Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Luis L. Ortiz had struggled in spring training and in his first two starts of the year, but he was much sharper on Saturday against the Royals, allowing just one run on one hit in 5 2/3 innings while stacking up a career-high 10 strikeouts and issuing just two walks. He threw exactly 100 pitches in his outing and improved to 1-2 on the year with a still-elevated 6.06 ERA and 4.63 FIP. He had 16 whiffs, a 36% whiff percentage, and a 34% CSW percentage. He will look to build on his successful home debut as he returns to face his former team in Pittsburgh on Friday in his next start.

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz provided all the offense the Reds needed in their 5-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. He went 1-for-4 with a two-out grand slam off of Pirates' starter Andrew Heaney in the third inning. The 23-year-old switch-hitter is hitting .237 (14-for-59) with three home runs and three stolen bases through his first 15 games of the season. He isn't quite firing on all cylinders yet, but his grand slam was enough to deliver the win for his team on Saturday and move the team to within one win of .500 as they look to close out a sweep of their division foe on Sunday afternoon.

Minnesota Twins third baseman Jose Miranda will be headed to Triple-A after a slow start to the season and a costly mistake on the basepaths on Saturday. Miranda went just 6-for-36 (.167) in his 12 games before being sent down. On Saturday, he singled as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning and thought he was forced out at second base. However, second baseman Colt Keith didn't touch the base, and Miranda was called safe. Miranda didn't realize the call, though, and started walking back to the dugout before getting to second base himself, allowing Keith to tag him to kill the potential rally. Whether it was that mistake or his lack of performance in the early part of the season that forced the issue, the 26-year-old will head back to Triple-A and can be dropped in almost all formats.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer (thumb) continues to be day-to-day as he works his way back from an issue with his thumb. He left his first Blue Jays' start with a lat strain which he told reporters was "100 percent" related to his thumb issue. On Friday, Scherzer e had additional imaging done in Baltimore, and everything looked normal, according to manager John Schneider. He continues to throw on flat ground but remains without a timetable to return. It looks like his return is still a ways away, but the fact that there is no structural damage is a positive sign that the issue isn't developing into anything worse that could keep him on the shelf even longer.

Colorado Rockies outfielder Brenton Doyle (quadriceps) was just heating up lately at the plate, but he missed the team's last two games in San Diego with a slight quad issue. The Rockies are hoping the issue clears up in a day or two and that he can avoid the injured list. He was going to be replaced in center field on Saturday by Tyler Freeman, but Freeman tweaked his oblique injury in the batting cage before the game. Without Freeman, Mickey Moniak got the call in center field on Saturday and could continue to get more playing time. If either outfielder needs time on the IL, one prospect who could join the team is Adael Amador from the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. Doyle's injury has over-stretched the Rockies' already-thin offense, making them a very favorable matchup to target on the road away from Coors Field.