Cleveland Guardians outfielder Josh Naylor was placed on the COVID-19 injured list on Friday. Infielder Richie Palacios has been recalled from Triple-A Columbus in a corresponding move. Infielder Yu Chang was also activated from the COVID injured list, while Kirk McCarty was optioned to the minors. Naylor has been swinging a hot bat this year, so it's a big blow to the Guardians and fantasy managers alike, but hopefully he won't be out for more than a week. The 24-year-old is slashing a terrific .347/.377/.611 with a .988 OPS, five home runs, 22 RBI and 10 runs scored in his first 20 games. Naylor should remain rostered in all single-year fantasy leagues.

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Josh Naylor had a massive day at the plate in Monday's 12-9 extra-innings win over the White Sox. Naylor went 3-for-5 with a double, a ninth-inning grand slam, an 11th-inning three-run home run, eight RBI, a walk, and two strikeouts. The 24-year-old was quite the catalyst in this game and is now slashing .338/.370/.574 with four HR and 21 RBI through 73 plate appearances. Naylor has been hitting well and is worth keeping an eye on in deep leagues, but his 7.7-degree launch angle will make it tough to maintain his slugging percentage.

The Cleveland Guardians have recalled outfielder Josh Naylor (ankle) from the 10-day injured list on Friday. It remains to be seen if Naylor will be in the starting lineup for his season debut, especially against San Francisco Giants left-hander Carlos Rodon. Naylor missed most of last season due to a major ankle injury, but he should be making his 2022 debut shortly. He went 4-for-20 with two doubles, five RBI, four runs scored and five walks in six rehab games with Triple-A Columbus. The 24-year-old should see regular at-bats in right field against right-handed pitchers for Cleveland. With Naylor back, Oscar Mercado could find himself on the bench more often. Naylor hit .253 with seven home runs and 21 RBI in 69 games for the Guardians before fracturing his ankle last year.

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Josh Naylor (ankle) will open the season on the 10-day injured list. He is set to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Columbus. He is still in the midst of working his way back from a serious right ankle injury last summer. It sounds as if his rehab stint could be brief and that he could be called up to make his 2022 Guardians debut about a week or two into the season. For now, Steven Kwan will hold down the team's starting right field position and he is someone worth taking a flyer on in deep leagues and AL-only leagues. However, if Kwan struggles out of the gate, Naylor will have a good chance of earning the starting right field gig himself.