Colorado Rockies infielder/outfielder Kris Bryant (back) has been increasing his baseball activities according to manager Bud Black. Despite the positive news, there is still not a clear timetable for Bryant's return from a strained lower back. Before hitting the injured list, the 32-year-old former All-Star was slashing a weak .149/.273/.255 with one home run, two doubles, six RBI, and three runs scored through 55 plate appearances (13 games) while splitting work at first base and in right field for the Rockies. He's not a recommended stash in shallow fantasy leagues at this point. With Bryant sidelined, veteran Charlie Blackmon is spending more time in right field while Elehuris Montero functions as Colorado's primary first baseman. Both players have a sub-.600 OPS and aren't worth streaming at this time.

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St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras (arm) has been diagnosed with a fractured left arm after exiting Tuesday's game against the visiting New York Mets in the second inning. Contreras was writhing in pain after getting hit on a swing by J.D. Martinez, and he immediately came out of the game. It's a massive blow to a Cardinals offense already struggling to produce runs as well as Contreras, who will face some kind of lengthy absence following the setback. Through 128 plate appearances (31 games) for St. Louis this year, the 31-year-old star backstop was slashing a robust .280/.398/.551 with six home runs, 11 doubles, 12 RBI, 20 runs scored, and two stolen bases. Ivan Herrera stepped in on Tuesday and figures to get all the action he can handle behind the dish in Contreras' stead, slashing just .215/.264/.369 with three homers and 11 RBI over 65 at-bats. Fantasy managers can find better replacements on waiver wires.

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Oakland Athletics right-hander Freddy Tarnok (hip) reported to the team's minor-league complex in Arizona on April 29. He was scheduled to throw a bullpen session on April 30 and a live batting practice session last Thursday. Tarnok was moved to the 60-day injured list on Friday and he doesn't have a current timetable to start a minor-league rehab assignment. The 25-year-old is recovering from right-hip inflammation that he first experienced in spring training and won't be able to return until at least late May. The A's aren't going to rush him along once he does start a rehab assignment on the farm. In just five appearances (one start) for the A's last year, Tarnok had a 4.91 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with 11 walks and 14 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings. Tarnok has shown the ability to miss bats, but he's going to need to stay healthy to give himself a chance at a role.

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Oakland Athletics left-hander Ken Waldichuk (elbow) had a setback after he faced hitters in a 25-pitch live batting practice session on April 29 and has not thrown since. Waldichuk will be re-evaluated in the next week and is shut down indefinitely. The 26-year-old southpaw opened the year on the 60-day injured list while recovering from a left-elbow sprain, but this recent setback is going to keep him out at least into June. He's merely a name to monitor in AL-only leagues while he works to get healthy. Waldichuk won't be a lock for the big-league rotation when he's finally healthy, either, after going 4-9 with a 5.36 ERA (5.30 FIP) and 1.56 WHIP with 71 walks and 132 K's in 141 innings over 35 outings (22 starts) last year. A relief role is probably his best path to work in the majors if he can eventually make it back before the All-Star break.

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Oakland Athletics infielder Aledmys Diaz (calf) has resumed taking batting practice. He has not started running the bases yet, but manager Mark Kotsay said that once Diaz does so without issue, he could be ready to go on a minor-league rehab assignment. The 33-year-old veteran utility man is slowly making progress but is probably still a month away from being able to make his 2024 debut with the A's. The Cuban infielder won't be guaranteed playing time when he's able to return, though, after disappointing with a .229/.280/.337 slash line in his first year with the team in 2023 in 109 games. Even if Diaz does find regular playing time when he's healthy, he'll have a low ceiling with minimal power and speed. Diaz hasn't hit more than 18 home runs in a single season in his eight-year big-league career.

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Oakland Athletics right-hander Luis Medina (knee) faced hitters in a 20-pitch live bullpen session at the Coliseum on Monday and came away from it feeling healthy. Medina will next head to the team's minor-league complex in Arizona and throw a simulated game on Friday. If that goes well, he could start a minor-league rehab assignment soon after that. The 25-year-old Dominican hurler is recovering from a Grade 2 MCL sprain and has yet to pitch in the big leagues at all in 2024. He made his major-league debut with the A's last year and went 3-10 with a 5.42 ERA (4.76 FIP) and 1.51 WHIP with 57 walks and 106 strikeouts in 109 2/3 innings over 23 outings (17 starts) in his rookie season. Medina has a live arm and had some decent stretches in 2023, but he's going to need to show better control when he's back healthy if he wants a chance at a rotation spot.

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Oakland Athletics outfielder Miguel Andujar (knee), who had surgery to fix a torn meniscus in his right knee on March 27, resumed taking batting practice, but manager Mark Kotsay said on Sunday that the outfielder is experiencing lateral knee soreness, a "slight setback" that will slow his progress. Andujar was originally given a recovery timeline of at least four to six week. He's expected to join the big-league club after he goes on a minor-league rehab assignment. Given the nature of the 29-year-old's injury and his long layoff, it wouldn't be a surprise if he wasn't able to return to the A's until June. It remains to be seen what role Andujar will have once he makes his 2024 MLB debut. He's a name worth monitoring in AL-only formats once he gets closer to a return.

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Oakland Athletics left-hander Scott Alexander (rib) gave up a run on two hits while striking out one in an inning of work in his first minor-league rehab appearance for Single-A Stockton last Friday. Alexander said he felt good in his first rehab outing and was scheduled to make another appearance in San Jose on Tuesday, also with Stockton. If he comes out of that outing without a setback, Alexander will move his rehab assignment to Triple-A Las Vegas. Now that the 34-year-old veteran southpaw is pitching again for the first time in almost two months, he could be a candidate to return to Oakland's bullpen soon. Alexander hasn't pitched yet in 2024 with the A's and is unlikely to be of much use in any fantasy format once he's back in the big leagues.

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Milwaukee Brewers third base prospect Brock WIlken (facial) recently returned from an early-season facial fracture injury this past week. Earlier in April, Wilken took a fastball to the face but thankfully did not suffer any loss of vision or concussion as a result. The 21-year-old returned to Double-A on May 4 and tallied a double. Wilken, who was a first-round selection in the 2023 MLB Draft, has not logged many games in the minor leagues but hopes to get himself back on track now that he is fully healthy. Wilken showcased his raw power potential in a limited opportunity with Double-A last season by launching two long balls in just six games. The sixth-ranked prospect in the Milwaukee system should be expected to reach the major leagues sometime next season.

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Oakland Athletics second baseman Zack Gelof (oblique) returned to baseball activities on May 1 by taking grounders at second bae and playing catch before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He has also resumed taking light swings in the cage, but there remains no timeline for Gelof to begin a minor-league rehab assignment, as the A's don't want to rush him back and have him potentially aggravate his oblique injury. Oblique injuries are notoriously tough to return from, so the 24-year-old is going to be brought along slowly in his rehab. With Gelof out, Abraham Toro has capitalized with frequent playing time at the keystone. Gelof, the former second-rounder in 2021 out of Virginia, impressed in his major-league debut last year but was hitting just .196 (18-for-92) with three home runs, seven RBI and four steals at the time of his injury.

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New York Yankees infielder Oswald Peraza (shoulder) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday night with Single-A Tampa. Peraza hasn't played at all this year after suffering a right-shoulder strain in spring training in late February. The 23-year-old is probably going to require a lengthy stint in the minor leagues before the Yankees consider adding him to the major-league roster. If he's able to return before DJ LeMahieu (foot) does, the 23-year-old infielder could see playing time at the hot corner in the Bronx. Peraza performed well in the minors last year but struggled in 52 contests at the big-league level, slashing .191/.267/.272 with two home runs, 14 RBI and four stolen bases in 191 plate appearances. When the entire Yankees roster is healthy, Peraza profiles as a utility infielder.

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Philadelphia Phillies third base/shortstop prospect has been off to an incredible start in his first full professional season at Single-A. Miller has a .310/.375/.479 line with two home runs, eight swiped bags, and a 7:14 BB:K ratio. The former first-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft has dominated Single-A pitching and could find himself in High-A fairly soon. Even though Miller is still several years away from the major leagues, dynasty managers should pay close attention to him due to his elite combination of power and speed, as he can develop into one of the game's budding superstars.

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Kansas City Royals right-hander Alec Marsh (elbow) looked good in his minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Omaha on Sunday, tossing four shutout innings while allowing one hit, walking one and striking out six. The Royals were hoping that Marsh threw 60 to 65 pitches in the outing, but he pitched so well and efficiently that he only threw 53 pitches (38 for strikes). The 25-year-old could be ready to return from the 15-day injured list when he's eligible on Friday, but if the Royals play it safe and have him make another rehab start, Daniel Lynch would be in line to take another turn through KC's rotation. Marsh was looking good before landing on the IL, going 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and seven walks in 26 2/3 innings pitched, so he'll be guaranteed a spot back in the team's rotation when he's ready.

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Houston Astros right-hander J.P. France (shoulder) is dealing with a shoulder injury that will sideline him "a while," according to a person familiar with his situation. Shoulder inflammation delayed France's building in spring training, but he recovered in time to make the team's Opening Day roster. He had a 7.46 ERA in five big-league starts before he was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on April 25. France walked four batters and gave up three earned runs in 3 2/3 innings in his only start for Sugar Land. The 29-year-old is now on the seven-day injured list in the minors after suffering a setback with his shoulder. It's a hit to an already thinned Astros rotation, although the club is getting Cristian Javier (neck) back this weekend. France's injury should offer both Hunter Brown and rookie Spencer Arrighetti more security in the big-league rotation.

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Washington Nationals third base/shortstop prospect Brady House has performed well in his first extended look at Double-A this season and is making a case to be moved up to Triple-A sooner rather than later. House is currently on a three-game hitting streak and has gone hitless in just one of his past eight games. During this stretch, the 20-year-old has tallied three of his total five home runs. Overall, on the season, the third-ranked prospect in the Washington pipeline has a .266/.361/.479 line. House is projected to reach the majors in 2025 but could make a late-season push to the majors if he continues to hit this well.

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Boston Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello (lat) said he feels great and is pain-free and is ready to start on Sunday at Fenway Park against the visiting Washington Nationals. We'll see what the Red Sox have to say about that after Bello allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits while walking two and striking out five batters in only 2 2/3 innings in a minor-league rehab start for Double-A Portland on Tuesday. The good news is that Bello feels fully healthy, but even if he's activated from the injured list and returns on Sunday in a good matchup against the Nats, he'll be a shaky fantasy option for Sunday's slate of games in his first start back. Before landing on the IL, the 24-year-old had a nice 3.04 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 26 strikeouts in 26 2/3 frames over five starts. If Bello is on your league's waiver wire, scoop him up.

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Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas (knee) is taking full batting practice on the field on Tuesday for the first time since going on the injured list with a left MCL sprain two weeks ago. It's good progress for Thomas, but he still has other boxes to check before the club clears him to embark on a minor-league rehab assignment. Barring a setback with his knee, the 28-year-old should be able to return to Washington's lineup before the end of May. In his absence, the left-handed-hitting Jesse Winker has seen more run in the Nationals' outfield. When he's healthy, Thomas will return to everyday duties for the team despite hitting .184 in his first 87 at-bats. He had added two home runs, 10 RBI and 11 stolen bases. Thomas' 20-20 potential makes him stash-worthy in all fantasy leagues.

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Chicago Cubs left-handers Drew Smyly (hip) and Jordan Wicks (forearm) were both scheduled to throw bullpen sessions on Tuesday. Wicks went on the injured list over a week ago with a strained left forearm but is already good to throw off a mound, so it sounds as though his injury isn't very serious. However, the 24-year-old southpaw could need a minor-league rehab assignment before the Cubs feel comfortable returning him to their starting rotation. Smyly, 34, is recovering from a right-hip impingement and has already missed several weeks. Because Smyly is a reliever, he may not need as lengthy of a rehab assignment before rejoining Chicago's bullpen. In a starting role, Wicks is more attractive in fantasy in deeper leagues. He had a 4.70 ERA with a 1.52 WHIP and 28 K's in five starts before his injury.

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Oakland Athletics shortstop prospect Jacob Wilson went 4-for-4 with a walk in Tuesday's victory over the Tulsa Drillers. Wilson tallied two runs and two RBI as well. The 22-year-old wasted no time by lacing an RBI double in the opening frame, and then came around to score off a Cooper Bowman groundout. Later in the third, Wilson knocked a single and then scored his second run courtesy of Bowman again, this time off a double. Then in the sixth, he tallied his first RBI of the game off a walk and brought in his second run in the eighth off an RBI single. The former sixth overall pick is riding an incredible .455/.473/.705 slash line through 22 games at Double-A. Wilson should be rostered in all dynasty leagues and could even make a late-season push to the major leagues.

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The Washington Nationals reinstated outfielder Victor Robles (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and optioned outfielder Alex Call to Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move. Robles will return to the big leagues after missing more than a month due to a strained left hamstring. The 26-year-old went 7-for-20 with a stolen base in six minor-league rehab games with Triple-A Rochester, but he was not immediately back in the big-league lineup for the Nats on Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles. The Dominican speedster has been a disappointment in his seven years in D.C., so regular playing time will not be guaranteed now that he's back, especially since Jacob Young has played well in his absence.

From RotoBaller