It looks like Altuve may be able to jump back into Houston’s lineup without requiring any minor league game action to get back up to speed. How quickly that occurs remains a bit up in the air since he’ll need to face live pitching in a batting practice session prior to being activated. However, it doesn’t sound like he’s too far away. The 36-year-old has made a lightning-quick recovery from an oblique strain that put him on the injured list back in mid-May.

It’s a significant hit for Chicago and fantasy managers as Murakami will remain on the shelf until at least late June, even in a best-case scenario. There’s a chance he’s out until around the All-Star break in mid-July. The 26-year-old power-hitter was putting together a phenomenal rookie campaign, slashing .240/.378/.560 with 43 runs scored, 20 homers, 41 RBI and one stolen base across 246 plate appearances through 57 games. There are some lingering contact concerns in his profile, but he’s looked like an over-the-fence power threat so far. There should be a clearer return timetable once he’s cleared to begin ramping up baseball activities. It’ll be Miguel Vargas moving over to cover first base with breakout prospect Jacob Gonzalez getting a chance with the White Sox in a multi-position role.

Gonzalez gets the call to the majors on his 24th birthday, replacing an injured Munetaka Murakami (hamstring) after a torrid stretch on the doorstep of the majors, slashing .317/.419/.688 with a career-high 19 homers and eight steals across 238 plate appearances over 52 games. He’s absent from Saturday’s lineup with lefty Framber Valdez taking the ball for Detroit. The versatile infielder Chicago’s first-round pick back in 2023 and was a bit of an afterthought prior to this season’s unexpected power breakthrough. It’s worth noting that Triple-A Charlotte was the most pitcher-friendly environment in entire International League last year, according to Baseball America’s park factors. There’s enough evidence based on a noticeable uptick in exit velocity this season to suggest that Gonzalez has made a legitimate breakthrough and could be an impactful fantasy contributor in deeper mixed leagues.

Pérez underwent an MRI that revealed a strain in the thigh muscle in his right leg. The 23-year-old suffered the injury while stretching between innings during Wednesday’s start against the Blue Jays. It’s a brutal development for the Marlins and fantasy managers as the injury is likely to keep him sidelined until at least late July. It’s a bit unclear how Miami plans to fill his rotation spot as their starting pitching depth has suddenly become razor-thin after losing top prospects Robby Snelling (elbow) and Thomas White (shoulder) to injury.

In addition to the two homers, Crawford — who has not exactly wowed with his defense over the past few years — also made a game-saving play on a diving stop in the top of the tenth. He came around to score his fourth run of the game in the bottom of the frame on a walk-off hit from Randy Arozarena. Crawford has homered nine times in 2026 while forging a solid .741 OPS. He’s a much different player at this stage of his career, but the power and plate skills make him worthy of roster consideration.

Two of the four hits for Rice were doubles. The other extra-base hit was his 17th homer of the season, and a pair of RBI bring his season total to 39 in 57 games; putting him on pace to drive in triple digits for the first time in his young career. Rice had a bit of a scuffle earlier in May, but to say he’s been one of the breakout hitters of 2026 is certainly an understatement. There’s an awful lot to like about what Rice has done over the first two months of the year.

Ohtani also singled twice. His homer was one of four that the Dodgers hit off Zack Wheeler, and it gave the Dodgers a 3-0 lead while also giving Ohtani his 10th homer of the season. It seems unlikely to be the last. The 31-year-old has homered in back-to-back games, and this one comes a game after he threw six no-hit innings. Huh. Might be something here.

Tovar homered in the eighth to get the Rockies to within a run at 4-3. The 24-year-old gave the Rockies the win and also improved his homer total to four with a two-run blast off Caleb Kilian that completed the comeback win for Colorado, as the Rockies entered that inning trailing 6-3. Tovar has struggled for most of the year, but he’s homered three times this week, and he’s shown the ability — in spurts anyway — to be a fantasy factor.

Díaz clobbered a leadoff homer to right field off Angels starter Walbert Ureña before putting the exclamation point on the multi-homer outburst by walloping a go-ahead two-run blast to left-center field off Ryan Zeferjahn in the seventh. The 34-year-old on-base machine continues to serve as Tampa Bay’s primary offensive catalyst this season as he’s up to 10 round-trippers while also hitting .313/.392/.523 with 36 RBI across 51 games.

Venable added that Murakami will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury, but he’s facing a multi-week absence, even in a best-case scenario. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports the White Sox are calling up infielder Jacob Gonzalez from Triple-A Charlotte to take his roster spot. The unheralded 24-year-old has torn the cover off the ball this season, hitting .308/.414/.646 with 18 homers and six steals in 51 games on the doorstep of the majors.