The St. Louis Cardinals have recalled catcher Pedro Pages from Triple-A Memphis to work as the backup to Ivan Herrera after Willson Contreras was placed on the IL. Pages was penciled into the eighth spot in the lineup Wednesday night before the game was postponed due to rain. The game will be made up August 5, so we'll see who gets the start Thursday against the Brewers and RHP Tobias Myers. Pages offers little fantasy relevance at this point, although he's got some power as he hit 16 home runs in 2023 over 117 games at Double-A, and he posts solid BB% numbers which provide a solid OBP. The 25-year-old does have four major league plate appearances, however, whenever he does draw a start it will be his first in the big leagues.

The hope is that Colorado Rockies outfielder Nolan Jones (back) will start defensive practice and resuming hitting in the cage this weekend. As he prepares to ramp up his baseball activities, Jones will "more than likely" need a brief minor-league rehab assignment before returning from a strained lower back. Following a 2023 breakout campaign, the 26-year-old left-handed hitter was slashing an icy .170/.243/.277 with one home run, five doubles, seven RBI, and two stolen bases through 94 at-bats (26 games) as Colorado's primary left fielder but remains a recommended stash with a mid-May return still a possibility. Top prospect Jordan Beck should continue receiving the lion's share of the reps in left field until Jones is ready to return, but he's hitting an empty .125 (3-for-24) over seven outings during his first stint in the major leagues.

San Francisco Giants left-hander Blake Snell (groin) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Thursday and then start a minor-league rehab assignment with Single-A San Jose on Sunday, according to manager Bob Melvin. Snell started facing live hitters on Tuesday and is ready to take the next step by pitching in a minor-league game later this weekend. The 31-year-old is recovering from an adductor strain and figures to pitch in more than one rehab game after starting the year late given the timing of his signing with the Giants. In his first three starts with the Giants, Snell lost all three starts while allowing 15 earned runs on 18 hits (two home runs) while walking five and striking out 12 in 11 2/3 innings. It's not the start his fantasy managers were hoping for, but Snell is also a notoriously slow starter and needs to be rostered in all leagues for his high-strikeout upside.

The San Francisco Giants placed outfielder Jorge Soler (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a right-shoulder strain and recalled outfielder Heliot Ramos from Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move. Soler missed the team's last three games with his shoulder injury and will now be forced to miss at least another week. The 32-year-old right-handed slugger boasts elite power but has gone just 24-for-119 (.202) with five home runs, eight RBI and 14 runs scored in his first 34 games in San Francisco. Ramos, 24, is serving as the designated hitter on Wednesday night and is hitting seventh in the batting order. He has yet to make an impact at the big-league level for the Giants but was swinging a hot bat in the minors and will be worth a look off the waiver wire in NL-only leagues now that he could see some playing time over the next week for the Gigantes.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez was a one-man wrecking crew during Wednesday's game against the Miami Marlins. Hernandez went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in the win. He opened the first frame with an RBI single and blasted a two-run homer in the sixth inning. It was the only three runs the Dodgers scored in this game but it was enough to win them the contest. Hernandez has 10 home runs this season and has four long balls over his last six games.

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Daniel Hudson was called upon to close out Wednesday's game against the Miami Marlins. The right-hander tossed on scoreless inning on only 12 pitches to record his second save of the season. Hudson blew a save on Friday but redeemed himself during this outing. The expectation is that the Dodgers are planning to use closer-by-committee until Evan Phillips (hamstring) is able to return. Blake Treinen and Alex Vesia should also be in the mix alongside Hudson.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Gavin Stone made easy work of the Miami Marlins lineup on Wednesday. The right-hander threw seven strong innings while allowing only one run in the win. Stone gave up a solo blast to Bryan De La Cruz in the fourth inning, but he was excellent outside of that. The 25-year-old holds a 3.55 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 27/13 K/BB ratio across 38 innings this season. He'll get a tougher matchup versus the San Francisco Giants during his next start.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease was impressive on the mound during Wednesday's game against the Chicago Cubs. The 28-year-old struck out a season-high 12 batters over seven shutout innings during the win. Cease only allowed one hit and a pair of walks during Wednesday's outing. He holds a 2.19 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 60/16 K/BB ratio across 49 1/3 innings this season. He'll get a favorable matchup against the Colorado Rockies during his next start.

Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker said that catcher Sean Murphy (oblique) has advanced to hitting in the batting cages after hitting off a tee twice last week. Murphy is inching closer to a return from the Grade 1 left-oblique strain that he suffered in the season opener. The 29-year-old is going to need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before he returns to the Braves, too, so fantasy baseball managers are going to need to wait a little longer before they get the catcher back. The former third-round pick of the Oakland Athletics in 2016 out of Wright State was a first-time All-Star in 2023 in his first season with the Braves and should remain stashed in all fantasy leagues as one of the better offensive catchers in baseball when healthy. Veteran Travis d'Arnaud will continue to serve as the team's starter behind the plate until Murphy returns.

Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell said that a new fracture was revealed in first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand's right hand, and he'll miss a month to six weeks as he heals. Encarnacion-Strand was hit by a pitch on his right hand at the end of April, but initial tests didn't reveal the fracture. Not only is the 24-year-old now out for the foreseeable future, but he has started the 2024 season ice-cold at the plate, slashing just .190/.220/.293 with two home runs and 16 RBI in 116 at-bats. Despite the disappointing start to his sophomore season, CES should stay rostered in the majority of mixed fantasy leagues. Jeimer Candelario should slide over to first base the majority of time Encarnacion-Strand is out, allowing Santiago Espinal to see more playing time at third base.

The Miami Marlins reinstated left-hander Braxton Garrett (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list on Wednesday and placed right-hander Edward Cabrera (shoulder) on the 15-day IL in a corresponding move with a right-shoulder impingement. Garrett, who hasn't pitch in the big leagues yet in 2024, is expected to make his first start of the year on Sunday against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. The 26-year-old has returned from a shoulder impingement of his own. Even though Sunday's matchup against the Phils isn't the best he could have for his first start back, Garrett is worth rostering in most mixed leagues now that he's healthy. Garrett looked good on his minor-league rehab assignment and went 9-7 last year with a 3.66 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with a career-high 156 K's in 159 2/3 innings over 31 outings (30 starts).

The Miami Marlins placed right-hander Edward Cabrera (shoulder) on the injured list on Wednesday with a right-shoulder impingement. Cabrera was pulled from his outing early on Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers after allowing a grand slam in just two innings of work, and now he'll be forced to miss at least several weeks. It's the second time he's gone on the IL in the last three months, and walks have also continued to be a major issue for the 26-year-old. In his five starts this year, Cabrera has a rough 7.17 ERA (4.18 FIP) and 1.59 WHIP with 14 walks and 31 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings pitched. The strikeout upside is evident, but until Cabrera can stay healthy and show a better command of his pitches, fantasy managers in mixed leagues should look for better options. The good news for the Marlins is that left-hander Braxton Garrett (shoulder) has been activated and is ready to make his 2024 debut.

The Cincinnati Reds placed infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand (hand) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a right ulnar styloid fracture and signed infielder Mike Ford to a one-year major-league contract in a corresponding move. Left-hander Brandon Williamson (shoulder) was also moved to the 60-day injured list. Encarnacion-Strand fractured his right hand when he was hit by a pitch late last month and missed four games as a result. With the 24-year-old out for at least the next 10 days, Ford and Jeimer Candelario should be options to fill in at first base for the Reds moving forward. Candelario is getting the start at the cold corner on Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, with Santiago Espinal at third base. In addition to his injury, it's been a bad start for CES, as he's hitting just .190 (22-for-116) with two homers and 16 RBI.

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (illness) is back behind the plate and is batting seventh on Wednesday against the Cincinnati Reds and right-hander Graham Ashcraft. Moreno had the day off on Sunday against the San Diego Padres and also sat out the series opener on Tuesday against the Reds while being under the weather, but the 24-year-old backstop is feeling good enough to play on Wednesday. Moreno has yet to clear the fences so far in 2024 and is currently hitting .241/.340/.322 with five doubles, one triple, 14 RBI and nine runs scored in 100 plate appearances over 29 games played. He has gone hitless in just two career at-bats against Ashcraft.

Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (knee) "tweaked something in his right knee (and) has been bugging him a little bit," according to manager Craig Counsell, which is why Swanson is out of the starting lineup for Wednesday's series finale against the visiting San Diego Padres. Counsell said Swanson hurt his knee on a slide in the game on April 25 against the Houston Astros. With a scheduled off day on Thursday, the Cubs are hoping to get Swanson back for the series opener on Friday in Pittsburgh against the Pirates. Check back to see if the 30-year-old Swanson is back in there on Friday. With him resting on Wednesday, Nico Hoerner is starting at the 6 and batting leadoff, while Miles Mastrobuoni will play second and hit seventh against Padres right-hander Dylan Cease.

The Milwaukee Brewers activated outfielder Christian Yelich (back) from the 10-day injured list on Wednesday and he's right back into the starting lineup against Kansas City Royals right-hander Brady Singer, serving as the designated hitter and batting third. Yelich will return to Milwaukee after landing on the injured list on April 16 with a lower-back strain. The 32-year-old veteran left-handed swinger didn't go on a minor-league rehab assignment, so it will be interesting to see how he performs jumping right back into the action. Fantasy baseball managers are hoping he picks up right where he left off, as Yelich will return to a .333/.422/.744 slash line with a 1.166 OPS, five home runs, 11 RBI, two steals and seven runs scored in his first 39 at-bats. Get him back into your fantasy lineups in all single-year formats.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Emmet Sheehan (forearm) hasn't thrown off a mound yet, but he's progressing well and has been ramping up the intensity of his long-toss program. Sheehan has been throwing after being shut down in the middle of April due to a right-forearm injury that he suffered in mid-March in spring training. The 24-year-old will be eligible to return from the 60-day injured list on May 18, but that's probably not going to happen given the fact that he has yet to pitch all season to this point. But if Sheehan can avoid any setbacks from here on out, he should be able to rejoin the Dodgers' big-league roster before the All-Star break. He debuted in the majors in 2023 and went 4-1 with a 4.92 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 26 walks and 64 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings over 13 appearances (11 starts).

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Bobby Miller (shoulder) threw a bullpen session on Monday. "Velocity was good. He'll throw another one. ... From everything I've seen (a rehab assignment) is coming pretty quickly, which is really encouraging," manager Dave Roberts said. This was Miller's second bullpen session since he was placed on the injured list on April 13 due to right-shoulder inflammation. The 25-year-old is going to need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment soon, but it's unclear if he'll need to make more than one start on the farm before rejoining the Dodgers' starting rotation. Despite posting a 5.40 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 11 2/3 innings in his first three starts in 2024 before getting hurt, Miller needs to be rostered in all fantasy formats for his high-end strikeout upside with the best offense in baseball backing him each time out.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Jason Heyward (back) did more hitting/baserunning on Tuesday and will take live batting practice in San Diego this weekend. Heyward is getting closer to a minor-league rehab assignment, which could last between two and five games, according to manager Dave Roberts. The 34-year-old left-handed hitter also took batting practice on the field before last Saturday's game against the Atlanta Braves and finally appears to be putting his back injury in the rearview mirror after originally landing on the injured list way back on April 3. Given how good rookie outfielder Andy Pages has looked since debuting in the big leagues, Heyward may struggle for regular playing time in LA's outfield when he returns from the injured list.

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) threw his second bullpen session on Tuesday. Manager Dave Roberts said the session consisted of 20 pitches (all four-seam fastballs), and that Kershaw's left shoulder continues to feel good. His next steps will be ramping up in bullpens and mixing in breaking pitches. The skipper said it's all been "really encouraging" so far. The 36-year-old future Hall of Famer is recovering from left-shoulder surgery last November and is slowly ramping up as he attempts to return to LA's starting rotation after the All-Star break. Kershaw has been injury-prone in recent years, but when he's been healthy, he's been fantasy relevant with the best offense in baseball backing him.