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.

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Ryan Pepiot (leg) could come off the injured list to rejoin the team's starting rotation on either Tuesday or Wednesday for a matchup at home against the visiting Boston Red Sox. Pepiot threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and will likely throw another one before the Rays clear him to come off the 15-day injured list early next week. The 26-year-old was put on the shelf after taking a line drive off his leg in his last outing on May 5 against the New York Mets, when he allowed three earned runs in two innings before being pulled early. Since giving up a season-high six earned runs in 5 2/3 innings in his first start of the year to the Texas Rangers, Pepiot has cleaned things up and currently sports a 3.68 ERA and 0.93 WHIP with 41 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings over seven starts. He's valuable at least as a back-end starter in most fantasy formats.

The Los Angeles Dodgers optioned outfielder James Outman to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday to make room on the active roster for outfielder Jason Heyward (back), who was activated from the 10-day injured list. Outman impressed with 23 home runs, 70 RBI and 16 stolen bases in his first full big-league season in 2023 with the Blue, but he hasn't been able to replicate that so far in 2024, slashing .147/.250/.266 with three homers, 10 RBI and two stolen bases in 36 games. Rookie sensation Andy Pages basically took over the strong side of a platoon with Outman in center field before Outman's demotion on Friday. The demotion is good news for fantasy managers that swooped on Pages quickly. The 27-year-old Outman will now need to make some adjustments in the minors before he'll get another opportunity against right-handed pitching in the big leagues.

The Los Angeles Dodgers activated outfielder Jason Heyward (back) from the injured list on Friday and optioned outfielder James Outman to the minors in a corresponding move. Heyward is right back in the starting lineup on Friday, playing in right field and batting eighth against Cincinnati Reds right-hander Frankie Montas. The 34-year-old left-handed hitter landed on the injured list all the way back on April 3 with lower-back tightness and had some setbacks during his recovery. He was hitless in six at-bats with Triple-A Oklahoma City on a two-game minor-league rehab assignment and had gone just 3-for-14 with two RBI for the Dodgers to open the season before landing on the shelf. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues should expect Heyward to be on the strong side of a platoon in right field now that he's healthy.

Los Angeles Dodgers infielder/outfielder Miguel Vargas is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City. The 24-year-old is hitting the cover off the ball in the minors. Right now, Vargas is slashing .295/.437/.583 with eight homers, 38 RBI in Triple-A. Vargas has been playing almost exclusively in left field during this time in Triple-A. It's uncertain if the team plans to keep Vargas in the outfield or move him back into the infield. It's worth noting that outfielder Jason Heyward (back) is expected to be activated from the injured list soon. It'll be interesting to see how the Dodgers work Vargas into the lineup. Vargas has notoriously been great in the minors but struggled once he gets called up to the MLB. We'll see if this time is going to be different.

San Diego Padres catcher Luis Campusano is taking the day off for the series opener on Friday in Atlanta against the Braves. With Campusano taking a day to rest, Kyle Higashioka will do the catching for right-handed knuckleballer Matt Waldron while hitting ninth against Braves left-hander Max Fried. The 25-year-old Campusano has been solid for the Padres in his first full season as their primary catcher. Through his first 40 games in 2024, he's hitting .267 (36-for-135) with three home runs, 24 RBI and 18 runs scored in 144 plate appearances. He'll almost certainly be back behind the plate for the second game of the series on Saturday. Higashioka isn't much of a hitter and should be avoided in DFS formats. The former Yankee backstop has gone 6-for-33 with a homer and two RBI so far this year.

Chicago Cubs right-hander Yency Almonte (shoulder) is shut down from throwing and is in a strengthening program. However, the hope is that his strengthening program will be relatively short and he can start throwing again next week. The 29-year-old reliever was placed on the 15-day injured last week with a right-shoulder strain but he shouldn't be out for too much longer, barring a setback. The former 17th-round selection by the Los Angeles Angels in 2012 was 1-0 with a 3.45 ERA (3.31 FIP), a 1.08 WHIP, one save, eight walks and 20 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings out of the Cubs' bullpen this year before going on the IL. Almonte isn't really on the fantasy radar in any formats and holds a career 4.44 ERA (4.41 FIP) and 1.30 WHIP with three saves in 223 innings out of the bullpen.

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Erasmo Ramirez relieved relief pitcher Jason Adam with two outs in the ninth inning to record his first save of the season in Thursday's victory against the Boston Red Sox. Closer Pete Fairbanks seemed to have the night off and Adam got himself in trouble with two runners on base when Ramirez entered the ballgame. Ramirez has allowed seven runs in the 13 innings he has thrown this year and can be avoided in all formats with Fairbanks and Adam in line to receive most of the Rays save chances moving forward.

Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jose Alvarado had a tough outing on Thursday, blowing the save and taking the loss in a 6-5 defeat at the hands of the New York Mets. Alvarado allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits while striking out two. It was a tough situation for the lefty, who inherited the ghost runner in a one-run game. He had been rock solid of late, allowing just one run in his last eight innings pitched. Alvarado should still be the go-to guy for the Phillies, but don't expect him to always pitch in save situations as the team has shown the willingness to use him earlier in games.

Los Angeles Dodgers backstop Will Smith will be getting the day off on Thursday as the Dodgers open a four-game set against the Cincinnati Reds. Smith has started each of the past six games and holds an overall .315/.381/.479 line with four home runs. Instead, Austin Barnes will serve as the catcher for Tyler Glasnow and will bat in the nine-hole. The 34-year-old is best to fade in DFS as he enters Thursday with a .219/.359/.250 slash line with no home runs and has only appeared in 13 games this season.

The New York Mets optioned left-hander Joey Lucchesi to Triple-A Syracuse after Wednesday night's game and recalled left-hander Josh Walker from Syracuse in a corresponding move. In his spot start on Wednesday versus the division-rival, Lucchesi didn't fare well, allowing five runs over 4 1/3 innings of work while walking four and striking out two to take the loss. The 30-year-old southpaw was making his season debut for the Mets, but now he'll head back to the minors to serve as starting pitching depth for the organization. Walker, 29, will give the Mets' bullpen a fresh arm. He made his big-league debut last year and had an 8.10 ERA and 1.80 WHIP in just 10 innings. So far in 2024, Walker has tossed three shutout innings in relief while walking one and striking out three for the Mets.

New York Mets outfielder Harrison Bader and catcher Tomas Nido are both taking the day off on Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies. Tyron Taylor is getting the start in center field and is batting fifth, while Omar Narvaez is doing the catching and will hit ninth against Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker. So far this month, Bader is 8-for-34 (.235) with a double, no RBI, four walks and 11 strikeouts in 11 games to drop his season line to .265/.312/.316. The former third-round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2015 out of Florida has been pretty mediocre offensively to this point, but he's been known to go on streaks and could heat up at any moment for the Mets. Taylor has a hit and an RBI in three career at-bats against Walker and has gone 22-for-81 (.272) in the early going with two homers and three steals.

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Chris Devenski (knee) is throwing pain-free bullpen sessions and will soon face hitters in live batting practice at the team's spring complex in Port Charlotte, Fla. Devenski landed on the injured list on April 29 (retroactive to April 26) with right-knee tendinitis. Devenski said he was optimistic that he wouldn't miss much time. An MRI exam on April 30 revealed what manager Kevin Cash called "pretty strong patella tendinitis." The 33-year-old swingman is now ramping up his throwing program and could return to the Rays before the end of May, barring any setbacks with his knee. When he's healthy enough to be reinstated from the injured list, Devenski will return to a relief role for Tampa. He's not on the fantasy radar, though, and was sporting a 7.71 ERA and 1.79 WHIP with 11 K's and six walks in 14 innings before his injury.

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Ryan Pepiot (leg) was placed on the 15-day injured list after being struck by a line drive against the Mets on May 5, but he said he felt good after throwing a bullpen session off the mound on Sunday. Pepiot threw another bullpen on Tuesday and expects to spend "minimal time" on the IL. He made the road trip to Boston and Toronto with the team, and manager Kevin Cash said Pepiot will throw another bullpen session or a simulated game on the road "to simulate some sort of up-down." If Pepiot comes out of that good, he could return to the Rays' starting rotation. The 26-year-old isn't dealing with an arm injury, so he should return from the IL when he's eligible, and he could make his next start at home against either the Boston Red Sox or Kansas City Royals. The former third-round pick of the Dodgers in 2019 out of Butler is currently 3-2 this year with a 3.68 ERA and 0.93 WHIP with 41 K's in 36 2/3 innings over seven starts.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Javier Assad stifled the Atlanta Braves for six sharp innings of four-hit baseball on Wednesday. Assad got the win, bringing his record to 4-0 while lowering his ERA to a sparkling 1.49, good for fourth-best in MLB. He had all of his pitches working Wednesday, tying a season-high seven strikeouts while allowing only one walk. Alongside lefty Shota Imanaga, Assad has given the Cubs one of the best 1-2 punches in all of baseball, with neither pitcher allowing more than two earned runs in a game all season. Assad looks to keep the streak intact with another start against these Braves in Atlanta on Tuesday.

The New York Mets recalled infielder Mark Vientos, right-hander Grant Hartwig and left-hander Joey Lucchesi from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday and optioned right-hander Jose Butto to Syracuse in a corresponding move. Right-hander Yohan Ramirez and infielder Joey Wendle were designated for assignment. Vientos is playing third base and is batting fifth on Wednesday against Phillies left-hander Ranger Suarez. In six career at-bats against Suarez, Vientos has a solo home run. The 24-year-old former second-round pick in 2017 has hit just .211/.260/.368 with 11 home runs and 27 RBI in 84 career games for the Mets and is likely to see some playing time at third base for the Mets when the club faces left-handed pitching. The left-handed-hitting ... [More]

The New York Mets optioned right-hander Jose Butto to Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday and recalled right-handers Grant Hartwig and left-hander Joey Lucchesi from Syracuse in a corresponding move. Butto will go back down to the minors to work on his control. In his seven starts with the Mets, he's gone 1-3 with a strong 3.08 ERA (4.13 FIP) and 1.13 WHIP with 38 strikeouts in 38 innings pitched, but he's also walked 21 hitters for a 5.0 BB/9. The 26-year-old had become a decent streaming option in deeper fantasy leagues. If the Mets are in need of more rotation help at some point this year, Butto will be at the top of their consideration list. In the meantime, Adrian Houser, Tylor Megill (shoulder), or even Lucchesi could take Butto's rotation spot in the big leagues.

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Trevor Williams continued his dominant season in Tuesday's Game 1 6-3 win over the White Sox. Williams pitched five innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits (including a solo home run) and a walk with two strikeouts. The 32-year-old has put together a career season, going 4-0 with a 1.94 ERA in eight starts and 41 2/3 IP. His next start will be a tough matchup at the Phillies. Fantasy managers may want to sit him despite his strong numbers.

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Ryan Weathers dazzled in Tuesday's extra-inning victory over the Detroit Tigers, hurling eight scoreless innings on three hits and no walks with four strikeouts for a tough-luck no-decision. Weathers was flawless through five innings on Tuesday before Wenceel Perez singled to open the sixth frame and break up the perfecto bid, but it was certainly a dominant outing nonetheless. The 24-year-old former San Diego Padre has now logged three consecutive quality starts, putting together a respectable 3.81 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 38:16 K:BB with two wins over 49 2/3 innings (nine starts) from Miami's injury-ravaged rotation on the season as a whole. His next start is projected to come on Monday in a tough assignment at home against the Milwaukee Brewers, who rank as a top-five offense in most metrics at the quarter mark of the campaign, which makes Weathers a dangerous fantasy bet for that one.

Chicago White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said that right-hander Michael Soroka is being removed from the starting rotation. But instead of being cut or demoted to the minors, Soroka will be moved to the bullpen. The 26-year-old has posted a 6.39 ERA (6.74 FIP) and 1.51 WHIP with 24 walks and 24 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings over nine starts. He currently leads the league in earned runs allowed (31) and home runs allowed (10), which shows even further how ineffective he had been before the demotion to a relief role. Soroka will be put into a long-relief role for the time being and will need to pitch much better than he has in order to be considered a rotation option for the Pale Hose later this season. Right-hander Brad Keller is taking Soroka's rotation spot and will now become an option in AL-only leagues.