The Washington Nationals reinstated outfielder Lane Thomas (knee) from the 10-day injured list on Monday and designated outfielder Victor Robles for assignment in a corresponding move. Thomas is back in right field on Monday and is batting in the two-hole against Atlanta Braves veteran right-hander Charlie Morton in his first game back. The 28-year-old will return for the first time since late April due to a Grade 2 MCL sprain and should be thrown back into starting fantasy lineups because of his impressive power/speed combination. Ignore the fact that he hit only .184/.250/.253 with two home runs to begin the year, as he also had 11 stolen bases in 87 at-bats. The former fifth-rounder by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2014 needs to be rostered everywhere and will play regularly for the Nats now that he's healthy again.

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In the first game for the Atlanta Braves on Memorial Day on Monday since learning that All-Star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) will miss the rest of the season due to a full ACL tear, outfielder Adam Duvall is covering for him in right field and will bat sixth against the visiting Washington Nationals and rookie left-hander Mitchell Parker. Duvall hit his fourth home run of the season on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates and is now set to see a big playing time increase with Acuna out of the picture entirely for the rest of 2024. The former 11th-round pick by the San Francisco Giants in 2010 out of Louisville isn't going to provide much in terms of a useful batting average, but he still has notable pop in his bat and is worth a pickup in deeper mixed leagues now that he should see more of a regular role moving forward. Duvall is currently slashing .207/.305/.378 with four homer and 11 RBI in 33 games.

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Cincinnati Reds corner infielder Jeimer Candelario (neck) is back at third base and is batting third for the Reds on Monday against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander Lance Lynn. Candelario was scratched from Saturday's lineup with neck stiffness and was also held out of Sunday's contest. It wasn't a serious injury for the 30-year-old, though, as he's back in the lineup to start the week and the series against St. Louis. It's a great lineup spot for Candelario, but he hasn't had much success against Lynn in 13 career at-bats, batting .154 with a .507 OPS. Candelario is hitting just .220 (36-for-164) on the year with five home runs, but he's been much better in May and has two home runs and 10 RBI in his last 20 games played. His poor career numbers against Lynn isn't enough to consider benching him.

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St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn, who has a 15-day hitting streak going, is starting at shortstop and batting leadoff on Monday versus the Cincinnati Reds and left-hander Nick Lodolo, who is making his first start off the injured list. This will be the third time this season that Winn will be in the leadoff spot for the Cards, with most of his at-bats coming in the bottom third of the order. Fantasy managers will be hoping the 22-year-old sticks in the leadoff spot more often, and he could if he continues to square up the baseball. Since his hitting streak started on May 9, Winn has gone 18-for-48 (.375) with two homers, five doubles, eight RBI and two stolen bases in 52 plate appearances. Winn is a must-start in lineups with how hot he's been. Lodolo can rack up the strikeouts, but he could be more vulnerable in his first start off the IL without going on a rehab assignment.

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St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (hamstring) is not in Monday's lineup due to a hamstring injury. Nootbaar was scratched from Sunday's lineup due to this issue and will once again be sitting on the bench. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol expressed that the injury us "day-to-day" and that "we don't see it lingering." For now Nootbaar should remain stashed and could be activated as soon as later this week. As a result, Dylan Carlson will man right field and should be faded in DFS as he will face Cincinnati southpaw Nick Lodolo, who enters Monday with a 3.34 ERA and stellar 0.94 WHIP.

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Washington Nationals outfielder Jesse Winker (cramps) has returned to the starting lineup on Monday as the Nationals will play the opening game of a four-game set against division foe Atlanta Braves. Winker left Saturday's game early and was kept out of the lineup on Sunday due to cramping. However, this injury did not seem serious as the 30-year-old is already back in the lineup. However, Winker will serve as the designated hitter this afternoon and bat in the six-hole, which opens up left field for Eddie Rosario, who will bat cleanup. Winker has looked much better through his first 49 games as a National compared to the previous two seasons. He currently holds a .228/.345/.395 line with six home runs and could be value in DFS as he faces right-hander Charlie Morton, who enters Sunday with a 3.35 ERA.

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Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Austin Gomber (arm) was scratched from Monday's start due to arm soreness. As a result, Anthony Molina will get the starting nod. Gomber expressed to the media that he felt "that I would have been probably at 85% today where we are at now, still being in May, it was probably smarter just to buy a couple of days." This is a great sign, as Gomber could even make a start later this week and is still worth holding onto in deeper leagues. The southpaw entered Monday with a strong 2.76 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. Spot starter Anthony Molina has yet to start a game this season and has posted a poor 7.56 ERA and 1.80 WHIP out of the bullpen. He should not be considered in any DFS formats this afternoon.

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San Francisco Giants outfielder/first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. (hamstring) is back in the starting lineup on Monday and will bat in the two-hole. Wade remained out of the starting lineup over the past two days due to a minor hamstring injury. This is a great sign, as the 30-year-old has been cleared and will look to continue his excellent start to the season. He currently holds a .333/.472/.421 line with two home runs and one stolen base. He has shown an excellent eye at the plate with a 20.2% walk rate, which is currently the best in the sport among qualified hitters. Wade remains a strong batting average contributor and a must-roster player in leagues that score on-base percentage. He is worth playing in DFS as he will go up against Phillies starter Taijuan Walker, who enters the contents with a 5.06 ERA.

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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts backed off a little on infielder Max Muncy (oblique) being ready to start a minor-league rehab assignment soon and return "some time next week." Roberts said Muncy is still feeling his oblique strain, and the team will proceed cautiously with him. The Dodgers aren't putting a return date on anything just yet. The 33-year-old left-handed hitter started doing some baseball activities last Tuesday but won't start hitting off a tee until the team thinks he's fully recovered from his injury. Oblique strains are notoriously tough to come back from, so fantasy managers never should have expected a quick return from Muncy. He's most likely not going to come off the injured list until early June. Muncy isn't going to help your team's batting average, but his power and RBI chances make him worth rostering in all fantasy leagues in the Dodgers' strong lineup.

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The Cincinnati Reds reinstated left-hander Nick Lodolo (groin) from the 15-day injured list on Monday and optioned right-hander Carson Spiers to Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move. Lodolo will return from a groin strain to make the start on Memorial Day at home at Great American Ballpark to face the visiting St. Louis Cardinals. The 26-year-old southpaw was able to return after the minimum 15 days on the injured list without going on a minor-league rehab assignment, so he might be a little limited in terms of pitch count in his first start back. However, he's still an attractive fantasy starter on Monday after posting a 3.34 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 43 strikeouts and nine walks in his first 35 innings in 2024 before getting hurt. The Cardinals rank just 23rd in the league with a .675 team OPS and are tied for 16th with 436 strikeouts on the year.

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Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (intercostal) is finally back in the starting lineup on Monday against the visiting Washington Nationals, playing third base and batting in the two-hole against rookie left-hander Mitchell Parker. Riley will make his return after missing the last two weeks with a left-intercostal strain. It's good timing, too, after the Braves just lost reigning National League MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) to a season-ending torn ACL. Riley could be a little rusty at the plate after missing 13 games, but the 27-year-old right-handed slugger should be returned to starting lineups in most fantasy leagues. He's never faced Parker in his career and will return to a .245/.319/.388 slash line with only three home runs, 18 RBI and 22 runs scored in 147 at-bats this year.

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The Atlanta Braves reinstated catcher Sean Murphy (oblique) from the injured list on Monday and placed outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. The team also recalled outfielder J.P. Martinez from the minors and designated infielder Joey Wendle for assignment. Murphy is finally back with the team after suffering a Grade 1 left-oblique strain on Opening Day. Murphy is right back in the starting lineup for Monday's Memorial Day game against the visiting Washington Nationals and left-hander Mitchell Parker, getting the start behind the plate and batting fifth for the Braves. He could be eased back into the fold for the Braves behind the plate, but Murphy should be rostered in all fantasy leagues. His return means less playing time for veteran Travis d'Arnaud, who finds himself on the bench Monday.

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The St. Louis Cardinals scratched outfielder Lars Nootbaar (hamstring) from their game on Sunday against the division-rival Chicago Cubs after he felt a twinge in his hamstring on Saturday. Manager Oliver Marmol said Nootbaar could easily play through it, but he thought it best to rest Nootbaar in the series finale. St. Louis' starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the Cincinnati Reds isn't posted yet, so fantasy managers will need to check back to see if Nootbaar is back in there before returning him to your starting lineups. With the 26-year-old out on Sunday, veteran Matt Carpenter served as the team's designated hitter in the win. Nootbaar got a late start to the season due to injury and is now hitting .227 (30-for-132) with five home runs, 19 RBI, three stolen bases and 14 runs scored in 2024 in his first 37 games played.

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer is in right field and is batting seventh in the lineup on Monday against the White Sox on the road in Chicago. Given Springer's struggles at the plate this year, the Blue Jays feel that it justifies moving him down as low in the lineup as he's ever been in his career. The 34-year-old four-time All-Star hasn't homered since April 24 and is slashing .188/.264/.273 with three home runs, nine RBI and seven stolen bases in 197 plate appearances. Springer hasn't had a single multi-hit game so far in the month of May and has gone 9-for-62 (.145) with no homers, four RBI, 12 strikeouts and four stolen bases in 17 games since May 1. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues should probably keep him on their benches until he shows some kind of spark. Springer has never faced rookie right-hander Nick Nastrini, who he will be facing on Monday.

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Baltimore Orioles outfielder/designated hitter Anthony Santander is getting a day off on Memorial Day on Monday against the visiting Boston Red Sox. It looks to be a normal day of rest for Santander, who has gone deep twice in the last four games. The 29-year-old switch-hitting Dominican outfielder has supplied nine home runs, 29 RBI and 25 runs scored in 179 at-bats this year, but he's hitting just .201 (36-for-179) with 40 strikeouts and a 19.9 percent strikeout rate in 201 plate appearances so far in 2024. Santander has fanned in almost half of his last 25 plate appearances. With Santander out on Monday, Kyle Stowers will start in right field and bat seventh against Red Sox right-hander Cooper Criswell. Stowers has three hits in his first 12 at-bats this year and is looking for his first home run in the big leagues since his rookie campaign in 2022.

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Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Justin Turner and outfielder Kevin Kiermaier are both starting on the bench for Monday's contest in Chicago against the White Sox. Turner has lost playing time of late, with this being the third time in the last five games that he finds himself on the bench to start. Kiermaier, meanwhile, will ride the pine for the second straight day. Daniel Vogelbach is serving as the DH and will hit fifth, while Daulton Varsho starts in center field and bats sixth against White Sox right-handed rookie Nick Nastrini. Davis Schneider is in left field and is batting leadoff for the Jays. Turner has had a disastrous month of May, hitting .102 (6-for-59) without a home run to drop his season line to .222/.301/.359. Kiermaier hasn't been much better in 2024, hitting .226 (.21-for-93) with only one homer and seven RBI.

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Miami Marlins pitching prospect Noble Meyer was selected with the 10th overall pick in the 2023 draft and has been off to an impressive start in his young career. Meyer, 19, is the team's No. 1 prospect and his recent success is a big reason why. Over his last four starts for Single-A Jupiter, Meyer has tossed five innings in each start and recorded 33 strikeouts, but he has allowed 10 walks in that span with only one run allowed. Meyer has had a 180 from the beginning of the season and his increase in strikeouts has played a big role in that. The right-hander can hit up to 100 MPH with his fastball, but his best pitch thus far has been his slider. Even though he is very young, Meyer has shown advanced skills for his age and could rise through the Marlins system over the next couple of seasons. For now, Meyer is a rising name in dynasty leagues.

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Colorado Rockies shortstop prospect Adael Amador has begun to heat up for Double-A Hartford. Over his last 10 games, the 21-year-old is hitting .282 with four homers, 10 RBI, eight walks and four stolen bases. Amador is currently the Rockies No. 1 prospect per MLB.com and has really stepped it up of late after a sluggish start to the season. Amador is a switch-hitting middle infielder and possesses a very strong eye when he steps to the plate. His strong plate discipline is a strong sign for his potential big-league success, but he is likely a year or two away from making an impact for the Rockies and fantasy managers. He should be rostered in dynasty leagues, but can be avoided in redraft formats this season.

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Tampa Bay Rays infield prospect Junior Caminero continued his success for Triple-A Durham on Sunday with a 1-for-5 performance versus the Memphis Red Birds. Caminero's lone hit was a solo homer and it would be his eighth of the season for the consensus top-5 prospect. Caminero, 20, has practically done everything one can to earn a big-league promotion since last season, but the Rays have continued to pass over him, even with many injuries to their infield at the big-league level. On the year, Caminero is now hitting .269 with 8 homers and 24 RBI. It is questionable if the Rays will finally cave in and give Caminero a fair chance, but if he does gets promoted, managers should sprint the waiver wire to grab the talented infielder.

From RotoBaller

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray tossed five shutout innings on Sunday Night Baseball and allowed just one hit and two free passes to lead St. Louis to a series sweep. He struck out eight. This dominant outing brings Gray to a stellar 2.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 67:12 K:BB ratio through his first nine starts with his new club. Gray's underlying metrics are quite strong, suggesting that the 34-year-old could be in for a nice summer. He currently holds a 34.1% hard-hit rate and 32.4% K rate, which place him in the top 79th percentile and 93rd percentile, respectively. Gray should continue to be started in all formats and will usually be a solid choice in DFS formats.

From RotoBaller