Oakland Athletics left-hander Ken Waldichuk (elbow) faced live hitters in a 25-pitch live batting practice session on Monday and will pitch in a simulated game and could go on a minor-league rehab assignment after that. The 26-year-old former fifth-round pick by the New York Yankees in 2019 out of Saint Mary's could be a starting rotation option for the A's and fantasy managers in deeper leagues sooner than later. In his second big-league season in 2023, he went 4-9 with a 5.36 ERA (5.30 FIP) and 1.56 WHIP with 71 walks and 132 strikeouts in 141 innings over 35 appearances (22 starts). His 3.42 ERA in his final 10 outings last year gave fantasy managers some hope that he could be better this year, but a UCL sprain and flex strain have delayed his start to 2024. Waldichuk is a consideration in AL-only leagues once he's activated.

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Oakland Athletics second baseman Zack Gelof (oblique) is currently shut down from baseball activities. Unsurprisingly, Gelof will miss more than the 10 days on the injured list with a strained left oblique. There will be no timetable for his return to the big leagues until he starts ramping up his activities and goes on a minor-league rehab assignment. The 24-year-old former second-round pick in 2021 out of Virginia held his own in his rookie season in 2023 with a .267/.337/.504 slash line with an .840 OPS, 14 home runs, 32 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 69 games, but he's gotten out of the gates slow in 2024 with a .196 average (18-for-92) with three homers, seven RBI and four stolen bases in his first 24 games. His oblique injury won't make it any easier to bounce back once he returns. In the meantime, Max Schuemann figures to see most of the playing time at the keystone in Oakland.

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Oakland Athletics third baseman J.D. Davis (thigh) will continue his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas through at least this Thursday. Davis played in his first rehab game with Vegas on Sunday and went 1-for-4 with a double, a run scored and a strikeout as the designated hitter. The A's would like to see him play in several more games down on the farm and return to the field before they consider activating him from the 10-day injured list. The 31-year-old veteran should eventually return to everyday duties for the A's at third base when he's healthy. In his first 14 games for the A's before getting hurt, he went just 10-for-51 (.196) with two home runs and two RBI in 55 plate appearances. Darrell Hernaiz has been playing often at the hot corner of late with Davis sidelined.

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Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Ryne Nelson (elbow) threw a five-inning simulated game on Monday that went smoothly, according to manager Torey Lovullo. Nelson was able to toss 75 pitches during the session and may not even need a minor-league rehab assignment before being activated from the 15-day injured list. He's only dealing with a right-elbow contusion after being hit by a line drive. It's a good bet that he'll come off the IL when he's eligible on May 4. The former second-round selection in 2019 out of Oregon made four starts before his injury and has gone 1-2 with a 4.60 ERA (4.14 FIP) and 1.53 WHIP with five walks and 13 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings pitched. Nelson is going to need more strikeouts to become attractive in shallow mixed fantasy leagues. Until then, he'll be a matchup-based streamer in deeper leagues when he returns to Arizona's rotation.

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Arizona Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald (oblique) will throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, according to manager Torey Lovullo. Sewald was supposed to throw a bullpen on Sunday, but the Diamondbacks pushed him back a bit after he experienced soreness in his oblique after a minor-league rehab outing with Triple-A Reno. While the team has slowed the 33-year-old veteran down slightly, it's great news that he's still on track to throw a bullpen this week. After Wednesday's session, Sewald could make another rehab appearance before being cleared to return to Arizona's bullpen. He has yet to make his 2024 debut, but Sewald should be stashed in all fantasy leagues as Arizona's primary closer when he's healthy. He had a career-high 34 saves in 65 regular-season outings with the D-backs and Seattle Mariners in 2023.

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Miami Marlins shortstop Tim Anderson (hand, thumb) left the game early on Monday against the Washington Nationals after hurting his left hand/thumb. Vidal Brujan replaced Anderson at shortstop after Anderson struck out in his only plate appearance of the game. Fantasy managers will need to check back later on Monday night or early Tuesday morning for an update on the severity of Anderson's injury. The 30-year-old two-time All-Star fell off a cliff in his final season with the Chicago White Sox in 2023 and entered Monday's contest hitting just .223 (21-for-94) with no home runs, five RBI and three runs scored in his first 27 games with the Fish. If Anderson's injury is serious and puts him on the injured list, Brujan would likely become the team's starting shortstop.

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Miami Marlins left-hander Jesus Luzardo (elbow), who was diagnosed with a mild left-flexor muscle strain after undergoing testing, played catch before the team's game on Monday. The Marlins placed Luzardo on the injured list recently after he felt tightness in his left elbow. All in all, it's good news that the 26-year-old southpaw was able to play catch on Monday, but he remains without a timetable to return to the team's starting rotation. Luzardo will definitely have a spot in the rotation waiting for him when he's able to return, and even though he's gotten off to a rough 0-2 start with a 6.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in his first five starts in 2024, he deserves to be rostered in most fantasy leagues once he's back in action.

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The New York Mets expect outfielder Starling Marte to return from the bereavement list on Tuesday, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. Marte is missing his third straight game on Monday against the Chicago Cubs after being placed on the bereavement list on Saturday. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Tuesday, but the 35-year-old veteran should be back in New York's starting lineup to face Cubs right-hander Javier Assad. Tyrone Taylor, who is making a third straight start on Monday with Marte away from the team, will head back to the Mets' bench when Marte returns. Marte has been able to stay healthy so far in 2024 and has been solid for his fantasy managers with a .288 batting average (30-for-104) with four home runs, 12 RBI, six stolen bases and 16 runs scored in 25 games.

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Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich (back) played catch from around 120 feet in the outfield on Monday. Given Yelich's history with back issues, dating back to last year, it's no surprise that the Brewers are taking things slow in his recovery from a lower-back strain that landed him on the injured list. It's good news that the 32-year-old left-hander is doing baseball activities, but it may still be a while before he's cleared to begin a minor-league rehab assignment. Despite the Brewers slow-playing Yelich's rehab, fantasy managers must keep him stashed in an IL spot in all leagues after he opened the season hitting .333/.422/.744 with a 1.166 OPS, five home runs, 11 RBI, two steals and seven runs in his first 39 at-bats. Until he's able to return, Blake Perkins should continue to benefit from more playing time in Milwaukee's outfield.

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Baltimore Orioles closer Craig Kimbrel (back) is considered day-to-day with upper-back tightness, according to manager Brandon Hyde. The skipper doesn't think Kimbrel's soreness is workload related. The 35-year-old right-handed reliever has blown his last two save chances and didn't even record an out while giving up two earned runs in the team's 7-6 loss to the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. The Orioles are hoping that he can avoid going on the injured list, but fantasy managers should prepare for the worst here. Kimbrel is not going to be available if another save situation arises in the series opener on Monday against the division-rival New York Yankees. Those in need of saves should run to the waiver wire and pick up Yennier Cano if he's available, as he's the favorite to be Baltimore's closer if Kimbrel ends up missing extended time.

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The Baltimore Orioles plan to activate left-hander John Means (forearm) from the 15-day injured list this week to make his 2024 season debut, according to manager Brandon Hyde. It's unclear exactly what day Means will make his his return to Baltimore's starting rotation, but the best bet is on Friday in Cincinnati against the Reds. That wouldn't be the greatest matchup for the 31-year-old southpaw for fantasy streamers, but he did look good in his final minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Norfolk, tossing seven scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and one walk. Right-hander Kyle Bradish (elbow) is also on track to make his season debut for the O's this week, so both Cole Irvin and Albert Suarez will soon be bumped from the team's rotation.

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New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) threw on flat ground again on Saturday, and manager Aaron Boone said it went "really well." Cole is now up to 120 feet while throwing on flat ground for the last three weeks as he tries to recover from an elbow injury he suffered in spring training. The 33-year-old ace is getting close to throwing off a mound, which could happen as early as this week. There are no guarantees, but if Cole avoids any setbacks in his recovery, he could be ready to join New York's starting rotation in late May when he's eligible to come off the 60-day injured list. Cole should remain stashed in all fantasy leagues in an injured-list spot after winning the American League Cy Young award in 2023.

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Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell is starting in right field and is batting second on Monday against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies and left-hander Cristopher Sanchez. This will be the first time this year that Adell has batted higher than sixth in the Angels' order. The 25-year-old has earned the bump up the lineup, as he's dropped his strikeout rate considerably through the first month of the 2024 season and is currently slashing .327/.382/.592 with a .974 OPS, three home runs, 10 RBI, a career-high five stolen bases and 10 runs scored in 21 games played. The former 10th overall pick in 2017 out of high school is making his seventh straight start in right field for the Angels and should continue to play every day, especially after the team designated Aaron Hicks for assignment on Monday.

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Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (hamstring) might only need one rehab start, according to manager Craig Counsell. The left-hander has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury on Opening Day. Steele is set to make a rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday. It sounds like the left-hander could be back in the Cubs rotation at some point next week. Fantasy managers will have to wait and see how the rehab start goes before making any moves. Regardless, it doesn't sound like Steele is going to miss much more time.

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Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks (back) is expected to have a rehab start later this week, according to manager Craig Counsell. The right-hander has been throwing off the mound and appears to be doing well. Hendricks was placed on the 15-day injured list last Tuesday due to a lower back injury. The assumption is that Hendricks will return to the Cubs rotation after one rehab start. He was off to a rough start to the season before going down due to injury. Fantasy managers can probably wait until he gets back on track before adding him again.

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Cincinnati Reds first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand (hand) will remain out of the lineup ahead of Monday's game against the San Diego Padres. Encarnacion-Strand was hit on the hand during Saturday's game and will now miss two games because of it. The hope is that this is a minor issue that won't require a trip to the injured list. Jeimer Candelario wilL hold down first base while Santiago Espinal plays third base during Monday's game. Fantasy managers will have to check back on Tuesday for another update on Encarnacion-Strand.

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Los Angeles Angels third baseman Miguel Sano (knee) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The right-handed slugger is still dealing with a lingering knee issue that forced him to exit early last Wednesday. He was able to return to the lineup later in the week but sat out on both Saturday and Sunday. The hope is that Sano will be able to avoid a trip to the injured list. Ehire Adrianza will cover third base during Monday's game.

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Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Jonatan Clase has been optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on Monday. The 21-year-old struggled during his brief stint with the team. He slashed .222/.250/.259 with zero home runs and three RBI in 28 plate appearances. Clase has plenty of potential and should get another shot later in the summer. In the meantime, outfielder Sam Haggerty has been recalled to take the spot on the active roster. He was hitting well in the minors, but is unlikely to do enough to carry viable fantasy value.

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Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. The veteran backstop will take a seat after homering with three RBI on Sunday. The expectation is that Realmuto will be back in the lineup following this one-game absence. Garrett Stubbs will cover behind the plate and bat eighth on Monday.

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Los Angeles Angels outfielder Aaron Hicks has been designated for assignment by the organization on Monday. The veteran outfielder struggled during his brief time with the organization. Hicks slashed .140/.222/.193 over 18 games with the Halos. He put together a solid stint with the Baltimore Orioles last season. Sadly, Hicks couldn't translate that success over to his new team. Hicks will either decide to take the option to Triple-A or elect free agency. In a corresponding move, infielder Cole Tucker has been recalled from Triple-A to join the active roster.

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