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.

From RotoBaller

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.

From RotoBaller

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.

From RotoBaller

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.

From RotoBaller

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.

From RotoBaller

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.

From RotoBaller

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.

From RotoBaller

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.

From RotoBaller

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.

From RotoBaller

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.

From RotoBaller

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.

From RotoBaller

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.

From RotoBaller

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.

From RotoBaller

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.

From RotoBaller

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

New York Yankees infielder Jon Berti (calf) is expected to be out for an extended period of time according to New York Yankees Manager Aaron Boone. Berti exited Friday's game due to a lower leg injury that caused him to collapse in serious pain. He was unable to walk on it and had to be helped to the dugout. As a result, Jahmai Jones will replace Berti as the utility man on the Yankees roster and will occasionally slot into the lineup. However, with the return of DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera may overtake that utility role fairly soon, making playing time hard for Jones to find. Nonetheless, Jones and Berti should be left on all waiver wires for the foreseeable future.

From RotoBaller

New York Yankees relief pitcher Ian Hamilton (illness) is expected to be activated from the seven-day injured list before Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. Hamilton has been sidelined since May 19 with an illness, and his symptoms lingered through the week, which resulted in him being placed on the injured list. The 28-year-old has performed well in an eighth-inning setup role, posting a 3.18 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and tallying 19 punchouts across 22 innings. The right-hander is worth adding in leagues that score holds, as he should return to his typical eighth-inning role when activated on Tuesday.

From RotoBaller

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs (elbow) was removed from his second rehab start in the Rookie-Level Florida Complex League on May 25 after facing one batter with left shoulder tightness. However, Rays Manager Kevin Cash clarified that it was more of a "lat issue" and further explained that "We'll probably shut him down for a couple of days, get some heavy doses of treatment in, and we're pretty optimistic he'll get a ball back in his hand real soon." While this setback is not ideal, the southpaw could still be able to meet is projected June return date if this setback does not linger. Springs underwent Tommy John surgery last April and is nearing the end of his long recovery process. The 31-year-old should be expected to immediately rejoin the Tampa Bay rotation when activated and is worth stashing in an injured reserve spot on your roster.

From RotoBaller

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zach Eflin (back) was seen playing catch on May 26, per MLB.com. Eflin was placed on the injured list on May 20 due to experiencing discomfort on his start on May 18 in Toronto. The 30-year-old compared this injury to similar lower back tightness he dealt with last April that forced him to miss two weeks. Manager Kevin Cash said he expects his ace to return to the mound in "two to four weeks." While it is an excellent sign to see Eflin playing catch and not experiencing any setbacks, he might need to speed up his recovery to meet the projected return date slightly. Eflin looked quite strong in his Tampa Bay debut last summer with a 3.50 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 186:24 K:BB ratio. However, he did get off to a slow start this spring with a 4.12 ERA, and 1.17 WHIP. Nonetheless, he should remain stashed in all formats as he should return to his 2023 form after he recovers from this minor setback.

From RotoBaller