The Chicago Cubs are promoting prized pitching prospect Cade Horton, who is ranked as the team's No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, from Double-A Tennessee to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday. Horton, 22, dominated in his four starts with Tennessee this year to the tune of a 1.10 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with just two walks and 18 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings pitched. The Cubs' top pitching prospect was taken seventh overall in 2022 out of Oklahoma. He's quickly risen through the team's farm system and is now knocking at the door for a big-league promotion. Last year, he had a 2.65 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 27 walks and 117 strikeouts between Single-A Myrtle Beach, High-A South Bend and Tennessee. Depending on how he fares at Iowa, Horton is certainly a candidate to join Chicago's starting rotation later this year.

Minnesota Twins right-hander Josh Winder (shoulder) is set to start a minor-league rehab assignment with Low-A Fort Myers on Tuesday. Winder was placed on the 60-day injured list on Feb. 26 with a scapular stress fracture in his right shoulder that he suffered late last year. It means the 27-year-old reliever won't be able to rejoin Minnesota's bullpen at the big-league level until at least late May. Winder made his major-league debut for the Twins in 2022 and even started 11 games that year, but all 19 of his appearances last year came in a relief role. In his 101 2/3 total innings pitched the last two seasons in Minnesota, he has recorded a 4.51 ERA (4.57 FIP), one save, a 1.34 WHIP, 32 walks and 75 strikeouts. Winder is currently off the fantasy radar everywhere.

New York Mets shortstop Jett Williams (wrist), the team's top prospect per MLB Pipeline, has been placed on the seven-day injured list at Double-A Binghamton due to right-wrist soreness. Williams hasn't played in over a week and will now miss more time in the minors. On top of the injury, the 20-year-old infielder has hit a weak .180/.360/.308 with no home runs, two RBI, two stolen bases and nine runs scored in 11 games for Binghamton in 2024. Williams' primary position is shortstop, but the Mets have moved him around so far this year and he's also played second base and center field on the farm. He's undersized at 5-foot-7, 175 pounds, but he has impressive power despite his size and also displays a solid understanding of the strike zone at a young age. Right now, he's just a stash candidate in dynasty leagues and isn't expected to debut in the big leagues until 2025 or later.

New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder) threw to live hitters on Monday for the first time since doctors diagnosed him with a torn posterior shoulder capsule in February. "Nasty," one of the minor-league hitters said after facing Senga, who threw all his pitches and reached the mid-90s with his fastball. The Japanese hurler said afterward that he expects to return from the injured list "right around" the day he's first eligible on May 27. President of baseball operations David Stearns pushed back slightly on that timeline, but regardless, Senga's session on Monday has to have fantasy managers that have been stashing him all this time a little giddy. After his initial diagnosis, Senga went a full month without throwing at all, so the Mets aren't going to rush their fantasy ace back by any means.

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand (hand) received a precautionary MRI exam around three hours before the game on Monday against the San Diego Padres before his anticipated availability off the bench. "He's feeling better, but we're just making sure," manager David Bell said. The reason for the caution is that Encarnacion-Strand had an old fracture in the same hand, so the Reds want to make sure his latest injury isn't related to that. The 24-year-old has missed two straight games, but it sounds like fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now. On top of the injury, he's hitting just .196 (20-for-102) with two homers and 16 RBI early. CEH shouldn't be dropped in fantasy formats, though. Check back to see if he's starting in the second game of the series in San Diego on Tuesday against the Padres.