St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas will look to get straightened out when he takes the ball for a road contest against the New York Mets. The 35-year-old was knocked around for nine hits, including three homers, leading to five earned runs allowed in just 4 1/3 innings in a losing effort against the Brewers his last time out. It was the second consecutive outing and third of five on the season in which the veteran has allowed five earned runs in less than five innings this season. The rough outing raised his ERA to 6.49 through five starts, although his 4.05 xFIP, 4.28 SIERA, and solid 6% BB% suggest positive regression is likely moving forward.

Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler was brilliant on Thursday, tossing six shutout innings while allowing just one hit while punching out eight on the afternoon as part of a 5-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds. He walked four on the day and was at 103 pitches by the end of his outing but managed to earn his second decision of the season. With the outing, the 33-year-old lowered his ERA to a tidy 1.93 mark on the season through six starts, striking out 46 while walking 11 across 37 1/3 innings of work. Somehow, he has managed to go just 2-3 on the young season. He lines up to take on the Angels in his next scheduled start next Tuesday in Los Angeles.

Miami Marlins catcher Christian Bethancourt (illness) has been activated from the 10-day injured list on Wednesday. The 32-year-old will return to the field after missing the last week or so due to an illness. His return won't mean too much for fantasy managers as Bethancourt has struggled this season. He's hitless through 23 plate appearances, so fantasy managers can look elsewhere for help. Jhonny Pereda has been optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville to make room for Bethancourt on the active roster.

Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler (1-3) allowed one hit and two walks while striking out eight over 7 1/3 scoreless innings in Saturday's 9-5 win over the Chicago White Sox. Wheeler cruised to his first victory of the year by carrying a no-hitter into the eighth inning. White Sox catcher Kodie Lee broke up Wheeler's no-hit bid with a ground ball single to right field. The 33-year-old threw 106 pitches, landing 75 pitches for strikes. Wheeler owns a 2.30 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 38 strikeouts over 31 1/3 innings this season. The Phillies ace will look to build on Saturday's performance in his next start on Thursday against the Cincinnati Reds.

Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Justin Turner hit his second home run of the season in Friday's 5-1 win over the Padres. It was a solo shot, and he also added an RBI single. The veteran has six multi-hit games on the year and is now batting a robust .345 on the young season, with two home runs, 11 RBI, and eight runs scored.

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced that catcher Yasmani Grandal (foot) will start a minor-league rehab assignment on Wednesday night with Triple-A Indianapolis. Grandal has been out since spring training with plantar fasciitis in his left foot but is getting close to being able to make his 2024 debut with the Bucs. When the 35-year-old does join the Pirates in the big leagues, he'll split time behind the dish with the struggling Henry Davis, who is currently hitting just .180 (9-for-50) with no home runs and four RBI in his first full major-league season. Grandal can provide some occasional pop as a switch-hitting backstop, but he's no longer a must-roster player in single-catcher leagues, especially since he won't be playing regularly.

Miami Marlins catcher Christian Bethancourt (illness) has been placed on the 10-day injured list on Monday. It appears Bethancourt is dealing with some sort of illness and he'll be sidelined for at least a week or so. In a corresponding move, the Marlins have selected catcher Jhonny Pereda from Triple-A Jacksonville. He figures to split up the playing time behind the plate with Nick Fortes while Bethancourt is sidelined.

Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Daniel Bard (knee, elbow) had a setback rehabbing and will undergo season-ending right flexor tendon surgery. After recently throwing off a mound, the banged-up Bard's season suddenly ends before it even begins while also recovering from a cleanup procedure on his left knee. The 38-year-old veteran right-hander is a free agent following the 2024 campaign, and it's unlikely that he'll draw very much interest after walking more batters (49) than he struck out (47) a season ago. Bard spent seven years away from the major leagues before latching on with Colorado in 2020. Justin Lawrence and Tyler Kinley are the names to watch for fantasy purposes for saves-needy managers, but Lawrence has yielded seven runs across five appearances, and Kinley has given up eight runs over six innings thus far.

Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Daniel Bard (knee) was expected to throw off a mound on Tuesday. The Rockies have been careful with Bard, whose platelet-rich plasma shots in his right forearm are a bigger concern than the cleanup operation on his left knee in February. Bard didn't participate in spring training, so he won't be available for the Rocks until May at the earliest. Even though the 38-year-old right-hander struggled to a 4.56 ERA (6.13 FIP), 1.70 WHIP, and an unfathomable 47:49 K:BB through 49 1/3 innings last season, he still might end up receiving the bulk of the save chances when he returns to the mound later this year. Justin Lawrence (9.82 ERA) and Tyler Kinley (13.50 ERA) remain the nominal favorites for saves out of Colorado's bullpen right now, but neither of the two right-handers have separated much in terms of seizing the closing gig to this point.

Pittsburgh Pirates catchers Yasmani Grandal (foot) and Endy Rodriguez (elbow) are making progress from their respective injuries, while catcher Jason Delay (knee) has been shut down from all baseball activities. Grandal is going to do some baserunning in the coming days and has been participating in simulated games. Rodriguez should start a swinging progression from the left side of the plate next week. The veteran Grandal is working his way back from plantar fasciitis in his left foot but appears to be close to a rehab assignment. When the 35-year-old is ready, he'll split catching duties in Pittsburgh with Henry Davis. Rodriguez, 23, is the team's backstop of the future, but he'll be out until the 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler fanned 10 hitters in Wednesday's 4-1 defeat to the Cincinnati Reds, taking a tough-luck loss after launching six innings and allowing one earned run. Although Wheeler got into trouble in the third inning, it was Bryson Stott's fielding error that ultimately led to two unearned runs before Elly De La Cruz doubled one in during the sixth. It was still a successful outcome for the 33-year-old All-Star right-hander, who next heads to the mound carrying a tidy 0.75 ERA and 0.75 WHIP over his first 12 innings into next Tuesday's start for the second outing of a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Since 2021, Wheeler has rolled over the Redbirds with a microscopic 0.62 ERA and 29 punchouts in 29 innings against them and should be started in all fantasy leagues with confidence.

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton said on Tuesday that catcher Yasmani Grandal (foot) is "still a ways away" from returning. Grandal was held to two spring training games before being diagnosed with plantar fasciitis in his foot and is just beginning his running progression, per Shelton. The 35-year-old switch-hitting backstop signed a one-year deal with the Bucs this past offseason to serve as catching depth and a veteran presence, but he won't be on any fantasy radars any time soon. His All-Star days likely well behind him, Grandal slashed a poor .234/.309/.339 with eight home runs, 14 doubles, and 33 RBI through 405 plate appearances for the Chicago White Sox in 2023. With Jason Delay (knee) and Endy Rodriguez (elbow) also out of action, Pittsburgh will rely on former No. 1 overall pick Henry Davis and the newly-acquired Joey Bart for playing time behind the dish for the time being.

The Atlanta Braves signed relief pitcher Jackson Stephens and catcher Sandy Leon to minor-league deals Tuesday, per The Athletic's David O'Brien. Stephens elected free agency in March after being outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett by the Braves and served as a decent reliever for the Braves from 2022 through 2023. Leon should serve as catcher depth for the organization with Sean Murphy (oblique) on the injured list with an oblique injury but will not contribute much offensively. Neither of these players should factor into the fantasy landscape at this time.

Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna had a nice game at the plate in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the White Sox. The 33-year-old went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs and a strikeout. The power hitter has only managed a .227 batting average in his first 22 plate appearances but he also has three HR. It is still early and Ozuna has plenty of time to bring his average up, but it is encouraging to see him hitting for power out of the gate.

San Francisco Giants first baseman Wilmer Flores (shoulder) is starting at first base and is batting fifth on Monday against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers and left-hander James Paxton. Flores was initially held out of the lineup after injuring his shoulder in the series finale against the San Diego Padres on Sunday, but the team's updated lineup has Flores in there. The 32-year-old Venezuelan veteran had a strong 2023 campaign in the Bay Area by hitting .284/.355/.509 with an .863 OPS, a career-high 23 home runs and 60 RBI in 126 games played and he's off to a 2-for-9 start with two RBI and three runs scored in the first four games of the 2024 season. Flores has just six career at-bats against Paxton and is searching for his first hit against the lefty.

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Daniel Hudson tossed a scoreless ninth inning to record his first save of the season on Sunday in a 5-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Hudson didn't allow a baserunner and struck out a pair. The 37-year-old hasn't been able to stay healthy for a couple of years, as he tore his ACL in 2022 and then sprained his MCL after just three appearances in 2023. If he does manage to stay healthy, he is the second man up for saves in Los Angeles and should be their main eighth-inning guy. This makes him a great option in saves-plus-holds leagues.

San Francisco Giants infielder Wilmer Flores (shoulder) was forced to exit early during Sunday's game against the San Diego Padres. Flores suffered a left shoulder contusion when he fell into the dugout while trying to make a catch in foul territory. The injury doesn't sound serious and this shouldn't force Flores onto the injured list. At the moment, fantasy managers should consider Flores as day-to-day. LaMonte Wade could see more action at first base until Flores is ready to play again.

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed free-agent left-hander Drew Pomeranz to a minor-league deal on Friday, and he's set to be assigned to Triple-A Oklahoma City. The nine-year major-league veteran reliever has been beleaguered by injuries the last two years. Pomeranz was with the Los Angeles Angels in spring training but was recently released. The 35-year-old southpaw hasn't pitched in the majors since 2021 with the San Diego Padres due to injuries, when he was outstanding with a 1.75 ERA (3.01 FIP) and 1.13 WHIP with 10 walks and 30 strikeouts in 25 2/3 relief innings. He'll bring plenty of relief experience to the organization, but nobody should be expecting him to contribute much at the major-league level given his struggles with injuries in recent seasons.