April 2, 2026
Minnesota Twins outfield prospect
Emmanuel Rodriguez had a nice showing with the big league club this spring, going 8-for-19 (.421) with two doubles and a pair of home runs in Grapefruit League action. The Twins' fourth-ranked prospect is 5-for-21 (.238) with a home run to begin his 2026 Triple-A campaign, and has displayed tantalizing power and an aptitude to steal bases during his time in the minors, however, he's also become somewhat injury-prone. The Dominican was limited to 47 games in 2022 due to a knee injury, 47 games in 2024 due to a thumb injury, and just 65 games last year due to ankle and hip injuries. Even so, if the left-handed slugger can remain healthy, his debut in the majors may not be far off. With his skillset, fantasy managers in deep redraft leagues should monitor his progress this year, as he could become a top stash candidate before midseason.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
April 2, 2026
Veteran second baseman
Marcus Semien has struggled out of the gates in his first season with the New York Mets, hitting .100/.240/.250 with zero home runs, zero RBI, and two runs scored across his first 25 plate appearances of 2026. New York acquired Semien over the offseason in a high-profile trade with the Texas Rangers, sending out fan-favorite outfielder
Brandon Nimmo in return. Semien's production at the plate has slowly been declining in recent years, as he hit .230/.305/.364 with 15 home runs, 62 RBI, 62 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases across 534 plate appearances with Texas in 2025. Swing-and-miss has been a major source of concern for Semien so far in New York, as he currently owns a 32% strikeout rate. The 35-year-old has posted strikeout rates below 18% in each of the last four seasons, so he should post better numbers over a larger sample size. However, if he cannot cut down his whiffs, Semien could be in line for a steep drop-off at the plate in 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 2, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder
Addison Barger is off to a rough start to the 2026 season, as he's yet to record a hit across 16 plate appearances. The left-handed hitting Barger has also been out of Toronto's starting lineup each of the team's first two games against left-handed starting pitchers. Barger had a breakout year in 2025, hitting .243/.301/.454 with 21 home runs, 74 RBI, 61 runs scored, and four stolen bases across 502 plate appearances. The 26-year-old posted an excellent 50.9% hard-hit rate and slugged .480 against right-handed pitching. Early in 2026, Barger has struck out in 37.5% of his plate appearances and owns a hard-hit rate of just 25%. While it's obviously still very early in the season, Barger could be at risk of losing even more playing time given the presence of quality bench outfielders
Davis Schneider and
Nathan Lukes in Toronto.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 2, 2026
The Long Island Ducks have signed right-handed pitcher
Trevor Bauer for the upcoming season and have named him their Opening Day starter. Bauer spent 10 seasons in the MLB after being selected with the third overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. During the 2020 season, Bauer enjoyed his best season as he won the NL Cy Young Award with the Reds when he logged 73 innings to the tune of a 1.73 ERA, 0.79 WIHP, and a career-best 36.0% strikeout rate. He last appeared in the majors during the 2021 season with the Dodgers. Following several accusations of sexual assault, Bauer took his professional career to the NPB, where he spent the 2023 and 2025 seasons. In 2025, Bauer logged 133 2/3 innings with a high 4.51 ERA. Given the time he has spent away from the major leagues, fantasy managers should not expect him to be in contention to return to an MLB club.
--Andy SmithSource: Long Island Ducks
April 2, 2026
Kansas City Royals catcher
Carter Jensen (undisclosed) was a late scratch from Thursday's lineup due to an undisclosed injury. Instead, the Royals will move outfielder
Jac Caglianone to the DH spot, which opens a position for
Lane Thomas in the outfield. Through the early part of the young season, Jensen has spent time both behind the dish and serving as the DH. Across five games, the young catcher has held a .125/.167/.313 line with two hits. However, one of his hits left the yard. He made his MLB debut late in the 2025 season and immediately flashed high-end talent, posting a .300/.391/.550 line with a .941 OPS over a short 20-game stint. Managers should continue to monitor his status in case Jensen needs to miss additional time.
--Andy SmithSource: Anne Rogers
April 2, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher
Kevin Gausman has been sharp through two outings this season. During Tuesday's start against the Colorado Rockies, he allowed two hits and zero walks over six shutout innings. He also struck out 10 batters along the way. Gausman has been spectacular so far in the 2026 campaign, albeit over a small sample size. He has allowed just one run, zero walks, and three hits through two starts (12.1 innings) while striking out 21 batters. The right-hander has continued to prove himself as one of the most effective starters in baseball, even at 35 years old. He has kept his FIP below 4.00 every season since 2018, and he's certainly on track to extend that streak in 2026. As it stands, he ranks #25 among starters in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings. However, he has top-five upside if he continues to pitch at an elite level.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 2, 2026
Houston Astros third baseman
Carlos Correa went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run during Wednesday's win over the Boston Red Sox. He is now slashing .296/.367/.444 with seven RBI, a 10% walk rate, a 10% strikeout rate, and 132 wRC+. Correa has always been an above-league-average player, but his hefty contract made him appear somewhat overpaid last year, prompting the Twins to dump his salary in a trade with the Astros. However, his hot start to the 2026 season has made his contract (and the Astros' decision to re-acquire him) look more like a worthwhile investment. The 31-year-old has taken on an everyday role on the left side of the infield. He played shortstop in
Jeremy Pena's absence, and he should play out the rest of the season as the everyday third baseman, barring injuries. He ranks #22 among third basemen in the latest fantasy baseball rankings from RotoBaller, and he should climb up the rankings if he continues to produce consistent results at the plate.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 2, 2026
Boston Red Sox outfielder
Wilyer Abreu is off to an incredible start to the season. He slugged another home run during Wednesday's loss to the Houston Astros, bringing his season slash line to .417/.417/.917 with three home runs, six RBI, and 281 wRC+. Presumably, his stats will cool down a little over a larger sample size, but the hot start is still indicative of a big year to come for the young outfielder. Abreu is a positive-value defender in right field, where he displays good glovework, plus elite arm strength and accuracy. At the plate, he has hit well enough to earn a spot in the lineup every day, progressing from last year's platoon role. He currently ranks #44 among outfielders in RotoBaller's fantasy baseball rankings, and he'll presumably rise up the rankings as long as he continues to produce consistent results at the plate.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 2, 2026
Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher
Cade Smith allowed a solo home run during Wednesday's outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The home run was the only run Smith allowed during his inning of work. However, he has now allowed at least one run in each of his last three appearances. Through four innings of relief work this year, he has allowed four earned runs, five hits, and one walk. He also has three strikeouts and one save. Smith's 3.09 xERA suggests his 9.00 ERA could be a product of bad luck, but the 5.67 FIP and 4.24 xFIP still point to some underlying issues. Loud contact has been a big problem for Smith, who has a mere 28.6% ground ball rate this year (albeit over a small sample size). The 26-year-old righty still ranks as RotoBaller's #3 relief pitcher in fantasy baseball for now, but he'll presumably fall down the rankings if he continues to struggle over a larger sample size.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 2, 2026
Cincinnati Reds left-handed pitcher
Nick Lodolo will begin a rehab assignment at Single-A Dayton on Thursday. Lodolo has been sidelined since the end of spring training due to a blister on his left index finger, but the rehab assignment indicates that he's making progress and could be close to returning. Although the Reds now have until the start of May to activate him, it presumably won't take that long. He's expected to throw 60 to 65 pitches on Thursday, so we wouldn't be surprised to see him make one more start at Double-A or Triple-A before re-joining the major league roster. Lodolo is coming off a strong 2025 season in which he made 29 appearances with a 3.66 xFIP, 8.96 K/9, 1.78 BB/9, and 42.6% ground ball rate. The 28-year-old southpaw currently ranks #41 among starting pitchers in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: Cincinnati Reds
April 2, 2026
Chicago White Sox right-handed pitcher
Grant Taylor will start Friday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays as an opener, according to James Fegan of SoxMachine.com. Taylor developed in the minors as a starter, but the White Sox have been using him solely as a reliever in the majors, so he'll presumably only pitch the first inning on Friday. He posted a 1.42 FIP with 13.25 K/9 in the majors last year, and he hasn't surrendered a home run since 2024 at Single-A. Through two innings of relief work this season, he has allowed one earned run and two walks while striking out four batters. As long as the White Sox keep Taylor in a short-innings role, he's not a very flashy pitching option in fantasy baseball.
--Andersen PickardSource: James Fegan
April 2, 2026
According to Jason Mackey, the Pittsburgh Pirates are promoting top infield prospect
Konnor Griffin to the MLB roster ahead of their home opener on Friday. Griffin was in serious contention to break camp with the MLB roster despite not playing a single game at the Triple-A level. In spring training, the former ninth overall pick launched four home runs while going 5-for-24 at the dish. As a result, the Pirates opted to send Griffin to Triple-A for a brief stint. In this five-game appearance, Griffin would flash high-end upside, posting a .438/.571/.625 slash line with three doubles and three stolen bases. Last summer, Griffin appeared in 122 games, spent primarily in the lower levels and hit for a .333 AVG with 21 HRs and 65 SBs. Given his high-end five-category upside, Griffin should be viewed as a must-roster middle infielder in all formats going forward.
--Andy SmithSource: Jason Mackey
April 2, 2026
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher
Gavin Williams had an extremely impressive start against one of the most potent lineups in baseball on Wednesday night to earn his first win of the season. Williams spun seven shutout innings, allowing two hits and three walks to the Dodgers while logging an impressive total of 10 strikeouts. The 26-year-old righty gave up three runs in five innings with six walks against the Mariners in his first start of the season, so this was a huge step in the right direction for Williams, who showed how dominant he can be when at his best. He looks lined up for a two-start week next week, making a home start against the Royals on Tuesday and a road start in Atlanta next Sunday.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
April 2, 2026
San Diego Padres starting pitcher
Nick Pivetta had an excellent bounce-back outing on Wednesday against the Giants, racking up eight strikeouts in five shutout innings to earn his first win of the season. Pivetta issued two walks but only gave up one hit. He threw a season-high 82 pitches and left with the score 2-0 before the Padres broke it open for a 7-1 victory. It was a great turnaround for Pivetta, who gave up six runs in three innings against the Tigers in his first start of the season. He showed in this outing that he still brings strikeout upside and can be a contributor in the right matchups. He's set up for a two-start week with outings on the road against the Pirates and Rockies next week.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
April 2, 2026
Kansas City Royals outfielder
Jac Caglianone had a huge game on Wednesday night to help propel his team to a 13-9 victory over the visiting Twins. Caglianone went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, a double, and a hit by pitch. He raised his batting average on the young season from .200 to .357 with his effort and helped jumpstart the Royals' slow-starting offense. Caglianone hit .304 with a home run this spring training and also starred for Italy in the WBC. The 23-year-old lefty only hit .157 in his 62 games in the majors last year, but he looks ready to post major improvements this year. Caglianone is still available in about 30% of Yahoo! fantasy baseball leagues and can be a nice pickup since he still comes with plenty of potential as he adjusts to the majors.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
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