Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Stephen Kolek (personal) was placed on the family medical emergency list on Saturday. Kolek will step away from the team for a period of time due to family matters. He was scheduled to take the ball against the New York Mets next week, but it's unclear if that's still going to happen. This season, Kolek owns a 4.50 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 34:12 K:BB ratio across 10 starts with the Royals. He has been tagged for 12 earned runs over his last two starts, so hopefully he'll get back on track after the All-Star break. In a corresponding move, right-hander Jose Cuas has been recalled to take the spot on the active roster.

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Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (hamstring) took batting practice on the field ahead of Saturday's game against the Boston Red Sox. He said that he ran about 90 percent on Saturday without any pain. Barring any setbacks, Trout believes he could be back in the lineup as early as Tuesday. The superstar slugger has been sidelined since June 17 due to a right hamstring strain. He was also named to the American League All-Star Team on Saturday. Trout should be able to appear in that game in Philadelphia, assuming he doesn't suffer any setbacks. Fantasy managers should check back for an update on his status early next week.

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Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Logan Henderson (back) will be activated off the Injured List at some point this upcoming week. Henderson is ready to rejoin the Brewers rotation after making two rehab starts. He has been sidelined since May 22 due to a back strain. The assumption is that Henderson will be ready to pitch at some point during their upcoming series against the St. Louis Cardinals. This season, Henderson owns a 2.74 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 30:6 K/BB ratio across five starts with the Brewers. He's a decent mixed league option given his success before the injury.

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Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (back) said he intends to sit out during the upcoming All-Star Game. Guerrero mentioned that he wants to rest his lingering back problem during the break. He mentioned that he's grateful for the fans voting him in, but he wants to focus on getting healthy for the second half of the season. The assumption is that Nick Kurtz will take over the starting spot with Guerrero opting out. Over the last month, Guerrero is 9-for-91 with one home run and 11 RBI. Hopefully, Guerrero will be back to the superstar slugger that we're used to seeing after the break.

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Athletics infielder Zack Gelof (hand) was activated off the 10-day Injured List on Saturday. Gelof is back in the mix after missing the minimum 10 days while recovering from a right-hand contusion. The A's felt that Gelof didn't need a rehab assignment, so he'll be back in the lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Miami Marlins. Through 62 games, Gelof is slashing .282/.336/.498 with 11 home runs, 29 RBI, and eight steals this season. He offers enough overall upside to warrant a look in all fantasy formats. He could be worth scooping up in leagues where he was dropped while on the shelf.

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Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring) was able to take batting practice ahead of Saturday's game against the New York Mets. This is an encouraging sign for the slugging outfielder who has been sidelined since early June due to a hamstring injury. The Braves will likely wait and see how Acuna feels after this before they make any more decisions. Braves manager Walt Weiss mentioned that it seems unlikely that Acuna will be ready to play before the All-Star break. The Braves are expected to take the cautious approach and hold out Acuna until later in July. Fantasy managers should check back for another update on his status in a few days.

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Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio is out of the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. This appears to be a routine rest day for Chourio, who hasn't been out of the lineup since June 3. The young slugger is slashing .292/.344/.583 with 10 home runs and 21 RBI over the last 30 days. His absence from the lineup isn't performance-based or injury-related, so fantasy managers should expect him back in the mix on Sunday. In the meantime, Jake Bauers will cover left field and bat third versus right-hander Merrill Kelly on Saturday.

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Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (biceps) "feels considerably better" on Saturday, manager Dave Roberts told Maddie Lee of MLB.com. Ohtani is out of the starting lineup for the Fourth of July contest in L.A. against the division-rival San Diego Padres on Saturday night, as expected, but the Dodgers will "see how the day goes as far as availability tonight." Roberts said he's "hopeful" that Ohtani will be in the starting lineup for the series finale on Sunday. Ohtani was a little concerned about his right biceps muscle in his last at-bat in Friday's win over SD and was pulled as a precaution. He said it was in the same spot as something he felt a couple of months ago that resolved relatively quickly. Outfielder Andy Pages will serve as the Dodgers' designated hitter on Saturday and hit in the two-hole against Padres left-handed opener Wandy Peralta. The 31-year-old Ohtani should be considered day-to-day for now and looks likely to avoid a trip to the injured list just before the All-Star break. After a slow start at the plate, he quickly turned it around and is currently batting .288/.403/.524 with a .927 OPS, 18 homers, 50 RBI, 60 runs, and six steals in 309 at-bats. Ohtani isn't running as much, but he's still an elite five-category contributor as a hitter in 2026.

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Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (thumb) will not be in the team's starting lineup for Saturday's contest against the visiting Miami Marlins on the Fourth of July, according to MLB.com. Jonah Heim will catch right-hander Aaron Civale and will bat cleanup for the A's versus Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara. It's unclear how serious Langeliers' left-thumb injury is, but it's worth noting that the A's called up Brian Serven from Triple-A Las Vegas for more catching depth, which could be a sign that he could be on the verge of landing on the injured list, which would keep him out for the rest of the first half of the season. Langeliers was forced from Friday's game early with his thumb injury. The 28-year-old former ninth overall pick in 2019 out of Baylor University is a must-start in all fantasy leagues when he's healthy, as one of the best power-hitting catchers in baseball. He has hit .264 (87-for-330) with 20 long balls, 44 RBI, 51 runs, and two steals in 80 games so far in 2026. Heim will serve as the A's primary backstop for however long Langeliers is out.

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Kansas City Royals catcher/first baseman Salvador Perez (elbow) remains out of the starting lineup for Saturday's contest against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies, according to MLB.com. Carter Jensen is doing the catching for right-hander Michael Wacha and will hit leadoff against Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo. It's the second straight game that Perez will sit due to soreness in his left elbow. It's not expected to be a serious injury, so fantasy managers could have the veteran backstop back on the field for Sunday's series finale at Kauffman Stadium. The 36-year-old nine-time All-Star might be on his last legs in his 15th year in the majors, as he enters play on Saturday sporting a rough .201/.241/.327 slash line with a career-low .568 OPS, 10 homers, 30 RBI, and 29 runs scored in his 81 games and 340 plate appearances. Since the start of June, he's gone 18-for-96 (.188) with a homer, four doubles, five RBI, eight runs scored, one walk, and 21 strikeouts.

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Tampa Bay Rays speedy outfielder Chandler Simpson (fingers) will miss a second straight game on Saturday in Houston against the Astros, according to MLB.com. Victor Mesa Jr. is making another start in left field for the Rays and will bat fifth against Astros right-hander Hunter Brown. Simpson is dealing with soreness in his right index and middle fingers and will miss a second straight game after he was scratched from Friday's lineup. It's not considered a serious injury, though, so fantasy managers could have Simpson back for Sunday's series finale at Daikin Park. The 25-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder has not hit a single home run in his first two MLB seasons over 190 games and 765 plate appearances, so power is obviously not his forte. In 81 games in 2026, he's slashing .278/.317/.331 with a .648 OPS, 16 RBI, 20 steals, and 35 runs scored. Simpson hit just .211 (15-for-71) in 24 games in June, but he's currently riding a modest seven-game hitting streak in which he's gone 10-for-26 (.385) with three doubles, an RBI, three steals, and two runs scored.

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The Minnesota Twins said that right-hander Zebby Matthews (foot) left his start early on Saturday on the road against the New York Yankees with a laceration of his right foot, according to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic. Before leaving, Matthews struggled on the mound in the Bronx, allowing four earned runs on three hits (two homers) while walking four and striking out five in 4 2/3 innings of work. Right now, Matthews will be considered day-to-day, but he'll definitely be up in the air to make his final start of the first half of the season next weekend in an excellent matchup against the Los Angeles Angels. The 26-year-old 6-foot-5, 225-pound hurler came into Saturday's start on the Fourth of July with a 4-5 record, 4.15 ERA (4.76 FIP) and 1.14 WHIP with 46 strikeouts and 12 walks in 56 1/3 innings across his nine starts in just his third year in the majors. Matthews allowed two or fewer runs in four of his five June starts, so Saturday was a disappointment against a tough team. If he can make his next start next weekend, Matthews will be a prime streaming option in fantasy.

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Seattle Mariners infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan (groin) will start a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday, according to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times. Donovan has been sidelined with a strained left groin since the middle of May, but barring a setback on his rehab assignment, he could return just before the All-Star break and play with the M's next weekend. The 29-year-old former seventh-rounder by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2018 from the University of South Alabama was a first-time All-Star in 2025 in his final year in St. Louis, slashing .287/.353/.422 with a .775 OPS, 10 homers, 50 RBI, 64 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 118 games and 515 plate appearances. Donovan has a limited fantasy ceiling because of his middling power and speed, but his high-contact approach makes him appealing for his high average and on-base percentage, not to mention he's eligible at second base, third base, shortstop, and the outfield in Yahoo leagues. He's currently rostered in just under half of Yahoo leagues.

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Washington Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli's next start will be moved up to the series finale on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates after originally being slated to make his next start on Monday in the series finale against the Houston Astros. It means that Cavalli won't be in line for a two-start week next week just before the All-Star break. Right-hander Miles Mikolas will now likely be pushed back to Monday's game against the Astros. Cavalli is coming off the best start of his season last Sunday against the Boston Red Sox, when he threw seven innings with a season-high 13 strikeouts and an unearned run allowed, but MLB handed him a seven-game suspension for his part in a benches-clearing incident. The Nationals will move him up so he can get another start in before potentially serving his suspension next week. The 27-year-old has a solid 3.69 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 102 K's in 90 1/3 innings in a career-high 18 starts in 2026 and will be on the streaming radar on Sunday against a Pirates team that ranks first in baseball in strikeouts, but they're also second in OPS.

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The Texas Rangers announced on Saturday that they placed right-handed reliever Jakob Junis (hip) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to July 1) with a right-hip impingement and activated right-handed reliever Chris Martin (shoulder) from the 15-day IL in a corresponding move. Junis' rough recent stretch now has a bit more context. The 33-year-old veteran may have been pitching at less than 100% health over his last seven outings, when he gave up six earned runs in 6 2/3 innings. The former 29th-round pick by the Kansas City Royals in 2011 is now 1-1 with a 2.80 ERA (3.08 FIP), 1.02 WHIP, a career-high five saves, 27 strikeouts, and six walks in 35 1/3 innings pitched over 31 appearances (one start). Junis won't be eligible to return to Texas' bullpen until the second half of the season after the All-Star break. He's only rostered in 11% of Yahoo leagues, and that number will likely dip to below 10% now that he's on the shelf with an injury.

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer's paternity leave is up on Saturday, but he's now being placed on the family medical emergency list, which is purely transactional, according to Hazel Mae of Sportsnet. Springer is "tying up some loose ends," according to manager John Schneider. He will miss the rest of the weekend series in Seattle against the Mariners and will likely rejoin the club for the series opener on Monday versus the San Francisco Giants. The 36-year-old four-time All-Star needs a little more personal time after welcoming a new addition to the family this week. It might actually be good for Springer to get some time away. After a resurgence in 2025 that saw him hit 32 home runs, drive in 84, and steal 18 bases in 140 regular-season games before leading the Jays to the World Series, he has struggled in 2026, slashing .221/.308/.373 with a .681 OPS, eight homers, 21 RBI, and six steals in 63 games played.

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The Atlanta Braves recalled second-ranked prospect JR Ritchie back to the big leagues on Saturday, according to MLB Pipeline. Ritchie, who has already made eight appearances (seven starts) for the Braves this year, is ranked 50th among all prospects in 2026. In his 40 2/3 innings at the major-league level this year, the 23-year-old former first-rounder in 2022 has gone 1-2 with a 4.87 ERA (5.59 FIP) and 1.43 WHIP with 37 strikeouts and 25 walks. His last start for the Braves came on June 23 against the San Diego Padres, when he gave up five runs (four earned) on five hits while walking four and striking out seven in five innings of work. Like fellow prospect Didier Fuentes, Ritchie could be used as more of a long-relief arm out of Atlanta's bullpen to close out the first half of the season. The Braves have six current rotation options with Ritchie, although they could be considering moving Grant Holmes to the bullpen permanently in the second half. Ritchie will need to improve his command to garner more interest in mixed fantasy baseball leagues.

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Los Angeles Dodgers infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman has wasted little time making himself useful after right ankle surgery. Through 52 plate appearances, the 31-year-old is batting .378/.462/.556 with one home run, nine RBI, five runs, and one stolen base. He has played six of the Dodgers' past seven games while bouncing between second base, third base, and left field, giving fantasy managers three-position eligibility. The .378 average will come down, but Edman's .330 expected average and career-best 90.5 mph average exit velocity suggest this is more than a run of soft singles. He is also striking out just 17.3% of the time. The crowded Dodgers roster can still move him down the order or onto the bench occasionally, keeping him from being an automatic shallow-league add. RotoBaller recommends him in 12-team leagues, and his 25% Yahoo roster rate leaves plenty of room to act. At that depth, Edman's balanced production and flexibility make him a must-add.

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Kansas City Royals reliever Alex Lange has converted all seven of his save chances since moving into the late-inning mix on June 3. His latest came June 28, when he retired the White Sox in order two days after being tagged for five runs in a blowout loss. That quick return to the ninth was a useful vote of confidence. Lange owns a 4.95 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, and 37:21 K:BB over 36 1/3 innings, so the risk is obvious. Kansas City still has Lucas Erceg, Daniel Lynch IV, and Matt Strahm available, but Lange has received the save chances. Carlos Estevez (shoulder) also suffered another setback and received an injection July 1, making an imminent return unlikely. RotoBaller ranks Lange 21st among closers and recommends him in 12-team leagues. At 23% rostered on Yahoo, he is worth a claim for saves-needy managers who can absorb the ratio volatility.

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Minnesota Twins reliever Yoendrys Gomez has moved to the front of a crowded ninth-inning picture. He converted save chances on June 28 and 29, giving him nine on the season, while no other Minnesota pitcher has more than two. Gomez owns a 3.57 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 36 strikeouts through 40 1/3 innings. His June 29 save was shaky, but he followed it with a scoreless inning on July 1. Minnesota still has not named a full-time closer, leaving some risk. Andrew Morris is the main alternative after posting an 18:3 K:BB with one save over the past 30 days. Even so, Gomez remains the best bet for the next opportunity and offers SP/RP eligibility. RotoBaller ranks him 20th among closers and recommends him in 12-team leagues, while he is rostered in only 26% of Yahoo formats. Managers chasing saves should treat him as one of the better widely available claims, not a completely secure closer.

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