April 9, 2026
New York Yankees left-hander
Carlos Rodon (elbow) threw 40 pitches in a bullpen session on Wednesday, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. However, the next step has yet to be determined for Rodon as he completes his recovery from offseason surgery to remove a bone spur from his left elbow. The 33-year-old veteran southpaw also had a recent setback with his hamstring, but it wasn't a serious injury, and it hasn't really affected his elbow rehab too much. The next step for Rodon will be to go on a minor-league rehab assignment. It's unclear how many starts the Yankees want him to make on the farm before clearing him to rejoin the big-league starting rotation, but fantasy managers probably shouldn't expect him to debut in pinstripes until sometime in May. The three-time All-Star certainly has durability concerns, but he is coming off his best year with the Yanks in 2025, when he had a 3.09 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 203:73 K:BB in 195 1/3 innings over a career-high 33 starts. Rodon should not be available on the waiver wire in any fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
April 9, 2026
New York Yankees first baseman
Ben Rice is batting fifth for the team on Thursday against the visiting Athletics and left-hander
Jeffrey Springs, according to MLB.com. The Yankees said that Rice is going to face lefties more in 2026 after he broke out at the plate last year. The 27-year-old former 12th-rounder in 2021 out of Dartmouth College slashed .255/.337/.499 with an .836 OPS, 26 home runs, 65 RBI, and 74 runs scored in 138 games in 2025 in his first full season in the big leagues. In his first 10 games in 2026, Rice has gone 11-for-33 (.333) with three home runs, 11 RBI, and 11 runs scored. Rice currently leads the league in on-base percentage (.500), slugging (.727), and OPS (1.227) in 44 plate appearances. He hit .208 (22-for-106) with seven of his 26 home runs last year against lefties. Rice has never faced Springs in his career and should be faded in DFS against the southpaw.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 9, 2026
New York Yankees right-hander
Gerrit Cole (elbow) is scheduled to face hitters in Hudson Valley on Sunday, manager Aaron Boone told Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Cole is going to start his minor-league rehab assignment this weekend after getting into a few spring training games last month and throwing live batting practice last Friday. The 35-year-old former Cy Young winner is recovering from Tommy John surgery that kept him out for all of last season. He threw 2 2/3 innings in Grapefruit League action and will be eased back into New York's starting rotation when he's activated from the injured list. Barring any setbacks, Cole probably won't make his 2026 season debut until mid- to late-May. Still, fantasy managers need to keep him stashed in an IL spot until then because of his ability to carry a rotation when healthy. Expectations should be tempered as he comes off TJ surgery, but Cole's upside is undeniable when he's in top form.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
April 9, 2026
Colorado Rockies right-hander
Jimmy Herget is scheduled to serve as the team's opener for Thursday's series opener at Petco Park against the division-rival San Diego Padres, according to the team. Herget is likely to only pitch an inning or two on Thursday, so he won't be a recommended fantasy streamer in any format. Right-hander
Chase Dollander figures to see the bulk of the innings in this one after Herget leaves the game. The 32-year-old Herget will hope to keep up the strong work early in the 2026 season, as he's allowed just an earned run on four hits while walking none and striking out six with a save in six innings out of the bullpen. Dollander, 24, comes into Thursday's contest with a 5.40 ERA and 1.44 WHIP with 11 punchouts and three walks in 8 1/3 frames over two relief appearances. Neither Herget nor Dollander will be popular streaming options for fantasy managers against a Padres team that is starting to swing the bats better.
--Keith HernandezSource: Rockies Club Information
April 9, 2026
The Athletics announced on Thursday that they recalled right-hander
Jack Perkins from Triple-A Las Vegas and optioned right-hander
Michael Kelly to Vegas in a corresponding move. Perkins made his big-league debut with the A's last year and had a 4.19 ERA (4.12 FIP) and 1.16 WHIP with 37 strikeouts and 18 walks in 38 2/3 innings pitched over 12 appearances (four starts). At Vegas to begin the 2026 season, Perkins has been working as more of a long reliever and has allowed four runs with nine strikeouts and seven walks in 7 2/3 frames for the Aviators. He could operate as a swingman for the A's in the first month of the season, and with the A's recently sending
Luis Morales to the minors, there's a chance Perkins will make an upcoming start for the team. But because the 26-year-old isn't really stretched out for a normal starter's workload, we wouldn't suggest streaming him anywhere if he's tabbed for a start with the A's in the near future.
--Keith HernandezSource: A's Communications
April 9, 2026
Kansas City Royals left-hander
Bailey Falter (elbow) has been battling valgus extension overload (VEO) in his left elbow and is experiencing pain when extending. However, he resumed playing catch on Monday, according to MLB.com. Falter was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 3 with left-elbow inflammation, and he's expected to return in late April. Before his injury, Falter had been working as a reliever for the Royals, taking away what little fantasy value he had left. The 28-year-old southpaw allowed five earned runs on eight hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out four in 3 1/3 relief innings over two appearances for the Royals before landing on the IL. With a career 17.8% strikeout rate, Falter has very little fantasy upside in KC, and he should be ignored as long as he remains in a relief role when he's cleared to return to the majors.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 9, 2026
Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said that outfielder
Kyle Stowers (hamstring) is close to beginning a minor-league rehab assignment, and he could be playing in games on the farm as soon as this weekend, according to Craig Mish of Sports Grid. The 28-year-old was a Gold Glove finalist in left field last year in his breakout campaign with the Fish, but McCullough also said on Wednesday that the Marlins will consider using him at first base this year, and we could see him play the position on his rehab assignment. It could be a way to keep Stowers healthy the rest of the season after he suffered a hamstring strain in spring training that caused him to open the 2026 season on the 10-day injured list.
Christopher Morel (oblique) is also on the IL, so Stowers could be an immediate option at first if he returns before Morel. Stowers, a first-time All-Star in 2025, hit 25 homers and drove in 73 in 117 games in Miami in 2025 and needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues while we wait for him to make his 2026 debut.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sports Grid - Craig Mish
April 9, 2026
Detroit Tigers rookie infielder
Kevin McGonigle is not in the team's starting lineup for Thursday's game in Minnesota against the division-rival Twins, according to MLB.com. It will be the first day off of the season for McGonigle, who has looked like a seasoned veteran in his first 12 games. McGonigle is hitting .292 (14-for-48) in the early going with five doubles, a triple, seven RBI, seven runs scored, a stolen base, six walks, and seven strikeouts in 54 plate appearances.
Javier Baez will start at shortstop on Thursday and will hit seventh for the Tigers against Twins right-hander
Mick Abel. McGonigle's power might be slower to develop than the rest of his skills now that he's in the big leagues, but his hot start and regular role make him attractive in all fantasy formats in his rookie campaign. Baez has never faced Abel in his career and will make for a low-upside DFS play near the bottom of Detroit's batting order.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 9, 2026
The Toronto Blue Jays are hopeful that outfielder/third baseman
Addison Barger (ankle) will need the minimum of 10 days on the injured list after spraining his left ankle running out a ground ball in Chicago, according to MLB.com. Toronto placed Barger on the IL on Tuesday. The 26-year-old might benefit from a little time off early in the season, as he had gotten off to a very slow start at the plate before injuring his ankle. In eight games, he has just one hit (a double) in 23 plate appearances with two RBI, a run scored, three walks, and six strikeouts. Barger hit .243/.301/.454 with 21 home runs, 74 RBI, 61 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 135 regular-season games in 2025 in his first full season in the majors before becoming a postseason hero in the team's run to the World Series last fall. It's still very early in 2026, but Barger's fantasy stock is trending down after his slow start and then his ankle injury.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 9, 2026
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold believes that St. Louis Cardinals right-handed reliever
George Soriano could be considered for high-leverage work at the back of the team's bullpen going forward. Soriano set down all six batters he faced (three strikeouts) in the last two innings on Tuesday to earn his first win over the Washington Nationals in the team's extra-inning victory. The 27-year-old Dominican is in his first year with the Cardinals after posting a 5.95 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, three saves, 117 strikeouts, and 55 walks in 118 innings pitched for the Miami Marlins in his first three major-league seasons.
Riley O'Brien is locked in as St. Louis' closer, but don't be surprised if Soriano starts seeing more high-leverage setup work for the Red Birds alongside
JoJo Romero and
Ryne Stanek. Soriano has allowed two earned runs while walking three and striking out three so far in his six innings of work out of the bullpen in St. Louis. He's a name to monitor in holds leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
April 9, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies infield prospect
Aidan Miller (back), who is on the seven-day injured list at Triple-A Lehigh Valley to begin the year, has started to swing a bat, but there remains no timetable for his return, per MLB.com. Miller, who is the Phillies' top prospect and No. 21 overall in baseball per MLB Pipeline, is dealing with a sore lower back. The Phillies are going to play it safe with the 21-year-old shortstop. The former 27th overall pick in 2023 hit .259/.382/.427 with an .810 OPS, 13 home runs, 41 RBI, 74 runs scored, and 52 stolen bases in 108 games played for Double-A Reading in 2025. Once Miller gets healthy, he'll have a shot to eventually replace
Alec Bohm at the hot corner in the major leagues, and he offers fantasy managers a more intriguing power/speed profile. He's a quality defensive shortstop prospect, but he's blocked at the major-league level by
Trea Turner. Miller is a must-stash in dynasty/keeper leagues in 2026 while he rehabs his back injury.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 9, 2026
Atlanta Braves right-hander
Spencer Strider (oblique) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday, and the next step for him will be live batting practice before going out on a minor-league rehab assignment, according to MLB.com. Strider landed on the 15-day injured list to begin the 2026 regular season due to a left-oblique strain, but he's expected to make his season debut for the Braves before the end of April, barring a setback once he goes on a rehab assignment. The 27-year-old had built up to 61 pitches in spring training last month before injuring his oblique, so he might only need one or two rehab starts before he's cleared to rejoin Atlanta's starting rotation. Strider was a first-time All-Star in 2023 and led the league with 20 wins, but he pitched in only two games last year and ended up having an internal-brace procedure. He's worth stashing in all fantasy leagues while he makes his way back, but decreased velocity this spring has many people skeptical that Strider can regain his pre-injury form.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 9, 2026
Cincinnati Reds left-hander
Nick Lodolo (finger) will throw a bullpen session on Thursday, according to Charlie Goldsmith of FOX 19. Manager Terry Francona said how aggressive Lodolo gets will be determined by how he's feeling. Lodolo began the 2026 regular season on the 15-day injured list due to another blister issue, and he was forced from his minor-league rehab start last week with a setback of the blister on his left index finger. If the talented southpaw can cut it loose on Thursday, he could be cleared to make another rehab start in the minors. The 28-year-old alumnus of TCU doesn't have a firm timetable to return, but if his bullpen session goes well, he could make his season debut in Cincy's starting rotation before the end of April. Regardless of how long it takes Lodolo to get back to the big leagues, he should be stashed in an IL spot in fantasy leagues for his high-end strikeout upside. In four big-league seasons, Lodolo has struck out 26.2% of the batters he's faced.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX 19 - Charlie Goldsmith
April 9, 2026
The Miami Marlins announced on Thursday that they have reinstated right-handed reliever
Pete Fairbanks from the paternity list and have optioned right-hander
Ryan Gusto to Triple-A Jacksonville in a corresponding move. Fairbanks has been away from the team since Monday for the birth of his child, but he's back now and should immediately return to closing duties for the Fish. With Fairbanks away this week,
Anthony Bender picked up a save on Sunday, and
Michael Petersen notched a save on Wednesday. Fairbanks has allowed three earned runs on four hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out six in his first four innings in 2026 in his first season in South Beach, but he also has two saves in his four appearances. Fantasy managers will want to lock him back into their starting lineups now that he's off the paternity list. If Fairbanks stays healthy, he's a candidate to reach 30 saves for the first time in his career.
--Keith HernandezSource: Miami Marlins
April 9, 2026
Kansas City Royals shortstop
Bobby Witt Jr. is off to a slow start to the season by his lofty standards from the last few seasons. After hitting 20+ homers in each of his first four seasons with a career .357 wOBA, Witt has no homers and just a .298 wOBA in his first 12 games this season. He's hitting a decent .273 but only has one extra-base hit. When he has reached base, he's been very aggressive and is a perfect 7-for-7 in stolen base attempts. His power shortage is concerning, although his hard-hit rate is actually up to 60%, and his average exit velocity is up to 95.2 miles per hour. He's hitting the ball well, but so far, he's not getting the results we've come to expect from the superstar over the last few seasons. If you invested an early pick or a big auction number in Witt, wait for him to come around if possible. He makes a good buy-low candidate if his manager in your league is ready to hit the panic button early in the season.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
RADIO
