RADIO
Willi Castro Leaves Thursday's Loss With Knee Soreness
Colorado Rockies infielder Willi Castro (knee) left Thursday's series finale against the visiting San Diego Padres at Coors Field after three innings with right-knee soreness, according to Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post. Castro was replaced by Tyler Freeman at second base. Before leaving with his knee injury, Castro went 0-for-1 at the plate with a walk and a strikeout. It remains to be seen if Castro will be available on Friday for the team's series opener in New York against the Mets at Citi Field. The 28-year-old Puerto Rican switch-hitter has been playing regularly for the Rockies in the first month of the season, and he came into Thursday's game slashing .250/.311/.353 with a .664 OPS, one home run, nine RBI, 10 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 68 at-bats. Castro offers modest power/speed numbers as a utility infielder for fantasy managers in NL-only leagues, but you can avoid him in mixed leagues. He's currently rostered in just 14% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: The Denver Post - Patrick Saunders
Source: The Denver Post - Patrick Saunders
Robert Garcia Placed on Injured List With Shoulder Inflammation
The Texas Rangers announced on Thursday that they placed left-hander reliever Robert Garcia (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list with left-shoulder inflammation and selected the contract of right-hander Peyton Gray from Triple-A Round Rock in a corresponding move. Because the 29-year-old southpaw hadn't pitched in a week, he'll be eligible to return from the IL on May 5. Garcia had a 2.95 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, his first nine career saves, and a 68:22 K:BB in a career-high 64 innings for the Rangers in his first year with the team in 2025, but he had yet to pick up a save before his shoulder injury in his first nine outings this year. Right-hander Jakob Junis has so far been tasked with save situations for the Rangers, limiting Garcia's fantasy appeal in all formats. He will now be out at least two weeks, and he's only rostered in 10% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Texas Rangers PR
Source: Texas Rangers PR
Jack Leiter Dealing With "Sore" Ankle
Texas Rangers right-hander Jack Leiter (ankle) said that his right ankle is "a little sore" after his fall during his start on Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Globe Life Field, but he doesn't expect to miss any time because of it as of now, according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. Leiter's next start is scheduled to come on Monday against the New York Yankees, which is a matchup that most fantasy managers will want to avoid in deeper leagues. The 26-year-old tripped over a weighted bat that was in the on-deck circle and fell to the ground in the fifth inning against the Bucs on Wednesday. Leiter took a no-decision while giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits while walking two and striking out five in his five innings of work. The former second overall pick in 2021 out of Vanderbilt has been pretty inconsistent through five 2026 starts, posting a 4.97 ERA (3.81 FIP) and 1.46 WHIP with 29 punchouts and 11 walks in 25 1/3 innings pitched.
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
Caleb Thielbar Injures his Leg on Thursday
Chicago Cubs left-handed reliever Caleb Thielbar (leg) left the extra-innings win on Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field with an apparent leg injury after throwing just one pitch, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN. The Cubs have had by far the most injuries to their pitching staff in the early portion of the 2026 season among MLB teams. In addition to Thielbar, closer Daniel Palencia and late-inning relievers Phil Maton and Hunter Harvey are also on the injured list. The Cubs had been leaning on the 39-year-old Thielbar quite a bit recently, too. Depending on how serious Thielbar's injury is, right-hander Ben Brown could become the Cubs' primary closer if Thielbar is forced to miss time with his leg injury. Thielbar came into Thursday's action with a 2-2 record, 2.08 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, two saves, 11 strikeouts, and four walks in 8 2/3 relief innings. Despite Thielbar's recent usage in save situations for the Cubs, he's only rostered in 24% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
Source: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
Francisco Lindor Expected to Miss "Significant Time"
The New York Mets don't have a clear timetable yet on shortstop Francisco Lindor (calf), who went on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with a left-calf strain, but they expect him to miss "significant time," according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Lindor's calf strain is considered more serious than outfielder Juan Soto's was. The Mets recalled infielder Ronny Mauricio from Triple-A Syracuse, and manager Carlos Mendoza said that Mauricio is going to get a "long run" at shortstop to prove himself with Lindor sidelined. Soto just returned from a stint on the IL on Wednesday, when Lindor went down with his calf injury. Despite the bad news for the 32-year-old All-Star shortstop, fantasy managers need to stash Lindor everywhere. Mauricio, a former top prospect, now has the chance to be a post-hype prospect with regular playing time. The switch-hitting Dominican infielder was hitting .293 (17-for-58) with six home runs, 13 RBI, 12 runs, and five steals in 15 games at Triple-A before his call-up. In deep-mixed and NL-only leagues, Mauricio is worth a flier off the waiver wire.
Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
Sonny Gray Expected to Play Catch on Friday
Boston Red Sox right-hander Sonny Gray's (hamstring) MRI exam didn't show anything worse than what the team expected, manager Alex Cora told Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald. Gray will probably play catch on Friday. Gray strained his right hamstring in his outing on Monday against the Detroit Tigers and was officially placed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday. It appears to be a pretty minor injury, though, so he could be ready to rejoin Boston's starting rotation when he's eligible to be reinstated on May 6. In the meantime, rookie left-hander Payton Tolle has been called up from Triple-A Worcester and will make his 2026 season debut in Thursday's series finale at Fenway Park against the division-rival New York Yankees. Tolle is one of the best young arms in baseball and deserves a pickup off the waiver wire for fantasy managers in deeper mixed leagues that are struggling with starting pitching. Gray has started his first year in Beantown with a 2-1 record, 4.30 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 13 strikeouts in 23 innings pitched across five starts.
Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
Blake Snell Goes an Inning in First Rehab Start
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell (shoulder) was eased into his first minor-league rehab start on Wednesday at Single-A Ontario, as he only threw one inning. In 32 pitches, Snell allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits while walking one and striking out none. The two-time Cy Young winner will receive a pass since he didn't pitch at all during spring training, but he was pretty inefficient his first time out on the rehab trail. We all know what kind of upside Snell can have when he's fully healthy because of his high strikeout rate, but the Dodgers aren't going to rush him back, and he could need the full 30 days on his rehab assignment. Snell said he felt good coming out of his first rehab appearance, and he'll be hoping to go deeper into his next outing, which should come at some point next week. The 92% of fantasy managers stashing Snell in Yahoo leagues need to stay patient.
Source: Milb.com
Source: Milb.com
Mets Officially Place Francisco Lindor on Injured List With Calf Strain
The New York Mets officially announced on Thursday that they placed shortstop Francisco Lindor (calf) on the 10-day injured list with a left-calf strain and recalled infielder Ronny Mauricio from Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move. Lindor will miss at least 10 days with a calf injury that he suffered in the team's win over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday. With Lindor on the shelf, Mauricio will start at the 6 and bat eighth in Thursday's series finale against the Twins and right-hander Joe Ryan. Mauricio is worth a look in deeper fantasy baseball leagues if he sees regular playing time in New York with Lindor sidelined, as he was really hitting the ball well at Syracuse before his call-up. There's a chance that Bo Bichette is moved from third base to short, too, which would open up the hot corner for either Mauricio or Brett Baty. Lindor was off to a slow start by his standards early on in 2026, but he's a must-stash in an IL spot while he heals in all fantasy formats.
Source: New York Mets
Source: New York Mets
Michael Harris II Removed Early With Quad Tightness
The Atlanta Braves announced that outfielder Michael Harris II (quadriceps) was pulled from Thursday's 7-2 win over the Washington Nationals early as a precaution with left-quadriceps tightness. Before Harris was pulled from the game, he was going off at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBI. He was removed in the seventh inning of this contest after doubling in the top of the inning. Harris has been among the hottest hitters in the league of late, hitting .447 with five home runs over his last 11 games, so it would be a terrible time for him to go on the 10-day injured list. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Friday to see if Harris is feeling good enough to give it a go for the series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies. Eli White took over for Harris in center field on Thursday and would see a notable bump in playing time in the short term if Harris misses any additional time with his quad injury.
Source: Atlanta Braves
Source: Atlanta Braves
James Tibbs III Heating Up Again at Triple-A, Nearing MLB Debut?
After a 3-for-33 (.091) cold spell, Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect James Tibbs III is heating up again at Triple-A Oklahoma City. The former first-round draft pick has hit safely in five of his last six contests, tallying three doubles and two home runs over that stretch. The left-handed hitter is batting .293 with a 1.106 OPS and a minor-league-leading 10 home runs through 23 games. The strikeout rate remains elevated (29.6 percent), already recording three games with four strikeouts, but with his power stroke, the 23-year-old has put himself on the fantasy radar. He'll likely debut at some point this season, so fantasy managers should continue to monitor his performance at Triple-A. Should one of the big league regulars get bitten by the injury bug, Tibbs could be in the majors in a heartbeat.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Colt Emerson Remains Out with a Wrist Injury, but Remains on the Stash Radar
Seattle Mariners infield prospect Colt Emerson (wrist) has yet to play in any games this week at Triple-A Tacoma after suffering a wrist injury over the weekend. He's yet to be placed on the injured list and could return to the lineup this weekend, but it is worth monitoring. The Mariners declined to call him up when a spot opened due to Brendan Donovan's (groin) injury, so Leo Rivas is manning third base for the big league club. Emerson looked like he was starting to heat up prior to the injury, belting a pair of doubles and a home run along with drawing four walks and stealing three bases over his last four games. For the season, the left-handed hitter is slashing .258/.361/.452 with two home runs and six steals in 18 games. If he can catch fire whenever he returns to the lineup, the Mariners' top-ranked prospect will be on the verge of a major league debut, so monitor his status over the coming days.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Can Yoshinobu Yamamoto Sustain Strong Production Despite Drop in Strikeout Rate?
Across his first 32 2/3 innings (five starts) of 2026, Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto owns a 2-2 record with a 2.48 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and 28 strikeouts. While Yamamoto has been his usual dominant self in terms of run prevention, his strikeout rate is down from 29.4% in 2025 to 22.8% in 2026. The 27-year-old reached 211 innings pitched during the Dodgers' run to the World Series in 2025, so he may be making a concerted effort to pitch to contact and avoid deep counts in 2026. In addition to the lowered strikeout rate, Yamamoto's walk rate is also down to a career-best 4.1%. The star right-hander is one of MLB's craftiest pitchers and has a proven track record of getting outs that dates back to his time in Japan. However, his fantasy upside is lowered just a bit by his lack of strikeouts. Yamamoto remains a high-level fantasy starter, but managers will want to monitor his strikeout rate trends over the course of the year.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Logan Henderson Shining at Triple-A, Closing in on Return to the Majors?
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Logan Henderson recently moved into the MLB.com top-100 prospects list, but more importantly, the right-hander has continued to pitch well at Triple-A Nashville to begin the season. The Brewers' sixth-ranked prospect owns a sterling 0.71 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP and a 17:8 K:BB in 12 2/3 innings this season, and could be nearing a return to the majors. The right-hander already made one start for the Brewers earlier this month and showed well in his debut last year when he posted a 1.78 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and a 25.3 percent K-BB% over five starts. The 24-year-old has historically displayed strong strikeout production with above-average control, which is an enticing makeup for fantasy. Likely to be recalled the next time Milwaukee needs a starter, Henderson is worthy of stash consideration for managers looking for pitching help.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Can Jacob Misiorowski Sustain Current Strikeout Pace Throughout 2026?
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski has been one of the most overpowering arms in baseball so far in 2026, pitching to a 3.04 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with 42 strikeouts across his first 26 2/3 innings (five starts) of the season. The 24-year-old's 37.8% strikeout rate is relatively unheard of for a starting pitcher and hints at his massive fantasy upside. However, command remains an issue for the hard-throwing right-hander, as he's posting a double-digit (10.8%) walk rate for the second straight campaign. He's also allowed an elevated 1.35 HR/9, which spells potential trouble for his ERA when paired with his tendency to issue free passes. Still, Misiorowski's 99.0 mph average fastball velocity and his ability to generate whiffs make him incredibly appealing to fantasy managers. While he may be more prone to the occasional blow-up outing than your standard ace, Misiorowski has fantasy SP1 upside if he can stay healthy throughout 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Max Clark a High-End Stash with Multi-Category Potential
Detroit Tigers outfield prospect Max Clark continues to show off the tools that will eventually make him a fantasy asset this season. The Tigers' second-ranked prospect has cooled at Triple-A Toledo over the last four games, going 1-for-16 (.063) over that stretch, but still managed to draw a pair of walks and steal a base during that time. Despite the cold spell, the former third-overall draft pick is still hitting .318 and has a robust .394 on-base percentage thanks to a 12.1 percent walk rate, which happens to be the same as his strikeout rate (12.1 percent). The left-handed hitter has also leveraged his speed, swiping seven bases already in just 21 games. The 21-year-old should make his MLB Debut by midseason, potentially sooner if he gets hot again, and should be viewed as a high-priority offensive stash with multi-category potential.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
