March 29, 2026
San Diego Padres right-handed reliever
Jason Adam (quadriceps), who started the 2026 season on the 15-day injured list after having surgery last September to fix a ruptured quadriceps tendon, is hoping to be activated off the IL when he's first eligible to return on April 6, according to Matt Levine of Sports Illustrated. Adam probably could have been ready for Opening Day, but the Padres wanted to be cautious and give the high-leverage setup man more time to recover before making his season debut. He threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings during a minor-league rehab outing on Saturday with Triple-A El Paso, giving up a hit with no walks or strikeouts. Adam was a workhorse for the Friars in 2025, making 65 appearances while posting a 1.93 ERA as a first-time All-Star. SD might not allow Adam to pitch on back-to-back days upon his return, but he'll once again be a key setup man ahead of closer
Mason Miller in the Padres' bullpen in 2026, and he has plenty of value in holds leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sports Illustrated - Matt Levine
March 29, 2026
Texas Rangers first baseman
Jake Burger is off to a strong start to the 2026 season, hitting two home runs in nine plate appearances across the Rangers' first two games. The 29-year-old had a down year in his first season with Texas in 2025, hitting .236/.269/.419 with 16 home runs, 53 RBI, 43 runs scored, and one stolen base across 376 plate appearances. However, Burger still owns a 14.3% barrel rate for his career and hit 63 home runs across 1,109 plate appearances split between the Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins in 2023 and 2024. Burger has also been parked in the cleanup spot in the Texas order in each of the team's contests in 2026, which should put him in a prime position to rack up RBI. Burger has also struck out four times in his nine trips to the plate so far this year, so fantasy managers should consider the damage he might do in the batting average category. Still, Burger could be a cheap source of power to pick up off the waiver wire early in 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 29, 2026
Seattle Mariners outfielder
Dominic Canzone is off to a hot start to the 2026 season, hitting two home runs in eight plate appearances across the team's first three games of the season. As expected, the lefty-hitting Canzone was out of the starting lineup for Seattle's matchup against Cleveland Guardians' left-handed starter
Joey Cantillo on Sunday. Still, Canzone looks like the Mariners primary designated hitter against right-handed starting pitchers. The 28-year-old excelled against right-handed pitching in 2025, slashing .308/.355/.524 with 10 home runs and 28 RBI in 201 plate appearances. Canzone could be a cheap source of power for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire heading into the second week of the 2026 season.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 29, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher
Ryne Stanek appears to be the team's preferred closer early in the 2026 season, as he came into the game in save opportunities in each of his first two appearances of the season. Stanek converted the save in his first chance and blew the save in his second, so he may not have an ironclad hold on the ninth-inning role. However, St. Louis does not have an obvious alternative on its roster between high-leverage arms
Riley O'Brien,
JoJo Romero, and
Matt Svanson. The 33-year-old Stanek had recorded 14 saves across 458 1/3 career big-league innings entering 2026. He owns a 27.1% career strikeout rate, but has also walked 11.9% of the batters he's faced in his career and pitched to a 5.30 ERA with a 1.57 WHIP across 56 innings for the New York Mets in 2025. Still, Stanek is worth picking up off the waiver wire as an early-season saves candidate in most fantasy formats.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 29, 2026
Cleveland Guardians outfielder
Chase DeLauter is off to a red-hot start to the 2026 season, as he's hit four home runs in 14 plate appearances over his first three games of the year. The 24-year-old has also batted second in front of superstar Guardians third baseman
Jose Ramirez all three contests, a good sign for DeLauter's ability to rack up counting stats. While DeLauter was called up to the big leagues for Cleveland's postseason run in 2025, 2026 represents his first chance to establish himself as an everyday MLB outfielder. Health remains the biggest red flag in DeLauter's profile, as he has failed to reach 250 plate appearances in three consecutive professional seasons and has broken his left foot twice. However, if he can stay healthy, DeLauter could challenge for the American League Rookie of the Year Award. In any fantasy league where DeLauter is not already rostered, he should be a priority waiver wire target.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 29, 2026
Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher
Jordan Romano looks to be his team's primary closer early in the 2026 season. The 32-year-old has recorded three strikeouts and a save without allowing a hit across his first two appearances, both of which came in the ninth inning. With Angels relievers
Kirby Yates (knee) and
Ben Joyce (shoulder) both currently on the injured list, Romano should have an extended run in the closer role in Los Angeles as long as he pitches reasonably well. The veteran right-hander recorded 95 saves across three seasons as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays from 2021 to 2023, but he's battled injuries and ineffectiveness over the past two seasons. While he may never get back to his peak form, Romano could be a bounce-back candidate with improved health in 2026. He profiles as a priority waiver-wire target in any fantasy league where he's not already rostered.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 29, 2026
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher
Lucas Erceg was primarily utilized as a setup man in 2025, posting a 2.64 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 48 strikeouts, eight wins, and two saves across 61 1/3 innings (61 games). However, Royals closer
Carlos Estevez (ankle) allowed six earned runs while recording just one out in his first appearance of the 2026 season on Saturday. Estevez also allowed three home runs and four walks in five innings pitched in Spring Training, and he's currently nursing an ankle injury. Royals manager Matt Quatraro alluded to using Estevez in lower-leverage situations for the time being, which could open the door for Erceg to take over as Kansas City's primary closer. Erceg recorded 14 saves and a 28.5% strikeout rate across 61 2/3 innings split between the Athletics and Royals in 2024. He profiles as a priority waiver-wire target in any fantasy league where he is not currently roster.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 29, 2026
Chicago White Sox infielder
Lenyn Sosa is out of the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. This marks the second time in the first three games that Sosa has been held out of the starting lineup. The expectation was that Sosa would have a bigger role after smacking a career-high 22 home runs in 2025. Instead, Sosa appears to be stuck in a part-time role on the South Side of Chicago. So far this season, Sosa is 0-for-6 and might end up only playing against left-handed pitching.
Andrew Benintendi will serve as the designated hitter while
Everson Pereira starts in right field versus right-hander
Brandon Sproat on Sunday.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
March 29, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder
Marcell Ozuna (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the New York Mets. This looks to be a routine rest day for Ozuna, who started the first two games of the season. Over that span, Ozuna is 1-for-9 with a walk, so a trip to the bench seems fair.
Bryan Reynolds will cover left field, while
Jake Mangum takes over as the designated hitter versus right-hander
Nolan McLean on Sunday. Ozuna has good power upside, but is only worth a look in mixed leagues to start the season.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
March 29, 2026
New York Mets catcher
Francisco Alvarez will head to the bench ahead of Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. This appears to be a routine rest day for Alvarez, who has started in both games to begin the season. So far this season, Alvarez is 2-for-6 with one home run, one RBI, and one walk.
Luis Torrens will take over behind the plate and bat ninth versus right-hander
Carmen Mlodzinski on Sunday. Torrens doesn't offer enough upside to warrant streaming, but Alvarez has mixed league value at the moment.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
March 29, 2026
Miami Marlins relief pitcher
Pete Fairbanks (rest) won't be available to pitch during Sunday's game against the Colorado Rockies, according to manager Clayton McCullough. Fairbanks will get a rest day on Sunday after picking up back-to-back saves to begin the season. The 32-year-old signed a one-year, $13 million deal with the Marlins over the offseason. So far, this deal is working out great for Miami, but they don't want to push the veteran right-hander too hard early in the season.
Anthony Bender and
Calvin Faucher are the favorites to pitch in the ninth without Fairbanks available on Sunday. Fantasy managers should consider scooping up Fairbanks if he's still available in your league.
--Andy WebbSource: Daniel Alvarez-Montes
March 29, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder
Jake Fraley (shoulder) has been scratched from Sunday's lineup versus the St. Louis Cardinals. Fraley suffered a right shoulder injury while attempting to make a diving catch during Saturday's contest. Rays manager Kevin Cash hinted that the injury wasn't serious, so fantasy managers should consider Fraley as day-to-day.
Jonny DeLuca will cover right field and bat sixth against right-hander
Dustin May on Sunday. Fraley should be back in the mix in a few days, but he doesn't have much fantasy appeal right now anyway.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
March 29, 2026
Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever
Carlos Estevez (ankle) was in a walking boot on Sunday morning and will have his ankle contusion re-evaluated, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Manager Matt Quatraro said that he would be "surprised" if Estevez would be available on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves. And if Estevez was available, Quatraro said, "We would not be averse to putting him in a lower-leverage situation." "I'm not going to say he wouldn't do it, but I also think it would be probably smarter for us to try to build him a little bit in lower leverage first," Quatraro added when asked if he would use Estevez in the ninth inning. Estevez took a line drive off his left ankle in an eventful blown save on Saturday in which he allowed six runs in just one-third of an inning. The 33-year-old saw a drop in his strikeout rate in 2025, and his velocity has been noticeably down this spring. It appears that Estevez is already on very shaky ground early on in 2026, so fantasy managers chasing saves need to run to the waiver wire and add
Lucas Erceg, who figures to be next in line for ninth-inning duties in KC as the Royals look to get Estevez right.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
March 29, 2026
Washington Nationals shortstop
CJ Abrams (personal) is back in the lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the Chicago Cubs. Abrams was away from the team for Saturday's game due to a death in the family.
Nasim Nunez filled in at shortstop for that game, but will move over to second base on Sunday. Abrams will cover shortstop and bat sixth versus lefty
Shota Imanaga. The 25-year-old went 1-for-4 during Thursday's season opener with two RBI in the victory. He should be rostered and started in most fantasy formats.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
March 29, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers catching prospect
Jeferson Quero is making his major-league debut on Sunday against the visiting Chicago White Sox and left-hander
Anthony Kay. Quero will do the catching for right-hander
Brandon Sproat and will bat seventh. The Brewers surprisingly called up Quero to the big-league roster on Saturday from Triple-A Nashville to help give them more depth with first baseman
Andrew Vaughn (hand) going on the 10-day injured list. The 23-year-old Quero will help fill in behind the plate with
William Contreras serving as the designated hitter in the series finale against Chicago. Quero is the Brewers' top catching prospect. His development has been slowed in recent seasons due to various injuries, including hamstring and shoulder issues in 2025. Quero is still considered one of the best defensive backstops in the game. However, he could struggle with the bat early on in his first taste of big-league pitching. He slashed .255/.3336/.412 with six homers and 44 RBI in 58 games at Nashville in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
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