Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is out of the lineup on Saturday due to back tightness. Manager John Schneider commented before the game that the five-time All-Star's back tightened up during Friday's contest and that his absence on Saturday is purely precautionary to avoid aggravating the issue. The good news is that he is feeling better, and the hope is that with minimal time off, he can return to full health. His status is considered day-to-day, with updates likely to provide more clarity ahead of Sunday's game. The usually durable and reliable first baseman has hit just three home runs this season and is enduring what would be considered a down year by his standards, despite posting a .280 batting average. Charles McAdoo will get the start at first base on Saturday and is batting eighth in the lineup.

New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (calf) suffered a setback earlier this week while running the bases. Manager Aaron Boone said that the 36-year-old felt a tweak earlier in the week and that additional imaging may be needed to determine the extent of the injury. There had been some hope that Stanton would return to the lineup at some point during the Yankees' upcoming homestand, but that optimism is now in jeopardy. Given his extensive injury history, the team would be wise to continue taking a cautious approach with his recovery. As such, there is no timetable for his return until more is known about the severity of the setback.

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Carlos Estvez (shoulder) has begun throwing from flat ground and has ramped up both the intensity and volume of his work. While there have been no reports regarding the total number of throws or the distance involved, it is nonetheless a positive sign for a pitcher who has missed most of the season with a right rotator cuff strain. There is no timetable for his return, nor is it known what the next steps in his recovery will be, but it is evident that the 33-year-old is on the mend and moving in the right direction. The Royals will likely continue to bring him along slowly, given the nature of the injury and concerns surrounding his velocity during Spring Training. When he does return, there is no guarantee he will reclaim the role of the team's closer, despite the uncertainty developing at the back end of the bullpen between Lucas Erceg and Alex Lange.

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans (elbow) threw his second successful bullpen session on Friday. He did this just two days after tossing 23 pitches on Wednesday. The fact that he continues to make progress and is able to keep throwing is a positive sign, considering he has missed more than a month with a left elbow impingement and also experienced a setback during his recovery. The next steps for the 28-year-old southpaw will be determined after this weekend and will be based on how he feels. If he emerges without any issues and is ready to continue throwing, he could begin facing live hitters shortly thereafter. All that being said, there is currently no timetable in place for his return. Ragans has struggled to find success this season, posting just one win in eight starts. Both his 4.84 ERA and 1.42 WHIP are the highest those marks have been since his rookie campaign, though injuries may have played a role in his disappointing season.