Toronto Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen continued his breakout offensive season in Monday's 9-3 win over the White Sox. Jansen batted second, going 3-for-5 with a single, a double, a two-run home run, and five RBI. The 29-year-old is now slashing an impressive .333/.397/.681 with five HR and 12 RBI in 78 plate appearances. He has started to earn regular at-bats and is hitting much better than his batterymate Alejandro Kirk, who is slashing just .198/.295/.284. Jansen is currently rostered in just 17% of leagues. Fantasy managers may not need to look his way in shallower leagues, but he is definitely worth a roster spot in at least all two-catcher leagues at this time.

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Baltimore Orioles third baseman/shortstop Gunnar Henderson extended his impressive home run streak in Monday's 6-3 loss to the Cardinals. The 22-year-old provided all the offense, going 1-for-3 with a three-run HR and a walk. Henderson has hit for elite power all season long and has homered in each of his last four games. He now has a league-best 16 with 34 RBI, seven stolen bases, and a .271/.351/.610 slash line in 202 plate appearances. Henderson already flashed his power and speed potential in his rookie season, and he could elevate himself to a top fantasy option for seasons to come if he can also continue to bat for a high average.

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Detroit Tigers infield prospect Jace Jung stayed hot Sunday, blasting his eighth home run of the season in the first game of a doubleheader for Triple-A Toledo. He also collected a hit in the second game, now having hit safely in nine of his last 10 games and going 22-for-60 (.367) since April 27 (17 games), with four doubles, a triple, and four home runs. The former first-round draft pick hit 28 home runs across two levels of the minors last season and is showing off the power once again in 2024. Expect a call-up to the majors around mid-season, perhaps sooner if Detroit wants to attempt to boost their power numbers, having posted the fifth fewest home runs in the majors to date.

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St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley continued his stellar start to the season in Monday's 6-3 win over the Orioles, earning his 14th save. Helsley came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by three. He got the first two outs on a pop-out and a groundout, allowed a walk, and ended the game with a fly-out. The 29-year-old has been rock solid for his team and fantasy managers, converting all but one save opportunity with a 1.29 ERA, a 9.86 K/9 rate, and a 1.29 BB/9 rate. Despite the Cardinals' disappointing season, he is now tied for the most saves in the league with Emmanuel Clase. Helsley should continue to be a high-end fantasy option, especially if he can continue to limit his walks.

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St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray improved to 6-2 in Monday's 6-3 win over the Orioles. Gray pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits (including a three-run home run) and two walks with six strikeouts. He cruised through the first five innings but labored in the six, throwing over 30 pitches before motioning to manager Oli Marmol to be removed. Gray elaborated after the game, explaining that he was simply tired after getting so deep into the inning. The 34-year-old has been a fantasy stud with his new team and now owns a 2.87 ERA and 11.30 K/9 rate in eight starts and 47 IP. He will look to keep things rolling in his next projected start, which will be a decent matchup against the Cubs.

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The Milwaukee Brewers are calling up pitching prospect Bradley Blalock for what would be his big league debut whenever he enters a game. The righty has been pitching at Double-A Biloxi in 2024, and has never even seen any action Triple-A. The 23-year-old doesn't have particularly gaudy numbers in his minor league career, but was pitching well for Biloxi before his call-up, posting a 2.27 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 7:29 BB:K over 35 2/3 IP so far this season. While he worked as a starter in the minors, he'll likely provide bullpen depth for the Brewers, although Joe Ross left Monday's start after just one inning due to a back injury, so the Brewers may need another starter for Ross' next scheduled turn through the rotation this coming Sunday.

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The New York Mets released infielder Joey Wendle on Monday after he was designated for assignment last week. Wendle is now free to sign with any team in baseball to provide some veteran infield depth. The 34-year-old was cut by the Mets after going 8-for-36 (.222) with no home runs and just one RBI in 37 plate appearances over 18 games this year. Wendle was a first-time All-Star in 2021 in his final season with the Tampa Bay Rays, when he hit .265 (122-for-460) with a career-high 11 home runs, 54 RBI and eight stolen bases in 136 games played. Since then, he's hit .237 with five home runs, 53 RBI and 20 teals in 231 games with the Miami Marlins and Mets. Wendle will likely be signed to a minor-league pact if he latches on with another team. Avoid him in all fantasy leagues for now.

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Seattle Mariners shortstop prospect Colt Emerson (foot) has a small fracture in his foot after fouling a ball off of it and could miss up to the next four weeks. Emerson will wear a walking boot for the next two weeks. The 18-year-old is listed by MLB Pipeline as Seattle's No. 3 prospect, behind Cole Young and Harry Ford. The former 22nd overall pick last year started his first professional season in 2024 with Single-A Modesto and was hitting .271 (19-for-70) with two home runs, 14 RBI, three stolen bases and 16 runs scored in his first 19 games before fracturing his foot. Emerson, who hits from the left side, has several years before he'll be a realistic candidate for a big-league call-up. He has plenty of athleticism, a smooth left-handed swing, and an advanced approach at the plate for his age.

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The Houston Astros signed free-agent left-hander Eric Lauer to a minor-league deal on Monday and assigned him to Triple-A Sugar Land, the team announced. Lauer will give the Astros' some much-needed starting rotation depth at the minor-league level for now. The 28-year-old southpaw recently opted out of his minors deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates after not pitching in the big leagues yet in 2024. He didn't look very good at Triple-A Indianapolis, though, so he'll need to show better results at Sugar Land in order to get consideration for a call-up to Houston. The former 25th overall pick by the San Diego Padres in 2016 out of Kent State has a career 4.30 ERA (4.60 FIP) and 1.37 WHIP with a mediocre 22 percent strikeout rate and 8.9 percent walk rate in 596 2/3 innings with the Padres and Brewers since 2018.

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Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black is encouraged by the progress of right-hander German Marquez (elbow), who pitched 1 2/3 innings on May 10 in an Arizona Complex League game, which was his first game action since suffering a right-elbow injury on April 26 of 2023. Marquez is recovering from Tommy John surgery and will have a full spring training-type regimen, which will include a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment. The Rockies are spacing his ACL appearances out far enough that he'll be able to restart his rehab clock. Between ACL appearances, Marquez is throwing in extended spring camp as he builds his right arm back up. Barring a setback in his recovery, the 29-year-old could rejoin Colorado's starting rotation around the middle of the 2024 season.

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Colorado Rockies right-hander Jake Bird (elbow), who was placed on the 15-day injured list on Sunday with right-elbow inflammation, is likely to need a minor-league rehab assignment before returning to Colorado's bullpen. Bird made a whopping 70 appearances out of the Rockies' bullpen in 2023 but has been inefficient so far in 2024 before getting hurt. He allowed four runs while walking six in his three appearances before landing on the injured list and has a 6.10 ERA (6.35 FIP), a 1.74 WHIP, his first career save, 15 walks and 12 strikeouts in 20 2/3 relief innings this year. "We need to figure out what was going on, and we haven't quite got there yet mechanics-wise," manager Bud Black said. Righty Matt Koch finished off last year strong for Colorado and will replace Bird in the bullpen for now. He was 3-1 with a 2.53 ERA in 21 1/3 innings over 18 outings for Triple-A Albuquerque.

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Colorado Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland (elbow) continued playing catch on Sunday from up to around 50 feet and threw his fastball from his regular motion on flat ground. Freeland is trying to avoid a setback and doesn't currently have a date set to throw off a mound. He will also have to go on a minor-league rehab assignment after building up his strength in bullpen sessions and in live batting practice. The 31-year-old southpaw doesn't appear to be in any rush to get back to the major-league level, instead prioritizing his health for the rest of the year. The Rockies initially were hoping that he would be able to return at some point in the middle of June. The former eighth overall pick in 2014 out of Evansville has very little fantasy upside with half his games coming at Coors Field while also sporting a career 4.53 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 17.1% strikeout rate.

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Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Dustin May (elbow) started throwing off a mound at the team's spring training facilities on Monday in Arizona. May is slowly recovering from surgery that he had last July to fix his right flexor tendon and UCL. The 26-year-old is expected to pitch in 2024, but that's not likely to come until sometime this summer around the All-Star break in mid-July. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues shouldn't expect a whole lot from him this year, especially since the Dodgers aren't going to put too much on his plate once he is available at the big-league level. The former third-rounder's strikeout rate of 22.5% has left a lot to be desired when considering his pure stuff, but overall, May has looked good in his five years in LA, going 12-9 with a 3.10 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 57 walks and 174 K's in 191 2/3 frames over 46 outings (34 starts).

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Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Emmet Sheehan (elbow) said that his Tommy John surgery last week also included an internal brace. Sheehan also said he suffered an oblique injury during spring training, in addition to the forearm irritation he dealt with. He mentioned an expected 13 months before his potential return, which essentially means he won't be an option for the Dodgers' starting rotation until around the All-Star break in 2025. The former sixth-round selection in 2021 out of Boston College won't return anytime soon after not being able to pitch at all in 2024. In his major-league debut last year, Sheehan went 4-1 with a 4.92 ERA (4.85 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 26 walks and 64 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings over 13 outings (11 starts). There's obvious strikeout upside with Sheehan for fantasy managers in keeper/dynasty leagues, but home runs and walks were an issue last year.

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Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed reliever Joe Kelly (shoulder) started a throwing program on Monday. Kelly has resumed throwing after being put on the 15-day injured list on May 6 with a right-shoulder strain. Even though the 35-year-old veteran will likely require a minor-league rehab assignment before returning to the Dodgers' bullpen, it should be a short one, barring a setback with his shoulder. Kelly isn't really a candidate for saves in LA -- he has just seven in his 13-year MLB career -- but he's a valuable right-handed setup man in the Dodgers' bullpen when he's healthy and could have some appeal in deep holds leagues. Before his shoulder injury, Kelly had allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 13 hits while walking five and striking out 14 in 13 1/3 relief innings.

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It appears likely that Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Joe Ross (back) will land on the injured list after leaving his start on Monday against the Miami Marlins after just one inning due to lower-back tightness. After being looked at by doctors, it was determined that the 30-year-old veteran is dealing with a lower-back strain, which will almost certainly keep him out for at least a couple weeks. Ross entered his start on Monday with a 2-4 record, 4.61 ERA (3.88 FIP) and 1.37 WHIP with 15 walks and 35 strikeouts in 41 innings pitched over his eight starts. Fantasy managers in shallower mixed leagues shouldn't feel compelled to hang onto Ross now that he's hurt. It remains to be seen who will Milwaukee will use to take Ross' spot in the rotation, but left-hander Aaron Ashby could be an option.

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Milwaukee Brewers infielder Joey Ortiz (foot) is going for X-rays on his right foot after he was hit by a pitch early in Monday's game against the Miami Marlins. The good news is that Ortiz was able to stay in the 3-2 extra-inning loss in Miami, going 0-for-1 with two walks and a strikeout to drop his season average to .290 and his OPS to .931. We'll have a better idea of how much time the 25-year-old might have to miss once we get the results of his X-rays. The former fourth-round pick by the Baltimore Orioles in 2019 out of New Mexico State is off to a great start this year with a .292/.387/.538 slash line with a .925 OPS, five home runs, 15 RBI and 16 runs scored in 106 at-bats. If Ortiz is forced to miss extended time, both Andruw Monasterio and Owen Miller could see playing time at the hot corner for the Brew Crew.

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Houston Astros outfielder Chas McCormick (hamstring), who was not activated from the injured list ahead of Monday's series opener against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels, should re-enter Houston's lineup "soon." After finishing his minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi on Sunday, McCormick went through pregame workouts on Monday and should be reinstated from the IL sometime this week. The 29-year-old outfielder broke out with 22 home runs and 19 stolen bases a year ago, but he was slashing a feeble .236/.325/.278 with three extra-base hits, eight RBI, and two steals over 83 plate appearances (21 games) before going down with discomfort in his right hamstring. Top prospect Joey Loperfido is batting an encouraging .333 (13-for-39) with one homer, five RBI, and one pilfer through 13 outings with the Astros, but he'll be in line to lose playing time when McCormick returns.

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Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Whitlock (oblique, elbow) has ligament damage in his right elbow, and surgery has become a real possibility. Whitlock was originally expected to return to Boston's rotation on Monday after being sidelined by a strained left oblique, but he experienced soreness in his elbow following last week's minor-league rehab appearance and now appears to be staring at a potentially season-ending setback. It would be a big blow to the Red Sox' pitching staff after the 27-year-old right-hander put together a promising 1.96 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and seven walks across 18 1/3 innings (four starts) in 2024. Whitlock will be evaluated by a doctor in Alabama for a second opinion later this week. In the meantime, righty Cooper Criswell looks set to continue handling a rotation spot going forward.

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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Bobby Miller (shoulder) will pitch in another simulated game on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium. Miller threw two simulated innings last Wednesday, and the hope is that a brief minor-league rehab assignment is the next step following Tuesday's session. The 25-year-old flame-throwing right-hander is working his way back from inflammation in his right shoulder, and despite giving up seven runs over 11 2/3 innings before the injury this season, his 18:6 K:BB and elite strikeout upside make him a must-stash fantasy asset with a late-May or early-June return being the expectation. In Miller's absence, former top prospect Gavin Stone is worth streaming in all leagues with a respectable 3.27 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 29 punchouts with four wins through 44 innings (eight starts).

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