Chicago White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez is back as the designated hitter and is batting third on Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals and right-hander Brady Singer, while first baseman Andrew Vaughn is getting the day off. Jimenez was activated from the injured list on Monday but wasn't in the starting lineup before getting a pinch-hit appearance later in the game. The White Sox are going to ease him back into the fold, but he could see more appearances in the outfield after starting there only 14 of 118 times in 2023. Vaughn has gone 1-for-16 in the last four games and 10-for-58 with no homers and three RBI to begin the year, so he's deserving of a rest. Gavin Sheets is at first base and is batting cleanup on Tuesday.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (shoulder) is set to make his return from the injured list. The veteran right-hander will make his season debut either Friday or Saturday versus the Washington Nationals. The 41-year-old has been brought along slowly while he recovers from a shoulder injury. He's finally ready to return after having no issues during a recent bullpen outing. It's uncertain if the Astros will have Verlander on a pitch count or limited in some capacity. Regardless, fantasy managers in season-long formats can get him back in their lineups this weekend.

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (groin) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Chicago White Sox. The veteran catcher has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 left groin strain. Despite that, Perez hasn't been placed on the injured list and is considered as day-to-day. It wouldn't be shocking to see Perez miss a few more games while he recovers from this issue. Freddy Fermin will cover behind the plate and bat eighth during Tuesday's game.

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Jeimer Candelario (illness) has been scratched from the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Seattle Mariners. Hopefully, this is a minor issue and will only force Candelario to miss one game. In the meantime, Santiago Espinal will cover third base and bat eighth on Tuesday night. Fantasy managers should make sure to adjust their lineups ahead of Tuesday's contest. Espinal is a good contact hitter, but isn't worth streaming in most fantasy formats.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are going with a bullpen game against the visiting Washington Nationals on Tuesday. Left-hander Ryan Yarbrough will pitch in "bulk" but won't necessarily make the traditional start. Pitching prospect Kyle Hurt, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the team's No. 6 prospect, will also be added on Tuesday for more depth out of the bullpen. LA will call up a starter, potentially prospect Landon Knack, for Wednesday's contest. The Dodgers' rotation is a little short-handed right now with right-hander Bobby Miller (shoulder) on the injured list and Walker Buehler (elbow) still not quite ready to make his 2024 debut. The 32-year-old Yarbrough is the best bet to provide the most length for the Dodgers on Tuesday, and he's allowed six runs (five earned) while walking four and striking out six in 14 2/3 innings of relief so far in 2024.

Chicago White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said there was no recovery related reason for outfielder Eloy Jimenez not starting on Monday against the Kansas City Royals after he was activated from the injured list. Grifol said they are getting their cleanup hitter back but are also easing him back in after his groin injury. The 27-year-old could play some outfield again now that he's back, but Gavin Sheets will probably play the outfielder sooner. Jimenez had yet to play the outfield before his injury and started only 14 times in the outfield a year ago. It would be nice if Jimenez played enough outfield in 2024 to gain eligibility there for fantasy managers, but that's no guarantee. As long as Luis Robert Jr. (hip) remains sidelined, both Jimenez and Sheets should be lineup regulars for the Pale Hose.

Toronto Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen (wrist), who was activated from the injured list on Monday, is expected to make his 2024 debut on Tuesday against the New York Yankees and left-hander Carlos Rodon. Jansen suffered a fractured right wrist when he was hit by a pitch in a spring training game on March 13. He'll wear special padding to protect his hands because he's been prone to hand injuries due to the way he swings. The return of Jansen will mean fewer rest days for catcher Alejandro Kirk moving forward. Jansen hit .228 last year but with 17 home runs and 53 RBI for the Blue Jays. If he can stay healthy the rest of the way, he can provide some nice pop at the catcher position for fantasy managers. Jansen has never faced Rodon in his career.

Jon Heyman of the MLB Network is reporting that infielder Tony Kemp has agreed to a minor-league deal with the Minnesota Twins. The veteran spent Opening Day with the Baltimore Orioles, but was recently let go in favor of top prospect Jackson Holliday. In his brief time with the Orioles, Kemp was hitless in nine at-bats. The veteran should provide solid depth for a Twins team that has lost infielders Royce Lewis (quadriceps) and Carlos Correa (side) to injuries early on in the season, but can be avoided in fantasy leagues.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray posted another strong outing on Monday versus his former team, the Oakland Athletics. Gray went six scoreless innings and allowed four hits with no walks and six strikeouts. Gray missed the beginning of the season with a hamstring injury, but he has not missed a beat in his two starts this season with 11 scoreless innings, no walks and 11 strikeouts. Gray will eventually walk a batter this season, but managers could not have asked for a better start to the season then what Gray has given them. Moving forward, Gray is lined up to face the division rival Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos turned in another disappointing game at the plate in Monday's 2-1 extra-innings win over the Rockies. Castellanos went 0-for-4 with a strikeout batting sixth. The 32-year-old has gotten off to a very slow start offensively, slashing just .177/.250/.177 with no home runs and five RBI in 68 plate appearances. However, fantasy managers should give him a bit of a leash given his career track record and strong 2023 season.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout continued his power run in Monday's 7-3 win over the Rays. Trout went 2-for-5 with a single and a two-run home run. The 32-year-old has been every bit as good as fantasy managers were hoping for, slashing .290/.362/.710 with seven HR, 10 RBI, and two stolen bases in 69 plate appearances. It isn't surprising to see such great production from Trout, but it is encouraging nonetheless.

Oakland Athletics infielder J.D. Davis (groin) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Monday, and outfielder Esteury Ruiz was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. Davis exited Sunday's 7-6 win over the Washington Nationals due to a strained right groin, and he'll need to spend some time on the shelf. The 30-year-old was operating as Oakland's primary third baseman, but he's batting just .196 (10-for-51) with two solo home runs over 14 games this year. The speedy Ruiz is available off the bench for the A's on Monday and could eventually reclaim his spot as the club's everyday center fielder after a spell in the minor leagues. The 25-year-old contact hitter slashed .326/.423/.581 with three homers, eight RBI, and seven stolen bases across 51 plate appearances in the minors, and he led the American League with 67 swipes a year ago. Ruiz should be added in fantasy for steals where available.

The plan is for Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (knee) to run the bases at Target Field on Tuesday or Wednesday, and a rehab assignment could come shortly thereafter. Kepler was placed on the injured list last Tuesday with a right knee contusion he sustained on Opening Day, as he was still experiencing soreness after trying to play through the issue following a few days of rest. If all goes well in his recovery, the 31-year-old righty masher should be able to return to the banged-up Twins before the end of April. Not only did Kepler struggle during the spring, but he also went just 1-for-20 to begin the regular season before going down and doesn't need to be stashed in most fantasy leagues. More at-bats will remain available to Matt Wallner, Manuel Margot, and Austin Martin in Minnesota's outfield in the interim, but none of which are worth rostering in the majority of settings at this time.

Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session on Tuesday, and if all goes well, he will return to the team's starting rotation this weekend to face the Washington Nationals in his 2024 debut, according to manager Joe Espada. Verlander said he feels ready despite giving up five earned runs on seven hits while walking a batter in four innings (77 pitches) in a minor-league rehab start for Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday. The Astros could really use the 41-year-old three-time Cy Young winner back in their banged-up rotation, and a start this weekend against the Nats would be a plus matchup for fantasy managers in Verlander's first start of the year. Don't expect ace-like numbers from Verlander at his age, but he still has the potential to be a strong No. 3 if he can stay healthy.

An MRI exam on Monday morning revealed that Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (groin) has a Grade 1 groin strain. Perez said he's pain-free and just has a little tightness/pinch after getting hurt on Sunday against the New York Mets. The veteran backstop was held out of the lineup on Monday versus the Chicago White Sox but is hoping to return to action on Tuesday. He went straight to manager Matt Quatraro's office on Monday and lobbied to play, but Freddy Fermin is doing the catching and is batting eighth against White Sox rookie righty Nick Nastrini. The 33-year-old Perez shouldn't need a trip to the injured list, and fantasy managers should check back on Tuesday to see if he's back in the starting lineup. Perez is off to a great start in 2024, batting .339 (21-for-62) with four home runs, two doubles and 15 RBI in just 16 games.

The Chicago White Sox activated outfielder/designated hitter Eloy Jimenez (groin) from the 10-day injured list on Monday. Jimenez was taking balls in right field before Monday's contest against the visiting Kansas City Royals but is not in the starting lineup. In a corresponding move, the team optioned infielder Zach Remillard to Triple-A Charlotte. Jimenez hasn't played since suffering a left-groin strain on March 31, so the White Sox have chosen to have him start his first game back on the bench. With Luis Robert Jr. (hip) and Yoan Moncada (groin) out for extended time, Jimenez should play regularly now that he's back from the IL, which will make it more difficult for Gavin Sheets to see regular at-bats moving forward. The oft-injured Jimenez has played in 100-plus games in just two of his previous five MLB seasons.

New York Yankees outfielder/designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton will start on the bench on Monday versus the Toronto Blue Jays. With Stanton starting on the pine, outfielder Aaron Judge is serving as the designated hitter and batting third, while Trent Grisham gets the start in center field and will hit ninth against Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassett. Judge has hit .222 in nine career at-bats against Bassitt, while Grisham has hit .167 in just six career at-bats against Bassitt. The biggest takeaway for Stanton after the first 13 games of the 2024 season is that he's managed to stay healthy so far. In his 55 plate appearances to begin the year, he's gone 13-for-52 (.250) with four home runs, nine RBI and seven runs scored. As long as he stays healthy, Stanton can always provide elite power numbers in a strong Yankees lineup.

Houston Astros pitchers Luis Garcia (elbow), Lance McCullers Jr. (elbow), Jose Urquidy (forearm) and Penn Murfee (elbow) all played catch at Minute Maid Park on Monday. Left-hander Framber Valdez (elbow) is scheduled to play catch Tuesday. Garcia, McCullers and Murfee are all currently on the 60-day injured list. Garcia is recovering from Tommy John surgery last May and isn't expected to be an option for the 'Stros until around midseason at least. McCullers, 30, is expected to be out until late June or early July as he recovers from right-elbow surgery. After missing a huge chunk of last season, the 28-year-old Urquidy has now been out almost a month with a right-forearm strain. Barring a setback, he should be the first of this group to return for Houston's rotation.

Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman (illness) is back at third base and is hitting cleanup for the Astros on Monday against the visiting Atlanta Braves and right-hander Darius Vines after missing the last three games with an illness. Fantasy managers will want to get Bregman back in their lineups for the week. The 30-year-old will look to get things rolling at the plate after a slow start to the season. The two-time All-Star is currently slashing .241/.305/.333 with no home runs, two RBI, a stolen base, two runs scored and nine strikeouts in 59 plate appearances over his first 14 games played. This will be the first time that Bregman has faced Vines in the big leagues.

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (groin, hip) is not in the starting lineup on Monday against the Chicago White Sox on the road. It shouldn't come as a huge surprise that Perez isn't in there after he was pulled early from Sunday's game New York Mets with left groin and hip injuries. Catcher Logan Porter is currently on the team's taxi squad to begin the week just in case the 33-year-old Perez's injury ends up costing him more than just a few days. Freddy Fermin would be the team's primary backstop if Perez is forced to the injured list. Fermin is behind the plate and is batting eighth on Monday against White Sox rookie right-hander Nick Nastrini, who is making his big-league debut. Fermin has just five hits in his first 26 at-bats in 2024 for a .192 batting average and one RBI.