National League
In The Field
Ryan Braun has been day-to-day for a few days with a forearm strain. It's not expected that it'll place him on the DL, but he isn't likely to return to the Brewers lineup until Tuesday. Dexter Fowler scared his fantasy owners (and Cardinals fans) when he exited the game with what initially was feared to be a serious shoulder injury. It appears he avoided major damage though, and will avoid the DL. He isn't likely to even pinch hit until Friday however, so those in weekly leagues might want to find another option. Tommy Pham was recalled and will take his place in center field, and he makes for a deep league pickup. Stephen Piscotty injured his hamstring in the same game as Fowler, but his strain was bad enough to put him on the DL. He shouldn't be out much past the minimum stay however. Jose Martinez was slated to take his at-bats, but he suffered a groin injury in Saturday's game, so his availability could be in doubt as well. Matt Adams could be looking at a lot of playing time depending on when Fowler and Martinez return. On the bright side for the Cardinals, Jhonny Peralta is on a rehab assignment and could return this week, although he's been so bad that he might be considered a bat off the bench when he returns. Logan Forsythe had a setback in his rehab and had to be pulled from a game with renewed tightness in his hamstring, so it'll be an extra week or so until he returns to the Dodgers. Adrian Gonzalez was placed on the DL for the first time in his 14-year career due to a herniated disc and forearm discomfort. It's unclear how long he'll be out, but it could be an extended absence. Cody Bellinger will see every day at-bats in his place, so if he's somehow still available he needs to be added. Brandon Crawford could return to the Giants on Monday as he recovers from a groin injury, but it's not certain yet. Yoenis Cespedes might miss the rest of May due to a severe hamstring strain. Michael Conforto is getting full time at-bats in his absence and should be owned as long as he's out. Lucas Duda had a late setback in his rehab and now won't join the Mets until next week in all likelihood. Travis d'Arnaud went to the DL with a bone bruise in his wrist and will be totally shut down for at least a week. Rene Rivera and Travis Plawecki will split time behind the plate while he's out, but neither are of interest unless you just need a warm body at catcher. Asdrubal Cabrera suffered a thumb injury on Saturday, but it's yet to be determined how much time he'll miss. Bryce Harper has missed a few games with a groin injury, but there's no sign he's headed for a DL stint just yet. Howie Kendrick should set out on a rehab assignment this week and is targeting mid-May as a return to the Phillies. Carlos Gonzalez has missed several games with a calf injury, but he's not expected to hit the DL and should be considered day-to-day.
On The Mound
Rich Hill threw a bullpen session Saturday and should make a rehab start Tuesday. The Dodgers talked about putting him in the bullpen, but for now he will return to a starting roll when he's activated in the next week or two. His teammate Hyun-jin Ryu also unsurprisingly hit the DL with a bruised hip, but he should only miss one start before returning later this week, although that would place him at Colorado which you generally want to avoid. Continuing the trend of predictable pitcher injuries, Brett Anderson will hit the DL with a back injury. Either Eddie Butler or Mike Montgomery will most likely shift to the rotation to fill his spot, but neither are particularly juicy fantasy fill-ins. The Marlins put Wei-yin Chen on the DL with a fatigued pitching arm and Edinson Volquez followed him with a blister issue. Both could return for starts later in the week. Noah Syndergaard will be shut down for at least six weeks after tearing his lat. Rafael Montero will assume his role in the rotation, but is not a recommended option. The Nationals optioned Joe Ross to the minors after another poor start, and Jacob Turner will take his spot in the rotation. He could be considered a deep league streaming option, but a 6% swinging strike rate isn't very appealing. Aaron Nola had an MRI on his back which revealed no structural damage, however there is still no timetable for his return to the mound. Jameson Taillon landed on the DL with a groin injury, and like Nola there is not yet a timetable for his return.
In The Bullpen
Shawn Kelley was placed on the DL with a lower back strain, and with Koda Glover still on the DL for another week or so it was Matt Albers got the first save after Kelley hit the DL. The Nats are probably going to mix and match in the ninth inning, but Albers is worth a quick add if you're desperate for saves. Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said on Wednesday that he'd have used Joaquin Benoit to close out the game if a save opportunity had arose rather than Hector Neris. Neris has had a bit of a rough run recently for the Phillies, but he's still the most reliable option for the ninth inning, but it's a situation that needs to be watched closely for those chasing saves.
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