The Texas Rangers have placed outfielder Kevin Pillar (back) on the 10-day injured list due to lower back inflammation. The 36-year-old has not appeared in a game since May 3. Through the early part of the campaign, the 36-year-old has appeared in 18 contests and posted a .237/.237/.289 slash line. Pillar has hit two extra-base hits (both doubles), tallied one RBI, and swiped three bags. Pillar has typically been deployed on the short side of a platoon in center field. While he is sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Evan Carter, Josh Smith, and Dustin Harris to share time in center field. Given his lack of consistent playing time and minimal offensive upside, Pillar should not be stashed in any standard format while he is on the injured list.

Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said that corner infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand (back) could start ramping up his baseball activities next week. Encarnacion-Strand is "continuing to take steps" and has been moving around and working out. The 25-year-old took swings off a tee in late April and is now on the verge of ramping up his rehab as he recovers from lower-back inflammation that landed him on the 10-day injured list. He was given an epidural injection along the way to help treat the inflammation in his back. With both Jeimer Candelario (back) and Noelvi Marte (oblique) facing extended absences, it's possible that CES is the first of Cincy's injured infielders to return, potentially in late May. Encarnacion was hitting just .158/.183/.298 with two homers and five RBI in his first 57 at-bats, but he should play regularly whenever he's able to return at either first, third or designated hitter.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have placed relief pitcher Evan Phillips (forearm) on the 15-day injured list with right forearm discomfort. Phillips opened the campaign on the injured list due to a shoulder strain but will be sidelined for another period. Phillips has logged just five 2/3 innings of work this season. He did not allow a run and struck out six batters with a solid 1.06 WHIP. He has tallied two holds being deployed as a high-leverage relief option. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, but given this injury, Phillips could be sidelined for an extended period. While he is sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, and Alex Vesia to see most of the high-leverage opportunities in the Dodger bullpen. However, Scott remains the top option for saves.

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Zach Eflin (lat) passed his final test with a successful bullpen session on Wednesday and will come off the 15-day injured list to start against the Los Angeles Angels this weekend, according to manager Brandon Hyde. It's unclear which game Eflin will start in Anaheim in a three-game series that starts in Southern California on Friday, but for fantasy purposes, the 31-year-old veteran will be an immediate streaming option in single-year and DFS formats. Before suffering a strained right lat early in the year, Eflin had posted a decent 3.00 ERA (3.97 FIP) and 0.83 WHIP with eight strikeouts and only one walk in three starts over 18 innings pitched versus the Blue Jays, Red Sox and Diamondbacks. He'll be facing an Angels offense this weekend that ranks 26th in baseball with a weak .657 team OPS.

Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Nestor Cortes (elbow) resumed playing catch on Sunday. Cortes, who was transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 21, received a platelet-rich plasma injection for a left-elbow flexor strain after his April 3 start. It's good to hear that Cortes has resumed throwing after his early-season injury, but he still has a ways to go and isn't expected to be an option for Milwaukee's starting rotation until around the All-Star break in mid-July. The 30-year-old veteran southpaw from Cuba was hit around pretty hard in his first start of the year against his old team, the New York Yankees, allowing eight earned runs on five home runs in just two innings. However, he bounced back to toss six shutout innings for his first win on April 3 against the Cincinnati Reds before landing on the shelf. Cortes should be an option again for those in deeper fantasy leagues in the second half of the season.