5 Injured Players to Stash - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 3 (2026)

April 12, 2026

Dan's injury fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups, IL stashes for Week 3 of 2026. His top injured players to stash as waiver wire sleepers, breakouts to return.

As the current week of the fantasy baseball season draws down, it is time to get waiver claims in place. The Week 3 iteration of Five Injured Players To Stash is here to highlight a few options that are currently on the injured list but have potential to help your fantasy baseball team down the line.

This time around, my list includes three pitchers. The first is a one-time ace trying to stage a comeback, another is a budding talent trying to rebound off a down year, and the last is a specialist for those of you in holds leagues. Rounding out the list are two bats who lacked appeal in the preseason but have the potential to step into regular roles once activated due to team factors.

The closer we get to a player being activated, the more in demand that player will be. Getting an early jump on them now means you will have more FAAB money to spend later in the season. If you need more advice on managing waivers, hit up RotoBaller’s MLB hub when you are done reading. For now, here are my favorite injured players to stash for Week 3 of the fantasy baseball season.

Shane Bieber, SP, Toronto Blue Jays

Rostered: 56% Yahoo!
Estimated return: Mid- to Late May

Shane Bieber (elbow) was one of the most bankable arms in fantasy baseball from 2019 to 2022. Bieber drew 92 starts (and one relief appearance) across those four seasons, and in that timeframe, he ranks in the top 10 in wins (43), quality starts (68), ERA (2.91), strikeouts (713), and strikeout rate (30.3%). Bieber’s numbers would have been even better had it not been for a shoulder injury in 2021 that cost him roughly half of his season.

A forearm strain diagnosed in July of 2023 cost him a couple of months of that season and possibly contributed to what had been the worst season of his career to that point. Those who kept the faith in Bieber in 2024 were rewarded, albeit very briefly. Bieber came out of the gate with back-to-back quality starts, racking up 20 strikeouts to one walk and allowing zero runs in 12 innings pitched. But just when it looked like the right-hander was back to his former self, his elbow started barking, and shortly thereafter, he was slated for Tommy John surgery.

Towards the end of his rehab, Bieber was shipped to the Blue Jays at the trade deadline in 2025. Bieber made his comeback with Toronto shortly thereafter, going 4-2 in seven starts down the stretch and turning in 37 strikeouts, a 3.57 ERA, and 1.05 WHIP. Bieber reportedly dealt with forearm fatigue late in the season and during the playoffs, foreshadowing his delayed start to 2026.

Bieber missed spring training and started the season on the 15-day IL due to inflammation in his throwing elbow. He recently began throwing bullpen sessions without issues and will progress to a rehab assignment at some point in the weeks ahead. He is currently on track to return to action in the second half of May. Bieber might not come back as the ace he once was, but his track record makes him worth the stash.

Shane Bieber, K'ing the Side in the 2nd. pic.twitter.com/XyGMFsbo8x

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 16, 2025

Bryce Miller, SP, Seattle Mariners

Rostered: 29% Yahoo!
Estimated return: Late April

After a modest debut season in 2023, Bryce Miller (oblique) burned bright in 2024. In his sophomore campaign, the righty logged 180.1 IP in 31 starts and turned in a 12-8 record, 171 strikeouts, a 2.94 ERA, and a 0.98 WHIP. Miller’s contributions helped to make Seattle’s rotation one of the best in Major League Baseball that season and set the stage for high hopes in 2025.

Things took an ugly turn for Miller in 2025, however. The then-26-year-old landed on the injured list twice due to elbow inflammation. The first stint lasted two weeks at the end of May. Miller logged just two starts before landing back on the IL until mid-August. Perhaps the injury was to blame for his abysmal production last season. After reaching such great heights in 2024, Miller hit rock bottom in 2025, throwing just 90.1 innings in 18 starts and finishing the regular season with a 4-6 record, 5.68 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and a 10.1% K-BB%.

Miller did get back on track during the postseason, though, with a 2.51 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in three starts in the divisional and championship series. Miller's velocity was up in his lone spring training appearance, but an oblique strain sidelined him for almost all of the preseason, so Miller is still building up to make his 2026 debut. I’m not so sure that he will reach the realm of his phenomenal 2024, but his strong finish last October leads me to hope we will see more of that side of him than what we saw in 2025.

In a small sample of 21 pitches, Seattle Mariners' Bryce Miller had a significant velocity increase to his four-seam (+2.5), slider (+1.6), and sinker (+3.0).

Four-seam lost an inch of IVB, and the slider lost three inches of downward movement, aligning with the velocity… pic.twitter.com/99nW2veV6c

— Corbin (@corbin_young21) February 27, 2026

Jason Adam, RP, San Diego Padres

Rostered: 11% Yahoo!
Estimated return: Early or Mid-April

As a relief pitcher who is in the same bullpen as Mason Miller, arguably the most dominant closer in MLB, Jason Adam (quadriceps) might not hold wide appeal. Those of you in leagues that include holds (or the FrankenAce managers out there) know how valuable Adam can be.

Over the past few seasons, Adam has proven himself to be one of the league's best setup men. Between 2022 and 2025, he racked up 92 holds, fourth-most in MLB, and had a 2.07 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 29.2% K% during that time. Even in a league that doesn’t value holds, he could still be added to help suppress ratios and add a handful of strikeouts each week.

Adam is working his way back from a ruptured tendon in his left quadriceps and subsequent surgery. The 34-year-old was able to make a couple of appearances in spring training and has been on a rehab assignment with Double-A San Antonio. Adam is eligible to return from the injured list as of April 6 and could be activated any day now.

Anthony Volpe, SS, New York Yankees

Rostered: 7% Yahoo!
Estimated return: Early May

Anthony Volpe (shoulder) has been a mixed bag for fantasy baseball. In 2023, he enjoyed a 20/20 season as a rookie, but hit just .209. Last season, he was one homer and two steals short of repeating the feat, but again had a disastrous batting average, hitting .212. Back in 2024, he scored 90 runs and logged 28 stolen bases, but he hit only 12 home runs and had a triple-slash of .243/.293/.364.

Volpe was diagnosed with a partially torn labrum last September, but played through the injury (one wonders why). Based on his results last year, it wasn’t assumed that Volpe would simply step back into his role as the Yankees’ everyday shortstop. The play of his successor, Jose Caballero, hasn’t been inspiring (.135 batting average, two errors through 11 games), though, so Volpe could see regular at-bats after all.

Recovery from his shoulder surgery prevented Volpe from participating in spring training, so he only recently started facing live pitching again at the Yankees’ extended training in Florida. He should begin a rehab assignment soon. We have seen big swings in production in Volpe’s career already, but given his age (he turns 25 next month), he can’t be written off just yet.

.@M_Marakovits has the latest on Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Anthony Volpe, and Luis Gil 🔊 pic.twitter.com/t4C5ss62Yi

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) April 9, 2026

Lourdes Gurriel Jr., OF, Arizona Diamondbacks

Rostered: 3% Yahoo!
Estimated return: Late-April

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (knee) does not make a lot of waves in fantasy baseball, but he does pack some punch, especially for those in deep leagues. Gurriel is a career .274 hitter and over the last three seasons has averaged 20 home runs and 79 RBI.

Gurriel tore his ACL last September, robbing him of the last month of the season. He underwent surgery to repair his damaged knee and is already working his way back to action. Currently, the 32-year-old is participating in simulated games at the Diamondbacks’ training facilities. Next to follow will be a minor league rehab assignment to get Gurriel readjusted to regular play.

The right-handed batter was done dirty by same-handed pitching last season, hitting just .229 versus .296 against southpaws. That doesn’t mean he is a shoo-in for a short-side platoon, though. Gurriel does fare better against left-handed pitching, but over his career, his numbers against righties are not as lopsided.

The Diamondbacks recently lost Carlos Santana (groin) and Jordan Lawlar (wrist) to the injured list, joining Tyler Locklear (elbow, shoulder) and Pavin Smith (elbow). Arizona is filling the gaps with some prospects and retreads with mixed results. If Gurriel can prove himself healthy enough to return to action by the end of the month, he could find himself in a regular role in the top half of the D-backs’ lineup.

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