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Gibson allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out four batters over six innings in a no-decision against the Mets on Monday.

Advice: Gibson yielded a run in the first inning Monday, but he didn't allow the Mets to score again until they put up two runs against him in the fifth frame. The veteran hurler completed one more scoreless inning after that to record his seventh straight outing of at least six frames to begin the campaign. Gibson's ability to eat up innings didn't correlate with success early in the season -- he gave up 13 runs across his first 19 frames -- but he's turned things around admirably since, posting four consecutive quality starts during which he's allowed just five earned runs across 25 innings. The right-hander has thus lowered his ERA to 3.68 and become at least a semi-viable fantasy target for managers in need of starting pitching despite his tepid 33:16 K:BB across 44 frames. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 9:28 pm

Alvarez had the stitches removed Monday from his surgically repaired left thumb, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Advice: Alvarez underwent surgery April 23 to address a torn UCL in the thumb on his glove hand. At the time his surgery was performed, the Mets estimated that Alvarez would need eight weeks to make a full recovery, so he appears unlikely to return from the injured list until around late June. A more precise target date for his return should come into focus once he resumes taking batting practice and performing defensive drills. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 2:56 pm

Connor Joe is starting for the Pirates on Monday against the Angels and batting cleanup.

Advice: Joe has now started the last three games and five of the last six. He most often plays against lefties but gets the occasional start against righties as well. The 31-year-old is hitting .290/.372/.460 on the season with three home runs, 14 RBI, and two steals. With the Pirates set to face three lefties this week, Joe could see some more at-bats than usual. Rowdy Tellez and Jack Suwinski will take a seat against left-hander Tyler Anderson with Edward Olivares also in the lineup in right field and batting fifth. Rotoworld Yesterday, 11:39 am

Whit Merrifield will start at second base for the Phillies on Monday against the Giants.

Advice: Bryson Stott will slide to shortstop to accommodate Merrifield in the starting lineup against a right-handed pitcher. In the first two games without Trea Turner, the Phillies turned to Edmundo Sosa at shortstop and allowed Stott to remain at second base, but Sosa went 2-for-9 in those games, so the team may be looking to see what else can work. Stott didn’t play any shortstop last year with Turner in Philadelphia, but he did play 658 innings there in 2022 and graded out slightly below average. If the Phillies feel that he can handle shortstop again, that could mean extra at-bats for Merrifield, who hasn’t been great to start his career in Philadelphia. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:06 am