Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout continued his strong start to the 2024 campaign with a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, also drawing an intentional walk in the ninth inning. Trout homered to deep right center in the first inning to get the Halos into the scoring column, which was already his eighth round-tripper of the young season. The 32-year-old perennial All-Star has been excellent so far this year, slashing .282/.363/.690 with an American League-high eight homers, 11 RBI, 12 runs scored, and three stolen bases while returning early-round numbers in all fantasy settings. His RBI upside will likely be held back by Anaheim's underwhelming lineup all season long, but the swipes are a welcome sight after the oft-injured Trout stole only three bags across 201 games from 2022 to 2023. After Thursday's series finale against the Rays, Trout gets a three-game series at the hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park.

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (groin) made a significant impact during his return to the lineup on Wednesday. The 33-year-old backstop is playing through a Grade 1 left groin strain that he suffered earlier in the week. On Wednesday, Perez smacked a go-ahead two-run home run off right-hander Michael Kopech in the eighth inning. Perez is off to a red-hot start at the plate this season. He has five home runs and 17 RBI through 17 games.

Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) will make his 2024 season debut on Friday against the Washington Nationals, according to manager Joe Espada. The team's other starters will shift back a day, with Ronel Blanco going on Saturday and Cristian Javier taking the hill on Sunday. Verlander didn't pitch at all during spring training due to right-shoulder inflammation but is now ready after making a couple minor-league rehab starts and throwing a successful bullpen session on Tuesday. The 41-year-old three-time Cy Young winner didn't look particularly sharp in the minors but got up to 77 pitches in his final rehab start. Don't be surprised if the Astros have a short leash on the future Hall of Famer in his first start of the year in the big leagues this weekend.

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (groin) is back behind the plate and is hitting cleanup for the Royals in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox and rookie right-hander Jonathan Cannon, who is making his big-league debut. A Grade 1 left-groin strain kept Perez out of Monday's lineup before Tuesday's contest was postponed. The 33-year-old's injury clearly wasn't too serious, but he'll most likely sit out for the second game of the doubleheader. The eight-time All-Star should be reinserted into all fantasy lineups now that he's active again. Perez is off to an excellent start at the plate in 2024, going 21-for-62 (.339) with four home runs, 15 RBI and eight runs scored in his first 16 games.

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Alex Cobb (hip, elbow), who was briefly shut down recently with a mild flexor strain in his right elbow, has been cleared to resume throwing and tossed a bullpen session in Arizona on Tuesday. Other than that hiccup, Cobb is progressing well and believes he's ahead of schedule in his rehab from offseason surgery on his left hip. The 36-year-old right-hander was an All-Star in 2023 for the first time in his career, and despite running into trouble with the long ball in the second half, he still managed to compile a solid 3.87 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 131:37 K:BB across 151 1/3 innings (28 starts). Cobb could re-enter San Fran's rotation at some time during May, and he's a decent stash in most fantasy leagues. With Robbie Ray (elbow) also on the shelf, Jordan Hicks and Keaton Winn should continue to function as starters for the Giants for the time being.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (shoulder) is set to make his return from the injured list. The veteran right-hander will make his season debut either Friday or Saturday versus the Washington Nationals. The 41-year-old has been brought along slowly while he recovers from a shoulder injury. He's finally ready to return after having no issues during a recent bullpen outing. It's uncertain if the Astros will have Verlander on a pitch count or limited in some capacity. Regardless, fantasy managers in season-long formats can get him back in their lineups this weekend.

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (groin) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Chicago White Sox. The veteran catcher has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 left groin strain. Despite that, Perez hasn't been placed on the injured list and is considered as day-to-day. It wouldn't be shocking to see Perez miss a few more games while he recovers from this issue. Freddy Fermin will cover behind the plate and bat eighth during Tuesday's game.

It's "very unlikely" that designated hitter J.D. Martinez (back) will join the New York Mets on their upcoming West Coast road trip, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. The Mets begin their road trip this Friday, April 19, against the Los Angeles Dodgers and will wrap it up in San Francisco against the Giants on Wednesday, April 24. Martinez didn't sign with New York until late in spring training, so he stuck around in extended spring training to get his timing down at the plate before injuring his back in early April. The 36-year-old could start a rehab assignment later this week and make his 2024 debut with the Mets later this month or in early May. When he's finally ready to return, Martinez can still provide some thump from the DH spot and will give the Mets more protection for All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso.

Minnesota Twins first baseman Carlos Santana is out of the lineup on Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles. Santana is off to a slow start this season as he's slashing . 135/.224/.154 in 14 games with zero home runs and just two RBIs. In replace of Santana, Minnesota will be starting Alex Kirilloff at first base, who is batting third against Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout continued his power run in Monday's 7-3 win over the Rays. Trout went 2-for-5 with a single and a two-run home run. The 32-year-old has been every bit as good as fantasy managers were hoping for, slashing .290/.362/.710 with seven HR, 10 RBI, and two stolen bases in 69 plate appearances. It isn't surprising to see such great production from Trout, but it is encouraging nonetheless.

Texas Rangers right-hander Max Scherzer (back) could now be ready in early May despite initial evaluations placing his likely return around June or July, and his first minor-league rehab start could potentially come as early as next week. Scherzer threw 25 pitches of live batting practice at Comerica Park on Monday and said the next step is throwing 40 pitches on Friday. The 39-year-old future Hall of Famer had surgery to fix a herniated disc in his back on Dec. 15. General manager Chris Young said Scherzer attempted several "conservative treatments in pain management," including an epidural, but the pain never went away, which is why he had offseason surgery. Scherzer probably isn't going to be a fantasy ace any more, but he's still plenty capable of delivering a dominant outing every now and then if he can remain healthy after he returns from his back injury.

St. Louis Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter (oblique) is currently traveling with the team during their three-game series against the Oakland Athletics, and he took infield practice in Arizona this past weekend. Carpenter was put on the 10-day injured list due to a strained right oblique ahead of April 4's game against the Miami Marlins, and it would appear that a return in late April could be in the cards. After signing a two-year deal this past offseason with the team that drafted him, the 38-year-old former All-Star made St. Louis' Opening Day roster following a strong spring that saw him hit .346 (9-for-26) with five doubles, one home run, and five RBI in 13 outings. He figures to serve as the Cards' primary designated hitter against right-handed pitching upon his eventual return, but there's no clear-cut fantasy beneficiary of his absence at this time.

New York Yankees third baseman DJ LeMahieu (foot) is with the team on their current road trip in a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays. Manager Aaron Boone is encouraged by the veteran infielder's progress as he recovers from a non-displaced fracture of his right foot, and he said it's "very possible" LeMahieu will go on a rehab assignment when the club returns home on Thursday. With the Yankees struggling to find a consistent answer in the leadoff spot, the 35-year-old hitting machine will be an option for that role when he returns after hitting .273 (60-for-220) with eight home runs, nine doubles, 27 runs scored, and 36 walks in 60 games post-All-Star break last year. He has a chance to return before the end of April. The switch-hitting Oswaldo Cabrera is hitting .289 with an .888 OPS, three homers, and 11 RBI in his first 12 games of the campaign and remains worth rostering in all fantasy leagues while he's running hot.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that outfielder Jason Heyward (back) is still dealing with residual soreness in his back. There is no timetable for his return, but Heyward would have to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before being activated from the 10-day injured list because he's already missed two weeks. Until the 34-year-old veteran left-handed swinger is able to return to the big-league roster, Teoscar Hernandez should continue to regularly play right field, with Chris Taylor also seeing additional playing time for the Blue in the outfield. Heyward should play regularly against right-handed pitching when he's healthy again. The former first-rounder in 2007 by the Atlanta Braves had gone 3-for-14 with two RBI in four games this year before landing on the IL.

Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session on Tuesday, and if all goes well, he will return to the team's starting rotation this weekend to face the Washington Nationals in his 2024 debut, according to manager Joe Espada. Verlander said he feels ready despite giving up five earned runs on seven hits while walking a batter in four innings (77 pitches) in a minor-league rehab start for Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday. The Astros could really use the 41-year-old three-time Cy Young winner back in their banged-up rotation, and a start this weekend against the Nats would be a plus matchup for fantasy managers in Verlander's first start of the year. Don't expect ace-like numbers from Verlander at his age, but he still has the potential to be a strong No. 3 if he can stay healthy.

An MRI exam on Monday morning revealed that Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (groin) has a Grade 1 groin strain. Perez said he's pain-free and just has a little tightness/pinch after getting hurt on Sunday against the New York Mets. The veteran backstop was held out of the lineup on Monday versus the Chicago White Sox but is hoping to return to action on Tuesday. He went straight to manager Matt Quatraro's office on Monday and lobbied to play, but Freddy Fermin is doing the catching and is batting eighth against White Sox rookie righty Nick Nastrini. The 33-year-old Perez shouldn't need a trip to the injured list, and fantasy managers should check back on Tuesday to see if he's back in the starting lineup. Perez is off to a great start in 2024, batting .339 (21-for-62) with four home runs, two doubles and 15 RBI in just 16 games.

New York Yankees outfielder/designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton will start on the bench on Monday versus the Toronto Blue Jays. With Stanton starting on the pine, outfielder Aaron Judge is serving as the designated hitter and batting third, while Trent Grisham gets the start in center field and will hit ninth against Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassett. Judge has hit .222 in nine career at-bats against Bassitt, while Grisham has hit .167 in just six career at-bats against Bassitt. The biggest takeaway for Stanton after the first 13 games of the 2024 season is that he's managed to stay healthy so far. In his 55 plate appearances to begin the year, he's gone 13-for-52 (.250) with four home runs, nine RBI and seven runs scored. As long as he stays healthy, Stanton can always provide elite power numbers in a strong Yankees lineup.

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (groin, hip) is not in the starting lineup on Monday against the Chicago White Sox on the road. It shouldn't come as a huge surprise that Perez isn't in there after he was pulled early from Sunday's game New York Mets with left groin and hip injuries. Catcher Logan Porter is currently on the team's taxi squad to begin the week just in case the 33-year-old Perez's injury ends up costing him more than just a few days. Freddy Fermin would be the team's primary backstop if Perez is forced to the injured list. Fermin is behind the plate and is batting eighth on Monday against White Sox rookie right-hander Nick Nastrini, who is making his big-league debut. Fermin has just five hits in his first 26 at-bats in 2024 for a .192 batting average and one RBI.

New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez (back) is scheduled to resume swinging the bat on Monday and is still a few days away, according to manager Carlos Mendoza, of getting back into a minor-league game. Martinez hasn't played since last Saturday for Low-A St. Lucie after which he started to feel back tightness. The veteran right-handed slugger received a shot in his back last Tuesday. The Mets signed the 36-year-old late in spring training, but he didn't join the club for Opening Day as he tried to get his timing down at the plate before hurting his back. He probably won't resume his minor-league rehab assignment until later this week, but if he continues to feel good this weekend, there's a possibility that Martinez could join the Mets for his team debut sometime next week.

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez suffered a left groin and hip injury on Sunday when he collided with New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte at home plate. The veteran backstop left the game and was seen limping off of the field following the collision. He will be evaluated on Monday and an update is expected before the club kicks off a series against the rival White Sox. It's been a big start to the 2024 season for the long-time Royals catcher as Perez has hit .339 with four home runs and 15 RBI across 16 games and 65 trips to the plate, posting a healthy .934 OPS in the process. The heavily-used backstop continues to deliver quality power numbers into his mid-30s and should continue to drive in plenty of runs on an improved Royals offense in 2024.