Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before Monday's series opener against the hosting Houston Astros that two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani would serve as the designated hitter during his start on the mound on Tuesday. However, after Monday's game, Roberts said the team would change course and just have Ohtani pitch. The left-handed slugger walked twice, drove in a run, and scored two runs in the 8-3 win on Monday night, but he went 0-for-2 at the plate and is 0-for-17 in the last five games at the plate. This will be the third time so far in 2026 that the Dodgers have given Ohtani a break from hitting on the same day that he pitches. He could use the mental break offensively right now, and he should be back in the lineup as the DH for Wednesday's series finale in Houston. The four-time MVP is producing well below his standards as a hitter, but he's been lights-out on the mound, allowing just four runs (two earned) while walking nine and striking out 34 in 30 innings pitched over his five starts. Despite the tough matchup on Tuesday on the road, Ohtani needs to be in your starting fantasy lineups as a pitcher.

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Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said that catcher Yainer Diaz (oblique) will require a stint on the 10-day injured list with a left-oblique injury, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Diaz was scratched from Monday's series opener against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers with what the team was calling an abdominal injury at the time. Oblique injuries are typically tricky to recover from, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect Diaz to be ready to come off the IL when he's eligible. Christian Vazquez made the start behind the plate on Monday in place of the injured Diaz, and he should serve as Houston's primary backstop while Diaz recovers. Cesar Salazar is the other catcher on the major-league roster. Diaz, 27, has the talent to move up into the upper tiers of the catching position in fantasy if he continues to improve offensively. He had a drop-off with his batting average in 2025, but he still managed to hit 20 homers and drive in 70 in 143 games. In 26 games so far in 2026, he's slashing .248/.264/.356 with two homers and 14 RBI across 106 plate appearances.

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The Athletics announced on Monday that they placed catcher Shea Langeliers on the paternity list. The team also acquired catcher Jonah Heim from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for cash considerations. Langeliers didn't play on Sunday and will now be away from the team for an additional one ot three days while he welcomes a new addition to his family. Heim, who made his major-league debut with the A's in 2020, will give the club some additional catching depth for the next couple of days with Langeliers away from the team. Austin Wynns is the other backstop currently on the team's big-league roster. The 28-year-old Langeliers has been money for his fantasy managers so far in 2026 in his fifth year in the majors. He currently leads baseball with 45 hits and is slashing a strong .336/.390/.627 with a 1.017 OPS, 10 home runs, 18 RBI, and 24 runs scored in 146 plate appearances across 32 games played. Langeliers broke out with a career-high 31 round-trippers in 123 games played in 2025, and he's a must-start catcher in traditional fantasy leagues when he's active.

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Milwaukee Brewers outfielder/designated hitter Christian Yelich (groin) took batting practice on the field with the rest of the team before Monday's series opener against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, according to Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Yelich's return from the 10-day injured list isn't imminent, but he's progressing on schedule since suffering a left-groin strain in mid-April. It was the first time that the 34-year-old veteran had taken batting practice. The Brewers got both outfielder Jackson Chourio (hand, foot) and first baseman Andrew Vaughn (hand) back from the IL on Monday, and they'll hope to get the former MVP back sooner rather than later. The Brewers initially gave Yelich a four- to six-week timetable to return. He must remain stashed in all fantasy baseball leagues while he recovers. In his first 51 at-bats of 2026 before getting hurt, Yelich hit .314 with a homer, 10 RBI, 10 runs scored, and three stolen bases.

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Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Quinn Priester (shoulder, wrist) is dealing with some right-shoulder soreness, manager Pat Murphy told Brewers reporter Sophia Minnaert. The Brewers don't think it's a re-injury long term, but Priester will be evaluated by the training staff and work with the pitching coaches. He's with the big-league club in St. Louis for their series against the Cardinals early this week after being returned from his minor-league rehab assignment, but he remains on the 15-day injured list. The 25-year-old has really struggled with his velocity and command in his three rehab starts with Nashville, prompting the Brewers to shut him down for now. Priester allowed nine earned runs on seven hits (one home run) while walking eight and striking out five in just five innings pitched. He threw 37 of his 62 pitches for strikes in his latest rehab outing on Friday while allowing five runs in just two innings. Something just isn't right with Priester, and now that he's been shut down, he probably won't make his 2026 debut until at least June.

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Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (hamstring) threw a bullpen on Monday, and the team is planning to decide on his status for his next scheduled start based on how he recovers, according to Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Misiorowski was removed early from his most recent start against the Washington Nationals due to hamstring cramps. While he appears to have avoided a major injury, the Brewers may choose to be cautious with their young right-hander. Misiorowski is off to an excellent start to the 2026 season, as he's recorded a 2-2 record with a 2.84 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 59 strikeouts across 38 innings (seven starts). With a 38.1% strikeout rate, the 24-year-old could finish the year among the MLB leaders in punch-outs if he can stay healthy. His next start is currently scheduled for Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals, so a final determination on his status will likely come on Tuesday.

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Baltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg (elbow) has been shut down from his throwing progression due to continued discomfort in his right elbow, per Jake Rill of MLB.com. Westburg was placed on the 60-day injured list before the start of the 2026 season due to a sprained UCL in his throwing elbow. Westburg is first eligible to come off the IL in late May, but it appears as though his return timeline is currently uncertain. Injuries have been a persistent issue for Westburg, who seems likely to record fewer than 450 plate appearances for the third consecutive season in 2026. Still, he was a productive player when healthy in 2025, hitting .265/.313/.457 with 17 home runs, 41 RBI, 59 runs scored, and one stolen base across 352 plate appearances. With Westburg sidelined, Orioles infielder Coby Mayo has seen the majority of the playing time at third base in Baltimore.

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Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Walker Jenkins (shoulder) has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 AC joint sprain in his left shoulder and will be re-evaluated in 10 days to further determine his return timeline, per Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Jenkins suffered the injury by colliding with the outfield wall while playing in a game with Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday. The 21-year-old is widely considered one of the best prospects in all of baseball and was hitting .256/.396/.389 with two home runs, nine RBI, 15 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 111 plate appearances at Triple-A before getting injured. While it's still possible that Jenkins will make his MLB debut in 2026, this injury will undoubtedly set him back. Fantasy managers should check back in 10 days once Jenkins is given a firmer return timeline.

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Baltimore Orioles closer Ryan Helsley (elbow) will be re-evaluated later this week to determine if he is ready to resume throwing, per Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun. Helsley was placed on the 15-day injured list on Friday due to elbow discomfort, but an MRI on the elbow came back clean. The 31-year-old was off to a strong start to his first season in Baltimore before getting injured, pitching to a 2.53 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with 15 strikeouts and 7 saves across 10 2/3 innings. If Helsley continues to progress without any further setbacks, he may have a chance to return from the injured list as soon as he's eligible in mid-May. In his absence, Orioles right-hander Rico Garcia looks like the favorite to see save opportunities in Baltimore.

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Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (shoulder) has taken the next step in his rehab, as he threw 60 pitches in a four-inning simulated game on April 30. The 26-year-old is working his way back from shoulder inflammation that has prevented him from taking the MLB mound so far in 2026. The next step for Rodriguez is likely to go out on a minor league rehab assignment, which would potentially put him a few weeks away from making his return to the big leagues. Rodriguez is no stranger to injury troubles, as he missed the entire 2025 season with lat and elbow issues. However, he was a productive pitcher in 2024, recording a 3.86 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 130 strikeouts across 116 2/3 innings with the Baltimore Orioles. While health is obviously a major concern for Rodriguez, he remains a worthy upside bet off the waiver wire for deeper-league fantasy managers once activated by the Angels.

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Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said that third baseman Eugenio Suarez (oblique) was scheduled to take grounders on the field on Monday and flips in the cage, according to Charlie Goldsmith of FOX 19. Suarez will get an MRI exam in Cincinnati coming up. If the Reds like what they see from Suarez's MRI later this week, the 34-year-old veteran could be cleared to go on a minor-league rehab assignment. He's currently on the 10-day injured list with a left-oblique strain, and the Reds are bringing the right-handed slugger along slowly. The Venezuelan third baseman has had at least 30 home runs and 101 RBI in each of his last two seasons, and he tied his career-high with 49 long balls in 2025 with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners in 159 total games. Suarez swings and misses plenty, though, so he will not help your batting average. In 25 games in his return to Cincy this year, Suarez has hit .231 (21-for-91) with three home runs, 11 RBI, and 10 runs scored. Barring a setback, Suarez should return to the Reds by mid-May.

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Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that third baseman/outfielder Addison Barger (ankles) could make his return to the big leagues as soon as Wednesday, per Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. Bannon reports that a return on Friday has been characterized as the "worst-case scenario" for Barger. The 26-year-old is currently on a rehab assignment with Single-A Dunedin while he works his way back from injuries to both of his ankles. Barger got off to a rough start to his 2026 season before getting injured, hitting .053/.174/.105 with two RBI and a run scored in a small sample size of 23 plate appearances. However, he hit 21 home runs in 502 plate appearances for Toronto in 2025, and mashed right-handed pitching to a .788 OPS. Once healthy, Barger should see playing time in the corner outfield for the Blue Jays and could be worth adding off the waiver wire for fantasy managers.

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Seattle Mariners infielder Brendan Donovan (groin) isn't expected to be activated on the team's six-game homestand, but he will take part in a two-game minor-league rehab assignment at Double-A Arkansas, beginning on Tuesday, according to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. If that goes well, Donovan will be activated on Friday, May 8, in Chicago to face the White Sox. He went through an extensive pre-game workout that included agility, fielding, and hitting drills last Friday. Donovan suggested that his groin issue will need to be monitored long-term, and it's likely related to the sports-hernia surgery he had last October. The 29-year-old German native didn't exactly look limited offensively in his first 56 at-bats with the Mariners before landing on the 10-day injured list, as he was hitting .304 (17-for-56) with three homers, eight RBI, seven runs scored, and a stolen base in 18 games played. Donovan doesn't provide much power or speed, but he's useful for his elite contact skills and counting stats in a strong Mariners lineup when he's healthy.

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The Boston Red Sox's scheduled starter for Wednesday's game against the Detroit Tigers is still to be determined, but right-hander Sonny Gray (hamstring) is "still checking some boxes," interim manager Chad Tracy said. Gray is eligible to be reinstated from the 15-day injured list on Wednesday. He threw a three-inning live batting practice session on Friday and came out of it feeling good, but he had another bullpen scheduled for Monday. "See how he comes out of that (bullpen) physically," Tracy said, "and then we'll make our decision on that day when it gets closer." Rookie left-hander Jake Bennett could make another start for the BoSox on Wednesday in the series finale against the Tigers if the Red Sox want to wait a little longer to activate Gray. The 36-year-old veteran will have a rotation spot waiting for him when he's ready, though, and he can still be a useful back-end fantasy starter in the right matchups despite a less-than-stellar strikeout rate at this point in his career. Through his first five starts in 2026, Gray is 2-1 with a 4.30 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 13 strikeouts in 23 innings pitched. He's currently rostered in 88% of Yahoo leagues despite being on the IL.

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The Kansas City Royals are anticipating right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez (foot) will start a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday. Estevez only made one appearance for the Royals before being hit in the foot by a comebacker and going on the 15-day injured list with a left-foot contusion, but he's nearing a return to the big-league bullpen and could be back with the club this week. The 33-year-old veteran had a league-high 42 saves and was an All-Star for the second time in his career in 2025 in his first year with the Royals, but his velocity was noticeably down during spring training, and he was lit up for six earned runs on four hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out none in one-third of an inning in his only appearance so far this year before going on the IL. Lucas Erceg has been up and down as the Royals' fill-in closer with Estevez on the shelf, so the veteran reliever may regain closer duties upon his return from the IL. Fantasy managers searching for saves could take a flier on Estevez in hopes that he can regain some velocity and turn things around in 2026. He's only rostered in 64% of Yahoo leagues currently.

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Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz (abdomen) was scratched from the lineup for Monday's series opener against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers with a left-abdominal injury, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Christian Vazquez entered the lineup in place of Diaz to catch left-hander Steven Okert, and he was put in the nine-hole in the batting order. Diaz's status is now worth watching going into Game 2 of the series in Houston against the Dodgers on Tuesday. For now, fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day. The 27-year-old Dominican backstop is the Astros' primary catcher, and he entered Monday's action hitting .248 (25-for-101) with two home runs, five doubles, 14 RBI, and seven runs scored across his first 26 games of 2026. He's gone hitless in his last two games, but since April 19, Diaz has gone 14-for-42 (.333) with a homer, four doubles, five RBI, and three runs scored in a span of 11 games played. Vazquez would become Houston's go-to catcher if Diaz's abdominal injury is serious enough to land him on the injured list. Diaz is rostered in 56% of Yahoo leagues.

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New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) is scheduled to make his fourth minor-league rehab start on Tuesday, May 5, for High-A Hudson Valley, according to MLB.com. Cole made his third rehab start on April 29, going 5 2/3 innings while throwing 60 pitches and sitting at 93-96 mph with his fastball. Overall in his three rehab starts, the 35-year-old former American League Cy Young winner has a bloated 5.02 ERA and 0.84 WHIP with 10 strikeouts and only one walk in 14 1/3 innings pitched. Cole has been hurt by the long ball (four homers allowed) while on the farm, but otherwise, he's looked good and has slowly built up his pitch count as he looks to return to the Yankees' starting rotation. He's recovering from Tommy John surgery that kept him out for the entire 2025 campaign. There's a chance that Cole's rehab outing on Tuesday could be his last before he's reinstated from the 15-day injured list. The former first overall pick will be eased back into New York's rotation after his long layoff, but he's worth stashing in all fantasy leagues to see if he can return to ace form for the second half of the season. Right now, he's only rostered in 84% of Yahoo leagues.

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Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (wrist) was forced from Monday's series opener against the Detroit Tigers early after tweaking his wrist in his first at-bat on a swing, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. Masataka Yoshida replaced Anthony in left field. The 21-year-old Anthony should be considered day-to-day for now, but fantasy managers will want to check back for an update on his status after Boston's game against Detroit. So far in 2026, Anthony has been a disappointment for fantasy managers, as he entered Monday's contest with the Tigers with a .231/.357/.324 slash line, .681 OPS, only one home run, five RBI, 12 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 29 games across 129 plate appearances. He was one of the top prospects in all of baseball in 2025 before getting called up for his major-league debut. Before an injury ended his season early in September, Anthony was living up to expectations with a .292/.396/.463 slash line, eight home runs, 32 RBI, and four steals in his first 71 big-league games.

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Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II (quadriceps) is missing a second straight game on Monday in the series opener in Seattle against the Mariners, according to MLB.com. Harris missed a couple of games late last week with a left-quadriceps injury before returning to Saturday's contest against the Colorado Rockies as the designated hitter. Apparently, he's had a setback, though, as he's now sitting for a second straight game to begin the new week. Mauricio Dubon will start in center field for Atlanta and will hit cleanup for the Braves on Monday against Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert. Consider Harris day-to-day for now, but if he doesn't improve soon, he could land on the 10-day injured list to allow his quad injury to fully heal. Fantasy managers are just hoping the quad injury doesn't interrupt Harris' hot hitting at the plate. Through 32 games in 2026, he's slashing .321/.354/.557 with a .911 OPS, seven home runs, 22 RBI, 13 runs scored, and two stolen bases across 113 plate appearances. Harris had his first 20-20 campaign in 2025 and has had exactly 20 stolen bases in three of his four seasons in the big leagues.

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The Atlanta Braves announced on Monday that they reinstated catcher Sean Murphy (hip) from the 10-day injured list and designated catcher Jonah Heim for assignment in a corresponding move. Murphy is making his 2026 season debut in Monday's series opener against the hosting Seattle Mariners and right-hander Logan Gilbert, doing the catching for rookie right-hander JR Ritchie and batting seventh in the order. The 31-year-old veteran backstop should be rostered in more than the 1% of Yahoo leagues he's currently rostered in, as he should play regularly for Atlanta between catcher and designated hitter. He went just 8-for-43 (.186) with no home runs, four RBI, four walks, and 12 strikeouts during his 13-game minor-league rehab assignment, so fantasy managers might want to temper expectations for Murphy early on. Murphy is still worth taking a chance on in hopes he can rediscover his power stroke after having offseason hip surgery. He had 82 total home runs in his last five seasons.

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