New York Yankees relief pitcher Nick Burdi (elbow) has been placed on the 15-day injured list on Friday. This is a tough blow to the Yankees bullpen that is already dealing with injuries. Burdi was pitching well as he hasn't allowed a run through 6 1/3 innings this season. The Yankees are hopeful that it'll be a minimal stint on the injured list for Burdi. In a corresponding move, right-hander Cody Morris has been recalled from Triple-A to take the spot on the active roster.

Washington Nationals first baseman/outfielder Joey Gallo and third baseman Nick Senzel are both out of the starting lineup on Friday against the visiting Houston Astros. Joey Meneses is playing first base and batting sixth, while Ildemaro Vargas is at third base and hitting ninth against Astros right-hander Justin Verlander, who is making his 2024 debut after dealing with a right-shoulder injury this spring. Gallo started each of the team's previous 14 games and could use a break after hitting just .170 with three home runs to begin the year. Senzel began the year on the injured list and has gone 2-for-11 with a walk and three strikeouts in his first three games of the year. Meneses and Vargas have gone hitless against Verlander in their careers in just five combined at-bats.

San Francisco Giants right-hander Alex Cobb (shoulder, elbow, hip) said after the game on Thursday night that he had an MRI exam come back clean and that he will throw on flat ground on Friday. The news comes after it was reported earlier on Thursday that Cobb developed "mild shoulder inflammation" in his right arm two days after his latest bullpen session. The 36-year-old veteran has now dealt with elbow and shoulder issues while initially rehabbing from offseason hip surgery. It's good news that his shoulder injury isn't anything serious, but he's going to need at least several weeks to ramp his arm back up before he becomes a realistic option for the Giants' starting rotation in 2024. Injury issues aside, there's not a ton of fantasy upside with Cobb at this point in his career.

Texas Rangers relief pitcher Kirby Yates closed out the Detroit Tigers on Thursday in a 9-7 win. Yates got the final four outs of this one, allowing just a hit while striking out one. It was the 37-year-old's second save of the season, with his first coming on Monday. He has been used as Texas' highest-leverage pitcher for the past few weeks and is likely to continue in that role, which will presumably give him the best chance at saves in the Rangers bullpen. He should be added in any leagues where saves matter.

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Blake Snell could be poised to kick-start his 2024 season when he takes the hill in Friday's start versus the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks. After a long stay in free agency this past offseason, Snell's Giants tenure is off to a rocky start with a 12.86 ERA and 1.85 WHIP while striking out nine hitters and walking four in seven innings (two starts). The 31-year-old reigning National League Cy Young Award winner has plenty of experience dealing with Arizona from his time in the NL West with the San Diego Padres, however, and Snell is 4-1 with a pristine 1.27 ERA and 61:14 K:BB over 42 2/3 frames (seven starts) versus the D-backs dating back to 2021. With the club's current roster batting a career .135 (14-for-104) versus Snell, the hard-throwing left-hander looks like a great fantasy play in both season-long and DFS formats on Friday's full slate.

The San Francisco Giants announced on Thursday that starting pitcher Alex Cobb (hip, shoulder) is now dealing with mild shoulder irritation amid his recovery from offseason surgery on his left hip. Cobb says his arm is just still a little "cranky" as he ramps back up, but he doesn't believe his timetable has changed much. It's still yet another minor setback for Cobb, who just resumed throwing on Monday following a brief shutdown due to a mild flexor strain in his right elbow. The 36-year-old right-hander was an All-Star in 2023 and should still be able to return at some point in the month of May. Until Cobb is ready to re-enter San Fran's rotation, swingman Jordan Hicks should remain locked in as a starter for the Giants. Hicks features a 1.57 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 18:6 K:BB through 23 innings (four starts) and is a must-roster fantasy player ahead of Sunday's scheduled start versus the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (knee) will start his minor-league rehab start with Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday. Kepler landed on the injured list with a right-knee contusion but was able to run the bases this week and will now start playing in minor-league games to end the week. Barring a setback with St. Paul, the 31-year-old left-handed outfielder could be able to return from the IL by early next week. When healthy, Kepler should play regularly against right-handed pitchers despite getting just one hit in his first 20 at-bats of the season. Until Kepler is able to return, the likes of Alex Kirilloff, Trevor Larnach and Manuel Margot will battle for extra playing in right field for the Twins.

Chicago White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada (groin) is feeling better and is heading to extended spring training in Arizona to continue his full rehab process. Moncada landed on the 60-day injured list with a left-groin strain, so he's most likely not going to return for the White Sox or fantasy managers until after the All-Star break. It's getting hard to justify holding onto the oft-injured 28-year-old third baseman in mixed fantasy leagues, even though he started the year hitting .282 (11-for-39) with no home runs and no RBI in his first 11 games before getting hurt. Braden Shewmake got the start at the hot corner on Wednesday in the first game of a doubleheader against the Kansas City Royals, but Gavin Sheets is also an option at the position when he's not serving as the designated hitter.

The San Diego Padres placed right-hander Yu Darvish (neck) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to April 15) with neck tightness on Wednesday and recalled right-hander Logan Gillaspie from Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding move. It's unclear as of now if Darvish has a realistic chance to return from the IL when he's eligible on April 30, but the 37-year-old will miss at least the next couple of weeks. San Diego's starting pitching depth will be tested in the season's first month, and it's not clear yet who the main candidates are to take Darvish's spot. In his first five starts of 2024, Darvish had posted a 4.18 ERA (3.88 FIP) and 1.27 WHIP with 10 walks and 22 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings pitched. Keep the five-time All-Star stashed in an IL spot for now in fantasy leagues.

The Baltimore Orioles selected the contract of right-hander Albert Suarez from Triple-A Norfolk, and he will make the start on Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins in the series finale. This will be Suarez's first big-league appearance since back in 2017 when he threw 31 2/3 innings of relief for the San Francisco Giants. The 34-year-old veteran should be avoided in fantasy formats as a streaming option after posting a 5.87 ERA and 1.32 WHIP with one walk and 17 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings over his three outings (one start) for Norfolk before getting the call up to the Show on Wednesday. The O's are currently short-handed in their starting rotation with Tyler Wells (elbow) hitting the injured list on Tuesday, but this will likely be just one spot start for Suarez before he's sent back to the minors.

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Alex Cobb (hip, elbow), who was briefly shut down recently with a mild flexor strain in his right elbow, has been cleared to resume throwing and tossed a bullpen session in Arizona on Tuesday. Other than that hiccup, Cobb is progressing well and believes he's ahead of schedule in his rehab from offseason surgery on his left hip. The 36-year-old right-hander was an All-Star in 2023 for the first time in his career, and despite running into trouble with the long ball in the second half, he still managed to compile a solid 3.87 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 131:37 K:BB across 151 1/3 innings (28 starts). Cobb could re-enter San Fran's rotation at some time during May, and he's a decent stash in most fantasy leagues. With Robbie Ray (elbow) also on the shelf, Jordan Hicks and Keaton Winn should continue to function as starters for the Giants for the time being.

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.

Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim will get a routine day off on Tuesday versus the Detroit Tigers. With the Rangers playing last night, Heim will get the afternoon to rest his knees. Heim has been off to a nice start this season with a .271 batting average to go along with two homers and 11 RBI as part of a strong Texas Rangers lineup. In place of Heim on Tuesday with be backup catcher Andrew Knizner. Knizner is hitless in 11 at-bats this season and can be avoided against Casey Mize and the Tigers. Heim should return to the lineup on Wednesday.

Houston Astros closer Josh Hader turned in a poor outing in a non-save situation in Monday's 6-1 loss to the Braves. Hader came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning down 2-1. He allowed a leadoff walk, allowed the runner to advance on a wild pitch, gave up four consecutive singles scoring two, got an out on a strikeout, and was replaced by Brandon Bielak. The 30-year-old lefty signed a hefty five-year, $95 million deal this off-season. However, he is 0-2 and has converted one of two save opportunities with a bloated 9.39 ERA in 7 2/3 innings pitched. The season is early and Hader has been historically excellent, so fantasy managers should not worry just yet.

Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that the team will still keep things open in the closer role, but with the way right-hander Kirby Yates is throwing the ball right now, "we kind of like where it's at." In the 1-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Monday, Yates tossed a perfect inning with no hits allowed, no walks and no strikeouts to pick up his first save of the season. The 37-year-old veteran hasn't allowed a run yet in 2024 in six relief appearances while walking one and striking out five in six innings of work. Meanwhile, Jose Leclerc has surrendered eight earned runs on seven hits (one homer) while walking seven and fanning six in six innings. Nothing is official yet, but fantasy managers that are chasing saves should run to the waiver wire to pick up Yates right away.

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.

Oakland Athletics third baseman J.D. Davis (groin) is being considered day-to-day after suffering a right-groin strain in Sunday's win over the Washington Nationals. Davis felt tightness in his groin area in his at-bat in the fourth inning that may have been the result of an impressive catch he made on a fly ball that was hit in the top of the fourth inning. He will undergo an MRI exam on Monday, so fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if Davis isn't in the lineup for the start of a series against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals on Monday. Tyler Nevin replaced Davis at third base on Sunday and would likely make the start on Monday if Davis is held out. Abraham Toro and Darell Hernaiz are other options for the hot corner if Davis' injury lingers and he's forced to the injured list.

Oakland Athletics third baseman J.D. Davis (groin) was forced to exit early during Sunday's game against the Washington Nationals. Davis was replaced after a few at-bats due to a right groin strain. The severity of the injury is unknown, but it wouldn't be shocking to see Davis miss some time. If he does, Tyler Nevin figures to see more playing time at the corner infield spots. Davis wasn't offering much fantasy value anyway, so his absence probably won't be a significant loss for many.

Miami Marlins shortstop Tim Anderson (illness) is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Braves. It will be the third straight missed game for Anderson, although he is still considered day-to-day. In his absence, Vidal Brujan will get another start and bat eighth for the Marlins. The 26-year-old is just 1-for-18 at the plate this season and can be avoided in all formats while Anderson is shelved.