Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Hunter Harvey's back "wasn't loosening up" as much as he or the team would have liked by Monday and Tuesday, according to manager Matt Quatraro. Harvey received a cortisone injection on Tuesday, which will shut him down from all activity until Thursday or Friday, but Quatraro said the hurler could be throwing again by the end of the week. Harvey was thought to be making good progress over the last week since he went on the 15-day injured list on Aug. 7, but this pushes his timeline back at least until the Royals can see how he responds to the injection and determine his next steps. The 29-year-old right-hander seemed to be pushing for closing duties in KC's bullpen before getting sidelined, so fantasy managers should pay attention to this late-inning hierarchy going forward.

New York Mets shortstop prospect Jett Williams continued his recovery from wrist surgery on Wednesday by starting a rehab assignment at High-A St. Lucie. The 20-year-old went 1-for-3 with a stolen base in his first game action since April 21. The former first-rounder began the season at Double-A before succumbing to the wrist injury. Last season across three levels of the minors, Williams hit .263 with 13 home runs, but his calling cards are walks and stolen bases, stealing 45 bases and posting an incredible 19.5% BB% that resulted in a .425 OBP in 121 games. The Mets' top offensive prospect (MLB No. 57) is expected to debut sometime next season, but it may be later than expected with so much time lost this year.

New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto socked his career-high 36th home run of the year with five RBI in Wednesday night's blowout win over the visiting Cleveland Guardians in the Bronx. Soto set the new career high with a two-run homer off Guardians left-hander Joey Cantillo to give the Yankees an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, later poking a ball down the left-field line for a bases-clearing double to break the game open and give New York a 7-0 lead in the fourth frame of Wednesday's rout against Cleveland. Over his last 29 games, the 25-year-old perennial All-Star is hitting .321 (36-for-112) with 13 big flies, 10 doubles, 27 RBI, and 31 runs scored.

Washington Nationals second baseman Luis Garcia Jr. belted his 15th home run of the season with three RBI in Wednesday night's win over the visiting Colorado Rockies at Nationals Park. Garcia hammered a three-run shot off Rockies right-hander Tanner Gordon to right-center field in Wednesday's victory over Colorado, making the score 5-0 Nationals in the third inning. The 24-year-old infielder has evolved into a difference-making pickup for fantasy managers since July 3, batting .368 (50-for-136) with eight homers, 26 RBI, and 22 runs scored in his last 37 games as Washington's everyday second baseman.

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen threw seven shutout innings on Wednesday, striking out five hitters during his start against the visiting Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium. Lorenzen scattered four hits and two walks on Wednesday against the Angels, picking up his seventh win of the season in the victory for KC. Since joining the Royals ahead of the trade deadline in late July, the 32-year-old veteran right-hander owns a 1.99 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 16 punchouts and nine walks over 22 2/3 frames (four starts) as he heads into a tough matchup for Tuesday's showdown on the road against the first-place Cleveland Guardians.