

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Harold Ramirez is on the bench for Monday's contest against the visiting Texas Rangers after he started each of the team's first four games as the designated hitter. Yandy Diaz will serve as the DH and bat leadoff for the Rays, while Austin Shenton gets the nod at first base and will hit eighth against Rangers right-hander Dane Dunning. Ramirez could probably use the day off after going just 1-for-17 (.059) with three strikeouts in the first four games of the 2024 season over the weekend against the Toronto Blue Jays. If Shenton gets off to a hot start offensively for the Rays, he could see more playing time moving forward at the cold corner against right-handed pitcher after he hit .304/.423/.584 with 29 home runs in the minors in 2023.


Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that infield prospect Junior Caminero (quadriceps), the team's top prospect who left Sunday's Triple-A Durham game with a left-quadriceps injury, is having an MRI exam on Monday. Caminero went 2-for-3 with a home run and two runs scored but then had to be helped off the field after pulling up lame while running to first base. The Rays and fantasy managers should have a better idea of the 20-year-old's timetable for a return once his MRI results comes back. Caminero reached the Double-A level at just 19 years old and made his MLB debut late last season. The Rays like to slow play their prospects, but if he can bounce back from this injury quickly, Caminero figures to resurface in the big leagues in 2024 sooner than later.



Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mickey Moniak (illness) is feeling better on Monday and is starting in right field and batting eighth versus the Miami Marlins and right-hander Max Meyer. Moniak was scratched from the series finale against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday but is already feeling better and is back in the lineup. The 25-year-old former first overall pick in 2016 by the Philadelphia Phillies has seen his fantasy stock fall since the end of last year in Anaheim due to the addition of outfielder Aaron Hicks. He's also in the eight-hole on Monday, which won't really endear him to any DFS managers. In two plate appearances through the team's first three games, Moniak has gone hitless. He'll look for his first hit of 2024 in his first start of the season.



Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe is getting his first day off on Monday as the team takes on the Miami Marlins. O'Hoppe started each of the team's first three games over the weekend and went 3-for-7 with an RBI, run scored and two walks. The 24-year-old will be the Angels' primary catcher throughout the season, barring injury. With O'Hoppe getting his first breather of 2024, Matt Thaiss will get the nod behind the dish on Monday and hit seventh versus Marlins right-hander Max Meyer. Thaiss will merely be a low-upside sleeper in DFS on Monday in his first start of the year. The 28-year-old left-handed-hitting backstop hit .214/.319/.340 with a career-high nine home runs and 31 RBI in 95 games for the Angels last season.


Philadelphia Phillies utility man Whit Merrifield is starting in left field and is batting eighth on Monday against the visiting Cincinnati Reds and left-hander Andrew Abbott. Brandon Marsh is moving to center field, which pushes Johan Rojas to the bench. Merrifield wasn't in the team's Opening Day lineup last Thursday, but he's started each of the last three games with left-handers on the mound. The 35-year-old three-time All-Star is looking likely to play anytime the Phils face lefties and to help fill in when others need days off throughout the year. So far through his two games played, he's gone 1-for-7 with a walk in eight plate appearances. As long as Merrifield sticks near the bottom of the Phillies' batting order, he's not going to have a very high fantasy ceiling on a daily basis.
