Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander did not have his good stuff in Tuesday's 10-3 loss to the Yankees. Verlander pitched five innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits (including three home runs) and three walks with two strikeouts. The veteran pitched well in his first three starts but this one brought his ERA all the way up to 4.43, and his 6.04 K/9 rate and 4.03 BB/9 rate leave room for improvement. Verlander should have an opportunity to find it in his next scheduled start, which is a favorable matchup at the Tigers.

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval improved to 2-5 in Tuesday's 9-0 win over the Pirates. Sandoval pitched seven innings, allowing just three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. The 27-year-old has provided plenty of strikeouts but has been erratic and now owns a 4.85 ERA with a 10.38 K/9 rate and a 3.92 BB/9 rate in eight starts and 39 IP. His next scheduled start is a middling matchup against the Royals. Fantasy managers may want to keep him on the bench if possible until he can provide that he can pitch well consistently.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios hit his first snag of the season in Tuesday's 10-1 loss to the Phillies. Berrios pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs on seven hits (including two home runs) and two walks with seven strikeouts. He also hit two batters. Despite the rough outing, the 29-year-old has pitched well this season with a 4-3 record, a 2.85 ERA, a 7.23 K/9 rate, and a 2.85 BB/9 rate. Things won't get easier for him in his next scheduled start at the Orioles, but hopefully, Berrios can pitch more in line with his season numbers.

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jakob Junis (head, shoulder) was moved to the 60-day injured list on Monday, meaning he won't be eligible to come back until June 2 now, at the earliest. Junis' comeback from a right-shoulder injury in early April was interrupted when he was stretchered off the field on April 22 after being hit in the neck by a batting practice ball. He was alert and responsive when he was sent to a local hospital and was able to resume playing catch by April 26. It's a tough break for the 31-year-old veteran, who allowed just one earned run on three hits while walking one and striking out four in a four-inning no-decision in his lone start of the year on April 2 against the Minnesota Twins. When healthy, Junis should be a candidate to return to Milwaukee's starting rotation next month.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease is enjoying an excellent start to his 2024 regular season, and he'll try to keep the good times rolling in Wednesday's scheduled start on the road against the Chicago Cubs. Through seven starts this year, Cease boasts a 2.55 ERA (2.50 FIP) and 0.80 WHIP while striking out 48, walking 14, and leading MLB with just 4.3 hits per nine innings over 42 1/3 frames. After spending the first five years of his major-league career with the Chicago White Sox on the South Side, Cease has plenty of experience dealing with the Cubs. In four appearances against the Cubs since 2021, the hard-throwing 28-year-old right-hander is 3-0 with an outstanding 1.50 ERA and 33:11 K:BB across 24 innings. Chicago's current roster is batting just 4-for-46 (.087) versus Cease, who looks like a great fantasy play across the board on Wednesday.

Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien collected a season-high five RBI in Tuesday's 15-8 win over the division-rival Oakland Athletics, also smacking a solo home run in the victory. It was a massive day at the plate for Semien, who went 4-for-5 with an RBI single plus a two-run double as part of a 10-run blitz in the second frame by the Rangers, and he added another run-scoring single in the fourth for good measure. The 33-year-old All-Star infielder is now slashing a solid .266/.314/.449 with six homers, nine doubles, 27 RBI, and 27 runs scored in 158 at-bats as Texas' everyday leadoff man. Before a tasty three-game weekend set against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field begins on Friday, Semien gets two more cracks at his former Athletics team in Wednesday's doubleheader. In 18 games versus Oakland since 2023, Semien is batting .329 with four long balls, 15 RBI, and three stolen bases.

Miami Marlins relief pitcher A.J. Puk (shoulder) tossed a scoreless inning with two strikeouts for the Florida Complex League Marlins on Monday. Puk went back-to-back with an outing for Single-A Jupiter on Tuesday, allowing two runs on three hits in the fifth inning. The 29-year-old left-hander is expected to make his return from fatigue in his left shoulder as a reliever, and he could be activated from the 15-day injured list at some point during Miami's next homestand that begins with Friday's series opener versus the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. Working mainly as a high-leverage arm last season, Puk posted a 3.97 ERA and 1.18 WHIP while striking out 78 and walking only 13, but he converted just 15 of his 24 save opportunities with two holds across 56 2/3 innings. Even so, he'll eventually be a threat for ninth-inning work with closer Tanner Scott's expiring contract making him a potential trade candidate.

Detroit Tigers third baseman Gio Urshela (hamstring) ran the bases and took batting practice ahead of Tuesday's game against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians, and he will do so again on Wednesday. If all goes well, Urshela could begin a minor-league rehab assignment sometime soon after the Tigers return home on Friday for the start of a three-game series with the Houston Astros. Although the 32-year-old defensive-minded infielder was hitting .298 (17-for-57) before going on the 10-day injured list due to a strained right hamstring, he has only six RBI, two extra-base hits, and four runs scored through 18 games (57 at-bats) as Detroit's primary third baseman and doesn't need to be stashed in most fantasy leagues. Matt Vierling is worth a look in AL-only formats in the meantime, however, slashing .286/.321/.510 with two home runs, one double, two triples, and seven RBI over his last 49 ABs (15 games).

Oakland Athletics infielder Aledmys Diaz (calf) has resumed taking batting practice. He has not started running the bases yet, but manager Mark Kotsay said that once Diaz does so without issue, he could be ready to go on a minor-league rehab assignment. The 33-year-old veteran utility man is slowly making progress but is probably still a month away from being able to make his 2024 debut with the A's. The Cuban infielder won't be guaranteed playing time when he's able to return, though, after disappointing with a .229/.280/.337 slash line in his first year with the team in 2023 in 109 games. Even if Diaz does find regular playing time when he's healthy, he'll have a low ceiling with minimal power and speed. Diaz hasn't hit more than 18 home runs in a single season in his eight-year big-league career.

Oakland Athletics right-hander Luis Medina (knee) faced hitters in a 20-pitch live bullpen session at the Coliseum on Monday and came away from it feeling healthy. Medina will next head to the team's minor-league complex in Arizona and throw a simulated game on Friday. If that goes well, he could start a minor-league rehab assignment soon after that. The 25-year-old Dominican hurler is recovering from a Grade 2 MCL sprain and has yet to pitch in the big leagues at all in 2024. He made his major-league debut with the A's last year and went 3-10 with a 5.42 ERA (4.76 FIP) and 1.51 WHIP with 57 walks and 106 strikeouts in 109 2/3 innings over 23 outings (17 starts) in his rookie season. Medina has a live arm and had some decent stretches in 2023, but he's going to need to show better control when he's back healthy if he wants a chance at a rotation spot.

Oakland Athletics outfielder Miguel Andujar (knee), who had surgery to fix a torn meniscus in his right knee on March 27, resumed taking batting practice, but manager Mark Kotsay said on Sunday that the outfielder is experiencing lateral knee soreness, a "slight setback" that will slow his progress. Andujar was originally given a recovery timeline of at least four to six week. He's expected to join the big-league club after he goes on a minor-league rehab assignment. Given the nature of the 29-year-old's injury and his long layoff, it wouldn't be a surprise if he wasn't able to return to the A's until June. It remains to be seen what role Andujar will have once he makes his 2024 MLB debut. He's a name worth monitoring in AL-only formats once he gets closer to a return.

New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) threw another bullpen session on Tuesday. Manager Aaron Boone said the plan is for Cole to travel with the team to Tampa and throw another bullpen session this weekend. Cole threw off a mound for the first time last Saturday and continues to progress from a right-elbow injury that landed him on the injured list to begin the 2024 season. The 33-year-old still has a ways to go before he's able to make his season debut, but he's making progress and is currently on track to return to the Yankees' starting rotation in mid-June. Fantasy baseball managers must remain patient, though, as the Yankees aren't going to rush last year's American League Cy Young winner back too soon. Keep him stashed everywhere.

Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford (oblique) was able to take swings in the batting cage on Tuesday. Manager Scott Servais mentioned that Crawford should be able to start swinging on the field this weekend. If he's 100 percent this weekend then Crawford should be able to go on a rehab assignment next week. Crawford has been out of the lineup since late April due to an oblique injury. Dylan Moore will cover shortstop and bat eighth versus right-hander Bailey Ober on Tuesday.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Cristian Javier (neck) is scheduled to make his return to the mound this weekend. The 27-year-old appears to be ready to pitch after making a rehab start in Double-A on Saturday. This is good news for the Astros who have a banged up rotation right now. Javier will get a favorable matchup against the Detroit Tigers. There shouldn't be any restrictions on Javier, so fantasy managers should feel safe plugging him right back into their lineups.

San Diego Padres second baseman Luis Arraez (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Chicago Cubs. This appears to be a routine rest day for Arraez against tough left-hander Shota Imanaga. The 27-year-old infielder was acquired by the Padres over the weekend. He has five hits and one RBI since joining the team. In his absence, Xander Bogaerts will cover second base and bat fifth on Tuesday.

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Chris Martin (shoulder) is available ahead of Tuesday's game against the Atlanta Braves. The right-hander was held out over the weekend due to soreness in his shoulder. There was some thought that Martin would be placed on the injured list. Instead, Martin appears to be feeling better and is ready for the series opener versus Atlanta. His return is a significant boost to the Red Sox bullpen.

San Francisco Giants outfielder Jorge Soler (shoulder) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Colorado Rockies. The 32-year-old has been sidelined since last weekend due to a right shoulder issue. For now, Soler is considered as day-to-day and should be available off the bench. In the meantime, Wilmer Flores will serve as the designated hitter and bat fifth versus right-hander Dakota Hudson. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly.

Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Spencer Turnbull will pitch in relief at some point after left-handed starter Cristopher Sanchez on Tuesday against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays, most likely for three innings or so. "We've got a plan," manager Rob Thomson said. It sounds like a piggyback situation for Turnbull, who has essentially been bumped from the starting rotation despite his 1.67 ERA and 0.83 WHIP with 36 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings in his first six starts of the season. Turnbull hasn't thrown more than 56 2/3 innings in a season since 2019, though, so it probably is better off for him anyway. The 31-year-old veteran will obviously lose the majority of his fantasy appeal if he's not starting, but he could get another chance down the road for the Phillies.

Los Angeles Angels infielder Luis Rengifo (illness) and outfielder Taylor Ward are not starting for the Angels on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Rengifo has been out since coming down with an illness on Saturday. Ward appears to be getting a regular day of rest. Cole Tucker is starting at third base and is batting eighth, while Kevin Pillar is in left field and is batting fifth against Pirates right-hander Quinn Priester. When Rengifo gets over his illness, he should be a lineup regular for the Halos due to injuries and the fact he's hitting .330 (30-for-91) with two homers, 11 RBI and nine stolen bases so far in 2024. Ward, who is batting .271/.302/.471 with seven home runs and 24 RBI, will be counted on for even more production in the heart of the team's batting order with Mike Trout (knee) out.

In a flurry of roster moves by the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, right-hander Ian Gibaut (forearm) was transferred to the 60-day injured list. The Reds also optioned infielder/outfielder Nick Martini and outfielder Bubba Thompson to Triple-A Louisville and Double-A Chattanooga, respectively, and selected the contract of outfielder Conner Capel from Louisville. Gibaut is dealing with a lingering strained right forearm after he was initially shut down from throwing in late April. The 30-year-old now won't be eligible to come off the IL until late May, and even that seems optimistic with the way his recovery has gone this year. Gibaut was a key pitcher for the Reds in 2023, going 8-4 with a 3.33 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, three saves and a career-high 69 strikeouts in 75 2/3 frames in 74 relief appearances.