

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker has been optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday. The former 21st overall pick in 2020 will head to the farm after opening the 2024 campaign with a weak .155/.239/.259 slash line with no home runs, four RBI, six walks and 18 strikeouts in 67 plate appearances over 20 games for the Red Birds. The 21-year-old will surely be back in St. Louis at some point, but he's going to need to work on some things in the minors first. Brendan Donovan is in left field and hitting leadoff on Wednesday, while rookie Michael Siani is in center field and batting ninth against Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Jordan Montgomery. With Walker now in the minors, Alec Burleson and Ivan Herrera could see some more playing time in the outfield moving forward.


Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll is starting in center field but has been moved to the seven-hole on Wednesday for the matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander Kyle Gibson. The 23-year-old will be down near the bottom of the D-backs' lineup for the first time this year as manager Torey Lovullo looks to get last year's National League Rookie of the Year going at the plate. After making his first All-Star team and leading Arizona to the World Series last fall, Carroll has come out cold at the plate in 2024, slashing .215/.324/.269 with a homer, five RBI and eight stolen bases in his first 23 games. While the drop in the batting order is likely just a temporary thing to try and help Carroll get going offensively, it's not what fantasy managers want to see. Outfielder Pavin Smith is hitting leadoff after driving in six on Tuesday.


Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that X-rays on outfielder Cody Bellinger (rib) were negative, but the team has to see how he is on Wednesday before they can determine how long he might be out. Bellinger left Tuesday's game early with a right-rib contusion not long after he ran into the wall in center field at Wrigley Field tracking a ball down. Fantasy managers will want to check back to see if Bellinger is in the lineup against the Houston Astros on Wednesday, but most likely he will not be, and he could miss more time beyond that. For now, consider the 28-year-old lefty hitter to be day-to-day. Rookie outfielder Alexander Canario replaced Bellinger in center field on Tuesday night and could see more playing time there moving forward if Bellinger is forced to miss time.



Chicago Cubs outfielder Mike Tauchman went 2-for-3 with a walk and four RBI in Tuesday's victory against the Houston Astros. Both of the outfielder's hits were home runs, his first and second of the season. Tauchman has been on a heater lately and has nine hits over his last 20 at-bats. For the season, Tauchman is hitting a respectable .283 with two homers and seven RBI to go along with 13 runs scored. With Seiya Suzuki (oblique) sidelined, Tauchman has gotten every day reps and has taken the most of the opportunity. As long as he keeps hitting, he is worth a look in deeper leagues. The outfielder will look to stay hot on Wednesday in a rematch against the Astros and rookie starting pitcher Spencer Arrighetti.


Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman/outfielder Pavin Smith started as the designated hitter on Tuesday versus the St. Louis Cardinals and had himself a big game. Smith went 2-for-5 with two runs, a home run and six RBI. His home run was a grand slam against Zack Thompson in the top of the sixth inning. Smith was recalled on April 19 and was 0-for-5 entering Tuesday's contest. Smith has shown power in the past, but that is about it and without regular playing time, he can remain on the waiver wire.
