Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander Bryse Wilson. The veteran homered as part of a two-hit effort on Tuesday but will give way to Connor Joe to leadoff and man left field on Wednesday. Interestingly, McCutchen's splits lean heavily towards righties so far this season as he's hitting .295 with all three of his homers coming off of southpaws while he is just 1-for-16 (.063) with three walks in 20 plate appearances against lefties. He is seeing semi-regular playing time this season, appearing in 16 of the team's 24 games but isn't doing a ton for fantasy managers with a .233 average and 30.9% K% on the young season.

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras (hand) is back in the team's lineup on Wednesday, serving as the designated hitter and batting second against Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Jordan Montgomery. Ivan Herrera is doing the catching and is hitting fifth. Left-hand soreness caused the Cardinals to lift Contreras from Tuesday's game early, but manager Oliver Marmol said the decision to pull Contreras had more to do with the lopsided score. Still, the 31-year-old veteran's hand issue is something to keep an eye on. It hasn't affected him at the plate so far, as he's currently hitting .292 (19-for-65) with three home runs and eight RBI in 19 games. He's gone hitless in eight career at-bats against Montgomery, but fantasy managers in single-year leagues need to get him back into their lineups.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that X-rays on outfielder Cody Bellinger (rib) were negative, but the team has to see how he is on Wednesday before they can determine how long he might be out. Bellinger left Tuesday's game early with a right-rib contusion not long after he ran into the wall in center field at Wrigley Field tracking a ball down. Fantasy managers will want to check back to see if Bellinger is in the lineup against the Houston Astros on Wednesday, but most likely he will not be, and he could miss more time beyond that. For now, consider the 28-year-old lefty hitter to be day-to-day. Rookie outfielder Alexander Canario replaced Bellinger in center field on Tuesday night and could see more playing time there moving forward if Bellinger is forced to miss time.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Mike Tauchman went 2-for-3 with a walk and four RBI in Tuesday's victory against the Houston Astros. Both of the outfielder's hits were home runs, his first and second of the season. Tauchman has been on a heater lately and has nine hits over his last 20 at-bats. For the season, Tauchman is hitting a respectable .283 with two homers and seven RBI to go along with 13 runs scored. With Seiya Suzuki (oblique) sidelined, Tauchman has gotten every day reps and has taken the most of the opportunity. As long as he keeps hitting, he is worth a look in deeper leagues. The outfielder will look to stay hot on Wednesday in a rematch against the Astros and rookie starting pitcher Spencer Arrighetti.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Steven Matz got rocked in Tuesday's loss versus the Arizona Diamondbacks. The left-hander tossed 4 1/3 innings and got hit hard for six hits, seven runs and three walks. He also had four strikeouts on the evening. Matz has really struggled to open the 2024 campaign and has allowed 16 runs (13 earned runs) over his last three outings. He has also failed to get past 5 1/3 innings on the season. Matz has a lot that needs to be figured out and can be avoided in all formats, even with a favorable matchup against the Detroit Tigers to begin next week.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Ben Lively put together a strong outing against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday. It was his second outing of the season and both have come against the Red Sox. On Tuesday, Lively tossed 6 1/3 innings and allowed five hits, one run, zero walks and struck out seven on the evening. The 32-year-old has now allowed just three runs with 14 strikeouts and one walk over 11 1/3 innings. The Guardians always seem to have a pitcher factory churning and Lively could be the latest diamond in the rough for the franchise. It is still very early and both his starts have come against a injury plagued Red Sox lineup, but if Lively can toss another gem against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, he will be worth rostering in most formats.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried looked like his old self in Tuesday's 5-0 win over the Marlins. Fried made the most of a favorable matchup, pitching a complete-game shutout with three hits, no walks, and six strikeouts on just 92 pitches. It was a great outing for the 30-year-old, who has struggled out of the gate this season. He is now 2-0 with a 4.97 ERA in his first five starts. He will look to build on his success in his next projected start, which will be at a middling Mariners lineup.

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jon Gray made a surprise relief appearance in Saturday's loss to the Atlanta Braves, but he's scheduled to take the ball as a starter for Wednesday's game at home versus the division-rival Seattle Mariners. After yielding five runs in his first start of the 2024 regular season, Gray is getting on a roll in April with a 1.10 ERA (2.47 FIP) and 23:7 K:BB over his last 16 1/3 innings (four appearances). The 32-year-old veteran right-hander dominated Seattle a season ago, logging a pristine 0.64 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, and 13:1 K:BB across 14 frames (two starts) against the division foes in 2023. The current M's roster is batting a paltry .159 (14-for-88) against Gray, who looks like a solid streaming option and a worthy pickup during Tuesday night's waiver runs in fantasy ahead of Wednesday's full slate.

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Blake Treinen (lung) is starting a rehab assignment this week, and he will need three or four outings before he's ready to return to the major-league roster. On the mend from a bruised lung that he sustained on March 9, Treinen should be back to help LA's bullpen by the beginning of May. The 35-year-old veteran right-hander missed most of the 2022 campaign and all of last season following shoulder surgery, and while he'll be in line for the occasional save opportunity based on closer Evan Phillips' availability, Treinen's fantasy value will be more pronounced in leagues that count holds. With right-handers Joe Kelly and Ryan Brasier struggling to begin to 2024 regular season, look for Treinen to become the Dodgers' primary righty setup man before long. In his last full season during 2021, Treinen posted a 1.99 ERA (2.88 FIP), 0.98 WHIP, and 85:25 K:BB over 72 2/3 innings.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger exited Tuesday's game versus the Houston Astros with an apparent injury after crashing into the wall in center field. Bellinger hit the wall hard tracking down a Yainer Diaz double in the fourth inning, and the center fielder was later seen holding his right side in the dugout. Bellinger remained in the game all the way up until the seventh frame before he was removed for Alexander Canario, so his departure could very well be a precautionary measure. The Cubs should provide a clearer picture on the 28-year-old All-Star slugger's health following the contest, and he should be deemed day-to-day ahead of the second game of the series on Wednesday. After clubbing a two-run home run on Tuesday, Bellinger is up to a .226/.320/.440 triple-slash line with five homers, 17 RBI, and 10 runs scored in 84 at-bats (22 games).

The New York Yankees have announced that third baseman DJ LeMahieu (foot) left Tuesday's minor-league game with Double-A Somerset due to soreness in his right foot, and the infielder will return to New York for examination tomorrow. The Yankees' plan was for LeMahieu to make four rehab appearances before potentially being activated from the injured list on Sunday, but this development is likely to delay the veteran's 2024 regular-season debut a bit longer. LeMahieu is working his way back from a non-displaced fracture of his right foot that he sustained on March 16, and the severity of his setback should be revealed sometime in the coming days. Switch-hitting utility man Oswaldo Cabrera is batting .290 (20-for-69) with three home runs, 14 RBI, and 11 runs scored in 19 games this year, and he should continue manning the hot corner regularly until LeMahieu is finally ready to play.

Oakland Athletics shortstop prospect Jacob Wilson went 4-for-5 and brought in three runs in Tuesday's victory. Wilson lined his first of two RBI doubles in the second to break the game open and then knocked his second double in the fourth inning. He then brought in his third run of the game in the fifth inning off a single to right field. The top prospect in the Oakland system has been off to a scorching start to the 2024 campaign, as he currently sits with a .409/.438/.636 slash line in his first 12 games at Double-A. Wilson is a name to monitor throughout the summer, as he could force his way into a late-season call-up if he continues his strong play.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Jason Heyward (back) isn't swinging a bat and is still dealing with "residual soreness," according to manager Dave Roberts. Heyward is still more than a week from starting a minor-league rehab assignment. The 34-year-old veteran left-handed hitter was put on the 10-day injured list all the way back on April 3 with back soreness, and he hasn't made much progress since. There remains no timetable for a return from the IL, but fantasy managers in deeper leagues should expect him to be out at least another few weeks. Outfielder Teoscar Hernandez has been shifted over to right field for the Dodgers with Heyward out, while rookie prospect Andy Pages has also been platooning in center field with James Outman.

Colorado Rockies outfielder Kris Bryant (back) is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list for a lower-back strain on Wednesday, but that won't be happening. Manager Bud Black said that Bryant isn't doing any baseball activities yet. Bryant hasn't undergone anymore tests, though, and there has been no discussion of surgery. Given all the time the 32-year-old former MVP has missed in recent seasons due to various ailments, it makes sense for the Rockies to bring him back slowly, even if his back injury isn't considered very serious. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues must remain patient, but in shallower leagues, it's fair to consider dumping him for better options after he started the year going 7-for-47 (.149) with a home run and six RBI.

Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever Robert Stephenson (elbow) said he will have Tommy John surgery with the internal brace on April 30 and he's expecting to have a rehab timeline of 12 to 18 months. The exact nature of his surgery hadn't been revealed until Stephenson talked to the media on Tuesday for the first time since getting injured. We already knew the 31-year-old veteran would miss the rest of 2024, but now we know the exact nature of his surgery. He signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Halos in January but didn't throw a single pitch in the regular season and also was battling a shoulder injury in spring training. There's no guarantee that Stephenson will be ready to roll for the start of the 2025 campaign.

New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu (foot) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset on Tuesday. It sounds like the plan is for LeMahieu to play four games in the minors before possibly returning to the Yankees roster. The veteran slugger has been sidelined all season due to a fractured foot. The Yankees could certainly use LeMahieu's help given their current struggles at the plate. Fantasy managers should wait patiently as it sounds like LeMahieu should be back soon.

The Chicago Cubs designated outfielder Garrett Cooper for assignment on Tuesday, according to a source. Cooper wasn't exactly slumping at the plate, but the Cubs think he's expendable in order to bring up first base prospect Matt Mervis as another right-handed bat. The 33-year-old Cooper was hitting .270/.341/.432 with a home run, double, triple, six RBI and three runs scored in 41 trips to the plate and 12 games for the Cubs before getting DFA'd. He had walked four times and struck out 13 times. For now, Mervis is likely to see most of his time as the team's designated hitter, at least until outfielder Seiya Suzuki (oblique) is able to return from the injured list. Mervis is worth a pickup in NL-only leagues for now.

The Chicago Cubs placed pitchers Kyle Hendricks (back) and Drew Smyly (hip) on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday and recalled infielder Matt Mervis, right-hander Hayden Wesneski and left-hander Luke Little from Triple-A Iowa in corresponding moves. The 34-year-old Hendricks has been downright bad so far in 2024, posting a 12.00 ERA in his first five starts, but hopefully his back injury was mostly to blame. If left-hander Justin Steele (hamstring) is able to return from his IL stint before Hendricks does, which is likely, Hendricks could find himself out of a rotation spot when he's ready to return. With Hendricks out, Wesneski is a candidate to fill his rotation spot until Steele is able to return. Little will give the Cubs another left-handed arm out of the bullpen to replace Smyly.

New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) got out to 120 feet on flat ground in his throwing program on Tuesday, which is typically as far out as pitchers will go before getting on the mound as they rehab. With that said, Cole isn't sure when he will advance to throwing off a mound. He will take the day off on Wednesday and go from there as he ramps up his throwing progression. If the 33-year-old reigning American League Cy Young winner feels good later this week, manager Aaron Boone said he could star throwing off a mound next week. Fantasy managers in all formats need to keep Cole stashed in an injured-list spot as he attempts to come back from nerve irritation in his right elbow, but he still has a ways to go.

Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez's plate vision was displayed in Monday's 5-3 loss against the St. Luis Cardinals. Suarez went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI, and one run, finally connecting at the plate after going hitless in back-to-back games over the weekend against the Giants. He is 21-for-85 (.247) with five doubles, two homers, 16 RBI, 16 runs, eight walks and 24 strikeouts through 23 games. The season has had ups and downs for the third baseman and with his recent slump, the matchup against St. Luis favors him. With the favorable matchups for this week, Suarez is a strong stash option with upside across all formats.