Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas (knee) is getting ready to return and could be reinstated from the injured list as early as Friday night's series opener against the visiting Seattle Mariners. The Nationals have managed just a .503 OPS in 22 games since Thomas sprained the MCL in his left knee a month ago, so they will certainly welcome his return. In the course of his career in D.C., Thomas has a .747 OPS. He spent the last three days on a minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Harrisburg, where he went 2-for-9 with a double, walk, two strikeouts and a stolen base. Most importantly, he played a full nine innings on Thursday night. If Thomas doesn't return to the big-league lineup on Friday, it will likely come later this weekend or early next week. The 28-year-old will be an everyday hitter near the top of the lineup when he returns, and he shouldn't be floating around any waiver wires in fantasy.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (shoulder) is scheduled to undergo an MRI this week to see how his strained right shoulder is progressing. It's possible that he could begin a throwing program relatively soon if everything looks good, manager Torey Lovullo said on Wednesday. Kelly remains without a clear timetable for a return from the injury, and he isn't eligible to be activated from the 60-day injured list until late June. The 35-year-old veteran right-hander carries a 2.19 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 21:6 K:BB over 24 2/3 innings (four starts) for the D-backs while sitting on the shelf, and he's still worth a stash for fantasy managers who can afford the roster spot. With Kelly sidelined, Ryne Nelson and Logan Allen will help eat innings in Arizona's rotation.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried threw his second complete game of the season in Wednesday's victory on the road over the Chicago Cubs, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with a season-high nine strikeouts en route to his fourth win of the year. Fried needed 105 pitches to go the distance in Wednesday's masterful performance, carrying a bid for a perfect game into the sixth inning before Ian Happ's leadoff double broke it up. Even though it's been an up-and-down campaign for the 30-year-old star left-hander, he owns a strong 3.38 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 48:20 K:BB with a career-best .197 average against through 10 starts overall (58 2/3 frames) for the Braves in 2024. Monday's series opener at home against the division-rival Washington Nationals marks Fried's next projected start. He gave up two runs over 9 1/3 innings (two starts) with a 9:1 K:BB against Washington in 2023.

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Adbert Alzolay (forearm) will be shut down from throwing for at least two weeks, manager Craig Counsell said on Wednesday. No surprise here, as Alzolay has gone for a second opinion on his strained right flexor. The Cubs will follow a conservative treatment plan for the 29-year-old right-hander, and while surgery is not off the table, they'll know more after his down time. After posting a poor 4.67 ERA with 13 strikeouts, six walks, and six home runs allowed in 18 games over 17 1/3 innings out of Chicago's bullpen this year and getting removed from the closer's role, Alzolay looks like a drop in shallow fantasy leagues and a weak stash in deeper formats. Hector Neris owns a 2.50 ERA with six saves across 18 frames and is the current favorite for ninth-inning work in the Windy City.

Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Luis Garcia was tasked with holding a one-run lead in the ninth inning of Wednesday's game against the Houston Astros. The right-hander blew the lead during the seventh inning of Tuesday's game. Despite that, Garcia was given another chance and worked a perfect ninth inning to earn his third save of the season. Garcia has been busy pitching in four of the last five games. The Angels bullpen situation is a little messy with Carlos Estevez as the primary closer, but Adam Cimber and Garcia are in the mix as well.

Boston Red Sox first baseman Garrett Cooper (shoulder) has been scratched ahead of Wednesday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. The right-handed slugger was in the original lineup, but has been pulled out due to right shoulder discomfort. Now, Dominic Smith will cover first base and bat sixth versus right-hander Ryan Pepiot. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly.

Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia (forearm) is back in the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander Taijuan Walker, serving as the designated hitter and batting cleanup. Derek Hill is making another start in right field and will hit in the eight-hole for the Rangers. Garcia injured his right forearm during a collision with second baseman Marcus Semien and was held out for the team's last two games. But the injury wasn't serious, and the 31-year-old right-handed slugger needs to be returned to all fantasy lineups as he takes on Walker, who he has never faced in his career. The two-time All-Star has opened his 2024 campaign with a .251/.297/.491 slash line with 11 home runs, nine doubles, 35 RBI, four stolen bases and 24 runs scored in 46 games. However, he's slumping a bit in May, going 13-for-69 (.188) with three homers, 10 RBI and 24 K's in 17 games.

Detroit Tigers right-hander Shelby Miller (elbow) completed a successful bullpen session on Tuesday. It was the first time that he had thrown off a mound since going on the injured list on May 13 with right ulnar nerve inflammation. The 33-year-old veteran will need to slowly build his arm back up with several more bullpen sessions before he's cleared to face live hitters in batting practice sessions or on a minor-league rehab assignment. Given the fact that Miller is now in a relief role, it shouldn't take him as long to return, which means he has a shot to come off the injured list before June. Miller isn't really on the fantasy radar at all and is currently 3-4 in 2024 with a 4.41 ERA (4.37 FIP) and 1.04 WHIP with six walks and 15 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings pitched in 15 appearances out of Detroit's bullpen.

Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz is taking the day off during Wednesday's matinee contest for the series finale against the visiting Minnesota Twins. With Ruiz on the bench, Riley Adams will do the catching for right-hander Jake Irvin and bat eighth against Twins rookie right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson. Ruiz dealt with a pretty serious illness early this year that caused him to lose over 10 pounds, so perhaps that's why he's been such a disappointment so far in 2024. The 25-year-old switch-hitting Venezuelan backstop is slashing .160/.198/.236 with only two home runs, seven RBI and seven runs scored in 106 at-bats. Adams has been slightly better, going 16-for-69 (.232) with two home runs and six RBI. The 27-year-old will be a low-upside sleeper in DFS at catcher.

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb posted his eighth quality start of the season in a no-decision versus the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday. The right-hander tossed six frames and allowed six hits, two runs and one walk with six strikeouts. With the strong outing, Webb now has a solid 3.03 ERA. Webb opened the month of May with a hiccup when he allowed five runs (four earned) versus the Philadelphia Phillies, be he has bounced back with four earned runs allowed over his past four starts. As one of the more consistent pitchers in the sport, Webb is worth starting in all matchups moving forward. Next up for the right-hander will be a date with the New York Mets on Sunday.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suarez continued his outstanding season in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Rangers. Suarez pitched seven innings of one-run ball, allowing five hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts. The 28-year-old has now won every start except for his first of the season and is 9-0 with a 1.36 ERA, a 9.27 K/9 rate, and a 1.64 BB/9 rate in 66 IP. His performance is reminiscent of when he first came onto the fantasy scene in 2021 after slotting into the Phillies rotation. Suarez may not finish the season with such an elite ERA, but he is still a top fantasy contributor. He will be on the road at the Rockies in his next start, but he has simply been too good to bench, even in Coors Field.

Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington gave right-handed reliever a vote of confidence before their game on Tuesday against the Houston Astros. "He's our closer," Washington said. Estevez has been shaky for more of the year, holding a 5.17 ERA through his first 15 games entering Tuesday's contest. He has seven saves and three blown saves. Estevez picked up his seventh save on Monday but allowed a run and would have allowed another if not for Jo Adell robbing a home run. If the Angels change their tune after Estevez took the loss in one-third of an inning in the extra-inning defeat to the Astros on Tuesday, Hunter Strickland would most likely get the next chance at saves. He has a 2.25 ERA and 28 career saves in 10 big-league seasons. Fantasy managers speculating on saves may want to stash Strickland now if he's available. Estevez has only walked two this year but said his four-seam fastball "is a little off."

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Adbert Alzolay (forearm) is getting a second opinion on his strained right flexor. That's something you never want to hear, as it further clouds Alzolay's return timetable from the injury. In 18 games this year, the 29-year-old right-hander held a disappointing 4.67 ERA with 13 strikeouts, six walks, and six home runs allowed over 17 1/3 innings from the Cubs' bullpen before manager Craig Counsell had to remove him from the closer's role. Consider Alzolay out indefinitely until more is known. This should solidify Hector Neris' standing as Chicago's primary closer for the foreseeable future, though. Neris has a 2.65 ERA through 17 frames, but a 4.85 FIP, 1.64 WHIP, and 15:14 K:BB can't help but feel highly concerning.

The Milwaukee Brewers officially placed right-hander Joe Ross (back) on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with a lower-back strain and recalled right-hander Tobias Myers from Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move. It was reported that Ross was likely heading to the IL on Monday night after he was forced to leave his start against the Miami Marlins after just one inning due to back tightness. It's something that has been bothering the 31-year-old veteran for a while, so fantasy managers in deeper leagues shouldn't be expecting him to return from the IL when eligible. Myers should be the first option to hold Ross' rotation spot for however long he's sidelined. In his first nine starts of 2024, Ross is 2-4 with a 4.50 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with 16 walks and 35 strikeouts in 42 innings pitched.

Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Edmundo Sosa is taking a day off on Tuesday against the visiting Texas Rangers. With Trea Turner (hamstring) currently on the injured list with a hammy strain, Sosa has become the club's regular shortstop. With Sosa on the bench Tuesday, Bryson Stott will slide over to the 6 while Kody Clemens starts at second base and bats seventh against Rangers right-hander Jon Gray. Sosa has been a great fill-in on the infield for the Phillies, as he's hitting .296 (16-for-54) on the year, albeit with just one home run and eight RBI. Expect the 28-year-old to return to the lineup on Wednesday. Clemens has never faced Gray in his career. Despite going 9-for-28 (.321) this year with three home runs, Clemens will be a low-upside DFS play on Tuesday.

Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia (forearm) remains out of the starting lineup on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Phillies. Derek Hill was called up from Triple-A Round Rock and will get the start in right field on Tuesday while batting eighth against Phillies left-hander Ranger Suarez. Garcia was scratched from Sunday's lineup with right-forearm discomfort after colliding with second baseman Marcus Semien on Saturday. The good news is that the 31-year-old right-handed slugger isn't suffering from a serious injury and could be back in the lineup as early as Wednesday's contest in Philly. When healthy and in the lineup, Garcia is a must-start in all fantasy formats, despite the fact he's hit just .188 (13-for-69) with three homers and 10 RBI in 17 games in May. Overall, he's batting .251 with 11 long balls, 35 RBI and four steals in 175 at-bats.

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Daniel Hudson locked down Monday's win over the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks, striking out two batters in a clean ninth inning for his third save. Hudson needed 20 pitches to retire the side in order and stymie Arizona's late comeback attempt, but he got the job done in Monday's save situation. The 37-year-old veteran right-hander has flourished out of LA's bullpen this season, posting a 2.70 ERA and 0.75 WHIP while fanning 22 and walking only one with three saves over 20 innings of work. While save opportunities have been few and far between for the Dodgers as of late, Hudson should be viewed as the temporary favorite for ninth-inning work until star closer Evan Phillips (hamstring) returns from his minor-league rehab assignment.

Los Angeles Angels closer Carlos Estevez hung on for his seventh save of the year in Monday's win over the division-rival Houston Astros, allowing one run on two hits and one walk in the ninth inning. It was another shaky outing for Estevez, who allowed the potential game-winning run to get to the plate in the form of Astros third baseman Alex Bregman before putting out the fire. Although the 31-year-old veteran right-hander was an All-Star in 2023, he's blown three saves to go with a 5.17 ERA (3.85 FIP) over 15 2/3 innings in 2024. Estevez and his expiring contract should make him a trade candidate for the Halos later this summer, but his 17:2 K:BB and closer's role in Anaheim means he needs to be rostered in all fantasy leagues at the moment. It probably wouldn't hurt fantasy managers to field some sell-high trade offers, though.

St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley continued his stellar start to the season in Monday's 6-3 win over the Orioles, earning his 14th save. Helsley came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by three. He got the first two outs on a pop-out and a groundout, allowed a walk, and ended the game with a fly-out. The 29-year-old has been rock solid for his team and fantasy managers, converting all but one save opportunity with a 1.29 ERA, a 9.86 K/9 rate, and a 1.29 BB/9 rate. Despite the Cardinals' disappointing season, he is now tied for the most saves in the league with Emmanuel Clase. Helsley should continue to be a high-end fantasy option, especially if he can continue to limit his walks.

New York Yankees closer Clay Holmes blew his first save of the season and picked up the loss Monday night, allowing four runs and two walks in 2/3 of an inning pitched against the Seattle Mariners. Those four runs were the first runs allowed on the season for Holmes, who has been nothing short of spectacular in 2024. Monday's implosion ballooned his 2024 ERA from 0.00 to 1.74. It was, without a doubt, the worst appearance of the year for Holmes, who allowed five straight batters to reach base after inheriting a generous three-run lead. It will take much more than one blown save for Holmes' job to be in jeopardy. Despite blowing his first of the year, fantasy managers can continue to start Holmes in all leagues.