April 8, 2026
The Cincinnati Reds announced on Wednesday that they have designated infielder
Christian Encarnacion-Strand for assignment. Encarnacion-Strand didn't make the Opening Day roster out of spring training, and now he's off the 40-man roster entirely. The 26-year-old former fourth-rounder by the Minnesota Twins in 2021 out of Oklahoma State was an intriguing corner-infield power bat when he first arrived in the big leagues in Cincy in 2023. Encarnacion-Strand hit .270/.328/.477 with an .805 OPS, 13 home runs, and 37 RBI in 63 games in his rookie season, but he played in only 65 combined games with the Reds the last two years due to injury and hit only .199/.227/.337 with eight home runs and 35 RBI in 260 plate appearances. There's a good chance that another club will take a chance on CES's power, but his dynasty/keeper stock is obviously on life support at this point.
--Keith HernandezSource: Cincinnati Reds
April 8, 2026
Boston Red Sox infielder
Marcelo Mayer is out of the starting lineup on Wednesday against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers and left-hander
Shane Drohan at Fenway Park, according to MLB.com.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa will draw the start at second base for the BoSox and will hit ninth in the series finale. Mayer, 23, is taking on a bigger role in 2026 in his first full year in the big leagues, but Boston will shield him from some left-handers even though he's already homered off a southpaw this year. In the early going, the former first-rounder has gone 5-for-29 (.172) with a homer, three doubles, three RBI, five runs scored, two walks, and 11 strikeouts in 33 plate appearances over 11 games. Kiner-Falefa has never faced Drohan in his career and will be a weak DFS option on Wednesday in the nine-hole for Boston. The utility man is still searching for his first hit of the year after going hitless with two strikeouts in his first eight plate appearances over four games.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 8, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers second baseman
Brice Turang (ankle, foot) remains out of the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, per MLB.com. It's the second straight game that Turang has missed due to an ankle/foot injury. With an off day coming on Thursday, hopefully Turang will be back in there for Friday's series opener against the Washington Nationals in Milwaukee.
David Hamilton will start at the keystone on Wednesday and will bat eighth in the order against Red Sox right-hander
Sonny Gray. Hamilton has never faced Gray and will be a poor DFS choice as a light-hitting middle infielder near the bottom of the Brewers' batting order. Turang has gotten off to a nice start in 2026, going 10-for-37 (.270) with a home run, four doubles, a triple, seven RBI, 10 runs scored, and four stolen bases in his first 10 games. When active, Turang is a must-start for fantasy managers. Consider him day-to-day for now and check back on Friday to see if he's ready to return.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 8, 2026
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced on Wednesday that they signed infield prospect
Konnor Griffin to a nine-year, $140 million contract extension that runs through the 2034 season. Griffin came into 2026 as the consensus top prospect in baseball, but he didn't make the Opening Day roster out of spring training. It didn't take the 19-year-old long to get the call-up to the big leagues, though, and he'll be the team's starting shortstop going forward. The former ninth overall pick in 2024 has gotten off to a slow start at the plate in his first five MLB games, but he did have two hits in the team's 7-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday. Griffin has gone 3-for-17 (.176) with a double, three RBI, two runs, two walks, and four strikeouts. He'll get the day off in the series finale on Wednesday against the Friars after inking a nine-year extension. Griffin's contract is the largest in Pirates history. While Griffin may get off to a slow start, he has all the tools to be a perennial All-Star before long.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pittsburgh Pirates
April 8, 2026
The Chicago White Sox optioned right-hander
Shane Smith to Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday and selected the contract of left-hander
Tyler Schweitzer from Charlotte in a corresponding move. Things have unraveled quickly for Smith early in the 2026 season. In his first three starts, he allowed 12 runs (10 earned) on 12 hits (one homer) while walking nine and striking out 11 in 8 1/3 innings pitched. Although he was the team's Opening Day starter, he'll be sent to the farm to work out some of his issues. Fantasy managers are hoping that Smith is back in Chicago sooner rather than later. For now,
Jonathan Cannon could take Smith's starting rotation spot. Smith, 26, was a first-time All-Star in 2025 as a rookie, going 7-8 with a 3.81 ERA (4.10 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 145 strikeouts and 58 walks in 146 1/3 innings over 29 starts. So far, Smith is already off to the dreaded sophomore slump, but there is plenty of time to turn things around.
--Keith HernandezSource: Chicago White Sox
April 8, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander
Jacob Misiorowski delivered another dominant outing on Tuesday in a 3-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox, allowing three runs on two hits and four walks while striking out 10. Misiorowski was charged with the loss, but he continues to show electric stuff that can overpower hitters. The 24-year-old holds a 3.31 ERA and leads MLB with 28 strikeouts in 16 ⅓ innings pitched. As the young phenom continues to develop, he should improve his consistency and command. Misiorowski has already flashed top-tier upside and is trending toward becoming one of the most dominant arms in the league.
--Julian BrookeSource: MLB.com
April 8, 2026
Colorado Rockies outfielder
Mickey Moniak launched his third home run of the season on Tuesday in a 5-1 win over the Houston Astros. Moniak now has three home runs in his last three games and is pushing to secure his everyday role with Colorado after posting an .824 OPS in 135 games last season. The 27-year-old also hit 24 home runs last year, 10 more than any previous season, signaling potential for more to come from the young lefty. Moniak is now slashing .278/.278/.778 with a 1.056 OPS in five games this season and is enjoying a power surge early as he looks to take the next step offensively.
--Julian BrookeSource: MLB.com
April 8, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers closer
Edwin Diaz picked up his fourth save of the season on Tuesday in a 4-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. Diaz allowed a hit and a walk but minimized damage with his elite swing-and-miss stuff, striking out three to close out the game. In his first year in Los Angeles, Diaz has not lost his dominance, recording eight strikeouts in five innings while posting a 1.80 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. The closer role is firmly his, and he will continue to receive consistent save opportunities. Diaz should remain one of the most reliable late-inning options in the MLB as the Dodgers push for another World Series run.
--Julian BrookeSource: MLB.com
April 8, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays reliever
Bryan Baker has emerged as a reliable and effective option out of the bullpen in his first full year with the club. Baker has already recorded a save and a win, posting a 2.25 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in four innings of work. He has struggled to find consistency throughout his career, but is off to a dominant start to the 2026 season and is earning more trust from manager Kevin Cash. The 31-year-old has relied heavily on his changeup this year, throwing it 35 percent of the time with a run value in the 94th percentile. As Baker continues to see success, fantasy managers should consider adding him while he remains available.
--Julian BrookeSource: MLB.com
April 8, 2026
Minnesota Twins reliever
Cole Sands recorded just one out in the 4-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday. He entered in the eighth inning and allowed a lineout and two walks. Sands continues to search for a defined role in the backend of the Twins bullpen after securing his first save of the season in his first appearance. He has not received another save opportunity since. The 28-year-old has still been effective, posting a 2.25 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and .231 opponents average. Sands worked primarily as a setup man last year, recording 13 holds and three saves, but could shift roles as he continues to navigate his usage.
--Julian BrookeSource: MLB.com
April 8, 2026
Texas Rangers reliever
Jakob Junis earned his second save of the season in a 3-2 win over the division-rival Seattle Mariners on Tuesday. Junis allowed two hits but minimized damage and induced weak contact, throwing 11 strikes out of 15 pitches. The 33-year-old has yet to allow a run or a walk in seven innings pitched this year, and has looked effective in late-game situations. He has progressed steadily over his 10-year career and is expected to earn more high-leverage opportunities if the success continues. Junis is in his first year with Texas after coming over from Cleveland, where he posted a 2.97 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 66 ⅔ innings.
--Julian BrookeSource: MLB.com
April 7, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies third baseman
Alec Bohm (groin) came out of Monday night's game against the San Francisco Giants with groin tightness, which is why he was out of Tuesday's starting lineup, according to Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Manager Rob Thomson said that Bohm should be fine for Wednesday's contest against the Giants.
Edmundo Sosa got the start at the hot corner on Tuesday in place of Bohm. The 29-year-old Bohm has gotten off to a slow start in 2026 in his seventh year in the majors, going 8-for-39 (.205) with a homer, a double, eight RBI, and three runs scored in 44 plate appearances over 10 games. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Wednesday to see if Bohm is officially back in action for a scheduled matchup against Giants right-hander
Tyler Mahle. If Bohm continues to struggle at the plate this year, the Phillies could decide to call up prospect
Aidan Miller (back) and have him push Bohm for playing time.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Lochlahn March
April 7, 2026
Atlanta Braves catcher
Sean Murphy (hip) is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday, according to Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Murphy didn't play at all during spring training after having offseason hip surgery, so the 31-year-old veteran's rehab assignment won't be a short one. The Braves also don't have to rush him back with both
Drake Baldwin and
Jonah Heim both fully capable of handling catching duties at the big-league level in the meantime. When Murphy is fully cleared to rejoin the big-league roster, he figures to see plenty of at-bats between catcher and designated hitter, although he could be eased back into action. The former third-rounder by the A's in 2016 out of Wright State has well above-average pop for a catcher, having hit 56 homers from 2021 to 2023. However, he's coming off major hip surgery and has just 26 long balls in the last two seasons while playing fewer than 100 games. Durability has become a major question mark for Murphy.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Chad Bishop
April 7, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays veteran left-hander Patrick Corbin will be recalled from Single-A Dunedin on Wednesday and is tentatively scheduled to start on Friday against the Minnesota Twins, manager John Schneider told Hazel Mae of Sportsnet. In his lone minor-league start with Dunedin over the weekend, the 36-year-old southpaw looked great, allowing an unearned run with nine strikeouts in five innings of work. That was against lower-lever minor-league bats, though, so fantasy managers will want to temper expectations in his first start back in the big leagues, even in a favorable matchup against the Twins. The two-time All-Star has made 30 starts in eight straight seasons, but outside of durability, there's plenty of volatility in his left arm, especially in the tough American League East and in hitter-friendly Rogers Centre. Corbin has not had an ERA below 4.00 since 2019 with the Washington Nationals, and his below-average career strikeout rate will leave him little room for error. However, with
Cody Ponce (knee),
Jose Berrios (elbow),
Shane Bieber (elbow, forearm), and
Trey Yesavage (shoulder) all on the shelf, Corbin could have a runway to stick in the Jays' starting rotation for a while if he pitches well.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet - Hazel Mae
April 7, 2026
San Diego Padres right-hander
Joe Musgrove (elbow), who began the 2026 regular season on the 15-day injured list while recovering from Tommy John surgery that he had in 2024, still is not throwing off a mound, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. "To get major-league hitters out, your (expletive) has got to be good, and you've got to be confident," Musgrove said. "And I just don't have that right now. I'm not far off." The next step will be to get back on a mound, and eventually he'll resume facing hitters before going on a minor-league rehab assignment. The 33-year-old last threw off a mound on March 4 in an exhibition game in spring training against Great Britain, but he was pulled back from his rehab after that after not responding like he wanted to. The Padres are going to slow-play this one given Musgrove's extensive absence, and we might not see Musgrove make his 2026 debut at this rate until June or July.
--Keith HernandezSource: The San Diego Union-Tribune
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