RADIO
Tim Mayza Could See Save Opportunities in Philadelphia
MLB Network's Jon Morosi mentions that Philadelphia Phillies left-handed reliever Tim Mayza has been excellent so far this year when discussing the direction that the team might go at the back end of the bullpen with star closer Jhoan Duran (oblique) expected to be out two to three weeks with an oblique injury. Right-hander Brad Keller is "probably" going to be the guy that gets the next save chance in Philly, but Mayza, Jose Alvarado, and Orion Kerkering could end up forming some sort of committee for manager Rob Thomson. Mayza could get the nod if it's a lefty-heavy inning for the opponent in the ninth inning. The 34-year-old veteran only has four saves in his big-league career in eight-plus seasons, but he currently has a 3.00 ERA with 12 strikeouts and four walks in 12 relief innings pitched in 2026. In deeper fantasy leagues where managers are desperate for saves, they may want to consider a waiver-wire pickup of Mayza in the short term.
Source: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
Source: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
Edwin Uceta Shut Down for 2-3 Weeks; Is he Still Stash-Worthy?
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that right-handed reliever Edwin Uceta (shoulder) has a right-shoulder strain, which is a new injury from the discomfort that initially landed him on the 15-day injured list to begin the 2026 regular season, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Uceta will be shut down from throwing for two to three weeks and will then have to build back up, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to make his season debut for the Rays for a while. It's a tough break for those who have been stashing the 28-year-old in fantasy leagues in hopes that he'll become the team's primary closer when he's fully healthy. In a best-case scenario, Uceta may not rejoin Tampa's bullpen until mid-to-late May. He's still worth holding onto in fantasy leagues, though, if you have an available IL spot. Uceta has been pretty solid for the Rays the last two seasons and was one of only five relievers in 2025 to have over 100 strikeouts. Until further notice, Bryan Baker is the reliever to roster for saves in Tampa.
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Brad Keller Will "Probably" Earn First Save Situation in Modified Phillies Bullpen
According to Jon Morosi of the MLB Network, Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Brad Keller is projected to receive the first save situation in the current bullpen. The Phillies have several relievers on the injured list, with primary closer Jhoan Duran (oblique) being the most notable name. Through the early going in the regular season, Keller has operated as the top setup man, tallying four saves over his first eight appearances while posting a 4.70 ERA with an 8:2 K:BB. On April 18, Keller was deployed in the ninth inning (in a non-save situation), which suggests the Phillies trust him in the final frame. Last summer, Keller was a reliable setup option for the Cubs, earning 26 holds and chipping in three saves with a strong 2.07 ERA. He should be viewed as a top option for saves on the waiver wire ahead of Week 4.
Source: Jon Morosi
Source: Jon Morosi
Edwin Diaz Placed on 15-Day Injured List with Elbow Injury
The Los Angeles Dodgers have placed closer Edwin Diaz (elbow) on the 15-day injured list with loose bodies in his right elbow. In a corresponding move, the Dodgers are promoting Jake Eder from Oklahoma City. Diaz was dealing with velocity concerns over the past two weeks and will now miss at least the next 15 days on the injured list. In his most recent outing on Sunday, Diaz failed to record an out as he surrendered three hits, three runs, and a walk to the Colorado Rockies. In this appearance, Diaz's fastball sat at 95.4 mph compared to the 97.3 mph it averaged last summer. While Diaz was enjoying a strong start to his Dodger career, earning four saves over his first five appearances with a 1.80 ERA, the right-hander is now in serious danger of missing extended time. While he remains sidelined, Alex Vesia and Tanner Scott figure to see the bulk of the save opportunities, with Vesia projected to operate as the lead option, given his recent usage.
Source: David Vassegh
Source: David Vassegh
Moises Ballesteros' Hot Bat Earning Waiver-Wire Consideration
Chicago Cubs catcher/designated hitter Moises Ballesteros is impressing in the early part of 2026, showing why his hit tool was so highly regarded before joining the big leagues. The Cubs' former top prospect has hit safely in eight of his last 10 games, with five multi-hit performances mixed in there. It has raised the left-handed slugger's season-long slash line to .364/.396/.591 with three home runs, a .429 wOBA, and a 174 wRC+. Unfortunately, the 5-foot-8 Venezuelan continues to get pulled against left-handed pitching, logging just three plate appearances against southpaws in 2026, which is going to dampen his appeal in season-long leagues and more so in daily formats. Nevertheless, he's 16-for-41 (.390) against righties, so if he can earn more at-bats with his exceptional hitting, the 22-year-old could see an increase in categorical productivity. He may not be a must-add yet, but Ballesteros is certainly a must-watch in the event he gains more at-bats.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Reid Detmers a Worthy Waiver-Wire Add With Strikeout Upside
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers has had a promising yet inconsistent start to the season, allowing a combined eight runs in two starts but just one earned run combined in the other two starts, including a nine-strikeout performance against the Yankees in his latest turn through the rotation. It has produced an acceptable 3.57 ERA (3.40 xFIP) with a 1.06 WHIP and a strong 21.3 percent K-BB%. A solid ERA and WHIP with strikeout upside is exactly what fantasy managers were hoping for after the southpaw finished last season with a 2.19 ERA (2.77 SIERA), 1.11 WHIP, and a 23.9 percent K-BB% from May 9 through the end of the campaign (49 appearances, 49 1/3 innings pitched). Those innings were in relief, though, so it was interesting to see if it would carry over to his role as a starter this season, and it appears to have continued. As a starter back in 2022, the former first-rounder threw a no-hitter, so the talent has always been there; he just needed to find it again. The 26-year-old will have his work cut out for him in his next start, a home date with Toronto on Monday, a team that owns the eighth-best batting average against lefties this year (.262). But for interested season-long managers, he's still available in nearly half of Yahoo! leagues.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Shane McClanahan Unable to Regain Pre-Injury Form
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan lasted just 4 1/3 innings in his latest start on Sunday, allowing four earned runs on eight hits while striking out five batters in a 6-3 loss to the Pirates. On the bright side, the lefty threw 72 percent of his pitches for strikes and did not walk a batter, something that plagued him in his first three starts, where he walked 11 hitters. In all, the 28-year-old has posted a 5.00 ERA (4.48 xFIP), 1.33 WHIP, and an 8.8 percent K-BB%. It's a far cry from the 3.02 ERA (3.15 xFIP), 1.10 WHIP, and 20.9 percent K-BB% that he recorded in 74 starts from 2021 to 2023. The former 31st-overall draft pick dealt with Tommy John surgery that disrupted his 2023 season and caused him to miss all of 2024, then encountered a setback with a nerve issue that completely derailed 2025, so there could still be more rust to knock off. However, a couple more subpar starts and he may be headed to the cut list for fantasy. The 6-foot-3 hurler will get Minnesota at home his next time out, a team that is top 12 in runs scored per game (5.09), wOBA versus LHP (.327), and wRC+ versus LHP (107).
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Is Lucas Erceg's Closer Seat Getting Warm After Blown Save?
Kansas City Royals closer Lucas Erceg had converted five straight save chances before his last appearance on Thursday this past week, when he allowed three earned runs on three hits and one walk, blowing the save opportunity and taking the loss to the Tigers. Before that, the right-hander had not allowed a run in six of seven appearances, but after Thursday's collapse, his ERA now stands at 6.14 with a 1.50 WHIP and a 6.7 percent K-BB%. The 30-year-old has pitched well for the Royals over the last two years, but saw a significant drop-off in strikeout rate between 2024 and 2025, from 28.5 percent to 19.3 percent. It has fallen even more this season, currently standing at 16.7 percent. Fantasy managers won't argue with collecting five saves so far, but with diminishing strikeouts and regular closer Carlos Estevez (foot) beginning a rehab assignment this week, Erceg's handle on the role is becoming somewhat tenuous.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Cole Ragans Struggles Again on Sunday, Quickly Losing Fantasy Value
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans struggled mightily in Sunday's 7-0 loss to the Yankees, allowing seven earned runs while serving up three home runs for the second time this season and also walking a career-high eight batters in just 4 1/3 innings pitched. The southpaw managed to strike out six batters as well, but threw only 51 percent of his pitches for strikes (49 of 97). It has been a rough start to the season for the 28-year-old, now the owner of a 6.00 ERA (5.30 xFIP), 1.67 WHIP, and a lowly 4.3 percent K-BB%. The former All-Star dealt with injuries in 2025 that limited him to just 13 starts, including a rotator cuff injury that sidelined him for three months. Hopefully it is not related, but his fastball velocity is down almost a full mile per hour this season, and he's seen a significant drop-off in both chase and whiff rates (from 68th and 95th percentile, respectively, to 17th and 58th percentile). The 6-foot-4 hurler will be hard to trust his next time out against a much-improved Angels offense that is top 10 in runs per game (5.0), wOBA versus LHP (.341), and wRC+ (116) versus LHP. With Ragans' potential, he may not be a drop yet, but managers could justify sitting him until the lefty rights the ship.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Payton Tolle a Top Name to Stash Following Recent Red Sox Injury
Boston Red Sox pitching prospect Payton Tolle potentially became even more fantasy relevant after Boston starter Sonny Gray (hamstring) was removed from his outing on Monday against the Tigers in the third inning with what is being described as right hamstring tightness. Tolle hasn't pitched for Triple-A Worcester since April 12, so he could be fresh and is already on the 40-man roster. Boston's top-ranked prospect debuted with the club in August last year and was fairly solid outside of one poor outing, racking up 19 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings pitched (IP) both as a starter and a reliever. The southpaw had a hiccup in his first outing at Triple-A this year, but has shone over his last two turns, allowing just one earned run on seven hits and two walks while striking out 13 batters in 11 IP. The 23-year-old's strikeout upside already made him a worthy stash candidate in most formats, but with the likelihood of a call-up now much higher, the time is now to grab him off the waiver wire.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Sonny Gray Leaves Monday's Start Early With Hamstring Tightness
Boston Red Sox right-hander Sonny Gray (hamstring) only made it through 2 2/3 innings on Monday at Fenway Park against the visiting Detroit Tigers due to right-hamstring tightness, according to Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald. In his 2 2/3 innings of work, Gray allowed an earned run on three hits while walking one and striking out two. He threw 27 of his 40 pitches for strikes. For now, fantasy managers should consider Gray questionable to make his next scheduled start this weekend against the division-rival Baltimore Orioles. Coming into his start on Monday, Gray had gone 2-1 with a 4.43 ERA (4.70 FIP) and 1.28 WHIP with 11 strikeouts and four walks in 20 1/3 innings pitched over his first four starts in his first season in Beantown. Fantasy managers looking for a high-upside starting arm might want to grab Payton Tolle off the waiver wire, as he could be the BoSox's first choice to replace Gray in the rotation if he's forced to the 15-day injured list.
Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
Red Sox Not Concerned About Patrick Sandoval
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that left-hander Patrick Sandoval (biceps) is unlikely to have testing done on a sore left biceps muscle, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Instead, the Red Sox are hoping that a couple of days of rest will do the trick. The organization doesn't seem to be very concerned about his setback. Sandoval was scheduled to make his third minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, but he was pulled off his rehab assignment due to biceps tightness after his previous outing. The 29-year-old southpaw is working his way back from an internal-brace procedure that he had on his left elbow in June of 2024. He did not pitch at all for the BoSox in 2025 and went 2-8 with a 5.08 ERA (3.87 FIP), 1.51 WHIP, and 81:35 K:BB in 79 2/3 innings pitched over 16 starts in 2024 with the Los Angeles Angels before being shut down with elbow issues. Sandoval won't be ready for his Boston debut until sometime in May, and even when he's ready, there may not be an open spot in the team's starting rotation for him.
Source: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
Source: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
Twins Placing Mick Abel on Injured List With Elbow Inflammation
The Minnesota Twins are placing right-hander Mick Abel (elbow) on the 15-day injured list on Monday with right-elbow inflammation, according to Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. It's a tough break for the 24-year-old former 15th overall pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2020 after he struck out 10 over seven innings while allowing zero runs in a win against the Boston Red Sox early last week. Abel will now miss at least the next two weeks after going 1-2 with a 3.98 ERA and 1.57 WHIP with 23 strikeouts and 10 walks in 20 1/3 innings over his first four appearances (three starts) this year in his first full season with the Twins. It didn't start great for Abel in 2026, but he's bounced back and has struck out 16 without allowing a run in 13 innings over his last two starts. He will not be available for his next scheduled start against a floundering New York Mets team, but fantasy managers who have him rostered should be looking to stash him while he recovers from his elbow injury.
Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press - Betsy Helfand
Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press - Betsy Helfand
Robert Garcia Undergoes MRI on Sore Shoulder
Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker confirmed on Sunday that left-handed reliever Robert Garcia (shoulder) underwent an MRI exam on his sore left shoulder, which kept him out last Thursday, according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. The Rangers are optimistic that Garcia doesn't have any significant structural damage in his shoulder, but he's still likely to require an anti-inflammatory injection on Monday when the team returns home. Grant writes that in a best-case scenario, Garcia probably won't be available before Wednesday, meaning the Rangers would be without him for a minimum of five days. The Rangers are short-handed in their bullpen early on this year. With Garcia unlikely to be ready to pitch until the middle of this week, Peyton Gray, Patrick Murphy, and Josh Sborz are all options to join Texas' bullpen for more depth. Through his first eight innings of relief for Texas so far in 2026, Garcia has allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits while walking seven and striking out six. In his first year with the Rangers in 2025, Garcia secured the first nine saves of his MLB career.
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Evan Grant
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Evan Grant
Is Charlie Condon Nearing his MLB Debut?
Colorado Rockies first base prospect Charlie Condon is not slowing down at Triple-A and continues to make a strong case to join the MLB roster in the near future. While he was given an opportunity to win a starting job out of camp, the Rockies opted to send him to Triple-A to further his development. However, throughout his first taste of the top level of the Rockies system, Condon has looked very impressive and has proven he is more than ready to face MLB pitching. Through his first 15 games with Albuquerque, the former Georgia standout has posted a .322/.452/.559 line with two doubles, four home runs, two stolen bases, and a strong 13:12 K:BB. Additionally, following a hot start to the season, current starting first baseman, TJ Rumfield, has gone just 2-for-24 over his last six games. As a result, Condon should be viewed as a priority stash option in all leagues in Week 4.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
