Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford (oblique) was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the division-rival Texas Rangers in Arlington due to soreness in his right oblique. There's no word from the M's on the severity of the injury, but it might be fair to expect Crawford to get another day off during the series finale on Thursday. The 29-year-old on-base machine's fantasy value has been more noticeable in leagues that count walks, as evidenced by his .198/.296/.302 triple-slash line with two home runs, nine RBI, and 13 runs scored over 98 plate appearances (22 games) during the 2024 regular season. Super-utility player Dylan Moore drew the start at short in Crawford's stead on Wednesday, and he can steal bases in bunches when given playing time. In fact, Moore already has four swipes across 15 games and is worth a speculative add for those in need of speed.

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Miami Marlins left-hander A.J. Puk (shoulder) will pitch out of the bullpen when he returns to the major-league roster, according to manager Skip Schumaker. The experiment as a starter in Miami's rotation was a failed on for Puk, who is nursing fatigue in his left shoulder following just four appearances and holds a dismal 9.22 ERA, 2.63 WHIP, and a 12:17 K:BB over 13 2/3 innings. Although Puk's return timetable from the issue remains unclear, this development is bad news for the rest-of-season outlook of closer Tanner Scott, who is going to have some competition for ninth-inning work when Puk is eventually reinstated from the 15-day injured list. With Scott carrying a 3.38 ERA (5.88 FIP) and 1.68 WHIP while striking out 10 hitters and walking 12 through his first 10 2/3 frames of the 2024 regular season, it probably behooves fantasy managers to field some sell-high trade offers after Puk picked up 15 saves in 2023.

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Updated a previous report, Oakland Athletic second baseman Zack Gelof (abdomen) was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the New York Yankees in the Bronx due to soreness in his left abdomen. Gelof, who was originally included in Oakland's starting lineup, was a late scratch and is on the bench for the first time in the 2024 regular season. It sound like a minor issue that should leave Gelof day-to-day ahead of Thursday's series finale at Yankee Stadium. After a breakout rookie year in 2023, the 28-year-old former second-round pick has taken a step back in the early portion of this season while slashing .196/.260/.337 with three home runs, seven RBI, 11 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 92 at-bats (24 games). Gelof's fantasy value might continue to drop if he continues batting sixth in a poor A's lineup, which he's done in each of his past three appearances.

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San Diego Padres third baseman/designated hitter Manny Machado is expected to return to the lineup on Friday for the start of a three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies at Petco Park. Machado is currently on the paternity list while he and his wife expect the delivery of their first child, and manager Mike Shildt has confirmed the star infielder will not rejoin the club ahead of their series finale against the division-rival Colorado Rockies on Thursday. Before taking some time away, the 31-year-old six-time All-Star was slashing a modest .260/.324/.417 with four home runs, three doubles, 12 RBI, and 15 runs scored in 105 plate appearances (24 games). In 16 games versus the Phillies since 2021, Machado is hitting .267 (16-for-60) with six homers, 13 RBI, 11 runs scored, and one stolen base.

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San Francisco Giants second baseman Thairo Estrada (hamstring) exited Wednesday's loss to the visiting New York Mets in the sixth inning due to tightness in his left hamstring after going hitless in two at-bats. Estrada wanted to stay in the game before Jung Hoo Lee replaced him, so it doesn't seem like he's dealing with a significant injury at this time. Consider him day-to-day ahead of Friday's series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and perhaps San Fran's day off on Thursday will be enough to prevent Estrada from missing any additional time. The 28-year-old veteran infielder is batting only .232 (22-for-95) with nine extra-base hits, 12 RBI, 11 runs scored, and zero stolen bases through 26 outings, and his fantasy value will remain diminished until he can climb his way up the Giants' batting order.

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The Atlanta Braves are increasing the activity of catcher Sean Murphy (oblique). Murphy has caught a bullpen session in each of the past two days, but he's still not swinging a bat yet and may be at least a week away from being cleared to do so. Working his way back from tightness in his left oblique, Murphy is probably not going to be available to the Braves or fantasy managers before the end of April based on the current progress in his recovery. The 29-year-old All-Star backstop will need a rehab assignment before he's reinstated to Atlanta's major-league roster as well, but an early-May return is still in the cards. Former All-Star Travis d'Arnaud is surging after a slow start to the 2024 regular season, going 8-for-13 with five home runs and 11 RBI over his past five games, and he should be rostered in two-catcher leagues while he's hot.

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Oakland Athletics shortstop prospect Jacob Wilson went 4-for-5 for Double-A Midland on Tuesday. The four hits included two doubles and two singles. Wilson also drove in three runs and scored twice. It was the second four-hit game of the season for the 22-year-old, raising his average to a robust .409 with four doubles, two home runs, 11 RBI, six runs scored, and two stolen bases. The 2023 first-round draft pick is known for his contact skills, and after a successful debut in 2023 where he hit .333 in 26 games between Rookie and High-A, it appears he's riding that momentum right on into 2024. The Athletics' top prospect (MLB No. 61) looks primed for a promotion to see how he handles Triple-A pitching. A 2025 MLB debut is most likely, but if he continues to hit like this, a late-season call-up isn't out of the question. With his type of bat, he should already be on dynasty managers' radar, if not already rostered.

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Houston Astros starting pitcher Cristian Javier (neck) played catch on Wednesday back in Houston. Javier is not with the team during their road series with the Chicago Cubs after flying back home on Tuesday to get checked out by team doctors, but it's encouraging to hear he's throwing. The 27-year-old star right-hander is working his way back from discomfort in his right neck, and it's unclear if he'll need a brief rehab assignment before being activated from the 15-day injured list. Fantasy managers should expect him to remain sidelined through early May, though. Although he has a weak 18:11 K:BB through 23 1/3 innings (four starts) for the Stros, Javier's 1.54 ERA and 1.11 WHIP makes him a must-stash player. Rookie right-hander Spencer Arrighetti is making starts in Houston's injury-riddled rotation, but he's struggled to muster much fantasy usability to this point.

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Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich (back) ran on the field on Wednesday for the first time since injuring his back. Yelich hasn't swung or played catch yet, however, as he's progressed slower than anticipated from a strained lower back. Considering Yelich battled back issues in the early part of his career with the Miami Marlins, expect the Brew Crew to take a cautious approach with the 32-year-old star left fielder. Yelich was returning first-round fantasy value before hitting the shelf, slashing .333/.422/.744 with five home runs, 11 RBI, seven runs scored, and two stolen bases across 39 at-bats (11 games). The switch-hitting Blake Perkins has received everyday ABs in Milwaukee's outfield since Yelich went on the injured list, slashing .309/.387/.473 with two homers, six RBI, 13 runs scored, and two swipes through 55 ABs overall, and he's worth a look for those in NL-only or deep mixed leagues who need a stopgap solution.

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The Cincinnati Reds moved left-hander Alex Young (back) to the 60-day injured list on Wednesday and claimed outfielder Peyton Burdick off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles in a corresponding move. The Reds sent Burdick to Triple-A Louisville as organizational outfield depth. Young was shut down during spring training in mid-March with lower-back disc degeneration and now won't be able to make his 2024 debut for the Reds until late May. The 30-year-old southpaw reliever went 4-2 last year with the Reds while recording a 3.86 ERA (4.99 FIP), his first career save, a 1.36 WHIP, 20 walks and 50 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings in his 63 appearances out of the bullpen. Young can continue to be ignored in fantasy circles.

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Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa (oblique) did some light glove work off to the side on the field on Wednesday and said he's swinging and doing baseball activities as he recovers from an oblique injury that sent him to the injured list. It sounds as though there's some possibility that he could come off the IL on the coming road trip without a minor-league rehab assignment if things keep trending well. The Twins start their road trip in Los Angeles against the Angels this Friday. The 29-year-old Puerto Rican is itching to get back as the team's starting shortstop after starting the year 11-for-36 (.306) with a homer and four RBI in 11 games played. Willi Castro has been serving as Minnesota's primary shortstop since Correa was placed on the IL.

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Chicago White Sox right-hander Chris Flexen is lined up to start on Friday against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. It will be Flexen's fourth start of the season. The 29-year-old former 14th-round pick by the New York Mets in 2012 has appeared out of the bullpen for the Pale Hose his last two times out and is now sporting a 6.41 ERA (5.75 FIP) and 1.42 WHIP with seven walks and 11 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings pitched. Flexen has been more effective in his two relief appearances than his three starts, and the matchup against Tampa doesn't really make him attractive as a streaming sleeper in deep fantasy leagues on Friday. He'll be making the start on three days of rest. Flexen could be sent right back to Chicago's bullpen once Mike Clevinger is finally ready to make his season debut.

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Houston Astros left-hander Framber Valdez (elbow) threw 40 pitches in a bullpen session on Tuesday at Wrigley Field and is expected to come off the injured list and start one of the team's games in Mexico City against the Colorado Rockies this weekend. Right-hander Ronel Blanco will start the other game. The 30-year-old Valdez was put on the 15-day injured list on April 9 with left-elbow inflammation. The fact that he's not going to pitch in a minor-league rehab game before returning to the major-league starting rotation should have fantasy managers hesitant to use him in his first start back from the IL, even if the matchup is a juicy one against the Rockies away from Coors Field. The two-time All-Star should still be rostered in all fantasy leagues and was looking good in his first two starts of 2024 before going on the shelf.

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The Toronto Blue Jays placed outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (hip) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with left-hip flexor inflammation and recalled utility man Addison Barger from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move. Kiermaier was injured in Tuesday's contest and will now miss at least the next 10 days. Considering the 34-year-old's injury history, it wouldn't be a surprise if he missed more than the required 10 days on the IL. Kiermaier will be eligible to return on May 4. Daulton Varsho is moving to center field and batting cleanup on Wednesday, while Barger will make his major-league debut in left field while hitting eighth against Kansas City Royals right-hander Alec Marsh. Barger, who hits from the left side, is likely to see some playing time against right-handed pitching and is worth a deep-league pickup for his power upside.

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Oakland Athletics infielder Zack Gelof (undisclosed) has been scratched ahead of Wednesday's game against the New York Yankees. It's unclear why the A's pulled Gelof out of the lineup. The hope is that it's a minor issue and he'll be back in the lineup soon. In the meantime, Abraham Toro will cover third base and bat sixth on Wednesday. The A's should give an update on his status shortly.

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Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (tooth) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Texas Rangers. Raleigh will miss this game after undergoing an emergency procedure to remove a tooth. The assumption is that this will be a one-game absence for Raleigh. In his absence, Seby Zavala will cover behind the plate and bat ninth versus right-hander Jon Gray.

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Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Chicago White Sox. This appears to be a routine rest day for Kepler against a tough left-handed starter. Kepler has been hot since returning from the injured list with four RBI in two games. In his absence, Manuel Margot will cover right field and bat third versus left-hander Garrett Crochet.

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Miami Marlins catcher Christian Bethancourt (illness) has been activated from the 10-day injured list on Wednesday. The 32-year-old will return to the field after missing the last week or so due to an illness. His return won't mean too much for fantasy managers as Bethancourt has struggled this season. He's hitless through 23 plate appearances, so fantasy managers can look elsewhere for help. Jhonny Pereda has been optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville to make room for Bethancourt on the active roster.

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Cincinnati Reds infielder Jonathan India (illness) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. This marks the fourth game in a row that India has missed due to an illness. Despite that, fantasy managers should consider India as day-to-day for the moment. Santiago Espinal will cover second base and bat eighth versus right-hander Spencer Turnbull on Wednesday.

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Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jake Fraley (illness) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The left-handed slugger has missed four games in a row due to an illness. He shouldn't require a trip to the injured list, but it could happen if he continues to miss time. Stuart Fairchild will cover center field and bat ninth versus right-hander Spencer Turnbull on Wednesday.

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