The Houston Astros announced that right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. (undisclosed) has been scratched from his scheduled start on Tuesday in Minnesota against the Twins for undisclosed reasons. Right-hander Jason Alexander will start in his place. Fantasy managers will want to check back later for a reason why McCullers won't make his start at Target Field. The 32-year-old veteran and former first-rounder in 2012 hasn't really been consistent enough to be rostered in mixed fantasy leagues, as he entered the day with a 2-3 record, 6.86 ERA (5.06 FIP), and 1.52 WHIP with 43 strikeouts and 22 walks in 39 1/3 innings pitched across his eight starts in 2026. The oft-injured hurler did bounce back in his last outing on May 13 against the Seattle Mariners, allowing two earned runs while walking two and striking out six in 5 1/3 innings of work, but he's only had quality starts in two of his eight appearances so far this year. McCuller is currently rostered in under 10% of Yahoo leagues.

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Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement (illness) is out of the starting lineup on Tuesday against the division-rival New York Yankees due to strep throat, according to Hazel Mae of Sportsnet. Clement told Mae that "it started yesterday." Davis Schneider is starting at second base for Toronto and will hit seventh for the Jays against Yankees right-hander Will Warren in the Bronx. Schneider has faced Warren only two times in his career, but has a home run and two RBI. The 30-year-old Clement should be considered day-to-day for now. The former fourth-round selection by the Cleveland Guardians in 2017 out of Virginia hasn't provided fantasy managers with much besides a decent average (.281) in 2026. He also has a .309 on-base percentage, .406 slugging percentage, .714 OPS, three home runs, 16 RBI, 18 runs scored, and a steal in 188 plate appearances across his 46 games played. Clement is also useful in deeper fantasy leagues with eligibility at first, second, third, and shortstop. He's rostered in just over half of Yahoo leagues.

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Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday (hand) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list on Monday before the series opener against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays, but he didn't play. Holliday will start at second base and bat seventh in the lineup in his 2026 season debut against Rays right-hander Griffin Jax. The 22-year-old former first overall pick in 2022 needed surgery for a fractured hamate bone in his right hand in February, but he's just now making his season debut due to multiple setbacks he encountered while on his minor-league rehab assignment. Fantasy managers still holding Holliday have to be disappointed that he's hitting near the bottom of the batting order, but there is plenty of time to move his way up the lineup if he produces offensively. Don't be surprised if Holliday is slow to get back into a rhythm at the plate after slashing just .176/.291/.284 during his rehab assignment. Holliday is an emerging power/speed threat who is in just his second full season in the majors. He's currently rostered in 41% of Yahoo leagues, but he'll become a priority waiver addition if he starts putting up numbers in Baltimore.

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Boston Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela (hamstring) is back in center field and will bat out of the two-hole for Tuesday's game against the hosting Kansas City Royals and left-hander Bailey Falter, according to MLB.com. Rafaela was not in the starting nine for Monday's series opener against the Royals, but he entered as a defensive replacement, and now he's back in the starting lineup for Game 2 at Kauffman Stadium. Not only is the 25-year-old native of Cuacao one of the best defensive center fielders in the game, but he's also been one of Boston's best producers on offense, entering Tuesday's tilt with a .284/.354/.432 slash line with a .786 OPS, four home runs, 19 RBI, 18 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 45 games and 164 plate appearances. Rafaela has been even better in May, going 17-for-53 (.321) with three of his home runs, two doubles, nine RBI, three steals, and five runs scored in 16 games played. Get him back into your starting lineups in all traditional formats on Tuesday.

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New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) will come off the 15-day injured list to make his 2026 season debut on Friday against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays, manager Aaron Boone told Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. Cole missed the entire 2025 season after having Tommy John surgery last March. The 35-year-old former first overall pick in 2011 out of UCLA had a 4.66 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 28 strikeouts, and only three walks in 29 innings over six minor-league rehab starts with High-A Hudson Valley, Double-A Somerset, and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He should not be limited from a pitch-count perspective in his season debut on Friday after throwing 86 pitches in 5 1/3 innings in his final rehab start last Saturday. However, fantasy managers should take a cautious approach with Cole in his first outing back in the big leagues against the first-place Rays. Cole was named the American League Cy Young winner in 2023, making him a must-roster veteran arm with strikeout upside, even though he's been away from the Yankees for a full year.

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St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn (knee) is still bothered by his knee injury and is not in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium, according to MLB.com. Cesar Prieto will make the start at the 6 and bat seventh against Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller. Winn was pulled from Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals early due to discomfort in his left knee, and he's still out of action despite the team having a day off on Monday. It's not the same knee that Winn had surgery on last September to fix a meniscus injury. For now, fantasy managers should continue to label him as day-to-day. The 24-year-old former second-rounder in 2020 offers a modest blend of power and speed at a premium position in fantasy baseball for the Red Birds. Through 41 games in 2026 in his third full season in the majors, Winn is hitting a mediocre .255/.331/.353 with a .684 OPS, only one homer, 17 RBI, 18 runs, and four stolen bases across 41 games and 175 plate appearances.

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Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers (hand) will have surgery to fix a broken hamate bone in his left hand and is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks, general manager Jeremy Zoll told The Athletic's Aaron Gleeman. The Twins placed Jeffers on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday after he injured his hand in an at-bat late in Monday night's win over the visiting Houston Astros. It's a really tough break for Jeffers and the Twins, as he was hitting .295 (36-for-122) this year with seven home runs, 26 RBI, 26 runs scored, a stolen base, a .408 on-base percentage, a .541 slugging percentage, and a .949 OPS in 37 games across 148 plate appearances. In a best-case scenario, Jeffers might be able to return to the big-league roster in early July. In the meantime, veteran Victor Caratini should do most of the catching for the Twins, with Alex Jackson backing him up. Fantasy managers should be looking to avoid the catching situation in Minnesota with Jeffers out for an extended period of time.

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Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez (thumb), who is currently on the seven-day injured list at Triple-A St. Paul, needs surgery after an MRI exam showed a UCL tear in his left thumb, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. It's a tough break for the 23-year-old, who is considered the team's No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline. Rodriguez was hitting .247 (20-for-81) for the Saints with six home runs, 18 RBI, 15 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 25 games across 108 plate appearances at the time of his injury. Thumb injuries have been a problem for him, as he had surgery for a right-thumb injury in 2024 and also missed some time last year with a left-thumb ailment. The Dominican outfielder is quickly losing steam in dynasty/keeper leagues as a stash candidate due to durability concerns. Rodriguez has yet to play in 100 games down on the farm in a single season since he became a professional in 2021. His most recent thumb injury could very well cost him the rest of the 2026 season.

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Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (hip) is returning to the team's starting lineup on Tuesday night against the visiting Houston Astros and right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. at Target Field, according to Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic. Buxton is finally back in action after missing almost a full week due to soreness in his right hip flexor. Fantasy managers will be hoping that the 32-year-old veteran can pick up where he left off after he clubbed two home runs in his last game against the Miami Marlins last week. The two-time All-Star has picked things up in May, going 13-for-46 (.283) with seven home runs, two doubles, 12 RBI, 10 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 11 games. Buxton has hit .260/.319/.580 overall in 2026 with an .899 OPS, 15 long balls, 23 RBI, 33 runs scored, and four stolen bases in his 169 at-bats. He has also hit .600 with a 1.867 OPS in a small sample size of five career at-bats against McCullers.

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Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk (thumb) "continues to progress," but he isn't taking full batting practice yet and still feels his thumb a bit when swinging, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. Kirk caught right-hander Shane Bieber's (elbow) side session and is catching, throwing, and hitting. "By the end of the week, we'll have a better feel" for when he might be cleared to begin a rehab assignment, according to manager John Schneider. The 27-year-old Mexican backstop is recovering from a fractured left thumb. Kirk had surgery on his thumb and had a screw inserted into his hand. It remains to be seen when exactly Kirk will come off the 10-day injured list, but if he continues to make progress, he could return to Toronto before the end of May. Until then, Tyler Heineman and Brandon Valenzuela will continue to split the catching duties for the Jays. Kirk went 3-for-20 (.150) with a homer in five games before getting hurt this year, but the two-time All-Star can provide modest power at the weak catching position in fantasy when he's healthy. He's currently rostered in 26% of Yahoo leagues.

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The New York Mets announced on Tuesday that they moved right-hander Clay Holmes (leg) to the 60-day injured list after he suffered a fractured right fibula when he took a comebacker off his leg during his start over the weekend against his former team, the New York Yankees. He has been shut down from all baseball activities for the next six to eight weeks and won't be eligible to return to the big-league starting rotation until mid-August. Although the 33-year-old veteran's underlying metrics suggested that regression was coming, he looked good for the Mets in his first nine starts of 2026, going 4-4 with a 2.39 ERA (3.22 FIP) and 1.10 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and 18 walks over 52 2/3 innings pitched. Because of his long-term injury, he's already been dropped in a lot of fantasy leagues and is currently rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues. Left-handed pitching prospect Zach Thornton will get the first crack at trying to fill Holmes' starting rotation spot in the big leagues, but Jack Wenninger and Jonah Tong might also get opportunities.

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Miami Marlins catcher Agustin Ramirez has emerged as a base-stealing threat at Triple-A, making him an intriguing fantasy stash ahead of his eventual return to the majors. Ramirez was optioned to Triple-A on May 4 after slashing .230/.318/.345 with two homers, three steals, and 87 wRC+ in the majors. His slash line in Jacksonville isn't any better (.206/.270/.235), and he's striking out more (27.0%) with a lower walk rate (5.4%). With that being said, he has shown glimpses of impressive speed, stealing four bases in just eight games. We fully expect to see Ramirez back in the majors this year, so his ability to steal bases could be enough to get him back on the fantasy radar, especially at the catcher position, where speed can be hard to come by.

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Philadelphia Phillies outfielder/designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (illness) is out of the starting lineup for a second straight game on Tuesday against the visiting Cincinnati Reds with an illness, according to MLB.com. Shortstop Trea Turner will serve as the DH and will bat leadoff, while Edmundo Sosa will make the start at the 6 and hit seventh against Reds right-hander Chase Burns at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies will give the three-time All-Star another day off. Hopefully, the 33-year-old veteran will be back in the lineup for Wednesday's contest against Cincy. Schwarber continues to mash baseballs well over the fence in 2026 in his 12th year in the big leagues. He currently leads all of baseball with 20 home runs and has also contributed 36 RBI in 47 games across 213 plate appearances. He's been on a homer binge since May 7, going 13-for-43 (.302) with nine homers, a double, 16 RBI, 10 runs scored, and a stolen base in 10 games played. When Schwarber returns to action, fantasy managers will want to throw him right back into all starting lineups. Hopefully, his illness doesn't slow him down at the plate at all.

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Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring) is in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Miami Marlins. He'll bat leadoff as the designated hitter against Marlins southpaw Braxton Garrett. Acuna is making his return from a two-week absence that included a stint on the 10-day injured list. Prior to injuring his hamstring on May 3, he was slashing .252/.362/.378 with two homers, seven RBI, a 13.2% walk rate, a 20.4% strikeout rate, and 111 wRC+. Acuna hasn't been as effective with the bat in his hands this season compared to years past, but he's still an above-average hitter with a nice blend of power and speed. With that said, injuries have continued to plague him, as he hasn't played 100+ games in a season since 2023, when he played 159 games while slugging 41 homers and stealing 73 bases. Acuna ranks #8 among outfielders in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.

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The Cleveland Guardians have promoted first base prospect Ralphy Velazquez to Triple-A, according to Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com. Velazquez was the Guardians' first-round pick in 2023, signing for $2.5 million out of Huntington Beach High School in California. It's a much-deserved promotion for the left-handed hitter, who was slashing .317/.414/.566 with seven home runs, a 13.0% walk rate, a 18.3% strikeout rate, and 159 wRC+ in Double-A. He has 29 homers over his last 158 minor league games, reminding fans and fantasy managers of his impressive power. Although the Guardians won't rush his development, it seems likely that he'll make his MLB debut this season if he continues to hit well at Triple-A. Once he reaches the majors, his power-hitting profile will make him a worthwhile first baseman to roster in fantasy baseball leagues.

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New York Yankees shortstop prospect George Lombard Jr.'s bat has cooled since being greeted by Triple-A pitching, going just 9-for-59 (.153) without a single extra-base hit over his first 16 games at that level. On the bright side, the Yankees' top-ranked prospect has shown a supremely keen eye, drawing 17 walks (21.8 percent) compared to only 12 strikeouts (15.4 percent), and has stolen three bases. Recently-activated Anthony Volpe has a pair of multi-hit games over his last two contests, and Jose Caballero (finger) could soon return from the injured list, so a big league debut doesn't appear to be imminent, but that could change quickly. If Volpe falters or Caballero encounters a setback, Lombard's chance could be next. With a fantasy-friendly toolset, the soon-to-be-21-year-old should be on the stash radar.

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Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect Mike Sirota has been promoted to Double-A, suggesting that he could be on the fast track to making his MLB debut. Sirota was the Reds' third-round pick in 2024, but Cincinnati traded him to the Dodgers in exchange for Gavin Lux in January 2025. As we've become accustomed to with Dodgers prospects, Sirota has emerged as a superstar at the plate in the minor leagues. Across 35 games at High-A this year, he slashed .325/.478/.602 with seven homers, eight steals, a 20.1% walk rate, a 22.6% strikeout rate, and 177 wRC+. The Northeastern product has been an above-average hitter everywhere he's played, so we would expect Double-A to be no different. If he excels at the plate in Tulsa, Sirota could fast-track to Triple-A this year, and the majors either this year or early next year. The 22-year-old is already an intriguing dynasty stash because of the offensive upside that he boasts.

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San Francisco Giants first baseman Bryce Eldridge has struggled to earn consistent playing time lately, and that trend could continue going forward. Justice delos Santos of The Mercury News reports that Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey acknowledges Eldridge hasn't been afforded consistent playing time, which could be impacting his ability to get into a routine. When asked if Eldridge could be sent to Triple-A to get more consistent reps, Posey said the team will "just watch what's going on out here and make different decisions as we think they're necessary." That answer doesn't provide much clarity, but it does seem to suggest that Eldridge isn't quite ready for an everyday role in the major leagues. The stats say similar, as the first base prospect is slashing just .143/.226/.250 with one home run, a 9.7% walk rate, a 32.3% strikeout rate, and 28 wRC+ through nine games. His stock is falling in fantasy baseball, and he's now rostered in just 5% of leagues.

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Colorado Rockies corner infield/outfield prospect Charlie Condon continues to tread water at Triple-A Albuquerque, collecting a hit in eight of his last 10 games but going just 9-for-42 (.214) over that span with a 36.2 percent strikeout rate. The former third-overall draft pick has a superb 19.7 percent chase rate (88th percentile) that's allowed him to draw walks at a strong 15.3 percent clip, and still has plenty of pop in his bat, with a max exit velocity this season of 112.6 percent (91st percentile), but he likely needs to get the strikeouts under control to see his average start to creep back up and get back on track in the power department. The 6-foot-5 slugger has now gone 27 straight games without a home run after belting four in his first 10 contests. For the season, the 23-year-old is slashing .232/.369/.366, so he's not pushing the issue for a promotion, and the Colorado starters are probably doing enough to hold off the youngster's debut a while longer, but Condon could be called up sometime in June, so managers in deep leagues looking for a power bat should still consider stashing the UGA product ahead of time.

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Minnesota Twins infield prospect Kaelen Culpepper has heated up with the weather, now riding a 13-game on-base streak that began on May 1, during which time he's gone 16-for-55 (.291) with four doubles, four home runs, and four steals. Furthermore, the Twins' second-ranked prospect has walked (10) nearly as many times as he's struck out (11) during that time, which is the kind of plate discipline that could help him make the final push to the major leagues. For the season, the former first-rounder is slashing .253/.346/.469 with nine home runs and nine steals, displaying the kind of power-speed combination that he showed in 2025 when he blasted 25 home runs and stole 25 bases in 113 games between High-A and Double-A. The Kansas State product should be making his big league debut soon, and although it was veteran Orlando Arcia recalled when the team demoted third baseman Royce Lewis, Culpepper has experience at the hot corner in addition to second and shortstop, providing multiple pathways to playing time. With the general underperformance of most other Twins infielders as well, the 23-year-old's debut appears closer than ever, so he becomes a must-stash for his multi-category upside.

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