MLB News

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Gregory Soto was tasked with pitching in the eighth inning of Friday's game against the Chicago Cubs. Normally, Soto is used in save situations, but was handed the ball with a two-run lead in the eighth inning here. Soto got into some trouble with two walks, but was able to escape the inning without any damage. Dennis Santana came on in the final frame and shut the door while recording two strikeouts. The expectation is that the two of them will continue to split up the closer role in Pittsburgh. Between the two pitchers, Santana is the better player to roster right now. Soto should continue getting work in the ninth inning, but could be on a short leash with how well Santana has been pitching to begin the season.

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Dennis Santana was called upon to finish off Friday's game against the Chicago Cubs. Santana needed only 13 pitches to get through Friday's outing. He struck out Dansby Swanson and Michael Busch on route to his first save of the season. After this outing, Santana holds a perfect 0.00 ERA, with a 0.43 WHIP, and six strikeouts across seven innings of work. Gregory Soto worked the eighth inning of Friday's victory. The two of them figure to continue sharing the closer role for now. Soto appears to be the favorite for saves, but fantasy managers who have Santana rostered should continue to hold him.

New York Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes (hamstring) was forced to make an early exit during Friday's outing against the Athletics. Holmes was pitching into the sixth inning when he appeared to have pulled something. The training staff came out, and Holmes exited the field with them. The organization is calling the injury left hamstring tightness, so a stint on the injured list isn't required at the moment. Holmes tossed 5.1 innings, allowing one earned run while striking out three batters during Friday's loss. It remains to be seen if Holmes will be ready to go for his next start. Fantasy managers will need to check back in a few days for another update on his status.

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (back) was forced to make an early exit from Friday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Moreno was in visible discomfort after making a throw down to second base during the second inning. He finished the inning, but was pulled out of the contest afterwards due to back tightness. The severity of the issue is unknown, so for now, fantasy managers should consider Moreno as day-to-day. Moreno was hitless in his lone at-bat during Friday's win over the Phillies. James McCann took over behind the plate and stands to gain playing time if Moreno misses any games.

Houston Astros outfielder Jake Meyers (oblique) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Friday. Meyers underwent an MRI after exiting early during Wednesday's game against the Colorado Rockies. The testing revealed that Meyers is dealing with a Grade 2 right oblique strain. The Astros thought it was a back issue, but an oblique issue is likely to sideline him for multiple weeks. In a corresponding move, outfielder Taylor Trammell was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land. He figures to see action in center field along with Joey Loperfido and Brice Matthews. Fantasy managers should wait and see who the Astros decide to lean on in Meyers' absence.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Cristian Javier (shoulder) is set to miss some time after exiting early during Wednesday's outing. On Friday, Javier was placed on the 15-day injured list due to a Grade 2 right shoulder strain. This is tough news for the Astros, who have already lost Hunter Brown (shoulder) earlier this week. Given the severity of the injury, Javier is likely to miss more than a couple of weeks. The right-hander was already struggling with 13 earned runs over 9.1 innings of work this season. Fantasy managers in 12-team formats can feel safe about moving on from Javier. The Astros have recalled J.P. France to take his spot in the rotation. There's no reason for fantasy managers to run and add France at the moment.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios (elbow) will likely begin his minor-league rehab assignment next week and will be targeting 50 pitches in his first outing, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. Berrios will likely require multiple rehab outings in the minors, but he's clearly getting closer to rejoining the big-league roster to help the Blue Jays with their injury-decimated starting rotation. The 31-year-old veteran of Puerto Rico is recovering from a stress fracture in his right elbow, but Toronto thinks he'll be able to pitch through it in 2026. Berrios has been an innings-eater for fantasy managers, but he's much riskier this year with declining velocity and obvious injury concerns. Once Trey Yesavage (shoulder) and Shane Bieber (elbow, forearm) are ready to return to the rotation, too, it's possible that Berrios could be moved to a long-relief role if he's struggling as a starter for the Jays upon his return from his elbow injury.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder/third baseman Addison Barger (ankles) will stay sidelined from baseball activity through Monday's off day, manager John Schneider told Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. Barger's left ankle is more sore than his right ankle, but he's believed to be making progress. Barger was placed on the 10-day injured list with soreness in both of his ankles, and he's unlikely to return to the team when he's eligible to be reinstated on April 16. His ankle injuries aren't believed to be overly serious, though, so barring a setback once he resumes baseball activities, we'd expect him to be back in Toronto before the end of April. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter was likely affected by his ankles in his first eight games, as he had just one hit (a double) in his first 23 plate appearances with two RBI, three walks, and six stolen bases.

Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitching prospect Trey Yesavage (shoulder) will make another minor-league rehab start next Tuesday or Wednesday, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. Where and when Yesavage's next rehab start comes will depend somewhat on the weather. He'll approach 70 pitches, and it sounds like it could be his final rehab start before rejoining the big-league roster for his 2026 season debut. Yesavage was touched up for four runs in 2 2/3 innings at Single-A Dunedin in his last rehab start, but he was also able to strike out six batters, and his velocity was solid. A right-shoulder impingement forced him to the 15-day injured list to begin the year. The former 20th overall pick in 2024 out of East Carolina quickly reached the big leagues in 2025 and had a 3.21 ERA with 16 K's in 14 innings in his first three starts. He proceeded to work in Toronto's rotation all the way to the World Series, where he fanned 12 Dodgers batters. The high-end upside is obvious for one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, but Yesavage's redraft ceiling will be lowered by the fact that the Jays are planning to limit his innings to somewhere between 135 and 160 in 2026.

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio (hand) said he got a good report from the doctor on Thursday and was reassured that his fractured hand is showing signs of healing, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. However, Chourio has still not been cleared to hit. It's a bit concerning that Chourio still hasn't been cleared to swing a bat after initially fracturing his hand back on March 4 while playing in an exhibition game against Team Venezuela. Before coming off the 10-day injured list to make his 2026 season debut, the talented young outfielder will likely need a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment, which means fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to return to the Brewers until sometime in May. In the meantime, Brandon Lockridge, Jake Bauers, and Blake Perkins will all continue to mix and match in Milwaukee's outfield with Chourio out. The 22-year-old Chourio has 42 homers, 157 RBI, and 43 steals in his first two MLB seasons, making him a potential difference-maker for fantasy squads when he's healthy.

The Athletics officially placed outfielder Brent Rooker (oblique) on the 10-day injured list on Friday with an oblique strain, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. Second baseman Zack Gelof has been recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. Rooker suffered the oblique injury during a swing in Friday's win over the New York Yankees. Oblique injuries can be tricky, so we'd expect the right-handed slugger to be out well beyond the 10 days. In the meantime, Carlos Cortes will have an opportunity for decent playing time as the team's designated hitter. Rooker, a two-time All-Star, has two home runs and eight RBI in his first 12 games in 2026, but he's also gone just 6-for-41 (.146) with six walks and 17 strikeouts in 49 plate appearances. He'll be eligible to come off the 10-day IL on April 20, but we wouldn't expect to see Rooker again in the big leagues until sometime in May. Keep him stashed for his power stroke in all fantasy leagues.

The hope is that Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen (personal) will come off the paternity list to make his next start on Sunday against the division-rival New York Yankees, manager Kevin Cash told Ryan Bass. Nothing is set in stone, though, and Rasmussen's next start is to be determined. If it happens, it would push left-hander Shane McClanahan to Tuesday in a very favorable fantasy matchup against the Chicago White Sox. Right-hander Nick Martinez is in line to make the start on Saturday against the Yankees with Rasmussen still on the paternity list. Rasmussen, who has already had a couple of elbow reconstructions, left the team earlier this week for the birth of his child. He has looked good so far in his first two starts in 2026, allowing three runs (two earned) while walking only one and fanning 10 in 10 innings of work. However, he'll face a pretty big early-season challenge in the hot-hitting Yankees if he makes the start in Sunday's series finale.

An MRI exam that New York Mets infielder Jorge Polanco (Achilles) had on Thursday showed no structural damage, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Polanco is suffering from Achilles bursitis, which he can play through. Although he was held out of the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the Athletics, Polanco said he is feeling better, and he doesn't think he'll need to go on the 10-day injured list. It's good news for a veteran player with a long history of lower-body injuries that have caused him to miss time. It's something to watch for the Dominican switch-hitter, though, as he's gone just 8-for-40 (.200) with no homers, one RBI, and two runs scored in his first 10 games with the Mets. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Saturday to see if Polanco is back in the starting nine for Game 2 of the series versus the A's. With Polanco out on Friday, Bo Bichette is serving as the designated hitter, with Ronny Mauricio playing third base and batting seventh.

Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker (side) is not in the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener in Queens against the New York Mets, according to MLB.com. With Rooker sidelined due to a sore side, Carlos Cortes will serve as the designated hitter and bat eighth against Mets right-hander Clay Holmes. Rooker tweaked his side/flank on a swing in Thursday's 1-0 win over the New York Yankees in the Bronx. The severity of the injury isn't really known, but fantasy managers should not be surprised if the power-hitting Rooker is forced to the 10-day injured list. The 31-year-old veteran has slugged at least 30 home runs in each of the last three seasons, but a lengthy stay on the IL with his side injury could make it difficult to reach that mark for a fourth straight season in 2026. Rooker has hit just .146 (6-for-41) with two home runs, eight RBI, four runs scored, and two stolen bases in 12 games before his injury on Thursday. We'll alert you if Rooker lands on the IL.

The plan for now is for New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (shoulder) to start a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday with Double-A Somerset, according to Erik Boland of Newsday. Volpe damaged his left (non-throwing) labrum last May while diving for a ball at shortstop, and he managed to play through it while receiving occasional pain-relieving injections. Because the 24-year-old has not played since the playoffs last fall, fantasy managers should expect his rehab assignment to be lengthy. Barring a setback, Volpe could be ready to make his 2026 season debut around the beginning of May. The speedy Jose Caballero will continue to operate as the Yankees' primary shortstop with Volpe on the IL, but he'll shift to a utility role when Volpe is eventually activated. Volpe had a 20-20 campaign in his rookie season in 2023 and has at least 20 steals in two of his three seasons, but he's also hit .222 with a .283 on-base percentage in three big-league seasons.

The Miami Marlins announced on Friday that they placed outfielder Griffin Conine (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list with a left-hamstring strain and recalled infielder Deyvison De Los Santos from Triple-A Jacksonville in a corresponding move. This was the likely course of action after Conine injured his hamstring while diving for a ball in the outfield in the team's win over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues should expect Conine to miss more than the required 10 days on the IL. The 28-year-old former second-round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018 out of Duke was hitting .273 (6-for-22) with two home runs, four RBI, six runs scored, and two stolen bases in 11 games before going on the shelf. With Conine, Kyle Stowers (hamstring), and Esteury Ruiz (oblique) all on the IL currently, Heriberto Hernandez figures to be a prime beneficiary of extra playing time for the Fish going forward. De Los Santos has intriguing raw power, but finding regular playing time in Miami could be an issue.

Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Aaron Ashby will serve as the team's opener for right-hander Chad Patrick on Friday against the visiting Washington Nationals at American Family Field, according to Jack Stern of Brewer Fanatic. It makes sense for Ashby to kick things off in the top of the first with the Nationals sporting a lefty-heavy top of their batting order. Expect Ashby to only throw the first inning before giving way to Patrick, who will be the bulk reliever in this one. So far in seven relief appearances for the Brew Crew in 2026, Ashby has allowed three earned runs on seven hits (one homer) while walking five and striking out 14 in 9 2/3 innings. He also has three wins. Ashby has held left-handed hitters to a .220 batting average in 268 plate appearances in his big-league career, and he's allowed only four home runs to lefties. Unfortunately, Ashby won't go deep enough in this game to be useful as a fantasy streamer.

New York Mets infielder Jorge Polanco (Achilles) remains out of the starting lineup for Friday's series opener at Citi Field against the visiting Athletics, per MLB.com. Jared Young will make another start at first base and will hit third in the batting order versus A's right-hander J.T. Ginn. Polanco continues to deal with Achilles soreness early in the 2026 season, and the Mets admitted that it could lead to a stint on the injured list as a precaution for a player with a lengthy history of lower-body injuries. The 32-year-old Dominican switch-hitter's Achilles' issues could help explain why he's hitting .200 (8-for-40) in the early going with just one RBI, two runs scored, five walks, and six strikeouts in his first 10 games. Polanco has an interesting power profile as long as he remains eligible at second base, but that won't continue into the 2027 campaign. When healthy, Polanco will rotate between first base and designated hitter in Queens.

Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (foot) is behind the plate doing the catching for left-hander Jesus Luzardo on Friday against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander Michael Soroka, and he'll hit eighth in the batting order, according to MLB.com. Realmuto did not play on Wednesday after he was hit in the foot by a foul tip while catching on Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants, but he's feeling good enough to return to action on Friday in the series opener in Philly after a scheduled off day on Thursday. The three-time All-Star backstop definitely doesn't provide as much fantasy thump hitting near the bottom of the batting order for the Phillies. Through his first nine games of 2026 in his 13th MLB season, Realmuto has gone 6-for-25 (.240) with a solo home run and four runs scored. He's faced Soroka 13 times in his career and has hit just .154 with an RBI and a .445 OPS.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Wenceel Perez has been recalled from Triple-A Toledo to take the active roster spot of injured outfielder Parker Meadows (arm, concussion), according to The Athletic's Cody Stavenhagen. The 26-year-old Perez could be worth a look in AL-only fantasy leagues because he could see considerable playing time in center field with Meadows facing a lengthy absence. The Dominican has hit .243/.304/.405 with a .709 OPS, 22 home runs, 80 RBI, 98 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases in 212 games over his first two seasons in the big leagues in Motown. Last year, he had 13 home runs, 43 RBI, 47 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in 383 plate appearances over 100 games played. Perez offers modest power and speed, but he'll need to produce to avoid falling into a full-time bench role, even with Meadows out for a lengthy period of time.