MLB News

Ryan Mountcastle • 1B • Orioles

Orioles Place Ryan Mountcastle on 60-Day Injured List With Foot Fracture

The Baltimore Orioles announced on Monday that they placed first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (foot) on the 60-day injured list with a left-foot fracture. In a corresponding move, the team selected the contract of infielder/outfielder Weston Wilson from Triple-A Norfolk. Mountcastle fractured the fourth metacarpal in his left foot in Saturday's game against the San Francisco Giants, and he now cannot return to the big leagues until late June. Fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if we don't see Mountcastle again in Baltimore until the second half of the season in mid-July. The 29-year-old isn't a must-hold in mixed leagues at this point. He was slated to see more playing time going forward with catcher Adley Rutschman (ankle) on the 10-day injured list, but now Mountcastle is out for an extended period of time. The former first-rounder in 2015 played in just 89 games last year due to injury, and he won't be guaranteed regular playing time later this year once he does return. Mountcastle had gone 4-for-14 at the plate (.286) with no homers or RBI in his first eight games in 2026.

Apr 13

Brent Rooker • RF • Athletics

Still No Timetable for Brent Rooker's Return

Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker (oblique) is not doing baseball activities at this time, and there's still no timetable for his return, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. The A's placed Rooker on the 10-day injured list on Friday with a right-oblique strain that he suffered in Thursday's win over the New York Yankees. The 31-year-old almost certainly won't be ready to come back when he's eligible to be activated from the IL on April 20, since he hasn't even resumed baseball activities. Oblique injuries can take a month-plus to recover from, especially in the case of a violent swinger like Rooker. Carlos Cortes is receiving another start as the team's designated hitter in Monday's game at home against the division-rival Texas Rangers and right-hander Nathan Eovaldi. Rooker was hitting just .146 (6-for-41) at the time of his injury late last week, but he also had a couple of home runs and eight RBI, and the former first-rounder has had 30-plus homers in each of the last three seasons. Fantasy managers should not be cutting him.

Apr 13

Angel Martínez • LF • Guardians

Angel Martinez Worth a Look in Deeper Leagues

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Angel Martinez got off to a miserable start at the plate, going 3-for-21 (.143) over his first nine games, however, he shook off the rust and went a sizzling 10-for-17 (.588) over the next four contests, with two doubles, a home run, six RBI, four runs scored, and three stolen bases. The Dominican hit 11 home runs for the Guardians in 2025, so there is a little pop in his bat, and an 88.3 percent contact rate is easily the best of his career so far since debuting in 2024. The switch-hitter has done nearly all of his damage from the left side of the plate, with a 234 wRC+ there compared to an 18 wRC+ from the right side, so make sure to check the handedness of the pitcher if considering for DFS. The 24-year-old could be a speculative waiver add in deeper leagues in hopes he'll continue the hot hitting, and there's pretty much nowhere to go but up from the right side of the plate. The youngster is available in over 70 percent of Yahoo! leagues and is eligible at both 2B and OF.

Apr 13

Daulton Varsho • CF • Blue Jays

Daulton Varsho Collecting Extra-Base Hits During Four-Game Hit Streak

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho has begun to pick it up at the plate, collecting at least one hit in eight of the last 10 games he's started, and is currently riding a four-game hit streak during which time he's belted four extra-base hits, including two doubles and two home runs. The recent hot stretch has raised the left-handed hitter's season-long slash line to .250/.328/.442 with a .340 wOBA and 119 wRC+. The 29-year-old's low 12.1 percent strikeout rate is by far the best of his career, and an above-average 10.3 percent walk rate that is the best since his rookie season of 2020 shows a maturing approach. The 5-foot-8 slugger's .295 xBA even suggests he's been hitting better than what the results show. He's still available in over 60 percent of leagues for managers hoping he can go on a run similar to last season, when almost 60 percent of his hits went for extra bases.

Apr 13

Jose Fernandez • 1B • Diamondbacks

Jose Fernandez Riding Five-Game Hit Streak, but is He Rosterable?

Arizona Diamondbacks infield prospect Jose Fernandez broke onto the MLB scene on March 31, belting a pair of home runs and collecting four RBI in his major league debut. Fantasy managers who claimed him on waivers were disappointed with the subsequent 1-for-12 (.083) stretch over the next five games, but the Venezuelan appears to be getting comfortable at the plate again as of late. The D-backs' 27th-ranked prospect is now riding a five-game hit streak, during which time he's tallied three multi-hit efforts and gone 8-for-20 (.400). The 6-foot-3 slugger has a .333/.333/.528 slash line with two home runs, seven RBI, seven runs scored, and one stolen base with a .382 wOBA and 141 wRC+ through 11 games so far. Keep in mind that the 22-year-old played one game at Triple-A before getting the call to the majors, so there could be some growing pains, perhaps being foreshadowed by his 9:0 K:BB, but he's holding his own right now, and so long as he continues to hit in the middle of the order, the right-handed hitter is worthy of consideration on fantasy rosters. The youngster is widely available and is eligible at both 1B and SS in Yahoo! leagues, adding to his appeal.

Apr 13

Jorge Soler • RF • Angels

Jorge Soler an Intriguing Lower-Rostered Power Option

Los Angeles Angels outfielder/designated hitter Jorge Soler recently went on a stretch where he blasted a home run in three consecutive games, which was also part of a longer six-game hit streak, putting himself back on the fantasy radar. A couple of games in which he's gone 0-for-7 since then have surely left a sour taste in the mouths of fantasy managers who snapped him up off the waiver wire, but this is what you can expect from a player who owns a career barrel rate of 13.1 percent with only a 70.7 percent contact rate. Looking at career rates, though, the right-handed slugger is typically a slow starter, so perhaps now is the time to exercise patience, as the former All-Star holds a career slash line of .228/.312/.421 and wRC+ of 98 in the first half compared to .265/.360/.532 and 137 wRC+ in the second half. For now, interested managers can scoop the 34-year-old up in over 60 percent of Yahoo! leagues; just know that the potential power production could come at the expense of batting average, at least in the near term until he gets rolling.

Apr 13

Adley Rutschman • C • Orioles

Adley Rutschman Could Have Short Stay on Injured List

Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said on Sunday that catcher Adley Rutschman (ankle) got encouraging results from his MRI exam and could have a short stay on the 10-day injured list, per MLB.com's Jake Rill. Rutschman landed on the 10-day injured list last Thursday with left-ankle inflammation, but the good news is he has avoided any structural damage and could be back from the IL when he's eligible to be reinstated on April 21. It's especially good news after it was revealed that first baseman/designated hitter Ryan Mountcastle suffered a fractured foot on Saturday. Until the 28-year-old switch-hitting Rutschman can return, Samuel Basallo will serve as the O's starting catcher, with Maverick Handley backing him up behind the plate. Although Rutschman has yet to homer, he was looking good at the plate before his ankle injury, going 10-for-34 (.294) with three RBI and three runs scored in his first 10 games. Rutschman is a solid bounce-back candidate in 2026 if he can stay healthy going forward after an injury-plagued 2025 campaign.

Apr 13

Ryan Mountcastle • 1B • Orioles

Ryan Mountcastle has Broken Left Foot

Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said on Sunday that corner infielder Ryan Mountcastle (foot) suffered a broken fourth metatarsal on his left foot on Saturday and will be forced to miss some time, according to Jake Rill of MLB.com. Expect the Orioles to place Mountcastle on the 10-day injured list early this week. The 29-year-old former first-rounder was set to see an increase in playing time in Baltimore with catcher/first baseman Adley Rutschman (ankle) also landing on the IL recently, so it's extremely bad timing for Mountcastle. He had played in only eight games for the O's in the early going in 2026, batting .286 (4-for-14) with an RBI and a double. Young outfielder Dylan Beavers could be the biggest beneficiary of playing time between the outfield and designated hitter with both Rutschman and Mountcastle out for the foreseeable future.

Apr 13

Josh Bell • 1B • Twins

Josh Bell Producing Early in the Season, Should You Pick Him Up?

Minnesota Twins first baseman/designated hitter Josh Bell has been a pleasant surprise for fantasy in the early going of 2026. The veteran is slashing .275/.397/.529 with three home runs, 12 RBI, and 14 runs scored, good for a .410 wOBA and 165 wRC+. The 6-foot-3 slugger is typically good for around 20 home runs per season, belting 22 in 2025, but is on pace for over 100 RBI and 100 runs scored, totals he hasn't come close to since his 2019 campaign with the Pirates. His strikeout rate is higher than we've ever seen it (27.0 percent), but he's also posting a career-high walk rate thus far (15.9 percent). There may be some regression, but as long as he's hitting in the middle of the Twins lineup, there should be plenty of opportunities to keep stacking the RBIs and scoring runs. The 33-year-old is available in over 60 percent of leagues, but that number should probably be higher. Also, for DFS players, the switch-hitter has produced a .470 wOBA and 207 wRC+ as a left-handed hitter compared to a .343 wOBA and 135 wRC+ from the right side, so make sure to fire him up against right-handed pitchers.

Apr 13

Martín Pérez • SP

Braves Designate Martin Perez for Assignment

The Atlanta Braves designated veteran left-hander Martin Perez for assignment on Sunday to make room for reliever Dylan Dodd on the active roster, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Manager Walt Weiss said he's unsure who will replace Perez in the team's starting rotation going forward. Thursday's off day gives the Braves a chance to wait until next weekend to make an official decision. Bowman writes that both pitching prospects JR Ritchie and Didier Fuentes could be options to join the big-league rotation in the near future. Although the 35-year-old Perez seemingly doesn't have much fantasy upside left at this point in his career, he did look good in his first three outings (two starts) for the Braves before being DFA'd. Perez allowed five earned runs on nine hits (one homer) with four walks and six strikeouts in 14 1/3 frames. If a team doesn't claim Perez on waivers, he'll be free to sign with any MLB team to help provide them with experienced pitching depth.

Apr 13

Cody Bolton • RP • Astros

Cody Bolton Having Tests Done on his Back

Houston Astros right-hander Cody Bolton (back) suffered from mid-back tightness and was forced from his start early on Sunday against the Seattle Mariners, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Bolton's back tightness occurred in the area where he was hit by a comebacker in his previous outing against the Colorado Rockies. He said he felt good in the second inning on Sunday and tried to pitch through his back tightness to give the Astros some length. Bolton will undergo more imaging on his back to determine the severity. The Astros just cannot catch a break with their starting pitching staff, with Hunter Brown (shoulder), Cristian Javier (shoulder), and Tatsuya Imai (arm), among others, already on the injured list early in the year. It's unclear yet if Bolton will join them on the IL, but at the very least, he could be forced to skip his next start. Through his first three appearances (two starts) in 2026 with Houston, Bolton has allowed five earned runs on seven hits (one homer) while walking seven and striking out 11 in 8 1/3 innings pitched.

Apr 13

Merrill Kelly • SP • Diamondbacks

Merrill Kelly to Make his Season Debut on Tuesday

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly (back) will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to make his 2026 season debut on Tuesday in Baltimore against the Orioles, according to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. Kelly is ready to rejoin Arizona's starting rotation this week after throwing 83 pitches in an extended spring training game last week. In the 37-year-old veteran's final minor-league rehab appearance, he went five scoreless innings on April 3. Kelly throws the kitchen sink at batters to keep them off balance instead of relying on overpowering stuff. It limits what he can do for fantasy managers, but when healthy, he's an experienced innings-eater in the desert. In 32 starts in 2025 with the D-backs and Texas Rangers, Kelly had a 12-9 record, 3.52 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 167:48 K:BB in 184 innings pitched. Kelly has never had a 200-strikeout season and sports a below-average 22% career strikeout rate. Start him at your own risk in deep-mixed fantasy leagues in his season debut on Tuesday against the O's.

Apr 13

Michael Harris II • CF • Braves

Michael Harris II Back From Paternity List on Monday

The Atlanta Braves announced on Monday that they have reinstated outfielder Michael Harris II (personal) from the paternity list and designated infielder Luke Williams for assignment in a corresponding move. Harris, who was away from the team over the weekend for the birth of his child, should be back in the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener at Truist Park against the division-rival Miami Marlins and right-hander Eury Perez. So far in 2026, Harris has gone 12-for-51 (.235) at the plate with two home runs, a double, seven RBI, five runs scored, two walks, and 10 strikeouts in 53 plate appearances. Fantasy managers will want to get him back into their starting lineups to begin the new week.

Apr 13

Tatsuya Imai • SP • Astros

Tatsuya Imai Going on 15-Day Injured List With Arm Fatigue

Houston Astros right-hander Tatsuya Imai (arm) is going on the 15-day injured list on Monday with right-arm fatigue, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. It's a bad start to Imai's MLB career. The 27-year-old is reportedly going through a "dead-arm" phase, and it remains to be seen if he'll be ready to come off the IL when he's eligible to return later this month. The Japanese hurler only got through one-third of an inning in his most recent start before being sent back to Houston for tests on his right arm. Through his first three starts with the Astros, Imai has disappointed with a 7.27 ERA (4.30 FIP), 2.08 WHIP, and 13:11 K:BB in 8 2/3 innings pitched. Ima's injury is just the latest in a long string of injuries that have decimated the Astros' starting rotation early in the 2026 season, as Hunter Brown (shoulder), Cristian Javier (shoulder), Hayden Wesneski (elbow), Ronel Blanco (elbow), and Randon Walter (elbow) are all on the injured list.

Apr 13

Lenyn Sosa • 2B • Blue Jays

Blue Jays Acquire Lenyn Sosa From White Sox

The Toronto Blue Jays announced on Monday that they have acquired infielder Lenyn Sosa from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for outfielder Jordan Rich and a player to be named later or cash considerations, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. In a corresponding move, the Blue Jays moved right-hander Shane Bieber (elbow) to the 60-day injured list. Sosa, 26, got off to a rough start to the 2026 campaign in Chicago with a .212 batting average (7-for-33) with no homers, three RBI, two runs scored, no walks, and seven strikeouts in 12 games played. However, he led the White Sox with a career-high 22 home runs in 544 plate appearances and 140 games played in 2025 in his fourth year in the big leagues. It's unclear exactly what Sosa's role will be in Toronto long-term, but at least initially, he could play regularly for the Blue Jays while designated hitter George Springer (toe) is on the 10-day injured list with a fractured toe. Sosa's power upside at the second position makes him interesting in a hitter-friendly home park, at least for the short term in his new digs.

Apr 13

Rece Hinds • RF • Reds

Reds Calling Up Rece Hinds From Louisville

The Cincinnati Reds are calling up hot-hitting outfielder Rece Hinds from Triple-A Louisville, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer. In a corresponding move, the Reds are sending struggling outfielder Noelvi Marte to Louisville. Hinds could have immediate waiver-wire appeal in deep-mixed and NL-only leagues and figures to be on the short side of a platoon in right field with Will Benson now that he's back in the big leagues. The 25-year-old was hitting an impressive .354/.475/.771 with five home runs in 61 appearances for the Bats in the minors before his promotion. There's some intriguing power/speed upside with Hinds if he can cut down on his whiffs -- he's struck out over 38% of the time in the big leagues. The former second-round pick in 2019 has hit a combined .191/.242/.506 with seven home runs, 14 RBI, 15 runs scored, and two steals in 39 games with the Reds since the start of the 2024 season.

Apr 13

Noelvi Marte • RF • Reds

Reds Option Noelvi Marte to Triple-A

The Cincinnati Reds announced on Monday that they optioned outfielder Noelvi Marte to Triple-A Louisville after their game on Sunday. Marte should get another opportunity in Cincinnati this year, but for now, he'll be replaced on the active big-league roster with outfielder Rece Hinds. The 24-year-old Marte went 4-for-29 (.138) with two runs scored, a stolen base, two walks, and 10 strikeouts in his first 11 games in 2026 before being sent to the minors. Hinds is worth a look off the waiver wire for outfield depth in deeper fantasy leagues now that he should be sharing playing time in right field for the Reds with the left-handed-hitting Will Benson. Marte, who was a former top prospect for the Reds, still has power/speed upside in dynasty/leagues, but he's running out of time to earn a regular role at the major-league level. Adding to his intrigue in keeper leagues, Marte has eligibility at both third base and the outfield.

Apr 13

Jeremy Peña • SS • Astros

Jeremy Pena Lands on 10-Day Injured List With Hamstring Strain

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (hamstring) is going on the 10-day injured list on Monday with a Grade 1 hamstring strain, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The Astros initially believed that Pena was dealing with posterior right-knee tightness, but the 28-year-old is actually dealing with a hamstring strain that will likely keep him out for longer than 10 days. Pena was also eased into the start of the 2026 regular season due to a fractured finger that he suffered in mid-March while preparing for the World Baseball Classic. Fantasy managers should keep the 20-20 candidate stashed in all leagues. While Pena recovers from his hamstring strain, veteran Carlos Correa is expected to slide over to shortstop in Houston, with Isaac Paredes seeing regular playing time at the hot corner. Pena, who was a first-time All-Star in 2025, has hit .256/.304/.349 with no home runs, four doubles, no RBI, five runs scored, and one stolen base in his first 10 games this year. So far, it's turning out to be an injury-plagued campaign for Pena.

Apr 13

Charlie Condon • LF • Rockies

Charlie Condon Continues to Knock on MLB Door in Week 3

Colorado Rockies first base prospect Charlie Condon continues to remain a high-end stash target among hitting prospects in Week 3 of the fantasy baseball season. Condon was given an opportunity to break camp with the MLB roster, but fell short in the competition as TJ Rumfield has served as the primary first baseman. However, during his first taste of Triple-A ball, the former third overall pick has looked more than comfortable and could push to join the Rockies in the near future. Across 10 games, Condon has launched four home runs while carrying a .325/.428/.675 slash line. During the 2025 campaign, the former Georgia standout went deep just 14 times over 99 games, primarily with High-A and Double-A. Seeing Condon continue to progress while facing the top pitching in the minor leagues is a very positive sign. Given that the Rockies lack much depth on their roster, Condon could debut in the first half, and his power potential playing in Coors Field makes him a worthy stash option in all 12+ team formats.

Apr 13

Kaelen Culpepper • 3B • Twins

Kaelen Culpepper Worth a Deep-League Stash?

Minnesota Twins infield prospect Kaelen Culpepper has yet to slow down since moving up to Triple-A St. Paul and is climbing the stash ranks in Week 3 of the fantasy baseball season. Through his first 14 games at the top level of the Twins system, the infielder has posted a solid .250/.318/.417 slash line with three home runs and a stolen base. He has posted four multi-hit games and only gone hitless three times over the opening weeks of the campaign. During the 2025 campaign, Culpepper split time between High-A and Double-A and carried an overall .289/.375/.469 line with 20 home runs and 25 stolen bases across 113 total contests. Given that the Twins lack proven production in the middle of their infield as both Brooks Lee and Luke Keaschall have gotten off to slow starts, Culpepper's MLB debut could come much sooner than expected. His five-category potential makes him a priority stash option this week in all 12+ team formats.

Apr 13

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