Houston Astros outfielder Jose Altuve has returned to second base and will bat leadoff for the Astros for the series opener on Monday against the visiting San Francisco Giants and right-hander Jordan Hicks at Daikin Park. It will be the first time that Altuve is back at the keystone after starting the first three games last week against the New York Mets in left field. The 34-year-old veteran is expected to see most of his playing time in left in 2025, but he'll still occasionally pick up some starts at second base. With Altuve at second, Mauricio Dubon is in left field and is batting eighth. Altuve is off to an excellent start this year after his position switch, going 5-for-11 with a run scored, a walk and four strikeouts in three games against the New York Mets last week. He should remain in all starting fantasy lineups. Altuve is hitless with an RBI in just three career at-bats versus Hicks.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell (hip) remains out of the starting lineup on Monday for the start of a series in St. Louis against the Cardinals. Kyren Paris will make another start in center field and will hit eighth against Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas. Adell is dealing with tightness in his left hip. While it's not considered a very serious injury, it will keep the 25-year-old out of action for the second straight day. For what it's worth, Adell says he's improving and plans to return to the field on Tuesday at Busch Stadium. In just two games played so far in 2025, Adell has gone 2-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout in last weekend's series against the Chicago White Sox. Paris is 2-for-6 with a solo home run, a stolen base and two strikeouts in his three games played. He has never faced Mikolas in his career and will be a low-upside DFS option in his second straight start in center.

Miami Marlins pitchers Declan Cronin (hip) and Andrew Nardi (back) have both resumed their throwing programs, according to Fish On First's Kevin Barral. Cronin, a 27-year-old right-hander, is recovering from a left-hip strain that he suffered late in spring training. If he can avoid setbacks with his hip, he could be an option for the Marlins' bullpen by mid- to late-April. In his first year in Miami in 2024, Cronin had a 4.35 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 72 K's and 25 walks in 70 1/3 relief innings. Nardi, a 26-year-old lefty, is on the 60-day injured list due to lower-back inflammation that shut him down in early March in camp. He is behind Cronin in his recovery and won't be eligible to make his 2025 debut until late May. In his third season with the Fish last year, Nardi posted a bloated 5.07 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 70 K's and 18 walks in 49 2/3 relief innings.

Miami Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera (finger) will start a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday at Triple-A Jacksonville. Cabrera is on the injured list to begin the 2025 regular season due to yet another blister issue on his right middle finger that surfaced on March 13 during his spring training start. However, the 26-year-old is already ready to start his rehab assignment and may only need a couple of outings in the minors before he's activated and rejoins Miami's starting rotation. Cabrera is officially eligible to come off the IL on April 7. Fantasy managers in most mixed leagues can probably take a wait-and-see approach on the Dominican hurler when he's ready to return. He's been incredibly inconsistent and injury-prone in his four years in the majors and went 4-8 in 2024 with a 4.95 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 107:50 K:BB in 96 1/3 frames over 20 starts.

Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) allowed two earned runs and struck out three batters in his two innings of work in his first minor-league rehab start on Sunday at Triple-A Sugar Land. McCullers hit 94.9 mph on the radar gun in what was overall a positive outing, especially when considering it was his first real game action since the World Series in 2022. The 31-year-old also threw a scoreless inning in his only action in the Grapefruit League during spring training. McCullers had surgery to fix the flexor tendon in his right arm back in 2023 and hasn't pitched since after having multiple setbacks along the way. It's looking he may finally make his return to Houston's starting rotation in 2025, but he has a ways to go still, and the Astros are going to take their time. McCullers deserves to be stashed in deep-mixed and AL-only leagues, but his fantasy upside will be limited while on a strict workload this year.