RADIO
Yordan Alvarez Returns From Back Injury on Monday
Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (back) is serving as the DH and is batting third in Monday's series opener against the hosting Texas Rangers and right-hander Kumar Rocker, according to MLB.com. Alvarez ended up missing just one game on Sunday against the Chicago Cubs due to back discomfort. Now that the 28-year-old Cuban left-handed slugger is back in the mix, he needs to be returned to all starting lineups in traditional fantasy leagues. Alvarez, a three-time All-Star and former American League Rookie of the Year, remains one of baseball's best all-around hitters, slashing .300/.415/.595 this year while leading the league in OPS (1.010) and total bases (113) in 53 games played. He has added 15 home runs, 31 RBI, 31 runs scored, and a stolen base across 229 plate appearances. Alvarez is in the 100th percentile in xwOBA, the 100th percentile in expected slugging percentage, and the 92nd percentile in hard-hit rate. The dude is an absolute stud. He has never faced Rocker in his career.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Brice Matthews Still Worth Targeting Off the Waiver Wire?
Houston Astros outfielder Brice Matthews has been quiet at the plate in May and may no longer be worth holding in mixed fantasy leagues. In 16 games in May, Matthews has gone 11-for-55 (.200) with two home runs, five RBI, six runs scored, a stolen base, three walks, and 14 strikeouts across 59 plate appearances. He has not homered since May 6 and is barely over the Mendoza Line (.204) on the year with four long balls, 13 RBI, 12 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 39 games in just his second season in the big leagues. Matthews also struggled in a small sample size of 13 games in his first taste of major-league pitching in 2025, going 7-for-42 (.167), although he did hit four home runs while driving in nine, scoring six runs, and stealing one base. Three of the 24-year-old's home runs so far in 2026 came during a nine-game stretch, but outside of that, he just hasn't been consistent enough to warrant a roster spot in mixed leagues. Matthews is currently rostered in only 3% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Cam Smith Looking to Rebound Amid Astros Outfield Competition
Houston Astros outfielder Cam Smith has cooled off after a strong start to the season, slashing .151/.237/.226 across his last 15 games. Smith now owns a .642 OPS with four home runs through 40 games in 2026. The 23-year-old has flashed the offensive tools needed to succeed at the major league level, but consistency has remained an issue during his second MLB season. Smith could also face increased competition for playing time, with Joey Loperfido, Jake Meyers, and Taylor Trammell all targeting returns later this month. The former first-round pick still carries intriguing upside, but he will need to rediscover his early-season rhythm moving forward.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
