Texas Rangers starting pitcher Max Scherzer (back) made his first appearance of 2024 in Wednesday's minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Round Rock, surrendering three runs on five hits (two home runs) with four punchouts. The long ball plagued Scherzer a year ago as well, serving up 28 homers over 27 starts, so fantasy managers hope he's getting those issues out of his system before he rejoins the major-league roster. With Scherzer's target being an early-May return to Texas' rotation after offseason back surgery, he appears likely to make at least two more rehab starts before becoming available to fantasy managers. Even so, the 39-year-old future Hall of Famer has a chance to crush the late-round ADP he carried in the spring due to concerns he'd be out until midseason. Last season, Scherzer recorded a rock-solid 3.20 ERA (3.41 FIP), 0.95 WHIP, and 53:15 K:BB over 45 frames (eight starts) after joining the Rangers.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout went deep for the second time in as many days in Wednesday's 6-5 loss to the visiting Baltimore Orioles, homering to deep left in the sixth inning. Trout's solo shot got the Halos on the board, but their late comeback attempt fell just short. The 32-year-old perennial Silver Slugger is rewarding those who took the gamble on his discounted ADP during fantasy drafts, slashing a powerful .237/.321/.598 with an MLB-leading 10 big flies, 13 RBI, five stolen bases, and 16 runs scored in 97 at-bats (25 outings). If he stays healthy, Trout should have no problem returning early-round value the rest of the way no matter where he's placed in Anaheim's lineup. He'll get a day off before a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins begins on Friday, and Trout is batting .400 (8-for-20) with a homer, three doubles, six RBI, and six runs scored in six games versus the Twins since 2021.

New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu (foot), who was pulled from a minor-league rehab game early on Tuesday with Double-A Somerset, still has swelling in his injured right foot. He will be shut down from baseball activities for the next seven days and then be re-evaluated. LeMahieu was set to play fewer than five rehab games in the minors before being activated from the injured list for his 2024 debut with the Yankees, but that's not going to happen now. The 35-year-old veteran is struggling to return from a fractured right foot and will now need to rest some more before trying to restart his rehab assignment. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect to see LeMahieu now until around mid-May. Oswaldo Cabrera has benefitted from a regular role at third base in the Bronx as a result and was hitting .278 (20-for-72) with three homers, 14 RBI and 11 runs heading into Wednesday's contest.

San Diego Padres third baseman/designated hitter Manny Machado is expected to return to the lineup on Friday for the start of a three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies at Petco Park. Machado is currently on the paternity list while he and his wife expect the delivery of their first child, and manager Mike Shildt has confirmed the star infielder will not rejoin the club ahead of their series finale against the division-rival Colorado Rockies on Thursday. Before taking some time away, the 31-year-old six-time All-Star was slashing a modest .260/.324/.417 with four home runs, three doubles, 12 RBI, and 15 runs scored in 105 plate appearances (24 games). In 16 games versus the Phillies since 2021, Machado is hitting .267 (16-for-60) with six homers, 13 RBI, 11 runs scored, and one stolen base.

As long as New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez (back) comes out of his final minor-league rehab game with Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday without a setback, the team expects him to be their starting DH on Friday night against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals. Martinez signed with the Mets late in spring training but didn't join the big-league club for Opening Day because he needed to get his timing down first. A back issue has delayed his arrival to the big leagues in New York, but it sounds like his 2024 debut is right around the corner on Friday. Injuries are probably going to continue to be an issue, but if Martinez is available in your fantasy league, he's worth a pickup if you're in need of a power boost. The 36-year-old six-time All-Star hit .271/.321/.572 with an .893 OPS, 33 home runs and 103 RBI in 113 games with the Dodgers in 2023.

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander Bryse Wilson. The veteran homered as part of a two-hit effort on Tuesday but will give way to Connor Joe to leadoff and man left field on Wednesday. Interestingly, McCutchen's splits lean heavily towards righties so far this season as he's hitting .295 with all three of his homers coming off of southpaws while he is just 1-for-16 (.063) with three walks in 20 plate appearances against lefties. He is seeing semi-regular playing time this season, appearing in 16 of the team's 24 games but isn't doing a ton for fantasy managers with a .233 average and 30.9% K% on the young season.

The New York Yankees have announced that third baseman DJ LeMahieu (foot) left Tuesday's minor-league game with Double-A Somerset due to soreness in his right foot, and the infielder will return to New York for examination tomorrow. The Yankees' plan was for LeMahieu to make four rehab appearances before potentially being activated from the injured list on Sunday, but this development is likely to delay the veteran's 2024 regular-season debut a bit longer. LeMahieu is working his way back from a non-displaced fracture of his right foot that he sustained on March 16, and the severity of his setback should be revealed sometime in the coming days. Switch-hitting utility man Oswaldo Cabrera is batting .290 (20-for-69) with three home runs, 14 RBI, and 11 runs scored in 19 games this year, and he should continue manning the hot corner regularly until LeMahieu is finally ready to play.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Jason Heyward (back) isn't swinging a bat and is still dealing with "residual soreness," according to manager Dave Roberts. Heyward is still more than a week from starting a minor-league rehab assignment. The 34-year-old veteran left-handed hitter was put on the 10-day injured list all the way back on April 3 with back soreness, and he hasn't made much progress since. There remains no timetable for a return from the IL, but fantasy managers in deeper leagues should expect him to be out at least another few weeks. Outfielder Teoscar Hernandez has been shifted over to right field for the Dodgers with Heyward out, while rookie prospect Andy Pages has also been platooning in center field with James Outman.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout is in center field and hitting out of the leadoff spot on Tuesday versus the visiting Baltimore Orioles and right-hander Grayson Rodriguez. It's a notable development, as Trout will be hitting leadoff for the first time since August of 2020. Perhaps it will get the 32-year-old All-Star going, as he's hitting just .111 in his last seven games after a strong start to the season. This setup with Trout at the top of the batting order could continue until third baseman Anthony Rendon (hamstring) returns from a stint on the injured list. Trout's recent slump at the plate has dropped his season slash line to .236/.327/.562 with an .889 OPS, but he's still leading the league with eight home runs while driving in 11 and stealing five bases in 23 games. In six career at-bats against Rodriguez, Trout is hitting .333.

The Texas Rangers have signed starting pitcher Johnny Cueto to a minor-league contract on Tuesday. The 38-year-old lands a deal with the defending World Series champions after a rough year with the Miami Marlins. Cueto posted a 6.02 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and a 39/15 K/BB ratio over 52 1/3 innings with the Marlins last season. It's uncertain what Cueto still has left in the tank, but he'll at least be additional depth for the organization. Cueto has plenty of experience but is unlikely to offer any kind of fantasy value.

New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu (foot) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset on Tuesday. It sounds like the plan is for LeMahieu to play four games in the minors before possibly returning to the Yankees roster. The veteran slugger has been sidelined all season due to a fractured foot. The Yankees could certainly use LeMahieu's help given their current struggles at the plate. Fantasy managers should wait patiently as it sounds like LeMahieu should be back soon.

The Chicago Cubs placed pitchers Kyle Hendricks (back) and Drew Smyly (hip) on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday and recalled infielder Matt Mervis, right-hander Hayden Wesneski and left-hander Luke Little from Triple-A Iowa in corresponding moves. The 34-year-old Hendricks has been downright bad so far in 2024, posting a 12.00 ERA in his first five starts, but hopefully his back injury was mostly to blame. If left-hander Justin Steele (hamstring) is able to return from his IL stint before Hendricks does, which is likely, Hendricks could find himself out of a rotation spot when he's ready to return. With Hendricks out, Wesneski is a candidate to fill his rotation spot until Steele is able to return. Little will give the Cubs another left-handed arm out of the bullpen to replace Smyly.

San Francisco Giants right-hander Alex Cobb (hip, shoulder) was moved to the 60-day injured list on April 20, so he won't be eligible to return until May 27. Cobb was progressing well in his rehab from offseason hip surgery, but he hit another minor setback when he felt mild shoulder irritation before throwing a bullpen session on April 16. He "felt OK" when he resumed throwing but saw team orthopedist Dr. Ken Akizuki as a precaution on April 18, according to manager Bob Melvin. Cobb said the imaging on his shoulder came back clean, and he's currently throwing out to 75 feet on flat ground. The 36-year-old also had a "baby setback" when he was briefly shut down with a mild flexor strain in his right elbow. Cobb should have a rotation spot waiting for him when he's healthy, but he can stay on the waiver wire for now in most mixed leagues.

St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Matt Carpenter (oblique) received a platelet-rich injection on Monday for his strained right oblique, according to manager Oliver Marmol. The plan is for Carpenter to have three days of no activity followed by hitting coach thrown batting practice and then machine work before they look at getting him live at-bats. The 38-year-old veteran had three hits in 10 at-bats over three games at the beginning of the season before getting hurt and landing on the injured list. When healthy, Carpenter will strictly be a bench bat and a DH option for the Cards when they are facing right-handed pitching. In 76 games with the San Diego Padres in 2023, he slashed a miserable .176/.322/.319 with five home runs and 31 RBI.

The Kansas City Royals placed right-hander Jordan Lyles (personal) on the inactive list on Saturday, and the team is not disclosing the reason for his absence other than describing it as a "personal matter." There's no timeline for his return, but because of the type of inactive list Lyles was placed on, it opened a 40-man roster spot for the Royals to call up veteran right-handed reliever Tyler Duffey. Lyles has thrown five scoreless innings with three strikeouts in five appearances out of KC's bullpen during the 2024 regular season, but he hasn't pitched since April 12. With no defined role and most of his work coming in mop-up duty this year, however, the 33-year-old journeyman belongs on fantasy waiver wires while he's unavailable. There's no clear-cut fantasy beneficiary of his absence, either.

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Joey Votto (ankle) has started running more, but he's not hitting live pitching yet. There's no immediate plan for him to get into minor-league games, so until Votto resumes hitting, there's also no reason for fantasy managers to consider stashing the veteran on-base machine. After slashing .202/.314/.433 with 14 home runs and 38 RBI over 242 plate appearances (65 games) with the Cincinnati Reds a year ago, the 40-year-old former All-Star will be an option to serve as Toronto's designated hitter versus right-handed pitching when he's ultimately able to return from an ankle sprain and make his 2024 regular-season debut. Righty-mashing veteran Daniel Vogelbach will draw the occasional start as the DH, but he's only appeared in eight games for the Jays so far and isn't receiving enough at-bats to garner any fantasy interest right now.

New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez (back) will move his rehab to Triple-A Syracuse this week, and "it's possible" the team could activate him when they get home on Friday for the start of a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals, per manager Carlos Mendoza. After receiving a cortisone shot due to lower back tightness, Martinez returned to a minor-league rehab assignment on Sunday and is on track to make his 2024 regular-season debut in Queens in Week 4 of fantasy baseball. With the Mets struggling to find consistency in the heart of their batting order, the 36-year-old All-Star slugger figures to slot right in as the No. 5 hitter in the lineup immediately upon his move to New York's active roster. After slashing .271/.321/.572 with 33 home runs, 27 doubles, and 103 RBI across 432 at-bats (113 games) with the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, Martinez should be rostered for those in need of power numbers.

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado has been placed on the paternity list on Monday. The superstar infielder will be away from the team for one to three days due to personal matters. In a corresponding move, infielder Matthew Batten has been recalled from Triple-A El Paso. Batten will take over the active spot on the roster and figures to play in a few games until Machado returns. Eguy Rosario is starting at third base and is hitting seventh on Monday against the Colorado Rockies and left-hander Austin Gomber.

The Milwaukee Brewers placed left-hander Wade Miley (elbow) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to April 19) with left-elbow inflammation on Monday. In other moves, the team recalled right-hander Tobias Myers from Triple-A Nashville, reinstated first baseman Jake Bauers from the bereavement list, and optioned infielder Andruw Monasterio to Nashville. The 37-year-old Miley started the 2024 season on the injured list with a left-shoulder injury and he also missed time in 2023 with elbow and lat ailments. Miley is set to undergo tests on Tuesday and could be out for an extended amount of time. Myers is the most logical choice to fill in for Miley on Tuesday and start against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Miley already wasn't really an attractive option for fantasy managers in deep-mixed leagues before the injury.

The Philadelphia Phillies placed first baseman Bryce Harper on the paternity list on Monday before their series opener against the Cincinnati Reds. In a corresponding move, the team recalled infielder Kody Clemens from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Harper will miss between one and three games for the Phillies this week, which makes him tough to roll with in weekly fantasy leagues. The most likely scenario is that we see the 31-year-old former All-Star back in action for the series finale in Cincinnati on Thursday. The seven-time All-Star has started off the 2024 campaign by hitting .241/.330/.443 with four home runs, four doubles, 14 RBI, one stolen base and 10 runs scored in his first 21 games. Be prepared to be without him for the next couple of days.