April 15, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar
Shohei Ohtani will pitch against the New York Mets on Wednesday, but he will not serve as the designated hitter, according to Buster Olney of ESPN. The Dodgers won't overdo it with Ohtani in his two-way role early on and have opted to give him a little rest while he pitches on Wednesday. As a hitter, Ohtani has gone hitless in his last seven at-bats with a run scored in the last two games. With Ohtani only pitching, catcher
Dalton Rushing is serving as the DH and will hit seventh against Mets right-hander
Clay Holmes. Outfielder
Kyle Tucker moves into the leadoff spot for the Blue. Ohtani has gone 12 innings in his first two starts of the 2026 season, and he's yet to allow an earned run while walking four and striking out eight. Fantasy managers should be starting Ohtani the pitcher on Wednesday night against a Mets team that is really struggling offensively with All-Star outfielder
Juan Soto (calf) on the injured list.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Buster Olney
April 15, 2026
San Diego Padres right-hander
Nick Pivetta (elbow) declined to discuss what his MRI exam showed, but he did say he will rest and rehab and that he's confident he will pitch again this season, according to Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune. Without knowing for sure what is wrong with Pivetta's elbow, it doesn't sound like he's looking for a speedy return anytime soon after being placed on the 15-day injured list this week with a right-elbow injury. In addition to what looks like a lengthy injury absence for the 33-year-old Canadian, Pivetta was inconsistent in his first four starts for the Friars compared to his breakout in 2025. He had a 4.50 ERA in his 16 innings, but that also came with a 1.28 FIP, 24 strikeouts, and six walks in 16 innings, so Pivetta probably deserved some better luck. Pivetta had a career-best 2.87 ERA in 31 starts for the Friars in 2025 and a 26.4% strikeout rate. Fantasy managers need to sit tight for now while we wait to see how much time Pivetta might actually miss.
--Keith HernandezSource: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Jeff Sanders
April 15, 2026
The New York Mets announced on Wednesday that they placed infielder/outfielder
Jared Young (knee) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to April 13) with a left meniscus tear. In a corresponding move, the Mets recalled outfielder
MJ Melendez from Triple-A Syracuse. Young will need to have surgery, which could keep him out for the rest of the first half of the season. The 30-year-old was taking advantage of extra opportunities early in the year in New York with star outfielder
Juan Soto (calf) on the IL, and he was hitting .350 (7-for-20) with two RBI and two runs scored in 11 games before his knee injury on Tuesday. With Young now out, both
Brett Baty and
Mark Vientos should see even more playing time between the outfield and first base, at least until Soto returns. Baty is off to a cold start, hitting .218 (12-for-55) with no homers, while Vientos is batting .227 (10-for-44) with a homer and five RBI in his 14 games played for the Mets.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Mets
April 15, 2026
New York Yankees right-hander
Gerrit Cole (elbow) will throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, but it's still to be determined what his next rehab outing will look like, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Cole will likely either pitch in a game at Double-A Somerset on Friday or throw a live batting practice session. The 35-year-old veteran and former Cy Young winner threw 42 pitches in three simulated innings against High-A Hudson Valley hitters on Sunday, so he might be ready for an official rehab start if his bullpen session goes well on Wednesday. Cole made two starts in spring training and is getting closer to his 2026 season debut after having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and missing all of the 2025 season. With that said, Cole will likely require at least three or four rehab starts before the Yankees clear him to join the big-league bullpen, which means we might see Cole back in Yankees pinstripes until late May or even early June. Cole isn't getting any younger, but he still has plenty of upside left in his right arm. He's rostered in 83% of Yahoo leagues right now.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
April 15, 2026
The Milwaukee Brewers are expected to push left-hander
Kyle Harrison's (wrist, knee) next scheduled start back a few days to give him more time to let his left wrist heal, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. However, it's not expected to be a situation that sends Harrison to the injured list. Harrison has also dealt with a knee issue recently, although an MRI exam came back clean on his knee on Sunday. It's now Harrison's wrist that is giving him issues, although that also doesn't appear to be very serious. Both of his injuries stem from a fall he took while trying to cover first base in his last outing on Saturday against the Washington Nationals. The 24-year-old southpaw's next scheduled start was supposed to be on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays. The change of scenery appears to have done Harrison some good so far in 2026, as he currently has a 3.07 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 15:4 K:BB in 14 2/3 innings over his first three starts. If Harrison is pushed back to sometime this weekend, he'd be facing the Marlins in Miami.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
April 15, 2026
Chicago Cubs right-handed reliever
Porter Hodge (elbow) will have UCL surgery on his right elbow and will miss the rest of the season, according to Taylor McGregor of the Marquee Sports Network. Hodge initially was placed on the 15-day injured list going into the regular season after being diagnosed with a flexor strain in his forearm. Given the timing of his injury and depending on what exact type of surgery he has on his elbow, there's a chance that Hodge won't even be ready for the start of the 2027 campaign. The 25-year-old former 13th-round pick in 2019 made 75 appearances out of Chicago's bullpen the last two seasons, posting a 3.79 ERA (4.11 FIP) and 1.18 WHIP with 11 saves, 37 walks, and 92 strikeouts in 76 total innings pitched.
--Keith HernandezSource: Marquee Sports Network - Taylor McGregor
April 15, 2026
New York Yankees left-hander
Carlos Rodon (elbow, hamstring) will throw a live batting practice session at Double-A Somerset on Saturday, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. If Rodon comes out of Saturday's session without any setbacks, he will most likely be cleared for a minor-league rehab assignment. The veteran left-hander is still recovering from surgery to remove a bone spur from his left elbow in October, and he also recently suffered a minor right-hamstring injury. The 33-year-old will need plenty of time to build up with around three to four rehab starts, which means he could be ready to make his 2026 season debut sometime in early May. Rodon deserves to be stashed in an injured list spot in fantasy baseball leagues, as he'll have a rotation spot waiting for him when he's finally cleared to return. He was an All-Star for the third time in 2025 and had a nice 3.09 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 203 strikeouts and 73 walks in 33 starts for the Yanks.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
April 15, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy admitted on Wednesday that he could be considering a change at closer going into the game against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays, according to Brewers reporter Sophia Minnaert. "This isn't about who deserves it. This is about who's appropriate to win the game tonight. So it might be (Trevor) Megill, it might be something different. And quite frankly, it was that way last night," Murphy said. Megill allowed three runs on Tuesday night to blow the save against Toronto, and he's allowed eight earned runs on eight hits while walking four and striking out five in his first five innings pitched in 2026. Megill recorded 51 saves for the Brewers in 2024 and 2025 combined, but they might be about to go in another direction in the ninth inning. Right-hander
Abner Uribe would be the obvious candidate for save chances going forward, making him a speculative waiver-wire addition for those scrounging for saves in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sophia Minnaert
April 15, 2026
Boston Red Sox shortstop
Trevor Story did a lot of damage at the plate in Wednesday's 9-5 win over the hosting Minnesota Twins at Target Field in the series finale. Story finished the day 2-for-4 at the plate with five RBI, a three-run home run, and a walk. In addition to his three-run blast, Story had a two-run double to drive in five total runs on the day. Despite only hitting .208 on the year with a .560 OPS after Wednesday's performance, Story already has two home runs and 17 RBI in his first 18 games played. The 33-year-old two-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner might finally be starting to break out of his early-season funk at the plate. Sticking in the middle of Boston's batting order will help Story deliver plenty of run production for his fantasy managers if he can stay healthy. Last year was the first time that Story played in over 100 games with the team in his fourth year in Beantown.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 15, 2026
The Colorado Rockies announced on Wednesday that they placed left-hander
Kyle Freeland (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to April 13) with left-shoulder inflammation. The team reinstated left-hander
Jose Quintana (hamstring) from the 15-day IL in a corresponding move, and he will start Wednesday's game on the road against the Houston Astros. It's unclear if the 32-year-old Freeland will be ready to return from the IL when he's eligible near the end of this month. Freeland was pitching well in the early going in 2026, allowing only four earned runs with four walks and 13 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings pitched in his first three starts. He was scratched from his last scheduled start over the weekend on Sunday in San Diego due to shoulder tightness. If it's just inflammation bothering Freeland and nothing else, this shouldn't be an extended stay on the IL. For at least several turns through the starting rotation, the veteran Quintana will get another shot with the Rockies.
--Keith HernandezSource: Rockies Club Information
April 15, 2026
The Colorado Rockies announced on Wednesday that they activated left-hander
Jose Quintana (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list. Quintana will make the start on Wednesday against the Houston Astros. It will be his second start of the year for Colorado after allowing two earned runs with four walks and two strikeouts in a no-decision in 4 1/3 innings of work against the Miami Marlins on March 29. The 37-year-old veteran southpaw didn't make any minor-league rehab starts, so he will most likely be on a pretty short leash and won't be in play for a win or quality start for fantasy managers. Quintana is in his 15th major-league season and doesn't have much upside, especially with a 20.6% career strikeout rate. The Astros offense is second in team OPS (.802), so it's a bad matchup for Quintana to be returning to. For now, he'll take the rotation spot of left-hander
Kyle Freeland, who landed on the IL on Wednesday with shoulder inflammation.
--Keith HernandezSource: Rockies Club Information
April 15, 2026
The Houston Astros placed right-hander
Cody Bolton (back) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to April 13) on Wednesday with right mid-back inflammation, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. For now, right-hander
Spencer Arrighetti will come up from Triple-A Sugar Land to replace Bolton in Houston's starting rotation. With the Astros' rotation missing multiple starting arms, Arrighetti could stick around for a while if he pitches well. The 27-year-old Bolton left his last start early on Sunday against the Seattle Mariners with back tightness, and now he'll be forced to miss at least a couple turns through the rotation. In addition to Bolton,
Hunter Brown,
Cristian Javier, and
Tatsuya Imai are all on the IL in Houston. When the dust settles and some of those pitchers start returning from their injuries, Bolton may not have a rotation spot to come back to, depending on when he heals up. Bolton had a 5.40 ERA and 1.68 WHIP with 11 K's and seven walks in 8 1/3 innings over three outings (two starts) before his injury, and he has a career 5.72 ERA and 1.79 WHIP in 50 1/3 major-league seasons since the start of 2023.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
April 15, 2026
The Houston Astros recalled right-hander
Spencer Arrighetti from Triple-A Sugar Land, and he will make the start on Wednesday at Daikin Park against the Colorado Rockies, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. In a corresponding move, the Astros put another starting pitcher on the 15-day injured list in right-hander
Cody Bolton (back). The Astros are hoping that Arrighetti can provide some stability for their beaten-up rotation and that he can keep the momentum going after he posted a 1.26 ERA and 0.77 WHIP with 20 strikeouts and six walks in 14 1/3 innings over his three starts at Sugar Land. The 26-year-old former sixth-round pick in 2021 had a 4.69 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with a 202:85 K:BB in 180 1/3 innings pitched over 36 appearances (35 starts) in 2024 and 2025 in his first two major-league seasons with the Astros. Arrighetti could continue to be a volatile matchup-based streamer in fantasy if he doesn't improve his control and learn how to limit the home run ball.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
April 15, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitching prospect
Trey Yesavage (shoulder) tossed 4 1/3 innings on Wednesday in his latest minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo. Yesavage allowed three earned runs on seven hits (two home runs) while walking one and striking out five batters. The 22-year-old allowed five earned runs with two walks and nine strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings in his first two rehab appearances at Single-A Dunedin. He was hit around a bit in his start on Wednesday, and his velocity was down a bit, but the positive is that he appears to be fully healthy. Yesavage got up to 71 pitches at Buffalo, and it could end up being his final rehab start before the Blue Jays activate him from the 15-day injured list. A right-shoulder impingement put Yesavage on the IL to begin the 2026 season. Yesavage has high-end starting-pitching upside for fantasy managers in dynasty leagues, but he should be rostered everywhere. Those in redraft formats will need to be patient, as the Jays figure to limit his workload in his first full big-league campaign.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milb.com
April 15, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect
Konnor Griffin is getting the day off on Wednesday against the visiting Washington Nationals at PNC Park, according to MLB.com.
Nick Gonzales will make the start at the 6 and will bat sixth, with
Nick Yorke starting at third and hitting eighth against Nationals right-hander
Jake Irvin. Griffin is still a teenager and won't turn 20 until April 24, but he's baseball's top overall prospect in 2026. The former ninth overall pick in 2024 didn't make the Opening Day roster, but he quickly joined the club and will be the team's starting shortstop for the foreseeable future. Griffin has incredible five-category upside in fantasy baseball, but he's gotten off to a slow start in his MLB career. In his first 11 games, he's gone 7-for-37 (.189) with two doubles, five RBI, a stolen base, five runs scored, three walks, and 12 strikeouts. It might take Griffin a bit to adjust to the speed of the majors, but he should be rostered in all formats and could quickly become a must-start player in all formats. Gonzales has faced Irvin three times in his career and has a hit and two RBI against him.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
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