St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (illness) has been scratched from Monday's series opener at PNC Park against the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates due to an illness and soreness, according to manager Oliver Marmol. Thomas Saggese will replace him at third base and will bat sixth against Pirates right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski. It doesn't sound like anything serious for Arenado, who should be considered day-to-day, and fantasy managers will want to check back on him on Tuesday. The 33-year-old veteran has looked great in the early going, batting .343 (12-for-35) with a homer, six RBI and six runs scored in 35 at-bats. Saggese, one of St. Louis' top prospects, hit his second career home run on Sunday night against the Red Sox and is 2-for-4 with four RBI in just two games in 2025. He should be considered a DFS sleeper against Mlodzinski, who he has faced only one time in his career.

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St. Louis Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera (knee) has been diagnosed with a bone bruise in his left knee after getting more tests in St. Louis on Monday and will miss a minimum of four weeks, according to manager Oliver Marmol. With Herrera on the injured list for the foreseeable future, Willson Contreras isn't a candidate to return behind the plate, according to Marmol. Herrera was forced to leave in the third inning in Game 1 of the team's doubleheader on Sunday against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. It's a tough break for the 24-year-old native of Panama, as he was off to a red-hot start at the plate in 2025 as the Cards' primary catcher, going 8-for-21 with four home runs, two doubles, 11 RBI and six runs scored in his first seven games. Given his excellent start, he's worth stashing in deeper fantasy leagues. Pedro Pages will now be the primary backstop, with Yohel Pozo backing him up.

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Baltimore Orioles outfielder Tyler O'Neill will start Monday's series opener against the hosting Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on the bench. The left-handed-hitting Ryan O'Hearn will start in right field and will bat third against D-backs right-hander Zac Gallen. O'Neill homered yet again on Opening Day to get off to a nice start in his first year in Baltimore, and he's continued to hit well in his first nine games, going 11-for-33 (.333) with three doubles, a triple, seven RBI, six runs scored, three walks and eight strikeouts in 37 plate appearances. Expect O'Neill to return to the starting lineup on Tuesday in Phoenix. O'Hearn should be a popular DFS sleeper on Tuesday in the matchup against Gallen, who he has hit .375 against with two RBI in a small sample size of eight at-bats. O'Hearn is searching for his first homer of 2025 and has gone 6-for-22 with three runs scored early on.

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Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner is not in the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener at Wrigley Field against the visiting Texas Rangers. Jon Berti will get the start at the keystone and will hit eighth for the Cubs against Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi. Hoerner has gotten off to a strong start in 2025 for fantasy managers, hitting .361 (13-for-36) with a double, six RBI, six stolen bases and seven runs scored in 40 trips to the plate over nine games played. The 27-year-old sacrifices power for a contact-oriented approach while also being fleet of foot on the basepaths. Expect him to be back in there on Tuesday in Chicago. Berti has started his first year with the Cubs going 4-for-12 with two stolen bases in just four games played as a utility infielder. He is hitless in just two career at-bats against Eovaldi.

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The Miami Marlins recalled right-hander Valente Bellozo from Triple-A Jacksonville on Monday, and he will make the start in the team's series opener against the division-rival New York Mets at Citi Field. Bellozo is making a spot start in place of right-hander Sandy Alcantara, who was placed on the paternity list on Monday. The 25-year-old Mexican hurler will be making his second start of the year and just his 15th career MLB start after making his debut with the Marlins in 2024. Bellozo looked good in his season debut on March 29 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing just one earned run while walking two and striking out four in 4 1/3 innings. However, the matchup isn't as good this time around for those getting crazy in DFS formats, and he's likely to head back to Jacksonville after the start.

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer (back) is back in right field and is hitting fifth for Monday's series opener against the division-rival Boston Red Sox and right-hander Richard Fitts at Fenway Park. Springer was pulled from Saturday's game against the New York Mets in the ninth inning after he crashed into the outfield wall and was diagnosed with back spasms. The 35-year-old veteran didn't start Sunday's series finale but appeared a a pinch-runner and is now back in the starting lineup a day later. Fantasy managers will be hoping that Springer can pick up where he left off at the plate. The four-time All-Star has so far gone 11-for-29 (.379) with a home run, two doubles, a triple, five RBI, two stolen bases, four runs scored, four walks and 11 strikeouts in 10 games played. Springer has never faced the rookie Fitts in his career.

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Miami Marlins shortstop Xavier Edwards (knee) is back at shortstop and is hitting leadoff for the Fish in Monday's series opener at Citi Field against the division-rival New York Mets and right-hander Kodai Senga. Edwards was scratched from the lineup on Sunday against the division-rival Atlanta Braves due to right-knee soreness, but that contest was eventually postponed due to inclement weather. The 25-year-old won't have to miss any games now that he's back in action for the series opener in Queens. The switch-hitting speedster has started his 2025 season by going 9-for-36 (.250) at the plate with three doubles, three RBI, two stolen bases, four runs scored, four walks and 10 strikeouts in nine games played. Fantasy managers will want to get him back into their starting lineups. Edwards is hitting .143 in just seven career at-bats versus Senga.

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Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios, who was originally scheduled to start on Tuesday, has been moved up for Monday's series opener at Fenway Park against the division-rival Boston Red Sox. Berrios will take the ball instead of Easton Lucas. The 30-year-old Puerto Rican hurler was beat up for six earned runs on nine hits (three homers) in five innings on Opening Day against the Baltimore Orioles on March 27, but he bounced back in his second start on April 1 against the Washington Nationals to give up only two earned runs while walking three and striking out eight in 5 2/3 frames. It's not a great matchup for DFS purposes -- the Red Sox scored 16 runs in Game 2 of a doubleheader on Sunday night -- but Berrios will also be making two starts this week now that he's been moved up. The two-time All-Star comes into his third start of the year with a 6.75 ERA and 1.69 WHIP in 10 2/3 innings.

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Boston Red Sox second base prospect Kristian Campbell will take his first day off of the season in Monday's series opener against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. David Hamilton will get the start at the keystone and will hit eighth for the BoSox against Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios. Campbell, the team's former fourth-round pick in 2023 out of the Georgia Institute of Technology, is off to a great start in his first major-league season. The 22-year-old is slashing .364/.476/.667 with a 1.143 OPS, two home run, four doubles, five RBI, one stolen base, 10 runs scored, eight walks and eight strikeouts in his first 10 games. Campbell has quickly become a must-roster player in all fantasy leagues, and his eight-year, $60 million deal could end up being a huge steal for Boston. Hamilton is hitting .200 in just five career at-bats versus Berrios.

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As expected, the Boston Red Sox optioned right-hander Hunter Dobbins back to Triple-A Worcester on Monday after he made his major-league debut in Game 2 of the team's doubleheader against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals at Fenway Park on Sunday evening. Not only did Dobbins make his MLB debut, but the 25-year-old picked up his first career win as well thanks to an offensive outburst from the offense. He allowed two earned runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out five Cardinals batters in five innings pitched. Dobbins will head back to the farm but could be in consideration for another spot start at some point in 2025 after a good showing in his first big-league appearance. The former eighth-round selection wasn't as good in his first appearance in relief for the WooSox, giving up five earned runs on three homers while walking three and striking out two in 3 2/3 innings.

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Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jared Triolo (back) is being placed on the 10-day injured list on Monday with lower-back soreness and the team is promoting infield prospect Tsung-Che Cheng to the major-league roster in a corresponding move, sources tell MLB.com's Alex Stumpf. Per MLB Pipeline, Cheng is the team's No. 17 prospect. The 27-year-old Triolo was serving in a utility infield role with playing time at second, first and third base while going just 1-for-17 with a run scored before his injury. His back injury was initially deemed pretty mild, so he could return to Pittsburgh when he's eligible to come off the IL in mid-April. In the meantime, Cheng will take his place as a utility infielder for the Bucs. The 23-year-old Taiwanese infielder had gone only 1-for-14 with a walk and six strikeouts in five games for Triple-A Indianapolis before getting his first major-league call-up.

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Updating a previous report, Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (thigh) is out of the starting lineup on Monday against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers at Nationals Park, but manager Dave Martinez said there's no concern with Abrams' right-thigh tightness at the moment. The 24-year-old felt some tightness in his thigh on the final play of the team's game on Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, so he'll sit out Monday's game as a precaution. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Abrams to see if he's back in there for Game 2 of the series on Tuesday. With Abrams out to begin the week, Paul DeJong will slide over to shortstop and will hit seventh, with Jose Tena getting the start at third and batting eighth against Dodgers right-hander Dustin May. Abrams is off to a decent start in 2025, going 9-for-35 with three home runs, two doubles, six RBI and two steals in nine games.

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Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds will take the day off in Monday's series opener against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals and left-hander Matthew Liberatore at PNC Park. Reynolds has been serving as the team's designated hitter to open the season due to a minor right-triceps injury, which probably helps explain why he's hit .182 (8-for-44) with a homer, two doubles, five RBI, one steal, three walks and 15 strikeouts in his first 10 games of the season. The 30-year-old All-Star should be back in the DH spot for the Bucs on Tuesday. In the meantime, veteran Andrew McCutchen is the DH and will bat in the two-hole, while Alexander Canario is starting in right field and hitting sixth on Monday against Liberatore. Canario has never faced Liberatore, while McCutchen has an RBI but is hitless in just six career at-bats. McCutchen has swung it well early in the season, going 6-for-19 with a homer and two RBI.

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Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez let up four runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings of work in Sunday's 8-7 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Sanchez was saddled with a no-decision, but he pitched well, striking out nine Dodgers and allowing one free pass. The 28-year-old threw 60 of 88 pitches for strikes, inducing 15 swings-and-misses in the outing (seven with his slider). It was another strong effort for the fifth-year pro, who is striking out 34% out of the batters he's faced in 2025. Sanchez's chase percentage currently sits in the 87th percentile of all big-leaguers, and his 4.09 ERA should come down if he continues to pitch to his metrics (3.23 xERA). His next projected start comes this weekend, squaring off with the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

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St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Victor Scott II is out of the starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Michael Siani is getting the start in center field and will bat eighth against Pirates right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski. It will be Scott's first game off of the 2025 season after getting off to a hot start this year as the team's primary center fielder. The 24-year-old has gone 9-for-32 (.281) with a home run, five RBI, six runs scored and four stolen bases in nine games played. He should be back in there for fantasy managers in Pittsburgh for the second game of the series. Siani, who hits from the left side, has appeared in eight games this year, but he's only been afforded one plate appearance and is hitless with a run scored. He's also hitless in just three career at-bats against Mlodzinski.

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Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams will retreat to the bench for Monday's series opener versus the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers at National s Park. Paul DeJong will slide over to the 6 and bat seventh, while Jose Tena will get the nod at third base and hit eighth against Dodgers right-hander Dustin May. This will be Abrams' first day off of the 2025 regular season. The 24-year-old former first-rounder of the San Diego Padres in 2019 has started his third full season in D.C. by hitting .257/.289/.571 with an .861 OPS, three home runs, two doubles, six RBI, two steals and five runs scored in nine games played. Expect him to return to action on Tuesday against L.A. Neither DeJong nor Tena will be great DFS options on Monday. DeJong has been the team's regular at third in the early going, and he's going 6-for-25. He's still searching for his first homer and has hit .200 in just five career at-bats versus May.

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San Francisco Giants first baseman Wilmer Flores entered the game in the ninth inning of Sunday's contest as a pinch-hitter and took the first pitch he saw to right field for an RBI single to complete the three-game sweep over the Seattle Mariners over the weekend. Flores is off to a nice start to his 2025 campaign with 12 RBI, five runs scored, and four home runs in 35 plate appearances. Flores is slashing .273/.314/.636 in the young season and will continue his hot start as the Giants host the Cincinnati Reds for a three-game series. Flores has been known to sit against right-handed pitchers occasionally, so fantasy managers should consider riding the hot bat in the short term or adding him in deeper league formats.

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Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan went 1-for-4 on Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels and is now batting .353 in the 2025 season on 38 plate appearances. Although the Guardians lost two of three games to the Angels over the weekend, leadoff hitter Kwan is off to a hot start to begin his 2025 campaign. Kwan is slashing .353/.405/.471 with one home run, eight runs scored, and three RBI. Kwan has had 12 or more stolen bases over the past three seasons, so fantasy managers can expect him to steal more bases as the season progresses. Although his lack of power limits fantasy production, Kwan remains a reliable points league outfielder and helps carry a high average in category leagues. Next up for Kwan is a four-game series against the Chicago White Sox at home, where he will look to continue to lead the Guardians' offense by batting at the top of the order.

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Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia is off to a fantastic start in 2025. On Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles, he went 2-for-4 with a run scored. So far in the young season, he has a slash line of .345/.387/.444 with two home runs, five runs scored, six RBI, and one stolen base. Over the past two seasons, Garcia has swiped 60 bases, so look for him to stay aggressive on the basepaths as the season goes on. Right now, Garcia is batting eighth in the order but has batted leadoff for the Royals in the past, and after this hot start, it would only increase his fantasy value if the Royals decide to move him up in the order. Up next for Garcia is a four-game series against the Minnesota Twins, where he will look to continue his hot start.

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Cincinnati Reds outfielder Spencer Steer hit his first home run of the 2025 season Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers. During the afternoon, Steer went 1-for-3, with the home run being a solo shot against Chad Patrick in the fifth inning. Steer has gotten off to an incredibly slow start, holding a .083/.154/.208 slash line and a 26.9 percent strike out rate in 26 plate appearences. He missed considerable time in spring training with a minor shoulder injury, so fantasy managers can remain optimistic that the home run on Sunday is a sign of good things to come. Over the past two seasons, Steer has hit 40 home runs and driven in 178 RBI, so his slow start can likely be attributed to the injury during Spring Training.

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