New York Yankees relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle (shoulder) is expected to be recalled from Double-A Somerset on Wednesday, per the Athletic's Chris Kirschner. Left-handed pitcher Clayton Andrews was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after Tuesday's game in a corresponding move. Kahnle has been out with shoulder inflammation since last season but compiled a solid 2.66 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 29.1% strikeout rate with 14 holds in 40 2/3 innings pitched. Given his higher-leverage usage and strong team context, Jahnle will be worth a look in deeper saves-plus-holds leagues.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that veteran right-hander Kyle Hendricks will be moved to the bullpen for now, but the hope is to get Hendricks back on track to eventually return him to the starting rotation. With a bullpen-type game coming on Wednesday against the visiting Atlanta Braves, the 34-year-old could be used in a relief role as perhaps the bulk reliever. Hendricks has already spent time on the injured list this year and just has not looked at all like the pitcher he was in 2023, when he had a 3.74 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in his 24 starts. Through seven starts in 2024, he's gone 0-4 with a rough 10.57 ERA (6.93 FIP) and 1.99 WHIP with 11 walks and 25 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings. Even if Hendricks eventually returns to a starting role, it will be hard to recommend him in standard 12-team fantasy leagues.

Texas Rangers head coach Bruce Bochy said that right-hander Jon Gray (groin) left his start early on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Phillies with right-groin tightness after throwing 75 pitches. Gray was hit with his second loss of the season after allowing two earned runs on four hits while walking three and striking out four in his five innings of work to raise his season ERA to a still very solid 2.21. We should know more on the severity of the 32-year-old's groin injury later on Tuesday night or on Wednesday morning. Even if it's not that severe of a strain, the Rangers could play it safe and put Gray on the injured list. At the very least, it seems likely that he won't be able to make his next scheduled start on Sunday against the Minnesota Twins. The good news for the Rangers is that right-hander Dane Dunning (shoulder) is returning from the IL to start on Wednesday in Philly.

San Francisco Giants outfielder Michael Conforto (hamstring) has been cleared for on-field batting practice and is nearing a return from the injured list. A right-hamstring strain put Conforto on the 10-day injured list over a week ago, but he appears to be making good progress. The last hurdle that the 31-year-old probably will have to clear is running the bases at full speed, and it remains to be seen if he'll be sent out on a minor-league rehab assignment before returning to San Francisco. Conforto is eligible to return next Wednesday. The Giants could really use him back after recently losing rookie Jung Hoo Lee (shoulder) for the entire season. The left-handed-hitting Conforto was slashing a strong .280/.331/.490 with an .821 OPS, seven home runs and 20 RBI in 143 at-bats for the Giants before tweaking his hammy.

Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Max Muncy (oblique) took ground balls before the game on Monday and is starting up baseball activities after a Grade 1 right-oblique strain landed him on the 10-day injured list last Friday. It's good news that the 33-year-old veteran is already resuming baseball activities, but swinging a bat will be the true test with an oblique injury. It's unclear if the Dodgers will want him to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before returning, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect Muncy to be back from the IL when he's eligible to return. He's currently slashing .223/.323/.475 with nine home runs, 28 RBI and 24 runs scored in his first 139 at-bats on the year. Muncy is going to hurt your fantasy team's batting average, but you can't argue against his pop and RBI opportunities in a loaded Dodgers lineup.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone is expecting infielder DJ LeMahieu (foot) to return from the 10-day injured list for a series that begins next Tuesday, May 28, against the Los Angeles Angels. When he returns, LeMahieu will be the team's everyday third baseman, which will be bad news for Oswaldo Cabrera, who has been playing regularly at the hot corner this year with LeMahieu sidelined. LeMahieu had his minor-league rehab assignment moved from Double-A Somerset to High-A Hudson Valley after going 2-for-3 with three walks in six plate appearances at Somerset. The 35-year-old is going to be mixed into regular playing time when he returns to the Bronx, but at the very least, LeMahieu deserves to be rostered in deep-mixed fantasy leagues now that he's a week away from making his 2024 debut.

New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) threw a live batting practice session on Tuesday and said he'll throw two to three more live sessions. Cole's next live batting practice will come this weekend after he threw 20 pitches on Tuesday. The reigning American League Cy Young winner isn't ruling out a June return. It's the first time that the 33-year-old has faced live hitters, a significant step along the way in his recovery since being diagnosed with right-elbow inflammation. Because of how long Cole has been sidelined, he's going to require a lengthy minor-league rehab stint and will not be ready to come off the 60-day injured when he's eligible to return later this month. Cole should not be available on the waiver wire in any fantasy leagues.

The Colorado Rockies reinstated first baseman/outfielder Kris Bryant (back) from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and optioned outfielder Sean Bouchard to Triple-A Albuquerque in a corresponding move. The Rockies also outrighted infielder Julio Carreras to Albuquerque after he wasn't claimed by another team. Bryant will make his return to the starting lineup on Tuesday, playing first base and batting fifth against Oakland Athletics right-hander Aaron Brooks. The 32-year-old former MVP has been out since being put on the IL on April 17 with a lower-back strain. Since signing a big deal with the Rockies before the 2022 campaign, the four-time All-Star has had trouble staying on the field because of injuries. On top of it, he hasn't played well when he's been on the field. Bryant is returning to a .149/.273/.255 slash line with a homer, six RBI and 18 strikeouts in 13 games in 2024.

Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz (hand) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Oakland Athletics. Diaz will make his return to the lineup after missing each of the last four games due to a hand issue. The 33-year-old was dealing with the issue for weeks before the team decided to shut him down for a few days. Diaz will bat cleanup and cover behind the plate versus right-hander Aaron Brooks. Fantasy managers should make sure to get him back in their lineups.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier is out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Chicago White Sox. The Blue Jays will play matchups here and give Kiermaier the night off against tough left-hander Garrett Crochet. In his absence, Daulton Varsho will bat seventh and cover center field on Tuesday. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly.

Seattle Mariners infielder Jorge Polanco (hamstring) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the New York Yankees. The good news is that Polanco was available off the bench during Monday's contest. It's a bit odd that he still remains out of the lineup despite being available to bat. The 30-year-old has missed seven straight games. It doesn't sound like he'll need to be placed on the injured list but we'll see what happens over the next few days. Dylan Moore will cover second base and bat ninth versus right-hander Clarke Schmidt on Tuesday.

New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Seattle Mariners. The Yanks will give the veteran slugger the night off to rest here. That means, Aaron Judge will serve as the designated hitter, while Trent Grisham gets the start in center field versus right-hander Bryan Woo. The expectation is that Stanton will be back in the lineup after this game.

Minnesota Twins left-handed hitters Max Kepler, Edouard Julien, Alex Kirilloff and Trevor Larnach are all on the bench on Tuesday as the team takes on left-hander Patrick Corbin and the Washington Nationals. Kepler is on the bench for the second straight day for the suddenly struggling Twins. The 31-year-old lefty slugger has had a great year to this point, though, batting .303/.352/.505 with an .857 OPS, three home runs and 17 RBI in 29 games. He's even hitting .400 against lefties, but in just 20 at-bats. Kepler and most of Minnesota's lefty hitters typically find themselves riding pine against southpaws. Manuel Margot is in right field and is hitting leadoff, while Ryan Jeffers is the designated hitter and is batting second in a great matchup against Corbin. ... [More]

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 Trea Turner (hamstring) hit on the field on Tuesday and ran at 80 percent intensity. The Phillies are encouraged by his progress but continue to say that Turner will not be rushed. The 30-year-old All-Star has not reported any soreness in recent days as he has increased his baseball activities, which is another great sign. Turner is making excellent progress from a left-hamstring injury that was initially expected to keep him out for around six weeks. If he keeps progressing at this rate, though, it might be hard for the Phillies to keep him from coming back well before that mark. Before getting hurt, Turner was hitting an inflated .343 (47-for-137) with two home runs, nine RBI and 10 stolen bases. Edmundo Sosa has filled in nicely at the 6 in his stead, but Turner is the unquestioned starter at short in Philly when he's healthy.

San Diego Padres second baseman Xander Bogaerts (shoulder) is out of the starting lineup on Tuesday for the series opener in Cincinnati against the Reds. Bogaerts hurt his left shoulder diving for a ball on Monday early on in the first game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves and was kept out of Game 2, so this will be his second straight missed game. Luis Arraez will once again start at second base and hit leadoff, while Donovan Solano is the designated hitter and is batting sixth against Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott. Tests on Bogaerts' shoulder on Monday came back negative, so he's currently considered day-to-day. Fantasy managers will have to check back on Wednesday to see if he's back in action. Bogaerts has been a disappointment so far in 2024 with a .219 average, four homers, 14 RBI and four steals, but he just snapped a six-game hitting streak on Monday.

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Carlos Carrasco (neck), who was scheduled to start on Tuesday against the visiting New York Mets, has been scratched and placed on the 15-day injured list with an acute neck spasm. Xzavion Curry has been recalled from Triple-A Columbus and will make the spot start on Tuesday. The 37-year-old Carrasco will be out for at least the next two weeks and possibly longer given his age. Although he currently has an ERA of 5.16 and a WHIP of 1.46 in 45 1/3 innings this year, Carrasco had been pitching better of late in his last three starts. However, he's also sporting a weak 17.2 percent strikeout rate and doesn't have a ton of fantasy upside in deeper leagues when he's in Cleveland's starting rotation.

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.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Marcus Stroman took a tough-luck no-decision in Monday's defeat to the visiting Seattle Mariners, allowing one run on three hits and one walk with six strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings. Dominic Canzone took Stroman deep in the eighth inning, but the hurler posted his second straight quality start despite witnessing closer Clay Holmes implode for a blown save in the ninth. The 33-year-old two-time All-Star will take an improved 3.05 WHIP, 1.30 WHIP, and 48:26 K:BB over 56 innings (10 starts) for the Yankees into his next scheduled start against the San Diego Padres on Saturday at Petco Park. Despite the tough matchup on paper, Stroman is 3-0 with a microscopic 0.47 ERA and 21:8 K:BB in three appearances versus the Padres since 2021.

Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna launched two home runs during Monday's doubleheader with the San Diego Padres, clubbing two solo shots across the two outings. Ozuna clobbered a Dylan Cease slider in the third inning of Game 1, later tagging Padres right-hander Randy Vasquez for another solo jack in the fifth inning of Game 2. Well on his way to the third All-Star nod of his career, the 33-year-old veteran slugger is slashing a prolific .327/.405./642 with 14 long balls, nine doubles, 43 RBI, and 27 runs scored through 185 plate appearances (44 games) as Atlanta's everyday DH in the heart of their lineup. Next up for Ozuna is a three-game set against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, and he's batting .333 (9-for-27) with one round-tripper and five RBI in his last eight games against the Cubs on the road.