned to "making throws from left field to second base at increased intensity and velocity" on Thursday, per MLB.com. He's on track to make his season debut sometime after next month's All-Star break. The former Japanese star hit a respectable .285/.343/.433 .280/.349/.415 with 10 homers and 56 RBI over 421 plate appearances in his second season in the bigs last year. It's unclear how much playing time he'll receive in the majors this season, however, as Rafael Devers is occupying the full-time DH position. Yoshida figures to play outfield on a part-time basis, limiting his fantasy value.

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Washington Nationals infielder Paul DeJong (face) could begin a rehab assignment next week, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports. DeJong has been out since Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller hit him in the face with a 92.7 mph fastball on April 15. "I'd like for him to take it easy the first couple times, maybe two at-bats or so and then go from there," manager Dave Martinez said in regards to DeJong's rehab. DeJong mostly worked at third base before suffering his injury, but he struggled to a .204/.246/.278 line with no home runs in 57 plate appearances. Washington still doesn't have a clear answer at the hot corner, where it has primarily turned to the light-hitting Jose Tena. DeJong should see time there whenever he comes back, though well-regarded prospect Brady House could force his way to the majors soon.

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Kansas City Royals second baseman Jonathan India (shoulder) is not in the lineup Saturday for the club's meeting with the Athletics. Nick Loftin will man the keystone in India's place and bat sixth. India exited the Royals' 6-4 loss to the Athletics in the seventh inning Friday after suffering a shoulder subluxation diving for a ball. The injury doesn't seem severe, but India will get Saturday off as he recovers. The former Red, 28, is hitting .249/.332/.336 with three home runs and 18 RBI over 274 plate appearances in his first season as a Royal.

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Cleveland Guardians right-handed Shane Bieber (elbow) received a positive update this week on his surgically-repaired elbow. Bieber, who's recovering from April 2024 Tommy John surgery, had to halt his rehab last week after experiencing soreness. Dr. Keith Meister informed Bieber he's dealing with normal soreness, not any structural damage. Manager Stephen Vogt expects Bieber to "resume his throwing program in the next few days," per Josh Kirshenbaum of MLB.com. The former Cy Young winner's return to the majors is not imminent, but at least he remains on track to pitch in the bigs this year.

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Milwaukee Brewers outfielders Garrett Mitchell (oblique) and Blake Perkins (lower leg) are slated to begin a rehab assignment on Monday in the Arizona Complex League. Mitchell has been held out of action since April with an oblique strain. He recently began participating in baseball activities and could return to the majors before the end of the month. During his first 25 games of the season, Mitchell held a .206/.286/.294 slash line with four doubles, no home runs, and three stolen bases. Perkins suffered this leg injury during spring training. He was initially placed on the 10-day injured list but was eventually shifted to the 60-day injured list. Given his current status, fantasy managers should expect Perkins to participate in a more extended rehab assignment than Mitchell. Mitchell will likely compete for a full-time role while Perkins will compete for a depth role when they return to action.

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New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez is not in Saturday's lineup when they continue a series against the Tampa Bay Rays. The backstop has started in each of the past two games. During this two-game stretch, Alvarez has gone 0-for-6 at the plate with two walks and two strikeouts. This afternoon, the Mets will give Luis Torrens the nod behind the dish. He will bat in the eight hole. Over his previous 17 games, Alvarez has struggled at the plate, posting a modest .207/.303/.293 line with just two doubles and one home run. Fantasy managers should expect Alvarez to return to the starting nine on Sunday. The Mets are best to fade in DFS this afternoon as they will face Tampa Bay right-hander Drew Rasmussen. Rasmussen has been one of the top pitchers in the American League this season, posting a stellar 2.22 ERA.

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Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer (thumb) tossed 4 1/3 innings during his first rehab outing on Friday evening. Facing Triple-A Columbus, Scherzer struck out four batters and allowed four hits and two runs. He did not allow a walk. This was a strong showing for the veteran, who is working his way back from a thumb injury that has kept him sidelined for most of the campaign. Scherzer hit the injured list shortly after his season debut. However, given that he already logged 56 pitches in this outing, he may only need a few more outings before returning to the majors. Scherzer battled injuries last season as well, but was effective when on the bump, posting a 3.95 ERA with a strong 1.15 WHIP across 43 1/3 innings. When he returns, he will likely replace Eric Lauer in the rotation.

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Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter (wrist) is not in Saturday's lineup when the Rangers continue a series against the Chicago White Sox. Carter was removed from Friday's game after suffering a wrist injury. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status leading up to Sunday's game. This afternoon, the Rangers will give Wyatt Langford the start in center field, which will open left field for Sam Haggerty. Carter has begun to heat up at the plate following his rough start to the season. Over his last five games, the former top prospect has posted a stellar .556/.636/1.167 slash line with two doubles, three home runs, and two stolen bases. This afternoon, the Rangers are a viable target in DFS as they face Chicago right-hander Mike Vasil.

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Colorado Rockies outfielder Jordan Beck is not in Saturday's lineup when the Rockies continue a series against the Atlanta Braves. Beck has been in the starting nine in each of the past nine games. During this stretch, the 24-year-old has posted a .333/.381/.410 line with three doubles, four RBI, one stolen base, and a 7:3 K:BB. This afternoon, the Rockies will give Sam Hillard the nod in left field. Hillard will also bat at the top of the lineup. Fantasy managers should expect Beck to return to action on Sunday. Through 59 games this season, Beck has been productive, holding a .265/.323/.465 slash line with eight home runs and eight stolen bases. This afternoon, the Rockies are best to fade in DFS as they will face Atlanta right-hander Spencer Strider.

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The Houston Astros placed rookie outfielder Jacob Melton (ankle) on the 10-day injured list on Saturday with a right-ankle sprain and recalled outfielder Cooper Hummel from Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move. The team also recalled infielder Luis Guillorme and optioned infielder/outfielder Shay Whitcomb. Melton, the team's No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, sprained his ankle in the blowout win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night and will now have to miss at least the next 10 days. After an initial slow start after his first big-league call-up, Melton had gone 4-for-9 at the plate with four RBI in his last four games, so it's bad timing for the young outfielder. When he's past his ankle injury, whether he gets another shot in the big leagues might depend on whether Yordan Alvarez (hand) is back from his lengthy IL stint. Jose Altuve is back in left field for Saturday's game against the Twins.

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The Houston Astros have shifted right-handed pitcher Spencer Arrighetti (thumb) to the 60-day injured list on Saturday. The 25-year-old has been sidelined with a fractured thumb since April. Arrighetti suffered this injury during a batting practice session. Arrighetti only made two starts before hitting the injured list. During this brief 9 2/3 inning stretch, Arrighetti held a 5.59 ERA with a 0.93 WHIP. He struck out eight batters and allowed walks at a high 12.8% rate. Arrighetti made his MLB debut last season and began to find his footing during the second half of the campaign, posting a 3.18 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP over his final 65 innings of work. While Arrighetti recently began playing catch from 70 feet, he still has a long road ahead of him. The team has yet to provide a detailed timeline. As a result, he is only worth stashing in 12+ team leagues.

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The Chicago White Sox announced on Saturday that they recalled first baseman Ryan Noda from Triple-A Charlotte and optioned first baseman Tim Elko to Charlotte in a corresponding move. The White Sox claimed Noda off waivers on Friday from the Boston Red Sox. Noda will immediately enter the starting lineup on Saturday against the Texas Rangers and right-hander Jacob deGrom, as he's starting at first base and batting seventh. This will be his first big-league start of 2025 after hitting a combined .204/.404/.375 with seven home runs, 21 RBI, 27 runs and four steals in 51 games at Triple-A Salt Lake (Angels) and Triple-A Worcester (Red Sox). The 29-year-old left-handed hitter could get plenty of run at first base against righties now that Elko is in the minors and Andrew Vaughn is with Milwaukee. Noda hit 16 bombs in 128 games in his rookie year in 2023 with the A's, but he's hit just .212 with 91 punchouts in 164 games over his two seasons in the big leagues.

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Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis (hamstring) is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's contest against the hosting Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Brooks Lee will handle third base duties for the Twins and will hit sixth against Astros right-hander Hunter Brown. Lewis suffered a left-hamstring strain in Friday night's loss to the Astros, so it's no surprise the oft-injured slugger is out for the second game of the series. Given the 26-year-old's lengthy injury history and the fact he already spent time this year with a hamstring injury to the same leg, fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if Lewis ends up back on the IL with this new hammy ailment. The former first overall pick in 2017 hit his second homer of the season on Friday night, but he's been a disappointment overall in just 99 at-bats, batting just .202 with nine RBI and 10 runs scored.

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Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers will retreat to the bench on Saturday in Houston against the Astros at Daikin Park. Christian Vazquez is doing the catching for right-hander Joe Ryan and will hit ninth against Astros right-hander Hunter Brown. Jeffers has taken over primary catching duties for the Twins this year over Vazquez and is currently slashing .243/.341/.376 with four home runs, 21 RBI and 21 runs scored in 189 at-bats. He's gone hitless in his last three games and has struggled at the plate so far in June, going 6-for-32 (.188) with a homer, a double, three RBI, five runs scored, six walks and 10 strikeouts. The 34-year-old Vazquez offers almost nothing with his bat for fantasy managers, as he comes into Saturday's tilt hitting .204 (21-for-103) with two homers, nine RBI and 10 runs scored. He has never faced Brown in his career.

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