Houston Astros right-hander Hunter Brown (shoulder) made his first minor-league rehab start on Sunday with Double-A Corpus Christi and threw two scoreless innings with one hit allowed, no walks, and five strikeouts. It was a positive first start for Brown on the farm as he threw 21 of his 35 pitches for strikes and induced seven swings and misses on the day. The 27-year-old is currently on the 60-day injured list due to a right-shoulder injury, but he's eligible to come off the IL on June 1 and is trending toward making his return to Houston's starting rotation in the middle of June. The Astros want to see Brown get up to around 75 pitches in a rehab start before considering him as a member of the big-league rotation again. Brown is only available in 6% of Yahoo leagues after his breakout 2025 campaign, in which he went 12-9 with a 2.43 ERA (3.14 FIP) and 1.02 WHIP with a career-high 206 strikeouts and 57 walks in 185 1/3 innings across his 31 starts. Brown is the real deal and is a fantasy ace when he's healthy.

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Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown said on SportsTalk790 on Sunday that catcher Yainer Diaz (oblique) will start his minor-league rehab assignment in the first week of June, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. The Astros placed Diaz on the 10-day injured list back on May 5 with a strained left oblique, but he is close to starting a rehab assignment after recently starting a running and hitting progression. If everything goes well once the 27-year-old backstop resumes playing in games, it's possible he could be back before the middle of June as Houston's primary catcher. Until that happens, veteran Christian Vazquez will continue to see most of the action behind the plate for the Astros. Diaz offers above-average power for a catcher when he's healthy, as he has reached the 20-homer mark in two of his three full seasons in the big leagues with Houston. Through 26 games in 2026 before landing on the shelf with his oblique injury, Diaz was hitting .238/.255/.347 with two home runs, 14 RBI, and seven runs scored in 106 plate appearances.

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Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (elbow) delivered a strong start in his first rehab outing for Triple-A Omaha on Saturday as he works back from an elbow injury. Ragans allowed one earned run on three hits and one walk while striking out three over a controlled outing that marked a positive step in his recovery process. The left-hander, a first-round pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, appears to be trending toward a return that could stabilize the Royals rotation. Ragans posted a breakout 2024 season with a 3.14 ERA over 32 starts and has shown the ability to miss bats at a high level when healthy. He has made only 21 starts across the past two seasons due to injuries, but remains expected to operate as a top-of-rotation arm once activated. Kansas City has not set a timeline for his next outing, but his rehab debut puts him firmly on track for a potential return soon.

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Houston Astros left-hander Josh Hader (biceps) is expected to return during the first week of June, according to general manager Dana Brown, as the veteran reliever continues recovering from left biceps tendinitis. Hader was transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 17 and has already made six rehab appearances in the minor leagues. The 31-year-old has yet to pitch for Houston this season, but he remains one of baseball's premier late-inning arms. Hader converted 28 of 29 save opportunities in 2025 while posting a 2.05 ERA and 76 strikeouts across 52 innings. Assuming his rehab continues without setbacks, Hader should reclaim the closer role quickly and provide a major lift for Houston's bullpen.

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Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (oblique) is expected to resume swinging a bat within the next few days as he continues recovering from a left oblique injury. Altuve exited the May 16 game after experiencing discomfort in his side and has since traveled to Florida to continue his rehab process. Before landing on the injured list, the veteran infielder was slashing .245/.326/.380 with a .706 OPS after cooling off from a strong start to the season. The career .302 hitter remains one of baseball's most reliable contact bats, and his return would provide a major boost for a Houston lineup searching for more offensive consistency.

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Cincinnati Reds right-hander Tony Santillan suffered another setback Saturday, blowing a save opportunity in an eventual extra-inning win vs. the Chicago Cubs. Santillan allowed two earned runs on two hits and two walks, including a home run in the ninth inning. The 29-year-old has now blown three saves this season and continues to trend in the wrong direction after surrendering nine earned runs over his last seven appearances. Opposing hitters have consistently punished mistakes in the strike zone, and Santillan's 10.2 Barrel/PA rate is the highest mark of his career by a wide margin. The Reds may begin exploring alternative late-inning options if the struggles continue, making Santillan a risky fantasy investment for managers chasing saves.

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Los Angeles Angels veteran reliever Kirby Yates picked up his first save of the season in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Texas Rangers. The right-hander delivered a clean ninth inning and struck out one batter while continuing his recent turnaround after an uneven start to the year. Yates now carries a 4.26 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP, but his recent appearances have looked far more encouraging than his early-season results. The 39-year-old could begin seeing more save opportunities as Angels closer Jordan Romano continues to struggle with a 10.13 ERA. Yates has extensive late-inning experience and may quickly become a fantasy option for managers searching for saves.

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Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Dylan Cease (hamstring) was removed early during Sunday's outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Cease was pulled from the contest after 4.2 innings due to a left hamstring issue. After the game, Jays' manager John Schneider confirmed that Cease will undergo an MRI on his left hamstring. Schneider mentioned that the early testing has come back positive, but the team wants further imaging to get the whole picture. Fantasy managers should stay tuned for the MRI results, as those will likely determine the next steps for Cease. For now, Cease is scheduled to take the ball against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday. Fantasy managers will need to check back to see if Cease is actually going to be able to make the start.

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San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb (knee) is reportedly extremely close to making his return to the mound. Giants manager Tony Vitello said on Sunday that Webb is a "good option" to return from the 15-day Injured List during the team's upcoming three-game homestand. It sounds like Webb is feeling physically ready to return after making a rehab start with Triple-A Sacramento on Friday. The Giants will likely wait and see how Webb feels after a bullpen session before they make a final decision. Fantasy managers should check back on Monday for another update on his status. Trevor McDonald is likely going to be the odd man out once Webb is cleared to return to the mound.

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Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager isn't scheduled to be re-evaluated for "probably" another week, according to Shawn McFarland. Seager was slated to face live pitching on Sunday, but that session was delayed due to his lack of progress in his recovery from his back injury. The Rangers were hopeful that Seager could return for the upcoming homestand that begins on Monday. That isn't going to happen, so fantasy managers are likely going to be without Seager for at least another week. The organization should continue to give updates on his status. The left-handed slugger hasn't suited up for a game since May 13 due to a back injury. Ezequiel Duran should continue to fill in until Seager is ready to play again.

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Miami Marlins first baseman Connor Norby (elbow) was forced to make an early exit from Sunday's game against the New York Mets. Norby was hit by a pitch on his left elbow during the fourth inning of Sunday's contest. He took his base and played another inning before exiting the contest due to left elbow discomfort. Before leaving, Norby was 0-for-1 at the plate with his lone time reaching base being a hit by pitch. The expectation is that the organization will have Norby undergo further testing. It wouldn't be shocking to see Norby miss a game or two from this issue. Graham Pauley replaced him at first base and could see increased playing time going forward.

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Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo is set to make the start during Monday's game against the Athletics. Mariners manager Dan Wilson confirmed that Castillo will start and Bryce Miller will work behind him in a piggyback role. The Mariners tried this strategy on Tuesday, but Miller started, and Castillo worked the final few innings. Castillo tossed 2.1 innings, allowing two earned runs in the first relief appearance of his big league career. The Mariners will reverse the order in which they pitch together and hope for better results from Castillo. The veteran right-hander holds a 6.41 ERA and 1.55 WHIP, so fantasy managers shouldn't put much faith in him right now. Miller will likely pitch the bulk of the innings, so Castillo won't be a recommended fantasy option.

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Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jose Quintana (elbow) was forced to make an early exit from Sunday's outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Quintana only made it into the second inning before exiting due to left elbow discomfort. The veteran southpaw was crushed for six earned runs on six hits before leaving. The expectation is that Quintana will undergo further testing to determine the severity of the injury. Ryan Feltner (elbow) is nearing a return from the Injured List and could take his spot in the rotation if Quintana heads to the shelf. The veteran southpaw can be left on the waiver wire in most fantasy formats.

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Seattle Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo is set to start Monday's game against the Athletics. Bryce Miller will come out of the bullpen and follow in the piggyback role. Castillo has struggled this season, posting a 6.41 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts across 46 1/3 innings. The 33-year-old struggled in his only relief appearance, taking the loss, while allowing two runs on a hit, two walks, and a HBP while striking out four over 2 1/3 innings against the Chicago White Sox. It's unclear how many innings Castillo will throw on Monday, but Miller has pitched well since returning from the injured list on May 13. The 27-year-old owns a 1.64 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, a 22.7K%, and a 4.5 BB% through 11 innings. Even though Miller is coming out of the bullpen, he's still worth holding onto in deep league formats, but can likely be dropped in 10-12-team leagues until he solidifies a spot in Seattle's rotation.

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Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease (hamstring) was removed from Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates with mild left hamstring discomfort. After a few visits from the trainers, Cease was pulled from the game during the fifth inning. He allowed two earned runs on four hits and one walk while striking out eight across 4 2/3 innings before exiting. The 30-year-old will likely undergo additional tests to determine the severity of his hamstring issue. He owns a 3.05 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and a 92:26 K:BB across 62 innings so far this season. Cease is tentatively scheduled to face the Orioles at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Fantasy managers should monitor the situation as the Blue Jays continue to provide updates on his status.

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Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (elbow) was removed in the bottom of the fifth inning during Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates after being hit by a pitch. He reached base in all three plate appearances and scored a run before exiting. X-rays of the Guerrero Jr.'s elbow were negative for a fracture, and he was officially diagnosed with an elbow contusion. The 27-year-old appears to have avoided a major injury and is day-to-day for now. His next chance to return to the lineup will be on Monday against the Miami Marlins. Lenyn Sosa replaced Guerrero Jr. on Sunday and would see an uptick in at-bats if he were to miss any additional time.

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Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Houston Astros for a "mental breather." Cubs manager Craig Counsell said, "he told him to take Saturday off completely, and Sunday, he's been hitting and doing other typical pregame work. The 31-year-old has struggled mightily over his last six games, slashing .042/.115/.083 with 14 strikeouts across 26 plate appearances. Overall, Happ had been solid, slashing .214/.350/.429 with 10 home runs, 20 RBI, 35 runs, and two stolen bases through 220 plate appearances. His walk BB% has increased from 13.1% last season to 16.4%, while his K% has ballooned from 22.8% to 33.2%. Although there is cause for some concern, fantasy managers should continue to hold onto Happ as he works his way back through his slump. Happ is expected to return to the Cubs lineup for Monday's contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

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The Chicago Cubs placed right-hander Edward Cabrera (finer) on the 15-day injured list due to a blister on his right middle finger, retroactive to May 21. He was pulled from Wednesday's start against the Milwaukee Brewers early after allowing our runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out two batters across three innings. Before landing on the injured list, Cabrera owned a (3-2) record with a 4.00 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and a 47:20 K:BB across 54 innings this season. The Cubs recalled left-hander Jordan Wicks in a corresponding move, and he will take Cabrera's spot in the rotation. Wicks owns a 4.44 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts across 26 1/3 innings with Triple-A Iowa. The 26-year-old has pitched well recently, posting a 0.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 12 strikeouts over 15 innings. Wicks is scheduled to start on the road against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday. He is mainly a streaming option in deep and NL-Only leagues for now.

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Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones (elbow) is an elite injury stash target for upside, even though he's still on the 60-day injured list. According to general manager Ben Cherington, Jones will meet with the team back in Pittsburgh and throw a bullpen session on Tuesday before "making a determination" on his next outing/activation, per Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Cherington did not clarify whether Jones will be a starter or a reliever. He's under consideration for a return from the IL, but the Pirates want to make sure his recovery continues to go well. The 24-year-old former second-rounder in 2020 threw 76 pitches and allowed three runs while walking three and striking out six in 4 1/3 innings in his latest minor-league rehab outing on Saturday at Triple-A Indianapolis. Jones has a 2.89 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 24:6 K:BB in 18 2/3 frames over his five rehab starts with Single-A Bradenton, Double-A Altoona, and Indy, and is on the cusp of returning after he missed all of 2025 due to UCL surgery on his right elbow. He's currently rostered in only 21% of Yahoo leagues and is one of the best pitching stashes in fantasy right now.

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Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford (forearm) threw and hit on Friday for the first time in three weeks, according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. Langford will do the same routine for another week or so before going on a minor-league rehab assignment. "It's much healthier now than it was when I was trying to come back the first time," Langford said. The 24-year-old is currently on the 10-day injured list and has not played since April 21 due to right-forearm soreness. Langford already had a setback with his forearm and was pulled from a rehab assignment. It's good news that he's swinging and throwing again, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to return until at least early June. The former fourth overall pick in 2023 out of the University of Florida has high-end power/speed upside in the outfield in Texas, but injuries have been piling up for him early in his career. He has only played in 20 games in 2026 and has hit .238 (19-for-80) with a homer, four RBI, three steals, and nine runs scored across 84 plate appearances. Langford is still rostered in 89% of Yahoo leagues, though, after hitting 38 home runs, driving in 136, and stealing 41 bases in 268 games in his first two years in the majors.

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