Chicago Cubs outfielder Christopher Morel is taking a seat for Monday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays and rookie right-hander Taj Bradley. Morel will get a day to rest after starting each of the team's last 17 games after being called up from the minors. The 23-year-old has been a revelation for the Cubbies and fantasy managers alike, although he has cooled off considerably in the last handful of games. Morel has gone 1-for-14 with five strikeouts in his last four games, but he's still hitting .299 (20-for-67) with three doubles, nine home runs, 15 RBI, a stolen base and 17 runs scored in 17 games played. He also has only four walks and 26 strikeouts, though, so if the home runs evaporate, Morel could struggle. Edwin Rios is serving as the designated hitter and batting seventh against Bradley.
Cleveland Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor (foot) is back in the starting lineup on Monday against the Baltimore Orioles and right-hander Tyler Wells. Naylor is starting at first base and batting cleanup. The 25-year-old was not in Sunday's lineup against the St. Louis Cardinals after he fouled a ball off his left foot in Saturday's game, but he's back in there to begin the new week. X-rays on his foot came back negative. Naylor is hitting .257 (18-for-70) with three doubles, four home runs, 17 RBI and a stolen base in 20 games in the month of May. He's hitting much better against righties as well, going 30-for-116 (.259) with six of his seven homers on the year against them. Get Naylor back into your lineups on Monday.
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Carlos Santana (back) was removed from Sunday's game early against the Seattle Mariners due to lumbar-spine muscular tightness, according to the team. Outfielder Connor Joe moved from left field to first base on Sunday to replace Santana. The Pirates are thin at the position with Ji Man Choi (Achilles) currently on the 60-day injured list. Before leaving the contest, Santana went 0-for-2 with a walk, and the 37-year-old veteran is now hitting just .226 (40-for-177) on the year with 14 doubles, three home runs, 24 RBI, five stolen bases and 20 runs scored in 49 games in 2023. There's a good chance fantasy managers won't have Santana available to them for Monday's series opener against the San Francisco Giants.
The Tampa Bay Rays placed closer Pete Fairbanks (hip) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to May 28) on Monday with left-hip inflammation and recalled right-hander Trevor Kelley from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. Fairbanks heads back to the injured list, but hopefully he'll be able to return for the Rays and fantasy managers when he's eligible on June 12. As the club's primary closer when healthy, the 29-year-old right-hander needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues. With Fairbanks on the shelf for the second time in the month of May, Jason Adam figures to operate as Tampa's top option for saves yet again. Pick him up if you're in need of saves and he's available on your league's waiver wire.
Detroit Tigers utility man Zach McKinstry is leading off Monday's game against Nathan Eovaldi and the Texas Rangers. It's a tough matchup, but the 28-year-old has been superb with the bat over 44 games, slashing .295/.409/.451 with four home runs, 23 runs, 10 RBI, and 10 steals, and hit .391 over the last week. McKinstry's production came almost out of nowhere after he was drafted in the 33rd round back in 2016, and he owned a .208 average and .652 OPS across his previous three seasons in the big leagues. If he's still available on the waiver wire, fantasy managers should think about adding him to their roster.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias (hamstring) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Monday. The left-hander skipped his bullpen session over the weekend after experiencing discomfort while playing catch. It doesn't sound like a serious setback, but the Dodgers are going to monitor Urias closely over the next few days. The 26-year-old continues to work his way back from a left hamstring strain. The expectation is that Urias won't need a lengthy stint on the injured list. Fantasy managers should check back later on Monday for another update on his status.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger (knee) has resumed baseball activities, including work in the batting cage. The left-handed slugger was placed on the 10-day injured list last Friday after he hyperextended his left knee. He hasn't progressed to running yet, but that will probably be the final hurdle before he's cleared to return to the Cubs lineup. Fantasy managers will be without Bellinger for a little longer, but it sounds like he is progressing well.
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly has been on a hot streak lately. That continued versus the Boston Red Sox on Sunday. The right-hander threw six innings, allowing four hits, and struck out 10 batters in the 4-2 victory. Kelly has won five of his last six starts, giving up a total of 10 runs during that span. Also, those 10 strikeouts in this game matched his second highest total of his career. The 34-year-old is in a great groove right now, so fantasy managers should capitalize on it.
Boston Red Sox shortstop Marcelo Mayer has been promoted to Double-A Portland on Sunday. The 20-year-old slashed .291/.365/.532 with seven homers, 33 RBI and four stolen bases in 34 games at High-A Greenville. He was selected by the Red Sox fourth overall during the 2021 draft. Honestly, that might've been a steal as there were rumors he might go first overall in that draft. It's unlikely that he makes his debut this season, but he's certainly worth stashing in keeper leagues.
Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson provided some pop at the plate during Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The left-handed slugger blasted a 464-foot home run off Dylan Covey in the first inning. That blast was the second longest home run of Olson's career. He went deep again with a 445-foot shot off Connor Brogdon in the fifth inning. Olson went 3-for-5 with four RBI in what ended up being an 11-4 victory on Sunday. The 29-year-old is slashing .237/.361/.540 with 16 long balls and 41 RBI this season.
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