April 15, 2026
Across his first 77 plate appearances of 2026, Tampa Bay Rays third baseman
Junior Caminero is hitting .234/.351/.406 with three home runs, six RBI, and nine runs scored. Fresh off a 45-homer season as a 21-year-old in 2025, Caminero hasn't been quite as dynamic early on this year. Still, Caminero's 19.5% strikeout rate is right in line with the 19.1% mark he posted last season. Opposing pitchers are being extra cautious this year with Caminero, as his 15.6% walk rate is nearly 10 percentage points higher than his 6.3% rate from 2025. Caminero has consistently shown the ability to make hard contact throughout his MLB career to this point, which should help him regain his power stroke over a larger sample size of at-bats. Fantasy managers should be patient with Caminero through the early portion of the season.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 15, 2026
Across his first 85 plate appearances of 2026, Atlanta Braves outfielder
Ronald Acuna Jr. is hitting .247/.341/.384 with one home run, five RBI, six runs scored, and four stolen bases. While Acuna Jr. hasn't quite gotten his power stroke going yet, his 16.4% barrel rate suggests that it's only a matter of time before his fly balls start leaving the yard with more regularity. Acuna Jr.'s four stolen bases are also a positive sign for fantasy managers. The 28-year-old recorded just nine steals in 95 games while returning from a torn ACL in 2025, but the early push in 2026 could be a sign he has more confidence in his surgically repaired knee. While Acuna Jr.'s top-line numbers haven't been quite what fantasy managers might have hoped for so far, it's too early to panic.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 15, 2026
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole (elbow) is scheduled to make a rehab start with Double-A Somerset on Friday, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. The return to live game action represents a big step in Cole's recovery from Tommy John surgery, which caused him to miss the entire 2025 season. Across 95 innings (17 starts) in 2024, Cole posted an 8-5 record with a 3.41 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 99 strikeouts. The 35-year-old should not be expected to be the pitcher he once was at his peak, but Cole still carries clear fantasy upside once healthy. Given the long layoff, Cole will almost certainly need to make multiple rehab starts in the minor leagues. Still, he could be tracking towards an MLB return in May, barring any setbacks.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
April 15, 2026
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher
Landen Roupp has gotten off to a strong start to his 2026 season. Across 16 2/3 innings pitched (three starts), the 27-year-old owns a 2-1 record with a 3.24 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts. Roupp emerged as a capable option for the Giants in 2025, recording a 3.80 ERA across 106 2/3 innings (22 starts). However, he posted an underwhelming 21.4% strikeout rate and a brutal 1.48 WHIP. Early in 2026, Roupp has upped his strikeout rate to 26.1% and has issued just five walks. If his current strand rate of 57.9% regresses closer to his career mark of 71.6%, Roupp could actually be in line to improve on his current 3.24 ERA. Based on the improvements he has shown so far this season, Roupp could be an intriguing target on the waiver wire for fantasy managers. His next start is scheduled for Thursday in Cincinnati against the Reds.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 15, 2026
New York Mets infielder
Jorge Polanco (Achilles) is not in the lineup for his team's matchup on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers due to continued issues with Achilles bursitis, per Mike Puma of the New York Post. Puma reports that the team plans to re-evaluate him on Friday, and that Mets manager
Carlos Mendoza said a trip to the injured list is on the table for Polanco. Polanco is off to a rough start to his first year in New York, hitting .179/.246/.286 with one home run, two RBI, and three runs scored across 61 plate appearances. Polanco has been in and out of the lineup due to this Achilles issue for over a week now, so an injured list stint could be the best thing for him long term. Mets outfielder
MJ Melendez got the start at designated hitter in place of Polanco on Wednesday, and could be in line for more playing time if Polanco is sidelined for an extended stretch.
--Will BradySource: New York Post - Mike Puma
April 15, 2026
New York Mets manager
Carlos Mendoza said, "that's the goal," when asked by reporters whether outfielder
Juan Soto (calf) would return during the team's next home stand. The Mets finish up their current road trip this weekend in Chicago before returning home next Tuesday for a three-game set against the Minnesota Twins. Soto is currently on the 10-day injured list as he recovers from a calf strain that he suffered on April 3. Across 34 plate appearances before getting hurt, the 27-year-old hit .355/.412/.516 with one home run, five RBI, and three runs scored. Once he's back in the lineup, Soto immediately profiles as a must-start fantasy outfielder. However, fantasy managers may want to prepare for limited aggressiveness on the base paths with Soto returning from a leg ailment. Soto was one of the more surprising sources of speed for fantasy managers in 2025 when he stole 38 bags.
--Will BradySource: SNY
April 15, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar
Shohei Ohtani will pitch against the New York Mets on Wednesday, but he will not serve as the designated hitter, according to Buster Olney of ESPN. The Dodgers won't overdo it with Ohtani in his two-way role early on and have opted to give him a little rest while he pitches on Wednesday. As a hitter, Ohtani has gone hitless in his last seven at-bats with a run scored in the last two games. With Ohtani only pitching, catcher
Dalton Rushing is serving as the DH and will hit seventh against Mets right-hander
Clay Holmes. Outfielder
Kyle Tucker moves into the leadoff spot for the Blue. Ohtani has gone 12 innings in his first two starts of the 2026 season, and he's yet to allow an earned run while walking four and striking out eight. Fantasy managers should be starting Ohtani the pitcher on Wednesday night against a Mets team that is really struggling offensively with All-Star outfielder
Juan Soto (calf) on the injured list.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Buster Olney
April 15, 2026
San Diego Padres right-hander
Nick Pivetta (elbow) declined to discuss what his MRI exam showed, but he did say he will rest and rehab and that he's confident he will pitch again this season, according to Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune. Without knowing for sure what is wrong with Pivetta's elbow, it doesn't sound like he's looking for a speedy return anytime soon after being placed on the 15-day injured list this week with a right-elbow injury. In addition to what looks like a lengthy injury absence for the 33-year-old Canadian, Pivetta was inconsistent in his first four starts for the Friars compared to his breakout in 2025. He had a 4.50 ERA in his 16 innings, but that also came with a 1.28 FIP, 24 strikeouts, and six walks in 16 innings, so Pivetta probably deserved some better luck. Pivetta had a career-best 2.87 ERA in 31 starts for the Friars in 2025 and a 26.4% strikeout rate. Fantasy managers need to sit tight for now while we wait to see how much time Pivetta might actually miss.
--Keith HernandezSource: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Jeff Sanders
April 15, 2026
The New York Mets announced on Wednesday that they placed infielder/outfielder
Jared Young (knee) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to April 13) with a left meniscus tear. In a corresponding move, the Mets recalled outfielder
MJ Melendez from Triple-A Syracuse. Young will need to have surgery, which could keep him out for the rest of the first half of the season. The 30-year-old was taking advantage of extra opportunities early in the year in New York with star outfielder
Juan Soto (calf) on the IL, and he was hitting .350 (7-for-20) with two RBI and two runs scored in 11 games before his knee injury on Tuesday. With Young now out, both
Brett Baty and
Mark Vientos should see even more playing time between the outfield and first base, at least until Soto returns. Baty is off to a cold start, hitting .218 (12-for-55) with no homers, while Vientos is batting .227 (10-for-44) with a homer and five RBI in his 14 games played for the Mets.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Mets
April 15, 2026
New York Yankees right-hander
Gerrit Cole (elbow) will throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, but it's still to be determined what his next rehab outing will look like, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Cole will likely either pitch in a game at Double-A Somerset on Friday or throw a live batting practice session. The 35-year-old veteran and former Cy Young winner threw 42 pitches in three simulated innings against High-A Hudson Valley hitters on Sunday, so he might be ready for an official rehab start if his bullpen session goes well on Wednesday. Cole made two starts in spring training and is getting closer to his 2026 season debut after having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and missing all of the 2025 season. With that said, Cole will likely require at least three or four rehab starts before the Yankees clear him to join the big-league bullpen, which means we might see Cole back in Yankees pinstripes until late May or even early June. Cole isn't getting any younger, but he still has plenty of upside left in his right arm. He's rostered in 83% of Yahoo leagues right now.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
April 15, 2026
The Milwaukee Brewers are expected to push left-hander
Kyle Harrison's (wrist, knee) next scheduled start back a few days to give him more time to let his left wrist heal, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. However, it's not expected to be a situation that sends Harrison to the injured list. Harrison has also dealt with a knee issue recently, although an MRI exam came back clean on his knee on Sunday. It's now Harrison's wrist that is giving him issues, although that also doesn't appear to be very serious. Both of his injuries stem from a fall he took while trying to cover first base in his last outing on Saturday against the Washington Nationals. The 24-year-old southpaw's next scheduled start was supposed to be on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays. The change of scenery appears to have done Harrison some good so far in 2026, as he currently has a 3.07 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 15:4 K:BB in 14 2/3 innings over his first three starts. If Harrison is pushed back to sometime this weekend, he'd be facing the Marlins in Miami.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
April 15, 2026
Chicago Cubs right-handed reliever
Porter Hodge (elbow) will have UCL surgery on his right elbow and will miss the rest of the season, according to Taylor McGregor of the Marquee Sports Network. Hodge initially was placed on the 15-day injured list going into the regular season after being diagnosed with a flexor strain in his forearm. Given the timing of his injury and depending on what exact type of surgery he has on his elbow, there's a chance that Hodge won't even be ready for the start of the 2027 campaign. The 25-year-old former 13th-round pick in 2019 made 75 appearances out of Chicago's bullpen the last two seasons, posting a 3.79 ERA (4.11 FIP) and 1.18 WHIP with 11 saves, 37 walks, and 92 strikeouts in 76 total innings pitched.
--Keith HernandezSource: Marquee Sports Network - Taylor McGregor
April 15, 2026
New York Yankees left-hander
Carlos Rodon (elbow, hamstring) will throw a live batting practice session at Double-A Somerset on Saturday, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. If Rodon comes out of Saturday's session without any setbacks, he will most likely be cleared for a minor-league rehab assignment. The veteran left-hander is still recovering from surgery to remove a bone spur from his left elbow in October, and he also recently suffered a minor right-hamstring injury. The 33-year-old will need plenty of time to build up with around three to four rehab starts, which means he could be ready to make his 2026 season debut sometime in early May. Rodon deserves to be stashed in an injured list spot in fantasy baseball leagues, as he'll have a rotation spot waiting for him when he's finally cleared to return. He was an All-Star for the third time in 2025 and had a nice 3.09 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 203 strikeouts and 73 walks in 33 starts for the Yanks.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
April 15, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy admitted on Wednesday that he could be considering a change at closer going into the game against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays, according to Brewers reporter Sophia Minnaert. "This isn't about who deserves it. This is about who's appropriate to win the game tonight. So it might be (Trevor) Megill, it might be something different. And quite frankly, it was that way last night," Murphy said. Megill allowed three runs on Tuesday night to blow the save against Toronto, and he's allowed eight earned runs on eight hits while walking four and striking out five in his first five innings pitched in 2026. Megill recorded 51 saves for the Brewers in 2024 and 2025 combined, but they might be about to go in another direction in the ninth inning. Right-hander
Abner Uribe would be the obvious candidate for save chances going forward, making him a speculative waiver-wire addition for those scrounging for saves in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sophia Minnaert
April 15, 2026
Boston Red Sox shortstop
Trevor Story did a lot of damage at the plate in Wednesday's 9-5 win over the hosting Minnesota Twins at Target Field in the series finale. Story finished the day 2-for-4 at the plate with five RBI, a three-run home run, and a walk. In addition to his three-run blast, Story had a two-run double to drive in five total runs on the day. Despite only hitting .208 on the year with a .560 OPS after Wednesday's performance, Story already has two home runs and 17 RBI in his first 18 games played. The 33-year-old two-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner might finally be starting to break out of his early-season funk at the plate. Sticking in the middle of Boston's batting order will help Story deliver plenty of run production for his fantasy managers if he can stay healthy. Last year was the first time that Story played in over 100 games with the team in his fourth year in Beantown.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
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