Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga picked up his fourth win of the season in Friday's 7-1 victory over the Red Sox. The lefty looked fantastic again, going six-and-a-third innings allowing five hits, walking one, and striking out seven batters. A solo home run to Tyler O'Neill was the only real blemish in the outing. He's now got a sparkling 0.98 ERA through five starts with a 0.80 WHIP and has struck out 28 batters to just three walks in 27 2/3 IP. The southpaw's next start lines up with the Mets next Wednesday at Citi Field.

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Cincinnati Reds starting pitching prospect Rhett Lowder threw six innings, allowed one unearned run, three hits, one free pass, and struck out nine on Friday. The 22-year-old has been one of the best pitchers in the minor leagues this season, and Friday was just another example of that. The number two prospect in the Reds system has posted a dominant 1.86 ERA,0.98 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts in 19 innings. The 31st overall prospect in baseball should be in Double-A very soon and could push for a late-season call-up to the majors to join the Reds for the stretch run. Lowder should be rostered in all dynasty leagues and could be worth looking at in redraft formats if he reaches Double and Triple-A soon.

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Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Lazaro Montes went 3-5 at the plate on Friday and brought in five RBI, including the game-winner. Montes first opened the scoring for Modesto with a one-run single. Then, in the third, Montes laced an RBI double to center field to even the score. The 19-year-old capped off the evening with a walk-off three-run shot in the bottom of the tenth to seal the victory. Montes is sporting a solid .269/.390/.433 line with two home runs and 18 RBI. Montes has shown excellent power potential last season when he hit seven home runs in 33 games at Single-A and is picking up where he left off in 2024. Montes should be closely monitored in dynasty leagues, as he should climb the ranks fairly quickly this summer.

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Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith went 4-for-5 in Friday's 12-2 victory over the Blue Jays, with two of his four hits going for extra bases including a double and his second home run of the season. The 2023 All-Star also drove in three runs and scored three times. This was the second straight game Smith has recorded four hits, raising his season slashline to .376/.413/.527 and putting himself in position as the third-highest scoring backstop for fantasy thus far. The Dodgers face the Jays' LHP Yusei Kikuchi on Saturday night. Will Smith is hitting a scorching .520/.581/.680 against LHP so far this season and is 1-for-3 off Kikuchi in his career.

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Phillies' SP Aaron Nola recorded 10 strikeouts in 8 innings collecting the win in a 9-3 win over San Diego on Friday, Apr. 26.

Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran (oblique) will make his next appearance on his rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday, with his outing pushed back a day due to rain on Friday. It's a small hitch in the road for Duran on his way back from a strained right oblique, as he still figures to have a chance re-enter Minnesota's bullpen and be activated from the injured list as early as Monday's series opener on the road against the division-rival Chicago White Sox. Right-hander Griffin Jax's run as manager Rocco Baldelli's preferred ninth-inning man appears to be nearing a close, but he's submitted a strong 2.53 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 15:3 K:BB in 10 2/3 innings while converting four of his five save chances for the Twins in Duran's stead. Fantasy managers should look to sell high on Jax while his value is still heightened.

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X-rays came back negative on Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz's hand on Friday night after he was hit by a pitch on his hand in the eighth inning and forced to exit the game early against the Chicago White Sox. It doesn't mean that he won't miss the next few days, though, so fantasy managers will need to check back on Saturday to see if he's absent from the starting lineup. Before getting hit by a pitch, the 32-year-old went 1-for-2 with his fifth double of the season, two walks and a strikeout, and he's now hitting .241 on the year with a .618 OPS. Niko Goodrum replaced Diaz as a pinch-runner and then at first base to close out the game. If Diaz misses a few games or is forced to the injured list, Goodrum and Austin Shenton could split time at the cold corner in Tampa.

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Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Frankie Montas (forearm) is expected to throw off a mound this weekend, according to manager David Bell. Montas is progressing in his recovery from a right forearm contusion and is eligible to come off the 15-day injured list on May 7, but it's unknown if he'll need a brief rehab assignment before rejoining Cincy's rotation. The 31-year-old former ace carries an uninspiring 4.19 ERA (5.26 FIP), 1.44 WHIP, and 14:10 K:BB across 19 1/3 innings (five starts), and fantasy managers in shallow mixed leagues might be able to find stronger options as a stash. Veteran swingman Nick Martinez should receive at least two more starts for the Reds until Montas becomes available again, but he has just a 5.48 ERA and 1.39 WHIP with 17 punchouts in 23 frames (five appearances) and won't be a convincing streamer in Tuesday's scheduled road start against the San Diego Padres.

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Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher John Means (forearm) will make another minor-league rehab appearance on Sunday, and he should then join the big-league roster soon after. It's been a lengthy stint with Triple-A Norfolk for Means, who will make his sixth and final start before rejoining Baltimore's rotation to make his 2024 regular-season debut in Week 5 of fantasy baseball. He would appear set to get the ball sometime next weekend during a three-game set on the road with the Cincinnati Reds, which is a far less favorable environment for his first start off the injured list then if he were throwing at home against the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. Veteran right-hander Albert Suarez has launched 11 1/3 scoreless frames with nine strikeouts in two starts for the O's and will now take the hill in Sunday's tasty matchup instead, making him a strong pickup to wrap up Week 4.

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Miami Marlins starting pitcher Braxton Garrett (shoulder) resumed his rehab assignment on Friday with Triple-A Jacksonville, giving up two runs on four hits and no walks with four strikeouts in three innings. It was a 59-pitch outing out of Garrett, who is on the mend in his recovery from a left shoulder impingement after a bout of dead arm. While his next start is not going to come with the major-league roster, Garrett should be an option for Miami's banged-up rotation and fantasy managers in early May, barring any setbacks. Last year, the 26-year-old left-hander recorded a 3.66 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and a remarkable 156:29 K:BB through 159 2/3 innings (31 appearances) and should be stashed in the majority of fantasy leagues. Unless the Marlins recall top prospect Max Meyer from the minor leagues, look for former top prospect Sixto Sanchez to get another turn as a starter in Tuesday's favorable home matchup with the Colorado Rockies.

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Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (hamstring) threw 47 pitches in 2 1/3 innings in an extended spring game on Friday in Arizona. Steele will continue his rehab program there for now, but pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said on Thursday that the hurler should be able to start shifting into a five-day routine following his recent period of building up his workload. The 28-year-old star left-hander is recuperating from a strained left hamstring, and while it's unclear how long his rehab stint will last, Steele might be able to get back into Chicago's rotation in early May if all continues to go well in his recovery. Rookie right-hander Ben Brown has shown some promise with a 3.72 ERA (2.88 FIP), 1.03 WHIP, and 18:6 K:BB over 19 1/3 innings (six appearances) for the Cubs, and he'll be a decent streaming option for fantasy managers in Saturday's scheduled start against the Boston Red Sox.

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Miami Marlins third baseman Jake Burger (oblique) completed a full on-field workout ahead of Friday's game versus the division-rival Washington Nationals, throwing across the diamond for the first time since suffering a a strained left oblique. Burger still has to progress to batting practice on the machine, but it's encouraging to see he's improving in his recovery. The 28-year-old infielder was slashing .228/.281/.421 with three home runs, two doubles, 15 RBI, and eight runs scored over 64 plate appearances (16 games) before heading to the injured list, and he's tracking toward a minor-league rehab assignment in early May and a return to the Marlins sometime in the middle of May. In Burger's stead, Emmanuel Rivera has served as Miami's primary third baseman but isn't producing enough to warrant consideration for a roster spot in the vast majority of fantasy leagues.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks announced that starting pitcher Zac Gallen (hamstring) left Friday's start against the Seattle Mariners due to tightness in his right hamstring. Before exiting, Gallen surrendered three runs on three hits and one walk with three strikeouts over five innings of work. He was pulled from the game after his 64th pitch in the sixth inning and relieved by Scott McGough. Although the extent of the setback won't be known until Gallen is evaluated further, the d-Backs and fantasy managers should be relieved the ace isn't dealing with an injury to his throwing arm. It remains to be seen if Gallen will need a trip to the injured list, or if he'll just need his next turn in the rotation skipped, but his next start is tentatively slated for Wednesday's series finale versus the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers. The 28-year-old workhorse right-hander owns a 3.38 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 35:9 K:BB over 32 frames (six starts) this year.

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Arizona Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald (oblique) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday, and the team will likely have him appear in another rehab game if all goes well there. There was some optimism that Sewald's next appearance would come for the major-league club, but it sounds like fantasy managers will have to wait a few more days before the hurler is reinstated from the 15-day injured list due to a strained left oblique. Look for the 33-year-old right-hander to re-enter Arizona's bullpen and reclaim his closing gig sometime during Week 5 of fantasy baseball, which begins on Monday with a three-game series versus the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers. Righty Kevin Ginkel owns a solid 3.48 ERA (2.85 FIP), 1.16 WHIP, and 11:2 K:BB with four saves through 10 1/3 innings, but fantasy managers should be trying to make other arrangements for saves before he reverts to a setup role upon Sewald's return.

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San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Blake Snell (groin) resumed playing catch on flat ground on Friday, which is a good sign for a player who is dealing with a multi-week absence due to a strained left groin. Snell believes he can rejoin San Fran's rotation right around May 7, when he's first eligible for activation from the 15-day injured list. The 31-year-old reigning National League Cy Young Award winner has obviously been a massive fantasy bust with an 11.57 ERA, 1.97 WHIP, and 12:5 K:BB through 11 2/3 innings (three starts), but his elite strikeout upside when healthy means he can't be jettisoned to any waiver wires. In the interim, former second-round pick Sean Hjelle may be needed as a starter for the Giants and has a 5.79 ERA and 0.85 WHIP with two punchouts and one walk in 4 2/3 frames this year. He'd line up for a decent matchup with the Boston Red Sox at some point next week in this case.

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There is no timetable yet on Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford (oblique), but general manager Justin Hollander said the team doesn't anticipate him being ready by the time he's eligible to be activated from the injured list. In a best-case scenario, it sounds like Crawford will be out at least two to three weeks with a Grade 1 right-oblique strain. The Mariners aren't going to rush the 29-year-old shortstop back with an injury that isn't easy to come back from, even if it's the least-severe variety. It's been a rough year so far for Crawford, as he's hit just .198 (17-for-86) with two home runs, nine RBI and 13 runs scored in his first 22 games. Until he's able to return, Dylan Moore should see most of the playing time at the 6 and will have elevated short-term fantasy value in deeper leagues.

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Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz was hit by a pitch in the 8th inning and was subsequently removed. Niko Goodrum pinch-ran for the 32-year-old after he was hit. Diaz took a 99 MPH fastball from White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech to his hand as the Rays worked to dig themselves out of a 7-3 hole. Diaz had put together a decent day at the plate before exiting, going 1-2 with two BB. If Diaz is to miss any time then the beneficiaries of his absence will be Austin Shenton and Niko Goodrum. Shenton has slashed .143/.217/.238 on the season and Goodrum has slashed .167/.286/.452. Neither option is great from a fantasy perspective, but Shenton has generally been the starter when Diaz gets rest. Prioritize Shenton if you're looking directly for a replacement from the Rays but there are likely better options you can snag off the waiver wire.

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New York Yankees center fielder Jasson Dominguez (elbow) increased his throwing length to 135 feet and is "a few weeks away" from beginning to play in minor-league rehab games, per Yankees manager Aaron Boone. The 21-year-old has been recovering from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in September of 2023. With an anticipated recovery time of nine to 10 months, Dominguez is on track to be back around the All-Star break. The Yankees outfield is a bit crowded, but if Dominguez can replicate his .980 OPS from 2023, then he should be able to find a spot alongside Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. Fantasy managers needing a late-season stash should keep an eye on Dominguez's progress, especially if his rehab starts go well.

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San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Alex Cobb (hip, shoulder) has been held back from throwing activities the last few days as he's still experiencing soreness in his shoulder. He is scheduled to see Dr. Ken Akizuki Friday night. Cobb had been working his way back from a hip surgery he had in October and started to experience some setbacks after throwing a bullpen session a few weeks ago. The 36-year-old won't be eligible to come off the injured list until late May, but these setbacks may push his return further into June. This isn't the news the Giants wanted to hear after needing to put newly acquired Blake Snell on the 15-day injured list this week. Cobb will have a rotation spot available for him when he returns, but fantasy managers and Giants fans will need to exercise patience for a couple more months for that moment.

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San Francisco Giants second baseman Thairo Estrada (hamstring) is not in the Giants' lineup for their Friday night tilt against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Estrada was removed from Wednesday's game against the Mets after dealing with hamstring tightness. As of now, Estrada is considered day-to-day. The 28-year-old is slashing .232/.253/.400 on the year so his impact to the Giants and fantasy managers' lineups may be fairly negligible. Tyler Fitzgerald is getting the start in his place and will bat eighth. Should Estrada return this weekend he would see Martin Perez on Saturday and Pirates rookie Jared Jones on Sunday.

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