April 11, 2026
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher
Spencer Strider (oblique) took the mound for a live batting practice session on Saturday. The right-hander hit 95 mph on his fastball three times during this session. Barring any setbacks, Strider should be headed for a minor league rehab assignment soon. The 27-year-old is working his way back from an oblique that has sidelined him since late March. He'll likely need two or three rehab starts before rejoining the Braves rotation. Fantasy managers can be hopeful that Strider returns in early May.
--Andy WebbSource: Mark Bowman
April 11, 2026
Seattle Mariners infielder/outfielder
Brendan Donovan (illness) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Houston Astros. Donovan sat out of Friday's game due to an illness, and it appears he'll miss at least one more day because of the issue. Mariners' manager Dan Wilson hinted that Donovan would be available for Monday's series finale against Houston. Fantasy managers should consider Donovan as day-to-day.
Leo Rivas will bat ninth and cover third base versus right-hander
Lance McCullers Jr. on Saturday.
--Andy WebbSource: Adam Jude
April 11, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop
Masyn Winn (shin) was hopeful that he'd be back in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the visiting Boston Red Sox, but he will be held out as a precaution with a shin injury, according to MLB.com.
Thomas Saggese will make the start at the 6 for St. Louis and will hit seventh against Red Sox left-hander
Ranger Suarez. Winn was pulled from Friday's series opener against Boston after he was hit by a pitch in his left shin. It doesn't sound like a very serious injury, so Winn should be ready to play in Sunday's series finale at Busch Stadium against the BoSox. Perhaps the day of rest will be good for Winn, who has really struggled at the plate in his first 39 at-bats in 2026. Winn is hitting just .154 (six hits) with no homers, an RBI, five runs scored, two stolen bases, six walks, and eight strikeouts. Saggese will be a low-upside DFS play near the bottom of the batting order on Saturday against a pitcher whom he has never faced.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 11, 2026
The Tampa Bay Rays announced on Saturday that they placed right-hander
Joe Boyle (elbow) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to April 10) with a right-elbow strain and recalled right-hander
Jesse Scholtens from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. Boyle had a rough go of it in his last outing on Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs, when he surrendered six runs (five earned) while walking three and striking out three in 4 1/3 innings pitched. It's unclear exactly when he might be able to come off the IL, but we wouldn't be surprised if he's not cleared to rejoin Tampa's starting rotation until early May or later. The 26-year-old has an ERA over 5.00 with a 1.08 WHIP and 16:6 K:BB in 15 2/3 innings over his first three starts of the 2026 campaign. It's unclear at this time who might take Boyle's spot in the starting rotation, but the club is hoping to get right-hander
Drew Rasmussen back from the paternity list to start in Sunday's series finale against the division-rival New York Yankees.
UPDATE: Manager Kevin Cash said the team is being "precautionary" with Boyle, who doesn't have any structural damage in his elbow. Boyle said he's "not too worried about it."--Keith HernandezSource: Rays Communications
April 11, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher
Max Scherzer (forearm) is set to start Sunday's game against the Minnesota Twins. The 41-year-old was forced to leave his last start early because of intensified forearm tendinitis, leaving some doubt as to whether or not he would be cleared to make his next start. However, throughout the week, he felt better each day and responded well to daily treatment. It's unclear if he will be on a pitch count, but it would appear that he is set to receive a rather normal workload, giving the Blue Jays an option to take the mound.
--Dave Funnell - RotoBallerSource: Ben Nicholson-Smith
April 11, 2026
Athletics outfielder
Lawrence Butler will start in right field and bat out of the leadoff spot for the second straight game on Saturday at Citi Field against the New York Mets and right-hander
Kodai Senga, per MLB.com. The A's are looking for some kind of consistency from the top of the batting order early on in 2026. The 25-year-old Butler hasn't done much at the plate in his first 12 games of the season, going 7-for-37 (.189) with a homer, four RBI, five runs scored, a stolen base, five walks, and 10 strikeouts in 42 plate appearances. If he can get going, though, manager Mark Kotsay could leave him at leadoff going forward, at least against right-handed pitchers. Lawrence has at least 20 homers in each of the last two seasons for the A's and fantasy managers, and he also produced his first 20-20 season in 2025 in his second full season in the majors. If Butler can stay healthy (he dealt with injuries to both of his knees last year), he'll be an intriguing power/speed asset, especially if he hits near the top of the A's batting order. Butler is hitting .667 against Senga in just three career at-bats.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 11, 2026
Miami Marlins outfielder
Griffin Conine (hamstring) will undergo a hamstring tendon excision next week. The 28-year-old will have the operation done in Dallas by Dr. Dan Cooper, resulting in him missing extensive time. The announcement came a day after he was placed on the 10-Day Injured List, though he will undoubtedly miss much more than the minimum time here. In fact, the timeline for a return to play would be anywhere between six and eight weeks, resulting in him missing a large portion of the first half of the season. In his absence, the Marlins will likely continue to platoon players in left field, using both
Javier Sanoja and Heriberto Hernández. However, with
Kyle Stowers currently on a rehab assignment, he could very well take over in left field upon his return as well.
--Dave Funnell - RotoBallerSource: Christina De Nicola
April 11, 2026
The Atlanta Braves announced on Saturday that they have placed outfielder
Michael Harris II on the paternity list and selected the contract of infielder
Luke Williams to the major-league roster in a corresponding move. Harris will be out of Atlanta's starting lineup on Saturday against the Cleveland Guardians and will be away from the team for up to three days. Fantasy managers must adjust their lineups accordingly for the rest of the weekend. With Harris attending to a personal matter, expect
Eli White to take over for him in center field for the next couple of days. In his first 14 games of the 2026 regular season, Harris has hit .235 (12-for-51) with two home runs, a double, seven RBI, five runs scored, and a stolen base in 53 plate appearances. Harris had his first 20-20 season with exactly 20 homers and 20 thefts in 2025 in his fourth MLB season for Atlanta. He'll be looking to repeat that feat in 2026 if he can stay healthy all year.
--Keith HernandezSource: Atlanta Braves
April 11, 2026
New York Mets infielder
Jorge Polanco (Achilles) is serving as the team's designated hitter and is batting third for Saturday's matchup at Citi Field against the visiting Athletics and left-hander
Jacob Lopez, according to MLB.com. Polanco has been out of the Mets' lineup for each of the last two games while dealing with Achilles bursitis, which isn't considered a serious issue. For now, the veteran Dominican switch-hitter will return to the starting lineup. Polanco is mostly expected to play first base in his first year in Queens, but if he continues to deal with Achilles issues, we could see him at DH more often than not for the foreseeable future.
Mark Vientos will make the start at first base and bat fifth for New York on Saturday. Polanco has gotten off to a slow start in his first year with the Mets, going just 8-for-40 (.200) with no homers, one RBI, and two runs scored. He has a hit in his lone career at-bat against Lopez.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 11, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop
Masyn Winn (leg) is optimistic that he will play on Saturday despite his early departure in Friday night's contest due to a leg injury. The 24-year-old was hit by a pitch on his left leg and forced to leave the game with a contusion. The young shortstop is off to a slow start to the season, recording just six hits over 39 at-bats. He says that he feels better today, and the hope is that he can suit up for action and improve on what's been a tough 2026 so far at the plate. If he cannot,
Thomas Saggese will likely get the nod, as it was he who replaced Winn last night.
--Dave Funnell - RotoBallerSource: STLToday.com - Daniel Guerrero
April 11, 2026
Cincinnati Reds second baseman
Matt McLain will hit the bench for Saturday's game against the visiting Los Angeles Angels at Great American Ballpark, according to MLB.com.
Sal Stewart will make the start at the keystone and will hit cleanup for the Reds versus Angels rookie right-hander
George Klassen.
Spencer Steer is hitting second for Cincy. McLain hit seven home runs in 18 spring training games, but as soon as the games started to count, he's cooled off at the plate. The 26-year-old former first-rounder out of UCLA has gone 12-for-55 (.218) so far with no homers, three RBI, six runs scored, two stolen bases, seven walks, and 15 strikeouts in 64 plate appearances and 14 games played. McLain has plenty of time to turn things around offensively, but fantasy managers might want to keep him benched until he turns it around. Stewart, 22, is one of the brightest young position-player prospects in the big leagues with both power and speed. He's off to a great start, slashing .340/.458/.681 with four homers, nine RBI, eight runs, and three steals in 47 at-bats for the Reds.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 11, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks right-handed pitcher
Merrill Kelly (back) is set to rejoin the team this weekend before his scheduled bullpen session on Sunday. The 37-year-old has participated in two rehab outings, with his latest being this past Wednesday, where he threw 72 pitches. Now that he is fully healed from having intercostal nerve irritation, his biggest challenge has been to ramp up his arm to withstand the workload of a starter. It appears that the team is ready to get a good look at where he's at and could reinstate him next week. He is someone worth rostering and stashing in all formats, as he finished the 2025 season with a strikeout rate of 22.3% and a walk rate of just 6.4%.
--Dave Funnell - RotoBallerSource: Nick Piecoro
April 11, 2026
New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said on Friday that the team is optimistic that it will not be a long-term absence for All-Star outfielder
Juan Soto (calf), according to Tim Britton of The Athletic. In fact, Soto could come off the 10-day injured list for the start of the next homestand on April 21. Soto has yet to resume a running program, but he has been swinging a bat and playing catch as he recovers from a minor calf strain. The four-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger winner was off to a strong start offensively before his calf injury, so fantasy managers certainly would love to see Soto return sooner rather than later. In his first eight games to kick off his second season in Queens, Soto had gone 11-for-31 (.355) with a homer, two doubles, five RBI, and three runs scored in 34 plate appearances. His absence has opened up some more playing time for
Brett Baty,
Tyrone Taylor, and
Mark Vientos.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Tim Britton
April 11, 2026
The New York Mets are calling up veteran right-handed reliever
Craig Kimbrel from the minors on Saturday, a source told Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Kimbrel began the year at Single-A St. Lucie after not winning a roster spot with the big-league club out of spring training. The 37-year-old veteran will get the call back to the majors after throwing two scoreless innings with two strikeouts for St. Lucie, but he'll likely operate in more of a middle-relief role in Queens for as long as he sticks around with the Mets. The 16-year veteran has 440 career saves and nine All-Star selections, giving the Mets plenty of experience out of their bullpen. He's no longer the dominant relief arm that he once was, though. In 14 appearances in 2025 with the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros, Kimbrel had a 2.25 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, no saves, and a 17:7 K:BB in just 12 innings pitched.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
April 11, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher
Gabriel Moreno (back) will start on the bench on Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies after being pulled from Friday's game early due to lower-back tightness, according to MLB.com. For now, fantasy managers should consider Moreno to be day-to-day. Check back to see if he's available on Sunday for the series finale in Philadelphia.
Adrian Del Castillo will do the catching on Saturday for right-hander
Brandon Pfaadt and will hit cleanup for the D-backs against Phillies right-hander
Taijuan Walker. The 26-year-old Moreno hasn't hit a home run yet in 2026, but he's gone 11-for-40 (.275) at the plate with five RBI and six runs scored as Arizona's primary catcher. Del Castillo has only played in three games so far and is 2-for-12 at the plate with a double, three RBI, a run scored, no walks, and six strikeouts. He has one hit in his two career at-bats against Walker.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
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