After signing left-handed reliever Brooks Raley (elbow) to a one-year major-league deal earlier this month with a team option for the 2026 season, the New York Mets placed him on the 15-day injured list. The Mets also moved left-hander Sean Manaea (oblique) to the 60-day IL to open up a 40-man roster spot for Raley. The 36-year-old Raley is recovering from Tommy John surgery and probably isn't going to be a relief option for New York's bullpen until the second half of the season. He spent the last two seasons with the Mets but only appeared in eight games out of the bullpen in 2024 before being shut down with his elbow injury. Raley was a key member of the bullpen in 2023, when he had a 2.80 ERA (3.68 FIP), a 1.26 WHIP, three saves, 61 strikeouts and 25 walks in 54 2/3 innings. He will continue to build up his arm after TJ surgery.

Houston Astros second baseman/left fielder Jose Altuve had a nice game at the plate in Monday's 8-5 win over the Tigers. Batting second, Altuve went 2-for-4 with a single, a two-run home run, and three RBI. The 34-year-old turned on a sixth-inning Jack Flaherty fastball, launching it off the left-field signage to put the Astros up by one. Altuve had been scuffling at the plate recently, so this performance will hopefully jump-start things again. Overall, he is slashing a respectable .282/.316/.409 with four HR, 12 RBI, and three stolen bases in 117 plate appearances.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that there are no new plans for outfielder/designated Giancarlo Stanton (elbows). Stanton stayed back in New York during the team's road trip to continue ramping up. The 35-year-old veteran power hitter took batting practice last Tuesday for the first time since he had several rounds of platelet-rich plasma injections in both of his elbows. Things continue to go slowly for Stanton while he deals with torn tendons in both of his elbows, and there's still the potential that he won't play at all this season if he has any kind of setback. Until then, though, he needs to be held in most fantasy leagues due to his power potential when healthy. There remains no timeline for his potential return, which means he'll likely be out until at least June. In the meantime, Ben Rice should continue to benefit from regular at-bats in the DH spot.

Cincinnati Reds left-handed pitcher Wade Miley (elbow) exited his rehab outing on Sunday with an undisclosed injury. The southpaw was only able to tally two outs before exiting the contest. Before leaving, Miley allowed one hit and a run and did not tally a strikeout. In his first rehab outing with High-A Dayton, Miley struggled as he allowed nine hits and six runs across two 1/3 innings of work. The veteran pitcher is slowly working his way back from a UCL surgery on his left elbow. Last summer, Miley logged just seven innings of work to the tune of a 6.43 ERA with a 1.43 WHIP. During the 2023 campaign, the southpaw held a strong 3.14 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP across 120 1/3 innings of work. When eventually cleared to return, Miley should be in the mix for a depth role in the Cincinnati rotation.

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen went 4-for-4 with a home run in Sunday's 9-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was his third homer of the season, and the veteran added three singles for his fourth multi-hit performance of the year. McCutchen has been hitting well in recent days, notching at least one hit in six of seven games with four extra-base hits (two doubles, two home runs) during the stretch. The 38-year-old is having a bit of a resurgent season thus far, slashing .276/.368/.447, with increased quality of contact and a palatable 17.2% strikeout rate after a career-high in that statistic a season ago (25.8%). Moreover, McCutchen is registering a hard-hit ball 49.2% of the time with an average exit velocity of 91.2 MPH. Both figures would be career-bests if they hold.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (toe, knee) is scheduled to make two rehab starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City this week. The veteran southpaw continues to ramp up as he's working his way back from an offseason toe and knee injuries. The plan is for Kershaw to start on Tuesday and throw around five innings or 75 pitches. After that, Kershaw will have regular rest before taking the ball again next Sunday. The 37-year-old isn't eligible to return from the 60-day injured list until mid-May. The expectation is that Kershaw will be a regular in the starting rotation once he's healthy. Kershaw might be worth stashing for fantasy managers in need of pitching help.

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (knee, toe) looked good again in his second minor-league rehab start on Tuesday for Double-A Tulsa, allowing one earned run on four hits while walking one and striking out four in three innings of work. Kershaw tossed three scoreless innings with Triple-A Oklahoma City in his first rehab start and now has six strikeouts and one walk in his six innings of work on the farm as he recoveries from knee and toe surgeries in the offseason. Because the 37-year-old future Hall of Famer is on the 60-day injured list, he won't be able to make his season debut until May 17, so fantasy managers holding him in deeper leagues need to remain patient. The Dodgers aren't going to rush Kershaw back in what will likely be his final season. The three-time Cy Young winner has shown flashes of brilliance in recent seasons, but injuries have been the primary story near the end of his career.

Los Angeles Angels closer Kenley Jansen worked the ninth inning of Thursday's 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jansen entered the ninth inning with a 4-3 lead, throwing 14 of his 18 pitches for strikes. He allowed a base hit with one out before getting a strikeout for the second out, and he got Oneil Cruz to line out to end the game while the possible tying run was on first base. The 37-year-old right-hander has converted each of his six save chances and has not allowed a run in eight innings of work while maintaining a 26.7 percent strikeout percentage. With Ben Joyce (shoulder) also on the injured list, Jansen is relied upon even more for high-leverage work. He has also given the Angels no reason to doubt him as their primary closer moving forward. Next for the Angels is a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins on the road.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Wade Miley (elbow) is starting his minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday night with High-A Dayton, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer's Charlie Goldsmith. Miley continues his recovery from an internal-brace procedure/Tommy John surgery last May and still has a long ways to go before he's considered an option for the Reds' major-league starting rotation. Even if the 38-year-old veteran soft-tosser makes it back to the big leagues in the first half of the 2025 season, he's not going to present fantasy managers with much upside, if any at all, in the strikeout department. Those in mixed leagues should have more attractive options to choose from. Miley only made two starts for the Milwaukee Brewers before being shut down in 2024 and has a career 7.0 K/9 in 14 MLB seasons.

New York Yankees outfielder/designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (elbows) took outdoor batting practice on Tuesday for the first time since receiving multiple rounds of platelet-rich plasma injections in his ailing elbows, according to NJ Advance Media's Brendan Kuty. It's progress for the 35-year-old veteran right-handed slugger, but he still has a ways to go and will eventually need to go on a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment before having a chance to make his 2025 season debut in the Bronx. There remains no timetable for a potential return, but fantasy managers that drafted him in the spring must continue to stash him in an injured-list spot until further notice. With Ben Rice swinging the bat well early on for the Yankees as the team's primary DH, it's unclear exactly how playing time will shake out for Stanton if/when he returns to the team.

The Seattle Mariners have decided to trade left-handed relief pitcher Drew Pomeranz to the Chicago Cubs on Monday. The veteran southpaw reportedly has an upward-mobility clause in his contract. That means that the Mariners needed to offer Pomeranz to every team, and if there was an organization willing to promote him, then he needed to be traded there or recalled to Seattle's bullpen. He'll be sent to Chicago after posting a 4.66 ERA with 14 strikeouts and six walks in 9 2/3 innings in Triple-A. Pomeranz hasn't pitched in the MLB since 2021, so it's unclear what exactly the Cubs are going to get here.

The Miami Marlins have placed catcher Rob Brantly (lat) on the 10-day injured list with a right lat strain. In a corresponding move, the Marlins promoted catching prospect Agustin Ramirez from Triple-A Jacksonville. Brantly was only able to appear in three games before suffering his injury. During this brief stint, Brantly has tallied three hits across seven at-bats with one RBI. The 35-year-old inked a minor-league contract with the Marlins during the winter. Throughout his 10-year MLB career, the 35-year-old has appeared in 141 games and has held a .228/.286/.323 slash line with 21 doubles and seven home runs. While he remains sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Ramirez to operate in the top spot on the depth chart alongside Liam Hicks. Brantly is not worth stashing in any fantasy format, as he may not be guaranteed a spot on the roster when he returns.

San Diego Padres outfielder Jason Heyward (knee) has been placed on the 15-day injured list on Saturday. Heyward is set to miss at least a week of action while he recovers from left knee inflammation. His absence isn't going to hurt too much considering Heyward is slashing .190/.255/.286 with one home run and six RBI in 17 games. In a corresponding move, Tirso Ornelas has been recalled from Triple-A El Paso. The 25-year-old has been putting up good numbers in the minors and is deserving of a chance at the big league level. However, Ornelas isn't a must-have option right now, so fantasy managers should wait and see how he does.

Relief pitcher Brooks Raley threw a bullpen session with at least a "dozen" teams in attendance, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic. Raley logged just seven innings of work with the New York Mets before undergoing Tommy John surgery. However, it appears the southpaw is making significant progress in his recovery and could find himself on a major league team in the coming weeks. Given the timing of his surgery, he will likely not be cleared for the major leagues until after the All-Star break. In 2023, the 36-year-old logged 54 2/3 innings to the tune of a strong 2.80 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP. He tallied 61 punchouts. Fantasy managers should monitor Raley's status as he will likely have a high-leverage role when he finds a suitor and will hold value in leagues that reward holds.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that infielder DJ LeMahieu (calf) could begin a minor-league rehab assignment next Tuesday. LeMahieu tweaked his calf in spring training and was forced to begin the regular season on the injured list, but he's been taking at-bats at extended spring training in Florida and appears to be ready to play in minor-league games. Boone said that the 36-year-old will need a full build-up once he starts his rehab assignment, so the oft-injured LeMahieu almost certainly won't make his 2025 debut for the Yankees in April after missing most of spring training. When LeMahieu does come off the injured list, whenever that may be, he won't be guarantee regular playing time if he's not producing. His best path to playing time in the Bronx will be at the hot corner. The two-time batting champion hit just .204 last year and was limited to 67 games due to injuries.

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman helped power the team to an 8-7 win over the Rockies on Wednesday night by going 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, and his third homer of the year. He sent an 0-1 sinker from German Marquez over the right center field wall to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead and spur them on to a seven-run first inning. In his nine games this season, Freeman is hitting .333 with three home runs and a .486 wOBA. His hard-hit rate and barrel rate are both up this year after a slight decline last year, and the 35-year-old remains an elite run-producer in the middle of a stacked Dodgers' lineup.

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper was terrific on Wednesday, going 2-for-3 with a homer and a pair of walks in an 11-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants. Harper also scored twice and cashed in two RBI. The 32-year-old former MVP hasn't been his usual world-beating self this season, but he is now up to a .269 AVG and .873 OPS to go with 11 runs, four homers, nine RBI, and four swipes. Those are solid numbers, even if slightly underwhelming for someone of Harper's caliber. Still, he is a must-start fantasy option and will likely improve as the season continues.

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (knee, toe) had a positive first minor-league rehab start on Wednesday with Triple-A Oklahoma City, throwing three scoreless innings while allowing two hits, walking none and striking out two. The 37-year-old former MVP and three-time Cy Young winner threw 22 of his 30 pitches for strikes but only topped out at 88.8 mph with his four-seam fastball. Kershaw has plenty of time to build his velocity back up, though, as he's not eligible to come off the 60-day injured list until May 17. The Dodgers are going to take their time with the future Hall of Famer, which means he might not even be allowed to rejoin their big-league starting rotation by May 17. While Kershaw can still have solid outings, he has become much more of a fantasy dice roll and is likely to have his innings heavily managed when he eventually returns.

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and a walk in a 6-4 win over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. Harper blasted a two-run shot off Hayden Birdsong in the seventh inning to push the Phillies' lead to 6-3. The blast traveled 354 feet with an exit velocity of 106.2 MPH. Harper is off to a decent start in 2025, hitting .250 with three homers, nine runs, seven RBI, and four steals across 64 at-bats. The veteran remains one of the top fantasy hitters in the league.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Wade Miley (elbow) is scheduled to throw three innings in an extended spring training game on Tuesday in Arizona and then could start a minor-league rehab assignment, according to manager Terry Francona. It's unclear when Miley might be an option to make starts for the Reds in 2025, but the veteran 38-year-old southpaw is clearly making progress after having a hybrid internal-brace/Tommy John procedure on his left UCL last May. He will need a lengthy rehab assignment and probably won't be an option for Cincy's starting rotation until late May or early June, and he doesn't have much fantasy appeal at all these days. Miley made only two starts a season ago with the Milwaukee Brewers before being shut down with his elbow problems, and he allowed five earned runs on six hits while walking two and striking out two in seven innings.