January 27, 2026
Houston Astros right-hander
Hunter Brown broke out as an All-Star in 2025 in his fourth year in the big leagues, going 12-9 with a 2.43 ERA (3.14 FIP), 1.02 WHIP, and 206:57 K:BB in 31 starts over 185 1/3 innings pitched. The 27-year-old was essentially Houston's ace. The former fifth-round selection out of Wayne State has come a long way since he had a 5.09 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 155 2/3 innings in 2023 in his first year in the big leagues. Brown reached the illustrious 200-strikeout mark for the first time in his career, and opposing hitters batted a tick over .200 against him. Brown has the arsenal (six pitches) to keep batters off balance and continue to be successful in 2026, but fantasy managers shouldn't necessarily expect another ERA under 3.00. Keeping the ball in the yard was a big reason for his success last year, as he allowed just 0.8 home runs per nine innings. RotoBaller has Brown ranked as the No. 8 starting pitcher.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 27, 2026
Cleveland Cavaliers point guard
Darius Garland (toe) will miss a seventh consecutive game on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers. He was back at practice on Monday, but Wednesday's game comes too soon for Garland to be ready to play. However, he could be available later in the week as the team plans to re-evaluate Garland soon. During Garland's absence, both
Donovan Mitchell and
Jaylon Tyson have stepped up as playmakers, while
Lonzo Ball's workload has increased.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 27, 2026
Akshay Bhatia was not able to turn around his luck at The American Express, missing the cut by 10 strokes. He'll look to rebound at Torrey Pines, where he has had much more success, finishing T13 at the Farmers Insurance Open in 2024 and T9 at the Genesis Invitational in 2025. In those two starts, Bhatia gained over 3.2 combined strokes per round off the tee and on approach. He also ranked 14th on Tour in strokes gained putting last season at +0.575 per round, but he has been ice cold on the greens recently, recording negative strokes gained with the putter in three straight events. His strong course history makes him an interesting option at $7,400 on DraftKings, but recent struggles make him a risky play for fantasy managers.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
Outfielder
Teoscar Hernandez has won the World Series in both of his seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was much better in his first year in Hollywood, slashing .272/.339/.501 with an .840 OPS, career-high 33 home runs, 99 RBI, 12 stolen bases, and 84 runs scored in 154 regular-season games. Last year in 134 regular-season games, Hernandez hit .247/.284/.454 with just a .738 OPS, 25 home runs, 89 RBI, 65 runs scored, and five steals. The 33-year-old Dominican outfielder had a career-best 24.6% strikeout rate, but also a career-worst 4.8% walk rate. His power was down in 2025, but Hernandez's batted-ball metrics weren't far off from his strong 2025 campaign with L.A. Fantasy managers should know that Hernandez has hit at least 20 homers in each of the last seven full seasons. Hitting in the middle of the best lineup in baseball gives Hernandez a pretty safe floor, while he has 30-homer, 100-RBI upside. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 31 fantasy outfielder.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 27, 2026
Orlando Magic forward
Franz Wagner (ankle) has been ruled out for Wednesday's Battle of Florida against the Miami Heat. In mid-January, Wagner returned from an ankle injury, but he made only two appearances before landing back on the shelf. Wednesday's game will mark his fourth consecutive absence. Due to Wagner's ongoing injury woes,
Anthony Black has enjoyed increased playing time throughout the season. While Black's recent performances have been inconsistent, he remains an attractive fantasy option.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 27, 2026
Golden State Warriors forward/center
Draymond Green (back) is listed as probable for Wednesday's clash against the Utah Jazz. The veteran, who is dealing with a minor back issue, sat out Monday's loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves as Golden State wrapped up a back-to-back set.
Al Horford (toe) is also on track to return, meaning
Gui Santos and
Quinten Post will likely head to the bench. The Warriors have an excellent fantasy matchup on Tuesday, facing an opponent that pushes the pace but struggles defensively. Green has posted 8.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game in January.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 27, 2026
The New York Jets reached out to former NFL head coach Jon Gruden about the idea of joining head coach Aaron Glenn's coaching staff, multiple sources told Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. However, Gruden wasn't interested in the job. The report comes after the Jets parted ways with offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand on Tuesday. The expectation is that former Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich will be brought in to call plays for the Jets' offense in 2026. It's unclear exactly what role the Jets had in mind for Gruden. Gruden has not coached in the NFL since he resigned as the Las Vegas Raiders' head coach after an email scandal that featured insensitive language in 2021. After finishing 3-14 in 2025 in Glenn's first year, the Jets need a lot of help on offense, but it must start with a quarterback.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Zack Rosenblatt
January 27, 2026
Los Angeles Clippers forward
Kawhi Leonard (knee) has shaken off a questionable tag and will play on Tuesday against the Utah Jazz, Law Murray of The Athletic reports. He's ready to make his third consecutive appearance despite nursing a left knee contusion. The Clippers have been on a roll recently, and largely thanks to Leonard's outstanding play. Leonard has averaged 31.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.4 steals over his last 15 appearances, during which the Clippers have gone 13-2. This run includes a 45-point effort from Leonard against Utah on Jan. 1.
--Taavi PailkSource: Law Murray
January 27, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter
Kyle Schwarber led the league and set a new career high with 56 home runs in 2025 in his fourth season with the Phils. He also had a league- and career-high 132 RBI while slashing .240/.365/.563 with a career-best .928 OPS, career-high 111 runs scored, and career-best 10 stolen bases in 162 games. The 32-year-old left-handed slugger is strictly a DH, though, and his high strikeout totals will ensure that his batting average will remain low. He finished last year third in walks (108), and he was the runner-up to
Shohei Ohtani in the National League MVP voting. Schwarber has had 100-plus RBI in each of the last three years. The fact that Schwarber re-signed with the Phillies is a huge plus for his fantasy outlook going into the 2026 campaign, where he'll remain an elite power threat and run producer. RotoBaller has Schwarber ranked as the No. 23 overall player.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 27, 2026
Phoenix Suns guard
Jordan Goodwin will make his third start of the season on Tuesday against the Brooklyn Nets. With
Devin Booker (ankle),
Jalen Green (hamstring), and
Collin Gillespie (hand) all sidelined, the Suns are left shorthanded in the backcourt, and Goodwin will get a chance to make his first start since Nov. 24. In his previous two starts this season, Goodwin has averaged 11.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals. Given Phoenix's injury situation and the lack of offensive threats, it's reasonable to expect even bigger numbers from Goodwin on Tuesday.
--Taavi PailkSource: Phoenix Suns
January 27, 2026
New York Yankees infielder
Marco Luciano has been designated for assignment by the organization on Tuesday. Luciano didn't even last a week on the team before getting kicked off the 40-man roster. The Yankees needed to make room for recently acquired pitcher Don Hamel, so Luciano was the odd man out. Since the end of the 2025 season, Luciano has been on the Giants, Pirates, Orioles, and Yankees. The 24-year-old is a former top prospect, but hasn't put it together at the MLB level. During parts of two seasons, Luciano is slashing .217/.286/.304 with three RBI in 41 games. He posted an ugly slash line in the minors last season, but blasted 23 home runs with 85 walks at Triple-A Sacramento. Luciano should hopefully land somewhere to at least compete for a spot during Spring Training.
--Andy WebbSource: New York Yankees
January 27, 2026
Denver Nuggets forward
Peyton Watson (ankle) will return from a one-game absence on Tuesday night against the Detroit Pistons. Watson was sidelined for the second leg of a back-to-back on Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks as he dealt with sprains in both ankles. In his last outing, Watson dropped 35 points on the Washington Wizards. He has elevated his game this month, averaging 23.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.3 steals in 36.2 minutes per game. Watson will start Tuesday's contest alongside
Jamal Murray,
Jalen Pickett,
Spencer Jones, and
Jonas Valanciunas.
Julian Strawther and
Zeke Nnaji will drop to the bench, while
Aaron Gordon (hamstring) has been ruled out for the game.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 27, 2026
Right-handed power-hitting first baseman
Pete Alonso signed with the Baltimore Orioles in free agency on a five-year, $155 million contract. The New York Mets decided not to bring him back after a very successful 2025 season in Queens, in which he hit .272/.347/.524 with an .871 OPS, 38 home runs, a league-leading 41 doubles, 87 runs scored, and 126 RBI in 162 games played. The 31-year-old played in all 162 regular-season games for the second year in a row. While Camden Yards hasn't been the most hitter-friendly park in the American League East, we don't think Alonso will have any issues driving in plenty of runs in the middle of the O's lineup. In the last four regular seasons, only
Aaron Judge has driven in more runs than Alonso. The Polar Bear is ranked just inside the top-25 overall players by RotoBaller, and he's the No. 3 first baseman, behind only
Nick Kurtz and
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 27, 2026
The New York Yankees have reportedly expressed interest in re-signing free-agent first baseman
Paul Goldschmidt. It seems that the Bronx Bombers are open to a reunion with the veteran slugger. During his lone season in the Bronx, Goldschmidt slashed .274/.328/.403 with 10 home runs and 45 RBI in 146 games in 2025. The Yankees are seeking a platoon partner for
Ben Rice, so Goldschmidt does make sense for them. The power dropoff from Goldschmidt is concerning, as his 10 long balls are the third-fewest during his 15-year career. The 38-year-old still posted a solid slash line and is a viable option at first base. It would likely be a short, one-year deal, so it's unlikely to be a bad investment if the Yankees decide to go that route.
--Andy WebbSource: SNY
January 27, 2026
Denver Nuggets center
Jonas Valanciunas (calf) has been upgraded from probable to available for Tuesday's game against the Detroit Pistons. Last week, Valanciunas returned from a calf injury, but he was held out of Friday's loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite missing three weeks, Valanciunas didn't show any rust against the Washington Wizards last Thursday, notching 16 points and nine rebounds in 22 minutes. He has a much trickier matchup on Tuesday against
Jalen Duren and the Pistons.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 27, 2026
Denver Nuggets point guard
Jamal Murray (hamstring, hip) will play on Tuesday against
Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons. The Canadian star has dealt with several health issues recently and sat out Friday's loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. He was initially listed as probable for Tuesday's tilt. With
Nikola Jokic (knee) on the shelf, Murray has taken on a much larger offensive load, averaging 29.0 points and 8.7 assists in January. His form will get a stern test on Tuesday against the NBA's second-best defense.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 27, 2026
Seattle Mariners outfielder
Julio Rodriguez got off to another slow start in 2025 and was hitting just over .207 at the end of April, but the 25-year-old Dominican eventually figured things out, tying a career-high with 32 home runs while adding 95 RBI, 106 runs scored, and 30 stolen bases in a league-high 710 plate appearances over 160 regular-season games. The three-time All-Star and former American League Rookie of the Year has been a 20-homer, 20-steal player in all four of his big-league seasons, with two of them being 30-30 campaigns. He's the youngest player in MLB history with four 20-20 seasons. On top of J-Rod's strong 2025 season, he had a career-low 24.1% strikeout rate. There aren't many better power/speed options to target in the late-first, early-second round of fantasy baseball drafts than Rodriguez.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball
January 27, 2026
New York Mets infielder
Bo Bichette has decided not to participate in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Bichette was going to play for Brazil, but has decided to back out of the tourney. Instead, Bichette wants to focus on preparing for the upcoming 2026 season with his new team. The 27-year-old has represented Brazil in the past, and is eligible to do so because his mother was born in Brazil. Bichette signed a three-year, $126 million deal with the Mets during the offseason. It's understandable that he doesn't want to risk an injury and will shift his focus to helping the Mets win this season.
--Andy WebbSource: sprotsnet.ca
January 27, 2026
The Tampa Bay Rays have signed free-agent relief pitcher
Cam Booser to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training. Booser took a significant step backward during the 2025 season. In 2024, Booser registered a 3.38 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and a 43/16 K/BB ratio across 43 games with the Boston Red Sox. The 33-year-old headed to the Chicago White Sox last season and completely fell apart. Booser finished with a 5.52 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, and a 35/19 K/BB ratio in 39 games with the South Siders. The biggest problem was the home run ball, as Booser allowed eight long balls in 31.0 innings of work last season. It's a low-risk move by the Rays, who do have a good history of turning around players coming off down seasons. He'll likely serve as middle relief with little to no fantasy value, assuming he makes the team.
--Andy WebbSource: Marc Topkin
January 27, 2026
The Seattle Mariners have acquired catcher
Jhonny Pereda from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for cash considerations. Pereda has found a new home after being designated for assignment by the Twins on Friday. The Twins removed Pereda from their 40-man roster to make room for
Victor Caratini. The expectation is that Pereda will compete for the backup gig during Spring Training. He slashed .246/.325/.333 with four RBI across 28 games with the Athletics and Twins last season. The 29-year-old posted strong numbers in Triple-A and deserves a shot to earn a 26-man roster spot. Even if he makes the roster, Pereda isn't going to play very often with
Cal Raleigh playing almost every game.
--Andy WebbSource: Seattle Mariners
January 27, 2026
Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward
Aaron Wiggins will join the starting lineup on Tuesday against the New Orleans Pelicans, replacing
Cason Wallace (hip). Across 11 previous starts this season, Wiggins has contributed 13.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. He has a favorable fantasy matchup on Tuesday, as the Pelicans own the fourth-worst defensive rating in the league.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander,
Luguentz Dort,
Jaylin Williams, and
Chet Holmgren will also start for the Thunder.
--Taavi PailkSource: Justin Martinez
January 27, 2026
Milwaukee Bucks forward
Bobby Portis will take
Giannis Antetokounmpo's (calf) spot in the starting lineup on Tuesday against the Philadelphia 76ers. This will likely be the first of several consecutive starts for Portis, as Antetokounmpo is set to miss multiple weeks with a calf strain. Across his previous six starts this season, Portis has produced 16.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.
Ryan Rollins,
AJ Green,
Kyle Kuzma, and
Myles Turner will join Portis in the first unit on Tuesday.
--Taavi PailkSource: Milwaukee Bucks
January 27, 2026
In his first full MLB season in 2024, Cincinnati Reds shortstop
Elly De La Cruz put his upside on display, slashing .259/.339/.471 with an .809 OPS, 25 home runs, 76 RBI, 105 runs scored, and a league-high 67 stolen bases in 160 games played. It wasn't all great, though, as he also led the league with 218 strikeouts. The 24-year-old switch-hitting Dominican hit a career-high .264 in 2025, but he took a step back in the power department (22 home runs) and in steals (37) over 162 games. De La Cruz really struggled down the stretch and went through a 74-game stretch in which he hit just one home run. A lingering quad injury that he played through for most of the year might be to blame. There's no denying De La Cruz's elite athleticism, especially on the base paths, and RotoBaller still considers him a top-15 overall fantasy player going into his fourth year with the Reds.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 27, 2026
Philadelphia 76ers center
Joel Embiid (knee) has shed a questionable tag and will play on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Bucks. He exited the lineup on Monday versus the Charlotte Hornets, opening the door for
Andre Drummond to start. On Tuesday, Drummond will return to a bench role. Embiid has feasted in his most recent appearances, finishing four consecutive games with 30-plus points. This stretch includes his 10th career triple-double.
--Taavi PailkSource: Philadelphia 76ers
January 27, 2026
Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward
Paul George (knee) has been officially cleared for Tuesday's matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. He will make his return to the lineup after missing the first leg of a back-to-back on Monday versus the Charlotte Hornets. George has averaged 14.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.5 steals in 32.4 minutes per game across January. As a result of George's return,
Dominick Barlow must settle for a place on the bench against Milwaukee.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 27, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder
Anthony Santander (back, shoulder) was one of the biggest fantasy baseball busts in 2025. In his final year with the Baltimore Orioles in 2024, Santander was a first-time All-Star and hit .235/.308/.506 with an .814 OPS and career-highs in home runs (44) and RBI (102) in 155 games played. The 31-year-old Venezuelan switch-hitter was limited to 194 at-bats in his first year in Toronto due to a shoulder subluxation and a lower-back injury that lingered. He played in just 54 games and hit .175 (34-for-194) with six homers and 18 RBI. Santander is apparently healthy with just a few weeks until spring training, and he's in the right environment for a bounce-back in 2026. His fantasy value has dropped considerably, though, and he also lost outfield eligibility in most formats. To keep him healthy, Toronto could keep him mostly at DH. RotoBaller has Santander ranked as the No. 54 fantasy outfielder.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 27, 2026
Golden State Warriors point guard
Stephen Curry (knee) is considered probable for Wednesday's encounter with the Utah Jazz. The veteran star is dealing with a knee issue and skipped the second leg of a back-to-back on Monday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After receiving a probable tag on the injury report, it's safe to assume Curry will be back in action on Wednesday night. His return will send
Pat Spencer back to the bench, and he could completely fall out of the rotation, as Spencer had seen very little action in previous games prior to Monday. Curry's offensive production has dipped to 24.5 points per game in January, and Golden State needs more from him with
Jimmy Butler III (knee) done for the season.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 27, 2026
Phoenix Suns guard
Collin Gillespie (hand) has been ruled out for Tuesday's contest against the Brooklyn Nets. He was added late to the injury report due to a hand injury, and the Suns have downgraded Gillespie's status from questionable to out. The Villanova product joins
Jalen Green (hamstring) and
Devin Booker (ankle) on the sidelines, leaving Phoenix with very few offensive options.
Grayson Allen,
Dillon Brooks, and
Jordan Goodwin are all set for larger roles in the attack, and
Jamaree Bouyea could see a significant bump in playing time with the backcourt absentees.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 27, 2026
Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward
Cason Wallace (hip) will miss Tuesday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans. The team has downgraded him from questionable to out, depriving the Thunder of another regular rotation player. Wallace has started six of eight games since his most recent absence on Jan. 9. With Wallace out,
Aaron Wiggins and
Isaiah Joe could see extended minutes in Tuesday's favorable fantasy matchup against a team that allows the third-most points in the Association.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 27, 2026
Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward
Quentin Grimes (ankle) has been ruled out for Tuesday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. This isn't unexpected, as Grimes was a late addition to the injury report due to a right ankle sprain. He presumably suffered the injury during Monday's matchup against the Charlotte Hornets. Grimes' departure from the lineup may keep
Jared McCain in the rotation on Tuesday night. After logging just one minute of action across the previous five games, McCain took advantage of garbage time minutes on Monday, notching 16 points, three rebounds, three assists, and one block.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
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