Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly (back), who opened the year on the 15-day injured list with left intercostal nerve irritation, threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and will make a minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Reno on Friday, according to manager Torey Lovullo. The 37-year-old veteran might end up only missing a couple of turns through the rotation in the big leagues to open the 2026 campaign. He'll make another rehab start on April 8, but after that, Kelly could rejoin Arizona's starting rotation to give fantasy managers in deeper leagues another option for starting pitching depth. Kelly ended up making three spring training appearances before his back acted up, allowing nine earned runs on 15 hits (two homers) while walking two and striking out two in 6 1/3 innings. At his age, Kelly's below-average 22% career strikeout rate leaves very little upside, especially in a hitter-friendly home park, but he has won double-digit games in three of the past four seasons. He's rostered in 64% of Yahoo leagues despite his early-season injury.

Detroit Tigers infield prospect Kevin McGonigle is starting at shortstop and will bat out of the two-hole on Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander Brandon Pfaadt, while designated hitter Kerry Carpenter is being dropped to the fifth spot in the batting order, according to MLB.com. Third baseman Colt Keith will be the club's leadoff hitter at Chase Field. McGonigle, only 21 years old, hasn't looked like a rookie in his first four games, going 5-for-14 (.357) with two doubles, four RBI, three runs scored, three walks, and three strikeouts. He has quickly demanded a move up the batting order, which will only raise his fantasy ceiling in 2026. Tuesday will be McGonigle's first time in the two-hole in his career after batting sixth for Detroit to begin the season. Carpenter, meanwhile, has one hit in 16 at-bats with 10 strikeouts in his first four games. Perhaps Carpenter can get going on Tuesday, as he's 2-for-3 in his career versus Pfaadt. McGonigle is already rostered in 82% of Yahoo leagues.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on Tuesday that outfielder Seiya Suzuki (knee) will go on a minor-league rehab assignment when the team is on the road, according to Taylor McGregor of Watch Marquee Sports. The exact timing of the rehab assignment and the location are still to be determined. The Cubs start their six-game road trip in Cleveland against the Guardians on Friday, so Suzuki should start playing in minor-league games this weekend as he recovers from a strained PCL in his knee that he suffered while playing for Japan in the World Baseball Classic. With Suzuki on the 10-day injured list to begin the 2026 regular season, Matt Shaw and Michael Conforto have been platooning in right field for the Cubbies. The 31-year-old Suzuki is a must-stash in all fantasy baseball formats after hitting a career-high 32 home runs and driving in a career-high 103 runs in 151 regular-season games in 2025 in his fourth year in the big leagues.

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena is back at the 6 and is leading off for the Astros on Tuesday against the visiting Boston Red Sox and right-hander Brayan Bello, according to MLB.com. Pena will be playing in his third game of the young season on Tuesday as the Astros ease him in following a fractured finger that he recovered from this spring. The veteran shortstop has gone 2-for-10 (.200) at the plate with a run scored, a stolen base, and two strikeouts in his two games played. Carlos Correa shifts back to third base, with Isaac Paredes heading to the bench on Tuesday night. Fantasy managers will want to get Pena back into their starting lineups for the second game of the series at Daikin Park against the BoSox. Pena has one hit in his four career at-bats against Bello with a .900 OPS.