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Randy Arozarena Heating up at the Plate, Showing signs of Power and Speed
Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena is having a good stretch at the plate over the past seven days, hitting .286 with three doubles and a stolen base. On the season, he now finds himself slashing .289/.381/.439 with seven stolen bases, 11 RBI, two home runs, nine doubles, and 22 runs scored. While the homerun production isn't quite there yet, Arozarena is tied for eighth in MLB in doubles. Most importantly, we are seeing improved plate discipline from Arozarena, decreasing his strikeout rate to 21.6 percent from his career 25.7 percent rate. Arozarena has hit 20-plus home runs the last two seasons, so with improved plate discipline, historic power numbers, a strong average that is backed up under the hood (.263 xBA), and his nine doubles are all encouraging signs for him to continue his power and speed combination and be a valuable asset for fantasy managers who invested a middle-round pick on him.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Chase Burns on a Roll of Late, 17 Strikeouts in Last Two Starts
Cincinnati Reds' 23-year-old former second-overall pick in 2024 is starting to break out in 2026 after flashing signs in 2025. So far this season, Burns is (3-1) with a 2.65 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 39 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched. His fastball velocity remains elite (98.1 mph average), and his control remains in check (8.8 percent walk rate), while he continues to miss bats and rack up the strikeouts (28.5 percent). Burns is primarily a two-pitch pitcher, throwing his four-seamer 56 percent of the time and slider 37 percent of the time, but both pitches are excellent and top-tier (.230 batting average on the four-seamer and .140 batting average on the slider). Most encouragingly, Burns has shown a lot of consistency through his six starts, having gone five innings in every outing, while allowing two earned runs or less in all but one start on April 10, where he allowed five earned runs to the Angels and was his only loss of the season. Up Next for Burns is an excellent matchup on Sunday, May 3, against the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he should be fired up confidently in your lineups.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Edward Cabrera Showing Consistency With the Cubs in 2026
Chicago Cubs right-hander Edward Cabrera has been fantastic with his new team in 2026, as he is (3-0) with a 3.06 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 29 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings pitched. While the strikeout numbers are down for him compared to his career mark (25.5 percent strikeout rate), the whiff (27.5 percent) and chase rate (35.0 percent) remain solid, so the strikeouts should follow suit. Cabrera has allowed three earned runs or fewer in every one of his outings so far (six starts) while going at least five innings in each start. His next outing is scheduled at home on May 4 against the Cincinnati Reds, where he continues to be a must-start in all formats. Fantasy managers who invested in Cabrera in the middle rounds of their draft are seeing a solid return and should feel optimistic about the remainder of the 2026 season.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Bo Bichette Continues to Struggle, With One Homerun and Four Hits in the Last Seven Days
New York Mets third baseman Bo Bichette's struggles at the plate continue of late, as he is slashing .190/.280/.333 over the past seven days. On the season, his slash line is .230/.272/.317 with two home runs, 14 RBI, and 15 runs scored to go with one stolen base. Bichette is a proven player in the league, so fantasy managers should not be dropping him; however, we are now seven weeks into the season, and Bichette has yet to find his groove with the struggling Mets. Fantasy managers looking for some signs to hold onto Bichette should look at his underlying data, as he has a .290 xBA, .322 xwOBA, and .409 xSLG. All of those do indicate positive regression is on the mend, but in the meantime, he has not given fantasy managers the return they expected from a player going in the middle rounds. Up next for Bichette and the Mets is a weekend series in Anaheim to take on the Angels and a three-game set in Coors to face the Rockies, both of which should be good hitting conditions and a chance for Bichette to start to turn things around.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
George Kirby Allows Eight Hits in No-Decision
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby didn't have his best stuff working for him during Wednesday's outing against the Minnesota Twins. Kirby allowed two earned runs on eight hits with five strikeouts across 5.2 innings of work during Wednesday's no-decision. He was on the hook for the loss until the Mariners' offense came alive late in the game. The right-hander will take a 3.00 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 34:11 K:BB ratio into his next start against the Atlanta Braves. Kirby has allowed seven or more hits in three of his last four outings. He has been able to work around the damage and allowed two runs or less in all of those outings. Fantasy managers should keep riding with Kirby despite his lack of swing-and-miss stuff.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Tyler Glasnow Continues Stellar Beginning to the Season
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow didn't have his best command during Wednesday's outing against the Miami Marlins. The right-hander issued a season-high six walks in what ended up being a no-decision for Glasnow. He was able to salvage his fantasy value by tying his season-high with nine strikeouts across 5.2 innings of work. It has been an overall strong start to the season for Glasnow, who holds a 2.56 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and a 47:13 K:BB ratio across six starts. He hopes to have better command during his next outing against the Houston Astros. Despite some command issues, Glasnow remains a must-start fantasy pitcher.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Gunnar Henderson Heating Up With the Bat
Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson has been off to a slow start to the season, but appears to be coming around with the bat. The overall numbers aren't pretty with Henderson slashing .213/.287/.492 with 41 strikeouts through the first 29 games of the season. The good news is that the slugger has been turning the corner lately. Over the last week, Henderson is slashing .333/.368/.722 with two homers and three RBI. The young slugger has collected five hits over his last four games, which should give fantasy managers hope that he's starting to come around at the plate. Henderson should remain rostered and started in all fantasy formats despite a slow start.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Max Fried Looks to Keep Scoreless Streak Alive
New York Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried has been on another level lately. The southpaw had a rough outing against the Los Angeles Angels on April 16 and has been untouchable since then. Over his last two starts, Fried has thrown 14 straight scoreless innings with 14 strikeouts and four walks. He'll look to keep up the excellent work on the mound during Sunday's start against the Baltimore Orioles. So far this season, Fried owns a 2.09 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and a 37/12 K:BB ratio across 47.1 innings of work. Fried needs to be rostered and started in all fantasy formats.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Cade Povich Expected to Rejoin Orioles on Friday
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Cade Povich is expected to be called up ahead of Friday's game against the New York Yankees. Povich is set to return to the O's roster after being sent down on April 13. He figures to fill the vacant rotation spot with Trevor Rogers (illness) getting placed on the Injured List on Wednesday. Povich could be an interesting short-term deep league option. He posted a 2.19 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, with seven strikeouts across 12.1 innings this season. He's expected to take the ball either Friday or Saturday against the Yankees. Fantasy managers in deep leagues looking for pitching help should consider adding Povich.
Source: Andy Kostka
Source: Andy Kostka
Alejandro Kirk Resumes Throwing, Still has Boxes to Check
Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk (thumb) has resumed throwing as part of his rehab at the team's player development complex in Dunedin, Fla., according to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. It's Kirk's first step of many as he works his way back from thumb surgery. Kirk needed surgery to fix a left-thumb fracture in early April, and he's not expected to return to the Blue Jays' lineup until mid-to-late May. The 27-year-old Mexican backstop only played in five games before his injury, going 3-for-20 (.150) at the plate with a homer and two RBI. Tyler Heineman has worked as the team's primary catcher since Kirk's injury, with Brandon Valenzeula backing him up. It's a situation to ignore in fantasy leagues. Kirk, though, remains stashed in 29% of Yahoo leagues after he hit .282/.348/.421 with a .769 OPS, a career-high 15 home runs, and 76 RBI in 130 regular-season games last year. The 27-year-old has middling power but can provide decent run production and a respectable average to fantasy managers in two-catcher leagues because of his high contact rate.
Source: Sportsnet.ca - Arden Zwelling
Source: Sportsnet.ca - Arden Zwelling
Gus Varland Earns Another Save in Washington, Seeing Fantasy Value Rise
Washington Nationals right-handed reliever Gus Varland is seeing his fantasy baseball value rise after earning his third save of the year in the team's 5-4 win over the division-rival New York Mets at Citi Field on Thursday. Varland entered the game with two outs in the eighth inning and ended up tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings with one hit allowed and one strikeout. The 29-year-old had a nice bounce-back outing after he blew his second save of the year on April 25 against the Chicago White Sox. The next save went to right-hander Paxton Schultz on Sunday. The Nationals are in a closer-by-committee situation right now with Clayton Beeter (forearm) currently on the 15-day injured list. Varland appears to be the best short-term option for saves in D.C. right now, and he has a 2.84 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, three saves, and a 14:3 K:BB in his 12 2/3 frames. He's rostered in only 6% of Yahoo leagues, and he's really only an option in deeper leagues for a short-term boost in save chances.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Emilio Pagan Struggles in Non-Save Situation, Allows Two Runs
Cincinnati Reds right-handed closer Emilio Pagan had a rough day at the office in a non-save situation in Thursday's 6-4 win over the visiting Colorado Rockies at Great American Ballpark. Pagan was summoned in the top of the ninth inning with a four-run lead, and he proceeded to allow two earned runs on three hits without a walk or a strikeout in one inning of work. The 34-year-old veteran does have six saves already on the season, but it hasn't exactly been smooth sailing for him, and he blew his second save of 2026 on April 19 against the Minnesota Twins. Pagan now sits with a 5.40 ERA on the season, which isn't exactly pretty for the team's primary closer. He had a career-high 32 saves in his second year in Cincy in 2025, but Pagan only has one other 20-save campaign in his nine MLB seasons, and his fly-ball tendencies aren't exactly the greatest fit at his home ballpark. If Pagan's struggles continue, Tony Santillan would probably be the next man up for saves in Cincy.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jack Perkins Tallies Third Save, Emerging as Closer to Roster?
Athletics right-handed reliever Jack Perkins picked up his third save of the season in the team's 6-3 victory over the visiting Kansas City Royals on Thursday, allowing a hit while striking out one in a scoreless inning of work at Sutter Health Park. Harris has become a reliever on the rise for fantasy managers to consider picking up in a closer-by-committee situation that also involves lefty Hogan Harris and right-hander Joel Kuhnel. Mark Leiter Jr. also picked up a save on Wednesday. The 26-year-old Perkins came into Thursday's series finale with a 2-0 record, 2.92 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP, and 16 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings of work in just his second season in the majors. Perkins could deserve a look off the waiver wire from fantasy managers searching for saves, but he hasn't been used as a traditional closer by any means, with Perkins' first two saves of the year coming in two-inning stints. He's a multi-inning weapon for the A's and gives them options late in games. Right now, Perkins is only rostered in 7% of Yahoo leagues with his stock rising.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jeffrey Springs Leaves his Start Early With Hip Soreness
Athletics left-hander Jeffrey Springs (hip) left his outing on Thursday against the visiting Kansas City Royals early with right-hip soreness, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. Springs made it through three frames in the team's eventual 6-3 victory, allowing two earned runs on five hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out four. It's unclear at this point if Springs' injury is serious enough to keep him from making his next scheduled start next week against the struggling Philadelphia Phillies. The 33-year-old veteran southpaw came into Thursday's action with a 3-2 record, 3.79 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and a 31:11 K:BB in 35 2/3 innings pitched over his first six starts in his second season with the A's. Springs' strikeout rate has been up slightly this year after it dipped to a career-low 19.4% in 2025, but it's still below-average, and he pitches in one of the most hitter-friendly home parks in the league in Sacramento. Fantasy managers shouldn't be compelled to hold Springs in mixed leagues if he ends up landing on the injured list with his hip injury.
Source: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
Source: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
Brandon Woodruff to Get Some Time Off
The Milwaukee Brewers are going to give right-hander Brandon Woodruff (arm) "some time off," manager Pat Murphy told Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. It's unclear if Woodruff will actually land on the 15-day injured list, but he will undergo testing and imaging to figure out what is wrong with him after he couldn't top 85 mph on the radar gun in his outing on Thursday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Woodruff said he wasn't dealing with any pain, but he only went 1 1/3 innings before the Brewers pulled him. Right now, the 33-year-old veteran appears to be dealing with a dead arm, so the Brewers will give him a little time off and make sure nothing else is wrong structurally with his right arm. It's definitely concerning that Woodruff's velocity was down so much, especially after he dealt with shoulder, lat, and ankle injuries in 2025. For now, fantasy managers will want to hold Woodruff, with hopes that he might only miss a start or two. In deeper leagues, pitching prospect Logan Henderson might be worth stashing, as he could be the favorite to take Woodruff's spot in the starting rotation for however long he is out.
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
