RADIO
Christian Yelich Ramping Up Activity, Estimated Return Remains Mid-to-Late May
Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter/outfielder Christian Yelich (groin) is "ramping up hitting and running," and his expected return remains mid-to-late May, per Brewers beat writer Sophia Minnaert. The 34-year-old Yelich has been on the injured list since mid-April due to a strained adductor. Across 56 plate appearances before getting injured, Yelich hit .314/.375/.451 with one home run, 10 RBI, 10 runs scored, and three stolen bases. Injuries are a persistent concern for Yelich, who managed to play 150 games in 2025 but appeared in just 73 contests in 2024. Still, when healthy, the veteran slugger remains a must-start fantasy bat with the potential to contribute in all five categories. With Yelich sidelined, infielder Tyler Black and catcher/first baseman Gary Sanchez could continue to see the majority of DH at-bats for Milwaukee.
Source: Sophia Minnaert
Source: Sophia Minnaert
George Springer Could Be Activated from Injured List on Wednesday
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that outfielder/designated hitter George Springer (toe) could be activated from the 10-day injured list on Wednesday, per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. Springer has been on the IL for over two weeks due to a fractured left big toe. Across 62 plate appearances before getting injured, the 36-year-old hit .185/.290/.370 with two home runs, six RBI, four runs scored, and a stolen base. The veteran Springer had a monster campaign in 2025, hitting .309 with 32 home runs and 18 stolen bases across 586 plate appearances. While some degree of regression is likely for Springer, he still offers power and speed upside for fantasy managers and should be locked into an every-day role at the top of the Blue Jays lineup upon his return.
Source: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson
Source: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson
Javier Baez Carted Off on Tuesday With Apparent Lower-Leg Injury
Detroit Tigers utility man Javier Baez (lower leg) was carted off from his team's game against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night after an awkward slide into first base. While the extent of the injury is not yet known, Tigers beat writer Chris McCosky reports that Baez appeared to be unable to put any weight on his right leg/ankle. The 33-year-old was hitless in two at-bats before leaving the game against Atlanta. Across his first 86 plate appearances of 2026, Baez was hitting .256/.280/.397 with two home runs, six RBI, 10 runs scored, and a stolen base. With Tigers outfielder Parker Meadows (arm) currently on the 60-day injured list due to a broken radius bone, Baez has been seeing more time in center field in Detroit. If Baez is forced to miss time, top Tigers outfield prospect Max Clark could be the next man up in Detroit.
Source: Chris McCosky
Source: Chris McCosky
Casey Mize Exits Early on Tuesday Due to Groin Tightness
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Casey Mize (groin) was forced to exit early from his start on Tuesday night against the Atlanta Braves due to groin tightness, per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Before getting injured, Mize allowed three hits and two earned runs while walking one and striking out three across 2 1/3 innings of work. The 28-year-old has gotten off to a strong start to the 2026 season, posting a 2-2 record with a 2.90 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 35 strikeouts across 31 innings (six starts). The extent of Mize's injury is not yet clear, but a trip to the injured list appears to be a possibility. If Mize were to miss time, Tigers right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long could be the favorite to take his spot in the Detroit rotation.
Source: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
Source: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
Is Louis Varland Toronto's Clear No. 1 Closer?
Toronto Blue Jays right-handed reliever Louis Varland picked up his fourth save of the year in the team's 3-0 shutout win over the visiting Boston Red Sox on Tuesday and is positioning himself as the team's primary closer after right-hander Jeff Hoffman was recently demoted from the closer's role due to his ongoing struggles. Varland, 28, struck out the side in his inning of work to close things out at the Rogers Centre on Tuesday. The former 15th-round pick by the Minnesota Twins in 2019 out of Concordia University in Minnesota came into Tuesday's action with a microscopic 0.60 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 23 strikeouts, and only four walks in his 15 innings of work out of the bullpen. So far, Varland has been a perfect 4-for-4 with his save opportunities. With Hoffman not guaranteed to reclaim the closer role if he begins to turn things around, Varland is absolutely worth a waiver-wire pickup for fantasy managers in need of saves. He's only rostered in 53% of Yahoo leagues right now.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
George Lombard Jr. Being Promoted to Triple-A
New York Yankees infield prospect George Lombard Jr. is being promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, according to Jack Curry of YES Network. The Yankees have believed that Lombard is ready for the majors from a defensive standpoint, but they will now monitor how he progresses offensively at the highest minor-league level. Curry adds that the expectation is that Lombard will play some shortstop and third base at Triple-A. The 20-year-old former 26th overall pick in 2023 got the promotion to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after going 24-for-74 (.324) with four home runs, 10 RBI, 18 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 87 plate appearances over 19 games at Double-A Somerset to begin the 2026 season. Lombard has always been one of the youngest players at every level, and he still has plenty of time to mature and access more raw power from his 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame. Per MLB Pipeline, Lombard is New York's top prospect. Unless Lombard just absolutely kills it at the plate in Triple-A, it's more likely that he'll make his major-league debut for the Yankees in 2027.
Source: YES Network - Jack Curry
Source: YES Network - Jack Curry
Junior Caminero Suffers Jaw Contusion on Tuesday, Considered Day-to-Day
Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (jaw) was forced from Tuesday's game in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians with a right-jaw contusion after fouling a ball off the right side of his face, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The good news is that Caminero's injury isn't serious, and he's considered day-to-day. In his only at-bat before leaving, Caminero was 0-for-1 at the plate. Ben Williamson entered the game for the Rays to play second base, with Richie Palacios shifting over to the hot corner. It doesn't sound like Caminero will be forced to the injured list with this injury, but he could be held out of Wednesday's series finale against Cleveland as a precaution. Fantasy managers will want to check back then to see if he's back in the starting lineup for Tampa. The 22-year-old Dominican broke out in 2025 in his first full year in the big leagues, slashing .264/.311/.535 with 45 home runs, 110 RBI, and seven stolen bases in 154 games played. He is a must-start anytime he's in the Rays' lineup in traditional leagues. Coming into Tuesday's game, Caminero had gone 29-for-112 (.259) with eight homers and 15 RBI in his 28 games.
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Justin Steele Won't Return Until After the All-Star Break
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that left-hander Justin Steele's (elbow) flexor strain in his left elbow will keep him out of the team's starting rotation until after the All-Star break in mid-July, according to Taylor McGregor of the Marquee Sports Network. The Cubs were originally hoping that Steele could return from the injured list in early June. Unfortunately, Steele had a setback during his rehab on Tuesday and will miss the entire first half of 2026. The 30-year-old southpaw is on the 60-day IL at the moment. Fantasy managers are obviously going to need to be patient with Steele this year. He's currently rostered in only 16% of Yahoo leagues, and fantasy managers in mixed leagues should now be considering whether to continue stashing him for the rest of the first half of the season. Steele was a first-time All-Star in 2023 and was solid again in 2024, but he only made four starts with the Cubbies last year before having UCL revision surgery in April.
Source: Marquee Sports Network - Taylor McGregor
Source: Marquee Sports Network - Taylor McGregor
Pete Fairbanks Going on Injured List With Nerve Irritation
Miami Marlins right-handed closer Pete Fairbanks (thumb) is going on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with nerve irritation, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. The Marlins are hoping that he'll be out for just 15 days. Fairbanks was ineffective in a save opportunity on Monday night in the loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers and was pulled from his outing early after losing feeling in his right hand. It's a similar issue to what he dealt with in April of 2024, when he landed on the IL with the Tampa Bay Rays. Back then, he ended up missing three weeks of action. Miami is hoping it won't be as long this time around, but fantasy managers need to plan for the worst. Fairbanks had five saves and a bloated 10.00 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in his first nine innings for Miami in 2026, but he also secured five saves and has 80 saves since the start of the 2023 campaign. With Fairbanks sidelined for at least the next two weeks, expect the Fish to use a closer-by-committee that could feature any of Anthony Bender, Andrew Nardi, Tyler Phillips, and Calvin Faucher.
Source: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
Source: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
Manny Machado Out After Suffering Calf Cramping on Monday
San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (calf) is not in the team's starting lineup on Tuesday for Game 2 of the series at Petco Park against the visiting Chicago Cubs, according to MLB.com. Jake Cronenworth is starting at the hot corner and will bat ninth for the Friars, with Fernando Tatis Jr. playing second base for a second straight day and batting out of the two-hole versus Cubs right-hander Edward Cabrera. Bryce Johnson is making the start for SD in right field with Tatis back on the dirt in the infield. The 33-year-old veteran was pulled from Monday's win over the Cubs early as a precaution due to calf cramping, and he's available off the bench on Tuesday. The Padres are giving the star third baseman an extra day of rest, but he's expected to be fine, and he could return as early as Wednesday's game against the Cubbies. Machado got off to a cold start offensively in 2026, but he hit two home runs on Sunday in Mexico City and had doubled twice on Monday night before leaving with his calf injury, perhaps signaling that he's on the verge of breaking out with April nearing an end. Check back on Wednesday to see if Machado is ready to play in the series finale against the Cubs.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Maikel Garcia Returning for Royals on Tuesday
Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (elbow) is back at the hot corner and is hitting leadoff for Tuesday's game against the Athletics and right-hander Aaron Civale in Sacramento, according to MLB.com. It will be Garcia's first game back since missing three games with right-elbow cramps. However, the 26-year-old did come off the bench for two plate appearances in Sunday's contest. Now that he's back in action, fantasy managers will want to return him to their starting lineups. The Venezuelan third baseman is a fine DFS option for Tuesday's slate as well at hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park. After earning All-Star honors for the first time in 2025 in his fourth year in the majors, Garcia is off to a .263 (26-for-99) start at the plate this year with two home runs, 10 RBI, 15 runs scored, and two stolen bases in his 112 plate appearances across 26 games played. Garcia has hit .133 with a .266 OPS and one RBI in 15 career at-bats against Civale, but don't let that stop you from starting him in his return to the starting nine.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Justin Steele Shut Down Following Setback
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (elbow) has suffered a setback in his rehab program and is shut down from throwing, according to Jesse Rogers. The Cubs were hopeful to get Steele back around Memorial Day in late May. That timetable seems unlikely now with this latest setback. Steele is working his way back from elbow surgery that he underwent in April of last year. Both the Cubs and fantasy managers were hopeful to get something out of Steele here soon, but that doesn't seem like it's going to happen now. The organization should give a better timetable for Steele in the coming days.
Source: Jesse Rogers
Source: Jesse Rogers
Spencer Strider to Make Season Debut This Weekend
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider (oblique) will make his season debut against the Colorado Rockies this weekend. Braves manager Walt Weiss confirmed the news on Tuesday, but it wasn't announced which day Strider will pitch. The right-hander is back in the mix after missing the beginning of the season due to an oblique strain. He threw 82 pitches during his final rehab start at Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday. With that being said, Strider should have a fairly normal workload during his season debut. It's usually never fun pitching at Coors Field, but Strider has too much upside to ignore him. Strider should be rostered and started in basically all fantasy formats, even with his first start being in Colorado.
Source: Grant McAuley
Source: Grant McAuley
Max Muncy Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Fractured Hand
Athletics infielder Max Muncy (hand) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, retroactive to April 26. Muncy is dealing with a fractured fifth metacarpal in his left hand. He reportedly suffered the injury when he was hit by a pitch on April 13, but the fracture wasn't revealed until he underwent an MRI on Monday. Given the severity of the injury, fantasy managers should expect Muncy to miss more than the 10-day minimum on the IL. In a corresponding move, Brett Harris was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas to take over the roster spot. Darell Hernaiz figures to see a majority of the playing time at the hot corner in Muncy's absence.
Source: Athletics PR
Source: Athletics PR
Spencer Schwellenbach Worth Stashing in Deeper Leagues?
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) won't make his season debut until after the All-Star break, according to manager Walt Weiss. That news was confirmed on Tuesday, but that doesn't rule out Schwellenbach still making an impact this season. The right-hander underwent surgery in February to remove bone spurs from his right elbow. He has reportedly been making good progress, but he isn't cleared to begin a throwing session yet. When healthy, Schwellenbach has been a reliable option in the rotation for the Braves. He has a 3.23 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and a 235/41 K:BB ratio across 38 big league starts. Fantasy managers who can afford to keep Schwellenbach on their Injured List spot for a few months should consider adding him.
Source: Mark Bowman
Source: Mark Bowman
