April 15, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals rookie second baseman
JJ Wetherholt had a big game for the Cards out of the leadoff spot in the team's 6-5 win on Tuesday at Busch Stadium over the Cleveland Guardians, going 2-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI, and one strikeout. Both of Wetherholt's home runs on Tuesday's came off southpaws, and it was the first multi-homer game of the 23-year-old's career. The home runs were his first since he went deep on Opening Day in his big-league debut. Wetherholt is now hitting .231/.338/.385 with a .722 OPS, three home runs, eight RBI, 13 runs scored, three stolen bases, 10 walks, and 14 strikeouts in his first 17 major-league games. The No. 7 overall pick back in 2024 doesn't have any obvious weaknesses as a prospect and could access 15-homer power in his first MLB season in 2026 if he stays healthy all year. Wetherholt is rostered in 87% of Yahoo leagues and will continue to have plenty of fantasy value if he's hitting at the top of St. Louis' batting order.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 15, 2026
Houston Astros reliever
Bryan King delivered a strong outing Tuesday, nearly securing a five-out save in a 7-6 win over the Colorado Rockies. King allowed no runs on three hits and recorded two strikeouts across 1 1/3 innings before handing off the final out to
Enyel De Los Santos. The appearance signals growing trust from the coaching staff in high-leverage spots. King now owns a 1.13 ERA and 1.25 WHIP, and he has not allowed a run since his first outing of the season. His steady performance should lead to more late-inning chances, and is worth keeping an eye on as his closer stock rises.
--Julian BrookeSource: MLB.com
April 15, 2026
Cincinnati Reds reliever
Graham Ashcraft delivered a clean inning in Tuesday's 2-1 victory vs. the Giants, striking out two batters. Graham Ashcraft has been a reliable presence in the bullpen, posting a 2.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 13 strikeouts across nine innings. The 28-year-old has spent his entire career in Cincinnati and is showing signs of taking a meaningful step forward. His ability to miss bats has stood out early in the season, with a 38.2 K%. Injuries within the Reds bullpen have created additional opportunities. If Ashcraft continues to perform at this level, he could solidify a consistent high-leverage role moving forward.
--Julian BrookeSource: MLB.com
April 15, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays closer
Jeff Hoffman struggled again Tuesday, blowing his third save of the season in a 9-7 extra-innings win against the Brewers. Hoffman entered the ninth inning with a 6-4 lead but allowed two runs on two hits, forcing extra innings. The 33-year-old is now two for five in save chances, a large concern for a contender. He owns a 1.80 WHIP and 4.32 ERA across nine appearances. Hoffman has not found consistency since arriving from Philadelphia, and his grip on the closer role is weakening. Toronto could begin to consider alternative options if these struggles continue.
--Julian BrookeSource: MLB.com
April 15, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers reliever
Trevor Megill took another step backward Tuesday, allowing three runs in one inning during a 9-7 loss against the Blue Jays to blow his first save of the season. Megill has now given up runs in three of his six outings, and his ERA has risen to 14.40. The 32-year-old opened the season as the clear closer, but early inconsistency is raising concern. His strikeout rate has dipped after last season's breakout, and reduced swing-and-miss ability has led to more hard contact. Megill has a track record that suggests improvement is possible, but Milwaukee may explore alternatives if struggles continue.
--Julian BrookeSource: MLB.com
April 15, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander
Alex Vesia delivered a perfect inning in Tuesday's 2-1 victory vs. the Mets, earning his second save of the season. Alex Vesia struck out all three batters he faced and has converted both of his save chances. The 30-year-old has yet to allow a run, posting a 0.68 WHIP with nine strikeouts across 7 ⅓ innings. He has limited pull-side contact effectively, holding hitters to a 13.3 percent rate, supporting his early success and pointing to sustainable production. Vesia continues to carve out a high-leverage role and is positioning himself as a strong closer handcuff option out of the Dodgers bullpen.
--Julian BrookeSource: MLB.com
April 14, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that he has second baseman
Ketel Marte (back) in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Baltimore Orioles as of now, according to Diamondbacks reporter Jody Jackson. The Snakes scratched Marte from Tuesday's starting lineup in Baltimore as a precaution due to lower-back tightness, but apparently, he's already feeling much better. Fantasy managers have to be pretty stoked that Marte will end up missing just one game. The three-time All-Star is a must-start anytime he's in Arizona's lineup. Marte is off to a .212 (14-for-66) start to the 2026 season, his 12th in the league, but he's been heating up of late and has four homers and nine total RBI in 72 plate appearances. If he indeed returns on Wednesday in the series finale at Camden Yards, Marte will be facing right-hander
Kyle Bradish. He's only faced Bradish twice in his career and has two hits and an RBI.
--Keith HernandezSource: Jody Jackson
April 14, 2026
Cincinnati Reds reliever
Tony Santillan is off to a strong start to the 2026 season, as he's recorded 10 strikeouts and has yet to allow an earned run across his first eight innings pitched (eight games). With the news that Reds closer
Emilio Pagan (hamstring) is being evaluated for a hamstring injury, Santillan could be in line to assume the ninth-inning role in Cincinnati. The 29-year-old was one of the Reds' best high-leverage arms in 2025, recording a 2.44 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 75 strikeouts across 73 2/3 innings (80 games). Santillan also picked up seven saves and has 11 saves in his big-league career, so he has some experience as a closer. If Pagan ends up missing time, Santillan would immediately become a priority target on the waiver wire for fantasy managers.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 14, 2026
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher
Mick Abel was excellent against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, pitching seven strikeout innings with 10 strikeouts and earning his first win of the season in his team's 6-0 victory. Abel allowed just four hits and did not allow a walk. Across his first four appearances (20 1/3 innings) of 2026, the 24-year-old has pitched to a 3.98 ERA and 1.59 WHIP with 23 strikeouts. However, since allowing nine earned runs over his first 7 1/3 innings of the year, Abel has now thrown 13 straight scoreless frames. Abel's walk rate is still 10.8% even after his most recent start against the Red Sox, so control is an issue. Still, if he can limit free passes, Abel has good enough stuff to consistently generate strikeouts and work deep into games. He profiles as a priority waiver wire target ahead of his next scheduled start against the New York Mets next Tuesday.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
April 14, 2026
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said that closer
Emilio Pagan (hamstring) is getting his hamstring checked out after earning the save in his team's 2-1 win over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday, per Jeremy Rauch of Fox 19 Cincinnati. Pagan pitched a scoreless ninth inning with a strikeout for his fifth save of the season, but is apparently dealing with some discomfort that will need monitoring. The 34-year-old is five-for-six on save chances so far this season and has pitched to a 4.82 ERA and 1.32 WHIP with nine strikeouts across 9 1/3 innings pitched. If Pagan is forced to miss time, Cincinnati right-handers
Tony Santillan and
Graham Ashcraft could be the favorites to move into the ninth-inning role for the Reds.
--Will BradySource: Fox 19 Cincinnati - Jeremy Rauch
April 14, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers right-handed pitcher
Brandon Sproat (knee) is slated to rejoin the team's starting rotation on Thursday against the Miami Marlins, according to Jack Stern of Brewer Fanatic. Sproat's first appearance of 2026 came as a starter, but his most recent two have come in long relief. The 25-year-old was also evaluated for a knee injury after his most recent outing on Saturday, but it appears as though he has avoided missed time. Sproat has struggled across 10 1/3 innings so far this season, recording a 10.45 ERA and 2.32 WHIP with 10 strikeouts. Command has been the biggest issue, as he's allowed 10 walks. However, Sproat allowed just one run across 3 2/3 innings pitched in his last appearance. He remains a well-regarded prospect with upside who could be a worthy target on the waiver wire for fantasy managers.
--Will BradySource: Brewer Fanatic - Jack Stern
April 14, 2026
Boston Red Sox first baseman
Willson Contreras (back) has been removed from his team's Tuesday night matchup against the Minnesota Twins due to lower-back tightness, per Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. Contreras was hitless in two at-bats before exiting the game. The 33-year-old is off to a strong start to his first season with Boston, hitting .298/.444/.491 with three home runs, 11 RBI, and nine runs scored. It doesn't appear as though this latest back ailment is particularly serious, but it will be worth monitoring for fantasy managers nonetheless. Contreras was replaced by utility man
Andruw Monasterio on Tuesday, so Monasterio could be the favorite to see an increase in playing time if Contreras ends up requiring a stint on the injured list.
--Will BradySource: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
April 14, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander
Zack Wheeler (shoulder) is nearing his 2026 season debut. The 35-year-old three-time All-Star allowed three earned runs on four hits while walking none and striking out nine in 5 2/3 innings for Double-A Reading on Tuesday. It was Wheeler's fourth rehab start already, and he got up to 95 mph on Tuesday after sitting in the low-90s his last time out. It's an encouraging sign that Wheeler is getting closer to returning from surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome last year. He plans to make another start for Reading on Sunday, which could be his last before the Phillies activate him from the 15-day injured list to rejoin the big-league starting rotation. Wheeler was an All-Star in both 2024 and 2025, and he has 200-plus strikeouts in three of the last five years with the Phillies. Although he's much riskier in 2026 coming off surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, he absolutely should be stashed in all formats with the hope that he can return to his pre-injury ace form.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milb.com
April 14, 2026
Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz said that he doesn't envision more traditional starts for right-hander
Grant Taylor this year, according to Josh Frydman of WGN News. At best, Taylor might work up to three innings in the future as an opener. The 23-year-old is sort of in a transition phase in 2026 as the White Sox slowly work to ramp him back up as a full-time starting pitcher for next year. Taylor has made seven appearances this year (four starts) and has allowed just one earned run on six hits while walking two and striking out 10 in 8 1/3 innings pitched. He had a 4.91 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 54 strikeouts, 15 walks, and his first six career saves in 36 appearances (two starts) over 36 2/3 innings last year in his first year in the majors. Taylor has looked pretty solid so far in 2026, but his fantasy upside will be capped with an innings limit of around 100 planned for this year. Durability issues and workload concerns make him a shaky saves option for fantasy managers in deeper leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: WGN News - Josh Frydman
April 14, 2026
Boston Red Sox first baseman
Triston Casas (abdomen, knee) is dealing with an abdominal strain and will be shut down until he feels better, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. The good news is that Casas' abdominal strain is not related to his rib-cage issue from two years ago, according to manager Alex Cora. Once Casas is feeling better, he'll have to go through a spring training-style buildup, so it's going to be a while before we see him back in the big leagues. The 26-year-old left-handed slugger only made it through 29 games in 2025 before suffering a season-ending patellar tendon tear. Casas hit only .182/.277/.303 with three homers and 11 RBI in those 29 games, too. In 132 games in 2023 in his first full season in the majors, Casas hit .263 with 24 home runs and 65 RBI in 502 plate appearances, but injuries have wrecked his last two seasons.
Willson Contreras is locked in at first base for the BoSox now, so when Casas is finally ready to make his 2026 debut, he could be battling for at-bats in the designated-hitter role.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
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