April 13, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander
Merrill Kelly (back) will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to make his 2026 season debut on Tuesday in Baltimore against the Orioles, according to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. Kelly is ready to rejoin Arizona's starting rotation this week after throwing 83 pitches in an extended spring training game last week. In the 37-year-old veteran's final minor-league rehab appearance, he went five scoreless innings on April 3. Kelly throws the kitchen sink at batters to keep them off balance instead of relying on overpowering stuff. It limits what he can do for fantasy managers, but when healthy, he's an experienced innings-eater in the desert. In 32 starts in 2025 with the D-backs and Texas Rangers, Kelly had a 12-9 record, 3.52 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 167:48 K:BB in 184 innings pitched. Kelly has never had a 200-strikeout season and sports a below-average 22% career strikeout rate. Start him at your own risk in deep-mixed fantasy leagues in his season debut on Tuesday against the O's.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Steve Gilbert
April 13, 2026
The Atlanta Braves announced on Monday that they have reinstated outfielder
Michael Harris II (personal) from the paternity list and designated infielder
Luke Williams for assignment in a corresponding move. Harris, who was away from the team over the weekend for the birth of his child, should be back in the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener at Truist Park against the division-rival Miami Marlins and right-hander
Eury Perez. So far in 2026, Harris has gone 12-for-51 (.235) at the plate with two home runs, a double, seven RBI, five runs scored, two walks, and 10 strikeouts in 53 plate appearances. Fantasy managers will want to get him back into their starting lineups to begin the new week.
--Keith HernandezSource: Atlanta Braves
April 13, 2026
Houston Astros right-hander
Tatsuya Imai (arm) is going on the 15-day injured list on Monday with right-arm fatigue, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. It's a bad start to Imai's MLB career. The 27-year-old is reportedly going through a "dead-arm" phase, and it remains to be seen if he'll be ready to come off the IL when he's eligible to return later this month. The Japanese hurler only got through one-third of an inning in his most recent start before being sent back to Houston for tests on his right arm. Through his first three starts with the Astros, Imai has disappointed with a 7.27 ERA (4.30 FIP), 2.08 WHIP, and 13:11 K:BB in 8 2/3 innings pitched. Ima's injury is just the latest in a long string of injuries that have decimated the Astros' starting rotation early in the 2026 season, as
Hunter Brown (shoulder),
Cristian Javier (shoulder),
Hayden Wesneski (elbow),
Ronel Blanco (elbow), and Randon Walter (elbow) are all on the injured list.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
April 13, 2026
The Toronto Blue Jays announced on Monday that they have acquired infielder
Lenyn Sosa from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for outfielder Jordan Rich and a player to be named later or cash considerations, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. In a corresponding move, the Blue Jays moved right-hander
Shane Bieber (elbow) to the 60-day injured list. Sosa, 26, got off to a rough start to the 2026 campaign in Chicago with a .212 batting average (7-for-33) with no homers, three RBI, two runs scored, no walks, and seven strikeouts in 12 games played. However, he led the White Sox with a career-high 22 home runs in 544 plate appearances and 140 games played in 2025 in his fourth year in the big leagues. It's unclear exactly what Sosa's role will be in Toronto long-term, but at least initially, he could play regularly for the Blue Jays while designated hitter
George Springer (toe) is on the 10-day injured list with a fractured toe. Sosa's power upside at the second position makes him interesting in a hitter-friendly home park, at least for the short term in his new digs.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson
April 13, 2026
The Cincinnati Reds are calling up hot-hitting outfielder
Rece Hinds from Triple-A Louisville, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer. In a corresponding move, the Reds are sending struggling outfielder
Noelvi Marte to Louisville. Hinds could have immediate waiver-wire appeal in deep-mixed and NL-only leagues and figures to be on the short side of a platoon in right field with
Will Benson now that he's back in the big leagues. The 25-year-old was hitting an impressive .354/.475/.771 with five home runs in 61 appearances for the Bats in the minors before his promotion. There's some intriguing power/speed upside with Hinds if he can cut down on his whiffs -- he's struck out over 38% of the time in the big leagues. The former second-round pick in 2019 has hit a combined .191/.242/.506 with seven home runs, 14 RBI, 15 runs scored, and two steals in 39 games with the Reds since the start of the 2024 season.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Gordon Wittenmyer
April 13, 2026
The Cincinnati Reds announced on Monday that they optioned outfielder
Noelvi Marte to Triple-A Louisville after their game on Sunday. Marte should get another opportunity in Cincinnati this year, but for now, he'll be replaced on the active big-league roster with outfielder
Rece Hinds. The 24-year-old Marte went 4-for-29 (.138) with two runs scored, a stolen base, two walks, and 10 strikeouts in his first 11 games in 2026 before being sent to the minors. Hinds is worth a look off the waiver wire for outfield depth in deeper fantasy leagues now that he should be sharing playing time in right field for the Reds with the left-handed-hitting
Will Benson. Marte, who was a former top prospect for the Reds, still has power/speed upside in dynasty/leagues, but he's running out of time to earn a regular role at the major-league level. Adding to his intrigue in keeper leagues, Marte has eligibility at both third base and the outfield.
--Keith HernandezSource: Cincinnati Reds
April 13, 2026
Houston Astros shortstop
Jeremy Pena (hamstring) is going on the 10-day injured list on Monday with a Grade 1 hamstring strain, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The Astros initially believed that Pena was dealing with posterior right-knee tightness, but the 28-year-old is actually dealing with a hamstring strain that will likely keep him out for longer than 10 days. Pena was also eased into the start of the 2026 regular season due to a fractured finger that he suffered in mid-March while preparing for the World Baseball Classic. Fantasy managers should keep the 20-20 candidate stashed in all leagues. While Pena recovers from his hamstring strain, veteran
Carlos Correa is expected to slide over to shortstop in Houston, with
Isaac Paredes seeing regular playing time at the hot corner. Pena, who was a first-time All-Star in 2025, has hit .256/.304/.349 with no home runs, four doubles, no RBI, five runs scored, and one stolen base in his first 10 games this year. So far, it's turning out to be an injury-plagued campaign for Pena.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
April 13, 2026
Colorado Rockies first base prospect
Charlie Condon continues to remain a high-end stash target among hitting prospects in Week 3 of the fantasy baseball season. Condon was given an opportunity to break camp with the MLB roster, but fell short in the competition as
TJ Rumfield has served as the primary first baseman. However, during his first taste of Triple-A ball, the former third overall pick has looked more than comfortable and could push to join the Rockies in the near future. Across 10 games, Condon has launched four home runs while carrying a .325/.428/.675 slash line. During the 2025 campaign, the former Georgia standout went deep just 14 times over 99 games, primarily with High-A and Double-A. Seeing Condon continue to progress while facing the top pitching in the minor leagues is a very positive sign. Given that the Rockies lack much depth on their roster, Condon could debut in the first half, and his power potential playing in Coors Field makes him a worthy stash option in all 12+ team formats.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
April 13, 2026
Minnesota Twins infield prospect
Kaelen Culpepper has yet to slow down since moving up to Triple-A St. Paul and is climbing the stash ranks in Week 3 of the fantasy baseball season. Through his first 14 games at the top level of the Twins system, the infielder has posted a solid .250/.318/.417 slash line with three home runs and a stolen base. He has posted four multi-hit games and only gone hitless three times over the opening weeks of the campaign. During the 2025 campaign, Culpepper split time between High-A and Double-A and carried an overall .289/.375/.469 line with 20 home runs and 25 stolen bases across 113 total contests. Given that the Twins lack proven production in the middle of their infield as both
Brooks Lee and
Luke Keaschall have gotten off to slow starts, Culpepper's MLB debut could come much sooner than expected. His five-category potential makes him a priority stash option this week in all 12+ team formats.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
April 13, 2026
Detroit Tigers top prospect
Max Clark has yet to slow down during his first taste of Triple-A and is quickly approaching his MLB debut. After spending most of the 2025 campaign with High-A and Double-A, the Tigers opted to send their No.1 outfield prospect to Triple-A to begin the 2026 campaign. Through his first 14 games with Toledo, the former third overall pick has produced at an elite level, holding a .352/.439/.537 slash line with a .976 OPS. Even though Clark has yet to go deep, the outfielder has tallied eight doubles, while swiping six bags and holding a 5:10 K:BB. Last week, starting outfielder
Parker Meadows (arm) hit the injured list, but the Tigers opted to promote
Wenceel Perez, not Clark, to the MLB roster. Despite this, if Clark continues this trajectory, he could be in the mix to debut in the coming weeks, which makes him a high-end hitter to stash in all 12+ team, five-outfielder leagues.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
April 13, 2026
Miami Marlins starting pitching prospect
Robby Snelling remains a high-priority stash target following his dominant 12-strikeout effort at Triple-A. On April 10, Snelling looked near unhittable at Jacksonville, tossing five shutout frames with two hits and four walks, while racking up 12 punchouts. Over his first two outings of the campaign (eight total innings), the southpaw struck out 10 hitters while allowing four runs. Snelling was in strong contention to break camp with the MLB roster but fell just short as
Janson Junk and
Chris Paddack filled out the Opening Day rotation. However, Snelling has looked quite comfortable during both of his stints at Triple-A and is on the verge of making his MLB debut. Last summer, Snelling held an elite 1.27 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP over 63 2/3 innings at Jacksonville. Given Miami's current rotation, Snelling could make his MLB debut in the near future.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
April 13, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect
James Tibbs III continues to dominate at the Triple-A level and is quickly entering must-stash territory. Even though the Dodgers' outfield is filled at the moment, Tibbs has looked more than comfortable at Triple-A Oklahoma City to begin the regular season. Through 15 games, the former 13th overall pick has posted an incredible .356/.457/.864 line with four doubles, one triple, eight home runs, and a 19:10 K:BB. This is even more impressive to note as Tibbs did not participate in a single Triple-A game prior to the 2026 campaign. In 2025, Tibbs spent most of his time with Double-A (Portland and Tulsa) and held an overall .240/.367/.388 line with a .755 OPS. Even though there is no clear opening for the Florida State product at the moment, his incredible power upside has pushed him into high-end stash territory for those in 12+ team formats.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
April 13, 2026
Boston Red Sox pitching prospect
Payton Tolle remains a must-stash candidate in Week 3 of the fantasy baseball season. Tolle is coming off another strong showing at Triple-A Worcester, where he logged five shutout innings with just three hits and one walk while striking out six hitters. In his previous outing, Tolle was just as sharp, logging six innings of two-run ball (one earned run) with seven punchouts and four hits. While the southpaw fell short of the Opening Day rotation, he could be on the verge of returning to Boston. Last week, the Red Sox placed right-handed starter
Johan Oviedo (elbow) on the 15-day injured list, which opens a spot on the roster for Tolle. While the rotation is filled at the moment, Tolle is the next candidate waiting in the wings. Given that he struck out 133 hitters over 91 2/3 innings last summer, he should be viewed as the top pitcher to stash in all formats.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
April 13, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays left-hander
Steven Matz (3-0) has been excellent in his first three starts to the 2026 season with a 3.94 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 17 strikeouts in 16 innings pitched. Additionally, in Week 4, Matz gets a juicy matchup on Thursday against the Chicago White Sox, who rank in the bottom three in strikeouts per game with 10, indicating Matz, who is currently having a career year in the strikeout department with a 27 percent strikeout rate, should have a solid opportunity on Thursday. Matz is no secret to MLB, as he has played 12 seasons and, in his career, owns a 4.19 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. More importantly, there have not been any crazy adjustments or pitch changes in his arsenal that have suggested he's made any changes, so there should be some regression heading his way, but in the meantime, fantasy managers should ride the hot streak with a great matchup in Week 4.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: Baseball Savant
April 13, 2026
Houston Astros right-hander
Spencer Arrighetti should be getting called up to the big league club any day now, as
Hunter Brown (shoulder) and
Cristian Javier (shoulder) both have landed on the 15-day IL, and
Tatsuya Imai is dealing with right arm fatigue and is considered day to day. The Houston rotation is beginning to look thin, with
Mike Burrows and
Lance McCullers Jr.currently representing the only starters without an injury designation. Arrighetti was on most fantasy analysts' radars in 2025, as he broke out in the back half of the 2024 season with a 3.18 ERA in 65 innings pitched, but he dealt with an unfortunate injury in 2025, and started the 2026 season in Triple-A in 2026 after a tough Spring Training, where he owned a 6.25 ERA in eight innings pitched. However, in three starts at Triple-A, he's looked fantastic; he has a 1.26 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and a 12.56 K/9. With the injuries to the Astros rotation and Arrighetti's clear path to a spot in the rotation, fantasy managers may want to look to add him now before the call-up becomes official.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: FanGraphs
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