April 19, 2026
New York Mets starting pitcher
Christian Scott could be on the verge of a promotion after a hot start at Triple-A. Over his last two starts, Scott has a 1.74 ERA, 0.58 WHIP, and a 12/2 K/BB ratio across 10.1 innings of work. The 26-year-old got a taste for the big leagues last season when he registered a 4.56 ERA with a 39/12 K/BB ratio across six starts with the Mets. Given the Mets' struggles, it wouldn't be shocking to see them shake things up soon. Scott has shown that he's ready for the big league level, and the Mets need to do something after a tough 7-13 start to the season. Fantasy managers seeking pitching help might want to consider stashing Scott if they have room for him on their roster.
--Andy WebbSource: Baseball Reference
April 19, 2026
Texas Rangers relief pitcher
Jakob Junis has done a nice job in the closer role early in the season. Before Thursday's outing, Junis had converted three straight saves. He came into the seventh inning of Thursday's contest against the Athletics. He was blasted for three runs on two hits over 1.1 innings of work. That bad outing will raise his ERA to 2.89 with a 0.75 WHIP across 9.1 innings of work this season. Despite one bad inning, Junis figures to remain the favorite for saves in Texas going forward. He has converted each of his three attempts and could be a sneaky add for fantasy managers looking for help right now.
--Andy WebbSource: Baseball Reference
April 19, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher
Jeff Hoffman saw his struggles continue during Saturday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Hoffman came into a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning, but things quickly got away from him. Hoffman took the loss after serving up a grand slam to
Corbin Carroll. His final line was three hits allowed, four earned runs, one walk, and two strikeouts over an inning of work. Hoffman now sees his ERA rise to 7.71 ERA after an horrendous outing. Despite the struggles, Jays manager John Schneider stated that Hoffman will remain the closer. This will be a situation to monitor if Hoffman continues to struggle going forward.
--Andy WebbSource: Mitch Bannon
April 19, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies catcher
JT Realmuto (back) was forced to make an early exit from Saturday's game against the Atlanta Braves. Phillies' manager Rob Thompson said that Realmuto's back tightened up on him during a play at the plate. Before exiting, Realmuto went hitless in two plate appearances. The team will evaluate Realmuto on Sunday morning and decide what to do going forward. For the time being, Realmuto should be considered day-to-day until another update is available. It wouldn't be shocking to see
Rafael Marchan behind the plate during Sunday's game.
--Andy WebbSource: Charlotte Varnes
April 18, 2026
Detroit Tigers catcher
Dillon Dingler has been hot recently, collecting a hit in five of his last nine games with two home runs and seven RBI during that stretch. Overall, Dingler is slashing .259/.348/.517 with four home runs, 14 RBI, and nine runs over 18 games. The 27-year-old has seen increases across the board in xBA (.328) and xSLG (.694), and his HardHit% (59.1%). His K% (18.2%) has decreased by about five points from 2025 (23.5%). For fantasy managers needing catcher help, Dingler is emerging as an add candidate in leagues with 12 teams or more. He is currently rostered in 37% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues and is 57th overall in the latest RotoBaller waiver rankings for Week 3.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 18, 2026
Seattle Mariners first baseman/outfielder
Luke Raley went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk, and two additional runs scored in Saturday's 7-3 win over the Texas Rangers. His home run traveled 381 feet with an exit velocity of 112.7 mph. Raley is heating up and has homered twice over his last four games while logging multi-hit efforts in three of his last six contests. Overall, the 31-year-old is slashing .318/.375/.636 with five home runs, 13 RBI, 11 runs, and a 1.011 OPS over 20 games in 2026. Raley is known as a streaky hitter but is emerging as a hitter to add off the waiver wire while he's swinging a hot bat. He is currently rostered in 22% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues, but is more of a streamer and an option in deep leagues. Raley is currently ranked 83rd in the latest waiver wire rankings for RotoBaller.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 18, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers reliever
Alex Vesia is becoming an elite handcuff for fantasy managers with Dodgers closer
Edwin Diaz. Vesia owns two saves, a 0.60 WHIP, and 10 strikeouts over 8 1/3 innings in 2026. The 30-year-old would be the top option to close for the Dodgers if Diaz were to miss any time. Vesia struck out the side and earned his second save of the season on Tuesday, with Diaz unavailable after throwing a bullpen session earlier in the afternoon. He is mainly used in high-leverage situations and is quickly emerging as an elite handcuff in fantasy baseball. Vesia provides elite ratios, solds, and is rostered in only 24% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues. The veteran right-hander should be added in leagues with 12 teams or more and is currently 16th in the latest RotoBaller waiver wire rankings for Week 3.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 18, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates reliever
Dennis Santana has picked up two saves over his last five innings pitched while posting a 1.80 ERA. Santana owns a (2-1) record with two saves while posting a 0.82 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and 7:5 K:BB across 11 innings in 2026. The 30-year-old entered the ninth inning in Friday's win over the Tampa Bay Rays, but it ended up being a non-save situation. However, the good news is that Santana has appeared in the ninth inning or later in his last six appearances. He is coming off a career year in 2025, when he posted a 2.18 ERA and 0.87 WHIP and recorded 16 saves. Santana was the favorite to start the year as Pittsburgh's primary closer, but the Pirates opted to use
Gregory Soto in save situations to start the year. With the recent trend of Santana handling ninth-inning duties and Soto being used primarily as a setup man, Santana is quickly reclaiming his role as the main Pirates closer.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 18, 2026
Cleveland Guardians left-hander
Joey Cantillo (1-0) is off to a great start to the 2026 season, posting a 2.61 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and a 24:9 K:BB across 20 2/3 innings. He is becoming a key part of Cleveland's rotation and owns an elite 29.6 K% and a 11.4% swinging strike rate through four starts. Cantillo had been pitching well last season after joining the rotation in July, posting a 2.96 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 72:28 K:BB over 67 innings over his last 13 starts. The 26-year-old has allowed two earned runs or less in each of his four starts and will look to continue his impressive stretch in his next start Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Fantasy managers looking for a streamer on Sunday and a boost to their pitching staff should consider adding Cantillo. He is currently rostered in 52% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues and is becoming a priority add for fantasy managers in need of starting pitching.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Savant
April 18, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher
Brad Keller could be asked to take on a larger role in the bullpen over the next few weeks. On Saturday, closer
Jhoan Duran (oblique) was placed on the 15-day Injured List. The organization is hopeful it'll be a minimal stay for Duran, but the Phillies will still be without him for the next two weeks. The expectation is that either Keller or
Jose Alvarado will take over in the closer role while Duran is down. Given Alvarado's struggles, Keller seems like the favorite to get saves right now. Fantasy managers looking for a source for saves might want to consider adding Keller if he does end up taking over the closer role.
--Andy WebbSource: Baseball Reference
April 18, 2026
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher
Caleb Thielbar was handed the ball in the ninth inning during Saturday's game against the New York Mets. The Cubs are seeking a new closer while
Daniel Palencia (oblique) is on the Injured List. Thielbar got the first crack at the closer role and did a nice job on Saturday. The veteran southpaw tossed a clean inning with two strikeouts to earn his first save of the season. Thielbar only has six career saves, but could end up getting a majority of the save chances while Palenica is out.
Ben Brown is also an option, but the Cubs likely want to keep him in his multiple-inning role. Thielbar could be worth a look in the short-term for fantasy managers looking for a source of saves.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
April 18, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher
Jhoan Duran (oblique) was placed on the 15-day Injured List, retroactive to April 15, on Saturday. The Phillies are hopeful that Duran will be back in 15 days. It's a "very mild" oblique strain, so the team believes he'll only need the minimum of 15 days on the shelf. It's unclear who is going to be the primary closer while Duran is out. It could be a closer-by-committee situation, which is never fun for fantasy managers. At the moment,
Brad Keller and
Jose Alvarado are the favorites to get the ball in the ninth while Duran is down. Fantasy managers will hopefully only be without Duran for the next two weeks, but the team should continue to update his status as Duran progresses.
--Andy WebbSource: Todd Zolecki
April 18, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (knee) has been reinstated from the Injured List on Saturday. Gurriel is set to make his season debut after missing the beginning of the season while recovering from ACL surgery he underwent last September. The assumption was that Gurriel would be eased back into things and serve as the designated hitter. That isn't the case as Gurriel is in left field and batting cleanup against right-hander
Max Scherzer on Saturday. The 32-year-old is coming off major knee surgery, so fantasy managers should dampen their expectations. Gurriel should still be able to offer decent value in deeper mixed leagues.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
April 18, 2026
Colorado Rockies infielder
Willi Castro (hand) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This marks the third game in a row that Castro has missed due to a lingering hand issue. Castro was hit by a pitch on Wednesday and hasn't suited up for a game since then. It doesn't sound like this issue is going to force Castro to land on the Injured List. For now, Castro should be considered day-to-day until the Rockies give another update on his status.
Edouard Julien will serve as the leadoff hitter and cover second base against right-hander
Emmet Sheehan on Saturday.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
April 18, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder
Daulton Varsho (knee) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. This doesn't come as a surprise after Varsho was forced to make an early exit from Friday's contest due to left knee discomfort. The Jays are considering Varsho as day-to-day and will give him a rest day on Saturday. His absence means that
Myles Straw draws the start in center field and will bat eighth versus right-hander
Zac Gallen. Straw doesn't offer enough upside with the bat to warrant looking at in fantasy leagues.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
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