March 30, 2026
The Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Monday that they placed infielder
Pavin Smith (elbow) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to March 29) with left-elbow inflammation and recalled infielder
Jose Fernandez from Triple-A Reno in a corresponding move. Veteran
Carlos Santana is starting at first base on Monday against the visiting Detroit Tigers and right-hander
Justin Verlander, and he should see most of the playing time there with Smith on the injured list. Meanwhile,
Ildemaro Vargas is the designated hitter and will bat eighth on Monday. Expect the Snakes to rotate at DH among Vargas,
Tim Tawa, Fernandez, and
Jorge Barrosa with Smith on the shelf for at least 10 days. Smith isn't dealing with any structural damage in his elbow, but it's something that has been bothering him since spring training. It's unclear if he'll return when eligible on April 8. In his two games played in the opening series against the Dodgers, Smith went 1-for-6 with an RBI, run scored, two walks, and two strikeouts at the plate.
--Keith HernandezSource: Arizona Diamondbacks
March 30, 2026
Cleveland Guardians catcher
Austin Hedges (hand) is back behind the plate to catch left-hander
Parker Messick on Monday night and will hit eighth in the batting order for the series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander
Roki Sasaki, per MLB.com. It will be Hedges' 2026 season debut after he dealt with a hand injury at the end of spring training. With the 33-year-old veteran back on the field,
Bo Naylor will start on the bench. Hedges doesn't offer much offensively, leaving him only worth rostering in the deepest of AL-only and dynasty leagues for catching depth. The 11-year MLB veteran has a career slash line of just .185/.244/.313 with a .556 OPS over 820 games played. Hedges had five home runs and 10 RBI for the Guards last year in 68 regular-season games. He hasn't had double-digit home runs in a season since back in 2021 with Cleveland. Nobody in the Guardians' lineup has faced Sasaki in their careers.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 30, 2026
San Francisco Giants shortstop
Willy Adames has been moved to the leadoff spot for the Giants for Monday's series opener at Petco Park against the San Diego Padres and right-hander
Walker Buehler, according to MLB.com. It's time for the Giants to shake up their batting order as they head into the second series of the 2026 season after they mustered just one run in the season-opening series at home against the New York Yankees. The 30-year-old Adames will become a better DFS play out of the leadoff spot after hitting cleanup twice and sixth once in the first three games. It's an unfamiliar spot for Adames, as he has only hit leadoff twice since the start of the 2018 season. Adames will be looking for his first career hit against Buehler, whom he's gone 0-for-5 against previously. Like most of the Giants' hitters, Adames is off to a slow start at the plate, going 1-for-11 with five strikeouts in his first three games.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 30, 2026
New York Mets infielder
Jorge Polanco (Achilles) is dealing with a bit of an Achilles issue, manager
Carlos Mendoza told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. The Mets are being cautious with him, but he'll stay in the lineup on Monday and serve as the designated hitter while batting cleanup for the Mets on Monday against the hosting St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander
Kyle Leahy. Until Polanco can return to defensive duties at first base, expect
Brett Baty and
Jared Young to split playing time at the position. Both Young and Baty (starting in right field) are in the starting lineup against the Cardinals in the series opener. The 32-year-old veteran has a history of lower-body injuries, so it's not a great sign for his fantasy managers that he's already dealing with something in the first week of the regular season. Through his three games in 2026 with the Mets, Polanco has gone 1-for-10 with an RBI, two runs, five walks, and two strikeouts.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
March 30, 2026
Seattle Mariners catcher
Cal Raleigh is not in the team's starting lineup on Monday for the series opener against the visiting New York Yankees at T-Mobile Park, according to MLB.com.
Mitch Garver is doing the catching for right-hander
Luis Castillo and will hit sixth against Yankees lefty
Ryan Weathers. Raleigh is just getting a normal day of rest against a lefty pitcher. After breaking out in 2025, the 29-year-old left-handed slugger has gone just 2-for-15 to start the 2026 season with a double, an RBI, a stolen base, three walks, and 10 strikeouts in 18 plate appearances. It's not the start his fantasy managers had hoped for, but it's still very early. With Yankees ace
Max Fried on the mound on Tuesday against the M's, Raleigh's rough start to the season could continue if he's back in the starting lineup.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 30, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies second baseman
Bryson Stott will get a breather on Monday in the series opener against the division-rival Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Veteran infielder
Edmundo Sosa made the start at the keystone and is hitting sixth for the Phillies with Stott starting on the bench against left-hander
Foster Griffin. It's the second straight day on the bench for Stott against a left-handed starting pitcher. If that continues, it will obviously be bad news for Stott and his fantasy managers in 2026. The 28-year-old former 14th overall pick in 2019 out of the University of Nevada has gotten off to a nice start at the plate in his first three games, though, going 3-for-8 (.375) with an RBI and a stolen base. Stott really struggled against southpaws in 2025, going 25-for-111 (.225) against them with a .575 OPS and just one of his 13 home runs on the season.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 30, 2026
Miami Marlins infielder
Graham Pauley is making the start at third base and will hit ninth for the Fish in Monday's series opener against the visiting Chicago White Sox and right-hander
Davis Martin at LoanDepot Park, according to MLB.com. Pauley was sidelined for a good chunk of spring training with a forearm injury, but he's healthy now and will have a shot to play regularly at the hot corner in Miami, with
Christopher Morel (oblique) on the 10-day injured list.
Connor Norby will shift across the diamond and see most of the playing time at first base with Morel sidelined. Pauley has gone 1-for-4 with two strikeouts at the plate in two games to begin the 2026 regular season. There's probably a greater chance that Pauley serves in more of a super-utility role for the Marlins once Morel is ready to return. In his first 220 major-league plate appearances, Pauley has barely hit, slashing .208/.283/.355 with six home runs, 16 RBI, and 22 runs scored in 77 games.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 30, 2026
The Athletic's Mitch Bannon reports that Toronto Blue Jays right-hander
Shane Bieber (elbow) will throw off a mound for the first time on Saturday. Bieber didn't throw off a mound all spring due to elbow/forearm issues. The Blue Jays aren't going to take any chances with the 30-year-old veteran, especially after he didn't make his season debut in 2025 until August after recovering from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. The former American League Cy Young and two-time All-Star had a 3.57 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 37:7 K:BB in seven regular-season starts for the Blue Jays last year before posting a 3.86 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, and 18:6 K:BB in 18 2/3 playoff innings. Bieber can still be useful (when healthy) as starting rotation depth in deep-mixed leagues, but he's no longer as dominant as he once was after giving up plenty of loud contact in his return in 2025. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Bieber to be an option to come off the 15-day injured list until May.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Mitch Bannon
March 30, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitching prospect
Trey Yesavage (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a three-inning/45-pitch simulated game on Friday, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. Yesavage was held back on purpose in spring training and then landed on the 15-day injured list to begin the 2026 regular season due to a right-shoulder impingement. The 22-year-old will be given plenty of time to build up his workload as he looks to rejoin Toronto's starting rotation. Yesavage made a quick ascent to the big leagues in 2025 and only made three regular-season starts before hurling 27 2/3 innings over six outings (five starts) in the postseason, which included an epic 12-strikeout performance in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He struck out 39 batters and walked 11 in the postseason, putting his high-end upside on full display. Control can be an issue for Yesavage, though, and his redraft upside could be capped in 2026 with the Blue Jays handling him with extreme care to ensure his long-term health.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Mitch Bannon
March 30, 2026
Atlanta Braves catcher
Sean Murphy (hip) could begin a minor-league rehab assignment as early as this week with High-A Rome, according to Grant McAuley of 929 The Game. Murphy is scheduled to take live batting practice at Rome on Wednesday as the Braves head out on a seven-game road trip. The 31-year-old veteran backstop began the 2026 season on the 10-day injured list after having offseason hip surgery, but it might not be long before he can make his debut this year for Atlanta. Fellow catcher
Drake Baldwin is an everyday player now for the Braves after winning National League Rookie of the Year honors in 2025, but Murphy should also play regularly between catcher and designated hitter, while
Jonah Heim will revert to No. 3 catching duties. Murphy was an All-Star in his first year in Atlanta in 2023, when he hit 21 home runs in 108 games. He had just 26 combined long balls in the last two years, though, while battling injuries. It remains to be seen if Murphy can rediscover his pre-injury power stroke after having hip surgery.
--Keith HernandezSource: 929 The Game - Grant McAuley
March 30, 2026
Atlanta Braves right-hander
Spencer Strider (oblique) will be on the team's road trip, but there's still no timetable for when he might make his first minor-league rehab start, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Strider will likely throw a live batting practice session on the road, and that will give the Braves a better feel for his potential return date from the 15-day injured list. The Braves reportedly don't think Strider will miss too much time after being diagnosed with an oblique strain, but he's not going to be ready to return from the IL when he's eligible on April 6. But barring a setback as he ramps back up, fantasy managers should get him back before the end of April. The 27-year-old was a first-time All-Star in 2023 and won a league-high 20 games that year, but he pitched in only two games in 2024 due to injury and went 7-14 with a 4.45 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 23 starts for the Braves last year. Strider's injury history makes him riskier, especially since he's experienced a drop in velocity since his strong 2023 campaign.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
March 30, 2026
Houston Astros shortstop
Jeremy Pena will take another day off on Monday for the series opener against the visiting Boston Red Sox at Daikin Park, per MLB.com.
Carlos Correa will shift over to shortstop again, with
Isaac Paredes making the start at third base against Red Sox left-hander
Ranger Suarez. Pena has started just two of the team's first four games of the 2026 regular season as the Astros ease him in following his recovery from a fractured finger that he suffered during an exhibition game earlier in March while preparing for the World Baseball Classic. Pena has gone 2-for-10 with a run scored and a stolen base in the two games he's played so far. He should be back in the lineup at shortstop for the Astros for the second game of the series against Boston on Tuesday evening. Paredes is hitless in just two career at-bats against Suarez, while Correa has never faced the southpaw in his career.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 30, 2026
Athletics outfielder
Lawrence Butler is back in center field and will hit sixth in the batting order on Monday for the series opener in Atlanta against the Braves and right-hander
Bryce Elder, according to MLB.com. Butler had a rough Opening Day in the walk-off loss to the Toronto Blue Jays last week while going 0-for-3, and then was kept on the bench for the final two games of the series north of the border. The 25-year-old power/speed threat is back in action on Monday, though, and will hope to get going early in the 2026 season at Truist Park. Butler is hitless in three career at-bats against Elder with one RBI. Butler had his first career 20-20 season with the A's in 152 games played in 2025, but he disappointed with a .234/.306/.404 slash line and a .710 OPS in 630 plate appearances while dealing with knee issues for most of the year. If fully healthy and clicking, Butler is a candidate for 30 homers and 30 steals, so he should be rostered in all fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 30, 2026
Baltimore Orioles catcher
Samuel Basallo is not in the starting lineup for the series opener on Monday at Camden Yards against the visiting Texas Rangers, according to MLB.com.
Adley Rutschman is behind the plate and will bat cleanup for the O's against right-hander
Jack Leiter. Outfielder
Tyler O'Neill is the designated hitter and will hit out of the five-hole. The 21-year-old Basallo will get his first day off of the 2026 season after he started in each of the first three games of the year versus the Minnesota Twins. Basallo went 2-for-10 in the first three games with two walks and four strikeouts at the dish. Young outfielder
Dylan Beavers is also making a start on Monday with O'Neill at DH, getting the nod in right field and batting sixth. Basallo should be back in the starting lineup for fantasy managers for Game 2 of the series on Tuesday night.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 30, 2026
The Milwaukee Brewers are on the verge of finalizing an eight-year deal for just more than $50 million with 21-year-old prized shortstop prospect
Cooper Pratt, who had not played above Double-A until this year, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. The deal will include two option years for roughly $15 million per season. Per MLB Pipeline, Pratt is considered the Brewers' No. 4 prospect. Pratt isn't considered a top-10 prospect at the shortstop position going into the 2026 season, but he could be up in the big leagues sooner than later after this massive deal for an unproven commodity. Milwaukee did something similar with outfielder
Jackson Chourio before he even had stepped foot on a major-league field. Pratt hit .238/.343/.348 with eight home runs and 31 steals in 120 games with Double-A Biloxi last year. He can run and has 15-20 homer power eventually at the next level. Pratt has come up in the system as a shortstop, but his future in Milwaukee might be at the hot corner, with top prospect
Jesus Made considered the future of the franchise at the 6.
--Keith HernandezSource: USA Today Sports - Bob Nightengale
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