April 4, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop
Mookie Betts (back) left Saturday's game early against the Washington Nationals in the first inning with right lower-back pain, according to the team. Betts walked and scored in the first inning before being replaced on defense in the bottom of the first inning in D.C. It's unclear how serious of an injury this is for Betts, so until we have further details, fantasy managers should consider him to be day-to-day. Expect the Dodgers to send Betts in for tests on his back. Veteran
Miguel Rojas took over for Betts on Saturday at shortstop and would likely see most of the starts at the position for the Blue going forward if it's an injury that keeps Betts out for an extended period of time. The 33-year-old eight-time All-Star and former MVP was off to a slow start offensively going into Saturday's game, hitting .179 (5-for-28) with two home runs and seven RBI in the first seven games of the 2026 season. Hopefully, this is nothing serious for Betts, but even if it's minor, fantasy managers should probably expect him to sit out Sunday's series finale against the Nats.
--Keith HernandezSource: Los Angeles Dodgers
April 4, 2026
Ottawa Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven (upper body) is week-to-week. After sustaining an upper-body injury in Thursday's win over Buffalo, Kleven didn't play in Saturday's matchup with Minnesota. Since he is considered week-to-week, Kleven might not return for the rest of the regular season. Kleven has tallied 18 points (three goals, 15 assists) in 70 appearances, while having 95 blocks and 126 hits. Luckily for the Senators, they got Jake Sanderson back from an upper-body injury on Saturday. He will lead the blue line moving forward alongside Jordan Spence and Artem Zub.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
April 4, 2026
Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Mason Marchment (undisclosed) is on track to return to action on Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets. He is dealing with an unspecified health issue and couldn't play in Thursday's game against Carolina. However, Marchment skated on the first line and worked with the first power-play unit during the morning skate, which strongly indicates that he is ready to return on Saturday. The 30-year-old has been a great addition to the Blue Jackets, registering 27 points (14 goals, 13 assists) in 33 games. He has finished both of his last two appearances with multiple points.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
April 4, 2026
Washington Capitals winger Aliaksei Protas (upper body) will rejoin the lineup on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres. He has sat out a pair of games due to an upper-body injury. Protas will be reunited with Dylan Strome and Alex Ovechkin on Washington's top line. The Belarusian forward has been a versatile contributor on offense, recording 23 goals and 24 assists in 70 games. That said, Protas' recent form hasn't been good, as he has finished four consecutive appearances without a point for only the third time this season. Washington's front line will also have Ethen Frank back on Saturday after he missed some time due to a lower-body injury.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
April 4, 2026
Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman (undisclosed) will miss Saturday's matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights and is looking at a multi-game absence. According to Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch, Hyman could miss up to two weeks. However, Knoblauch added that if this were a playoff game, Hyman would be out there, which suggests he isn't dealing with a serious injury. The veteran forward is third on his team with 31 goals and has accumulated 51 points in 57 games. With Hyman out, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is set to join the first line on Saturday night, while Jason Dickinson will take over the second-line center duties.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
April 4, 2026
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Damon Severson (upper body) had surgery on Thursday and will miss the rest of the season. He suffered an upper-body injury on a hit from Montreal Canadiens forward Zachary Bolduc on March 26. This is an unfortunate blow for Severson and his team. He had a good campaign in 2025-26, finishing with 32 points (eight goals, 24 assists), 93 SOG, 86 blocks, and a plus-18 rating in 71 games. Denton Mateychuk has taken on a much larger role since Severon landed on the shelf, while Jake Christiansen has become a regular in the lineup.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
April 4, 2026
Detroit Pistons center
Jalen Duren (illness) has been added to the injury report ahead of Saturday's matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers. He has been listed as questionable due to illness. Duren could be out for the second time in four games. Filling in for Duren in the starting lineup on Monday against Oklahoma City,
Paul Reed had a big game with 21 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, four blocks, and one steal. He should be eager to shine against his former team as well on Saturday. If Duren isn't available,
Tolu Smith will also move up on the depth chart.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
April 4, 2026
Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward
Paul George (knee) is listed as probable for Saturday's tilt against the Detroit Pistons. The veteran star appears to be prepared to play for a second consecutive night. George finished Friday's 115-103 win over Minnesota with 23 points, six rebounds, six assists, one block, and four steals. He's been in impressive form since returning from his suspension late last month and will be in a favorable situation on Saturday night.
Joel Embiid's (oblique, illness) absence will give George more offensive opportunities against a weakened, injury-ridden Detroit team.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
April 4, 2026
Miami Heat guard
Tyler Herro (personal) will sit out Saturday's contest against the Washington Wizards. Herro was initially expected to play after being cleared from a foot issue, but he will miss the contest for personal reasons.
Simone Fontecchio will fill in for him in the starting lineup. The Italian forward has produced 10.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game in seven starts this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: Miami Heat
April 4, 2026
Philadelphia 76ers center
Joel Embiid (oblique, illness) won't play on Saturday against the Detroit Pistons. Embiid helped the 76ers defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night, and it was always unlikely that he would play in both legs of a back-to-back. Backup big men
Andre Drummond and
Adem Bona logged only 15 combined minutes behind Embiid on Friday and will be much more involved against Detroit. They might face a Pistons frontcourt missing
Jalen Duren (illness), making it an appealing matchup for the duo.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
April 4, 2026
Seahawks running back
George Holani has handled 25 career carries since joining Seattle as an undrafted free agent in 2024, and yet he was a popular dynasty waiver add in the early offseason. Super Bowl MVP
Kenneth Walker III left for Kansas City in the opening hours of free agency, and
Zach Charbonnet, who tore his ACL in a Divisional Round playoff win, is unlikely to be ready for the start of the season, which briefly left Holani and 2023 seventh-round pick
Kenny McIntosh as the healthiest options at the top of the depth chart. Seattle has since signed former Packer
Emanuel Wilson to a modest one-year deal, and the team is expected to address the position early in the NFL Draft. The Seahawks have already met with Washington's Jonah Coleman on a local visit and will reportedly host Arkansas'
Mike Washington Jr. on a 30-visit in the coming weeks. Whoever Seattle targets with early draft capital will likely rise to the RB2 spot behind
Jeremiyah Love in most rookie drafts, while Holani's dynasty value could settle outside the top-100 at the position after a sudden offseason spike.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
April 4, 2026
Washington Wizards forward
Justin Champagnie (knee) is available on Saturday against the Miami Heat. He has been upgraded from a questionable status. Champagnie will come off the bench on Saturday but should still see a healthy amount of minutes. He has averaged 13.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists over the last three games, making him a sneaky option for fantasy managers. However, there's a significant risk involved with every Wizards player, as their minutes tend to fluctuate.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
April 4, 2026
Washington Wizards guard/forward
Bilal Coulibaly (heel) and guard/forward
Tre Johnson (foot) will suit up on Saturday against the Miami Heat. It was initially unclear whether they would play after the team listed them as questionable on the injury report. The two will start the contest alongside
Bub Carrington,
Will Riley, and
Anthony Gill. Due to his versatility, Coulibaly has more fantasy value compared to Johnson, but he needs to stay on the floor to meet fantasy expectations. On Wednesday night, Coulibaly logged just 19 minutes against Philadelphia, finishing with 12 points, two rebounds, and one steal.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
April 4, 2026
Browns tight end
Harold Fannin Jr. was selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft after an unfathomably productive college career at Bowling Green, and in his rookie season with Cleveland, it was more of the same. His 72 receptions on 103 targets ranked second among all rookies and eighth among NFL tight ends. A case could be made that Fannin benefited from one of the weakest wide receiver cores in the league, with
Jerry Jeudy the only other Cleveland player to top 35 catches or 50 targets. The Browns are expected to return the same quarterback room from 2025, with hopes hinging on either a meaningful second-year leap from
Shedeur Sanders or a return to form from
Deshaun Watson, now five years removed from his last impactful season. Additionally, the team holds the sixth pick in the NFL Draft and is expected to spend early capital on the wide receiver position. That said, Fannin finished his rookie season as the TE6 in half-PPR formats, behind two 30+ year olds in
Travis Kelce and
Dallas Goedert, as well as
Kyle Pitts, whose TE2 finish was propped up by the single most productive game by a tight end in NFL history. Fannin is RotoBaller's TE6 in dynasty rankings, but could easily crack the top five if the Browns are unable to add significant target competition through the draft.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
April 4, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect
Konnor Griffin is starting at the 6 and will hit sixth in his second major-league game on Saturday against the visiting Baltimore Orioles and right-hander
Shane Baz, according to MLB.com. In his MLB debut in Pittsburgh's 5-4 win over Baltimore on Friday, Griffin was batting out of the seventh spot in the lineup, and he went 1-for-3 with a double, RBI, run scored, walk, and a strikeout. The 19-year-old phenom will be bumped up one spot in the batting order in his second career game, and he could quickly be moved to the top third of the order if he plays well in the early going in 2026. The former ninth overall pick in 2024 didn't look like a first-year pro in 2025 in three minor-league stops, hitting a combined .333/.415/.527 with a .941 OPS, 21 home runs, 94 RBI, 117 runs scored, and 65 stolen bases in 122 games played. Griffin can do it all for fantasy managers and needs to be rostered in all formats now that he's in the big leagues to stay.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 4, 2026
Washington Wizards center
Alexandre Sarr (toe) and forward/center
Tristan Vukcevic (knee) won't be in action on Saturday against the Miami Heat. Washington listed both players as questionable on the initial injury report and has ruled them out ahead of tip-off. Sarr will miss his fourth consecutive game. Vukcevic will join the Frenchman on the sidelines after filling in for him as the starting center. On Saturday,
Anthony Gill will start at center. Gill will be an interesting fantasy option after amassing 21 points, six rebounds, and six assists in Wednesday's loss to Philadelphia.
Julian Reese will likely also return to the rotation.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
April 4, 2026
Athletics first baseman
Nick Kurtz is back in the leadoff spot on Saturday against the visiting Houston Astros and right-hander
Tatsuya Imai, according to MLB.com. It's the fifth time in the team's first seven games that Kurtz has hit leadoff. It's a curious lineup positioning for the left-handed slugger, who is an elite source of power for fantasy managers in his first full major-league season. It will also be interesting to see how long manager Mark Kotsay sticks with Kurtz in the top spot in the batting order if he continues to struggle at the plate early on in 2026. Through his first six games, Kurtz has gone 1-for-21 (.048) with no homers, no RBI, three runs scored, five walks, and 13 strikeouts in 26 plate appearances. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too concerned about Kurtz's slow start just yet. The former Wake Forest star was the American League Rookie of the Year in 2025, when he slashed an impressive .290/.383/.619 with a 1.002 OPS, 36 home runs, and 86 RBI in just 117 games played for the A's.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 4, 2026
Denver Nuggets guard/forward
Tim Hardaway Jr. (knee) will be active against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. He was listed as probable on the initial injury report after Hardaway Jr. couldn't finish Wednesday's win over Utah due to a knee issue. With
Spencer Jones (hamstring) and
Peyton Watson (hamstring) unavailable, Hardaway Jr. may pick up a few extra minutes in the rotation. The veteran has averaged 13.7 points in 26.7 minutes per game this season, sinking 41.0 percent of his three-pointers.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
April 4, 2026
With the Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver room among the league's most ambiguous offensive units, it's easy to forget that it was tight end
Brenton Strange who finished third on the team in both receptions and receiving yards despite missing five games in 2025. A case could be made for any of
Jakobi Meyers,
Brian Thomas Jr.,
Parker Washington, or
Travis Hunter to be the Jaguars WR1 heading into 2026, but a similar case could also be made that one of those players might not be on the roster by training camp, and another could be playing defense. While gameplans and opponents could drastically affect how Jacksonville deploys its wide receivers, Strange might be locked into the safest role of any of the team's pass catchers, and with
Travis Etienne Jr. vacating almost 50 targets from last season, a good share of that work could go the tight end who saw nearly 78% of his targets within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
April 4, 2026
Miami Heat guard
Tyler Herro (foot) will play on Saturday against the Washington Wizards. The team has upgraded his status from probable to available. After back-to-back 30-point games, Herro slowed down on Wednesday against Boston, but he has an excellent fantasy matchup on Saturday. The Wizards are probably still having nightmares of
Bam Adebayo dropping 83 points on them last month, a game Herro missed. He now has an opportunity to make up for it.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
April 4, 2026
A rash of injuries has limited New Orleans Saints running back
Kendre Miller to only 21 games through his first three years in the league, and when he has found the field, he's done little to prove he can be anything more than a committee back. The 2023 third round pick has averaged less than four yards per carry to this point in his career and has yet to spring a run for more than 18 yards, and with the Saints spending big in free agency for
Travis Etienne Jr., Miller could be left battling for scraps behind a back who has carried the ball more than 250 times in three of the past four seasons.
Alvin Kamara is still on the roster, and
Devin Neal showed flashes in his three late-season starts, making Miller a cut candidate in all but the deepest dynasty leagues.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
April 4, 2026
Cardinals wide receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr. was largely viewed as one of the safest prospects in years when Arizona made him the fourth overall pick and the first non-quarterback selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. Through his first two years in the league, he has yet to make good on that promise, totaling just under 1,500 yards on 103 career receptions. While a concussion, a heel injury, and an emergency appendectomy caused him to miss five games in 2025, he spent much of his sophomore season third in line for targets behind All-Pro tight end
Trey McBride and third-year breakout
Michael Wilson. Both players return to an offense helmed once more by
Jacoby Brissett, and with free agent acquisition
Tyler Allgeier joining a backfield that should see returns to health from
James Conner and
Trey Benson, the Cardinals' overall passing volume could see a steep decline. Before ever taking a snap in the NFL, Harrison was viewed as a consensus top-three dynasty wide receiver, but RotoBaller currently has him ranked at WR20, and the current landscape in Arizona could make it difficult for him to see a meaningful rise.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
April 4, 2026
San Diego Padres center fielder
Jackson Merrill is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Boston Red Sox. Switch-hitter
Bryce Johnson will start in his place, batting ninth and playing center field. It's been an ugly start to the year for Merrill, who is slashing just .185/241/333 with one home run, a 20.7% strikeout rate, and 68 wRC+ through seven games. Merrill had a quiet season by his standards last year, but now, he'd be thrilled to return to his 2025 form. The Padres will hope that Saturday's day off gives Merrill a chance to rest and reset. After all, it's a long season, and Merrill still has plenty of time to bounce back after a slow start. He ranks #18 among outfielders in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: MLB.com
April 4, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder
Teoscar Hernandez is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Washington Nationals.
Alex Call will start in his place, batting ninth and playing left field. Hernandez had started the Dodgers' previous seven games, so this is his first day off this season. The veteran outfielder has continued to find success putting the ball in play, slashing .320/.320/.360 with two RBI so far. With that being said, he's still searching for his first home run of the year, and he owns a dismal 0% walk rate and 36% strikeout rate (albeit over a small sample size). As a result, he has produced 94 wRC+, which is his first below-league-average mark since his rookie campaign in 2016. It's a long season, and Hernandez will have plenty of opportunities to tap into some more power after he takes Saturday to rest.
--Andersen PickardSource: MLB.com
April 4, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder
Jackson Chourio (hand) has been running and throwing as part of his rehab program, and he has also been standing in and watching pitches on the Trajekt machine, manager Pat Murphy told Todd Rosiak of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Additionally, Murphy noted that Chourio will be re-evaluated on Friday, when he undergoes his next scan. The young outfielder has been sidelined since Opening Day, when he was scratched hours before first pitch and placed on the 10-day injured list. He's a key piece of the Brewers' short-term and long-term plans for success, and he's looking to build off an impressive 2025 campaign in which he slashed .270/.308/.463 with 21 home runs, 21 steals, and 111 wRC+. The Brewers have opted to play
Brandon Lockridge in left field during Chourio's absence, allowing them to keep
Christian Yelich in the designated hitter spot.
--Andersen PickardSource: Todd Rosiak
April 4, 2026
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher
Kutter Crawford (wrist) will face live hitters in a simulated game at Fenway Park next week, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Following the sim game, Crawford will be sent to one of the Red Sox' minor league affiliates to begin his rehab assignment. The veteran right-hander missed all of last season with a knee injury, and he's now working his way back from offseason wrist surgery. He last pitched in 2024, making 33 starts with a 3.85 xERA, 8.58 K/9, and 2.50 BB/9. Crawford is still at least a couple of weeks away from returning to the majors, but it will be interesting to see his role when he does return. The Red Sox have a filled-out rotation at the moment.
Garrett Crochet,
Ranger Suarez, and
Sonny Gray are locks to stay in the rotation.
Connelly Early has pitched well enough to remain a starter, and it's unclear if Boston would be willing to bump
Brayan Bello out of the rotation this early in the year.
--Andersen PickardSource: Chris Cotillo
April 4, 2026
Boston Red Sox first baseman
Triston Casas (knee, ribs) will start a hitting progression again on Monday, manager Alex Cora told Ari Alexander of WHDH. Casas had been swinging a bat at the end of March, but he suffered a setback this past week and had to temporarily pause his rehab. The setback was actually a new rib injury, and was fortunately not related to the left patellar tendon rupture he suffered last May. The new injury will nevertheless delay his return to the majors, but the fact that he's going to restart his hitting progression in the next few days is a good sign. Casas is looking to bounce back after posting a subpar .182/.277/.303 slash line with a 24.1% strikeout rate and 56 wRC+ through 29 games early last season.
Willson Contreras remains the Red Sox' everyday first baseman for now, with
Andruw Monasterio presumably available to play the position in an emergency.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ari Alexander
April 4, 2026
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher
Justin Verlander (hip) has been placed on the 15-day injured list with left-hip inflammation. The move is retroactive to April 1, meaning Verlander will be eligible to return as soon as April 16. The 22-year MLB veteran has made just one start this season, allowing five runs, two walks, and one strikeout through 3.1 innings of work. Despite being 43 years old, injuries haven't become an overly common theme for Verlander yet, as he made 29 starts last year. Tigers fans will hope that he returns after the minimum 15 days to offer Detroit an effective No. 4 starter.
Keider Montero has been recalled from Triple-A and will presumably make at least a couple of starts in Verlander's absence.
--Andersen PickardSource: Detroit Tigers
April 4, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays catcher
Alejandro Kirk (thumb) will be evaluated by a specialist on Monday, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. The specialist will provide a clear timeline for Kirk's return and advise whether he needs surgery. At a minimum, he'll miss 10 days after being placed on the injured list. Kirk suffered both a dislocation and a fracture in his thumb, the former of which has been repaired. He's off to a quiet start this season, slashing just .150/.227/.350 with one home run, two RBI, two walks, and two strikeouts through five games. He has continued to offer positive value on defense, though, amassing 0.4 framing runs so far.
Tyler Heineman will step in as the Jays' primary backstop, and
Brandon Valenzuela has been called up to occupy the No. 2 catcher role until Kirk is able to return.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ben Nicholson-Smith
April 4, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander
Zack Wheeler (shoulder) was hit hard in his minor-league rehab start on Friday with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, allowing five earned runs on four hits (one home run) while walking two and striking out only one in three innings pitched. Wheeler looked much better in his first rehab start last Saturday, in which he struck out three in three scoreless innings. The 35-year-old veteran threw 26 of his 49 pitches for strikes on Friday night, with his fastball averaging 92.7 mph. It wasn't the best Wheeler has looked, but the main takeaway for the Phillies and fantasy managers is that Wheeler didn't have a setback. He will likely need another rehab start, but he remains on track to make his 2026 season debut in April. The three-time All-Star had surgery last year for thoracic outlet syndrome, but he has progressed nicely in his rehab this spring and should be stashed in all fantasy formats. There's more risk than ever, but Wheeler could be a difference-maker as a potential fantasy ace if he can return to his pre-injury levels.
--Keith HernandezSource: milb.com
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