Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez is making his first-ever start in center field and is batting seventh for Monday's series opener against the visiting San Diego Padres and right-hander Randy Vasquez at Comerica Park. Baez gives the Tigers an extra option in the outfield with Parker Meadows (shoulder) on the injured list, and outfielder Kerry Carpenter (hamstring) is also out of Monday's lineup. However, there's no guarantee that the Puerto Rican product will gain outfield eligibility for fantasy managers. Given how poorly he's played since signing with the Tigers in 2022, Baez's .268/.305/.321 slash line through his first 17 games in 2025 is actually an improvement. But the 32-year-old veteran still has only a .627 OPS, no home runs, three doubles, four RBI and 14 strikeouts in 59 plate appearances as a utility man for Detroit in 2025. The two-time All-Star is no longer an everyday player.

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With the Detroit Tigers currently using a six-man starting rotation during a busy stretch of their schedule, right-hander Keider Montero will make his second start of the season for Monday's series opener against the San Diego Padres at Comerica Park. He will be on a standard four days of rest after making his season debut last Wednesday against the Milwaukee Brewers, when he allowed five earned runs on eight hits (three homers) while walking one and striking out eight in five innings in a loss. Montero will be facing an even weaker Padres lineup with first baseman Luis Arraez (concussion) heading to the injured list, but he'll still be a shaky DFS streamer after his subpar performance last week. The 24-year-old's command location will continue to be a primary focus after he struggled with both last Wednesday. It's a good bet that Montero will head back to Triple-A Toledo after Monday's outing.

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Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter (hamstring) is not in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the visiting San Diego Padres at Comerica Park, but for now, he will not be placed on the 10-day injured list, according to the Detroit News' Chris McCosky. Carpenter is currently being considered day-to-day with right-hamstring soreness, but if he's not able to return action by this weekend's series against the Baltimore Orioles, he could be a candidate to land on the IL. With the 27-year-old out on Monday, Zack McKinstry is starting in right field and batting second against Padres right-hander Randy Vasquez. Carpenter is an everyday player for Detroit when he's healthy and has been a must-start in fall fantasy formats, as he's hitting .315 (23-for-73) with five homers, 11 RBI and 11 runs in the early going in 2025. McKinstry has never faced Vasquez in his MLB career.

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The Detroit Tigers announced on Monday that they have recalled infield prospect Jace Jung from Triple-A Toledo and optioned infielder/outfielder Ryan Kreidler to Toledo in a corresponding move. Jung is starting at third base and is batting sixth on Monday against the visiting San Diego Padres and right-hander Randy Vasquez at Comerica Park. At least with right-handers on the mound, the 24-year-old Jung figures to play regularly for the Tigers at third base after slashing .239/.409/.463 with three home runs in 19 games for Toledo before his call-up. Jung, the younger brother of Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung, made his big-league debut in 2024 and hit .241 (19-for-79) with five doubles, no homers, three RBI and 14 runs in 34 games played. He will need to lower his strikeout rate (30.9%) from a year ago, but Jung is worth a look in deep-mixed leagues for his power.

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The New York Yankees placed outfielder Trent Grisham on the paternity list prior to Monday's series opener in Cleveland against the Guardians. Infield prospect Jorbit Vivas was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in a corresponding move. Grisham will most likely miss the entire three-game series against the Guardians this week before most likely rejoining the team for Friday's series opener in the Bronx against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays. After hitting under .200 each of the previous three seasons with the Yankees and San Diego Padres, Grisham has been playing well above expectations in the first 20 games of the 2025 season in New York, slashing .320/.393/.700 with a 1.093 OPS, six home runs and 13 RBI in 56 plate appearances as the team's fourth outfielder. The 28-year-old is already three homers shy of his total from 2024.

From RotoBaller

The New York Yankees recalled infield prospect Jorbit Vivas from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday and placed outfielder Trent Grisham on the paternity list in a corresponding move. Vivas is not in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the Cleveland Guardians, and he'll most likely just serve as infield depth in the short term until Grisham returns later this week. The 24-year-old Venezuelan will be making his major-league debut whenever he gets into a game. Vivas is considered the team's No. 20 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and he was hitting a strong .343/.432/.493 with a .925 OPS, two home runs, 14 RBI, four stolen bases and 12 runs scored in 20 games for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before getting the call-up. The left-handed hitter makes consistent contact and has the ability to hit 15-20 homers at the next level, but he'll likely head back to the minors later this week.

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New York Yankees first baseman/designated hitter Ben Rice (elbow) is out of Monday's series opener against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field for the second straight day due to a left-elbow contusion that he suffered after being hit by multiple pitches on Saturday against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays. For now, fantasy managers should continue to consider him day-to-day, and the 26-year-old could return to action for Game 2 of the series on Tuesday. With Rice out again, outfielder Aaron Judge is serving as the DH and is hitting second, with Pablo Reyes starting in right field and batting eighth against Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams. Rice is on pace for a breakout season in 2025, as he's currently hitting .292 (19-for-65) with five homers, nine RBI and two steals in his first 19 games. Judge is a must-start in fantasy lineups, while Reyes should be ignored for DFS purposes on Monday.

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The Chicago White Sox announced on Monday that they placed infield prospect Chase Meidroth (thumb) on the 10-day injured list with right-thumb inflammation and selected the contract of infielder Bobby Dalbec from Triple-A Charlotte in a corresponding move. Left-hander Martin Perez (elbow) was also moved from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL. Meidroth had been dealing with the thumb injury for a few weeks, but he'll now go on the shelf after being scratched from Sunday's contest. It remains to be seen how long the 23-year-old will be out, but in the meantime, expect Jacob Amaya and Lenyn Sosa to split playing time at the keystone for Chicago, with Brooks Baldwin playing the 6. Sosa started at second in Monday's loss to Boston and went 1-for-4. In his first nine games in the majors since being recalled, Meidroth has gone 7-for-26 (.269) with an RBI and a stolen base.

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Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers is not in the starting nine on Monday evening when the Marlins face Cincinnati left-handed pitcher Nick Lodolo. Stowers has only made five starts against left-handed pitching this season. When facing lefties, Stowers has been productive, holding a .500 AVG, but will be held out of the lineup. Through the early part of the campaign, Stowers has held a strong .298/.381/.401 slash line with three doubles and one home run. Under the hood, he has generated an elite 17.0 percent rate with a 51.5 percent hard-hit rate, which are both above the average marks. Instead, Jesus Sanchez will get the nod in right field, which opens up the DH spot for Ronny Simon. Fantasy managers should expect Stowers to return to the starting nine on Tuesday when they face right-hander Nick Martinez. The Marlins are best to fade in DFS this evening, facing Lodolo, who enters this game with a solid 2.31 ERA.

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Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers (oblique) was seen playing catch on Monday. Rogers was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 8 with a left oblique strain. Following that transaction, the team noted that the backstop would be sidelined for at least a month. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he slowly increases his workload. Through the early part of the campaign, Rogers has posted a .222/.364/.333 slash line with one triple across six contests. During this brief taste, Rogers has generated a strong 15.4 percent barrel rate and has shown an elite eye at the plate, drawing walks at an 18.2 percent walk rate. While Rogers remains sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Dillon Dingler to operate as the lead backstop and Thomas Nido to serve as the No. 2.

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The Cleveland Guardians have designated right-handed pitcher Triston McKenzie for assignment. Through the early part of the campaign, the right-hander has logged a poor 11.12 ERA with a 1.47 WHIP across five 2/3 innings of work. McKenzie struggled in 2024 as well, logging 75 2/3 innings to the tune of a 5.11 ERA with a 1.56 WHIP. McKenzie enjoyed an impressive start to his career, holding a solid 3.68 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and a 368:111 K:BB across 344 2/3 innings of work from 2020 through 2022. However, in 2023, the 27-year-old dealt with numerous arm injuries, which have clearly impacted his production since. Fantasy managers should expect McKenzie to report to Triple-A Columbus if he does not draw interest on waivers. In a corresponding move, the Guardians are promoting right-handed pitcher Zak Kent to the MLB roster.

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The Miami Marlins have placed catcher Rob Brantly (lat) on the 10-day injured list with a right lat strain. In a corresponding move, the Marlins promoted catching prospect Agustin Ramirez from Triple-A Jacksonville. Brantly was only able to appear in three games before suffering his injury. During this brief stint, Brantly has tallied three hits across seven at-bats with one RBI. The 35-year-old inked a minor-league contract with the Marlins during the winter. Throughout his 10-year MLB career, the 35-year-old has appeared in 141 games and has held a .228/.286/.323 slash line with 21 doubles and seven home runs. While he remains sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Ramirez to operate in the top spot on the depth chart alongside Liam Hicks. Brantly is not worth stashing in any fantasy format, as he may not be guaranteed a spot on the roster when he returns.

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Cincinnati Reds third baseman Noelvi Marte will get the starting nod again on Monday evening when they begin a series against the Miami Marlins. Marte enjoyed a career game on Sunday and is being rewarded with another start at the hot corner. He is slated to bat in the eight-hole. On Sunday, Marte went 5-for-7 with two doubles and a grand slam. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Marte's status as he could be earning the majority of starts at the hot corner over Jeimer Candelario. Last summer, Marte had a disappointing season as he held a .210/.248/.301 slash line with just four home runs and nine stolen bases. This was a sharp decline compared to the .316/.366/.456 line he held across his first 33-game taste of the majors in 2023. Marte is worth considering in DFS given his recent play facing Miami right-hander Max Meyer.

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Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter (hamstring) was seen testing his hamstring on Monday. Carpenter was seen jogging in the outfield before Monday's game against the San Diego Padres. The outfielder was removed from Sunday's contest due to hamstring soreness. However, it appears this injury is minor as the 27-year-old is already back on the field. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to his status leading up to Monday's contest against the San Diego Padres. If Carpenter were to be held out of Monday's game, Zach McKinstry will likely get the nod in right field. Through 22 games this season, Carpenter has enjoyed a hot start to the campaign, holding a .315/.338/.562 slash line with five home runs and three doubles. If he is cleared to play, Carpenter is worth a look in DFS facing San Diego right-hander Randy Vasquez.

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New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Sunday's 4-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. The 29-year-old registered his second home run and third steal of the season. There isn't much getting around it -- Bellinger hasn't been great during his first stint in pinstripes. He currently holds a higher average exit velocity and hard-hit rate than he has in years, but it hasn't translated to production on the field. The 29-year-old is 12-for-67 (.179) with four extra-base hits (one double, one triple) and a .550 OPS. Furthermore, he's striking out 25% of the time after compiling a 15.6% punchout rate over the prior two seasons. Bellinger's BABIP is unusually low (.204), so he may see some positive regression soon. Still, this isn't how he wanted to start his career as a Yankee.

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New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto went 2-for-3 with a single, double, walk, and strikeout in his team's 7-4 win against the St. Louis Cardinals. The lefty slugger notched a sac fly, drove in three runs, and scored once. Soto hasn't yet lived up to his billing in his new digs, but he's still been productive. Despite an uncharacteristic .256 average, he's already recorded 16 runs with 12 RBI, five doubles, and three long balls. The power hasn't come around yet for him, but he's still walking a strong 17.7% of the time and holds a solid .385 OBP. It's too early to panic about him, particularly because a down year from Soto is still better than most ballplayers' best. The 26-year-old should heat up in no time.

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Chicago White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn went 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI, and one run scored in Sunday's 8-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox. It was his first multi-hit game of the season. Vaughn has been ice-cold to start the year, batting a dismal .152 (12-for-79) with three long balls, two doubles, ten RBI, and five runs scored. However, he may be heating up. The former third-overall pick has a hit in six of his last seven outings, and has ticked up his hard-hit percentage to a strong 49.2% of the time. A 24.1% strikeout percentage isn't great, though, and he holds a career-low 4.8% walk rate. As a silver lining, the 27-year-old's home run on Sunday was also his hardest hit ball of the season -- exiting the bat at 110.5 MPH.

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New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor went 3-for-5 with a home run in the team's 7-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. He also struck out once and scored thrice. Lindor has typically been a slow starter, but he's wasted no time impacting the field in 2025. The 31-year-old has a hit in 16 of 18 games since starting the season 0-for-11 over New York's first three contests. He's got two homers in his last three appearances and is making consistent hard contact. On Sunday, the former first-round pick logged three hard-hit balls, all registering 102.9 MPH or above. Lindor's spot in the Mets' lineup may limit his RBI totals this season. However, he may make up for it in runs scored -- particularly with teammate Juan Soto heating up and Pete Alonso performing like one of the best hitters in baseball behind him.

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Toronto Blue Jays pitching prospect Jake Bloss posted his best outing of the campaign on Sunday against Triple-A Syracuse. Bloss logged four 2/3 innings of two-run ball (zero earned) with six hits and no walks. He tallied a season-high seven punchouts. This was also a much-needed bounce-back for Bloss as he allowed seven earned runs and five hits in his last start, across two 2/3 innings of work. Through 16 total innings at Triple-A Buffalo this season, Bloss has held a modest 16 innings with a 7.31 ERA and a 2.13 WHIP. However, his promising start on Sunday could provide him with some momentum going forward. Last season, the right-hander logged his first 11 2/3 innings in the majors and held a 6.94 ERA. If Bloss continues to progress at Triple-A, he should be in the mix to earn a promotion to Toronto.

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Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan went 1-for-4 with two RBIs and his fourth home run in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. He added a run scored and one walk. Kwan took Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller deep over the right field wall in the top of the third inning to put Cleveland up 2-0. It'd be his only hit of the contest, but the 27-year-old is batting a robust .325 (27-for-83) with 14 RBI, 14 runs scored, and two doubles. Despite not walking much, he again holds a strong 10.9% strikeout rate. If Kwan can stay healthy all year, he's currently on pace to smash his personal best of 14 home runs (30), which he set a year ago. It seems unlikely that he'll hit that lofty total, but his fourth homer wasn't launched until June last season.

From RotoBaller