MLB News

Andy Pages • CF • Dodgers

Andy Pages Gets Rare Off Day in Midst of Hot Streak

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages will head to the bench for a rare off day on Tuesday night. The hot-hitting Pages will head to the bench after starting in every game this season. Through 22 games, Pages is slashing .370/.416/.605 with five home runs, 21 RBI, and four steals. The right-handed slugger currently leads the league in hits (30) and RBI. Fantasy managers should pull him out of their lineups on Tuesday, but he should return for Wednesday's game. Alex Call will take over in center field and bat eighth versus right-hander Landen Roupp.

Apr 21

Freddie Freeman • 1B • Dodgers

Freddie Freeman Activated, Returning to Lineup on Tuesday

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman was activated from the paternity leave list on Tuesday. Freeman is back in the lineup after missing the last two games while being away from the team for family reasons. He will slide into the three-hole and bat third against right-hander Landen Roupp on Tuesday. Dalton Rushing, who covered first base on Monday, will move behind the plate for Tuesday's game. Through 20 games, Freeman is slashing .296/.360/.519 with three home runs and 14 RBI this season. Fantasy managers need to double-check their lineups and make sure Freeman is active ahead of first pitch.

Apr 21

Brandon Lowe • 2B • Pirates

Brandon Lowe is Day-to-Day with Knee Issue

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe (knee) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Texas Rangers. It's unclear when Lowe suffered the injury, but he'll miss his second straight game due to left knee discomfort. Pirates manager Don Kelly said Lowe is trending in the right direction and is hopefully available to come off the bench on Tuesday. Barring any setbacks, it doesn't sound like Lowe will require a trip to the Injured List. Nick Gonzales will bat seventh and cover second base against right-hander Kumar Rocker on Tuesday. Fantasy managers should check back on Wednesday for another update on Lowe.

Apr 21

Matthew Boyd • SP • Cubs

Matthew Boyd to be Activated and Start on Wednesday

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (biceps) will be activated from the 15-day Injured List on Wednesday. The veteran southpaw is set to be activated and return to the mound for Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Boyd is back in the mix after missing over two weeks due to a left biceps strain. He made one rehab start, throwing 64 pitches last Thursday with Triple-A Iowa. The assumption is that Boyd will have a fairly normal workload on Wednesday. Boyd was hit around on Opening Day, but looked better in his second start of the season. The veteran southpaw should be rostered in most 12-team formats.

Apr 21

Zack Wheeler • SP • Phillies

Zack Wheeler to Make Season Debut on Saturday

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (shoulder) is set to be reinstated from the 15-day Injured List on Saturday. The right-hander will make his season debut against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday. Wheeler has fully recovered from surgery to address venous thoracic outlet syndrome. He made his final rehab start with Double-A Reading, allowing four runs across four innings of work. The right-hander was able to throw a handful of rehab starts, so he figures to have a normal workload in his debut. Fantasy managers should double-check the waiver wire and make sure Wheeler isn't sitting around.

Apr 21

Christian Scott • SP • Mets

Christian Scott to Join Mets, Will Start on Thursday

New York Mets right-handed pitcher Christian Scott is set to join the team's starting rotation on Thursday and will face the Minnesota Twins. Scott made his MLB debut during the 2024 campaign and posted a modest 4.56 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP over his first 47 1/3 innings. He struck out just 39 hitters. Scott would then miss the entire 2025 campaign after undergoing internal brace surgery. In camp, Scott logged six innings and flashed upside, striking out eight batters, but was sent to Triple-A Syracuse to further his workload. With the top level of the minor leagues, Scott had a rough debut, allowing six earned runs, but has bounced back since, logging 10 1/3 frames with a 1.74 ERA and a 12:2 K:BB over his last two outings. As a result, Kodai Senga will have his start pushed back, but will remain in the rotation. Scott's strikeout upside makes him a viable streaming target in deeper 12+ team leagues.

Apr 21

Blake Snell • SP • Dodgers

Blake Snell to Start a Rehab Assignment on Wednesday

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell (shoulder) is scheduled to start a minor-league rehab assignment with Single-A Ontario in San Jose on Wednesday, weather permitting, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. It's positive news for Snell, but he will most likely need the full 30 days on his rehab assignment before the Dodgers are comfortable having him rejoin their big-league starting rotation following a bout with left-shoulder fatigue this spring. Despite shoulder injuries limiting the two-time Cy Young winner to 11 regular-season starts since the start of the 2025 season, Snell's high-strikeout upside makes him stash-worthy in all fantasy baseball leagues. He's currently rostered in 92% of Yahoo leagues. In his first year in L.A. in 2025, Snell had a strong 2.35 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 72 strikeouts and 26 walks in 61 1/3 regular-season innings before posting a 3.18 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 41:13 K:BB in his six playoff outings (five starts) on his way to a World Series ring.

Apr 21

Manny Machado • 3B • Padres

Should Fantasy Managers be Concerned With Manny Machado's Slow Start?

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado has gotten off to an uncharacteristically slow start in 2026, going 13-for-70 (.186) with two home runs, two doubles, 10 RBI, 10 runs scored, and a stolen base in 88 plate appearances across his first 21 games of 2026. It's still early, but there are some things that fantasy managers should be a bit uneasy about. The 33-year-old perennial All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger winner sits in the 57th percentile in xwOBA, the 28th percentile in xSLG, the 55th percentile in strikeout rate, and the 26th percentile in hard-hit rate in the early going. Additionally, Machado has a weak 5.6% barrel rate. His batted-ball metrics don't look great, but the good news is that Machado ranks eighth in baseball with an 18.2% walk rate, so his plate discipline remains intact as a middle-of-the-order hitter for the Friars. It's still a small sample size, so fantasy managers need to stay patient and hope it's just an early-season funk.

Apr 21

Dylan Lee • RP • Braves

Dylan Lee Worth a Speculative Pickup in Deeper Leagues for Saves?

The Atlanta Braves bullpen is due for a shakeup going forward after the team placed closer Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday. Right-hander Robert Suarez picked up a save over the weekend with Iglesias unavailable, and he's fully expected to see most of Atlanta's save opportunities with Iglesias sidelined for at least 15 days. Left-handed reliever Dylan Lee could also be worth consideration off the waiver wire in deeper fantasy baseball leagues with Iglesias sidelined. In his sixth season with the team, the 31-year-old southpaw has allowed just one earned run on five hits while walking two and striking out nine in his 10 innings of work in 11 appearances out of the bullpen. Lee had his first two career saves for the Braves last year and should be relied on more in high-leverage situations out of the bullpen late in games going forward with Iglesias on the shelf. In addition to potential save chances in the coming days and weeks, Lee has a career 28.9% strikeout rate and could also be an asset in leagues that reward points for holds.

Apr 21

Bryce Eldridge • 1B • Giants

Bryce Eldridge a Power Bat to Stash for Home Run Upside

San Francisco Giants first base prospect Bryce Eldridge cooled over the weekend, going 0-for-8 at the plate in two games for Triple-A Sacramento. Prior to that, though, the Giants' top-ranked prospect had been on a heater, going 16-for-37 (.432) with three doubles and a pair of home runs over a nine-game stretch. All in all, the 6-foot-7 slugger has produced a .315/.425/.479 slash line through 19 games, putting him squarely on the stash radar for fantasy. The strikeout rate remains high at 31.0 percent, but that appears to be something that will have to be tolerated with his impressive power stroke, and an above-average walk rate of 9.9 percent during his time at Triple-A since 2025 could help offset that if he can maintain something close to that rate in the majors. A recall to the big leagues doesn't appear to be imminent, but that could change in a hurry, so for fantasy managers in deep leagues desperately searching for home runs, the 21-year-old is worth stashing ahead of an eventual return to the Giants.

Apr 21

Marcus Semien • 2B • Mets

Marcus Semien Getting a Shot in Leadoff Spot for Struggling Mets

New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien will get a shot in the leadoff spot for the struggling Mets in their contest on Tuesday against the visiting Minnesota Twins and right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson, per MLB.com. Semien's numbers don't jump off the page early on in his first year with the team, but he's been heating up and has reached base eight times in his last four games. Overall, the 35-year-old three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner is batting .234 (18-for-77) with a homer, eight RBI, three runs scored, and a stolen base in 22 games played. The good news for the Mets, who have lost 11 games in a row, is that All-Star outfielder Juan Soto (calf) is expected to rejoin the lineup on Wednesday. Semien has plenty of experience in his career in the leadoff spot, but his offensive profile has shown signs of decline in the last couple of seasons. In six career at-bats versus Woods Richardson, Semien has a solo home run and is batting .167 with an .834 OPS.

Apr 21

Ronald Acuña Jr. • RF • Braves

Ronald Acuna Jr. Back in Leadoff Spot on Tuesday After Injury Scare

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (hand) is back in right field and in the leadoff spot for the Braves on Tuesday against the Washington Nationals and left-hander Foster Griffin, according to MLB.com. Acuna was hit by two pitches on Monday night and was removed after the second one hit his left hand. Thankfully, X-rays came back negative, and he was considered day-to-day with a hand contusion. The 28-year-old five-time All-Star and former MVP should be returned to all starting lineups immediately for the second game of the series in D.C. Acuna has gotten off to a middling start in 2026, slashing .244/.359/.360 with a .720 OPS, just one home run, five RBI, 10 runs scored, and four stolen bases, but he has five-category potential and should eventually heat up for the Braves. This will be the first time in his career that he has faced Griffin.

Apr 21

Kaelen Culpepper • 3B • Twins

Kaelen Culpepper Becoming Stash-Worthy Amid Hit Streak

Minnesota Twins infield prospect Kaelen Culpepper is performing admirably in his first taste of Triple-A, currently riding a five-game hit streak that has pushed his batting average to .275. He's also drawing walks at an above-average rate of 10.0 percent, which has produced a strong .356 on-base percentage. The Twins' second-ranked prospect does not appear to be overmatched at the minors' highest level, having tallied four doubles, three home runs, and a better-than-average strikeout rate of 20.0 percent. Additionally, the former first-round draft pick has shown off his wheels, having stolen four bases through 19 games (three in his last four). The right-handed hitter is coming off a breakout 2025 campaign in which he slashed .289/.375/.469 with 20 home runs and 25 steals. Proving his mettle at every stop along the way, the 23-year-old has put himself in position to make his major league debut this season, and given his all-around abilities, he's made himself a stash consideration in deeper fantasy leagues.

Apr 21

Ryan Waldschmidt • CF • Diamondbacks

Ryan Waldschmidt a High-End Stash with Multi-Category Potential

Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect Ryan Waldschmidt's MLB debut is drawing closer and closer with every multi-hit performance at Triple-A Reno. The D-backs' top-ranked prospect has eight multi-hit efforts in his last 15 contests and has reached base safely in 19 of the 20 games in which he's recorded at least two plate appearances. He's hitting .338, and a 12.4 percent walk rate, along with four hit-by-pitches, has generated an impressive .448 on-base percentage. The former first-rounder has also been showing off his base-stealing chops, with three steals in his last four games. After a breakout 2025 in which he manufactured a .289/.419/.473 slash line with 18 home runs and 29 steals, the 23-year-old appears to be on the precipice of a big league debut. Lourdes Gurriel Jr.'s return to the big league lineup this past week may delay his call-up a while longer since the team would probably prefer he get regular at-bats at Triple-A rather than sit on the big league bench, but it is just a matter of time now. With a solid all-around skillset, Waldschidt is a top stash candidate in most formats.

Apr 21

Jett Williams • SS • Brewers

Jett Williams a Sneaky Stash Option with Positional Versatility

Milwaukee Brewers infield/outfield prospect Jett Williams' bat is showing signs of life as of late, with the Brewers' third-ranked prospect producing a three-hit game for Triple-A Nashville on April 14, and in the five games since then, the former first-rounder has recorded his first three extra-base hits of the season. Even when the bat has been cold, the right-handed hitter has been getting on base via the walk, drawing 14 free passes so far through 19 games for the Sounds, which is something he's been able to do throughout his minor league career (15.9 percent BB%). It has helped him utilize his speed, too, swiping five bags already this year after stealing 34 in 2025. The 22-year-old will likely make his MLB debut in the coming months, but he'll need to continue to produce at Triple-A. Once he gets the call, his solid bat-to-ball skills, power, and elite speed, along with his positional versatility (2B, SS, OF) in Yahoo! leagues, will make him an intriguing fantasy asset.

Apr 21

Joshua Báez • RF • Cardinals

Is Joshua Baez Still Worthy of Stashing Amid Slump at Triple-A?

St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez belted 20 home runs and stole 59 bases between High-A and Double-A a season ago, posting better-than-average strikeout and walk rates along the way, then parlayed that into a successful 2026 Grapefruit League showing that was capped off with home runs in three consecutive games. However, after a solid start to his season at Triple-A Memphis, the former second-round draft pick has been mired in a week-long slump, going 3-for-22 (.136) with nine strikeouts in his last seven games. For the season, the right-handed hitter is slashing .206/.308/.397 with three home runs and five steals. Concerningly, after striking out six times in his first 37 plate appearances for the Redbirds (16.2 percent), the 22-year-old has tallied 18 strikeouts in his last 41 plate appearances (43.9 percent). The 6-foot-3 slugger will likely make his MLB debut at some point this season, but the team will want to see him right the ship before penciling him into the big league lineup, so for now, he's no longer a high-priority stash.

Apr 21

Travis Bazzana • 2B • Guardians

Travis Bazzana a Top Offensive Stash as Bat Gets Hot at Triple-A

Cleveland Guardians second base prospect Travis Bazzana has become a top stash candidate among minor league hitters who could soon be making their MLB debuts. The former first-overall draft pick is 13-for-32 (.406) over his last eight games at Triple-A Columbus, with five multi-hit performances mixed in there. Not only that, the left-handed slugger is hitting for power, too, collecting eight of his 12 extra-base hits over that stretch, including his first home run of 2026. In addition, the Australian continues to draw walks at an above-average rate, currently with a 13.0 percent walk rate (17.4 percent strikeout rate) and has stolen five bases in 19 games for the Clippers. In all, it has produced a .278/.374/.481 slash line that has him knocking on the door to the majors. Switch-hitting Juan Brito has been getting the majority of starts at second base after Brayan Rocchio moved to shortstop due to Gabriel Arias' (hamstring) injury, but Brito is 2-for-29 (.069) over his last nine games, and Arias isn't expected back until sometime in May. So, Bazzana could get his shot sooner rather than later, and with above-average contact, power, and speed, the 23-year-old is a worthy stash candidate in most formats.

Apr 21

Juan Soto • LF • Mets

Juan Soto Expected to Return on Wednesday

The current plan is for New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (calf) to be reinstated from the 10-day injured list on Wednesday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Soto began a running progression last Tuesday, and apparently, he's ramped up enough for the Mets to feel comfortable reinstating him in the middle of this week. The 27-year-old four-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger winner will be a much-needed offensive boost to a Mets team that has lost 11 straight games. Before injuring his calf, Soto was slashing .355/.412/.516 with a .928 OPS, a home run, five RBI, and three runs scored in his 31 at-bats. He's not going to fix New York's offensive struggles single-handedly, but his return will certainly be a boost. Fantasy managers should be prepared to get Soto back into their lineups everywhere on Wednesday at home against the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field. Soto will be returning without playing in any minor-league rehab games.

Apr 21

Royce Lewis • 3B • Twins

Twins Reinstate Royce Lewis From Injured List on Tuesday

The Minnesota Twins announced on Tuesday that they reinstated infielder Royce Lewis (knee) from the 10-day injured list. Lewis is back with the Twins after spraining his knee back on April 9, and he should be back in the starting nine right away for Tuesday's series opener against the New York Mets and right-hander Nolan McLean at Citi Field. With Lewis sidelined, the Twins were using a committee at the hot corner between Tristan Gray and Ryan Kreidler. Before Lewis' knee injury, he was hitting .222/.378/.444 with an .822 OPS, two home runs, eight RBI, six runs scored, and two stolen bases in 45 plate appearances across 12 games played. He clubbed two home runs in his two minor-league rehab games, and fantasy managers will be hoping that Lewis' power stroke is on point upon his return. The former first overall pick has game-changing power, but injuries continue to get in his way.

Apr 21

Adley Rutschman • C • Orioles

Adley Rutschman Activated From Injured List on Tuesday

The Baltimore Orioles activated catcher Adley Rutschman (ankle) from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and designated catcher Sam Huff for assignment in a corresponding move, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. Rutschman will return to the O's after a minimum stay on the IL, and he should be back in the team's starting lineup for their contest on Tuesday against the hosting Kansas City Royals and left-hander Kris Bubic. The 28-year-old's return will push young catcher Samuel Basallo back into a backup role behind the plate, but he should still see plenty of at-bats between catcher and designated hitter in Baltimore. Rutschman, a two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger winner, was off to a strong start at the plate before landing on the IL, hitting .294 (10-for-34), although he's still searching for his first home run in 2026. Get him back into your starting lineups for the rest of the week.

Apr 21

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