News
Gavin Lux slugged a two-run homer on Monday in a loss to the Marlins.
Lux golfed a no-doubter to right-center field for his lone hit of the contest during Cincinnati’s eighth-inning rally against reliver Tyler Phillips. It was his first round-tripper of the season. He struck out three times against Marlins burgeoning ace Max Meyer to open the contest. He wasn’t alone as Meyer stacked up a surreal 14 punchouts from the Reds’ lineup over his six innings of work.
Jose Altuve (hamstring) is back in the lineup for Monday’s series opener against the Royals.
Altuve returns to Houston’s lineup at second base and batting second on Monday evening against Kansas City following a one-game absence due to right hamstring tightness. The 35-year-old veteran fantasy stalwart is getting more brittle as he ages, but he’s managed to avoid the injured list this season while transitioning to a brand-new multi-position role. Fantasy managers can confidently lock him into weekly lineups.
Spencer Strider (hamstring) will face hitters on Wednesday in a simulated game.
Strider will be re-evaluated following Wednesday’s throwing session before Atlanta determines whether he’ll rejoin the rotation this week or make another minor league rehab start. It’s a frustrating situation for fantasy managers. There’s a chance Strider is cleared to take the ball this weekend for Atlanta, but there will likely be some workload restrictions from a pitch count standpoint, which makes him a risky option in weekly leagues ahead of Monday’s lineup lock.
Ronald Acuña Jr. (knee) will begin a minor league rehab assignment on Tuesday in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League.
Here we go. Acuña is going to require at least a couple weeks of minor-league rehab games before he’s ready to make his highly-anticipated season debut. The 27-year-old fantasy superstar remains without a definitive return timetable, but appears on track to return to Atlanta before the end of May or at some point in early June. He’ll get a couple games under his belt in Florida before facing some higher level competition in the minors.
Dodgers acquired OF Steward Berroa from the Blue Jays for cash considerations.
Berroa heads to Los Angeles as extra organizational outfield depth. The 25-year-old hit .189 with six steals in 28 games last year for the Blue Jays in his first shot at the highest level. He’s extremely unlikely to make a fantasy impact for the Dodgers given their overabundance of talent in the majors.
Blue Jays sent RHP Dillon Tate outright to Triple-A Buffalo.
Tate went unclaimed on waivers after being designated for assignment last Friday and will remain with the organization as extra relief depth. The 31-year-old righty has made five relief appearances this season at the highest level.
Corey Seager (hamstring) remains absent from the lineup for Monday’s series opener against the Rockies.
Seager will sit out for the fourth time in the last five games as he continues to deal with an ongoing right hamstring soreness. The 31-year-old fantasy superstar is expected to be re-evaluated prior to Monday’s contest to determine whether he’ll require a trip to the injured list. It’ll be Ezequiel Duran filling in at shortstop once again in his absence.