Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz has been dropped from leadoff to the two-hole on Tuesday against the visiting Oakland Athletics and right-hander Mitch Spence. Outfielder Richie Palacios is starting in right field and will take over the leadoff duties for Diaz. Almost all of Diaz's at-bats this year have come in the top spot of the batting order for the Rays, but his move down one spot comes during what has so far been a disappointing year for Diaz's standards. He's batting .249/.316/.354 with four home runs, 25 RBI and 22 runs scored in 231 plate appearances. However, Diaz has been more himself this month, going 26-for-91 (.286) with three homers, five doubles and 14 RBI in 23 games. The move down one spot in the batting order shouldn't worry fantasy managers at all. Diaz has never faced Spence in his career.

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The Oakland Athletics reinstated infielder Aledmys Diaz (calf) from the 60-day injured list on Tuesday and designated infielder Tyler Nevin for assignment in a corresponding move. Diaz is finally back from a strained right calf that he suffered in spring training in early March, but he won't immediately return to Oakland's starting lineup against the Tampa Bay Rays. The 33-year-old hit just .154 in 32 plate appearances in 10 games during his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas and is probably going to be a utility man for the A's until further notice, making him only attractive as depth in AL-only leagues behind Max Schuemann at the 6 and Abraham Toro at second base. Nevin had become a waiver-wire consideration in deeper fantasy leagues due to his hot start in April, but since then he's had just one hit in 43 at-bats and is off the active roster.

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Boston Red Sox outfielder Tyler O'Neill (knee) remains out of the starting lineup on Tuesday as the team takes on the Orioles in Baltimore at Camden Yards. O'Neill will now miss his third straight game with a sore knee that kept him out of a couple of games over the weekend. The 28-year-old's injury seems very minor, though, so he should be considered day-to-day with a shot at returning as soon as Wednesday. With O'Neill out again on Tuesday, Rob Refsnyder will serve as the designated hitter and will bat third in the lineup versus Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez. After a strong start in his first year in Beantown, O'Neill has cooled off some and is now slashing .236/.343/.500 with an .843 OPS, 11 homers and 17 RBI in 148 at-bats. Refsnyder has been great so far for Boston, going 24-for-71 (.338), but he lacks power upside that fantasy managers are looking for.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates placed catcher Joey Bart (thumb) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to May 27) on Tuesday and selected the contract of catcher Grant Koch from Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move. It's unclear exactly what the specific nature of Bart's thumb injury is, but he hurt his thumb on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves and was removed early. With former first-rounder Henry Davis still working on his swing at Indianapolis, Koch will head to the big leagues to serve as veteran Yasmani Grandal's backup in Pittsburgh for however long Bart remains on the IL. Bart was a first-round bust with the San Francisco Giants but has already looked better in 22 games with the Bucs, hitting .267 (16-for-60) with four homers and 12 RBI. When he's healthy, he could be the odd-man out if Davis returns to Pittsburgh before he comes off the IL.

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New York Mets shortstop prospect Jett Williams (wrist) received a second cortisone injection in his right wrist, according to president of baseball operations David Stearns. If his latest injection doesn't help, the Mets will have to consider surgery for the infielder. It's unclear how long surgery would keep the 20-year-old out of action, but there's a chance it could end his 2024 campaign. Williams had his first cortisone injection in early May. In addition to his wrist injury, Williams was hitting just .180/.360/.308 with no homers, two RBI and two stolen bases in 11 games played for Double-A Binghamton before his injury. The Mets' top prospect, per MLB Pipeline, bats from the right side and also has played the outfield. Williams doesn't have tons of raw power but commands the strike zone and could surface in the big leagues as early as next year, perhaps at second base.

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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that designated hitter Shohei Ohtani will not start the second game of the team's doubleheader on Tuesday against the hosting New York Mets at Citi Field. Catcher Will Smith will serve as the DH for the nightcap of the twin bill, with Austin Barnes likely doing the catching against Mets veteran left-hander Jose Quintana. Ohtani is the DH and is batting in the two-hole for Game 1 against Mets right-hander Tylor Megill, but he'll get to rest in the second game with a southpaw on the mound. It's been a pretty successful year at the plate so far for the two-way superstar in his first year in LA, as Ohtani currently leads the league in average (.336), slugging percentage (.621), OPS (1.024) and total bases (131) while also adding 13 homers, 35 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 53 games.

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New York Mets outfielder Harrison Bader will take a seat for Game 1 of a doubleheader on Tuesday against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers. With Nimmo out, Tyrone Taylor will play center field and bat in the six-hole against hard-throwing right-hander Tyler Glasnow. Bader should be back in the lineup for the nightcap to face Dodgers right-hander Gavin Stone. The 29-year-old has only cleared the fences two times this year while driving in 16 and scoring 17 runs in 147 at-bats, but fantasy managers aren't complaining about his .279 batting average (41-for-147) or his eight stolen bases. Bader has value in all fantasy leagues given his propensity to make a lot of contact at the plate. He's hitting .281 (18-for-64) with a homer, nine RBI and three thefts in 21 games in the month of May. Get him back into your lineups for Game 2 of the doubleheader on Tuesday.

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New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder) was on the field playing catch on Tuesday before the first game of a doubleheader against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers for the first time since he was shut down for a few days due to another setback with his right arm. Senga remains on the 60-day injured list due to a posterior right-capsule strain. The 31-year-old received a cortisone injection last week and will now resume a throwing program that will likely take six weeks. If Senga can avoid any further setbacks, the Japanese hurler still may not make his 2024 debut for the Mets until after the All-Star break. Given all the time he's missed, he's going to need a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment, and the Mets certainly aren't going to rush him back. He's been a huge disappointment so far this year for fantasy managers, but Senga must remain stashed in an IL spot in all leagues.

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St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (hamstring) is back in Tuesday's lineup against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds and left-hander Andrew Abbott. After dealing with tightness in his left hamstring for the past two games, Nootbaar will return for the Cardinals sooner than expected to start in right field and bat second on Tuesday. The 26-year-old on-base machine is slashing a modest .227/.338/.409 with five home runs, 19 RBI, 14 runs scored, and three stolen bases over 155 plate appearances (37 games) as an everyday player in St. Louis' outfield this season, so he's been very limited from a fantasy perspective. The lefty-hitting Nootbaar has gone just 8-for-44 (.182) with no homers against left-handed pitching, and he won't be a recommended DFS option against Abbott.

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Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried looks to build on his recent string of success in Tuesday's scheduled start against the division-rival Washington Nationals. After a shaky start to the season, Fried is on a roll with a 1.70 ERA and 36:11 K:BB over his last 42 1/3 innings (six starts) with two complete games for the Braves during this stretch. The current Nationals roster is batting a career .176 (13-for-76) with just two extra-base hits against Fried, setting the hurler up in a highly favorable position. Treat the 30-year-old All-Star left-hander as one of the top pitching options on Tuesday's slate.

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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before Tuesday's series opener against the hosting New York Mets that if all goes well with closer Evan Phillips (hamstring), he will return on Friday for the start of a weekend series against the division-rival Colorado Rockies. Phillips has logged one outing on his minor-league rehab assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga as he works his way back from Grade 1 right hamstring strain, and he'll likely make another appearance or two before the Dodgers activate him from the injured list. Over 14 appearances before going down, the 29-year-old right-hander allowed a single run with a 17:4 K:BB and converted each of his eight save chances over 13 2/3 innings of work as LA's established closer. Veteran Daniel Hudson figures to be first in line for save opportunities for the early part of Week 10 of fantasy baseball.

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Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is out of Tuesday's lineup against the hosting Texas Rangers. It's a maintenance day for the 30-year-old veteran, who will be replaced by the speedy Jake McCarthy in left field on Tuesday. Gurriel was a first-time All-Star in 2023 and got off to a hot start in 2024, but he's cooled off considerably over the past month, hitting .168 (17-for-101) with just one home run, five doubles, and seven RBI across his last 26 outings. Look for him to rejoin Arizona's lineup for Wednesday's series finale against the Rangers and left-hander Andrew Heaney. The righty-hitting Gurriel is batting .323 with two homers, five doubles, and 10 RBI in 65 at-bats against left-handed pitching this year.

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New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said ahead of Tuesday's game against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers that catcher Francisco Alvarez (thumb) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Thursday with Double-A Binghamton. Alvarez will catch five to seven innings, and it's a great sign that's already good to go to for game action after he had no issues swinging in batting practice amid his recovery from surgery on his left thumb. Alvarez is firmly on track to return to the Mets in late June, or perhaps even a bit earlier if all continues to go well. The 22-year-old former top prospect may have been hitting just .236 (13-for-55) with one home run as New York's primary catcher before getting hurt, but he did have four doubles and one stolen base over 16 games and is worth stashing in all fantasy leagues for his power potential at the catcher position.

From RotoBaller

The Pittsburgh Pirates activated third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (back) from the 10-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's series opener against the hosting Detroit Tigers. Hayes is back from a bout of inflammation in his lower back, and he didn't need a minor-league rehab assignment before the Pirates reinstated him. Despite an absurd spring training that suggested his breakout was on the way, the 27-year-old former top prospect is slashing a weak .240/.322/.318 with one home run, seven doubles, 11 RBI, and 15 runs scored over 149 plate appearances (34 games) in the regular season this year but should immediately resume his duties as Pittsburgh's everyday third baseman. Fantasy managers should take a wait-and-see approach before activating Hayes or adding him from waiver wires.

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Washington Nationals outfield prospect James Wood (hamstring) has been placed on the 7-day injured listat Triple-A Rochester. Wood has been sidelined with tightness in his right hamstring since Thursday, when he was removed from the Red Wings' game in the fifth inning. The setback is going to slightly delay the major-league debut of the dynamic 21-year-old slugger, who's slashing a torrid .355/.465/.596 with nine home runs, 13 doubles, 31 RBI, and 10 stolen bases through 202 plate appearances (45 games) in the minors this season. Wood is Washington's No. 1 prospect and the No. 5 prospect in all of baseball for 2024, per MLB Pipeline, and he now isn't likely to be called up until sometime in the middle of June at the earliest at this point.

From RotoBaller

New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte and third baseman Mark Vientos will both take a seat for Game 1 of a doubleheader on Tuesday against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers. DJ Stewart is in right field and is batting fifth, while Brett Baty is at third base and hitting in the eight-hole against Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow. Marte should be back in the lineup for Game 2 against right-hander Gavin Stone. The two-time All-Star has stayed healthy so far in 2024 and is slashing .259/.307/.395 with six homers, 19 RBI and eight steals in 48 games. Vientos doesn't have the glove that Baty does at third base, but the 24-year-old has looked much better offensively, going 11-for-32 (.344) with three homers and six RBI with his limited opportunities. Stewart and Baty have a tough matchup on their hands in Glasnow in Game 1.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks released second baseman Kolten Wong from Triple-A Reno on Monday. Wong made it 31 games with the Aces in the minor leagues before being cut. He was hitting .271 (29-for-107) with two home runs, 16 RBI, two stolen bases and 15 runs scored in his 121 plate appearances and will now be looking for another opportunity with another team. The 33-year-old veteran spent the 2023 campaign with the Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers and slashed a dreadful .183/.256/.263 combined with four home runs, six doubles, 27 RBI and three stolen bases in 87 games played. The former 22nd overall pick in 2011 out of Hawaii has always been a glove-first second baseman with modest power and speed, and it remains to be seen if he'll ever be able to make it back to a big-league roster.

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According to Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton, veteran left-hander Martin Perez (groin) will go on the 15-day injured list as the team awaits more testing on him. The groin injury that Perez suffered in his last outing on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves is obviously serious enough to keep him out for at least the next two weeks, but we don't have the exact specifics of the severity of the injury. The 33-year-old southpaw has been up and down in 2024 and doesn't have much upside in the strikeout department. Perez has so far gone 1-3 on the year with a 4.71 ERA (4.67 FIP) and 1.55 WHIP with 19 walks and 46 strikeouts in 57 1/3 frames over his 11 starts for the Bucs. The most likely scenario is that young pitcher Quinn Priester is brought back up from the minors to take Perez's rotation spot the next few weeks.

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Milwaukee Brewers left-hander DL Hall (knee) had his left knee evaluated in Milwaukee on Monday. "We have no indication that it's worse than (a tweak) right now. But we just want to be conservative. There's no sense in rushing through it or pushing through it at this point," assistant general manager Matt Kleine said. Hall tweaked his knee in his latest minor-league rehab appearance last Thursday with Triple-A Nashville when his cleat got caught on the field. The 25-year-old southpaw initially landed on the 15-day injured list on April 21 with a left-knee sprain and started his rehab assignment with High-A Wisconsin on May 19. It's unclear when his next rehab outing may be or when he might return to Milwaukee. In his four starts for the Brewers before his injury, Hall allowed 14 earned runs on 27 hits (four homers) while walking 10 and fanning 13 in 16 1/3 innings.

From RotoBaller

Considering New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder) will need to start his throwing program from scratch, which usually requires around six weeks, it seems unlikely that he will come off the 60-day injured list to pitch for the Mets before the All-Star break in mid-July. "It's hard to put a timetable here," manager Carlos Mendoza said. "We got a pretty frustrated player here that he's not able to contribute to the team." The 31-year-old Japanese hurler has already had multiple setbacks in his recovery from a posterior right capsule strain in his shoulder and regrets the way his rehab has gone to this point. Fantasy managers that selected him spring drafts are having regrets as well, but he's still worth stashing in all league formats for a second-half return. Senga should resume playing catch on Wednesday.

From RotoBaller