Mid-Week Cut Candidates for Fantasy Baseball - Players to Consider Dropping (Week 4)

April 22, 2026

Andy's mid-week fantasy baseball cuts, drops candidates for Week 4 of 2026. Is it time to let go already, and drop these player for a better waiver wire option?

Welcome back, RotoBallers, to the mid-week edition of our Cut List Rankings for fantasy baseball and Week 4 of the 2026 MLB season. With another week of MLB action behind us, managers have seen many high-end players hit the IL, like Edwin Diaz, and players continue their early-season slump.

This week, fantasy baseball managers saw Raisel Iglesias hit the 15-day IL and fringe pitchers like Kodai Senga, Aaron Nola, and Andrew Abbott continue to struggle.

So, which injured or disappointing players are it time to get rid of for fantasy baseball lineups? Read about our top players to cut for Week 4 of the MLB season. Good luck, RotoBallers!

Cut List Rankings for Fantasy Baseball: Week 4

The top players to consider cutting for fantasy baseball, in priority order. Players at the top of the list should be dropped first and replaced on the waiver wire:

Fantasy Baseball Player Outlooks

Raisel Iglesias, RP, Atlanta Braves

Cut List Ranking No. 85

The Atlanta Braves are placing closer Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list with right-shoulder inflammation. Iglesias was unable to pitch earlier on the weekend due to a shoulder injury, but was cleared to take the bump on Sunday, suggesting this was a minor injury. However, the Braves have shifted their top-ninth-inning option to the injured list earlier this morning, which will keep him sidelined for at least the next 15 days.

Iglesias has enjoyed a dominant start to the season and was re-establishing himself as an elite reliever in fantasy. Through 8 2/3 innings, Iglesias did not allow a run, tallied five saves, and carried a stellar 0.69 WHIP. He struck out hitters at a 35.5% rate while walking just 3.2% of the batters he faced. With Iglesias on the shelf, fantasy managers should expect set-up man Robert Suarez to slide into the ninth-inning role and carry high-end value in all standard leagues.

Edwin Diaz, RP, Los Angeles Dodgers

Cut List Ranking No. 87

The Los Angeles Dodgers placed star closer Edwin Diaz (elbow) on the 15-day injured list on Monday, and he's expected to miss around three months after he has surgery on his right elbow to remove loose bodies. Manager Dave Roberts declined to name a set closer in Diaz's absence, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. It helps explain why the 32-year-old All-Star's velocity has been down early in his first year in L.A.

Diaz appeared in Sunday's loss to the Rockies for the first time since April 10, and he allowed three earned runs without even recording an out. After complaining of right-elbow issues after the game, the Dodgers sent him for an MRI exam, which revealed the loose bodies in his arm. Fantasy managers need to keep Diaz stashed everywhere for a second-half run. In the meantime, left-hander Tanner Scott is likely to get the first crack at save chances for the Dodgers, despite his rough 2025 campaign.

In addition to Scott, lefty Alex Vesia and righty Blake Treinen could mix in to form a closer-by-committee situation.

Shane McClanahan, SP, Tampa Bay Rays

Cut List Ranking No. 101

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan lasted just 4 1/3 innings in his latest start on Sunday, allowing four earned runs on eight hits while striking out five batters in a 6-3 loss to the Pirates. On the bright side, the lefty threw 72 percent of his pitches for strikes and did not walk a batter, something that plagued him in his first three starts, where he walked 11 hitters.

In all, the 28-year-old has posted a 5.00 ERA (4.48 xFIP), 1.33 WHIP, and an 8.8 percent K-BB%. It's a far cry from the 3.02 ERA (3.15 xFIP), 1.10 WHIP, and 20.9 percent K-BB% that he recorded in 74 starts from 2021 to 2023. The former 31st-overall draft pick dealt with Tommy John surgery that disrupted his 2023 season and caused him to miss all of 2024, then encountered a setback with a nerve issue that completely derailed 2025, so there could still be more rust to knock off. However, a couple more subpar starts and he may be headed to the cut list for fantasy.

The 6-foot-3 hurler will get Minnesota at home his next time out, a team that is top 12 in runs scored per game (5.09), wOBA versus LHP (.327), and wRC+ versus LHP (107).

Brent Rooker, OF, Athletics

Cut List Ranking No. 90

Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker (oblique) has resumed light baseball activity as he works back from a right oblique strain and is expected to travel with the club for its upcoming road trip to Seattle on Monday. Rooker has been sidelined since April and is targeting a late May return if his recovery continues on schedule.

The 31-year-old slugger opened the season slowly, slashing .146/.245/.293 in 12 games before landing on the injured list. Rooker remains one of the Athletics' most important power threats after producing 30 or more home runs in each of the last three seasons. His return should provide a needed boost to the top of the lineup.

Edwin Uceta, RP, Tampa Bay Rays

Cut List Ranking No. 83

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that right-handed reliever Edwin Uceta (shoulder) has a right-shoulder strain, which is a new injury from the discomfort that initially landed him on the 15-day injured list to begin the 2026 regular season, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Uceta will be shut down from throwing for two to three weeks and will then have to build back up, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to make his season debut for the Rays for a while.

It's a tough break for those who have been stashing the 28-year-old in fantasy leagues in hopes that he'll become the team's primary closer when he's fully healthy. In a best-case scenario, Uceta may not rejoin Tampa's bullpen until mid-to-late May. He's still worth holding onto in fantasy leagues, though, if you have an available IL spot. Uceta has been pretty solid for the Rays the last two seasons and was one of only five relievers in 2025 to have over 100 strikeouts. Until further notice, Bryan Baker is the reliever to roster for saves in Tampa.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Articles

Looking to add a player off the waiver wire? After diving into the cut list rankings, read about some waiver wire pickups to consider instead:

• Updated Waiver Wire Rankings
• Sneaky Starting Pitchers to Pick Up
• Top 25 Injured Players to Stash
• Top 25 Prospects to Stash

Each week, our MLB team puts out a complete array of fantasy baseball waiver wire articles to compliment our slick Who Should I Pickup? Waiver wire player comparison tool. Bookmark it!

In addition, be on the lookout for our other waiver wire articles all season long. We will be releasing weekly waiver wire articles for each position, FAAB bidding recommendations, streamers, and more throughout the week.

Who Should I Pickup Fantasy Baseball Tool

Trying to decide who to pick up off the waiver wire instead? Check the Who Should I Pickup tool:

Who Should I Pickup?

Roto Points

Compare up to four players and we'll tell you who to pickup...

Who To Pickup?

Reset

Choose From The Top Ranked Players

Overall

C

1B

2B

3B

SS

OF

SP

RP

Popular Searches

Overall

C

1B

2B

3B

SS

OF

SP

RP

2026 Player Decisions. Looking to pickup someone else instead? Today's focus is on specific players like Joey Cantillo, Bryan Baker, Luke Raley, Mickey Moniak, Josh Jung. These are some common searches for 2026 fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups.

Using The Tool. This is a simple tool but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player's name. In the second box, search for the second player's name. Compare up to four MLB players at once, and then click the Who To Pickup? button to see who the recommended waiver wire pickups are based on fantasy baseball rankings, projections, and more.

Improvements For Who Should I Pickup? You may have noticed, our Who Should I Pickup? tool has gotten an overhaul. We've added lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win on the waiver wire in 2026. You'll see MLB player tiles with stats, projections, and a slick new interface. We hope you enjoy!

How It Works. Our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy baseball waiver wire rankings and projections based on their research, and updates them constantly throughout the week. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players who are ranked.

Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Pickup

Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Pickup tool for 2026 for players like Joey Cantillo, Bryan Baker, Luke Raley, Mickey Moniak, Josh Jung:

More Fantasy Baseball Advice