Cincinnati Reds corner infielder Jeimer Candelario had a successful return to the lineup in Monday's 3-1 win over the Cardinals. The 30-year-old went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk. Candelario got things going, pulling a first-inning Lance Lynn fastball over the right-field wall for his sixth HR of the season. Despite the move to a favorable home park, Candelario has struggled offensively, slashing .222/.299/.419 with 20 RBI in 187 plate appearances. He has hit for more power at home but has actually batted worse with a .202/.333/.440 slash line compared to a .241/.259/.398 slash line on the road. While it seems likely that Candelario's overall numbers will improve as he starts to hit better at home, fantasy managers will have to be patient until he can start producing more consistently.

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St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn turned in another nice start but took the loss in Monday's 3-1 game against the Reds. Lynn pitched six innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits (including a solo home run) and three walks with five strikeouts. The 37-year-old veteran has had a nice bounce-back season after a poor 2023, going 2-3 with a 3.45 ERA, an 8.32 K/9 rate, a 3.61 BB/9 rate, and a 1.10 HR/9 rate in 10 starts and 51 1/3 IP. His next matchup will be a tough one at the Phillies. While Lynn has pitched better this season, fantasy managers may want to avoid starting him later in the week if they can afford to.

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Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo (groin) improved to 4-2 in Monday's 3-1 win over the Cardinals. Lodolo, who was activated from the 15-day injured list earlier in the day after recovering from a groin strain, pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run on five hits (including a solo home run) and no walks with three strikeouts over 81 pitches. This was very encouraging for the 26-year-old and fantasy managers, as Lodolo has pitched well this season with a 3.12 ERA and a 10.26 K/9 rate in seven starts and 40 1/3 IP. The former high-end fantasy prospect had a poor, injury-shortened 2023 season after a promising rookie season, so it is nice to see him back on the right track. Lodolo will look to keep things going in his next start, which is projected to be a decent matchup at the Cubs.

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St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt added another long ball to his recent total in Monday's 3-1 loss to the Reds. Goldschmidt went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a strikeout. He provided his team's entire offense, sending a first-inning Nick Lodolo fastball into the left-field seats. The 36-year-old has been cold at the plate overall this season but now has three HR in his last two games and is hitting .276 with six extra-base hits in his last seven games. Age is a concern for Goldschmidt, but hopefully, he can extend his hot streak and start performing closer to the high-end fantasy option he has been throughout his career.

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer had a nice game at the plate in Monday's 5-1 win over the White Sox. The 34-year-old went 2-for-3 with a single, a two-run home run, and a walk. Springer crushed a second-inning Nick Nastrini fastball into the left-center seats for his fourth HR of the season. Springer has seven stolen bases but has been dreadful offensively otherwise, slashing just .196/.274/.296 with 11 RBI in 201 plate appearances. He has been a solid fantasy option throughout his career and still can produce power and speed, making him a worthwhile roto player. However, fantasy managers in shallower points leagues may be able to find more impactful players to pick up.

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San Francisco Giants starting pitcher prospect Carson Whisenhunt fanned seven batters in five innings for Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday. The lefty allowed two earned runs on five hits while walking just one, although he also hit two batters. The strikeouts have been there this season for the former second-round draft pick, with 62 punchouts in 40 1/3 innings pitched, but the southpaw owns a 6.02 ERA and 1.59 WHIP over 11 starts. Hopefully this is the start of something good for the Giants' top pitching prospect who still might see the big leagues this season, and with the big strikeout potential fantasy managers should continue to keep him on the radar.

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Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Lucas Sims picked up his first save of the season in Monday's 3-1 win over the Cardinals. Sims came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by two and delivered a 1-2-3 outing with a strikeout. Closer Alexis Diaz had pitched the last two days, so Sims got the call to close things out. The 30-year-old has had a middling season, going 1-1 with seven holds as well as a 4.15 ERA, a 9.87 K/9 rate, and a 5.19 BB/9 rate in 17 1/3 IP. He has only seen two save opportunities all season, so his fantasy value is very low except in deeper saves-plus-holds leagues at this time.

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Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette made his one hit count in Monday's 5-1 win over the White Sox, going 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a strikeout. Bichette drilled a fourth-inning Nick Nastrini fastball over the center-field wall for his fourth HR of the season. The 26-year-old has had an uncharacteristically underwhelming season with the bat so far, slashing just .247/.297/.366 with 23 RBI. The good news is that he is running more overall and has picked things up in May with an improved .291/.330/.442 slash line. The Blue Jays have started slowly as a team offensively, but it looks like Bichette has started to turn the corner.

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Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani said Monday that he has progressed to throwing from 60 feet. The two-way superstar is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery and hasn't pitched since 2023. He said his sessions have been 60 to 70 throws at up to 80 MPH. He and the Dodgers are hoping he can return to the mound in 2025. Ohtani has still been a top fantasy player without pitching, as he has slashed an impressive .336/.403/.621 with 13 home runs, 35 RBI, and 13 stolen bases in 239 plate appearances. He has a way to go before providing fantasy value as a pitcher again, but Ohtani should continue to be one of fantasy's best players.

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Washington Nationals infield prospect Trey Lipscomb has continued to hit since he was optioned back to the minors on May 17, including a four-hit game for Triple-A Rochester on Sunday and going 9-for-28 (.321) with a pair of stolen bases over the last seven games. On the season, the 23-year-old is hitting .327 in the minors (13 games), but while with the big league club he was able to swipe 10 bags and score 16 runs in 33 games despite a mediocre .252 average. If he can continue to get on base and get the call again, the former third-round draft pick could be a sneaky source of steals for managers in need, so keep him on your season-long radar.

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The Miami Marlins have promoted pitching prospect Noble Meyer to High-A Beloit. The 2023 first-round draft pick posted a 2.65 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP with a 43:23 K:BB over 34 innings pitched so far this season. The 19-year-old is already ranked as the Marlins top prospect and 45th overall in all of baseball. The righty is not expected to reach the majors for a couple years, but should already be on dynasty league managers' radar.

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Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele put together his most complete start of the year in Monday's loss to the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers, throwing a season-high seven innings of scoreless ball on three hits and one walk to go with a season-best eight strikeouts for a tough-luck no-decision. The three hits also marked a season-low figure for Steele, who hadn't tossed at least five scoreless innings in any of his prior five starts to Monday's strong outing. The 28-year-old southpaw has endured a trying year due to injury as well as poor results on the field overall, but his 31:7 K:BB over 32 1/3 innings should instill some optimism that a turnaround is on the horizon despite a lackluster 4.45 ERA. Steele next lines up to take the ball at home on Saturday against the visiting Cincinnati Reds, a team he's struggled against to the tune of a ghastly 8.64 ERA over 16 2/3 frames since 2022.

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielderDavis Schneiderhad a two-run home run on Memorial Day to put the game out of reach for the White Sox as Toronto won 5-1. AfterGavin Sheetshit a solo shot in the eighth inning to cut the Blue Jays lead to two, Schneider answered in the top of the ninth with his sixth blast to left field, scoringGeorge Springer and sealed the deal for Chicago. After mainly going undrafted in fantasy leagues this spring, Schneider looks to hold value sitting at the top of an under-performing but always dangerous Blue Jays lineup. Hopefully, Monday's home run will be a sign of things to come. The 25-year-old should be added to watchlists everywhere. Schneider is currently rostered in only 21% of Yahoo leagues and less than six percent of ESPN leagues.

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Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber clubbed his 10th home run of the season in Monday's loss to the hosting San Francisco Giants, adding a stolen base in the defeat. Schwarber crushed a two-run home run to right-center field off Giants left-hander Blake Snell, cutting the Phillies' deficit to 3-2 in the third inning, and he also tacked on a popup single in front of home plate in the seventh. In the month of May, the 31-year-old star slugger is slashing a strong .288/.422/.413 with two long balls, 16 RBI, 23 runs scored, and two steals over 80 at-bats as the everyday leadoff man atop Philly's loaded lineup. Keep rolling with the hot Schwarber for the remainder of the series against San Francisco, as he's batting .270 with seven big flies, 12 RBI, and 15 runs scored in 17 games for the Phils against the Giants in his career.

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Minnesota Twins closerJhoan Duranlocked down his seventh save of the season on Monday, but things were far from pretty. Duran entered the ninth with a four-run lead, two outs, and runners on second and third. Duran kept the suspense high, allowing three runs to score after hitting a batter, two hits, and a fielding error, but ultimately remained in control, gettingBobby Witt Jr.to ground out to end the game. With a save in each of his last four appearances dating back to May 22, Duran's hold on the closer spot looks firm for the playoff-hopeful Twins.

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Baltimore Orioles first basemanRyan Mountcastlehelped extend the O's winning streak to five games on Monday against the Boston Red Sox 11-3. Coming off a scorching hot series against Chicago over the weekend, which saw Mountcastle go 7-for-17 with three doubles and a .412 batting average, the former first-round pick kept the good times rolling, going 3-for-5 with an RBI, two runs scored, and his team-leading 15th double of the season. While he may be unable to match his career-high 33 HRs from 2021, Mountcastle is still on pace to pop 20+ dingers this year and should score close to 100 runs in the middle of such a stacked lineup. A sleeper pick for many fantasy managers, Mountcastleis makingthose who took the chance on him look very smart.

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Colorado Rockies outfielder Nolan Jones (back, knee) took batting practice on the field and did light outfield drills at Coors Field ahead of Monday's series opener against the Cleveland Guardians. Jones still needs to advance to running the bases without issues, but if he progresses well enough by Wednesday, the Rockies could clear him to head out on a new minor-league rehab assignment. Although he appears to be fully recovered from his strained lower back, Jones is still coming back from soreness in his left knee that halted his previous stay with Triple-A Albuquerque. The speedy 26-year-old slugger may have been slashing a dismal .170/.243/.277 with one home run, seven RBI, 11 runs scored, and two stolen bases through 26 games (94 at-bats) as Colorado's everyday left fielder before getting sidelined, but his five-category upside when healthy makes him worth stashing in all fantasy leagues.

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Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Cole Irvin (5-2) was in top form against the division rival Boston Red Sox on Monday. The lefty pitched five shutout innings, matching his season-high six strikeouts, and didn't allow any extra-base hits. Irvin was in control all afternoon, improving his season record to (5-2) and lowering his ERA to a healthy 2.84. Backed by one of MLB's strongest lineups, he should continue racking up the wins for fantasy managers. While not necessarily known as a strikeout pitcher, Irvin should be able to keep his ratios low enough and may be considered a sneaky trade target for a team looking to add an experienced starter without giving up an arm and a leg. Irvin will look to build off his strong outing in his next start on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays.

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New York Mets relief pitcher Drew Smith (shoulder) expects to make two more rehab outings on Wednesday and Friday for Triple-A Syracuse. It puts Smith on track to return from the injured list on Saturday or Sunday during the upcoming weekend series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks as he enters the final stages of his recovery from soreness in his right shoulder. The hard-throwing 30-year-old right-hander has been limited to 10 innings out of New York's bullpen this season, and while he owns a strong 2.70 ERA, Smith's 1.70 WHIP and 11:7 K:BB isn't the most encouraging combination. Although he'll be a welcome addition to a Mets bullpen with a scuffling Edwin Diaz, Smith doesn't project for much fantasy relevance for the remainder of the campaign outside of leagues that count holds.

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New York Yankees third baseman DJ LeMahieu (foot) is traveling to Anaheim ahead of Tuesday's series opener against the Los Angeles Angels, per manager Aaron Boone. After spending seven games in the minor leagues to rehab a non-displaced fracture in his right foot, LeMahieu is all set to be activated for his 2024 major-league debut on Tuesday following a long recovery. Boone has previously stated that LeMahieu is expected to play regularly at third base upon his return, and he may also see time at first base. The switch-hitting Oswaldo Cabrera was already ceding playing time at the hot corner lately, and he'll be the biggest loser from a fantasy perspective when LeMahieu returns. The 35-year-old veteran infielder offers a limited package at this stage of his career, but he should at least be a decent source of average and runs in New York's high-scoring offense.

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