Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Shane Bieber (elbow) is scheduled to face live hitters on Tuesday, according to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. Bieber returned from Tommy John last year to make seven regular-season starts for Toronto before helping them advance to the World Series against the Dodgers. The 30-year-old former American League Cy Young winner developed right-elbow inflammation in the offseason, though, and was not ready for the start of the 2026 campaign. His session on Tuesday will be the first time that he has thrown off a mound since the World Series last October. Because of how slow the Blue Jays are bringing him along, even without a setback, Bieber probably will not be an option for the team's starting rotation until June. The two-time All-Star should have a rotation spot waiting for him when he's ready, so he'll be worth a look for fantasy managers seeking rotation help in about a month. Bieber is rostered in 45% of Yahoo leagues currently.

San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez (hand) is hitting second for Friday's series opener at Oracle Park against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates and right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski, per MLB.com. Arraez developed some hand soreness in Monday's series opener against the San Diego Padres and was held out as a precaution for the final two games of the series. After another scheduled day off on Thursday, the veteran left-handed hitter is back in action for Game 1 of the series against the Bucs. Fantasy managers in traditional leagues can now plug Arraez back into their starting lineups for Friday's action. The 29-year-old Venezuelan is still searching for his first home run of the year, but he continues to be a reliable source of batting average, going 42-for-133 (.316) with seven doubles, two triples, 11 RBI, 14 runs scored, and four stolen bases in his first 34 contests with San Fran. Arraez has never faced Mlodzinski in his career.

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (hamstring) will "hopefully" run the bases in Cincinnati on Saturday or Sunday, manager Joe Espada told the Houston Chronicle's Matt Kawahara. It will be Pena's final hurdle before being cleared to start a minor-league rehab assignment. It's been almost four weeks since Pena landed on the 10-day injured list with a hamstring strain, but he's nearing his return to Houston's starting lineup. That's great news for a struggling Astros team that recently lost veteran infielder Carlos Correa (ankle) for the rest of the 2026 season. Pena recovered from a fractured finger just in time for Opening Day in late March, and he played in just 10 games before injuring his hamstring. The 28-year-old Dominican infielder nearly had his first 20-20 season as a first-time All-Star in 2025 and hit above .300 in 125 games played, which is why he's rostered in 80% of Yahoo leagues despite being on the IL. If he can avoid a setback on his rehab assignment, Pena could be back with the Astros by the end of next weekend.

Houston Astros right-hander Hunter Brown (shoulder) threw an encouraging first bullpen session on Friday in his recovery from a right-shoulder strain, manager Joe Espada told Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. "Hunter is very anxious to get back on the mound. He is constantly texting, calling, 'What's next? What's next?' So he's doing well," Espada said. The 27-year-old is working his way back from a Grade 2 shoulder strain that landed him on the 15-day injured list in early April. Expect Brown to throw off a mound another couple of times before the Astros look to send him on a minor-league rehab start. Barring a setback, we think Brown should return to Houston's starting rotation by the end of May. In the meantime, the former fifth-rounder out of Wayne State in 2019 should be held in all fantasy formats. After being named an All-Star in 2025 for the first time in his career, Brown allowed just one earned run with six walks and 17 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings across his first two starts in 2026.