Zack Gelof likely to play Sunday after day off

Witt made it back to Kansas City’s lineup for the first time in over one week following a six-game absence due to a low-grade MCL sprain in his right knee. The encouraging development for fantasy managers is that Witt is back on the field and managed to avoid a trip to the injured list. The 26-year-old fantasy superstar has put together a phenomenal season, slashing .291/.367/.460 with 41 runs scored, 10 homers, 32 RBI and an American League-leading 28 stolen bases through 77 games this season.

There was concern earlier this week whether Jones would be ready to take the ball for his next start after being hit on the back of his throwing elbow by a line drive during last weekend’s start against the Rockies. The 24-year-old former top prospect underwent X-rays that came back negative for any fractures and has been cleared to take the ball at PNC Park on Saturday afternoon.

Holliday returned to Baltimore’s lineup following a four-game absence due to a lingering groin issue. There was some concern he would wind up requiring a trip to the injured list as the issue persisted, which makes it a positive sign that he was back in the mix for Friday’s series opener.

It’s a decent spot for Peterson to make his Cubs debut since Milwaukee ranks 22nd as a team in OPS against left-handed pitching this season. The 30-year-old southpaw was acquired from the Mets to shore up Chicago’s injury-ravaged rotation earlier this week. His immediate fantasy appeal is strictly limited to deeper mixed leagues given his struggles this year, but it’s possible a change of scenery helps him get back on track.

Anderson’s remarkable 27 1/3 scoreless innings streak was snapped in the opening frame on Friday night, but he still managed to turn in another dominant performance. He’s recorded at least eight strikeouts in eight of his first 13 professional starts since being selected third overall in last year’s MLB Draft. He’s put together one of the best Double-A campaigns in recent memory with a microscopic 1.22 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 99/10 K/BB ratio across 66 2/3 innings. The 21-year-old southpaw has emerged as the top pitching prospect in baseball and should arrive in Seattle at some point later this summer following next month’s All-Star break. He’s a viable stash candidate in all fantasy formats based on his massive strikeout upside.

Hernandez continues to establish himself as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, becoming the first minor league to reach the 100-strikeout plateau on Friday night when he allowed just six baserunners over five frames. The 19-year-old phenom, who was selected sixth overall in last year’s MLB Draft, has allowed just one run with a 17/6 K/BB ratio across 12 2/3 innings over his last three starts, lowering his full-season ERA from 2.88 to 2.02 in the process. He’s still a ways off from the big leagues, but his present trajectory puts him on track to reach Pittsburgh at some point later next season.

The Cardinals are skipping May’s turn through the rotation with Andre Pallante taking the ball on regular rest against Miami on Saturday. The 28-year-old could probably use some extra rest after getting torched for six runs by the Royals his last time out following a one-hit shutout against the Padres back on June 15.

Padres manager Craig Stammen told reporters late Friday that France will undergo precautionary imaging after being hit on the hand and jamming it a bit later in the contest. He slugged a three-run homer off Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki in San Diego’s lopsided series-opening win. It doesn’t sound like a serious concern, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see him get some time off this weekend.

This was an all-time blowout. Vargas got the White Sox going with a three-run home run that started their 10-run third inning. He chipped in another run-scoring double in that same frame and one last RBI in the seventh when they already had 20 runs home. In all, they hit five home runs as a team and did all of their damage against real pitchers. Infielder Tyler Tolbert actually turned in a scoreless eighth inning when all the dust had settled. Baseball can be a funny sport sometimes. As for Vargas, that home run was his 18th on the season as he looks to put the finishing touches on his All-Star resume.

It’s not too hard to pitch once given a 10-run lead as Sandlin’s lineup did for him after the third inning. They kept tacking on after that and Sandlin kept cruising. His 97 mph fastball and power-curve led the way accounting for 62% of his total pitches and seven of his nine whiffs. All in all, this was a solid outing and one that may earn him another turn in the White Sox’s rotation.