Oakland Athletics infielders Aledmys Diaz (calf) and Zack Gelof (oblique) will both join Triple-A Las Vegas this weekend to begin their respective minor-league rehab assignments. Diaz was cleared for a rehab assignment after successfully running the bases on Wednesday. The 33-year-old veteran utilityman is on the 60-day injured list and has yet to play in 2024. He won't be eligible to return until late May, so he'll take his time on his rehab assignment. When he's back from the injured list, he won't be guaranteed to see regular playing time for the A's. Gelof, who was the team's starter at second before his injury, is the more attractive fantasy asset in deeper leagues despite starting the year with a .196/.260/.337 slash line with three home runs, seven RBI and four stolen bases in his first 92 at-bats.

Houston Astros right-handed reliever Ryan Pressly (back), who hasn't pitched since last Friday, is dealing with soreness in his lower back, according to manager Joe Espada. Pressly played catch on Wednesday, and Espada said he "felt OK" and termed it "nothing worrisome right now." For now, the 35-year-old will remain with the team, but it remains to be seen if he'll be available out of the team's bullpen on Wednesday against the New York Yankees. Pressly's back issues could have contributed to his slow start in 2024, as he's currently sporting a 5.27 ERA and 1.68 WHIP while walking five and striking out 21 in 13 2/3 innings of relief. However, he hasn't allowed a run in his last five innings while walking one and striking out nine and will remain a key late-inning setup man in front of closer Josh Hader if he's healthy enough to pitch.

Houston Astros outfielder Chas McCormick (hamstring) could start a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend. McCormick has recovered quickly after landing on the injured list with hamstring soreness last week. If the 29-year-old gets out of a short rehab assignment without any setbacks, he could return to the Astros early next week. Mauricio Dubon has seen more playing time in Houston's outfield since McCormick landed on the shelf. McCormick is going to need to do more with the bat when he returns to assure himself regular playing time. In 21 games before his hamstring injury, he was hitting .236/.325/.278 with no home runs, eight RBI, two stolen bases and six runs scored in 83 plate appearances. He's coming off his best season as a pro in 2023, when he hit .273 with 22 homers, 70 RBI and 19 swipes.

Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo (elbow) is expected to come off the injured list to join the team's starting rotation for a series at home this weekend against the visiting Oakland Athletics. Young right-hander Emerson Hancock seems set to be optioned back to the minors when Woo returns. The 24-year-old flew under the radar after his big-league debut in 2023, when he went 4-5 with a 4.21 ERA (4.36 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP with 31 walks and 93 strikeouts in 87 2/3 innings in his first 18 major-league starts. Woo is worth looking into for pitching depth for those in deeper fantasy leagues, and he's set up for a good matchup this weekend against the A's. The former sixth-round pick in 2021 Cal Poly displayed a modest strikeout rate in his first year in the majors and was hurt by the long ball.

Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager was held out of the starting lineup for Game 2 of a doubleheader on Wednesday against the A's in Oakland. Josh Smith got the start at shortstop for the nightcap instead and is hitting out of the No. 5 spot for the Rangers. In the Game 1 loss, Seager broke a modest five-game hitting streak by going 0-for-3 with a walk and strikeout. The four-time All-Star and two-time World Series MVP had hernia surgery in the offseason and has gotten off to a slow start in 2024 by his standards, slashing .235/.305/.316 with three home runs, two doubles, 13 RBI and 16 runs scored in 34 games. After a scheduled off day on Thursday, Seager will be back in there on Friday for a series opener in Colorado against the Rockies. Smith has been a great find for fantasy managers in deeper leagues in the early portion of the year, as he's hitting over .300 with two homers and 16 RBI with Josh Jung (wrist) out.