Masyn Winn DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn (back) will start a minor-league rehab assignment on Friday at Triple-A Memphis, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch If everything goes well for Winn in the minors over the weekend, it puts him on track to likely be activated from the 10-day injured list for Tuesday's game in Atlanta against the Braves when he is first eligible to return from lower-back spasms. In the meantime, Thomas Saggese will likely see most of the playing time at shortstop for the Cardinals. Winn had gotten off to a slow start at the plate before suffering from back spasms, going 10-for-45 (.222) with a home run, three RBI, eight runs scored, five walks and 16 strikeouts in his first 13 games played. As long as Winn continues to bat at the bottom of St. Louis' batting order, it will limit his fantasy upside as a middle-infield option in deep-mixed leagues.

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said "we're on pace for Masyn Winn (back) to be activated on Tuesday." Winn will stay in St. Louis this weekend to continue his rehab work on his injured back and could return on Tuesday during the series against the Atlanta Braves. Marmol said the 23-year-old is progressing to hitting in the batting cages and playing catch. The first day that Winn is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list is next Tuesday. In the meantime, the Cardinals will continue to roll with young infielder Thomas Saggese as their starting shortstop. When Winn is able to return next week, fantasy managers will be hoping that he can start producing more at the plate, as he's started off 2025 with a .222/.314/.289 slash line with a homer, three RBI and eight runs scored. Winn will have a lower fantasy ceiling and floor as long as he remains at the bottom of St. Louis' batting order.

The St. Louis Cardinals placed shortstop Masyn Winn (back) on the 10-day injured list on Saturday due to lower-back spasms and activated infielder Nolan Gorman (hamstring) from the IL in a corresponding move, according to The Athletic's Katie Woo. Winn was forced to leave Friday night's win over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies early and will now miss at least the next 10 days. The good news is that the 23-year-old doesn't think his injury is very serious, so there's a chance he could be back when he's eligible to come off the IL on April 22. Thomas Saggese is starting at short and is batting ninth for Game 2 of the series against the Phillies on Saturday and should see most of the starts at the 6 for the RedBirds while Winn is out. Winn had gotten off to a slow start at the plate to begin the year before his injury, going 10-for-45 (.222) with a homer, three RBI, five walks and 16 K's in 13 games played.