The Oakland Athletics reinstated infielder J.D. Davis (thigh) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and optioned infielder Nick Allen to Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. The A's also selected the contract of infielder Brett Harris from Vegas and moved right-hander Freddy Tarnok (hip) to the 60-day IL. Davis is playing first base on Friday night and hitting fifth in his return against Miami Marlins left-hander Ryan Weathers. The 31-year-old corner infielder will return to a weak .196/.255/.373 slash line with two home runs and two RBI, but he's worth rostering in AL-only leagues as he should be a regular for the A's at either corner infield spot. Davis went 3-for-15 in four minor-league rehab games with Vegas.

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.

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that right-hander Craig Kimbrel (back) will return to his normal role as closer on Friday for the start of a series against the Cincinnati Reds. Kimbrel will return to the fold at the back end of Baltimore's bullpen after not appearing in a game since injuring his back last Sunday against the Oakland Athletics. The 35-year-old's back injury could explain why he's blown both of his last two save chances while allowing three runs. It's something to keep a close eye on moving forward. Kimbrel is currently sporting a 3.18 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with seven saves, six walks and 17 strikeouts in his 11 1/3 innings pitched. If Kimbrel's back issues return and he's forced to miss more time, a closer committee could form in Baltimore between Jacob Webb, Danny Coulombe and Yennier Cano.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are activating veteran catcher Yasmani Grandal (foot) from the injured list on Friday and have optioned catcher/outfielder Henry Davis to Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move, according to manager Derek Shelton. Grandal is returning from plantar fasciitis in his left foot and will platoon with Joey Bart being the plate moving forward. The switch-hitting 35-year-old will be making his 2024 debut when he gets into a game, but he'll start on the bench on Friday with Bart getting the start. Davis, the former first overall pick in 2021 out of Louisville, will head to the farm to work on his swing after hitting a miserable .162 (11-for-68) with no home runs, 11 walks and 29 strikeouts in 83 plate appearances.

As expected, Cincinnati Reds first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand (hand) and catcher Tyler Stephenson (hand) are both back in the lineup on Friday against the visiting Baltimore Orioles and left-hander Cole Irvin. Encarnacion-Strand is at first base and batting fifth, while Stephenson is behind the plate and batting cleanup. Both Encarnacion-Strand and Stephenson hadn't played since being hit by pitches last weekend. After hitting 13 homers in 63 games in his rookie season last year, CES has been a disappointment so far in 2024, slashing .196/.222/.314 with two homers and 16 RBI in 25 games. Stephenson will return to a .231/.338/.415 slash line with three homers and 10 RBI. Neither Encarnacion-Strand nor Stephenson have faced Irvin in their careers.

Washington Nationals left-hander Patrick Corbin will look to get straightened out on Friday when he toes the rubber against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays. The 34-year-old yielded seven runs his last time out against the Miami Marlins, and while only four were earned, it's the fifth time in six starts this season in which he had yielded at least four earned runs. He coughed up eight hits, including a homer, alongside a pair of walks in just four innings his last time out. The ugly outing raised his ERA to 6.82 through six starts this season after he tossed a 5.20 ERA across 32 starts last season. He will take on a Jays team that sports a .314 wOBA versus left-handed pitching this season, good for a share of 13th league-wide.

St. Louis Cardinals left-hander Steven Matz (back) was placed on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to May 1) on Friday with a lower-back strain. In a corresponding move, right-hander Kyle Leahy was recalled from Triple-A Memphis. It's unclear how long it will take the 32-year-old veteran southpaw to return, but fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if he's out longer than two weeks. Matz attempted to pitch through his back issue in his latest start on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers but wasn't effective. He's opened the year 1-2 with a bloated 6.18 ERA and 1.73 WHIP with only 17 strikeouts and 11 walks in 27 2/3 innings over six starts for the Cardinals. Matz isn't a must-hold in deep-mixed leagues, especially if he's out longer than two weeks. It's unclear who might take his rotation spot in St. Louis.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that right-hander Kyle Hendricks' (back) minor-league rehab start with Double-A Tennessee on Thursday was "encouraging," but Hendricks will make another rehab start on Tuesday with Iowa. The 34-year-old veteran gave up two runs while fanning seven batters in five innings for Tennessee on Thursday, but the Cubs want to see more before bringing him back to the big-league starting rotation. In his five starts with Chicago before landing on the IL, Hendricks had a disastrous 12.00 ERA (7.71 FIP) and 2.09 WHIP with seven walks and 16 strikeouts in 21 innings pitched. Given how bad Hendricks was with the Cubs, it's fair for fantasy managers in mixed leagues to not want anything to do with him when he's back in Chicago's rotation.

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-handers Jordan Wicks (forearm) and Drew Smyly (hip) have been cleared to resume playing catch. Wicks just landed on the 15-day injured list this past Sunday with a left-forearm strain, while Smyly has been out for two weeks due to a right-hip impingement. Wicks' injury is obviously a bit less serious, but it's good news for the Cubs pitching staff that both southpaws are ramping back up. It's unclear when either hurler will be able to return to the big-league roster, but when Wicks is ready, he should return to the rotation. The 24-year-old went 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA and 1.52 WHIP with 28 K's in 23 innings in his first five starts. Smyly has plenty of starting experience, but he figures to return to the Cubs' bullpen when he's activated.

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.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Nick Pivetta (elbow) got roughed up in his first rehab start for Triple-A Worcester. Pivetta went three innings and allowed three hits, four runs, four walks and recorded five strikeouts. He also threw 62 pitches in the contest, as he builds up for his return to the Red Sox rotation. Pivetta has been sidelined since April with a right elbow flexor strain, but was pitching very well in his first two starts of the season with one run allowed and 13 strikeouts over his first two starts. Pivetta is inching closer to his return and that would mean that Cooper Criswell or Chase Anderson will be replaced in the rotation. Pivetta may need a start or two to shake off the rust, but he is worth rostering in most formats with his ability to rack up strikeouts being a big reason why.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks (back) looked healthy in a rehab start for Double-A Tennessee on Thursday. The veteran tossed five innings and allowed six hits, two runs, no walks and struck out seven on the evening, Hendricks has been shelved since late April with a minor lower back injury and it has yet to be determined if this will be his one and only rehab start or if he will make another one. When on the mound for the Cubs this season, Hendricks has gotten rocked with 28 runs allowed in 21 innings. The once consistent starter has fallen on hard times and can be left on the waiver wire in all formats when he is activated.

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.

Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner went 1-for-4 with a pair of walks in a 7-6 loss to the New York Mets on Thursday. Hoerner didn't run much early in the season, swiping just one base in April. That caused some panic among his fantasy owners, who expected much closer to the 43 stolen bases Hoerner picked up in 2023. Those owners will be happy with the last two games though, as the speedster picked up three steals to bring his season total to four. If he keeps running at that pace, there is no reason to worry about Hoerner.

Texas Rangers relief pitcher David Robertson tallied his 10th hold of the season and is now tied for the most in baseball with Nationals pitcher Hunter Harvey and Cardinals pitchers JoJo Romero and Andrew Kittredge. Robertson entered in the seventh inning with two outs to face Ildemaro Vargas with a runner on first and was able to retire him. Then, the 39-year-old remained in the game to pitch the eighth inning. He surrendered a leadoff walk to Jacob Young but then retired the next three batters via two strikeouts and a groundout. The veteran reliever carries a stellar 1.08 ERA and 0.84 WHIP across 16 2/3 innings with 20 punchouts. Robertson remains an elite option for holds and should be considered next in line to receive ninth-inning duties in Texas.

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).

San Francisco Giants right-hander Jordan Hicks (side) is scheduled to make the start on Friday in the series opener in Philadelphia against the Phillies. Hicks felt some tightness in his side in his last start on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he managed it well and struck out a season-high nine batters while giving up just one earned run in six innings. There was a lot to be skeptical about from Hicks from a fantasy perspective with his move to a full-time starting role in 2024, mainly because of his history with injuries as a hard-throwing reliever. However, he's excelling so far in San Fran and has gone 2-0 with a fantastic 1.59 ERA (3.08 FIP) and 0.91 WHIP with 27 K's and 10 walks in 34 innings over his six starts. He'll face a tough matchup in a hostile environment on Friday against a Phillies offense that ranks seventh in MLB in OPS (.742), but he's been a must-start through the first month.