Cincinnati Reds third baseman Noelvi Marte will not get the start in the team's third game of the series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Marte, who was ranked as the 29th-best prospect in 2023 (MLB Pipeline), has had an underwhelming season at the plate. In 44 games (157 at-bats), he is slashing .197/.235/.318 with four HR, 14 RBI, 20 R, six SB, and an astounding 5:52 BB:K. Santiago Espinal will take his place on the third Saturday, batting eighth. Espinal can be used as a streamer after hitting safely in six consecutive games.

Kansas City Royals catcher/outfielder MJ Melendez and shortstop Paul DeJong are starting Saturday's game against the Detroit Tigers on the bench. Both players have been swinging hot bats recently, with Melendez slashing .278/.316/.500 and DeJong slashing .375/.423/.750 in their last seven games. This speaks to the strength and depth of the Royals lineup, as Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez are starting in their places. Still, both or either player could find their way into the game as pinch hitters late.

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel (back) has been dealing with a back injury and was kept out of the lineup in Saturday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Angels manager Ron Washington said he would give him Saturday and Sunday off, then play on Tuesday in Detroit. Schanuel has been one of the few bright spots in the Angels lineup this season and has put together a very nice 2024 campaign. In 120 games (427 at-bats), he is slashing .253/.348/.375 with 12 HR, 41 RBI, 54 runs, and four stolen bases.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Bowden Francis took a no-hitter into the ninth inning on Saturday during Toronto's 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Francis lost the no-hitter after giving up a solo HR to Taylor Ward but was spectacular along the way, striking out 12 Angels and recording his seventh win of the season. Francis has been very strong as a starter, allowing just four ER over his last four starts since Toronto moved him into the rotation. This marks his third straight start going seven innings or deeper, including a prior start against the Angels where he only gave up one hit in seven innings. The 28-year-old now also has four straight starts with seven or more strikeouts, giving him plenty of value from a fantasy perspective. Fantasy managers looking for starting pitching help need to snag Francis off the waiver wire if available. His next scheduled start is set for Thursday when the Blue Jays finish off a four game series in Boston against the Red Sox. Boston's bats should provide a tough test for the righty, though they've been prone to strikeouts that may make Francis a solid DFS option.

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had another solid game on Saturday as he hit a solo shot in the eighth inning to go along with a RBI double during the Blue Jays' 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. While the story of the game on Saturday was Bowden Francis' dominant performance, Guerrero Jr.'s production helped secure the win for Toronto. He now has 27 HR and 83 RBI on the season and leads the Blue Jays in both categories. His 163 OPS+ also ranks just four points behind his 167 OPS+ in 2021 when he finished second in the AL MVP race behind Shohei Ohtani. Having Guerrero Jr. in your fantasy lineup should be a no-brainer at this point as Toronto winds down its season in a low stress environment. Expect him to be in tomorrow's lineup against Angels' scheduled starter Tyler Anderson, who he is 5-9 against in his career.