Arizona Diamondbacks rookie infielder Blaze Alexander is serving as the designated hitter and will bat leadoff on Monday against the Los Angeles Dodgers and left-hander James Paxton. Alexander will serve as the club's DH instead of Joc Pederson with the veteran left-hander on the mound in the series opener in Arizona. The 24-year-old former 11th-round pick in 2018 has been great for the Snakes so far in 2024, hitting .322 (19-for-59) with three home runs, 13 RBI and 10 runs scored in his first 20 major-league contests. In his last seven games, he's gone 9-for-24 (.375) with a homer, five doubles, nine RBI and four runs scored. Against left-handers, he's gone 12-for-32 (.375) with two home runs and six RBI, so it's easy to see why he's hitting leadoff against Paxton on Monday.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is playing left field for the first time this season on Monday against the Baltimore Orioles and right-hander Grayson Rodriguez. Judge is in his customary No. 3 spot in the batting order with Trent Grisham getting the start in center field and batting ninth. It's the 32-year-old Judge's first start in left field since 2016 with Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre. The move comes with normal left fielder Alex Verdugo being placed on the paternity list on Monday, so don't be surprised if Judge is in left field a couple more times this week. In his first 109 at-bats of the 2024 season, Judge is hitting just .211 (23-for-109) but with six home runs and 18 RBI in 133 plate appearances. He's gone hitless in his lone career at-bat against Rodriguez.

Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran (oblique) is with the team in Chicago, but there hasn't been immediate news about him being officially activated from the 15-day injured list. However, that move should be imminent during the team's series against the White Sox early this week. Duran should be activated from the IL after recovering from a right-oblique strain that kept him from being ready for the start of the 2024 season. The 26-year-old made two appearances on a minor-league rehab assignment, but it's possible the Twins choose to ease him into high-leverage, late-inning situations at first. Still, Duran should be returned to starting fantasy lineups once he's activated, as he has proven in recent seasons he's a high-end closer when he's healthy.UPDATE: Manager Rocco Baldelli said Duran will likely be activated on Tuesday.

The Minnesota Twins reinstated shortstop Carlos Correa (intercostal) from the 10-day injured list on Monday and optioned utility man Austin Martin to Triple-A St. Paul in a corresponding move. Correa is right back in Minnesota's starting lineup, playing shortstop and hitting in the two-hole on Monday versus the Chicago White Sox and left-hander Garrett Crochet. The 29-year-old is back from a right-intercostal strain. He didn't go on a minor-league rehab assignment, so fantasy managers may want to temper expectations for him right away. Plus, he's never faced Crochet in his career. Fantasy managers will be hoping that the two-time All-Star can pick up where he left off before his injury, as Correa was slashing .306/.432/.444 with an .876 OPS, a homer and four RBI in 11 games.

New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder) faced live hitters on Monday for the first time since February, when he was diagnosed with a strained right shoulder capsule. Senga said he'll need to throw to live hitters two more times before going on a minor-league rehab assignment. "As long as things keep going well, I think I'll be back right around [May 27]," Senga said through an interpreter. It's something to look forward to for fantasy managers that have been stashing the 31-year-old hurler since drafting him this spring. When healthy, Senga will be New York's ace after the Japanese pitcher went 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA (3.63 FIP) and 1.22 WHIP with 77 walks and 202 strikeouts in 29 starts in his first MLB season last year.