Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that if right-hander Walker Buehler's (elbow) minor-league rehab start goes well on Thursday night and he gets to 80 to 90 pitches, he will be a strong candidate to return to the starting rotation next week. Buehler is getting very close to making his 2024 debut after missing all of the 2023 campaign due to Tommy John surgery that he underwent in August of 2022. It would be unfair to expect the 29-year-old to immediately return to his pre-surgery levels, but it doesn't mean he shouldn't be rostered in all fantasy formats. Before having elbow surgery, Buehler was a fantasy ace when he was on. Pick him up off your league's waiver wire immediately if he's somehow available.

Arizona Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald (oblique) will throw his second bullpen session of his recovery process on Tuesday. In his first bullpen session on Saturday, Sewald threw 18 pitches after initially landing on the injured list with a Grade 2 left-oblique strain. The 33-year-old could be getting close to going on a minor-league rehab assignment, but oblique injuries for pitchers can be hard to predict. Until Sewald is able to return to Arizona's bullpen, he should remain stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues. Kevin Ginkel has served as the Snakes' fill-in closer since Sewald landed on the IL, with Ryan Thompson and Kyle Nelson setting him up in the late innings. Sewald had a career-high 34 combined saves in 2023 with the D-backs and the Seattle Mariners.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Tommy Edman (wrist) will start taking dry swings on Monday and will hit off a tee on Tuesday. Meanwhile, outfielder Dylan Carlson (shoulder) will hit off a tee on Monday and will progress to soft toss this week. Edman is probably further from making his 2024 debut than Carlson after recovering from offseason surgery on his right wrist. When healthy, the 28-year-old will be St. Louis' starting center fielder after slashing .248/.307/.399 with a career-high-tying 13 home runs, 47 RBI and 27 stolen bases in 137 games played. Edman should be rostered in most fantasy baseball leagues despite his late start to the season. Carlson was shut down for two weeks after receiving a cortisone injection for an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder. The 25-year-old could have been playing every day if he was healthy, but when he returns, he might merely be the team's fourth outfielder.

Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session on Tuesday, and if all goes well, he will return to the team's starting rotation this weekend to face the Washington Nationals in his 2024 debut, according to manager Joe Espada. Verlander said he feels ready despite giving up five earned runs on seven hits while walking a batter in four innings (77 pitches) in a minor-league rehab start for Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday. The Astros could really use the 41-year-old three-time Cy Young winner back in their banged-up rotation, and a start this weekend against the Nats would be a plus matchup for fantasy managers in Verlander's first start of the year. Don't expect ace-like numbers from Verlander at his age, but he still has the potential to be a strong No. 3 if he can stay healthy.

An MRI exam on Monday morning revealed that Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (groin) has a Grade 1 groin strain. Perez said he's pain-free and just has a little tightness/pinch after getting hurt on Sunday against the New York Mets. The veteran backstop was held out of the lineup on Monday versus the Chicago White Sox but is hoping to return to action on Tuesday. He went straight to manager Matt Quatraro's office on Monday and lobbied to play, but Freddy Fermin is doing the catching and is batting eighth against White Sox rookie righty Nick Nastrini. The 33-year-old Perez shouldn't need a trip to the injured list, and fantasy managers should check back on Tuesday to see if he's back in the starting lineup. Perez is off to a great start in 2024, batting .339 (21-for-62) with four home runs, two doubles and 15 RBI in just 16 games.