Houston Astros first baseman Jose Abreu could return to the majors on Friday, according to general manager Dana Brown. Abreu will play in a few more minor-league games before the team makes their decision. The veteran slugger was sent down to the Florida Complex League after a horrific start to the season that saw him carrying a .099/.156/.113 slash line. Jon Singleton has seen most of the playing time at first base while Abreu has been away. Singleton could continue to see action even when Abreu comes back as there is no guarantee that Abreu will return to an everyday role.

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of the game against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. Fantasy managers don't have anything to worry about as this appears to be a routine rest day for Smith. In his absence, Austin Barnes will handle behind the plate and bat ninth on Sunday. Fantasy managers should be able to find a better streaming option considering Barnes isn't known for his ability with the bat.

Veteran ace Kevin Gausman threw six strong innings on Saturday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Rays. Gausman surrendered three earned runs on eight hits while striking out six, leaving with a 4-3 lead. However, Nate Pearson gave up a two-run homer to outfielder Jonny DeLuca to ruin the win for Gausman. Gausman remains at 2-3 with a 4.89 ERA and 1.51 WHIP, with 43 strikeouts in 42 innings. He only went three innings in his last start, giving up six earned runs. He will make his next start this coming week at Detroit on Thursday.

Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez cracked his 10th home run of the season in Friday's win over the division-rival Minnesota Twins, delivering a go-ahead blast in the eighth inning. Ramirez took Twins closer Jhoan Duran yard for some two-out thunder and a 3-2 Guardians advantage, opening the door for stopper Emmanuel Clase to slam the door for the save in the ninth inning. Over his last 12 outings, the 31-year-old fantasy superstar is batting a strong .311 with five homers, 13 RBI, and three stolen bases as Cleveland's everyday No. 3 hitter. Ramirez deals with the Twins two more times this weekend. In 16 games against Minnesota since 2023, he's hitting just .175 with the lone long ball and five RBI.

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Michael Taylor will take a seat on the bench on Friday for the start of a series at Wrigley Field against the division-rival Chicago Cubs. Taylor will retreat to the bench after starting the last four games while going 2-for-13 with a double, two runs scored and five strikeouts to drop his season slash line to a weak .222/.271/.287. The 33-year-old veteran outfielder has added only one home run, eight RBI, three stolen bases and 12 runs scored for the Bucs through a month and a half of the season. Jack Suwinski is getting the start in center field and is batting sixth, while Connor Joe will be in right field while hitting cleanup against Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks. Both Joe and Suwinski are worth a look as DFS sleepers in the outfield on Friday against a pitcher who currently holds an 0-3 record and 10.04 ERA.

Los Angeles Dodgers backstop Will Smith will be getting the day off on Thursday as the Dodgers open a four-game set against the Cincinnati Reds. Smith has started each of the past six games and holds an overall .315/.381/.479 line with four home runs. Instead, Austin Barnes will serve as the catcher for Tyler Glasnow and will bat in the nine-hole. The 34-year-old is best to fade in DFS as he enters Thursday with a .219/.359/.250 slash line with no home runs and has only appeared in 13 games this season.

Los Angeles Angels right-hander Jose Cisnero (shoulder) started his throwing progression and played catch last Thursday before progressing to throwing from 60 feet on Monday. Cisnero struggled in his last outing on April 27 against the Minnesota Twins and then complained of shoulder discomfort before being put on the 15-day injured list on April 28. At the time, manager Ron Washington said the injury wasn't considered serious, so the reliever could be back in the Angels' bullpen sooner than later. The 35-year-old Dominican hurler is in his first year with the Halos and had a bloated 7.07 ERA (6.28 FIP) and 1.71 WHIP with seven walks and 16 strikeouts in 14 relief innings at the time of his shoulder injury. Cisnero won't have any real fantasy appeal when he's back.

Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez smacked a two-run single in the eighth inning and followed that up with another two-run single in the ninth inning during Monday night's 7-0 win over Texas Rangers. Ramirez went 2-for-4, collected four RBI, and picked up two stolen bases in the contest. The switch-hitting slugger has been under-par in the batting average department with a .235 average but has produced the power with nine long balls and 33 RBI. Ramirez's days of batting .280 and above may be over. Still, he remains a big-time fantasy contributor who looks to continue the momentum against rookie pitcher Jack Leiter on Tuesday and Jon Gray on Wednesday.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Kevin Pillar went 3-for-4 with three RBI, two runs scored, and a stolen base in Saturday's 9-3 win over the Royals. It was the 35-year-old's second three-hit game in his last four, so perhaps things are looking up for the veteran in what has been an otherwise forgetful beginning to the season. Through May 5, Pillar was batting .161 but this four-game stretch has raised his season average to .261 as he's logged just 12 starts in 2024 and has come in as a pinch-hitter, pinch-runner, or defensive replacement 12 times. The recent outburst is nice to see for Pillar, but you're still staying away for fantasy unless he can get more regular at-bats.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher James Paxton pitched six innings of shutout ball in Saturday's 5-0 victory over the Padres, allowing just four hits and no walks while striking out four on the way to earning his fifth win of the season. The veteran has an impressive 2.58 ERA on the season and a low HR/FB% of 6.3%, but the 1.41 WHIP and -1.2% K-BB% are a bit concerning. A high 86.3% LOB% with such a low strikeout rate and a FIP of 4.91 indicate things could fall apart quickly for the southpaw. Nevertheless, if he can continue to walk the tightrope, the Dodgers should continue to provide enough run support for the 35-year-old to collect some additional wins.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielders Kevin Kiermaier (illness) and George Springer (illness) remain out of the starting lineup on Saturday against the visiting Minnesota Twins for the second straight day as they remain under the weather. Daulton Varsho is back in center field and is batting second, while Cavan Biggio is in right field and is hitting eighth in the batting order against Twins rookie right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson. Davis Schneider is back in left field and in the leadoff spot for the Jays. Fantasy managers need to keep both Kiermaier and Springer benched for another day and check back to see if they're feeling good enough to play in the series finale on Sunday. Nobody in Toronto's lineup has faced Woods Richardson in their careers.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielders Kevin Kiermaier (illness) and George Springer (illness) are both out of Friday's lineup against the visiting Minnesota Twins because they are sick, according to manager John Schneider. Daulton Varsho is starting in center field and is batting second, while Cavan Biggio is in right field and is hitting seventh against Twins right-hander Joe Ryan. Davis Schneider is in left field and is batting leadoff for the Jays. With Springer under the weather and struggling offensively for much of the year so far, it's possible Schneider sees more time in the leadoff spot, even when Springer gets over his illness. Fantasy baseball managers will need to check back on Saturday to see if either Kiermaier or Springer are feeling well enough to get back on the field for the second game of the weekend series.

Houston Astros first baseman Jon Singleton launched his fourth home run in the past nine games in Thursday's victory over the New York Yankees. The 32-year-old has started at first base in each of these nine games and is looking like the primary option at this position for Houston. In this stretch, Singleton has a .241/.343/.655 line, 10 RBI, and a strong 5:6 BB:K ratio. His metrics support his recent power production as he currently sits with a 9.3% barrel rate, which is above average. His recent production in the batter's box and clear role on the Houston depth chart make Singleton an intriguing add in most formats.

Houston Astros relief pitcher Ryan Pressly (back) made his first appearance since last Friday in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the New York Yankees, giving up a home run and one walk with one strikeout while recording two outs. Making his first appearance in six days after experiencing soreness in his lower back, Pressly wasn't sharp in the eighth inning while throwing just 10 of his 22 pitches for strikes and serving up a monstrous home run to Aaron Judge late on Wednesday. While the 35-year-old veteran reliever has taken a backseat to All-Star closer Josh Hader in the saves department, he's not helping his cause with a poor 5.65 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, 22:6 K:BB, and two blown saves over 14 1/3 innings out of Houston's bullpen this year. Even in fantasy leagues that count holds, Pressly is barely worth hanging onto right now.

Houston Astros right-handed reliever Ryan Pressly (back), who hasn't pitched since last Friday, is dealing with soreness in his lower back, according to manager Joe Espada. Pressly played catch on Wednesday, and Espada said he "felt OK" and termed it "nothing worrisome right now." For now, the 35-year-old will remain with the team, but it remains to be seen if he'll be available out of the team's bullpen on Wednesday against the New York Yankees. Pressly's back issues could have contributed to his slow start in 2024, as he's currently sporting a 5.27 ERA and 1.68 WHIP while walking five and striking out 21 in 13 2/3 innings of relief. However, he hasn't allowed a run in his last five innings while walking one and striking out nine and will remain a key late-inning setup man in front of closer Josh Hader if he's healthy enough to pitch.

The Texas Rangers acquired outfielder Robbie Grossman from the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday in exchange for right-hander Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa, according to the Rangers. The 34-year-old switch-hitting veteran will return to the Rangers after he hit .238/.340/.394 with 10 home runs and 49 RBI in 115 regular-season games with the World Series champions last year. In 25 games with the White Sox this year, Grossman had gone 15-for-71 (.211) with no home runs, four RBI and two stolen bases in 85 plate appearances. Grossman isn't going to hit for average but has solid on-base skills and will give the Rangers another bat off the bench for the time being with rookie Wyatt Langford (oblique) currently on the 10-day injured list.

Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien collected a season-high five RBI in Tuesday's 15-8 win over the division-rival Oakland Athletics, also smacking a solo home run in the victory. It was a massive day at the plate for Semien, who went 4-for-5 with an RBI single plus a two-run double as part of a 10-run blitz in the second frame by the Rangers, and he added another run-scoring single in the fourth for good measure. The 33-year-old All-Star infielder is now slashing a solid .266/.314/.449 with six homers, nine doubles, 27 RBI, and 27 runs scored in 158 at-bats as Texas' everyday leadoff man. Before a tasty three-game weekend set against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field begins on Friday, Semien gets two more cracks at his former Athletics team in Wednesday's doubleheader. In 18 games versus Oakland since 2023, Semien is batting .329 with four long balls, 15 RBI, and three stolen bases.

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada told SportsTalk790 that there is no timetable for first baseman Jose Abreu to return to the big-league roster. Abreu was sent down to the Florida Complex League on April 30 to help with his swing. Before being optioned, Abreu struggled at the plate, slashing .099/.156/.113 with zero home runs and three RBI. With Abreu in the minor leagues, Houston has been starting Jon Singleton at first base. Singleton is slashing .258/.329/.435 this season with three home runs and eight RBI. If Abreu does return to the MLB, he will need to prove he can produce offensively to be an everyday player for the Astros once again.

Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Caleb Thielbar earned his third save of the season in Monday's 3-1 win over the Mariners. Thielbar came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by two and delivered a 1-2-3 outing with two strikeouts. Closer Jhoan Duran was called upon to face the top of the order in the eighth inning, so Thielbar got the save opportunity. The 37-year-old veteran has gotten off to a rough start this season with a bloated 6.14 ERA in 7 1/3 innings pitched. His fantasy value will remain limited if he continues to pitch poorly, as it seems unlikely that he would earn high-leverage situations.

Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez belted his seventh home run of the 2024 regular season in Monday's 2-1 win over the division-rival Detroit Tigers, helping lift his team to victory. Ramirez's go-ahead blast came in the eighth inning, and it was his second homer in as many days after going yard in Sunday's series finale against the Los Angeles Angels. It's been a much-needed rebound for Ramirez, who was mired in a 3-for-28 dry spell over eight games prior to Sunday. The 31-year-old perennial All-Star is still slashing a disappointing .230/.278/.432 on the season, but he does have seven bombs, 28 RBI, 23 runs scored, and five stolen bases covering 139 at-bats (34 games) for the Guardians. Ramirez will try to solve his woes against the Tigers during the final two contests of this three-game series, as he's batting just .167 (9-for-54) with three round-trippers and six RBI across 14 games versus Detroit since 2023.