March 30, 2026
Houston Astros right-handed reliever
Bryan Abreu is off to a shaky start this season, allowing four earned runs over just 1 1/3 innings of work. He has allowed one hit and four walks over that span, struggling with free passes. He has also struck out three batters so far. Control has been a major issue for the 28-year-old, whose 40% strike rate is significantly below the league average. His fastball velocity is also way down, dropping from 97.2 mph in 2025 to 94.4 mph thus far. Abreu hasn't found himself in a save situation yet, but it's fair to question whether the Astros might start to lose faith in his ability to handle high-leverage outings. We already saw manager Joe Espada give a save situation to
Bryan King, who converted and now has one save, five strikeouts, and a 1.64 FIP over 2.2 innings of work.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
March 30, 2026
The Atlanta Braves have selected the contract of left-handed pitcher
Martin Perez from Triple-A Gwinnett. In a corresponding move, right-handed pitcher
Didier Fuentes was optioned to Triple-A. Perez is expected to start Tuesday's game against the Athletics. He spent last season with the Chicago White Sox, posting a 3.54 ERA but a 5.36 xERA. He amassed 7.07 K/9, 3.54 BB/9, and 0.96 K/9 while inducing ground balls at a career-low 39% clip. When the veteran toes the rubber on Tuesday, it'll mark the start of his 15th season in Major League Baseball. Depending on how the outing goes, he could stick in the Braves' rotation. If it doesn't go well, the only way for the Braves to get him off their 26-man and 40-man rosters would be to designate him for assignment (or trade/release him outright).
--Andersen PickardSource: Atlanta Braves
March 30, 2026
New York Mets right-handed pitching prospect
Jonah Tong tossed four shutout frames in his Triple-A debut on Friday. Tong logged four clean innings with just one hit and two free passes. He struck out four. This was a strong debut for Tong, who was in serious competition for a lead role on the MLB roster during spring training. The right-hander made his MLB debut last summer but struggled in his first taste, logging 18 2/3 innings with a hefty 7.71 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP. However, as he progressed through the system, Tong flashed immense upside and quickly established himself as one of the game's top pitching prospects. In 2025, Tong posted a stellar 1.43 ERA and 0.92 WHIP over 113 2/3 innings split between Double-A and Triple-A, with 179 punchouts. The 22-year-old remains a solid stash candidate in deeper 12+ team leagues as he will likely be the first name called when the Mets need additional pitching depth.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
March 30, 2026
New York Yankees top outfield prospect
Spencer Jones went 1-for-3 with a home run during Sunday's contest against Triple-A Buffalo. This was his first long ball of the Triple-A regular season and also extended his hitting streak to three games. Jones was unlikely to break camp with the MLB roster given their depth in the outfield, but he continues to perform at a high level. In spring training, Jones flashed elite power, hitting six home runs while carrying an incredible .357/.455/1.071 slash line. During the 2025 season, Jones spent time at both Double-A and Triple-A and showed similar raw power upside, hitting 35 home runs over a 116-game stint. While his strikeout rate remains a concern, Jones would carry intriguing fantasy potential as soon as he earns the call to the major leagues.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
March 30, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates infield prospect
Konnor Griffin looked very comfortable during his opening series at Triple-A Indianapolis and is quickly making his case to join the major league roster. Over his first three games at the top level of the minor leagues, Griffin went 5-for-10 with two doubles, one RBI, two stolen bases, and a 3:3 K:BB. Griffin nearly made the MLB roster without taking a single at-bat at the Triple-A level but ultimately fell short in the competition. In spring training, Griffin launched four home runs but carried an inconsistent .184 AVG. Last season, the team's No. 1 prospect held a dominant .333/.415/.527 line with 21 home runs and 65 stolen bases over 122 MiLB games. Given his high-end five-category skill set, he remains a priority stash candidate in all formats.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
March 30, 2026
Cincinnati Reds first-base prospect
Sal Stewart has been swinging a hot bat to begin the 2026 season and enters Week 2 as a must-start first baseman in all formats. Over their opening series against the Boston Red Sox (three games), the former 32nd overall selection posted three straight multi-hit performances. He would finish the series going 7-for-10 with three doubles, one home run, and a 2:3 K:BB. The Red promoted Stewart during the back half of the 2025 campaign, and he enjoyed similar success, launching five home runs with a .838 OPS over his first 18 games in the majors. Through 118 games shared between Double-A and Triple-A in 2025, Stewart carried a .309/.383/.524 line with 20 home runs and 17 stolen bases. Given his dominant start and elite minor-league track record, managers should continue to start Stewart with confidence across all formats.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 30, 2026
Miami Marlins outfield prospect
Owen Caissie turned in an impressive showing in the team's opening series and has emerged as a viable waiver-wire target in deep five-outfielder leagues. Over Miami's first three games of the campaign, Caissie went 5-for-10 with two doubles, one home run, four RBI, and a stolen base. While he started the first two games, he was left on the bench on Sunday, facing a left-handed starting pitcher. However, the No. 42-ranked prospect would enter the game and launch his first long ball of the campaign in walk-off style in the final frame. Caissie made his MLB debut last season with the Cubs but was only given a short 12-game stint. He spent most of the 2025 campaign with Triple-A, where he posted a .937 OPS with 22 home runs. While he will likely continue to sit against left-handed pitchers, he is a viable waiver target in all five-outfielder leagues ahead of Week 2.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 30, 2026
Boston Red Sox starting pitching prospect
Connelly Early logged five innings of one-run ball in his season debut against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. The young left-hander struck out six hitters while allowing just five hits and two free passes. Early was able to claim the final spot in the starting rotation after a strong spring training. In camp, the Virginia product logged 17 innings to the tune of a 1.59 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and a 16:5 K:BB. Early made his MLB debut late last season and enjoyed similar success against the game's top hitters, tossing 19 1/3 innings with a 2.33 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. Given his strong debut, managers should look to add Early off the waiver wire ahead of his next outing against the San Diego Padres. He is a viable starting pitcher in all formats.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 29, 2026
Seattle Mariners right-hander
Emerson Hancock had a special night on Sunday in Seattle in the series finale against the Cleveland Guardians at T-Mobile Park to earn his first victory of 2026. Hancock has never looked so good, throwing six scoreless and hitless innings while walking just one and striking out a career-high nine. If the 26-year-old keeps pitching anywhere near this level going forward, it will be impossible for Seattle to kick him out of the starting rotation when right-hander
Bryce Miller (oblique) is ready to return from the injured list. It's unclear exactly how long he'll stick in the M's rotation, but he'll definitely be a popular matchup-based streamer in his second scheduled start of the year next week against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels. Hancock has been mediocre at the big-league level the last three years, going 8-9 with a 4.81 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 15.6% strikeout rate, and 7.6% walk rate in 162 2/3 innings. He's going to need to keep it up to be considered more than just a swingman in Seattle. Fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on Hancock's progression.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 29, 2026
Minnesota Twins right-handed reliever
Cole Sands was called on for the team's first save opportunity on Saturday in Baltimore against the Orioles at Camden Yards, and he delivered for his first save of the year and his ninth total in his fifth big-league season. The 28-year-old slammed the door shut by striking out two in two scoreless and hitless innings in the 4-1 victory. The Twins are expected to utilize a closer-by-committee situation for saves, but it's definitely worth noting that Minnesota went with Sands for their first save chance. Other relievers that could be options for saves for manager Derek Shelton include
Taylor Rogers and
Justin Topa. Sharpening his secondary pitches would go a long way towards helping Sands lock down more save chances in the Twin Cities. For fantasy managers in deeper leagues in need of more saves options, Sands will be worth a look early on. He's currently only rostered in 11% of Yahoo leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
March 29, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays right-handed reliever
Edwin Uceta (shoulder) started the 2026 season on the 15-day injured list with a right-shoulder impingement, but he threw live batting practice on Friday and could be nearing a return to the Rays' bullpen in early April, barring a setback with his rehab. The 28-year-old carries plenty of strikeout upside at the back end of the Rays' bullpen, and he could have a clear path to lead the team in saves this year, especially after
Griffin Jax blew his first two save opportunities in the first two ballgames of the season. Uceta is widely available in fantasy leagues right now, too, and is only rostered in 14% of Yahoo leagues. The Dominican reliever had a tidy 1.51 ERA and 0.82 WHIP in 41 2/3 innings with five saves in 2024 and was one of just five relievers to reach the 100-strikeout mark last year in 76 innings pitched. For the strikeout upside alone and potentially plenty of saves/holds, Uceta is probably one of the most attractive relief arms widely available on the waiver wire early in the season because of his shoulder injury.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
March 29, 2026
Los Angeles Angels right-hander
Jose Soriano got off on the right foot in 2026 in his Opening Day start on Thursday in the team's 3-0 shutout win over the Houston Astros. Soriano was in top form on the road at Daikin Park, tossing six shutout innings with only two hits allowed, four walks, and seven strikeouts to pick up his first win of the year. The 27-year-old has teased upside before, only to disappoint fantasy managers. Still, Soriano is worth a look as a waiver-wire pickup early this year for his ground-ball abilities and high-end velocity as starting pitching depth. The Dominican hurler had a 4.26 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 31 starts a year ago and has a career .3.82 ERA (3.77 FIP), 1.31 WHIP, 22.3% strikeout rate, and 10.7% walk rate in four MLB seasons. Soriano will need to lower his walk rate to tap into his true ceiling. He faces a matchup against the Chicago Cubs in his second start of 2026 next week.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
March 29, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals left-hander looked sharp against the Tampa Bay Rays in his Opening Day start on Thursday, allowing only one earned run on seven hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out two in five innings of work for a no-decision. The 26-year-old southpaw was in a full-time starting role for the Cardinals in 2025 and went 8-12 with a 4.21 ERA (4.03 FIP) and 1.30 WHIP with a career-high 122 strikeouts and 40 walks in 151 2/3 innings over his 29 starts. Most of his best work last year came early in the season before a rough 14-start stretch in the middle of the year, where he had an ERA over 5.00. Liberatore was passable as a deep-league, matchup-based streamer in 2025, but his 18.8% strikeout rate left a lot to be desired in fantasy formats. It was a nice start for him on Thursday, but he faces a tough second matchup against the Mets, and fantasy managers in mixed leagues will want to see plenty more before they consider him off the waiver wire. Liberatore is only rostered in 24% of Yahoo leagues currently.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
March 29, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder
Sal Frelick opened his 2026 season with a bang on Opening Day in Thursday's win over the Chicago White Sox with a rare home run. Frelick also went 1-for-3 with two walks and a run scored in Sunday's 9-7 victory over the White Sox, and he could be worth a look off the early-season waiver wire in fantasy leagues for managers looking for a boost in counting stats with
Jackson Chourio out with a fractured hand. The 25-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder should see more consistent playing time while Chourio is out in Milwaukee's outfield. In his two full MLB seasons, Frelick has offered limited fantasy upside, though, slashing a combined .274/.336/.372 with a .708 OPS, 14 home runs, 95 RBI, 142 runs scored, and 37 stolen bases in 287 total games. Frelick is mostly an asset for his speed and runs scored, and he's currently only rostered in 27% of Yahoo leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 29, 2026
The San Diego Union-Tribune's Jeff Sanders reports that although San Diego Padres right-hander
Joe Musgrove (elbow) has resumed playing catch, there is no timeline for him to rejoin the team's starting rotation to make his 2026 debut. The last time Musgrove threw off a mound was when he delivered 60 pitches in an exhibition game against Great Britain on March 4 due to a setback with his right elbow after having Tommy John surgery in October of 2024. Musgrove didn't pitch at all for the Padres last year. The good news is that an MRI exam didn't show anything concerning. Still, he needs to build up to bullpen sessions before eventually going on a minor-league rehab assignment. Given where Musgrove is in his throwing program, we'd be surprised if the Padres get the 33-year-old veteran back in April. President of baseball operations A.J. Preller didn't have a good answer for when Musgrove might be back, but he doesn't think it will be months out, either. Fantasy managers stashing Musgrove in deeper leagues will need to be patient early this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Jeff Sanders
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