April 8, 2026
Cincinnati Reds second baseman
Matt McLain smacked a pair of doubles in a 2-for-5 effort in Tuesday's 6-3 extra-innings win over the Marlins, driving in two runs, scoring once, and stealing a base. Perhaps the former first-rounder is rounding into form with three multi-hit efforts in his last five games, raising his batting average from .190 to .238 on the season. The 28-year-old scorched the ball this spring, batting .509 with seven home runs, which inflated his ADP in fantasy drafts, so managers who invested in a bounce-back campaign should be encouraged by his recent play. The right-handed hitter will go up against the Marlins'
Eury Perez on Wednesday, and although he's seen Perez only twice, McLain does have a home run off of him.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
April 8, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar
Shohei Ohtani went 1-for-3 in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Blue Jays, with an RBI and a pair of walks. After collecting just three hits in his first six games of the season, the four-time MVP is now riding a five-game hit streak, during which time he's gone 9-for-24 (.375) with three home runs, eight RBI, and five runs scored. He's yet to steal his first base of the season, but a .448 xwOBA and 156 wRC+ point to yet another productive campaign in the making. The five-time All-Star will also make his second start of the season on the mound on Wednesday afternoon in Toronto and will bat leadoff. The right-hander allowed one hit and three walks while striking out six batters in six innings of shutout ball his last time out against the Guardians.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
April 8, 2026
Athletics relief pitcher
Mark Leiter Jr. came on in the eighth inning to help secure a win for his club on Tuesday, but allowed four runs on four hits instead, including a go-ahead three-run home run to
Amed Rosario, resulting in a 5-3 loss to the Yankees. It was the second blown save of the season for the right-hander, who has now allowed at least one hit in all five of his appearances this season, with 10 hits and a walk in his 4 1/3 innings pitched thus far (2.54 WHIP). Although the 35-year-old owns the only save of the season of any A's reliever, he may be hard to trust with the next opportunity to close down a game. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on who that next opportunity goes to, as another bullpen option could emerge as the favorite for saves if they can prove capable of shutting the door on the opponent.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
April 8, 2026
New York Mets manager
Carlos Mendoza said he's happy with where his top five starters are at early in the 2026 season, so left-hander
Sean Manaea will remain in the bullpen for now, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. The Mets will not move to a six-man starting rotation this week, as they had previously indicated they might. Manaea has looked good in his two appearances out of the Mets' bullpen early on this year, but his fantasy value is basically shot unless he can get back into New York's rotation at some point in 2026. The veteran left-hander has allowed just one earned run on five hits (one homer) while walking four and striking out four in five innings pitched. He had a late-career resurgence in 2024 in his first year in Queens with a 3.47 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 184:63 K:BB in 32 starts (181 2/3 innings), but the injury bug bit him in 2025, and he made just 12 starts. Manaea's velocity was noticeably down in spring training, and it remains to be seen if he can ever regain his 2024 form.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
April 8, 2026
Minnesota Twins relief pitcher
Justin Topa picked up his first save of the season in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Tigers. The right-hander came on with one out in the ninth and coaxed a pair of groundouts to end the game, but did walk a batter in between the two outs, so it wasn't exactly a clean save. Nevertheless, it should put him on the fantasy radar for managers desperate for saves. The 35-year-old was saddled with the loss his last time out after allowing three runs (two earned) in an extra-innings loss to Tampa Bay, but including Tuesday's effort, he hasn't allowed a run in five of his last six appearances and didn't allow a single hit in four of them. Still, with just five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings pitched this season and a career K/9 of 7.78, he doesn't profile as the prototypical closer and may not get many more save chances this season. The 6-foot-4 hurler recorded four holds, four saves, and blew four saves for Minnesota in 2025 in 60 innings of relief (54 appearances).
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
April 8, 2026
Texas Rangers third baseman
Josh Jung remains sidelined for Wednesday's contest against the division-rival Seattle Mariners, per MLB.com.
Ezequiel Duran will start at third base and is batting ninth for the Rangers against Mariners right-hander
Bryan Woo. It's the third time in the last four games that Jung will start on the bench, with manager Skip Schumaker saying on Tuesday that Jung is "a little banged up." The 28-year-old has been banged up for much of his young career in the big leagues, although he still offers plenty of power upside from the right side of the plate when he's on the diamond. The former eighth overall pick in 2019 out of Texas Tech has not looked great offensively to begin his fifth year in the majors, going 6-for-32 (.188) with no homers, an RBI, one walk, and nine strikeouts in nine contests. Jung is still Texas' primary option at third, but his slow start and more injury issues should have fantasy managers a little worried.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 8, 2026
Houston Astros third baseman
Carlos Correa (illness) has been sick since Tuesday, which is why he's absent from the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic.
Isaac Paredes will start at the hot corner and will bat cleanup against Rockies right-hander
Michael Lorenzen. Correa is back at the ballpark and did a light pre-game workout, but it's unclear if he'll be available off the bench. The Astros have a day off on Thursday, so hopefully Correa will be feeling good enough to return to the starting nine for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Seattle Mariners. Paredes won't be a bad DFS play on Wednesday at hitter-friendly Coors Field in the cleanup spot. In five career at-bats against Lorenzen, Paredes is hitting .200 with a solo home run. In his first 11 games this year, Correa has gone 11-for-42 (.262) with a homer, nine RBI, nine runs scored, and a stolen base.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
April 8, 2026
Kansas City Royals left-hander
Cole Ragans (hand) was hit on the left hand by a comebacker against the Cleveland Guardians during his start on Wednesday and was removed early, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Ragans initially stayed in the game after a lengthy visit from a trainer, but he was eventually pulled after facing five batters. His final line on the day was three earned runs allowed on two hits while walking one and striking out two in just two-thirds of an inning. The Royals will most likely send Ragans for X-rays to rule out any broken bones in his left hand. Fantasy managers will want to check back on the 28-year-old southpaw's status, but even if he avoids any structural damage in his throwing hand, Ragans might need to skip his next turn in KC's starting rotation. The former first-rounder was a first-time All-Star in 2024 but made only 13 starts in 2025 due to injuries. Ragans has plenty of bounce-back potential this year, but he'll need to stay healthy.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
April 8, 2026
Los Angeles Angels right-hander
Alek Manoah (finger) has progressed to throwing bullpen sessions with all of his pitches at the team's spring training complex in Arizona, according to MLB.com. Manoah's right middle fingernail fell off after a March 17 start in spring training, which forced him to the 15-day injured list to begin the 2026 season. He should be ready to come off the IL at some point this month, but the Angels could have him begin the year at Triple-A Salt Lake after he struggled mightily in spring training, allowing 16 earned runs on 23 hits (five homers) while walking 14 and striking out 13. The former 11th overall pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2019 out of West Virginia was an All-Star in 2022 in his second year in the big leagues and finished third in the American League Cy Young voting that year, but he completely fell apart after that and flamed out in Toronto. The Angels took a chance on Manoah this offseason, but there are no guarantees he'll get another extended run as a starter in the majors if his control problems persist.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 8, 2026
Los Angeles Angels right-hander
Grayson Rodriguez (shoulder) thinks he'll be throwing off a mound within a week after opening the 2026 season on the 15-day injured list with a right-shoulder strain, according to MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger. Rodriguez was also dealing with what manager Kurt Suzuki called "dead arm" during spring training. Rodriguez has been throwing up to 150 feet and thinks he'll throw his first bullpen session within the next week. He will also join the team on their road trip to Cincinnati and New York to continue his throwing program. With all that said, the former Orioles top prospect is still "likely weeks away" from making his debut with the Angels in the starting rotation. "The arm is definitely getting strong quick," Rodriguez said. "When I feel like I'm ready to throw the ball as hard as I want to throw it, that'll let me know. But with how I've been progressing the last week to two weeks, it's really given me a lot of confidence."
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Rhett Bollinger
April 8, 2026
Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever
Kirby Yates (knee) faced hitters on Tuesday for the first time since landing on the 15-day injured list with left-knee inflammation on March 22, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. Yates said he threw 26 pitches on Tuesday, and the session went well. He's now hoping that the next step will be to start a minor-league rehab assignment, but he'll talk with the coaching and training staff on Wednesday. The 39-year-old veteran had a rough 2025 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he has a 3.36 career ERA and 98 saves in 11 big-league seasons, so his experience will be a big boost to the Angels' bullpen. Yates was a preseason candidate to close with both
Ben Joyce (shoulder) and
Robert Stephenson (elbow) sidelined, but
Jordan Romano has fared well as the Halos' closer so far to begin the 2026 season with no runs allowed and four saves in five innings. At the very least, though, Yates could be a nice source of holds as a late-inning, high-leverage bullpen arm for the Angels when he makes his season debut.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Rhett Bollinger
April 8, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies third baseman
Alec Bohm (groin) is back at third base and will hit cleanup for the Phillies on Wednesday against the hosting San Francisco Giants and right-hander
Tyler Mahle, according to MLB.com. Bohm will only end up missing one game due to minor groin tightness. The right-handed hitter is off to a slow start at the plate in 2026, but he does have eight RBI in 10 games played. Bohm has gone 8-for-39 (.205) with a homer, a double, three runs scored, four walks, and five strikeouts. The 29-year-old former third overall pick in 2018 out of Wichita State has disappointed fantasy managers with his power output -- just one 20-homer season in six seasons -- but he will continue to have plenty of opportunities to drive in runs in the middle of a potent Phillies batting order. Despite the lack of power, Bohm has kept his fantasy value afloat with high averages and plenty of run production as an everyday player in Philly. He has never faced Mahle in his career.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 8, 2026
Boston Red Sox left-handed pitching prospect
Payton Tolle is coming off a dominant outing at Triple-A and is quickly entering must-stash territory. Facing Triple-A St. Paul, the southpaw logged six innings of two-run ball (one earned run) with four hits and just one walk. He struck out seven hitters. This was a strong bounce-back outing compared to his Triple-A season debut when he allowed four runs over four innings against Syracuse, with six punchouts. Tolle was unable to crack the Opening Day rotation but is nearing a return to the majors much sooner than expected. The Red Sox recently placed
Johan Oviedo (elbow) on the 15-day injured list, and their current No. 4 starter, Bryan Bello, has posted a hefty 9.00 ERA over his first two outings of the season. If Tolle turns in another dominant showing at Triple-A, he could be in the mix to add some much-needed depth to this rotation. The hard-throwing lefty possesses elite strikeout upside and should be viewed as a top pitching prospect to stash in all formats.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
April 8, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect
Ryan Waldschmidt is continuing to see his value as a stash candidate increase in Week 2 of the fantasy baseball season. This week, the Diamondbacks shifted outfielder
Jordan Lawlar (wrist) to the 60-day injured list. Lawlar now joins
Pavin Smith (elbow) and
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (elbow) of Arizona outfielders on the shelf. Waldschmidt, the 31st overall pick from the 2024 MLB Draft, was in serious contention to break camp with the MLB roster but fell just short in the competition. He was instead optioned to Triple-A Reno to begin the 2026 regular season. Through his first 10 games at the level, Waldschmidt has held a .237/.396/.395 line with four doubles, one triple, no home runs, and a solid 14:10 K:BB. If Arizona continues to find inconsistent production in their injured outfield, Waldschmidt will likely earn the call to the big leagues. Given that he hit 18 home runs and stole 29 bags over 134 MiLB games last season, he is a top stash option in deeper five-outfielder leagues.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
April 8, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander
Max Scherzer (forearm) is scheduled to make his next start on Sunday in the series finale against the Minnesota Twins, according to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. Scherzer has been dealing with right-forearm tendinitis and pitched through it in his most recent outing on Monday, April 6, against the Los Angeles Dodgers, when he allowed two earned runs while walking one and striking out two in just two innings pitched. The Blue Jays pulled Scherzer early as a precaution, but there was never much concern that the future Hall of Famer would have to miss his next start. It's good news for Toronto's injury-ravaged starting rotation early in 2026, but it doesn't mean that fantasy managers should trust Scherzer in starting lineups on Sunday, even in a plus matchup against the Twins. Scherzer has had trouble staying healthy towards the end of his career, and he's no longer the dominant ace he once was.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet.ca - Arden Zwelling
RADIO
