April 3, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher
Gregory Soto was called upon to close the door against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday. Soto was tasked with holding a two-run lead versus the tough Orioles offense. The southpaw gave up a home run to
Gunnar Henderson, but was able to limit the damage. The solo homer was his only hit allowed as Soto was able to record three strikeouts and earn his first save of the season. It's a small sample size, but it looks like Soto could be the favorite for saves in Pittsburgh. He has recorded 11 strikeouts across 5.2 innings of work this season.
Dennis Santana was used during the eighth inning on Friday and figures to be in the mix for saves as well. This might end up being a headache for fantasy managers, but Soto appears to be a possible source for saves right now.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
April 3, 2026
San Francisco Giants infielder
Casey Schmitt (back) has been scratched from the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the New York Mets. Schmitt has been pulled from the lineup due to back tightness. This doesn't seem like something that will sideline him long, so fantasy managers should consider Schmitt as day-to-day.
Jerar Encarnacion will take over at first base and bat ninth in place of Schmitt on Friday. Fantasy managers should check back on Saturday for another update, but Schmitt isn't someone who needs to be rostered in most fantasy formats at the moment.
--Andy WebbSource: Alex Pavlovic
April 3, 2026
New York Mets infielder
Jorge Polanco (Achilles) reportedly suffered a setback in his recovery from his left Achilles tendinitis. With that being said, Polanco is being held out of the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the San Francisco Giants. The veteran slugger has been serving as the designated hitter while battling through this issue. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Mets place Polanco on the Injured List, so he can get fully healthy.
Mark Vientos has been logging in extra at-bats with Polanco missing time due to this injury. It hasn't helped too much, considering Vientos only has three hits coming into Friday's game. Vientos remains a mixed league option even with an expanded role.
--Andy WebbSource: Mike Puma
April 3, 2026
New York Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole (elbow) continues to make progress in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. The veteran right-hander was able to make two starts during Spring Training. Since then, Cole has thrown a live batting practice session on April 1. The plan is for Cole to continue ramping up his activities before eventually beginning a minor league rehab assignment. The Yankees are hopeful that Cole will be ready to pitch for the big league team by the end of May. The six-time All-Star hasn't pitched since the 2024 campaign, but is one of the best in the game when he's healthy.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
April 3, 2026
Minnesota Twins outfielder
Byron Buxton (forearm) was forced to make an early exit from Friday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Buxton was pulled out of the game after taking a fastball to the right forearm in the seventh inning. Luckily, the X-rays were negative, so Buxton is considered day-to-day with a forearm contusion. Before exiting the game, Buxton went 0-for-3 at the plate.
James Outman replaced him on Friday and is considered the favorite to replace Buxton if he misses more time.
--Andy WebbSource: Audra Martin
April 3, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop
Masyn Winn (hip) left Friday's game early against the Detroit Tigers due to left-hip tightness, according to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News. Winn said that he injured his hip initially while taking batting practice on Tuesday, and he was eventually lifted for a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning on Friday. The 24-year-old is day-to-day for now and isn't expected to play in Saturday's game, although he could be back for the series finale against the Tigers on Sunday. Before departing on Friday, Winn went 1-for-3 out of the leadoff spot for St. Louis in the eventual 4-0 loss. The Cardinals may slide infield prospect
JJ Wetherholt over to the 6 on Saturday while Winn recovers from his hip injury. Now injured, Winn has been quiet in the early going so far in 2026, going 4-for-25 (.160) with two doubles, an RBI, two runs scored, two walks, and five strikeouts in six games played. Hopefully, his hip injury isn't all that serious, and he just misses one game this weekend.
--Keith HernandezSource: Belleville News - Jeff Jones
April 3, 2026
Minnesota Twins outfielder
Byron Buxton (forearm) was forced from Friday's game early against the Tampa Bay Rays after he was hit by a pitch on the forearm in the seventh inning, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Buxton immediately walked off the field. Hayes speculates that the injury was to Buxton's forearm or elbow, but it also could have been to his ribs. We'll have more information on the specific injury and the severity when the details emerge, but for now, fantasy managers should expect Buxton to be day-to-day. The 32-year-old oft-injured veteran will likely undergo X-rays to rule out any fractures or breaks after he took a 91.6 mph fastball off his body. If Buxton is forced to miss any time,
James Outman would likely be the beneficiary of more playing time in center field in Minnesota. Buxton entered Friday's game with only four hits in his 23 at-bats (.174) with an RBI and two runs scored in his first six games. The two-time All-Star was hitless with a strikeout in his three at-bats on Friday before getting hurt.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
April 3, 2026
Chicago White Sox right-hander
Grant Taylor will serve as the team's opener on Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin.
Anthony Kay will pitch the bulk of the innings for the Pale Hose on Saturday against Toronto. The 23-year-old Taylor also served as Chicago's opener last Friday, and he's allowed one earned run with two walks and four strikeouts in his two innings of work in relief so far this year in his second big-league season. Taylor went 2-4 last year with a 4.91 ERA (1.42 FIP), 1.42 WHIP, six saves, 54 strikeouts, and 15 walks in 36 2/3 innings over 36 appearances (two starts). This will be Taylor's first "start" of 2026, but he won't be useful in DFS because he's likely to only pitch an inning against Toronto.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Scott Merkin
April 3, 2026
The Arizona Diamondbacks are not calling up outfield prospect
Ryan Waldschmidt yet for a few reasons, explains Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. The first big reason is that the team expects outfielder
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (knee) back for the first time this year after recovering from a torn ACL late last season, so they would have to add Waldschmidt to an already crowded 40-man roster. Then, in another few weeks, Waldschmidt would be chewing up a roster spot in the minors without a path to regular at-bats at the major-league level. The bottom line is that Arizona just isn't ready to have Waldschmidt in the big leagues. Fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues were hoping that
Jordan Lawlar's fractured wrist would prompt the team to let the 23-year-old make his MLB debut. He hit .302 with a homer and six RBI in 14 Cactus League games in spring training and has gone 5-for-22 (.227) with seven RBI in his first six games at Triple-A Reno. Waldschmidt is one of the best prospect outfield stashes in deeper fantasy leagues early on in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Arizona Republic - Nick Piecoro
April 3, 2026
Chicago Cubs right-hander
Cade Horton (forearm) will go on the 15-day injured list, but he said he's optimistic that it's not a serious injury, according to Taylor McGregor of Watch Marquee Sports. Horton was forced from his start on Friday early against the Cleveland Guardians due to right-forearm discomfort. That's usually a bad sign for pitchers, but Horton may only need a minimum stint on the IL. Before exiting, the 24-year-old's velocity was down about two MPH from his typical readings over one-plus scoreless innings. Horton picked up his first win of the season in his 2026 debut last week against the Washington Nationals, when he allowed two earned runs with a walk and four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings of work. The former seventh overall pick in 2022 out of Oklahoma should be stashed in all fantasy leagues, especially since Horton might only end up missing a couple of starts.
UPDATE: Horton will undergo tests on his right forearm this weekend.--Keith HernandezSource: Watch Marquee - Taylor McGregor
April 3, 2026
The Toronto Blue Jays announced on Friday that they signed free-agent left-hander
Patrick Corbin to an undisclosed one-year deal. The team then optioned Corbin to Single-A Dunedin. Corbin, 36, will give the Jays some experienced starting pitching depth as they try to weather the rash of injuries that have hit their starting staff early on in 2026. Right now,
Shane Bieber (elbow),
Jose Berrios (elbow),
Trey Yesavage (shoulder), and
Cody Ponce (knee) are all on the shelf. Corbin will bide his time in the minors and get stretched out, but there's still no guarantee he'll make it into Toronto's rotation this year. Corbin went 7-11 in 155 1/3 innings over 31 outings (30 starts) with the Texas Rangers in 2025 and held a 4.40 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 131:51 K:BB in his 13th big-league season. He hasn't had an ERA under 4.00 since 2019 with the Washington Nationals, so it's unlikely he'll suddenly become an asset in Toronto in hitter-friendly Rogers Centre if he gets a shot to start.
--Keith HernandezSource: Toronto Blue Jays
April 3, 2026
The Milwaukee Brewers announced on Friday that they added infield prospect
Cooper Pratt to the 40-man roster and optioned him to Triple-A Nashville. In a corresponding move, outfielder
Steward Berroa was designated for assignment. The move comes after the Brewers signed the 21-year-old shortstop to an eight-year, $50 million contract extension before Pratt has even stepped foot on a major-league field. Per MLB.com, Pratt is Milwaukee's fourth-ranked prospect. He's getting his first taste of Triple-A to start the 2026 season, and he has gone 4-for-15 (.267) in the early going with an RBI and a stolen base in three games at Nashville. Last year in 120 games at Double-A Biloxi, Pratt slashed .238/.343/.348 with eight home runs, 62 RBI, 71 runs scored, and 31 stolen bases in 524 plate appearances. His glove is already major-league ready, and so is his speed, but the Brewers probably would like to see more development offensively before they officially call him up to the big leagues. Still, if he tears Triple-A up in the first half of the season, Pratt could be a big-leaguer later this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milwaukee Brewers
April 3, 2026
The game on Friday between the Milwaukee Brewers and Kansas City Royals has been postponed due to inclement weather, according to the Brewers. The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader in Kansas City on Saturday. Fantasy managers will have to make the necessary adjustments to get any players from this game out of their daily lineups. Right-hander
Chad Patrick was scheduled to toe the rubber for the Brewers on Friday, with right-hander
Luinder Avila lined up to pitch for the Royals. There's a good chance that both pitchers will make their next scheduled starts on Saturday in one of the games of the doubleheader. Avila was filling in for veteran
Michael Wacha, who has been under the weather of late.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milwaukee Brewers
April 3, 2026
Houston Astros third baseman
Isaac Paredes has been placed on the bereavement list, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. In a corresponding move, the Astros have promoted
Shay Whitcomb from Triple-A Sugar Land. As a result, Paredes will miss at least three days of action but no more than seven days. The 27-year-old has had a quiet start to the 2026 campaign, posting a modest .227/.346/.409 line with no home runs. Under the hood, he has generated a low .302 xwOBA with a .235 xBA, both of which place him below the average marks. However, he has shown a strong eye at the plate, drawing walks at an 11.4% rate and striking out at a low 17.4% rate. While he remains on the shelf, fantasy managers should expect
Carlos Correa to operate as the full-time third baseman while
Jeremy Pena and
Jose Altuve see everyday opportunities in the middle of the infield.
--Andy SmithSource: Chandler Rome
April 3, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder
Jordan Lawlar (wrist) has been diagnosed with a fractured wrist and is set to miss the next six to eight weeks of action, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. The former top prospect hit his first career MLB home run on Thursday evening, but he was also hit by a pitch in his right wrist in this game. Following the contest, Lawlar underwent X-rays, which came back negative. However, a follow-up scan revealed the 23-year-old is dealing with a more serious injury. In a corresponding move, the Diamondbacks are set to promote catcher
Adrian Del Castillo to the major league roster. Lawlar was able to break camp with the MLB roster and has held a solid .333/.400/.556 line with a .956 OPS over his first six contests. While he remains out, fantasy managers should expect
Tim Tawa or
Jorge Barrosa to see more time in the outfield.
--Andy SmithSource: Nick Piecoro
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