Chicago Cubs outfield prospect Kevin Alcantara went 2-for-4 with a home run on Wednesday for Double-A Tennessee. The home run would be the first of the year for the 21-year-old. Alcantara has been off to a very slow start this year, hitting just .086 with a stolen base and hopefully Wednesday round-tripper will get him going. It is only nine games in, so there is no concern for the talented outfielder. Alcantara offers loads of potential and the power should continue to blossom as his body fills out, but he needs to become more disciplined at the dish to reach his full potential. The Cubs have plenty of outfield depth throughout their system, but Alcantara has arguably the most upside. If he can improve his vision at the plate, Alcantara could be a star at the next level. Dynasty managers should consider Alcantara moving forward.

The Arizona Diamondbacks optioned left-hander Tommy Henry and pitcher Luis Frias to Triple-A Reno on Wednesday and recalled pitchers Justin Martinez and Logan Allen from Reno in corresponding moves. Henry allowed five runs in 4 1/3 innings in Tuesday's extra-inning win over the Chicago Cubs and has a 6.87 ERA and 1.80 WHIP with eight walks and 18 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings over his first four starts of the 2024 season. The 26-year-old soft-tossing southpaw will go down to the farm to work on his craft while serving as starting pitching depth for the Snakes. He has become the odd-man out in Arizona's rotation with lefty Jordan Montgomery's debut with the team coming later this week.

Atlanta Braves right-hander Darius Vines will make another start for the team on Sunday at home against the defending World Series-champion Texas Rangers. Vines earned another start in Atlanta's starting rotation after giving up just one earned run on four hits while walking three and striking out four in his season debut on April 15 against the Houston Astros in 4 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old could stick around even longer with Spencer Strider (elbow) out for the season if he looks good again this weekend. Still, fantasy managers in need of pitching depth or those looking for a streamer on Sunday should be hesitant to go all-in on Vines in the tough matchup. The Braves have plenty of other options for their rotation, so Vines is going to need to continue to impress to stick around.

Miami Marlins left-hander Ryan Weathers (hand) was removed from his start on Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants for precautionary reasons due to cramping in his left hand. Before departing, Weathers was in command, allowing two earned runs on five hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out a career-high 10 batters while matching his career-high with six innings pitched in his second win of the season. The 24-year-old threw 90 pitches in the outing and probably wasn't going to go much deeper into the game regardless. It sounds like his injury isn't anything serious, so fantasy managers should expect Weathers to make his next scheduled start this Sunday in Chicago against the Cubbies. With the strong effort on Tuesday, Weathers is now 2-1 on the year with a 2.70 ERA for the Fish.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect Andy Pages is starting in center field and batting seventh in his major-league debut on Tuesday versus the visiting Washington Nationals and left-hander Patrick Corbin. The Dodgers called Pages up from Triple-A Oklahoma City after finding out that Jason Heyward is going to miss more time with his back injury. The 23-year-old Pages already had five home runs and a 1.146 OPS in 15 games for Triple-A before his call-up. Most of his playing time with the Dodgers in his first taste of the majors will likely come when the team is facing a left-handed pitcher and James Outman retreats to the bench, which will limit his fantasy upside to deeper leagues as a short-term depth piece. The Cuban outfielder is mostly attractive in dynasty/keeper leagues for his plus power upside.

The Los Angeles Dodgers called up pitching prospect Kyle Hurt from Triple-A Oklahoma for him to make the start against the visiting Washington Nationals on Tuesday in his big-league starting debut. Hurt, the club's No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is stretched out to around 45 pitches. Expect left-hander Ryan Yarbrough to follow Hurt in his MLB debut as the "bulk" reliever in LA's bullpen game on Tuesday. The 25-year-old right-hander has already thrown 4 2/3 relief innings in 2024 and has allowed two runs (one earned) while walking one and striking out six in 6 2/3 innings since making his MLB debut in 2023. Hurt is interesting in dynasty/keeper leagues, but fantasy managers in season-long leagues and in DFS should avoid him on Tuesday in his spot start. Hurt is likely to be sent right back to Triple-A after Tuesday's game or on Wednesday.

Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch has been feeling really comfortable so far in his first year with the Cubs and he extended his home run streak to five straight games in Monday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Arizona Diamondbacks by going 1-for-3 with a solo home run, two walks and two strikeouts. The 26-year-old has now tied the franchise's longest home run streak and has six long balls in the early going, necessitating a pickup off your league's waiver wire if he's somehow still available. Busch's homer binge obviously won't last, but he's so far been a fantastic late-round value pick by fantasy managers in 2024. After Monday's game, he's hitting .327 (17-for-52) with six homers, 12 RBI and nine runs scored in his first 16 games with the Cubbies.

Chicago Cubs first base prospect Matt Mervis has been off to a nice start for Triple-A Iowa this season. The first baseman didn't break camp with the club, but has responded with a .333 batting average to go along with four homers and 10 RBI over his first 48 at-bats. Mervis has shown plenty of power in the minor leagues and that earned him a promotion in 2023, but he was struggled and was sent back down to finish the year in Iowa. Cubs first baseman Michael Busch has been on fire and the club has corner infielder Patrick Wisdom (back) working his way back to health, but with Seiya Suzuki (oblique) sidelined, there is a chance that Mervis could force his bat onto the roster as a bench bat or DH option should the offense struggle at the big-league level. For now, Mervis remains in Iowa, but he is an intriguing power bat for managers to keep an eye on.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are calling up outfield prospect Andy Pages. Pages, 23, receives the promotion after hitting a ridiculous .371 with five home runs, 15 RBI and two stolen bases in 62 at-bats for Triple-A Oklahoma City. The Cuban product has recovered in a strong way from a torn labrum that shortened his 2023 campaign and will to carry his successes to the next level. Pages has always shown plenty of power in his bat and has good plate discipline. Playing time will be a factor in his ability to help fantasy managers, but veterans Chris Taylor and Enrique Hernandez haven't done much to earn everyday starts so far. Managers in dynasty leagues should already have Pages rostered and he is worth a speculative add in redraft leagues with managers keeping an eye on his playing time.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Ben Brown earned his first quality start of his career in a no-decision on Monday versus the Arizona Diamondbacks. Brown went six innings and allowed one hit, one run, two walks and struck out four on the evening. The rookie has been very impressive since filling in for the injured Justin Steele (hamstring). Steele is still a few weeks away from returning, but fellow starter Jameson Taillon (back) is returning this week and the question around the Cubs has been who will he be replacing. Brown has earned another turn in the rotation, but managers will want to wait and see how Taillon's return effects the rotation. If Brown were to remain in the rotation, he would face a weak Miami Marlins lineup this weekend and would be worthy of rostering in deeper leagues.

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.

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Matthew Liberatore (illness) was unavailable for this past weekend's three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks because of an illness, but manager Oliver Marmol said that the hurler will rejoin the team on Monday for the start of the three-game series against the Oakland Athletics. Having not pitched since last Tuesday, it sounds like Liberatore is feeling better and should be available out of the bullpen on Monday. The 24-year-old southpaw was the top pitching prospect in St. Louis' farm system not long ago, and while he's settling in as a key bullpen piece for the Cards, it's a far cry from the expectations he once garnered. Liberatore owns a solid 3.52 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with five strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings primarily working as a middle-reliever this year, which is a role that doesn't lend itself to very much fantasy appeal at the moment.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that if right-hander Walker Buehler's (elbow) minor-league rehab start goes well on Thursday night and he gets to 80 to 90 pitches, he will be a strong candidate to return to the starting rotation next week. Buehler is getting very close to making his 2024 debut after missing all of the 2023 campaign due to Tommy John surgery that he underwent in August of 2022. It would be unfair to expect the 29-year-old to immediately return to his pre-surgery levels, but it doesn't mean he shouldn't be rostered in all fantasy formats. Before having elbow surgery, Buehler was a fantasy ace when he was on. Pick him up off your league's waiver wire immediately if he's somehow available.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Tommy Edman (wrist) will start taking dry swings on Monday and will hit off a tee on Tuesday. Meanwhile, outfielder Dylan Carlson (shoulder) will hit off a tee on Monday and will progress to soft toss this week. Edman is probably further from making his 2024 debut than Carlson after recovering from offseason surgery on his right wrist. When healthy, the 28-year-old will be St. Louis' starting center fielder after slashing .248/.307/.399 with a career-high-tying 13 home runs, 47 RBI and 27 stolen bases in 137 games played. Edman should be rostered in most fantasy baseball leagues despite his late start to the season. Carlson was shut down for two weeks after receiving a cortisone injection for an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder. The 25-year-old could have been playing every day if he was healthy, but when he returns, he might merely be the team's fourth outfielder.

Miami Marlins pitcher Max Meyer was optioned to the minors before the team's matchup against the San Francisco Giants on Monday. With A.J. Puk (illness) being scratched from his start earlier in the day, the Marlins decided to call up Edward Cabrera to take his spot. However, his promotion has resulted in Miami sending down Meyer -- who has been the team's best pitcher in the early going. The right-hander has given up just four earned runs across 17 innings pitched (2.12 ERA) through three starts. He is also coming off the best outing of his career, allowing only one earned run across six strong innings against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday. However, with the 25-year-old coming off Tommy John surgery, it appears the team is taking a careful approach with their young pitcher. Despite his option to the minors, he is a player you should be looking to stash in fantasy, given his upside.

The Chicago Cubs are reportedly calling up outfield prospect Alexander Canario from Triple-A Iowa on Monday, according to a source. The team's No. 10 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, was off to a good start in Iowa before the promotion, going 14-for-52 (.269) with two home runs and seven RBI in 61 plate appearances over his first 13 games. The 23-year-old Dominican outfielder made his major-league debut with the Cubs in 2023 and went 5-for-17 with a home run and six RBI in just six games in 2023 and will now presumably serve in a reserve outfield role for the Cubs now that he's back in the big leagues for now. The right-handed hitter has plus power but probably won't hit for a high average in the majors because of his swing-and-miss potential. Canario has played all three outfield positions but has below-average speed and is merely an average defender.

Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch has been off to a red-hot start to begin the season. On Sunday, Busch went 2-for-4 with a home run in the 3-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners. The left-handed slugger has now homered in four straight contests. He's slashing an impressive .327/.393/.694 heading into Monday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Fantasy managers better make sure Busch isn't on the waiver wire or sitting on the bench heading into next week.

Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch homered in his third straight game on Saturday in a 4-1 victory over the Mariners. Busch finished 2-for-4 and is now 6-for-14 (.428) over his last four games with a double, three home runs, two walks, four RBI and three runs scored. He's also hit safely in nine of his last 10, with a BA of .311 on the young season. The 26-year-old didn't have much success last season in his debut with the Dodgers but has hit the ground running in Chicago. The former top-100 prospect is rostered in just 37% of Yahoo leagues, so managers in need of depth should consider picking him up, and he's also eligible at both first base and third base which gives managers added flexibility.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Gavin Stone picked up the win in Saturday's 5-2 victory over the Padres. Stone threw six-and-two-thirds innings, allowing five hits and a walk while striking out four. All of the hits and the walk came after the sixth inning as the 25-year-old twirled five perfect innings before that. He'll look to build on this outing, and now has a 6.14 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, and a 15:5 K:BB on the season. The Dodgers will need him to step up with news that Bobby Miller will hit the IL. The righty's next start lines up with the Mets next week in L.A.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler (elbow, hand) is set to make his next rehab start on Thursday with Triple-A Oklahoma City. According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Buehler is fine and will pitch his next rehab start on Thursday. The 29-year-old was removed from Friday's rehab start after taking a comeback to his right hand. Buehler will do a tune-up start on Thursday and could rejoin the Dodgers the following week. LA's rotation is banged up with Bobby Miller (shoulder), Emmett Sheehan (forearm), Clayton Kershaw (shoulder), and Dustin May (elbow) all on the injured list. Fantasy managers should continue to stash Buehler in all leagues, as he is expected to return from the injured list soon.