Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that right-hander Javier Assad (oblique) felt discomfort in his side during his minor-league rehab outing with Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday and is on his way to Chicago to be examined by the team's medical staff. The 27-year-old injured his left oblique in spring training and opened the 2025 season on the 15-day injured list. Just when the Mexican hurler was getting close to a debut in the big leagues, he suffered a setback this week. In two rehab games with Iowa, Assad allowed three earned runs on seven hits while walking four and striking out nine over 7 1/3 innings. He did a respectable job in his transition to being a full-time start for the Cubbies in 2024, but Assad lacks a ton of fantasy upside because of a below-average strikeout rate. There's no timetable for his potential return to the majors, and when he is back, there's no guarantee he'll have a rotation spot waiting for him.

Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers is making the start at first base and is batting fifth for Thursday's series finale against the San Francisco Giants and right-hander Landen Roupp at Oracle Park. With Jackson Chourio getting the day off, Christian Yelich is in left field and Rhys Hoskins is serving as the designated hitter, opening up first base for Bauers. The 29-year-old Bauers will be making only his sixth start of the season for the Brew Crew in the matinee affair. Although he hasn't seen much playing time so far in 2025, Bauers has swing the bat well, going 7-for-25 (.280) with two home runs, five RBI, five runs scored and a stolen base. The former seventh-rounder of the San Diego Padres in 2013 has one hit in just two career at-bats against Roupp.

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh (hamstring) is starting his minor-league rehab assignment on Thursday with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Lochlahn March. Marsh is recovering from a strained right hamstring but could be activated from the 10-day injured list when he's eligible on Sunday as long as he doesn't suffer any setbacks in a few games at Lehigh Valley this weekend. When the 27-year-old outfielder rejoins the big-league roster, he'll be returning to a nightmarish .095/.220/.167 slash line after going 4-for-42 with a homer, five RBI, seven walks and 16 strikeouts in his first 17 games this year. It's still early, but this is about as bad of a starter as you can get. Before going on the IL, Marsh was hitless in his last 31 at-bats with two RBI, five walks and 11 strikeouts. If he continues to struggle when he's back, Marsh could see more time on the bench.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold reports that infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan (rib) is expected to return to the team's starting lineup on Friday for the series opener against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers. A displaced rib kept Donovan out of the starting lineup for the final two games of this week's series against the Atlanta Braves, but with a scheduled day off on Friday, the 28-year-old should be good to go to return on Friday. Fantasy managers will want to check to make sure Donovan is back in there, but if he is, he should be returned to your lineups after his strong start to the 2025 campaign. He's among the league leaders in batting average (.356) in the early going with 32 hits in 90 at-bats, three home runs, 13 RBI, three steals and 14 runs scored. The Cards are scheduled to face Brewers right-hander Chad Patrick in the series opener on Friday at Busch Stadium.

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Kyle Gibson (back) said he dealt with some back tightness in his last minor-league rehab start with High-A Aberdeen on Sunday, but it's nothing serious and he's still ready to join the big-league rotation in Baltimore. Gibson allowed two runs (one earned) on one hit while walking two and striking out five in five innings of work for Aberdeen on Easter Sunday. In his three rehab outings to this point (two with Triple-A Norfolk), the 37-year-old veteran has given up six runs (five earned) on 10 hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out 13 in 12 innings pitched. Although Gibson feels ready to make his 2025 debut in the majors, it's unclear if the Orioles want to see him make one more rehab start in the minors first. Gibson has been durable the last three years, but he won't offer much fantasy upside outside of AL-only formats when he's back with Baltimore.