MLB News

Willi Castro • 2B • Rockies

Willi Castro Remains Out on Friday Against Dodgers

Colorado Rockies infielder Willi Castro (hand) remains out for Friday's series opener at Coors Field against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers, per MLB.com. Edouard Julien will start at second base again and bat leadoff for Colorado versus Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow. Castro has not played since being pulled from Wednesday's game against the Houston Astros after he was hit by a pitch on his right hand. The good news, though, is that X-rays came back negative, and he's considered day-to-day for now. Castro could be back in the lineup as early as Game 2 of the series in Denver on Saturday. The 28-year-old Puerto Rican switch-hitter could be in danger of losing more playing time to Julien at the keystone for the Rockies after starting the year with a .214/.279/.339 slash line, one home run, eight RBI, four walks, and 24 strikeouts in 621 plate appearances over 16 games played. In his career against Glasnow, Julien is hitting .200 with a .533 OPS in just five at-bats.

Apr 17

Adley Rutschman • C • Orioles

Adley Rutschman Running, Feeling a Lot Better

Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (ankle), who is on the 10-day injured list with left-ankle inflammation, is running and going through drills and said he's feeling "a lot better," according to Jake Rill of MLB.com. Rutschman is pleased with how he's progressing, but he also isn't sure how soon he could be back. He's eligible to return on Tuesday in Kansas City against the Royals. Until Rutschman can return, young catcher Samuel Basallo will do most of the catching for the O's. Rutschman, a 28-year-old switch-hitting catcher, didn't hit a home run in his first 10 games in 2026 before going on the shelf, but he was batting .294 (10-for-34) at the time of his injury with three stolen bases and three runs scored in 39 plate appearances. He needs to be held onto in all fantasy leagues while he heals up as he looks to bounce back from his worst statistical season in 2025 since he entered the majors in 2022. Young outfielder Dylan Beavers should continue to see regular at-bats at DH with both Rutschman and Ryan Mountcastle (foot) injured.

Apr 17

Josh Hader • RP • Astros

Josh Hader Moved to 60-Day Injured List

The Houston Astros announced on Friday that they transferred left-handed closer Josh Hader (biceps) to the 60-day injured list. The move was made to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Peter Lambert, who was called up from Triple-A Sugar Land to make the start on Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals. The move means that Hader now won't be eligible to come off the IL until late May. The dominant 32-year-old southpaw threw his first live batting practice session since being diagnosed with left-biceps tendinitis near the start of spring training, but he still has a ways to go before he'll be ready to come off the IL and return to save duties in Houston. The six-time All-Star has 227 career saves in nine MLB seasons, so he's worth stashing in an IL spot in fantasy leagues until then. Bryan Abreu was expected to be the favorite for saves early in 2026 with Hader sidelined, but he has really struggled, opening the door for Bryan King, and most recently, Enyel De Los Santos.

Apr 17

Roman Anthony • LF • Red Sox

Roman Anthony Heating Up at the Plate After Slow Start

Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony had a disappointing start to the season, slashing .200/.290/.309 with a .272 wOBA and 65 wRC+ over his first 14 games, but there are signs that perhaps he's about to turn it around. The 6-foot-3 slugger is 5-for-10 (.500) over his last three games, including a pair of doubles and more walks (three) than strikeouts (two). Not only that, his average exit velocity (EV) through the first 14 games stood at 90.6 mph, but during this recent three-game hot streak, the left-handed hitter is registering an average EV of 101.7 mph. To put it in perspective, the league's average EV leader, Nick Kurtz, owns an average EV of 98.3. Hitting .246 with a .330 wOBA overall for the season, Anthony's xBA of .271 and xwOBA of .355 point to brighter days ahead, too, so fantasy managers should remain patient.

Apr 17

Max Muncy • 3B • Dodgers |

Max Muncy • 3B • Athletics

Max Muncy Hitting the Ball Hard, Worth a Waiver Add?

Athletics third baseman Max Muncy has cooled over his last four games, going 1-for-10 (.100) with zero extra-base hits over that stretch. However, that was preceded by an eight-game hit streak in which he went 14-for-34 (.412) with three doubles, a triple, and one home run. This is the type of inconsistency you will see from a player who is striking out at a 38.0 percent clip, yet overall, the former first-round draft pick owns a solid .288/.338/.485 slash line on the year (18 games) with a .365 wOBA and 130 wRC+. The right-handed hitter's batting average may ultimately suffer in the long run, but for managers looking for power, Muncy owns a 97th percentile average exit velocity (95.3 mph) and possesses the highest hard-hit rate in all of baseball (69.2 percent) to go along with a solid 12.8 percent barrel rate, so the extra-base hits should keep on coming. The 23-year-old is eligible at 2B, 3B, and SS on Yahoo!, adding to his fantasy appeal, and can still be had in nearly half of leagues.

Apr 17

Drew Pomeranz • RP • Angels

Drew Pomeranz Seeing Value Increase in Angels Bullpen

Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Drew Pomeranz is seeing his fantasy value increase as the Angels figure out how to deploy their bullpen pieces. Jordan Romano began the season as the Angels closer, but an 8.44 ERA and two blown saves quickly led manager Kurt Suzuki to be noncommittal at best when asked about his closer role. Kirby Yates (knee) and Ben Joyce (shoulder) are expected to rejoin the Angels bullpen at some point in the next few weeks, but for now, Pomeranz looks like he could start seeing even higher leverage innings. He's pitched eight innings this season and his five holds put him just two behind the league lead. Chase Silseth and Pomeranz would likely form a lefty/righty closer committee if the Angels officially remove Romano from the role. Pomeranz is currently rostered in only 4% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues. He can be immediately added in holds leagues, and managers in saves formats should keep an eye on how the Angels use their relievers this weekend against the Padres.

Apr 17

Mick Abel • SP • Twins

Mick Abel is a Breakout Pitcher Carrying Elite Upside

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Mick Abel has strung together two dominant outings after two rough ones to start the season. The right-hander hasn't allowed a run in his last two turns through the rotation, allowing just eight hits and three walks while striking out 16 batters in 13 innings pitched. The former first-round draft pick flashed similar dominance this spring, posting a 2.05 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and an elite 28.0 percent K-BB% in 22 IP, so it hasn't come from totally out of nowhere. Because of the first two starts of the year that didn't go well, the 6-foot-5 hurler's ERA (3.98) and WHIP (1.57) don't look great on the surface, but don't let that fool you, the 24-year-old looks like he could be on his way to a breakout campaign and is still available in almost 80 percent of Yahoo! leagues. He'll get the scuffling Mets next Tuesday at home in his next start.

Apr 17

Bryan Baker • RP • Rays

Bryan Baker the New No. 1 Closer in Tampa Bay?

Tampa Bay Rays closer Bryan Baker has already doubled his career total in saves with the four games he has locked down this year. Baker came into the season with one save from the 2022 season and three from last season, split between two teams. He has four this year, putting him two behind the league lead and making him the only Tampa Bay reliever with more than two. While Griffin Jax has been better of late, his rough start to the season took him out of the closer conversation and opened the door for Baker to take over. Edwin Uceta (shoulder) is working his way back from an injury and may be competition for Baker, but it seems more likely that he will slide into a setup role, keeping Baker in the ninth inning. Baker is currently rostered in just 22% of Yahoo leagues and should be immediately added in most formats. He's posted a 3.68 ERA (2.65 xERA) with seven strikeouts and two walks in 7 1/3 innings.

Apr 17

Paul Sewald • RP • Diamondbacks

Paul Sewald the Priority Target for Saves on the Waiver Wire

Arizona Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald is tied with Mason Miller for the league lead in saves with six. Injuries limited the veteran to just 59 1/3 innings pitched between 2024 and 2025, but he saved 34 games in 2023 while registering a 3.12 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 22.5 percent K-BB%. The 35-year-old appears fully healthy and currently has much better numbers than in that 2023 season, with a 2.45 ERA, 0.55 WHIP, and an elite 38.5 percent K-BB%, which can largely be attributed to the fact that he has yet to walk a batter this season. The right-hander doesn't light up the radar, with just an average fastball velocity of 91.5 mph (12th percentile), but he's been able to keep hitters off balance and limit traffic. The 6-foot-3 hurler is no Mason Miller when it comes to strikeouts, but at 58 percent rostered compared to Miller's 99 percent, Sewald's rostership should be much higher, and he remains the top target for saves on the waiver wire.

Apr 17

Willson Contreras • 1B • Red Sox

Willson Contreras Returns to Red Sox Lineup on Friday

Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (back) is starting at first base and is hitting in the two-hole in Friday's series opener against the visiting Detroit Tigers and right-hander Casey Mize at Fenway Park, according to MLB.com. Contreras suffered from back tightness earlier this week and was held out of Wednesday's game against the Minnesota Twins. With an off day on Thursday, he's feeling much better and will return to the starting nine in Beantown. Fantasy managers will be hoping that his back injury won't affect him at the plate moving forward, as Contreras has been one of the most consistent hitters in baseball in the first couple of weeks of the season. The 33-year-old three-time All-Star comes into Friday's action slashing .298/.444/.491 with a .936 OPS, three home runs, 11 RBI, and nine runs scored in 57 at-bats. Contreras has faced Mize just twice in his career and has one hit with a 1.000 OPS. Get him back into your starting lineups.

Apr 17

Abner Uribe • RP • Brewers

Abner Uribe Emerging as New Closer in Milwaukee?

Milwaukee Brewers reliever Abner Uribe notched his first save of the season in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Blue Jays. The right-hander needed just 12 pitches to dispatch Toronto in the top of the ninth, throwing eight of them for strikes and striking out one batter. With Trevor Megill's recent struggles, Milwaukee's closer has been moved to a setup role, leaving the door open for others to compete for save opportunities. With seven saves and a 30.2 percent strikeout rate last season, Uribe certainly fits the bill. Although his strikeout rate is down somewhat to start the year (25.8 percent), the 6-foot-3 fireballer has walked just one batter (3.2 percent) in eight innings pitched. However, it doesn't appear to be Uribe's job alone at the moment, as Angel Zerpa was called upon to shut the door for Milwaukee on Thursday, earning his second save of the season. Nevertheless, Uribe's profile likely gives him the edge as Zerpa owns an opponent batting average of .324 and just a 4:4 K:BB in 10 innings of work. The 25-year-old Uribe is available in almost 40 percent of leagues for managers looking to collect saves.

Apr 17

Andy Pages • CF • Dodgers

Andy Pages Continues to Rake, but Will it Continue?

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages had a breakout season in 2025, but so far is on pace to outproduce that campaign in the early going of 2026. With two hits in his latest contest, the right-handed slugger now has hit safely in 14 of 18 games, with nine multi-hit performances included in there. In all, it has produced a .409/.451/.697 slash line with five home runs, 20 RBI, 10 runs scored, and three steals. His .502 wOBA and 220 wRC+ both rank in the top three in all of baseball. An unsustainable .512 BABIP and xwOBA that is more than 125 points lower (.376) than his actual wOBA point to eventual regression, but for now, he's hot. Although a slowdown will come at some point, the 25-year-old should continue to have success over the course of the season and is looking like one of the biggest draft-day values of 2026.

Apr 17

Daniel Palencia • RP • Cubs

Daniel Palencia Goes on 15-Day Injured List With Oblique Strain

Chicago Cubs right-handed closer Daniel Palencia (oblique) was placed on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to April 14) on Friday with a left-oblique strain, according to Meghan Montemurro of The Chicago Tribune. It's yet another injury for Chicago's pitching staff, which has been decimated early in the 2026 season. The 26-year-old Palencia has yet to allow a run for the Cubbies so far this year in five relief innings, recording a save, two walks, and five strikeouts along the way. However, he'll now likely have to miss more than two weeks with his oblique injury. In the meantime, right-hander Ben Brown figures to see the majority of save chances for the Cubs with Palencia on the shelf. Palencia hadn't pitched since last Sunday, and now we know why. High-leverage relievers Phil Maton (knee) and Hunter Harvey (triceps) are also on the IL right now. In addition to Brown, Caleb Thielbar could see some save opportunities in Chicago.

Apr 17

Carson Benge • LF • Mets

Carson Benge Hitting Leadoff on Friday Against Cubs

New York Mets rookie outfielder Carson Benge is starting in right field and is hitting leadoff for Friday's series opener in Chicago at Wrigley Field against the Cubs and right-hander Edward Cabrera, according to MLB.com. With Benge moving up to leadoff, shortstop Francisco Lindor will drop down to the three-hole for the struggling Mets lineup. New York heads into Friday's action on an eight-game losing streak without star outfielder Juan Soto (calf). Benge, 23, hit a home run in his major-league debut on Opening Day, but it's been downhill since then. The former 19th overall pick in 2024 out of Oklahoma State is hitting just .151/.237/.226 with a homer, three RBI, five stolen bases, five runs scored, six walks, and 15 strikeouts in 59 plate appearances over his first 16 MLB games. Hitting leadoff will give him a fantasy boost, but it probably won't last for long, with Soto expected to come off the IL at some point next week for the Mets.

Apr 17

Juan Soto • LF • Mets

Juan Soto Still on Track to Return Next Week

New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (calf) is progressing with his baseball activities and is "still on track" to return from the 10-day injured list next week, but the Mets will want to do a supplemental MRI exam to ensure that Soto is OK before activating him, according to Laura Albanese of Newsday. Soto landed on the IL with a right-calf strain, but he's made good progress and could be back for fantasy managers at some point next week. The Mets have really struggled mightily offensively without the 27-year-old four-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger winner, as they currently rank second-to-last in baseball with a .617 team OPS. In his first 31 at-bats before going on the IL, Soto was hitting a cool .355 (11-for-31) with a homer, five RBI, and three runs scored. Obviously, fantasy managers everywhere will want to get Soto back into their starting lineups immediately next week when he's reinstated.

Apr 17

Jorge Polanco • 1B • Mets

Jorge Polanco Now Dealing With Wrist Issue

New York Mets infielder Jorge Polanco (Achilles, wrist) is in a "better place" with his Achilles bursitis on Friday, but now he's dealing with a right-wrist issue, manager Carlos Mendoza told Max Goodman of NJ.com. The Mets are waiting for MRI results on Polanco's wrist. Although his Achilles bursitis is not considered serious, Polanco could land on the 10-day injured list this weekend. He is not in the starting lineup for the second straight game on Friday as the Mets get set to take on the hosting Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. With Jared Young also on the shelf with a torn meniscus in his left knee, MJ Melendez could see the majority of starts at designated hitter for the Mets against right-handed pitchers until Polanco can return. Brett Baty is starting at first base and batting eighth on Friday against Cubs right-hander Edward Cabrera. Polanco, who has a history of lower-body injuries, is hitting just .179 (10-for-56) to start his Mets tenure.

Apr 17

Cade Horton • SP • Cubs

Cade Horton Undergoes Tommy John Surgery

Chicago Cubs right-hander Cade Horton (elbow) had Tommy John surgery on Thursday and will need 15 to 16 months of recovery, according to Taylor McGregor of the Marquee Sports Network. Horton needed a full right-elbow reconstruction. He will miss the rest of the 2026 campaign and most likely the first half of next season as well. The 24-year-old former seventh overall pick in 2022 out of Oklahoma can obviously be dropped in all redraft fantasy baseball leagues, but he should be held in dynasty/keeper leagues. Horton looked solid in his first 23 big-league appearances (22 starts) in 2025, going 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA (3.58 FIP), 1.08 WHIP, and a 97:33 K:BB in 118 innings pitched during the regular season. He had allowed only two earned runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts in his two starts this year before being shut down with elbow/forearm issues. The good news for the Cubbies' starting rotation is that veteran left-hander Matthew Boyd (biceps) should return to the team sooner rather than later.

Apr 17

Braydon Fisher • RP • Blue Jays

Braydon Fisher to Serve as Opener for Toronto on Friday

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Braydon Fisher will serve as the opener for the team in Friday's series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. Left-hander Eric Lauer, not Fisher, is who fantasy managers will want to consider starting in this matchup at Chase Field in Arizona. Fisher, however, has been lights-out so far for Toronto in eight relief appearances, as he's sporting a 0.93 ERA and 0.72 WHIP with 12 strikeouts and only one walk in 9 2/3 innings of work. The most pitches Fisher has thrown in an outing in 2026 is 32, so he's unlikely to work more than an inning or two on Friday in the desert. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues will probably want to avoid Lauer, too, as he's gone 1-2 so far this year with an ugly 7.82 ERA (6.48 FIP) and 1.58 WHIP with 12 K's and nine walks in 12 2/3 innings over his first three starts. The Diamondbacks currently rank 20th in team OPS in the early going at .687.

Apr 17

Jorge Polanco • 1B • Mets

Jorge Polanco Remains Out on Friday

New York Mets infielder Jorge Polanco (Achilles) is not ready to rejoin the starting lineup for Friday's series opener at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs, according to MLB.com. Bretty Baty will make the start at first base and is batting eighth, while MJ Melendez is serving as the designated hitter and is batting sixth for the Mets against Cubs right-hander Edward Cabrera. Polanco continues to deal with Achilles bursitis early in the 2026 season, his first with the Mets, and will miss a second straight game going into the weekend. If he continues to be bothered by the injury, the Mets could place Polanco on the 10-day injured list. It could be a big reason why the 32-year-old Dominican switch-hitting veteran is hitting just .179 (10-for-56) so far with just one home run, two RBI, three runs scored, five walks, and 11 strikeouts in his first 14 games. Polanco has a history of lower-body injuries, so this is definitely not ideal for the Mets or Polanco's fantasy managers.

Apr 17

Ramón Laureano • LF • Padres

Ramon Laureano to Stick in Leadoff Spot for Padres

San Diego Padres outfielder Ramon Laureano is the team's leadoff man "until further notice," manager Craig Stammen told AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. The skipper cited Laureano's quality of at-bats wherever he's hit in the lineup so far this season, whether it's first or "seventh, eighth, whatever, when I was dumb, putting him lower in the lineup." Laureano's fantasy baseball will be at its highest if he can stay in the leadoff spot for the Friars all season. The 31-year-old veteran Dominican outfielder has earned it, hitting .290/.355/.551 with a .906 OPS, four home runs, 13 RBI, 12 runs scored, and three stolen bases so far in the 2026 campaign in his 69 at-bats. Not only does Laureano bring quality at-bats to the leadoff spot in SD, but he's a gritty player who also has been spectacular with his glove in left field for SD. He's currently riding a six-game hitting streak in which he's gone 9-for-23 (.391) with two homers, two doubles, a triple, seven RBI, and seven runs scored.

Apr 17

MLB News

LEGEND