Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro said that first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (hand) could return from the 10-day injured list on Friday ahead of the team's weekend series against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, according to Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star. Pasquantino has been out since June 14 with a fractured hamate bone in his right hand, but he appears ready to return for the final three games of the first half of the season this weekend. In two minor-league rehab games this week with Triple-A Omaha, the left-handed slugger has gone 2-for-6 with one RBI and three walks. The 28-year-old has been a disappointment so far in 2026, hitting .224/.309/.350 with a .660 OPS, six home runs, 32 RBI, 28 runs scored, and three stolen bases in his 254 at-bats, but don't forget he broke out to the tune of 32 homers and 113 RBI in 160 games played in 2025. The buy-low window on the Pasquatch is still firmly open, and he might be free to pick up off your league's waiver wire going into the All-Star break. He's currently rostered in only 64% of Yahoo leagues.

Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Kyle Harrison (elbow) has been battling some soreness on the outside of his left elbow in recent weeks, and he said something about it on Wednesday during his start against the St. Louis Cardinals, which is why he departed early, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. The 24-year-old southpaw lasted four innings on Wednesday and allowed three earned runs on four hits while walking none and striking out two to take just his second loss of the season. In his last four starts, Harrison has a 5.00 ERA (3.28 FIP) with 21 strikeouts and two walks in 18 innings pitched. The former third-rounder by the San Francisco Giants in 2020 has been excellent in 2026 in his first year in Milwaukee, going 8-2 with a 3.01 ERA (3.12 FIP) and 1.08 WHIP with 101 strikeouts and 20 walks in 83 2/3 innings across his 17 starts, but he has slowed down considerably to close out the first half of the season. The good news is that Harrison didn't sound overly concerned, and he will now have the upcoming All-Star break next week to rest up his left elbow.

The Boston Red Sox announced on Thursday that they placed left-hander Ranger Suarez (groin) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to July 6) with a strained left groin and recalled infielder Brett Harris from Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move. Suarez will now miss his final scheduled start of the first half of the season this weekend against the New York Mets after he was pulled from his last start on Sunday early against the Los Angeles Angels due to tightness in his left groin. He'll now be sidelined through the All-Star break, and it remains to be seen if he'll be ready to rejoin the rotation for the start of the second half next Friday. The 30-year-old Venezuelan hurler has pitched well enough in his first season in Boston to be held in all fantasy leagues while he recovers from his groin strain. Suarez has gone 4-3 with a 3.15 ERA (2.63 FIP) and 1.16 WHIP with 97 strikeouts and 26 walks in 91 1/3 innings pitched across his 17 starts. He continues to display strong control on the mound and has also posted a career-best 25.8% strikeout rate.

Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (foot) is not in the team's starting lineup for Thursday's series finale in Chicago against the White Sox, according to MLB.com. Brett Harris will make the start at first base and will bat eighth against White Sox left-hander Anthony Kay after being called up from Triple-A Worcester. Contreras left Wednesday's game early after fouling a ball off his left foot, but he told reporters he doesn't think he has anything worse than a bruise and described himself as "day-to-day." Fantasy managers will need to remove him from their lineups on Thursday and check back on Friday to see if he's ready for the series opener in New York against the Mets. The 34-year-old Venezuelan has been a must-start in all fantasy leagues in 2026 in his first year in Beantown, as he's hitting .285/.379/.542 with a .921 OPS, 20 home runs, 61 RBI, 46 runs scored, and two stolen bases across his 312 at-bats. It's unclear if Contreras' foot injury will keep him from participating in the Home Run Derby on Monday.