Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that left-hander Blake Snell (shoulder) is expected to resume playing catch next week in Miami on the team's road trip. Snell landed on the 15-day injured list way back on April 6 and is still working his way back from a left-shoulder injury after encountering a setback recently. Tests haven't revealed any structural damage in his arm, thankfully, and the 32-year-old veteran southpaw will now resume throwing next week after having a cortisone injection on Monday. If things go well next week, Snell could be cleared to throw off a mound soon after. But given the long layoff, he should be expected to need a minor-league rehab assignment eventually, which could push his return into June. Snell allowed two unearned runs while walking eight and striking out four in his first two starts with L.A. before the injury. Keep him stashed in all fantasy leagues.

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Zach Eflin (lat) will start his minor-league rehab assignment with High-A Aberdeen on Sunday, according to MASN's Roch Kubatko. If things go well for Eflin on Sunday, the 31-year-old veteran hurler could be back in Baltimore's starting rotation late next week, potentially on May 10 in what would be a nice matchup against the Los Angeles Angels. He has been out since early April with a strained right lat, and when he's ready, the O's will have a rotation spot waiting for him. It will be a nice reinforcement for the team's rotation with Grayson Rodriguez (elbow, lat) potentially out until the second half of the season. Eflin looked good in his first three starts before getting hurt, allowing six earned runs on 14 hits while walking one and striking out eight in 18 innings. He's worth a look as a back-end starter in deep-mixed leagues if he's available on the waiver wire.

Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias said that right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (elbow, lat) will have re-imaging in a few weeks, and if the results come back positive, he could potentially resume throwing before the end of May. Elias still expects Rodriguez to return before the end of the year. Rodriguez has yet to pitch in 2025, initially due to inflammation in his right forearm that landed him on the 15-day injured list to begin the season. The 25-year-old was then moved to the 60-day IL du to a mild right-lat strain. He has a long ways to go to rejoin Baltimore's starting rotation and won't be guaranteed to be ready before the All-Star break in mid-July, even if he doesn't encounter anymore setbacks. Rodriguez is worth stashing in all fantasy formats, but it's going to be a while before we see him back in the big leagues.

San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill (hamstring) is "towards the finish line" of his rehab, according to manager Mike Shildt. Merrill has spent a couple days at the team's spring training complex in Arizona this week taking live at-bats, and it's unclear if he'll require a minor-league rehab assignment before being activated from the 10-day injured list. The 22-year-old landed on the IL on April 8 with a right-hamstring strain but is knocking on the door to return to the big-league roster, possibly by the end of the weekend series in Pittsburgh against the Pirates if he doesn't need a rehab assignment. If he doesn't rejoin the Padres this weekend, it could come next week in the Bronx against the New York Yankees. Merrill was a first-time All-Star in his rookie season in 2024 and was squaring the ball up regularly before his injury in 10 games, going 14-for-37 with three homers and 10 RBI.

San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth (rib) has been cleared for all baseball activities and was sent to the team's spring training complex in Arizona for live at-bats, starting on Thursday, May 1. Cronenworth's non-displaced right-rib fracture won't fully heal for another few weeks, but he could return from the 10-day injured list before it does. The 31-year-old was placed on the IL back on April 11 for an injury that occurred when he was hit by a pitch in Chicago against the Cubs early in the season. If Cronenworth is required to go on a minor-league rehab assignment, which is likely, he probably won't be back with the big-league roster for another few weeks. When healthy, he'll return to regular duties at second base, which will push veteran Jose Iglesias back to a bench role. Cronenworth was hitting .257 (9-for-35) with two homers, five RBI and seven runs before going on the IL.