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.

Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas (knee) will continue rehabbing his knee in the minor leagues and will be re-evaluated after the weekend, per Nationals manager Dave Martinez. Thomas is currently with Double-A Harrisburg but could also make his way to Triple-A Rochester. The righty has been recovering from a sprained MCL for the past month. Washington's offense is in need of some offensive firepower, scoring over three runs just three times in their past nine games. Thomas had been performing well below his norms prior to his injury, but if he returns to his .783 OPS from 2023 it'd be a great help to a desperate Nationals offense. Fantasy managers should be prepare for his return in the next week or so under the assumption that no setbacks happen over the weekend.

Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas (knee) is getting ready to return and could be reinstated from the injured list as early as Friday night's series opener against the visiting Seattle Mariners. The Nationals have managed just a .503 OPS in 22 games since Thomas sprained the MCL in his left knee a month ago, so they will certainly welcome his return. In the course of his career in D.C., Thomas has a .747 OPS. He spent the last three days on a minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Harrisburg, where he went 2-for-9 with a double, walk, two strikeouts and a stolen base. Most importantly, he played a full nine innings on Thursday night. If Thomas doesn't return to the big-league lineup on Friday, it will likely come later this weekend or early next week. The 28-year-old will be an everyday hitter near the top of the lineup when he returns, and he shouldn't be floating around any waiver wires in fantasy.

Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas (knee) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday, and if all goes well, he'll play again on Wednesday. The team will then decide if Thomas is ready to come off the injured list or if he needs more time on his rehab assignment. If the Nationals are happy with what they see from the 28-year-old on Tuesday and Wednesday, he could return to the big-league lineup on Friday for the series opener against the Seattle Mariners. Thomas has been out almost a month with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee, but he should be rostered in all fantasy formats despite going 16-for-87 (.184) before his injury. He already has 11 stolen bases in 22 games in 2024 after being a 20-20 man in 2023.

Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas (knee) could be ready to start his rehab assignment this week, per Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports. Thomas suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain on April 23 and has been mixing in some running over the past week. If all goes well in Thomas' rehab stint, he could return to the Nationals' lineup by the end of May. The 28-year-old was performing well below his norms before his MCL sprain, hitting for just a .503 OPS in 96 plate appearances. Based off his expected stats, he should regress positively and perform closer to his norms once he returns, with a good amount of his value coming from stolen bases (11 on the season). Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his status, though he may be best as a bench option rather than a starter.

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli (elbow) is ready to begin a minor-league rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League. Cavalli has been recovering from Tommy John surgery that was performed in March 2023 and has been progressing after throwing multiple bullpen sessions over the past few weeks. Once Cavalli makes his first start, then that will start his 30-day rehab block.Only dynasty managers should be concerned with Cavalli's status as he works to return to the big leagues.

Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas (knee) is doing some baserunning on Wednesday for the first time since suffering a Grade 2 sprain of his left MCL three weeks ago. Thomas isn't running at 100 percent yet, but it didn't look like he was at much less than full speed on Wednesday. It sounds as though Thomas is getting very close to embarking on a minor-league rehab assignment, although the Nationals could want to see him play in at least a handful of games given his long layoff. Still, the 28-year-old could return from the injured list before the end of May, barring any setbacks. Thomas was hitting just .184 (16-for-87) with two homers and 10 RBI before his injury, but he also contributed 11 stolen bases in just 22 games and was a 20-20 player in 2023. He should not be floating around on the waiver wire in any fantasy league.

Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas (knee) took batting practice on the field prior to Friday's game against the Boston Red Sox after doing so for the first time in his rehab on Tuesday at Nationals Park. Thomas has continued to run and throw as well, so the next step for him is to run the bases. Working his way back from a left MCL sprain that put him on the injured list on April 24, the 28-year-old outfielder still has a chance to return before the end of the month if he can begin a minor-league rehab assignment sometime in late May. Thomas is slashing a lackluster .184/.250/.253 with two home runs and 10 RBI over 87 at-bats (22 games) as Washington's primary right fielder this season, but his 11 stolen bases make him a must-stash asset in the majority of fantasy leagues.

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.

Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas (knee) is still working on decreasing stiffness and swelling in his left knee. It certainly doesn't sound like Thomas is currently participating in baseball activities, which means that his stay on the 10-day injured list is all but certain to extend past the minimum stint. The 28-year-old right fielder was slashing .184/.250/.253 with two home runs, 10 RBI, six runs scored, and 11 stolen bases over 87 at-bats (22 games) for the Nats, and fantasy managers should be preparing for him to be sidelined with a left MCL sprain likely until mid-to-late May. Veteran Eddie Rosario is filling in for Thomas in Washington's outfield on the strong side of a platoon with Alex Call, but he's gone just 6-for-68 in 22 outings and can be ignored on waiver wires unless his bat starts to wake up.

Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez said that outfielder Lane Thomas (knee) is dealing with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee after getting hurt in Tuesday night's loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. "It could've been a lot worse," Martinez said. Thomas was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday and is likely to miss more than the required 10 games, but fantasy managers should keep him stashed in an IL spot for the time being after he had 28 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a breakout season in 2023. Martinez said the plan for now is to play Joey Gallo in right field, with infield prospect Trey Lipscomb playing multiple positions but probably a decent amount at first base. Thomas is hitting just .184 (16-for-87) in the first month of the season, but he's helped his fantasy managers with 11 stolen bases, which ranks third in MLB.

The Washington Nationals officially placed outfielder Lane Thomas (knee) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a left-MCL sprain and recalled infielder Trey Lipscomb from Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move, according to president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo. The 28-year-old Thomas hit just .184 with two home runs, 10 RBI, eight walks, 11 stolen bases and six runs scored in 22 games before injuring his knee on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. While he hasn't hit well in the early going, he ranks third in the league with his 11 thefts. If the Nats move Nick Senzel to the outfield, Lipscomb should see regular starts again at the hot corner in D.C. Thomas is probably going to miss more than 10 days, but he deserves to be stashed in all fantasy leagues after clubbing 28 home runs and stealing 20 bases in 2023.

Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas (knee), who is undergoing an MRI exam on his left knee on Wednesday, is considered very likely to land on the injured list, according to sources. As a result, rookie infielder Trey Lipscomb is in Washington on Wednesday in case the team puts Thomas on the IL. Lipscomb hit .224 in 14 games after his first big-league call-up but was optioned back to the minors on April 15 when Nick Senzel returned from his injury. Thomas was injured in Tuesday's loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers while stealing second base in the fifth inning and may have to miss at least 10 days as a result. We should know more about how long he'll be out once the results of his MRI are released. In addition to his injury, Thomas has gone just 16-for-87 (.184) at the plate this year with two home runs, but he also has 11 stolen bases for fantasy managers.

Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas (leg) exited Tuesday's game versus the Los Angeles Dodgers with an apparent left leg injury. Thomas appeared to twist his left leg on a slide while attempting a stolen base in the fifth inning and was able to stay in the game temporarily, but he was later replaced by Eddie Rosario in right field in the seventh. Considering Thomas was able keep playing for a bit, there's optimism that he's only dealing with a minor injury. Expect the Nats to offer some clarity on his status following the contest, and Thomas should be deemed day-to-day ahead of the second game of the series with LA on Wednesday. The 28-year-old right fielder is batting a mere .184 (16-for-87) with two home runs and 10 RBI in 22 games this season, but his 11 swipes are softening the blow. It wouldn't hurt fantasy managers in deep leagues to make a speculative add on No. 2 prospect James Wood until Thomas is fully healthy.

Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas (back), who returned to Saturday's lineup as the designated hitter, went 1-for-4 with a home run, three RBI, and one stolen base in the 7-6 extra-inning triumph over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 28-year-old made his presence felt after a three-game absence with back inflammation, first hitting a sacrifice fly for a first-inning RBI. Thomas stole second base in the fifth frame before slapping a two-run homer to deep left field in the seventh. The rebuilding Nats may have found a keeper in Thomas, who has now gone deep in four straight games played. The 2023 revelation is batting .285 with an .822 OPS, 24 homers, 77 RBI, 92 runs scored, and 18 swipes in 541 at-bats.

Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas (back) is playing right field and is batting second on Friday against the visiting Miami Marlins and right-hander Eury Perez. Thomas was pulled from Wednesday's game early due to back tightness and also missed Thursday's contest, but he'll be back in there to start the weekend. The 28-year-old is having a career year in 2023, slashing .279/.329/.466 with 20 home runs, 69 RBI, 17 stolen bases and 88 runs scored in 524 at-bats in his second full season in D.C. However, he struggled to close out the month of August, going just 3-for-28 (.107) with no homers, a double, a triple, no RBI, nine strikeouts, two stolen bases and three runs scored in his last eight games since Aug. 23.

Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas (back) is not in Thursday's lineup versus the Miami Marlins. Alex Call will start in right field and bat sixth for Game 1 of the series. The 28-year-old Thomas departed from Wednesday's game with back tightness and needs at least one day to recuperate. He is currently day-to-day and Thomas' next chance to return will come during Friday's meeting in Miami. The right fielder has cooled recently, but still represents one of fantasy's biggest 2023 surprises while hitting .279 (146-for-524) with 20 home runs, 69 RBI, 88 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases.

Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas (back) was forced to exit early during Wednesday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. The 28-year-old was taken out of the game in the seventh inning due to back tightness, according to manager Dave Martinez. The organization is uncertain if Thomas will be in the lineup on Thursday. However, it does sounds like a day-to-day issue, so Thomas should avoid a trip to the injured list. Alex Call replaced Thomas in the outfield, so he could see more playing time if Thomas does miss time.

Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas (wrist) is scratched from Saturday's starting lineup versus the Oakland Athletics. This comes a day after Thomas was hit by a pitch in the wrist. He was able to stay in Friday's game after the incident, but it appears he's dealing with some wrist soreness. The team will give him the day off and hope that it goes away. In the meantime, Stone Garrett will cover right field and bat sixth versus right-hander Luis Medina during Saturday's contest.

Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI, two runs scored, and two stolen bases in Saturday's 7-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. The 27-year-old singled and stole a base to eventually cross the plate for a first-inning run before popping a sacrifice fly to add another during the second frame. Thomas carried out a big fourth inning when he doubled in a run before swiping another bag. He then caused a throwing error while trying to steal third to allow him to come all the way around once more. After hitting a quiet 14-for-75 out of the All-Star break until Aug. 2, Thomas is quickly warming back up on the heels of smashing two home runs in Friday's contest. The 2023 revelation is hitting .288 with an .814 OPS, 18 homers, 62 RBI, and 14 swipes across 438 at-bats.