MLB News

New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said on Friday that the team is optimistic that it will not be a long-term absence for All-Star outfielder Juan Soto (calf), according to Tim Britton of The Athletic. In fact, Soto could come off the 10-day injured list for the start of the next homestand on April 21. Soto has yet to resume a running program, but he has been swinging a bat and playing catch as he recovers from a minor calf strain. The four-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger winner was off to a strong start offensively before his calf injury, so fantasy managers certainly would love to see Soto return sooner rather than later. In his first eight games to kick off his second season in Queens, Soto had gone 11-for-31 (.355) with a homer, two doubles, five RBI, and three runs scored in 34 plate appearances. His absence has opened up some more playing time for Brett Baty, Tyrone Taylor, and Mark Vientos.

The New York Mets are calling up veteran right-handed reliever Craig Kimbrel from the minors on Saturday, a source told Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Kimbrel began the year at Single-A St. Lucie after not winning a roster spot with the big-league club out of spring training. The 37-year-old veteran will get the call back to the majors after throwing two scoreless innings with two strikeouts for St. Lucie, but he'll likely operate in more of a middle-relief role in Queens for as long as he sticks around with the Mets. The 16-year veteran has 440 career saves and nine All-Star selections, giving the Mets plenty of experience out of their bullpen. He's no longer the dominant relief arm that he once was, though. In 14 appearances in 2025 with the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros, Kimbrel had a 2.25 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, no saves, and a 17:7 K:BB in just 12 innings pitched.

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (back) will start on the bench on Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies after being pulled from Friday's game early due to lower-back tightness, according to MLB.com. For now, fantasy managers should consider Moreno to be day-to-day. Check back to see if he's available on Sunday for the series finale in Philadelphia. Adrian Del Castillo will do the catching on Saturday for right-hander Brandon Pfaadt and will hit cleanup for the D-backs against Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker. The 26-year-old Moreno hasn't hit a home run yet in 2026, but he's gone 11-for-40 (.275) at the plate with five RBI and six runs scored as Arizona's primary catcher. Del Castillo has only played in three games so far and is 2-for-12 at the plate with a double, three RBI, a run scored, no walks, and six strikeouts. He has one hit in his two career at-bats against Walker.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll (hip) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting in the two-hole for Saturday's contest against the Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander Taijuan Walker at Citizens Bank Park, per MLB.com. Carroll will return to the field on Saturday after missing two games following a minor hip injury that he suffered on Wednesday. Fantasy managers need to get him back into their lineups immediately. The 25-year-old five-category contributor is off to a fine start to the 2026 season at the plate, going 14-for-42 (.333) with two home runs, 11 RBI, nine runs scored, and a stolen base. Fantasy managers will be hoping that he can pick up right where he left off after missing the team's last two games. Carroll has only faced Walker twice in his career and has one hit with a 1.250 OPS. In his last three games, Carroll has seven hits.

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy could not be stopped in the team's 8-7 victory on Friday against the visiting Texas Rangers. Muncy went 4-for-5 on the night with three solo home runs, including a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth inning, and five runs scored. His homer in the ninth helped bail closer Edwin Diaz out after he blew the save in the top of the frame by allowing three runs. The 35-year-old veteran has proven early on in 2026 that he still has plenty of power left in the tank. Through 12 games, Muncy is slashing .286/.375/.571 with a .946 OPS, four home runs, four RBI, 11 runs scored, six walks, and 14 strikeouts in 48 plate appearances. Muncy could see less playing time against left-handed pitchers, but he's still a fantasy asset for his power, run production, and on-base skills in the best lineup in baseball.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Parker Messick is off to a strong start to the 2026 season, recording a 1-0 record with a 0.82 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 11 strikeouts across 11 innings pitched (two starts). Messick's starts have also been against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs, so he's held two of the better lineups in baseball in check. The 25-year-old won a spot in the Guardians' rotation this spring after showing well in his MLB debut in 2025, where he pitched to a 2.72 ERA with 38 strikeouts across 39 2/3 innings (seven starts). While it's still early, Messick's strikeout rate is up from 23% to 27.5%, and his average fastball velocity has risen from 92.7 mph to 93.5 mph. The left-hander is slated to make his third start of the year against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday, giving fantasy managers in weekly leagues one more look at him before waivers run on Sunday. Based on his performance so far, Messick profiles as a quality waiver wire target with some real upside.

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Paul Sewald pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his fourth save of 2026 in his team's 5-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday. Across 5 1/3 innings pitched, the 35-year-old has posted a 3.38 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and seven strikeouts. Sewald no longer profiles as the reliable option he once was at his peak, as he recorded back-to-back seasons with an ERA north of 4.30 in 2024 and 2025. He also allowed an elevated 1.83 HR/9 in 2025 and has already given up two long balls in 2026. Still, the veteran right-hander owns 90 career saves, including 33 as a member of the Diamondbacks. His experience in the ninth inning could give him some runway as the Arizona closer, even if he hits a rough patch. In any league where he's not already rostered, Sewald is worth targeting on the waiver wire.

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Edwin Uceta (shoulder) has yet to take the MLB mound in 2026 as he works his way back from a shoulder injury. However, the 28-year-old has pitched two scoreless innings across his first two rehab appearances and is expected to have his rehab assignment transferred from Double-A to Triple-A next week. If all continues to go well for Uceta, he could make his return from the injured list in short order. Across 76 innings (70 games) for Tampa Bay in 2025, Uceta recorded a 10-3 record with a 3.79 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 103 strikeouts. Fellow Rays reliever Bryan Baker has pitched well in his ninth-inning opportunities so far, and Uceta is not a lock to immediately take over the closer role. Still, Uceta has struck out at least 32% of the batters he's faced in each of the last two seasons and profiles as the most dynamic option in the Tampa Bay bullpen. For fantasy managers in need of saves, Uceta could be worth stashing off the waiver wire as he nears his return to the big leagues.

Across seven innings pitched in 2026, Texas Rangers relief pitcher Jakob Junis has recorded a 0.00 ERA and 0.43 WHIP while going 2-for-2 in save chances. The 33-year-old has recorded just four strikeouts, but he's also allowed just three hits and has yet to walk a batter. With an average fastball velocity of 92.4 mph and four career saves across 854 MLB innings, Junis does not have the profile of a typical closer. However, he was quietly effective across 66 2/3 innings for the Cleveland Guardians in 2025, recording a 2.97 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with 55 strikeouts. Perhaps most importantly, the Rangers do not have an established closer in their bullpen. While Cole Winn, Robert Garcia, and Jacob Latz could also get chances in the ninth inning, Junis has a chance to hold the role if he continues to be effective. For fantasy managers in deeper leagues, Junis could be worth targeting on the waiver wire.

Across his first 47 plate appearances of 2026, Detroit Tigers infielder Colt Keith is hitting .364/.404/.500 with zero home runs, three RBI, and eight runs scored. While Keith has yet to homer, six of his 16 hits have gone for extra bases, and he's posted a ridiculous 61.8% hard-hit rate. Keith's batting average has been inflated by his unsustainable .471 batting average on balls in play. His current strikeout rate of 21.3% is right in line with the 21.8% mark he posted in 2025 while hitting .256. Still, if Keith can continue to consistently make hard contact, he could emerge as a viable source of batting average for fantasy managers. The 24-year-old has also earned a spot in the top third of the Tigers' order against right-handed pitching, which should help him rack up counting stats. In leagues where he is not currently rostered, Keith is a name to target on the waiver wire.

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Bryan Baker picked up his second save of the season in his team's 5-3 win over the New York Yankees on Friday, recording a scoreless ninth inning with a strikeout. Baker has now earned saves in each of his last two appearances and could be emerging as the Rays' preferred ninth-inning option. While Baker has just six total saves across 212 2/3 career MLB innings, he posted an excellent 24.1% K-BB rate in 2025 and has yet to walk a batter over his five innings of work in 2026. Tampa Bay will be getting back hard-throwing right-hander Edwin Uceta (shoulder) from a shoulder injury at some point in the near future, which could give Baker some competition for the closer role. Still, Baker is worth targeting on the waiver wire for fantasy managers in need of saves.

San Diego Padres outfielder/first baseman Gavin Sheets sent the Friar faithful home happy on Friday night in a 5-2 win over the visiting Colorado Rockies at Petco Park for the team's second straight walk-off win. On a night where the Padres unveiled their new CityConnect jerseys, Sheets went 2-for-4 with two home runs, four RBI, and two strikeouts. His three-run shot in the bottom of the ninth inning walked the Rockies off again and earned him an ice shower from his teammates. Sheets' first long ball came off starter Tomoyuki Sugano to get the Friars on the board, and his second blast won the game off reliever Juan Mejia. The home runs were Sheets' first two of the year after he hit a career-high 19 round-trippers and drove in 71 in a career year in 145 games in his first season in SD. Sheets can be streaky, so fantasy managers will want to ride the wave as the team's four-game series against Colorado continues on Saturday night.

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told Jack Sommers of Sports Illustrated that outfielder Corbin Carroll (hip) was available off the bench on Friday against the hosting Philadelphia Phillies and is expected to start on Saturday. Carroll was not used off the bench by the Snakes in their 5-4 win over Philly. The 25-year-old former National League Rookie of the Year and two-time All-Star has now missed two straight games since injuring his hip on Wednesday, but he should be back for fantasy managers on Saturday. Get ready to get him back into your starting lineups on Saturday in a great matchup against Phillies veteran right-hander Taijuan Walker. Carroll, the former 16th overall pick in 2019, has been what fantasy managers expected so far in 2026, slashing .333/.408/.690 with a 1.099 OPS, two homers, three doubles, three triples, nine runs scored, and a stolen base in 12 games played. He's always a must-start, five-category contributor when he's in Arizona's starting lineup. Jorge Barrosa, who has three hits in his last four games, will return to the bench with Carroll set to play again on Saturday.

Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford (quadriceps) left Friday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers with right-quadriceps tightness, according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. Before leaving the game in the sixth inning, Langford did hit his first home run of the season (a solo shot) in three at-bats. The 24-year-old former fourth overall pick out of the University of Florida in 2023 is a must-roster power/speed threat with lots of upside, but durability has been an issue for him so far in his big-league career. We'll consider Langford day-to-day for now, but given his injury history, fantasy managers should be planning for a trip to the 10-day injured list. It was nice to see Langford touch them all on Friday before his injury, as he came into the series opener in L.A. with a .160 average (8-for-50) with two doubles, two triples, two RBI, three runs scored, a stolen base, one walk, and 13 strikeouts in 12 games to begin the year. Langford shouldn't be dumped in any fantasy formats if he lands on the IL. Sam Haggerty would probably see the biggest boost in playing time and AL-only fantasy value if Langford misses extended time with his quad injury. UPDATE: Langford is scheduled to undergo imaging on Saturday. For what it's worth, he believes his quad injury is "pretty minor."

Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic took advantage of a plus matchup in Friday's series opener against the Chicago White Sox to pick up his second win of the 2026 season in the team's 2-0 shutout win. In seven innings of work, Bubic only allowed two hits while walking one and striking out 11. It was the first time that the 28-year-old southpaw struck out double-digit batters in his career, and it was also only the fourth time that he threw at least seven shutout innings. The opponent definitely helped his cause, but Bubic generated an eye-opening 17 whiffs on 88 total pitches. He's sporting a nice 2.50 ERA with 23 strikeouts and seven walks in his 18 innings pitched this year as he heads into a much tougher matchup in his next scheduled outing against the division-rival Detroit Tigers. Bubic showed last year that he's the real deal, posting a 2.55 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 11 strikeouts and eight wins. He doesn't blow hitters away, but his fantastic command gives him plenty of fantasy appeal.

Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis (knee) is heading to the 10-day injured list with a left-knee sprain, according to Twins sideline reporter Audra Martin. Lewis just cannot stay away from the injury bug. The 26-year-old injured his knee on Thursday, was held out of Friday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays, and will now go on the IL on Saturday. The former first overall pick in 2017 can get hot with the best of them and has game-changing power from the third base position, but he's only played in over 100 games just once in his four MLB seasons (last year) due to various injuries. Given Lewis' lengthy injury history, fantasy managers should not be preparing for him to return anytime soon. In his first 12 games in 2026, he had gone 8-for-36 (.222) with two home runs, eight RBI, six runs, and two stolen bases in 45 plate appearances. Tristan Gray made the start at the hot corner in Minnesota on Friday and will now see his fantasy value in AL-only leagues get a nice boost with Lewis out for an undetermined amount of time.

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.