Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Daniel Hudson is expected to see a larger role in the bullpen going forward. The team was forced to place closer Evan Phillips (hamstring) on the injured list prior to Sunday's game. He's expected to miss at least two weeks of action, which should open up a role for Hudson in high leverage spots. Blake Treinen is also an option for the ninth inning, so possibly they split up the role. Fantasy managers might have to wait and see what Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts does with his bullpen.

New York Yankees closer Clay Holmes earned his 11th save Saturday afternoon in a 5-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers. Holmes got four outs, two via strikeout, and remained unscored upon in 2024. Holmes also has a win to go along with his 0.00 ERA and 0.92 WHIP and 18 strikeouts in 16 innings. The save ties him for the MLB lead with the St. Louis Cardinals' Ryan Helsley. Continue to deploy Holmes in all leagues that have a saves category, even if you do not get the high volume of strikeouts you may like in a closer.

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Hector Neris earned his sixth save of the season in a 6-5 win against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday afternoon. Neris gave up two hits and an earned run with a walk and a strikeout to notch the save in the ninth inning. Neris has taken over the closer role for the ineffective Adbert Alzolay. Despite some shaky peripherals, including a 20.8 walk rate and an xERA of 7.15, Neris continues to get the job done for the Cubs. He should remain in the role for the foreseeable future.

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Paul Sewald (oblique) is expected to be activated from the injured list ahead of Tuesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. The 33-year-old has been sidelined since late March due to a left oblique strain. Luckily, it sounds like Sewald is finally ready to contribute to the D-Backs bullpen. That being said, Kevin Ginkel should only hold onto the closer role through the weekend before Sewald returns.

Updating a previous report, Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (hamstring) will come off the injured list and start on Monday at Wrigley Field against the visiting San Diego Padres, assuming his bullpen session on Saturday goes well. Steele made just one minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday and gave up three runs on six hits in just 3 1/3 innings while throwing 63 pitches, so the 28-year-old southpaw will almost certainly be on a lowered pitch count in his return on Monday. Steele isn't dealing with an arm injury, but he'll be a pretty risky fantasy starter on Monday against the Friars regardless. Monday's start will be his first since he injured his hamstring on Opening Day on March 28.

Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (hamstring) is slated to throw a bullpen session on Saturday in Chicago and will be re-evaluated from there. Manager Craig Counsell said that Steele had a successful minor-league rehab outing for Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday despite giving up three runs on six hits in just 3 1/3 innings pitched. He appears to be progressing well, and there's a chance he's activated from the injured list if everything goes well with his bullpen session this weekend. However, the fact that the 28-year-old southpaw didn't even go four full innings in his last rehab start would suggest that he'll need to make at least one more start in the minors before returning to Chicago's rotation. Regardless, Steele needs to be rostered in all fantasy leagues after breaking out in 2023.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have sent pitcher Blake Walston back down to Triple-A Reno. Walston made his debut on Monday versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. Walston went 3 2/3 out of the bullpen for the Diamondbacks and was wild with four walks and two runs allowed. Walston's trip was brief, but it is likely that he will be back with the Diamondbacks when they need more pitching depth or an injury occurs. Replacing Walston on the active roster will be pitcher Matt Bowman. Bowman was acquired from the Minnesota Twins for cash considerations on Thursday. Both Walston and Bowman can remain on the waiver wire in all formats.

Colorado Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer in a 5-4 loss to the Miami Marlins on Thursday. Stallings kicked off the scoring for the Rockies with a three-run blast off Edwin Cabrera in the second inning, but it wasn't enough for the Rockies as they fell to Miami in extra innings. Stallings has been swinging a hot bat as the backup catcher in Colorado as he's batting .345 with one homer, four runs, and five RBI across 29 at-bats. That being said, he will need to see more consistent playing time to work his way into the conversation as a fantasy option.

The Colorado Rockies are expected to place right-handed reliever Justin Lawrence on the paternity list and to summon right-hander Angel Chivilli from Double-A Hartford for their upcoming series in Pittsburgh against the Pirates. Lawrence is technically the Rockies' closer with two saves on the year, but he's also sporting an ugly 7.20 ERA (2.94 FIP) and 1.80 WHIP with five walks and 10 strikeouts in his 10 innings in 11 appearances out of the 'pen for the lowly Rockies. The 29-year-old is only worth rostering for fantasy managers that are desperate for saves, but Lawrence isn't going to see a ton of chances if the Rockies continue playing like they have been. If a save situation arises this weekend in Pittsburgh with Lawrence away, it will likely go to Jake Bird.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (shoulder) will shift to the 60-day injured list to free up a 40-man roster spot for incoming right-hander Matt Bowman from the Minnesota Twins for cash considerations. This is a fairly significant update for Kelly, considering manager Torey Lovullo said on April 23 that the hurler's strained right shoulder would undergo re-imaging in the upcoming weeks. As a result, the D-backs and fantasy managers will now be without Kelly until early July at the earliest. The 35-year-old right-hander was working to an excellent 2.19 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 21:6 K:BB over 24 2/3 innings (four starts) before heading to the IL, and he's well worth a stash for those who can afford the roster spot. Right-hander Slade Cecconi should continue functioning from Arizona's rotation, and he's trending up with a 2.25 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, and 11:1 K:BB across 12 frames (two starts).

The New York Yankees reinstated outfielder Alex Verdugo from the paternity list on Thursday and optioned catcher Carlos Narvaez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in a corresponding move. Verdugo is back in Thursday's lineup after missing the last three games. The 27-year-old left-handed hitter is starting in left field and is batting sixth against Baltimore Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish, who is making his season debut for the O's. He'll return to face a pitcher that he's had some pretty good success against, as he's hit .368 with an .894 OPS and three RBI in 19 career at-bats against Bradish. In his first 101 at-bats with the Yankees, Verdugo has 27 hits (four home runs), 13 RBI, one stolen base and 17 runs scored in 29 contests.

Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas (knee) is still working on decreasing stiffness and swelling in his left knee. It certainly doesn't sound like Thomas is currently participating in baseball activities, which means that his stay on the 10-day injured list is all but certain to extend past the minimum stint. The 28-year-old right fielder was slashing .184/.250/.253 with two home runs, 10 RBI, six runs scored, and 11 stolen bases over 87 at-bats (22 games) for the Nats, and fantasy managers should be preparing for him to be sidelined with a left MCL sprain likely until mid-to-late May. Veteran Eddie Rosario is filling in for Thomas in Washington's outfield on the strong side of a platoon with Alex Call, but he's gone just 6-for-68 in 22 outings and can be ignored on waiver wires unless his bat starts to wake up.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that everything went well with left-hander Justin Steele's (hamstring) minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Iowa. He will work out with Iowa on Thursday and then meet the Cubs in Chicago on Friday. However, there is nothing official on when Steele's next start will be. It's definitely possible that the 28-year-old southpaw could come off the injured list this weekend and make his next start with the Cubbies after injuring his hamstring in his Opening Day start on March 28 against the Texas Rangers, when he allowed three hits and an earned run while walking one and striking out six in 4 2/3 innings of work. After a breakout 16-win season for Chicago in 2023, Steele belongs on all fantasy rosters.

The Boston Red Sox are expected to sign first baseman Dominic Smith after the Tampa Bay Rays released him from his minor-league contract on Wednesday. The Red Sox are short-handed at first base with injuries to Triston Casas (rib) and the recently signed Garrett Cooper (wrist), so they will take a flier on the 28-year-old, who can also play the outfield. Cooper is expected to be fine, though, and the Red Sox also have Bobby Dalbec capable of manning the cold corner, so Smith will probably just be a left-handed bench option at first base. Smith hit .254/.326/.366 with 12 home runs in 153 games with the Washington Nationals in 2023 and had gone 21-for-80 (.263) with two homers and 11 RBI at Triple-A Durham this year before being granted his release.

Boston Red Sox first baseman/designated hitter Garrett Cooper (wrist) is dealing with a bruise and is going to be OK after being hit by a pitch on his right wrist in Tuesday's game against the visiting San Francisco Giants. Cooper was recently scooped up by Boston as a replacement at first base for the injured Triston Casas (rib). The veteran right-handed slugger went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts and the hit-by-pitch in his first game with the Red Sox on Tuesday. He began the 2024 season with the Chicago Cubs and is now hitting .256 (10-for-39) on the year with a home run, six RBI and three runs scored in his first 13 games played. It remains to be seen if he'll be back in the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Giants, but between the injuries to Casas and Masataka Yoshida (hand), Cooper should have a regular role in Beantown in the short-term.

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Michael Taylor are not in the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Oakland Athletics. With both players out, Bryan Reynolds will serve as the designated hitter and bat second, while Jack Suwinski will cover center field and hit eighth against A's right-hander Ross Stripling. Connor Joe is manning left field and batting third in the order. The veteran McCutchen has gotten off to a slow start in 2024, hitting just .190 (15-for-79) with three home runs, seven RBI and one steal. Taylor has been a bit better with a .253 average (19-for-75), but he has yet to go deep with six RBI and three stolen bases. Reynolds is a daily must-start in season-long fantasy leagues, while Joe is a nice low-cost DFS play with an average just under .300 in his first 89 at-bats in 2024.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Jose Siri has been hit with a three-game suspension from Major League Baseball for his role in Tuesday night's benches-clearing incident with the Milwaukee Brewers. Siri will appeal his suspension, but he's out of Wednesday's lineup anyway due to some minor soreness in his left thigh as a result of getting hit by a pitch on Tuesday. The 28-year-old was intentionally hit by a pitch from right-hander Freddy Peralta in the sixth inning before getting in a dust-up with reliever Abner Uribe in the eighth inning after he grounded out. Uribe threw the first punch before Siri retaliated. After a scheduled off day for the Rays on Thursday, Siri should return to the starting lineup on Friday for the series opener against the New York Mets while his appeal is heard.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that outfielder Jose Siri (thigh) is out of Wednesday's starting lineup due to soreness in his left thigh that stems from him being hit by a pitch in Tuesday's game. It was an eventful day for Siri on Tuesday, as he hit his second home run of the season and was also ejected after throwing blows with Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Abner Uribe in a benches-clearing incident. Fantasy managers should expect the 28-year-old to be handed down a suspension of at least a couple games in the near future. Despite going 1-for-2 with the home run on Tuesday, Siri is hitting just .186 (16-for-86) on the year with seven RBI and six stolen bases through the first month of the year. Randy Arozarena is in center field and batting third, while Niko Goodrum is in left and hitting sixth on Wednesday against Brewers right-hander Colin Rea.

Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker played hero for the club in Tuesday's victory against the division rival Los Angeles Dodgers. The slugger went 3-for-5 with two homers, including a walk-off, two-run homer off Nabil Crismatt in the bottom of the 10th inning. Walker is now hitting .283 with seven homers and 22 RBI over his first 113 at-bats. Even at age 33, Walker continues to remain an underrated player with his ability to hit for plenty of power without sinking ones batting average. He should be rostered in most formats and will look to keep it going on Wednesday when the Diamondbacks finish their series against the Dodgers and ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Houston Astros catcher Victor Caratini played the hero in Tuesday's 9-8 extra-innings win over the Guardians. Caratini came into the game to pinch-hit in the bottom of the 10th inning with the game tied, two outs, and a runner on third. He lined a fastball just over the right-center wall to end the game. The 30-year-old has hit well in limited playing time, slashing .314/.368/.571 with two HR and eight RBI in 38 plate appearances. He will likely need to get more frequent at-bats before he can provide meaningful fantasy value in deeper two-catcher leagues.