April 13, 2026
The Baltimore Orioles announced on Monday that they placed first baseman
Ryan Mountcastle (foot) on the 60-day injured list with a left-foot fracture. In a corresponding move, the team selected the contract of infielder/outfielder
Weston Wilson from Triple-A Norfolk. Mountcastle fractured the fourth metacarpal in his left foot in Saturday's game against the San Francisco Giants, and he now cannot return to the big leagues until late June. Fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if we don't see Mountcastle again in Baltimore until the second half of the season in mid-July. The 29-year-old isn't a must-hold in mixed leagues at this point. He was slated to see more playing time going forward with catcher
Adley Rutschman (ankle) on the 10-day injured list, but now Mountcastle is out for an extended period of time. The former first-rounder in 2015 played in just 89 games last year due to injury, and he won't be guaranteed regular playing time later this year once he does return. Mountcastle had gone 4-for-14 at the plate (.286) with no homers or RBI in his first eight games in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baltimore Orioles
April 13, 2026
Athletics outfielder
Brent Rooker (oblique) is not doing baseball activities at this time, and there's still no timetable for his return, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. The A's placed Rooker on the 10-day injured list on Friday with a right-oblique strain that he suffered in Thursday's win over the New York Yankees. The 31-year-old almost certainly won't be ready to come back when he's eligible to be activated from the IL on April 20, since he hasn't even resumed baseball activities. Oblique injuries can take a month-plus to recover from, especially in the case of a violent swinger like Rooker.
Carlos Cortes is receiving another start as the team's designated hitter in Monday's game at home against the division-rival Texas Rangers and right-hander
Nathan Eovaldi. Rooker was hitting just .146 (6-for-41) at the time of his injury late last week, but he also had a couple of home runs and eight RBI, and the former first-rounder has had 30-plus homers in each of the last three seasons. Fantasy managers should not be cutting him.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
April 13, 2026
Cleveland Guardians outfielder
Angel Martinez got off to a miserable start at the plate, going 3-for-21 (.143) over his first nine games, however, he shook off the rust and went a sizzling 10-for-17 (.588) over the next four contests, with two doubles, a home run, six RBI, four runs scored, and three stolen bases. The Dominican hit 11 home runs for the Guardians in 2025, so there is a little pop in his bat, and an 88.3 percent contact rate is easily the best of his career so far since debuting in 2024. The switch-hitter has done nearly all of his damage from the left side of the plate, with a 234 wRC+ there compared to an 18 wRC+ from the right side, so make sure to check the handedness of the pitcher if considering for DFS. The 24-year-old could be a speculative waiver add in deeper leagues in hopes he'll continue the hot hitting, and there's pretty much nowhere to go but up from the right side of the plate. The youngster is available in over 70 percent of Yahoo! leagues and is eligible at both 2B and OF.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
April 13, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder
Daulton Varsho has begun to pick it up at the plate, collecting at least one hit in eight of the last 10 games he's started, and is currently riding a four-game hit streak during which time he's belted four extra-base hits, including two doubles and two home runs. The recent hot stretch has raised the left-handed hitter's season-long slash line to .250/.328/.442 with a .340 wOBA and 119 wRC+. The 29-year-old's low 12.1 percent strikeout rate is by far the best of his career, and an above-average 10.3 percent walk rate that is the best since his rookie season of 2020 shows a maturing approach. The 5-foot-8 slugger's .295 xBA even suggests he's been hitting better than what the results show. He's still available in over 60 percent of leagues for managers hoping he can go on a run similar to last season, when almost 60 percent of his hits went for extra bases.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
April 13, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks infield prospect
Jose Fernandez broke onto the MLB scene on March 31, belting a pair of home runs and collecting four RBI in his major league debut. Fantasy managers who claimed him on waivers were disappointed with the subsequent 1-for-12 (.083) stretch over the next five games, but the Venezuelan appears to be getting comfortable at the plate again as of late. The D-backs' 27th-ranked prospect is now riding a five-game hit streak, during which time he's tallied three multi-hit efforts and gone 8-for-20 (.400). The 6-foot-3 slugger has a .333/.333/.528 slash line with two home runs, seven RBI, seven runs scored, and one stolen base with a .382 wOBA and 141 wRC+ through 11 games so far. Keep in mind that the 22-year-old played one game at Triple-A before getting the call to the majors, so there could be some growing pains, perhaps being foreshadowed by his 9:0 K:BB, but he's holding his own right now, and so long as he continues to hit in the middle of the order, the right-handed hitter is worthy of consideration on fantasy rosters. The youngster is widely available and is eligible at both 1B and SS in Yahoo! leagues, adding to his appeal.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
April 13, 2026
Los Angeles Angels outfielder/designated hitter
Jorge Soler recently went on a stretch where he blasted a home run in three consecutive games, which was also part of a longer six-game hit streak, putting himself back on the fantasy radar. A couple of games in which he's gone 0-for-7 since then have surely left a sour taste in the mouths of fantasy managers who snapped him up off the waiver wire, but this is what you can expect from a player who owns a career barrel rate of 13.1 percent with only a 70.7 percent contact rate. Looking at career rates, though, the right-handed slugger is typically a slow starter, so perhaps now is the time to exercise patience, as the former All-Star holds a career slash line of .228/.312/.421 and wRC+ of 98 in the first half compared to .265/.360/.532 and 137 wRC+ in the second half. For now, interested managers can scoop the 34-year-old up in over 60 percent of Yahoo! leagues; just know that the potential power production could come at the expense of batting average, at least in the near term until he gets rolling.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
April 13, 2026
Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said on Sunday that catcher
Adley Rutschman (ankle) got encouraging results from his MRI exam and could have a short stay on the 10-day injured list, per MLB.com's Jake Rill. Rutschman landed on the 10-day injured list last Thursday with left-ankle inflammation, but the good news is he has avoided any structural damage and could be back from the IL when he's eligible to be reinstated on April 21. It's especially good news after it was revealed that first baseman/designated hitter
Ryan Mountcastle suffered a fractured foot on Saturday. Until the 28-year-old switch-hitting Rutschman can return,
Samuel Basallo will serve as the O's starting catcher, with
Maverick Handley backing him up behind the plate. Although Rutschman has yet to homer, he was looking good at the plate before his ankle injury, going 10-for-34 (.294) with three RBI and three runs scored in his first 10 games. Rutschman is a solid bounce-back candidate in 2026 if he can stay healthy going forward after an injury-plagued 2025 campaign.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Jake Rill
April 13, 2026
Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said on Sunday that corner infielder
Ryan Mountcastle (foot) suffered a broken fourth metatarsal on his left foot on Saturday and will be forced to miss some time, according to Jake Rill of MLB.com. Expect the Orioles to place Mountcastle on the 10-day injured list early this week. The 29-year-old former first-rounder was set to see an increase in playing time in Baltimore with catcher/first baseman
Adley Rutschman (ankle) also landing on the IL recently, so it's extremely bad timing for Mountcastle. He had played in only eight games for the O's in the early going in 2026, batting .286 (4-for-14) with an RBI and a double. Young outfielder
Dylan Beavers could be the biggest beneficiary of playing time between the outfield and designated hitter with both Rutschman and Mountcastle out for the foreseeable future.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Jake Rill
April 13, 2026
Minnesota Twins first baseman/designated hitter
Josh Bell has been a pleasant surprise for fantasy in the early going of 2026. The veteran is slashing .275/.397/.529 with three home runs, 12 RBI, and 14 runs scored, good for a .410 wOBA and 165 wRC+. The 6-foot-3 slugger is typically good for around 20 home runs per season, belting 22 in 2025, but is on pace for over 100 RBI and 100 runs scored, totals he hasn't come close to since his 2019 campaign with the Pirates. His strikeout rate is higher than we've ever seen it (27.0 percent), but he's also posting a career-high walk rate thus far (15.9 percent). There may be some regression, but as long as he's hitting in the middle of the Twins lineup, there should be plenty of opportunities to keep stacking the RBIs and scoring runs. The 33-year-old is available in over 60 percent of leagues, but that number should probably be higher. Also, for DFS players, the switch-hitter has produced a .470 wOBA and 207 wRC+ as a left-handed hitter compared to a .343 wOBA and 135 wRC+ from the right side, so make sure to fire him up against right-handed pitchers.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
April 13, 2026
The Atlanta Braves designated veteran left-hander
Martin Perez for assignment on Sunday to make room for reliever
Dylan Dodd on the active roster, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Manager Walt Weiss said he's unsure who will replace Perez in the team's starting rotation going forward. Thursday's off day gives the Braves a chance to wait until next weekend to make an official decision. Bowman writes that both pitching prospects
JR Ritchie and
Didier Fuentes could be options to join the big-league rotation in the near future. Although the 35-year-old Perez seemingly doesn't have much fantasy upside left at this point in his career, he did look good in his first three outings (two starts) for the Braves before being DFA'd. Perez allowed five earned runs on nine hits (one homer) with four walks and six strikeouts in 14 1/3 frames. If a team doesn't claim Perez on waivers, he'll be free to sign with any MLB team to help provide them with experienced pitching depth.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
April 13, 2026
Houston Astros right-hander
Cody Bolton (back) suffered from mid-back tightness and was forced from his start early on Sunday against the Seattle Mariners, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Bolton's back tightness occurred in the area where he was hit by a comebacker in his previous outing against the Colorado Rockies. He said he felt good in the second inning on Sunday and tried to pitch through his back tightness to give the Astros some length. Bolton will undergo more imaging on his back to determine the severity. The Astros just cannot catch a break with their starting pitching staff, with
Hunter Brown (shoulder),
Cristian Javier (shoulder), and
Tatsuya Imai (arm), among others, already on the injured list early in the year. It's unclear yet if Bolton will join them on the IL, but at the very least, he could be forced to skip his next start. Through his first three appearances (two starts) in 2026 with Houston, Bolton has allowed five earned runs on seven hits (one homer) while walking seven and striking out 11 in 8 1/3 innings pitched.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
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
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