Cleveland Guardian outfielder Steven Kwan (hamstring) went 3-for-4 with three singles, one RBI, and one walk in a 7-1 victory against the Washington Nationals on Friday night after returning from the injured list. If you didn't think the red-hot Guardians couldn't get any better think again. Their pesky everyday leadoff hitter with a .365 batting average on the season has returned after nearly missing an entire month's worth of games. Although the Guardians haven't needed his bat in May with their 19-9 record and an average of five runs per game, Kwan is a welcome site atop any lineup. Kwan will not provide you much in the power and RBI department, but should continue to provide a solid batting average, OBP, and runs scored to satisfy any fantasy baseball lineup.

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Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (hip) is tracking toward a return in time for Tuesday's series opener against the crosstown-rival Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Working his way back from a strained right hip flexor, Robert is entering the final stages of his recovery and should be back available to fantasy managers and the last-place White Sox during the first week of June. While Robert's batting just .105 (2-for-19) across six outings on his minor-league rehab assignment, the 26-year-old All-Star slugger presents five-category fantasy upside when healthy and will be a welcome return to all rosters. Veteran Tommy Pham is slashing a solid .301/.348/.431 with three home runs, 12 RBI, 19 runs scored, and three stolen bases over 123 at-bats as the primary leadoff man on the South Side this season, but his streaming appeal is expiring.

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Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis (quad) made his fifth appearance with Triple-A St. Paul on Friday, striking out three times in four at-bats. Lewis is not in Houston for the club's weekend series with the Astros at Minute Maid Park, but it would make sense for him to return to the Twins in time for Tuesday's series opener against the New York Yankees in the Bronx. Although he's gone just 3-for-19 with one extra-base hit over five games in the minor leagues, fantasy managers should be glad to hear that Lewis does have one stolen base during his assignment. The talented 24-year-old infielder should play every day in Minnesota when he comes back from a severe right quad strain, with utility man Willi Castro likely being the biggest loser in terms of playing time from a fantasy perspective.

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Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider says that closer Jordan Romano (elbow) "didn't bounce back" from his last outing on Wednesday, so he wasn't available for Friday's series opener against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. Schneider described it as right elbow soreness for Romano, and the club will know more on Saturday. It needs to be noted that Romano's start to the season was delayed due to a bout with inflammation in the same elbow, so it's not what the Jays or fantasy managers want to hear. The hard-throwing 31-year-old right-hander has struggled to a 6.59 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB over 13 2/3 innings this year, so it's fair to wonder if he isn't fully recovered. Yimi Garcia pitched a scoreless ninth inning in a tie ballgame on Friday, and he figures to split save chances with Chad Green if Romano needs to miss additional time. Garcia and Green registered two saves apiece during Romano's absence earlier this year.

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Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (hamstring) participated in some light fielding drills before Friday's series opener against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals. There's no timetable on when Turner will start running the bases, however, per manager Rob Thomson. Turner experienced a minor setback with leg soreness amid his recovery from a strained left hamstring during the club's series in Colorado against the Rockies last weekend, and he still needs to ramp up his running program and go through baserunning and sliding drills before starting a minor-league rehab assignment, so he's unlikely to return to the Phillies until after the club's London Series with the division-rival New York Mets on June 8 and 9. Meanwhile, Edmundo Sosa is slashing a robust .307/.378/.591 with four home runs, 15 RBI, 19 runs scored, and two stolen bases over 88 at-bats (30 games) this year and represents a high-end fantasy streamer until Turner is back.

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San Francisco Giants left-hander Robbie Ray (elbow) will pitch in an Arizona Complex League game next week as part of his rehab from Tommy John surgery in May of last year. Ray threw live batting practice last weekend after he initially started throwing bullpen sessions during spring training. Slowly but surely, Ray has worked his way back to pitching in games, although he still has a ways to go and probably isn't going to be an option for the Giants' starting rotation until after the All-Star break in mid-July. The 32-year-old southpaw, a former 12th-round pick by the Washington Nationals in 2010, was the American League Cy Young in 2021 with the Toronto Blue Jays and has racked up five 200-strikeout seasons in his 10 MLB seasons. Ray could be even more erratic when he returns in 2024, but the strikeout upside alone makes him worth rostering in most fantasy leagues.

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Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel (thumb) was scratched from Friday's starting lineup on the road against the division-rival Seattle Mariners with left-thumb soreness. In his place, Willie Calhoun got the start at first base and was hitting cleanup against Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo, with Matt Thaiss serving as the DH and batting seventh. Until we know more, fantasy managers should consider Schanuel to be day-to-day and check back to see if he's in there on Saturday. The 11th overall pick last year made a quick rise to the majors in 2023, although he hasn't been much of a fantasy option in mixed leagues at first base with limited power on a bad team in Anaheim. If Schanuel's thumb injury ends up sending him to the injured list, both Calhoun and Luis Guillorme would be options for the Halos at first base.

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The injury to Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter's back is now being described as a "lumbar spine stress fracture," according to the team's medical report. Carpenter's injury was originally described as lumbar-spine inflammation. It's bad news for the Tigers and fantasy managers, as Carpenter will obviously miss well behind 10 days on the injured list with a pretty significant injury. The 26-year-old doesn't exactly have a timetable for a return, but we wouldn't be surprised if he's not able to return until sometime after the All-Star break. In the meantime with Carpenter out, Akil Baddoo is likely to benefit the most with more playing time. He got the start in left field for Detroit and was batting sixth on Friday against the Boston Red Sox and right-hander Tanner Houck. Before getting hurt, Carpenter had a healthy .283 average with eight homers and 29 RBI in 145 at-bats.

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Cleveland Guardians outfielder Estevan Florial has been designated for assignment by the organization on Friday. This news comes after the team activated fellow outfielder Steven Kwan (hamstring) from the injured list. Florial becomes the odd man out after playing 36 games for Cleveland. During that time, Florial slashed .173/.264/.367, which included three home runs and 11 RBI. Florial was once a top prospect in the New York Yankees organization. He has been unable to establish himself in the big leagues. It remains to be seen if he'll get another shot elsewhere or if he'll remain in the Guardians' system.

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Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Evan Phillips (hamstring) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Friday's game. The right-hander is set to make his return after missing time due to a hamstring strain. The expectation is that Phillips is going to slide back into the closer role. Daniel Hudson and Blake Treinen did a solid job covering for Phillips, but they should slide back into set-up roles now. Fantasy managers should make sure to get Phillips off the IL and back in their lineups on Friday.

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Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins (hamstring) has been activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Friday's game against the Chicago White Sox. The 31-year-old slugger will make his return to the lineup on Friday. He'll bat sixth and serve as the designated hitter versus right-hander Erick Fedde. This season, Hoskins is slashing .233/.340/.474 with nine home runs and 27 RBI in 38 games. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups with Hoskins back in the mix.

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San Francisco Giants shortstop Marco Luciano (hamstring) has been placed on the injured list, retroactive to May 30. The 22-year-old sufferd a right hamstring strain during Wednesday's game. At the moment it's unclear how long Luciano is going to be sidelined. In a corresponding move, Casey Schmitt has been recalled from Triple-A Sacramento. The expectation is that Schmitt and Brett Wisely will see increased playing time with Luciano sidelined.

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Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Bowden Francis (forearm) is currently being considered to take right-hander Alek Manoah's (elbow) next turn in the starting rotation after he was put on the 15-day injured list on Friday with a right-elbow sprain. In Francis' last minor-league rehab outing on Tuesday for Triple-A Buffalo, he picked up the win while giving up an unearned run on one hit while walking one and striking out five in 3 2/3 innings of work. The 28-year-old has been out since late April with forearm tendonitis, but his outing on Tuesday with the Bisons was likely his last before he returns to the big-league roster. Francis will be returning to an ugly 8.59 ERA and 1.70 WHIP with 17 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings over five appearances (two starts) for Toronto before his injury, but he could be worth a look as a deep-league streamer now that Manoah is out for an extended amount of time.

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St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (oblique) is likely to miss an extended period of time. On Friday, Cards manager Oli Marmol told reporters that Nootbaar is dealing with a moderate oblique strain that is expected to force him to miss several weeks. An extended absence usually requires a stint minor league rehab stint as well. Fantasy managers should expect Nootbaar to be out at least a month. In the meantime, Alec Burleson should see increased playing time going forward.

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The Oakland Athletics officially placed right-hander Lucas Erceg (forearm) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to May 26) on Friday and recalled right-hander Dany Jimenez and left-hander Brady Basso from Triple-A Las Vegas in corresponding moves. The A's also optioned right-hander Tyler Ferguson to Vegas and outrighted infielder Tyler Nevin to Vegas after he was designated for assignment on Tuesday. Erceg has not pitched for the A's due to right-forearm tightness since May 25 and will now miss at least another couple of weeks. It's a big loss for the A's bullpen, as the 29-year-old had been operating as lockdown closer Mason Miller's primary eighth-inning setup man. Jimenez has recorded 12 saves in the previous two seasons for the A's but will settle in alongside Austin Adams and Scott Alexander as a setup option for the A's with Erceg out.

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Toronto Blue Jays rookie right-hander Yariel Rodriguez (back) made his second minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Buffalo back on Sunday and tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings with one strikeout and two walks while allowing two hits. The 27-year-old Cuban threw only 16 pitches in the outing and is scheduled to start again for the Bisons on Friday in an outing in which he's expected to be stretched out a bit more. Before the Blue Jays reinstate him from the 15-day injured list, he's likely to require at least one more rehab start. Rodriguez is recovering from thoracic spine inflammation and won't be rushed back, especially with how few innings he's pitched in recent seasons. When Rodriguez does return to Toronto, he could once again work as a tandem starter with Bowden Francis (forearm), who is also working his way back from the injured list.

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Boston Red Sox outfielder Tyler O'Neill (knee) recently received a cortisone shot in his knee, which he said has helped him. The 28-year-old has been out since May 26 due to right knee inflammation. The good news is that O'Neill could return as early as Wednesday when he's eligible to be removed from the injured list. Fantasy managers should be patient and hold onto O'Neill for a little longer. He has 11 homers in 41 games, so his power alone is worth keeping him on fantasy rosters.

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Detroit Tigers outfielder Mark Canha (hip) has been scratched from the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Boston Red Sox, This is bad timing with outfielder Kerry Carpenter (back) also sidelined currently. Hopefully this is only a minor issue, and Canha won't require a stint on the injured list. In the meantime, Andy Ibanez will replace him in the lineup, with Colt Keith serving as the designated hitter on Friday against Red Sox right-hander Tanner Houck.

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Boston Red Sox catching prospect Kyle Teel has been awfully hot at the plate through May and is on the verge of being promoted to Triple-A. Since May 1, the 22-year-old has posted a .350/.435/.525 line with two long balls, 18 RBI, and a 12:18 BB:K ratio. In addition, throughout the month, he also held multiple seven-game hitting streaks. The number three prospect in Boston has logged only 46 games at the Double-A level but is making quite a case to join Triple-A very soon. The Virginia product is worth rostering in dynasty leagues as he is developing into one of the best catching prospects in baseball and could even make a push to join Boston in the stretch run of this season.

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Boston Red Sox outfield prospect Roman Anthony has performed very well through May at Double-A Portland and is making a case to be moved up to Triple-A later this summer. Since May 1, the number two prospect in the Boston system has held a .280/.415/.453 line with one long ball, two swiped bags, 21 total hits, and an 18:23 BB:K ratio. This is a stark contrast to his April line, where he posted a mere .205/.310/.329 line with a much worse 11:28 BB:K ratio. The 20-year-old got a small taste of Double-A last summer but spent the majority of the season with Single and High-A. MLB Pipeline projects Anthony to reach the majors next season and is worth following closely in dynasty leagues.

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