New York Mets right-hander Griffin Canning (illness) has recovered enough to make the start in the series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. Lefty David Peterson, right-hander Kodai Senga and righty Clay Holmes will follow him in the four-game series. Canning began feeling sick on Tuesday and was scratched from his originally scheduled start in Minnesota in the series finale against the Twins. The 28-year-old staying on turn in the rotation means that the Mets won't be tempted to call up top pitching prospect Brandon Sproat to make his MLB debut this week. Due to injuries to several of New York's starting pitchers, Canning made the Mets' Opening Day rotation and has gone 1-1 with a 4.20 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 13:8 K:BB in 15 innings over three starts against the Astros, Blue Jays and Athletics. He'll be a middling deep-league streamer against St. Louis.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge was seemingly unstoppable at the plate during Wednesday's game against the Kansas City Royals. The superstar went 3-for-3 at the plate which included a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning. Judge also doubled and walked in this game as he continues his red-hot start to the season. He's posting video game numbers with a .409/.519/.803 slash line with seven homers and 21 RBI and we're not even to Easter yet. Judge seems like he wants his name to be in the MVP conversation again as he's showing no signs of slowing down.

Miami Marlins right-hander Eury Perez (elbow) threw 45 pitches to live hitters on Monday and got up and down three times, according to manager Clayton McCullough. It's looking like Perez is around a month from potentially beginning a minor-league rehab assignment as he makes his way back from Tommy John surgery that he had in April of last year. If the 22-year-old can avoid any setbacks in his long recovery, he could be an option to make his 2025 season debut sometime in the middle of May. He still has a ways to go, but the Dominican hurler is an intriguing fantasy stash because of what he did in his rookie campaign in 2023. Perez posted a sharp 3.15 that year to go with a 1.13 WHIP, 108 strikeouts and 31 walks in just 91 1/3 innings in 19 starts. Given his lack of experience, expect the Marlins to treat him with kid gloves upon his return from TJ surgery.

Washington Nationals right-hander Michael Soroka (biceps) was scheduled to throw a simulated game at PNC Park on Wednesday, his first time facing live hitters since his March 31 season debut against the Toronto Blue Jays. Soroka left his debut in the sixth inning with a right-biceps strain but was able to resume throwing around a week later and is now ready for game-like situations. If the 27-year-old's sim game went well, he will likely head out on a minor-league rehab assignment and pitch at least once (maybe twice) to build his arm up before he comes off the 15-day injured list. The Canadian allowed four earned runs in five innings in his first 2025 start but should get another shot at a starting rotation spot when he's deemed healthy. In the meantime, righty Brad Lord has replaced Soroka in the Nats' rotation.

Chicago Cubs right-hander Javier Assad (oblique) made his first minor-league start for Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday and had a decent performance, allowing an earned run on four hits while walking one and striking out four in 3 1/3 innings pitched. Assad has yet to make his 2025 debut due to an oblique strain that he suffered in spring training, but he's getting closer to being able to rejoin Chicago's starting rotation. The Cubs could certainly use the help after losing left-hander Justin Steele (elbow) for the entire season. In his transition from reliever to full-time starter in 2024, Assad held his own and went 7-6 with a 3.73 ERA (4.64 FIP) and 1.40 WHIP with 124 strikeouts and 63 walks in 147 innings over 29 starts. He's off to a bad start in 2025 due to his injury and he also doesn't have much strikeout upside, but he can serve as a valuable innings eater in NL-only formats.