RADIO
Sean Murphy Likely to Rejoin Braves Next Week
Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy (hip) is likely to rejoin the big-league team in Seattle next week, manager Walt Weiss told Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Braves kick off a three-game series in Seattle against the Mariners on Monday, May 4. Murphy has yet to make his 2026 season debut with Atlanta after having surgery on his hip last September. When he's ready, the Braves will have a decision to make with three catches on the big-league roster in Murphy, Drake Baldwin, and Jonah Heim. Heim will most likely end up being the odd man out. When he's ready to return, fantasy managers should expect Murphy to see most of his playing time at designated hitter, at least initially. The 31-year-old is only rostered in 1% of Yahoo leagues, and while there are major question marks as to whether he can return to his pre-injury form, Murphy was an All-Star as recently as 2023 in his first year with the Braves. He has 82 home runs and 263 RBI over the last five seasons and should draw more attention from fantasy managers looking for more power from the catching position.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Chad Bishop
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Chad Bishop
Michael Harris II Could be Forced to the Injured List
Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II (quadriceps) is dealing with a left-quad injury and will serve as the designated hitter for most of the team's upcoming road trip if his injury doesn't get any worse, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. However, if there's no improvement, Harris could be placed on the 10-day injured list. Now we know why Harris was out of the starting lineup for Thursday's loss to the Detroit Tigers in the series finale. The Braves head to Denver this weekend for a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies before heading to Seattle to face the Mariners early next week. Hopefully, the left-handed-hitting Harris can rest up while DH'ing and stay off the IL. The 25-year-old former third-rounder in 2019 has been one of the league's hottest hitters with April coming to an end, slashing .320/.355/.540 with an .895 OPS, six home runs, 20 RBI, 11 runs scored, and two stolen bases in his first 29 games in 2026. Eli White, who got the start in center field on Thursday, will see more playing time in the outfield on the team's upcoming road trip, but he offers little upside at the plate for fantasy managers.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Jorge Polanco Labeled "Week-to-Week" by Mets
New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said that infielder Jorge Polanco (wrist, Achilles) is "week-to-week" as he recovers from his injuries, according to SNY. Polanco has resumed baseball activities, but he's not exactly close to returning from the 10-day injured list. The veteran infielder landed on the IL on April 18 with a right-wrist bone bruise and left-Achilles bursitis. The 32-year-old had been playing through his Achilles issue early in the season, but the Mets chose to put him on the IL after he recently suffered a wrist injury. The fact that the Dominican switch-hitter has been injured for most of the first month of the 2026 season helps explain why he was hitting just .179/.246/.286 with a homer, two RBI, and three runs scored in 56 at-bats. It's unclear exactly when Polanco might return, but it might not be until around mid-May, at the earliest. When Polanco is back, he might be relegated to primary designated-hitter duties in New York. Mark Vientos has seen most of the playing time at first base for the Mets lately. Polanco is rostered in 30% of Yahoo leagues at the moment as a power option who should eventually add first base eligibility on top of second base and third base.
Source: SNY Mets
Source: SNY Mets
Brandon Woodruff Pain-Free Despite Being Pulled From Thursday's Outing
Updating a previous report, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy told Brewers reporter Sophia Minnaert that right-hander Brandon Woodruff wasn't feeling any pain during his outing on Thursday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but "nothing was coming out" in terms of his velocity, per Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "He wasn't himself. He felt like, felt kind of dead," Murphy added. Woodruff couldn't get over 85 mph while recording only four outs on Thursday before being pulled. It's obviously pretty concerning, especially for a veteran pitcher who got a late start last year after recovering from right-shoulder surgery. Woodruff also missed time late last year due to a lat injury that he was managing going into spring training. He hadn't been terrible coming into Thursday's start, posting a 3.77 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 23 strikeouts and six walks in 28 2/3 innings pitched. But Woodruff's lack of velocity should definitely concern his fantasy managers. It's unclear if the 33-year-old will be ready to make his next scheduled start. Murphy said the Brewers will be extremely cautious with Woodruff.
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
Charlie Condon Scuffling, Still Worth Stashing for Home Run Potential?
Colorado Rockies corner infield/outfield prospect Charlie Condon, after a strong start to the year, has been mired in a funk at the plate, going 3-for-26 (.115) with just one extra-base hit (a double) over his last eight games. However, despite the recent bout of futility, the Rockies' second-ranked prospect is currently riding an 18-game on-base streak thanks to his ability to draw walks at a high rate. The former third-overall draft pick has recorded 14 walks in 22 games this season, good for a 17.1 percent BB%, and with an improved K% of 20.0 percent so far in 2026, there should be optimism that he'll be able to break out of the slump soon. For the season, the 6-foot-5 slugger is slashing .268/.410/.451 with four home runs and three steals. At some point in the coming weeks, the Rockies will likely want to give the 23-year-old a shot in the big leagues, and with power like he possesses in a home environment like he'll be in, the right-handed hitter remains one of the top power bats to stash in redraft leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Bryce Eldridge Surging Again, Remains a High-End Stash for Power Upside
San Francisco Giants first base prospect Bryce Eldridge broke out of a week-long slump in a big way over his last four games at Triple-A, going 10-for-18 (.555) with three home runs, nine RBI, and six runs scored over that span. Perhaps most impressive of all is that, after logging just three games without a strikeout over his first 22 contests, the 6-foot-7 slugger has tallied four such outings in the last five games, showcasing how locked in he has been. The Giants' top-ranked prospect is slashing .327/.426/.529 with five home runs through 27 games, and a promotion to the big leagues could come at any time now. Though swing-and-miss will likely continue to be part of his profile, especially at the major league level, along with it should come plenty of power, and the former first-round draft pick remains a top stash option in most fantasy leagues for his home run potential.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Back in Action, Colt Emerson a Stash Candidate with Multi-Category Potential
Seattle Mariners infield prospect Colt Emerson (wrist) returned to the lineup at Triple-A Tacoma last week after sitting out a few games with a minor wrist injury. In the five games since his return, the Mariners' top-ranked prospect has struggled to get back into a rhythm at the plate, going 3-for-20 (.150) over that span, though two of his hits went for extra bases (one double, one home run) and he drew five walks as well (20.0 percent BB%). For the season, the former first-round draft pick is hitting just .232, but has recorded a solid .351 on-base percentage thanks to a 13.3 percent walk rate, and is slugging .427. With seven steals already through 23 games, the left-handed slugger has the look of a potential multi-category contributor for fantasy. Though he's just 20 years old, MLB's No. 7 prospect overall could be in the majors within weeks, so fantasy managers in deeper leagues should consider stashing him ahead of time.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Is Kyle Tucker's Middling Production to Open 2026 His New Norm?
Through the first month of the 2026 season, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker hasn't quite given his new team the production they were hoping for. Across 133 plate appearances, Tucker is hitting .241/.331/.371 with three home runs, 15 RBI, 21 runs scored, and three stolen bases. The 29-year-old has been a bit better of late, as he enters play on Thursday riding a five-game hitting streak. Still, Tucker's 21.8% strikeout rate is his worst mark since 2019. His underlying metrics don't point to an imminent power breakout either, as his 8.0% barrel rate is the lowest mark he's posted since a 72-plate appearance sample size from his rookie season in 2018. As long as Tucker stays healthy, he's a lock for everyday playing time in Los Angeles and should continue to rack up counting stats, which gives him a safe fantasy floor. However, fantasy managers hoping for Tucker to return to his 29-homer, 30-steal peak from 2023 may end up disappointed.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Can Ezequiel Tovar Break Out of Extended Cold Streak?
Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar has largely been a steady producer throughout his career to this point. However, the 24-year-old is off to a nightmarish start to the 2026 season, hitting .195/.235/.292 with one home run, eight RBI, nine runs scored, and two stolen bases across 119 plate appearances entering play on Thursday. Tovar's plate skills remain a major flaw, as he's walked in just 3.4% of his plate appearances while striking out at a 29.4% clip. Unlike in previous seasons, Tovar's quality of contact hasn't been enough to make up for his free-swinging approach, as he currently owns a career worst 7.7% barrel rate. Tovar's .273 batting average on balls in play is significantly below his career average of .327, so he should see some regression over a larger sample size of plate appearances. Still, fantasy managers may want to consider going in a different direction, particularly when Tovar and the Rockies are on the road and away from the hitter-friendly Coors Field.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
With Potential Injury News Looming, Logan Henderson a Priority Stash in All Formats
Milwaukee Brewers pitching prospect Logan Henderson continues to be one of the top pitchers to stash for fantasy baseball while being downright dominant for Triple-A Nashville to begin the year. The Brewers' sixth-ranked prospect made his longest appearance of the season in his last outing, throwing 67 pitches (46 strikes) over five innings of one-run ball while striking out nine batters. The right-hander now owns a 1.02 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and a 26:9 K:BB over 17 2/3 innings pitched. A 12.3 percent walk rate is a bit out of character for the former fourth-rounder after coming into the season with a 7.1 percent walk rate during his minor league career to that point, but he's still posting a strong 23.3 percent K-BB%. With Quinn Priester, who had a strong 2025 campaign, currently in the midst of a rehab assignment at Nashville, Henderson may have some competition the next time a rotation spot opens up, but he offers far more strikeout upside, and the 24-year-old is worthy of stashing in all formats. It is worth noting that Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff exited his start on Thursday in the second inning after seeing a significant dip in velocity compared to his previous starts, so the time is now to grab Henderson from the waiver wire.
Source: Jeff Passan
Source: Jeff Passan
Brandon Woodruff Exits Early from Start on Thursday After Drastic Velocity Drop
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff (undisclosed) exited in the second inning of his start against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday. Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, Woodruff's fastball velocity failed to reach 87 mph after sitting at 92.5 mph across his first five starts of the year. Woodruff faced just six batters against Arizona, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out two across 1 1/3 scoreless innings. The 33-year-old had been effective across 28 2/3 innings entering Thursday, pitching to a 3.77 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 23 strikeouts and two wins. However, Woodruff has not reached 100 innings in a season since 2022 and missed the entire 2024 campaign due to shoulder surgery. While it's too early to speculate on an injury for Woodruff, the drastic velocity drop is obviously a major cause for concern. If Woodruff requires a trip to the injured list, Brewers right-hander Logan Henderson could get the call from Triple-A to take Woodruff's place in the Brewers rotation.
Source: ESPN - Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN - Jeff Passan
Max Clark Remains an Elite Stash Option in All Formats
Detroit Tigers outfield prospect Max Clark continues to show off his offensive potential that could soon be on display in the majors. The Tigers' second-ranked prospect is riding a four-game hit streak and has now reached base via hit or walk in all but three of his 26 games for Triple-A Toledo this season. The left-handed hitter is slashing .301/.378/.437 with nearly as many walks (14) as strikeouts (16) and nine stolen bases. The former third-overall draft pick came into the season with a career 18.5 percent strikeout rate, but has cut that all the way down to 13.4 percent this season, and it is looking like there isn't much left to prove offensively in the minors. President of baseball operations Scott Harris recently stated the team isn't ready to promote him, but with Detroit's outfield options getting thin after injuries to Parker Meadows (arm) and Javier Baez (ankle), the 21-year-old's MLB debut presumably draws nearer and nearer. With the potential to be a solid five-category contributor, there aren't many better hitters in the minor leagues to stash for fantasy.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Robby Snelling Looks to Rebound Friday, Still a Worthwhile Stash Option
Miami Marlins pitching prospect Robby Snelling should remain a top pitcher to stash in fantasy leagues for his strikeout upside. The Marlins' second-ranked prospect displayed uncharacteristically poor command in his latest start, yielding five walks and being charged with a wild pitch in five innings of work, but still only allowed two hits in the outing while adding four strikeouts. The southpaw owns a 2.25 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP, and a strong 22.3 percent K-BB% (35:14 K:BB) in 24 innings pitched at Triple-A Jacksonville. Snelling is not on the 40-man roster, while teammate Braxton Garrett is, and with the latter looking dominant in his own right, Snelling may not be the first name called when the Marlins need an arm, but he'll likely be called upon for his MLB debut in the coming weeks. Look for him to bounce back in his next start on Friday against Durham, and with his strikeout potential, the 22-year-old is worth stashing in deeper leagues ahead of his eventual call-up.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Bobby Witt Jr. Riding 10-Game Hitting Streak Entering Play on Thursday
By his own lofty standards, Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got off to a little bit of a slow start to the 2026 season. However, the 25-year-old has started to heat up as April draws to a close and is currently riding a 10-game hitting streak into the Royals matchup against the Athletics on Thursday. Across 134 plate appearances for the season overall, Witt Jr. is hitting .297/.366/.441 with two home runs, 15 RBI, 10 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. While Witt Jr.'s power stroke hasn't quite gotten going yet, his 12.2% barrel rate is right in line with his career mark of 11.9%, and his 52% hard-hit rate would be a single-season best. Witt Jr. remains an elite fantasy shortstop who should provide above-average five-category production once again in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Yainer Diaz in Danger of Reduced Role in Houston?
Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz has gotten off to a slow start to the 2026 season. Entering play on Thursday, the 27-year-old is hitting .229/.250/.349 with two home runs, 12 RBI, and six runs scored across his first 88 plate appearances of the year. Diaz's underlying metrics don't provide much reason for optimism either, as he currently owns career low barrel (4.2%) and hard-hit (29.6%) rates. Diaz's lack of plate discipline continues to be an issue, as his 3.4% walk rate is right in line with his career mark of 3.6%. Diaz entered 2026 Spring Training dealing with a foot sprain, which could be a reason for his poor production at the plate so far. Either way, veteran Astros catcher Christian Vazquez is off to a red-hot start to the year with a .913 OPS. If Vazquez continues to play well and Diaz continues to struggle, Diaz could find himself losing playing time in Houston.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
