The Chicago Cubs placed left-hander Shota Imanaga (hamstring) on the 15-day injured list on Monday with a left-hamstring strain, according to 670 The Score's Bruce Levine. Imanaga lands on the shelf after injuring his hamstring during his start on Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers when he sprinted to cover first base on a ground ball in the infield. Because we don't exactly know how bad the 31-year-old southpaw's hamstring strain is, we don't have a clear idea of how much time he'll need to miss. Fantasy managers will obviously be hoping it's a minimal IL stay, and Imanaga will be first eligible to return on May 20. The Cubs have multiple options to fill Imanaga's starting-rotation spot in the meantime, with the most intriguing option being right-handed prospect Cade Horton. Veteran Chris Flexen and left-hander Jordan Wicks are other options.

The Minnesota Twins announced on Monday that they optioned infielder Edouard Julien to Triple-A St. Paul. Julien is the odd-man out with the Twins activating both Royce Lewis (hamstring) and Willi Castro (oblique) from the 10-day injured list on Monday. The 26-year-old Canadian will surely be back up with the Twins at some point this season for infield depth, but he might not get another shot at a starting role after going just 18-for-91 (.198) with two home runs, eight RBI and eight runs scored in 29 games played. In 232 games played since debuting in the big leagues in 2023, Julien has hit a mediocre .230/.336/.388 with a .725 OPS, 26 home runs, 66 RBI and nine stolen bases. He has been unable to repeat his rookie-year performance, when he clubbed 16 long balls in just 109 games. Expect Castro to see most of the playing time at the keystone going forward in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Twins announced on Monday that they have reinstated utility man Willi Castro (oblique) from the 10-day injured list and optioned infielder Edouard Julien to Triple-A St. Paul in a corresponding move. Castro didn't require a minor-league rehab assignment and should be back in the team's starting lineup for Tuesday's series opener against the Baltimore Orioles. The 28-year-old Puerto Rican switch-hitter suffered a mild oblique strain in the middle of April. With Julien headed down to the farm, fantasy managers should expect Castro to play mostly every day at the keystone will also bouncing around wherever needed on the diamond. He'll return to a .227/.292/.364 slash line with a .655 OPS, one home runs, five RBI, seven runs scored and a stolen base. Castro doesn't stand out for power or speed and will be a modest counting-stats contributor, but he's incredibly useful for his positional versatility.

The Texas Rangers are likely going to recall outfielder Evan Carter before Tuesday's series opener in Boston against the Red Sox, according to general manager Chris Young. It remains to be seen if Carter will be in the starting lineup at Fenway Park, but he has earned a promotion back to the big leagues for the first time in 2025 after heating up at the plate recently at Triple-A Round Rock. The 22-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder hit .221/.333/.416 with three home runs, nine RBI, six steals and 13 runs scored in 21 games at Round Rock. Although Carter hit just .188 (27-for-144) with 43 K's, five homers and 15 RBI in 45 games in 2024 and has dealt with injuries, he could get a shot as Texas' primary center fielder against right-handed pitchers moving forward after the team recently cut Leody Taveras. In just 23 regular-season games his rookie year, Carter hit .306/.413/.645 with five homers and 12 RBI.

San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill (hamstring) has been traveling on Monday and is believed to have arrived in New York only a short while ago, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune's Kevin Acee. The plan is for Merrill to come off the 10-day injured list and play in the second game of the series in the Bronx against the Yankees on Tuesday. Brandon Lockridge will make the start in center field on Monday and will hit ninth against Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon, who he has never faced. In addition to traveling on Monday, it's a rainy and wet day in New York, so the Padres aren't going to risk throwing Merrill back out there in those conditions. He's been out since early April with a strained right hamstring, but he's on the cusp on returning and should be thrown back in all starting fantasy lineups immediately. The 22-year-old was on fire before his injury, slashing .378/.415/.676 with a 1.090 OPS in 37 at-bats.