April 19, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher
Zack Wheeler (shoulder) took the mound for his second rehab start with Double-A Reading on Sunday. Wheeler didn't have the same success as he did during his first rehab start on Tuesday. On Sunday, Wheeler went four innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits while striking out four batters. The overall results don't matter much, as it's about building up Wheeler's stamina. The expectation is that Wheeler will make at least one more rehab start before rejoining the Phillies rotation. If everything goes well, Wheeler could return for next weekend's series against the Atlanta Braves.
--Andy WebbSource: milb.com
April 19, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies catcher
JT Realmuto (back) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the Atlanta Braves. Realmuto was removed from Saturday's game in the sixth inning due to lower back tightness. The Phillies are going to play it safe and give him the night off on Sunday. Fantasy managers should consider Realmuto as day-to-day until the team gives another update on his status.
Rafael Marchan will draw the start behind the plate and bat eighth versus right-hander
Grant Holmes on Sunday. Fantasy managers should check back for another update ahead of Monday's game versus the Chicago Cubs.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
April 19, 2026
Colorado Rockies infielder
Willi Castro (hand) is back in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander
Roki Sasaki at Coors Field, according to MLB.com. Castro is starting at shortstop and will hit seventh with regular shortstop
Ezequiel Tovar getting the day off.
Edouard Julien is at second base and is batting leadoff for Colorado. Castro is returning to the starting nine for the first time since suffering a right-hand contusion when he was hit by a pitch on Wednesday. The 28-year-old switch-hitting Puerto Rican outfielder had mostly been playing at second in his first year with the Rockies to begin the 2026 season, but he might be relegated to more of a bench role soon if he doesn't pick things up offensively. Going into Sunday's clash with L.A., Castro has gone just 12-for-56 (.214) with a homer, eight RBI, eight runs scored, and a stolen base. He has never faced Sasaki in his MLB career.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 19, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder
Daulton Varsho (knee) remains out of the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale on the road against the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to MLB.com.
Myles Straw will make the start in center field for Toronto and will bat eighth against D-backs right-hander
Ryne Nelson. Varsho will miss a second straight game after being pulled from Friday's series opener early at Chase Field due to left-knee discomfort. He's considered day-to-day for now, but fantasy managers will want to check back on Monday for an update on his status before the team's series opener on Monday night in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels. Varsho played only 71 games in the 2025 regular season due to injuries. In 19 games so far in 2026, he has slashed .262/.333/.462 with three home runs, seven RBI, and eight runs scored. Straw, who is more of a defensive asset for the Jays than an offensive one, should see most of the playing time in center for however long Varsho is out.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 19, 2026
The Houston Astros announced on Sunday that they placed outfielder
Joey Loperfido (quadriceps) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to April 18) with a right-quad muscle strain. In a corresponding move, the Astros recalled right-hander
Jayden Murray from Triple-A Sugar Land. Loperfido injured his quad during Friday's series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals and was held out of action on Saturday. It's unclear if the 26-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder will be ready to come off the IL in late April when he's eligible to be activated. In the meantime, young outfielder
Brice Matthews figures to see more playing time going forward in Houston's outfield. Lopefido, a former seventh-round selection out of Duke in 2021, is still searching for his first long ball of the 2026 season. Through his first 20 games played, he's gone 15-for-58 (.259) with five doubles, six RBI, seven runs scored, a stolen base, six walks, and 19 strikeouts for Houston.
--Keith HernandezSource: Houston Astros
April 19, 2026
San Francisco Giants infielder
Casey Schmitt has been one of the surprise success stories of the early portion of the 2026 season. Entering play on Sunday, Schmitt was hitting .317/.369/.517 with two home runs, seven RBI, seven runs scored, and one stolen base. The 27-year-old's strong production is supported by his underlying metrics, as he's posted above-average barrel (11.4%) and hard-hit (52.3%) rates. Schmitt has also moved into the heart of the Giants' lineup, which should allow him to rack up counting stats more consistently. While Schmitt has played exclusively at first base and designated hitter in 2026, he's capable of playing every infield spot and still offers fantasy managers multi-positional eligibility. As a cheap depth piece with some upside, Schmitt could be worth targeting on the waiver wire.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 19, 2026
Detroit Tigers infielder
Colt Keith has established himself as a key piece of his team's lineup early in 2026, hitting .317/.348/.429 with zero home runs, five RBI, and 10 runs scored across his first 66 plate appearances. Keith hasn't hit for much power in the early going, but his excellent 58.3% hard-hit rate supports his strong batting average. While Keith is looking like a potential breakout candidate early on this season, it's worth noting that he's logged just two plate appearances against left-handed pitching so far this year. Still, even in a platoon role, Keith profiles as a potentially valuable source of batting average for fantasy managers. In leagues where he's not already rostered, Keith could be worth targeting on the waiver wire.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 19, 2026
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher
Landen Roupp is off to an excellent start to the 2026 season, as he's posted a 3-1 record with a 2.38 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts across 22 2/3 innings (four starts). The 27-year-old has boosted his strikeout rate from 21.4% in 2025 to 26.7%, and he's also lowered his walk rate to a career-best 7.8%. Roupp has also yet to allow a home run this season, and owns a 50.9% ground ball rate. While Roupp established himself as a solid streaming option for fantasy managers in 2025, he appears to have taken his game to a new level in 2026. Combined with his pitcher-friendly home park in San Francisco, Roupp offers real upside as a waiver-wire target in any league where he's not already rostered.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 19, 2026
Detroit Tigers left-hander
Tarik Skubal looked to be in Cy Young form on Saturday night in the team's 4-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Skubal allowed only one earned run on four hits while walking two and striking out 10 batters in six innings to pick up his third win of the 2026 season. The talented left-hander was in top form in Beantown, retiring 12 of the first 13 batters he faced in the game, including striking out the side in two of his first four innings. The 29-year-old former ninth-rounder in 2018 out of Seattle University is showing why he's won back-to-back American League Cy Young awards. Through his first five starts in 2026, Skubal is 3-2 with a 2.08 ERA (2.07 FIP), 0.96 WHIP, and 33:6 K:BB in 30 1/3 innings pitched. He's currently tied for the fourth-most strikeouts in the AL. Skubal was the first pitcher off the board in fantasy drafts, and he'll be a must-start again in his next scheduled outing at home in Detroit against the Milwaukee Brewers.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 19, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks utility man
Ildemaro Vargas has played a bench role for the majority of his 10-season MLB career. However, the 34-year-old is off to a red-hot start to the 2026 season, hitting .377/.400/.623 with two home runs, eight RBI, and 11 runs scored across 56 plate appearances. With Diamondbacks first baseman/outfielder
Pavin Smith (elbow) recently hitting the 60-day injured list, Vargas has been getting the chance to play every day. Vargas' overall line is currently buoyed by an unsustainably high .409 batting average on balls in play, so regression is inevitable. Still, Vargas traditionally does a good job of making contact, which gives his batting average a high floor. As long as he continues to produce, Vargas should rack up counting stats in a strong Arizona lineup and offers multi-positional eligibility for fantasy managers. In deeper leagues, Vargas could be worth targeting on the waiver wire.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 19, 2026
Atlanta Braves right-handed closer
Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) slept on his shoulder wrong on Friday night, which is why he was unavailable to close out the team's 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. It remains to be seen if Iglesias will be available for the series finale on Sunday at Citizens Bank Park. With Iglesias unavailable on Saturday, right-hander
Robert Suarez entered in the ninth inning and pitched a clean frame with two strikeouts to pick up his first save as a member of the Braves. Iglesias' shoulder injury doesn't sound very serious, which hopefully means he'll avoid an injured list stint and be available to pitch on Sunday. The 36-year-old Cuban veteran came into the 2026 campaign on shaky ground as a fantasy closer after the Braves added Suarez, but so far, he's thrown 7 2/3 shutout innings with four saves, no walks, and 10 strikeouts in seven appearances. If he continues to pitch like that and stays healthy, Iglesias will continue to be a solid option for saves in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
April 19, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays reliever
Edwin Uceta (shoulder) appeared to be on the doorstep of making his 2026 debut, but his rehab hit a setback earlier this week after he experienced renewed soreness in his injured shoulder. Uceta is now reportedly back in Tampa to meet with team doctors. However, if Uceta can avoid being fully shut down, he may still be worth targeting on the waiver wire as a stash candidate. Rays right-hander
Bryan Baker has settled in as the team's primary closer, but Baker currently owns a 4.32 ERA and has already blown two saves so far this season. Uceta was arguably Tampa Bay's most valuable high-leverage reliever in 2025, as he posted a 10-3 record with a 3.79 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 103 strikeouts, and 21 holds across 76 innings. He's posted strikeout rates north of 32% in consecutive seasons and could easily assume the ninth-inning role for the Rays if he can get back to full health. Pending further news regarding his most recent injury setback, Uceta could still be worth targeting on the waiver wire as a stash candidate.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 19, 2026
Chicago White Sox outfielder/second baseman
Sam Antonacci was called up for his MLB debut on Wednesday after posting a .979 OPS across his first 67 plate appearances at Triple-A. However, the 23-year-old has struggled out of the gates in the big leagues with just one hit and one run scored across his first 19 plate appearances. Antonacci is also a speed threat who stole 48 bases in 116 minor league games in 2025, but he's yet to record his first major league steal. On the plus side, Antonacci has drawn two walks and struck out just once. His ability to control the strike zone was one of the biggest reasons for his effectiveness in the minors, as he posted a 13.3% walk rate in 2025. If he continues to make contact and draw walks, Antonacci should pull out of his current skid. He's still a worthy waiver-wire gamble for fantasy managers in need of speed.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 19, 2026
The Los Angeles Dodgers officially placed first baseman
Freddie Freeman (personal) on the paternity list on Sunday, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. In a corresponding move, the Dodgers called up outfielder
Ryan Ward from the minors. Freeman could be away from the team for as many as the next three days, so he could return for the tail end of the team's upcoming series on the road against the division-rival San Francisco Giants, which starts on Tuesday. With Freeman unavailable in Sunday's series finale in Denver against the Colorado Rockies, Ward will make the start at first base for the Dodgers and bat seventh against Rockies right-hander
Michael Lorenzen. Freeman, 36, has been his typical All-Star self through the first 20 games of 2026, hitting .296 (24-for-81) with three home runs, 14 RBI, and nine runs scored across 89 plate appearances. Fantasy managers will have to remove him from their lineups for a couple of games, but he should return at some point midway through next week.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
April 19, 2026
The Miami Marlins announced on Sunday that they officially activated outfielder
Kyle Stowers (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list and optioned infielder
Deyvison De Los Santos to Triple-A Jacksonville in a corresponding move. Stowers is making his 2026 season debut on Sunday in the series finale against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander
Jacob Misiorowski, playing left field and batting cleanup for the Fish. The 28-year-old All-Star tweaked his hamstring late in spring training and opened the year on the IL, but now he's back and hoping to pick up where he left off in a breakout 2025 season. Stowers, a former second-round pick out of Stanford in 2019, was Miami's lone All-Star representative last year and finished with a .288/.386/.544 slash line, .912 OPS, 25 home runs, 73 RBI, 61 runs, and five steals in 117 games played. Stowers will hit in the heart of the order for the Marlins and needs to be rostered in all fantasy baseball leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Miami Marlins
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