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
April 11, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder
Corbin Carroll (hip) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting in the two-hole for Saturday's contest against the Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander
Taijuan Walker at Citizens Bank Park, per MLB.com. Carroll will return to the field on Saturday after missing two games following a minor hip injury that he suffered on Wednesday. Fantasy managers need to get him back into their lineups immediately. The 25-year-old five-category contributor is off to a fine start to the 2026 season at the plate, going 14-for-42 (.333) with two home runs, 11 RBI, nine runs scored, and a stolen base. Fantasy managers will be hoping that he can pick up right where he left off after missing the team's last two games. Carroll has only faced Walker twice in his career and has one hit with a 1.250 OPS. In his last three games, Carroll has seven hits.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 11, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman
Max Muncy could not be stopped in the team's 8-7 victory on Friday against the visiting Texas Rangers. Muncy went 4-for-5 on the night with three solo home runs, including a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth inning, and five runs scored. His homer in the ninth helped bail closer
Edwin Diaz out after he blew the save in the top of the frame by allowing three runs. The 35-year-old veteran has proven early on in 2026 that he still has plenty of power left in the tank. Through 12 games, Muncy is slashing .286/.375/.571 with a .946 OPS, four home runs, four RBI, 11 runs scored, six walks, and 14 strikeouts in 48 plate appearances. Muncy could see less playing time against left-handed pitchers, but he's still a fantasy asset for his power, run production, and on-base skills in the best lineup in baseball.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 11, 2026
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher
Parker Messick is off to a strong start to the 2026 season, recording a 1-0 record with a 0.82 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 11 strikeouts across 11 innings pitched (two starts). Messick's starts have also been against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs, so he's held two of the better lineups in baseball in check. The 25-year-old won a spot in the Guardians' rotation this spring after showing well in his MLB debut in 2025, where he pitched to a 2.72 ERA with 38 strikeouts across 39 2/3 innings (seven starts). While it's still early, Messick's strikeout rate is up from 23% to 27.5%, and his average fastball velocity has risen from 92.7 mph to 93.5 mph. The left-hander is slated to make his third start of the year against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday, giving fantasy managers in weekly leagues one more look at him before waivers run on Sunday. Based on his performance so far, Messick profiles as a quality waiver wire target with some real upside.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 11, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher
Paul Sewald pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his fourth save of 2026 in his team's 5-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday. Across 5 1/3 innings pitched, the 35-year-old has posted a 3.38 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and seven strikeouts. Sewald no longer profiles as the reliable option he once was at his peak, as he recorded back-to-back seasons with an ERA north of 4.30 in 2024 and 2025. He also allowed an elevated 1.83 HR/9 in 2025 and has already given up two long balls in 2026. Still, the veteran right-hander owns 90 career saves, including 33 as a member of the Diamondbacks. His experience in the ninth inning could give him some runway as the Arizona closer, even if he hits a rough patch. In any league where he's not already rostered, Sewald is worth targeting on the waiver wire.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 11, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher
Edwin Uceta (shoulder) has yet to take the MLB mound in 2026 as he works his way back from a shoulder injury. However, the 28-year-old has pitched two scoreless innings across his first two rehab appearances and is expected to have his rehab assignment transferred from Double-A to Triple-A next week. If all continues to go well for Uceta, he could make his return from the injured list in short order. Across 76 innings (70 games) for Tampa Bay in 2025, Uceta recorded a 10-3 record with a 3.79 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 103 strikeouts. Fellow Rays reliever
Bryan Baker has pitched well in his ninth-inning opportunities so far, and Uceta is not a lock to immediately take over the closer role. Still, Uceta has struck out at least 32% of the batters he's faced in each of the last two seasons and profiles as the most dynamic option in the Tampa Bay bullpen. For fantasy managers in need of saves, Uceta could be worth stashing off the waiver wire as he nears his return to the big leagues.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 11, 2026
Across seven innings pitched in 2026, Texas Rangers relief pitcher
Jakob Junis has recorded a 0.00 ERA and 0.43 WHIP while going 2-for-2 in save chances. The 33-year-old has recorded just four strikeouts, but he's also allowed just three hits and has yet to walk a batter. With an average fastball velocity of 92.4 mph and four career saves across 854 MLB innings, Junis does not have the profile of a typical closer. However, he was quietly effective across 66 2/3 innings for the Cleveland Guardians in 2025, recording a 2.97 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with 55 strikeouts. Perhaps most importantly, the Rangers do not have an established closer in their bullpen. While
Cole Winn,
Robert Garcia, and
Jacob Latz could also get chances in the ninth inning, Junis has a chance to hold the role if he continues to be effective. For fantasy managers in deeper leagues, Junis could be worth targeting on the waiver wire.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 11, 2026
Across his first 47 plate appearances of 2026, Detroit Tigers infielder
Colt Keith is hitting .364/.404/.500 with zero home runs, three RBI, and eight runs scored. While Keith has yet to homer, six of his 16 hits have gone for extra bases, and he's posted a ridiculous 61.8% hard-hit rate. Keith's batting average has been inflated by his unsustainable .471 batting average on balls in play. His current strikeout rate of 21.3% is right in line with the 21.8% mark he posted in 2025 while hitting .256. Still, if Keith can continue to consistently make hard contact, he could emerge as a viable source of batting average for fantasy managers. The 24-year-old has also earned a spot in the top third of the Tigers' order against right-handed pitching, which should help him rack up counting stats. In leagues where he is not currently rostered, Keith is a name to target on the waiver wire.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 11, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher
Bryan Baker picked up his second save of the season in his team's 5-3 win over the New York Yankees on Friday, recording a scoreless ninth inning with a strikeout. Baker has now earned saves in each of his last two appearances and could be emerging as the Rays' preferred ninth-inning option. While Baker has just six total saves across 212 2/3 career MLB innings, he posted an excellent 24.1% K-BB rate in 2025 and has yet to walk a batter over his five innings of work in 2026. Tampa Bay will be getting back hard-throwing right-hander
Edwin Uceta (shoulder) from a shoulder injury at some point in the near future, which could give Baker some competition for the closer role. Still, Baker is worth targeting on the waiver wire for fantasy managers in need of saves.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 11, 2026
San Diego Padres outfielder/first baseman
Gavin Sheets sent the Friar faithful home happy on Friday night in a 5-2 win over the visiting Colorado Rockies at Petco Park for the team's second straight walk-off win. On a night where the Padres unveiled their new CityConnect jerseys, Sheets went 2-for-4 with two home runs, four RBI, and two strikeouts. His three-run shot in the bottom of the ninth inning walked the Rockies off again and earned him an ice shower from his teammates. Sheets' first long ball came off starter
Tomoyuki Sugano to get the Friars on the board, and his second blast won the game off reliever
Juan Mejia. The home runs were Sheets' first two of the year after he hit a career-high 19 round-trippers and drove in 71 in a career year in 145 games in his first season in SD. Sheets can be streaky, so fantasy managers will want to ride the wave as the team's four-game series against Colorado continues on Saturday night.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 11, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told Jack Sommers of Sports Illustrated that outfielder
Corbin Carroll (hip) was available off the bench on Friday against the hosting Philadelphia Phillies and is expected to start on Saturday. Carroll was not used off the bench by the Snakes in their 5-4 win over Philly. The 25-year-old former National League Rookie of the Year and two-time All-Star has now missed two straight games since injuring his hip on Wednesday, but he should be back for fantasy managers on Saturday. Get ready to get him back into your starting lineups on Saturday in a great matchup against Phillies veteran right-hander
Taijuan Walker. Carroll, the former 16th overall pick in 2019, has been what fantasy managers expected so far in 2026, slashing .333/.408/.690 with a 1.099 OPS, two homers, three doubles, three triples, nine runs scored, and a stolen base in 12 games played. He's always a must-start, five-category contributor when he's in Arizona's starting lineup.
Jorge Barrosa, who has three hits in his last four games, will return to the bench with Carroll set to play again on Saturday.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sports Illustrated - Jack Sommers
April 11, 2026
Texas Rangers outfielder
Wyatt Langford (quadriceps) left Friday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers with right-quadriceps tightness, according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. Before leaving the game in the sixth inning, Langford did hit his first home run of the season (a solo shot) in three at-bats. The 24-year-old former fourth overall pick out of the University of Florida in 2023 is a must-roster power/speed threat with lots of upside, but durability has been an issue for him so far in his big-league career. We'll consider Langford day-to-day for now, but given his injury history, fantasy managers should be planning for a trip to the 10-day injured list. It was nice to see Langford touch them all on Friday before his injury, as he came into the series opener in L.A. with a .160 average (8-for-50) with two doubles, two triples, two RBI, three runs scored, a stolen base, one walk, and 13 strikeouts in 12 games to begin the year. Langford shouldn't be dumped in any fantasy formats if he lands on the IL.
Sam Haggerty would probably see the biggest boost in playing time and AL-only fantasy value if Langford misses extended time with his quad injury.
UPDATE: Langford is scheduled to undergo imaging on Saturday. For what it's worth, he believes his quad injury is "pretty minor."--Keith HernandezSource: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
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