April 11, 2026
Miami Marlins outfielder
Griffin Conine (hamstring) will undergo a hamstring tendon excision next week. The 28-year-old will have the operation done in Dallas by Dr. Dan Cooper, resulting in him missing extensive time. The announcement came a day after he was placed on the 10-Day Injured List, though he will undoubtedly miss much more than the minimum time here. In fact, the timeline for a return to play would be anywhere between six and eight weeks, resulting in him missing a large portion of the first half of the season. In his absence, the Marlins will likely continue to platoon players in left field, using both
Javier Sanoja and Heriberto Hernández. However, with
Kyle Stowers currently on a rehab assignment, he could very well take over in left field upon his return as well.
--Dave Funnell - RotoBallerSource: Christina De Nicola
April 11, 2026
The Atlanta Braves announced on Saturday that they have placed outfielder
Michael Harris II on the paternity list and selected the contract of infielder
Luke Williams to the major-league roster in a corresponding move. Harris will be out of Atlanta's starting lineup on Saturday against the Cleveland Guardians and will be away from the team for up to three days. Fantasy managers must adjust their lineups accordingly for the rest of the weekend. With Harris attending to a personal matter, expect
Eli White to take over for him in center field for the next couple of days. In his first 14 games of the 2026 regular season, Harris has hit .235 (12-for-51) with two home runs, a double, seven RBI, five runs scored, and a stolen base in 53 plate appearances. Harris had his first 20-20 season with exactly 20 homers and 20 thefts in 2025 in his fourth MLB season for Atlanta. He'll be looking to repeat that feat in 2026 if he can stay healthy all year.
--Keith HernandezSource: Atlanta Braves
April 11, 2026
New York Mets infielder
Jorge Polanco (Achilles) is serving as the team's designated hitter and is batting third for Saturday's matchup at Citi Field against the visiting Athletics and left-hander
Jacob Lopez, according to MLB.com. Polanco has been out of the Mets' lineup for each of the last two games while dealing with Achilles bursitis, which isn't considered a serious issue. For now, the veteran Dominican switch-hitter will return to the starting lineup. Polanco is mostly expected to play first base in his first year in Queens, but if he continues to deal with Achilles issues, we could see him at DH more often than not for the foreseeable future.
Mark Vientos will make the start at first base and bat fifth for New York on Saturday. Polanco has gotten off to a slow start in his first year with the Mets, going just 8-for-40 (.200) with no homers, one RBI, and two runs scored. He has a hit in his lone career at-bat against Lopez.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 11, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop
Masyn Winn (leg) is optimistic that he will play on Saturday despite his early departure in Friday night's contest due to a leg injury. The 24-year-old was hit by a pitch on his left leg and forced to leave the game with a contusion. The young shortstop is off to a slow start to the season, recording just six hits over 39 at-bats. He says that he feels better today, and the hope is that he can suit up for action and improve on what's been a tough 2026 so far at the plate. If he cannot,
Thomas Saggese will likely get the nod, as it was he who replaced Winn last night.
--Dave Funnell - RotoBallerSource: STLToday.com - Daniel Guerrero
April 11, 2026
Cincinnati Reds second baseman
Matt McLain will hit the bench for Saturday's game against the visiting Los Angeles Angels at Great American Ballpark, according to MLB.com.
Sal Stewart will make the start at the keystone and will hit cleanup for the Reds versus Angels rookie right-hander
George Klassen.
Spencer Steer is hitting second for Cincy. McLain hit seven home runs in 18 spring training games, but as soon as the games started to count, he's cooled off at the plate. The 26-year-old former first-rounder out of UCLA has gone 12-for-55 (.218) so far with no homers, three RBI, six runs scored, two stolen bases, seven walks, and 15 strikeouts in 64 plate appearances and 14 games played. McLain has plenty of time to turn things around offensively, but fantasy managers might want to keep him benched until he turns it around. Stewart, 22, is one of the brightest young position-player prospects in the big leagues with both power and speed. He's off to a great start, slashing .340/.458/.681 with four homers, nine RBI, eight runs, and three steals in 47 at-bats for the Reds.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
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
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