April 4, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander
Zack Wheeler (shoulder) was hit hard in his minor-league rehab start on Friday with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, allowing five earned runs on four hits (one home run) while walking two and striking out only one in three innings pitched. Wheeler looked much better in his first rehab start last Saturday, in which he struck out three in three scoreless innings. The 35-year-old veteran threw 26 of his 49 pitches for strikes on Friday night, with his fastball averaging 92.7 mph. It wasn't the best Wheeler has looked, but the main takeaway for the Phillies and fantasy managers is that Wheeler didn't have a setback. He will likely need another rehab start, but he remains on track to make his 2026 season debut in April. The three-time All-Star had surgery last year for thoracic outlet syndrome, but he has progressed nicely in his rehab this spring and should be stashed in all fantasy formats. There's more risk than ever, but Wheeler could be a difference-maker as a potential fantasy ace if he can return to his pre-injury levels.
--Keith HernandezSource: milb.com
April 4, 2026
Detroit Tigers infielder
Colt Keith is back in the starting lineup on Saturday, starting at third base and batting leadoff against the St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander
Dustin May, according to MLB.com. Keith was given a rest day on Friday against St. Louis, but he'll be back in the leadoff spot for Detroit for the third time in the last four games. The 24-year-old former fifth-round pick in 2020 has been setting the table nicely for the Tigers early on in 2026, going 8-for-22 (.364) with four doubles, two RBI, four runs scored, two walks, and six strikeouts. With Keith back in the lineup, rookie infielder
Kevin McGonigle will slide from leadoff to the two-hole on Saturday. Keith's fantasy stock is up after the strong start, especially with outfielder
Kerry Carpenter off to a slow start at the plate, making it unlikely that Carpenter takes the leadoff spot from Keith anytime soon. Keith has reached base safely in all six of his games so far this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 4, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop
Masyn Winn (hip) is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game on the road in Detroit against the Tigers, according to MLB.com. Winn was forced from Friday's game against the Tigers early due to left-hip tightness that he said originated from when he was taking batting practice earlier this week. It doesn't appear to be a very serious injury for the 24-year-old, though, so it's possible that Winn could return to the starting lineup for the Red Birds for Sunday's series finale. With Winn out on Saturday,
Thomas Saggese will start at the 6 and will hit sixth against Tigers right-hander
Jack Flaherty. Saggese has never faced Flaherty in his young MLB career. Winn's hip injury will make it more difficult for the shortstop to get out of his early-season, small-sample-size slump, as he's started the 2026 season by going 5-for-28 (.179) with two doubles, an RBI, a steal, two walks, and five strikeouts in seven games played. Check back on Sunday to see if Winn is feeling good enough to return to action.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 4, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander
Merrill Kelly (back) is getting much closer to being activated from the 15-day injured list to make his 2026 season debut in the majors. Kelly looked great in his minor-league rehab start on Friday with Triple-A Reno, tossing five scoreless innings while giving up two hits, walking two, and striking out two batters. The 37-year-old veteran threw 40 of his 72 pitches for strikes in his first rehab outing after landing on the IL to begin the regular season due to a back injury that he picked up during spring training. It's unclear if the D-backs will want him to make another start in the minors, but if he does, it will likely be his last before rejoining the team's starting rotation. Kelly is no spring chicken anymore, but when healthy, he can eat innings for the Snakes and fantasy managers. However, the upside is limited in fantasy with a below-average career strikeout rate of 22%.
--Keith HernandezSource: milb.com
April 4, 2026
Right-hander
Jedixson Paez has cleared waivers and has been returned to the Boston Red Sox, according to the Chicago White Sox, reports Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Paez was a Rule 5 selection by the White Sox, but the experiment ended quickly after Paez allowed six earned runs on four hits (two home runs) while walking three and striking out none in three relief innings to begin his big-league career. The 22-year-old had never pitched above High-A in the minors before debuting with the White Sox early this year, so he will definitely benefit from some more seasoning on the farm back in the Red Sox's organization. Paez looked good in just 19 1/3 innings with High-A Greenville in 2025 while dealing with a calf injury, posting a 2.79 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 23:3 K:BB. There's still hope for Paez long-term, as he has displayed a nice combination of strikeout upside and control. He's just probably not quite ready to retire hitters consistently at the major-league level.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Scott Merkin
April 4, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect
Konnor Griffin didn't do anything dramatic in his major-league debut on Friday in the 5-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles, but he still helped fantasy managers who started him in his first game. Griffin went 1-for-3 at the plate with a double, RBI, run scored, strikeout, and a walk while hitting seventh in Pittsburgh's batting order. His double and RBI came in his first big-league plate appearance. The 19-year-old phenom didn't make the Opening Day roster out of spring training, but the Pirates didn't wait long to bring the talented youngster up to the big leagues. Griffin is mature beyond his years, both physically and skills-wise, making him a potential once-in-a-generation-type player for the Bucs and for fantasy managers. He should play regularly from here on out and should be rostered in all fantasy leagues as a potential game-changer in all categories. Griffin should move up the Pirates' batting order eventually.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 4, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitching prospect
Trey Yesavage (shoulder) made a minor-league rehab start on Friday with Single-A Dunedin and allowed an earned run on a solo home run while walking one and striking out three in 2 2/3 innings of work. This was Yesavage's first start in a game this spring after he was held back in spring training and then placed on the 15-day injured list before the start of the 2026 season due to a right-shoulder impingement. The 22-year-old's injury isn't considered serious, but it gives the Blue Jays another reason to handle him with utmost caution early on in his first full big-league season. Yesavage made it up to the big leagues in a hurry last year after he was taken 20th overall out of East Carolina in 2024. Yesavage showed good velocity on Friday while throwing 44 pitches, and he should make his season debut well before both
Jose Berrios (elbow) and
Shane Bieber (elbow). Despite the high-end upside Yesavage brings for fantasy managers, he may not reach his true ceiling until later this year as the team tries to manage his innings early in his MLB career.
--Keith HernandezSource: milb.com
April 4, 2026
The Toronto Blue Jays placed catcher
Alejandro Kirk (thumb) on the 10-day injured list on Saturday with a left-thumb fracture and recalled catcher
Brandon Valenzuela from the Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move, according to Hazel Mae of Sportsnet. Kirk suffered the injury in the 10th inning of Friday's game when he took a foul tip off his thumb while behind the plate on defense. It's unclear exactly how long the 27-year-old backstop will be out, but fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised at all if it's an extended absence well beyond 10 days. In the meantime, the Blue Jays will use
Tyler Heineman as their primary backstop, with Valenzuela and
Reese McGuire providing insurance at the position. Kirk is not only hurt early in 2026, but he was struggling at the plate in a small sample size of five games, going 3-for-20 (.150) with a homer, two RBI, two walks, and two strikeouts in his 22 plate appearances to begin his seventh year in the majors.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet - Hazel Mae
April 4, 2026
Cleveland Guardians outfielder
Chase DeLauter went 3-for-4 with a pair of singles and a two-run homer during Friday's win over the Chicago Cubs. He finished the game with three RBI, bringing his season total to eight. DeLauter has appeared in seven games this season, slashing .346/.370/.923 with a whopping five home runs and 266 wRC+. If there's been any hole in his game, it's plate discipline, as he owns a 3.7% walk rate and 25.9% strikeout rate so far. Still, those numbers are somewhat forgivable when you have a player like DeLauter, who is averaging a home run every 5.2 at-bats and is tied for the league lead in dingers. At this point, the 24-year-old rookie has cemented himself in must-start territory for fantasy baseball. As long as he continues to mash the baseball, he should find his way into your fantasy lineups.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 4, 2026
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher
Jose Butto (right arm fatigue) was diagnosed with a blood clot in his right arm after exiting Wednesday's game with discomfort, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports. He has been placed on the 15-day injured list, and he underwent a procedure to remove the blood clot on Friday. The 28-year-old right-hander has allowed five earned runs over two innings (three appearances) this season. He has surrendered two homers and four walks while striking out five batters. It's been an uncharacteristically poor start to the year for Butto, who was projected to be a setup candidate in the Giants' bullpen after posting a 3.70 FIP last season. He'll be eligible to return from the injured list as early as April 17.
--Andersen PickardSource: Alex Pavlovic
April 4, 2026
Seattle Mariners third baseman
Brendan Donovan (leg) exited after landing awkwardly while trying to beat out a throw at first base in the seventh inning of Friday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. Manager Dan Wilson told Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times that Donovan had discomfort "somewhere in his leg" and will be re-evaluated on Saturday. It's too early to tell whether the third baseman will be in the starting lineup for Saturday evening's contest against the Halos, but it sounds like there's at least a chance he needs some time off. That would be unfortunate news for the Mariners and Donovan, who is slashing .370/.485/.667 with two home runs, four RBI, a 12.1% walk rate, and 18.2% strikeout rate, and 237 wRC+ through eight games. If he's forced to miss any time,
Leo Rivas could get into the lineup on a more consistent basis.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ryan Divish
April 4, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitcher
Gavin Stone (right shoulder inflammation) began his throwing program on Friday, according to the team's injury tracker on MLB.com. Now that Stone has resumed throwing, he essentially has a full spring training ramp-up ahead of him. The 27-year-old is working his way back from right shoulder surgery, which sidelined him for the entire 2025 season. He last pitched in 2024, when he made 25 starts with a 3.97 xERA, 7.44 K/9, and 2.37 BB/9. Stone can be a fantasy option when healthy, but for now, he needs to ramp up and prove that he deserves a spot in the Dodgers' extremely crowded rotation. Given that Stone is on the 60-day injured list, he won't be eligible to return until May 21, at the earliest.
--Andersen PickardSource: MLB.com
April 4, 2026
New York Mets outfielder
Juan Soto (calf) is scheduled to undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the calf injury he suffered on Friday against the San Francisco Giants, according to John Harper of SNY. Manager
Carlos Mendoza admitted that he was "concerned" about the 27-year-old's injury but would wait for the MRI results before divulging further. Soto has appeared in seven games this season, slashing .355/.412/.516 with one home run, five RBI, an 8.8% walk rate, a 17.6% strikeout rate, and 162 wRC+. He has been hitting out of the No. 2 spot, but if the injury is as serious as Mendoza feared, he could be sidelined for at least Saturday's contest against the Giants. If so, we could see more playing time for
Carson Benge and
Tyrone Taylor.
--Andersen PickardSource: John Harper
April 3, 2026
New York Mets outfielder
Juan Soto (calf) was forced to make an early exit from Friday's game against the San Francisco Giants. Soto reached on base with a single in the first inning. However, the superstar slugger appeared to have tweaked his right calf while running the bases later that inning. The severity of the issue is unknown right now, but Soto will likely undergo further testing. For the moment, fantasy managers should consider Soto as day-to-day.
Tyrone Taylor took over in left field on Friday and could be in line for a few starts, assuming Soto misses time.
--Andy WebbSource: New York Mets
April 3, 2026
Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher
Emilio Pagan was tasked with shutting down the Texas Rangers during the ninth inning of Friday's game. It has been a rocky start for Pagan, but he was able to bounce back nicely on Friday. The right-hander tossed a perfect final frame and recorded one strikeout on his way to earning his second save of the season. This was a strong bounce-back outing after Pagan allowed four earned runs during Wednesday's game. Fantasy managers should stick with him despite a slow start to the season.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
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