Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy (oblique) has started to play catch and complete some conditioning drills. While he still may be at least a week away from being cleared to begin swinging a bat, it's a good sign that Murphy is progressing in his recovery from a Grade 1 left oblique strain that he suffered in March 29's game against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. Fantasy managers should not expect the 29-year-old All-Star backstop to be available to the Braves until late April at the earliest, though. Veteran Travis d'Arnaud is filling in as Atlanta's primary catcher in the meantime, but he's slashing only .222/.263/.333 with four doubles, four RBI, and four runs scored in 36 at-bats to begin the season and isn't doing enough right now to warrant rostership outside of deep two-catcher fantasy leagues.

New York Yankees third baseman DJ LeMahieu (foot) is with the team on their current road trip in a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays. Manager Aaron Boone is encouraged by the veteran infielder's progress as he recovers from a non-displaced fracture of his right foot, and he said it's "very possible" LeMahieu will go on a rehab assignment when the club returns home on Thursday. With the Yankees struggling to find a consistent answer in the leadoff spot, the 35-year-old hitting machine will be an option for that role when he returns after hitting .273 (60-for-220) with eight home runs, nine doubles, 27 runs scored, and 36 walks in 60 games post-All-Star break last year. He has a chance to return before the end of April. The switch-hitting Oswaldo Cabrera is hitting .289 with an .888 OPS, three homers, and 11 RBI in his first 12 games of the campaign and remains worth rostering in all fantasy leagues while he's running hot.

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Matthew Liberatore (illness) was unavailable for this past weekend's three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks because of an illness, but manager Oliver Marmol said that the hurler will rejoin the team on Monday for the start of the three-game series against the Oakland Athletics. Having not pitched since last Tuesday, it sounds like Liberatore is feeling better and should be available out of the bullpen on Monday. The 24-year-old southpaw was the top pitching prospect in St. Louis' farm system not long ago, and while he's settling in as a key bullpen piece for the Cards, it's a far cry from the expectations he once garnered. Liberatore owns a solid 3.52 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with five strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings primarily working as a middle-reliever this year, which is a role that doesn't lend itself to very much fantasy appeal at the moment.

The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya is hearing that the Los Angeles Dodgers are planning on calling up pitching prospect Landon Knack to pitch this week, according to sources. Knack would be making his major-league debut if he gets into a game. Ardaya also thinks Kyle Hurt would be a possibility as the Dodgers look for length from their pitching staff this week. According to MLB Pipeline, Knack is the club's No. 13 prospect, while Hurt is their No. 6 prospect. The 26-year-old Knack could make the start on Tuesday against the Washington Nationals, as the Dodgers have yet to name a starter for that game. In three starts at Triple-A Oklahoma City so far this year, Knack has posted a 4.02 ERA with four walks and 16 K's in 15 2/3 innings. He'll be a poor choice as a streamer if he makes a spot start for LA this week.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that outfielder Jason Heyward (back) is still dealing with residual soreness in his back. There is no timetable for his return, but Heyward would have to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before being activated from the 10-day injured list because he's already missed two weeks. Until the 34-year-old veteran left-handed swinger is able to return to the big-league roster, Teoscar Hernandez should continue to regularly play right field, with Chris Taylor also seeing additional playing time for the Blue in the outfield. Heyward should play regularly against right-handed pitching when he's healthy again. The former first-rounder in 2007 by the Atlanta Braves had gone 3-for-14 with two RBI in four games this year before landing on the IL.