April 14, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander
Zack Wheeler (shoulder) is nearing his 2026 season debut. The 35-year-old three-time All-Star allowed three earned runs on four hits while walking none and striking out nine in 5 2/3 innings for Double-A Reading on Tuesday. It was Wheeler's fourth rehab start already, and he got up to 95 mph on Tuesday after sitting in the low-90s his last time out. It's an encouraging sign that Wheeler is getting closer to returning from surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome last year. He plans to make another start for Reading on Sunday, which could be his last before the Phillies activate him from the 15-day injured list to rejoin the big-league starting rotation. Wheeler was an All-Star in both 2024 and 2025, and he has 200-plus strikeouts in three of the last five years with the Phillies. Although he's much riskier in 2026 coming off surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, he absolutely should be stashed in all formats with the hope that he can return to his pre-injury ace form.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milb.com
April 14, 2026
Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz said that he doesn't envision more traditional starts for right-hander
Grant Taylor this year, according to Josh Frydman of WGN News. At best, Taylor might work up to three innings in the future as an opener. The 23-year-old is sort of in a transition phase in 2026 as the White Sox slowly work to ramp him back up as a full-time starting pitcher for next year. Taylor has made seven appearances this year (four starts) and has allowed just one earned run on six hits while walking two and striking out 10 in 8 1/3 innings pitched. He had a 4.91 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 54 strikeouts, 15 walks, and his first six career saves in 36 appearances (two starts) over 36 2/3 innings last year in his first year in the majors. Taylor has looked pretty solid so far in 2026, but his fantasy upside will be capped with an innings limit of around 100 planned for this year. Durability issues and workload concerns make him a shaky saves option for fantasy managers in deeper leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: WGN News - Josh Frydman
April 14, 2026
Boston Red Sox first baseman
Triston Casas (abdomen, knee) is dealing with an abdominal strain and will be shut down until he feels better, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. The good news is that Casas' abdominal strain is not related to his rib-cage issue from two years ago, according to manager Alex Cora. Once Casas is feeling better, he'll have to go through a spring training-style buildup, so it's going to be a while before we see him back in the big leagues. The 26-year-old left-handed slugger only made it through 29 games in 2025 before suffering a season-ending patellar tendon tear. Casas hit only .182/.277/.303 with three homers and 11 RBI in those 29 games, too. In 132 games in 2023 in his first full season in the majors, Casas hit .263 with 24 home runs and 65 RBI in 502 plate appearances, but injuries have wrecked his last two seasons.
Willson Contreras is locked in at first base for the BoSox now, so when Casas is finally ready to make his 2026 debut, he could be battling for at-bats in the designated-hitter role.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
April 14, 2026
San Diego Padres outfielder
Fernando Tatis Jr. is starting in right field and will bat in the two-hole for the Friars for Tuesday's series opener against the visiting Seattle Mariners and right-hander
Bryan Woo at Petco Park, according to MLB.com. The Padres moved Tatis to second base in the last two games of the four-game series against the Colorado Rockies over the weekend, and he went 5-for-9 at the plate with a double, an RBI, and a stolen base in those two games to break out of a little early-season funk as a hitter. The 27-year-old Dominican All-Star is hitting .242 (15-for-62) on the season with six RBI, six runs scored, and four stolen bases in 16 games played. Tatis is still searching for his first home run of the season. If he were to play enough games at the keystone to pick up second base eligibility, it would make Tatis more valuable to fantasy managers. He'll look to keep it up offensively on Tuesday against Woo, whom he's hitting .333 against with a 1.333 OPS, two home runs, and two RBI against in nine career at-bats.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 14, 2026
Imaging on Houston Astros right-hander
Tatsuya Imai's right arm came back clean and "positive," according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The Astros will try to increase his arm strength before Imai resumes throwing. The 27-year-old is definitely struggling in his adjustment from Nippon Professional Baseball to Major League Baseball. The Astros placed him on the 15-day injured list on Monday with right-arm fatigue just three starts into his career in the big leagues. And in his first three starts (8 2/3 innings), Imai has struggled, allowing seven earned runs on seven hits while walking 11 and striking out 13. It's certainly not what fantasy managers were envisioning for Imai to begin his Astros tenure in 2026. The good news, though, is that Imai isn't dealing with any structural damage, and it's still early in his first year in MLB. Don't expect a quick return to Houston's starting rotation, though, as the Astros look to build up his arm strength, which will take time.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
April 14, 2026
Texas Rangers outfielder
Wyatt Langford (quad) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Athletics. Langford is returning after missing the last three games due to a minor quad issue. Luckily, Langford was able to avoid a trip to the Injured List and only missed a few contests. The Rangers will ease him back into action by placing him at designated hitter against southpaw
Jeffrey Springs on Tuesday. It has been a slow start to the season for Langford, but hopefully he can turn it around now that he's fully healthy. Fantasy managers should make sure to get him active in their lineups ahead of first pitch.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
April 14, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman
Ketel Marte (back) is a late scratch from Tuesday's game against the Baltimore Orioles. Marte was pulled out of the lineup minutes before first pitch. There should be another update on his status following Tuesday's game, but for now, his injury is being called lower back tightness. Fantasy managers should consider Marte as day-to-day until another update is provided.
Ildemaro Vargas will take over at second base and bat in the leadoff spot against left-hander
Trevor Rogers.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
April 14, 2026
San Diego Padres starting pitcher
Nick Pivetta (elbow) was placed on the 15-day Injured List, retroactive to April 13. Pivetta will head to the shelf after being lifted from Sunday's start against the Colorado Rockies due to elbow stiffness. The Padres are calling the injury right elbow inflammation, but he'll likely undergo further testing to determine the severity of the issue. In a corresponding move, right-hander
Alek Jacob has been recalled from Triple-A El Paso. Jacob should provide bullpen depth with
Matt Waldron set to replace Pivetta in the rotation. Waldron hasn't pitched this season, but is scheduled to start against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. The 29-year-old should be viewed as a risky streaming choice for that one.
--Andy WebbSource: San Diego Padres
April 14, 2026
Detroit Tigers infielder
Colt Keith (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Kansas City Royals. Fantasy managers don't need to panic as this appears to be a rare rest day for Keith. The Tigers will opt to go with
Javier Baez at shortstop and
Kevin McGonigle at the hot corner with tough lefty
Cole Ragans on the mound for Kansas City. The expectation is that Keith will be back in the lineup on Wednesday. Keith has been great with the bat, slashing .340/.375/.472 through 15 games this season.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
April 14, 2026
San Francisco Giants outfielder
Harrison Bader (hamstring) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. Bader has been dealing with a lingering hamstring issue since Spring Training. It's unclear if he tweaked it recently or if this is just a routine maintenance day. The ongoing hamstring injury could explain his slow start to the season. Bader is slashing .115/.145/.192 through 15 games this season. Fantasy managers should monitor this situation in case Bader does end up on the Injured List.
Jared Oliva will cover center field and bat ninth versus right-hander
Brady Singer on Tuesday.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
April 14, 2026
Houston Astros first baseman
Christian Walker (leg) is in the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Colorado Rockies. Walker appears to be back to 100 percent after missing a game over the weekend due to a leg issue. Since returning to the lineup, Walker is 0-for-6 over the last two games. He'll bat fifth and cover first base ahead of Tuesday's contest. Walker has struggled with only five hits in his last seven games. Fantasy managers in season-long formats can get him active, but Walker won't be an ideal DFS option for Tuesday's slate.
--Andy WebbSource: Houston Astros
April 14, 2026
Houston Astros left-handed closer
Josh Hader (biceps) threw live batting practice at Daikin Park on Tuesday, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Hader was sitting at 91 to 93 mph on the radar gun on Tuesday while throwing 20 pitches. He has been sidelined since early in spring training with left-biceps tendinitis, so he still has some boxes to check before he's cleared to make his 2026 season debut in Houston. The 32-year-old veteran and six-time All-Star still needs to go on a minor-league rehab assignment, but barring any setbacks once he's pitching in games, he could rejoin the big-league bullpen before the end of April. The Astros could really use Hader back at the end of games, too, as their bullpen has been scuffling without him. Hader is more risky than ever as a fantasy closer this year coming off his biceps injury -- he also had shoulder issues late last year -- and he will most likely be eased back in when he comes off the IL. He should still be stashed in all fantasy leagues, though, and he proved last year that he's still plenty dominant when he's healthy.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
April 14, 2026
The Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Tuesday that they placed catcher
Gabriel Moreno (oblique) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to April 11) with a strained left oblique and selected the contract of catcher
Aramis Garcia from Triple-A Reno in a corresponding move. Garcia will serve as the No. 3 backstop option in Arizona behind
James McCann and
Adrian Del Castillo with Moreno sidelined. Moreno left the team's game early last Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies with what the team was initially calling lower-back tightness. The 26-year-old will be eligible to return from the IL on April 21, but because he's dealing with an oblique injury, Moreno likely won't make it back to the big leagues until May. McCann is doing the catching for right-hander
Merrill Kelly on Tuesday and will bat seventh in the lineup. Moreno can't seem to stay healthy, playing in over 100 games just once in his first four years in the majors. In 13 games this year before going on the IL, he had gone 11-for-40 (.275) with no homers, five RBI, and six runs scored in 45 plate appearances.
--Keith HernandezSource: Arizona Diamondbacks
April 14, 2026
Kansas City Royals left-hander
Cole Ragans (thumb) has been cleared to make his next start on Tuesday against the division-rival Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, according to MLB.com. Ragans left his previous start early against the Cleveland Guardians last week when he was hit by a comebacker on his thumb in the first inning, but thankfully, it didn't turn out to be a serious injury. The 28-year-old former first-rounder in 2016 is 0-3 with a 5.91 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, and 15:6 K:BB in 10 2/3 innings over his first three starts in 2026, and it won't get any easier in his fourth outing on Tuesday night against the Tigers. Ragans' pitch count isn't expected to be limited at all on Tuesday, but he'll certainly be riskier in fantasy baseball lineups in his first start after his thumb injury against a strong lineup. Ragans can bounce back in 2026 if he can stay healthy, as he's just one year removed from striking out 223 batters with a 3.14 ERA in 32 starts in 2024, when he was a first-time All-Star.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 14, 2026
San Francisco Giants infielder
Luis Arraez (wrist) is back at second base and is batting second for the Giants in Tuesday's contest against the Cincinnati Reds and right-hander
Brady Singer at Great American Ballpark, according to MLB.com. Arraez suffered a wrist contusion when he collided with Orioles rookie outfielder
Dylan Beavers on Saturday, which caused him to miss Sunday's series finale. After an off day on Monday, the veteran left-handed hitter is ready to return, and he'll be greeted by a familiar pitcher. The 29-year-old Venezuelan is hitting .421 with a .924 OPS and a home run in 19 career at-bats against Singer, so it's a good matchup for him to return to following a minor injury. The three-time All-Star and three-time batting champion puts bat to ball often with one of the shortest swings in the big leagues, but he lacks any kind of game-changing power or speed. In his first 15 games with the Gigantes in 2026, Arraez is hitting a cool .304 (17-for-56) with no homers, six RBI, six runs scored, and two steals in 63 plate appearances.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
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