RADIO
Victor Vodnik Allows Five Runs in Save Situation, Remains High-Risk Option for Saves
Colorado Rockies right-handed reliever Victor Vodnik was blown up by the San Diego Padres on Thursday at Coors Field in the ninth inning in an eventual 10-8 loss in the series finale. Vodnik had a rough day at the office, allowing five earned runs on four hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out two in two-thirds of an inning for his second loss of the season and his second blown save for the Rockies. After the rough outing, the 26-year-old former 14th-rounder by the Atlanta Braves in 2018 has an 0-2 record, 7.59 ERA (6.05 FIP), 2.16 WHIP, three saves, eight strikeouts, and six walks in 10 2/3 relief innings in 2026. He entered the contest in the ninth inning on Thursday with a three-run lead, but that cushion wasn't enough for Vodnik on this day. Fantasy managers were reminded that Vodnik is a high-risk option for saves on a bad team, and his struggles this year could lead to more save chances for both Seth Halvorsen and Jaden Hill in the near future. He's rostered in just 9% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Bubba Chandler Struggles Against Texas, Cause for Concern?
Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler had his worst outing of the year on Thursday in Texas in a 6-1 loss to the Rangers at Globe Life Field. Chandler picked up his second loss of the season by allowing six earned runs on seven hits (two homers) while walking three and striking out four in just four innings of work. The big blow against the young 23-year-old hurler was a three-run homer by shortstop Corey Seager. In his first five starts of his first full season in the big leagues with the Pirates, Chandler is sporting a 1-2 record, 4.88 ERA (5.69 FIP), 1.50 WHIP, and 21:16 K:BB in 24 innings pitched. His 16 walks currently lead the league, and Chandler must improve his control on the mound if he wants to reach his ceiling in the big leagues. His next scheduled matchup is set for next week against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals, who currently rank 21st in baseball with a .695 OPS.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Gerrit Cole Throws 52 Pitches in Thursday's Rehab Start
New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) had some mixed results on Thursday in his second minor-league rehab start for High-A Hudson Valley, allowing two earned runs on five hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out four in 4 1/3 innings of work. Cole threw 42 of his 52 pitches on the night for strikes. The 35-year-old former Cy Young winner wasn't all that efficient in this one, but the primary takeaway is that he increased his pitch count and remains healthy as he rehabs from right-elbow surgery last March that caused him to miss the entire 2025 campaign. Cole will likely need at least several more rehab starts in the minors before the Yankees consider having him rejoin the big-league starting rotation at some point in May. The former first overall pick in 2011 out of UCLA will be a wild card in 2026 once he returns, but he's worth stashing everywhere in case he rebounds quickly to his ace form for the Yankees. Cole is rostered in 84% of Yahoo leagues. If he's available in your league, scoop him up now.
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Brandon Marsh Clubs Two Homers in Loss to Cubs on Thursday
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh was at his best on Thursday, but it wasn't enough in the team's 8-7, 10-inning loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Marsh went 3-for-4 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI, a walk, and a strikeout to raise his season average to an even .300 and his OPS to .829. The left-handed-hitting outfielder's first homer of the day came off right-handed starter Edward Cabrera in the second inning. Marsh, who is rostered in only 9% of Yahoo leagues at the moment, might be worth a look off the waiver wire soon if he continues to swing the bat well. In his last nine games played, he's gone 12-for-32 (.375). Marsh now has four home runs on the 2026 season in 22 games and has added a .300/.329/.500 slash line, 14 RBI, 10 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 85 plate appearances.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Dean Kremer Goes on Injured List With Quad Strain
The Baltimore Orioles placed right-hander Dean Kremer (quadriceps) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to April 20) on Thursday with a right-quadriceps strain and recalled right-hander Brandon Young from Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. Young is scheduled to start the series opener on Friday against the division-rival Boston Red Sox at Camden Yards. For the time being, it will be Young taking Kremer's starting rotation spot, and not left-hander Cade Povich. At a minimum, the 30-year-old Kremer will miss two turns through Baltimore's rotation. He had made it through just two starts this year before dealing with a quad strain, going 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA and 0.91 WHIP with 16 strikeouts in his 11 innings of work. Kremer has a 37.2% strikeout rate so far in two starts, but his 20.6% career strikeout rate leaves a lot to be desired in terms of fantasy. He's not a must-stash in deeper leagues and is currently rostered in just 12% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
Source: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
Jacob deGrom Racks Up 10 Punchouts in Dominant Performance
Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom proved on Thursday in the 6-1 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates that he can still be dominant on the mound. deGrom earned his second win of the 2026 season by allowing just one earned run on a solo homer while allowing five hits, walking one, and striking out a season-high 10 in 5 2/3 innings of work. The only run that came against the 37-year-old veteran was an Oneil Cruz homer in the fifth inning. The two-time Cy Young winner and five-time All-Star is fully healthy and has been on point in his first five starts of the season. After Thursday's strong performance against the Bucs, deGrom is sporting a 2-0 record, 2.13 ERA (3.26 FIP), and 1.07 WHIP with 35 strikeouts and only seven walks in 25 1/3 innings pitched. Fantasy managers would have liked to have seen deGrom get one more out for a quality start, but they can't really complain with the way he's started his 13th year in the big leagues. Even though the Rangers continue to play it safe with his workload early on, he's a must-start in fantasy.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Roman Anthony Hopes to Play on Friday
Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (back) said that he felt tightness in his upper back around the scapula/neck area after his line drive in Tuesday's game against the New York Yankees. However, Anthony also said he's feeling much better and is hoping to play in Friday's contest in Baltimore against the division-rival Orioles. He will see how he feels on Friday morning. The young left-handed-hitting outfielder is currently day-to-day and has missed Boston's last two games, but fantasy managers will want to check back later on Friday to see if he's in the starting nine for the BoSox for the series opener at Camden Yards. The 21-year-old former second-rounder in 2022 has hit just .225 (18-for-80) in his first 22 games in 2026 while adding a homer, four RBI, 11 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 97 plate appearances. Fantasy managers shouldn't be panicking just yet, and if Anthony is back in action on Friday, you should return him to starting lineups.
Source: Boston Herald - Mac Cerullo
Source: Boston Herald - Mac Cerullo
Ryan Waldschmidt Showing Five-Category Upside at Triple-A
Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect Ryan Waldschmidt remains a top hitting prospect to stash ahead of Week 5 of the fantasy baseball season. The top-hitting prospect in the Arizona system nearly broke camp with the MLB roster but was instead sent to Triple-A to put the finishing touches on his development. With the Reno Aces, Waldschmidt has showcased his elite five-category potential and is on the verge of earning the call to join the Snakes. Through his first 23 games of the Triple-A regular season, Waldschmidt has hit two home runs, added seven doubles, and swiped four bags. During this stretch, the former Kentucky product has held a .333/.449/.552 line with a 1.001 OPS. Even though Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is back in action in left field, Waldschmidt could carve out a starting job in center field and would have high-end fantasy upside as soon as he earns the call. He should be viewed as a top stash option in all formats this week.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Paul Sewald Stumbles in Non-Save Situation, Will Look to Bounce Back Next Time Out
Arizona Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald stumbled a bit on Thursday in a non-save situation against the Chicago White Sox, where he allowed three earned runs on one hit and two walks. It was Andrew Benintendi who did the damage, taking him 410 feet to right-center to give the White Sox the lead and tag Sewald with the loss. Outside of Thursday's outing, Sewald has been a pleasant surprise for fantasy managers, as he's converted on seven of his seven save opportunities, and appears to have a firm grasp on the closer role with the Diamondbacks, with Thursday's non-save situation being a blip on the radar. Even with the three earned runs allowed Thursday (he's allowed five earned runs on the season), he owns a 4.50 ERA and 0.90 WHIP with 12 strikeouts in 10 innings pitched and 12 appearances. While the metrics under the hood aren't all that fascinating, Sewald is converting on his save opportunities, and as long as he continues to do that, he should remain on your fantasy rosters, as he is tied for second in MLB with his seven saves.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Is Jett Williams Nearing his MLB Debut?
Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect Jett Williams is quickly climbing the stash rankings ahead of Week 5 of the fantasy baseball season. The Brewers acquired Williams this offseason in the deal that sent right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta to the New York Mets. While Williams was unable to crack the Opening Day roster, he could be in the mix for an early promotion, given Milwaukee's current production in the infield. Through his first nine games of the Triple-A season, Williams got off to a slow start, posting a low .440 OPS with five hits (all going for singles). However, since then (12 games), Williams has posted a much higher .730 OPS with three extra-base hits, including his first home run of the young season. In the majors, starting third baseman David Hamilton has held a .226 AVG while shortstop Joey Ortiz has posted an even lower .185 AVG. Williams may need to show further development, but there is not much competition standing in his way for a promotion. His speed upside (five SBs in 21 games) makes him a top target in deeper category leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Kaelen Culpepper Continues to Produce at Triple-A, Nearing MLB Promotion?
Minnesota Twins infield prospect Kaelen Culpepper is continuing to find great success at Triple-A St. Paul and is quickly approaching an MLB debut. Through 20 total games this season, the infielder has posted a .265/.351/.422 line with a .773 OPS. He has tallied four doubles, hit three home runs, and swiped four bags. Over his last 10, he has posted an even higher .286 AVG with a .375 OBP. Last summer, Culpepper spent his time with High-A and Double-A and looked comfortable at both levels. Over both stints (113 games), the infielder held a .289/.375/.469 line with 16 doubles, 20 home runs, and 25 stolen bases. Seeing him not miss a step in his move to Triple-A is an excellent sign for his long-term outlook. With the Twins not finding much stable production in their middle infield spots, Culpepper is quickly emerging into must-stash territory.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Seranthony Dominguez Continues Scoreless Streak, Tallies Fifth Save
Chicago White Sox closer Seranthony Dominguez had a much-needed clean ninth inning in Thursday's 4-1 White Sox victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. He pitched a clean frame, striking out two batters and not allowing a base runner, while only throwing 12 pitches (eight for strikes). Dominguez has now converted on his last two save opportunities after a rough outing on April 16 against the Tampa Bay Rays, where he had his second blown save of the season. On the season, Dominguez has now converted five of his seven save opportunities, and his two blown saves are the only runs he has allowed all season (five total). Because of those two blow-up outings, Dominguez owns a 5.00 ERA and 1.56 WHIP, which isn't great, but based on the scarcity of solid closers in MLB right now, Dominguez appears to be rising up the ranks after converting with clean outings in his last two opportunities. While the volume for saves may not be there for the White Sox (currently 10-15 on the season), Dominguez appears to have a firm grasp on the closer opportunity when situations arise; he just needs to continue to capitalize on those opportunities.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Miguel Ullola Emerging as Sneaky Pitching Prospect to Stash?
Houston Astros right-handed pitching prospect Miguel Ullola is emerging as a sneaky pitching prospect to stash. Currently, the Houston Astros have minimal depth in their starting rotation, with several key starters on the injured list, including ace Hunter Brown, Tatsuya Imai, and Cristian Javier. Ullola is currently at Triple-A and has continued to show steady progression at the top level of the Houston system. During the 2025 season, he spent his entire campaign with Sugar Land and posted a 3.88 ERA across 113 2/3 innings. While he struck out 131 hitters, he also walked 78 batters. However, over the first four starts of the 2026 season, Ullola has walked two or fewer hitters in two games and held a 3.31 ERA. While he will still have to lower his walk rate to enjoy consistent production, he is taking ample strides, which makes him a worthy stash candidate in deeper 12+ team leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Kevin Alcantara Worthy of a Deep-League Stash?
Chicago Cubs outfield prospect Kevin Alcantara has enjoyed a hot start to the Triple-A regular season in terms of power production and is quickly making a case to join the MLB roster. Through the first 20 games of the Iowa Cubs' regular season, Alcantara has hit four doubles and gone deep five times. During this stretch, he has carried a .213/.314/.587 line with a .901 OPS. Last summer, Alcantara spent most of his time in Iowa and had a brief taste of MLB-level play. Through 102 games with the top club in the minor leagues, Alcantara held a .266/.349/.470 line with 17 round-trippers. Over a short 10-game stint with the Cubs, Alcantara went 4-for-11 with a stolen base. While the Cubs outfield is filled at the moment following Seiya Suzuki's return to injury, Alcantara is worth looking at as he could be the next man up following another injury. His high-end power makes him a viable stash option in deeper 15-team leagues with five-outfielder spots.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Travis Bazzana Not Slowing Down at Triple-A, Entering Elite Stash Territory?
Cleveland Guardians infield prospect Travis Bazzana has continued to play at a high level at Triple-A Columbus and is quickly entering must-stash territory among hitting prospects. Over the first 11 games of the Triple-A regular season, the former Oregon State standout struggled to find his footing, posting a low .191/.296/.319 slash line with just two doubles and two triples. However, since this sluggish start, the former first-overall pick has begun to look like his former self, holding a much higher .405/.532/.676 slash line with seven doubles, one home run, and an elite 1.208 OPS over his last 10 contests. During this stretch, he has struck out just nine times while drawing 10 walks and stealing four bases. Given the Guardians could use depth in the middle of their infield with Gabriel Arias on the 10-day injured list, Bazzana is worth viewing as a top stash option in standard 12-team leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
