April 14, 2026
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher
Mick Abel was excellent against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, pitching seven strikeout innings with 10 strikeouts and earning his first win of the season in his team's 6-0 victory. Abel allowed just four hits and did not allow a walk. Across his first four appearances (20 1/3 innings) of 2026, the 24-year-old has pitched to a 3.98 ERA and 1.59 WHIP with 23 strikeouts. However, since allowing nine earned runs over his first 7 1/3 innings of the year, Abel has now thrown 13 straight scoreless frames. Abel's walk rate is still 10.8% even after his most recent start against the Red Sox, so control is an issue. Still, if he can limit free passes, Abel has good enough stuff to consistently generate strikeouts and work deep into games. He profiles as a priority waiver wire target ahead of his next scheduled start against the New York Mets next Tuesday.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
April 14, 2026
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said that closer
Emilio Pagan (hamstring) is getting his hamstring checked out after earning the save in his team's 2-1 win over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday, per Jeremy Rauch of Fox 19 Cincinnati. Pagan pitched a scoreless ninth inning with a strikeout for his fifth save of the season, but is apparently dealing with some discomfort that will need monitoring. The 34-year-old is five-for-six on save chances so far this season and has pitched to a 4.82 ERA and 1.32 WHIP with nine strikeouts across 9 1/3 innings pitched. If Pagan is forced to miss time, Cincinnati right-handers
Tony Santillan and
Graham Ashcraft could be the favorites to move into the ninth-inning role for the Reds.
--Will BradySource: Fox 19 Cincinnati - Jeremy Rauch
April 14, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers right-handed pitcher
Brandon Sproat (knee) is slated to rejoin the team's starting rotation on Thursday against the Miami Marlins, according to Jack Stern of Brewer Fanatic. Sproat's first appearance of 2026 came as a starter, but his most recent two have come in long relief. The 25-year-old was also evaluated for a knee injury after his most recent outing on Saturday, but it appears as though he has avoided missed time. Sproat has struggled across 10 1/3 innings so far this season, recording a 10.45 ERA and 2.32 WHIP with 10 strikeouts. Command has been the biggest issue, as he's allowed 10 walks. However, Sproat allowed just one run across 3 2/3 innings pitched in his last appearance. He remains a well-regarded prospect with upside who could be a worthy target on the waiver wire for fantasy managers.
--Will BradySource: Brewer Fanatic - Jack Stern
April 14, 2026
Boston Red Sox first baseman
Willson Contreras (back) has been removed from his team's Tuesday night matchup against the Minnesota Twins due to lower-back tightness, per Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. Contreras was hitless in two at-bats before exiting the game. The 33-year-old is off to a strong start to his first season with Boston, hitting .298/.444/.491 with three home runs, 11 RBI, and nine runs scored. It doesn't appear as though this latest back ailment is particularly serious, but it will be worth monitoring for fantasy managers nonetheless. Contreras was replaced by utility man
Andruw Monasterio on Tuesday, so Monasterio could be the favorite to see an increase in playing time if Contreras ends up requiring a stint on the injured list.
--Will BradySource: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
April 14, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander
Zack Wheeler (shoulder) is nearing his 2026 season debut. The 35-year-old three-time All-Star allowed three earned runs on four hits while walking none and striking out nine in 5 2/3 innings for Double-A Reading on Tuesday. It was Wheeler's fourth rehab start already, and he got up to 95 mph on Tuesday after sitting in the low-90s his last time out. It's an encouraging sign that Wheeler is getting closer to returning from surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome last year. He plans to make another start for Reading on Sunday, which could be his last before the Phillies activate him from the 15-day injured list to rejoin the big-league starting rotation. Wheeler was an All-Star in both 2024 and 2025, and he has 200-plus strikeouts in three of the last five years with the Phillies. Although he's much riskier in 2026 coming off surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, he absolutely should be stashed in all formats with the hope that he can return to his pre-injury ace form.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milb.com
April 14, 2026
Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz said that he doesn't envision more traditional starts for right-hander
Grant Taylor this year, according to Josh Frydman of WGN News. At best, Taylor might work up to three innings in the future as an opener. The 23-year-old is sort of in a transition phase in 2026 as the White Sox slowly work to ramp him back up as a full-time starting pitcher for next year. Taylor has made seven appearances this year (four starts) and has allowed just one earned run on six hits while walking two and striking out 10 in 8 1/3 innings pitched. He had a 4.91 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 54 strikeouts, 15 walks, and his first six career saves in 36 appearances (two starts) over 36 2/3 innings last year in his first year in the majors. Taylor has looked pretty solid so far in 2026, but his fantasy upside will be capped with an innings limit of around 100 planned for this year. Durability issues and workload concerns make him a shaky saves option for fantasy managers in deeper leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: WGN News - Josh Frydman
April 14, 2026
Boston Red Sox first baseman
Triston Casas (abdomen, knee) is dealing with an abdominal strain and will be shut down until he feels better, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. The good news is that Casas' abdominal strain is not related to his rib-cage issue from two years ago, according to manager Alex Cora. Once Casas is feeling better, he'll have to go through a spring training-style buildup, so it's going to be a while before we see him back in the big leagues. The 26-year-old left-handed slugger only made it through 29 games in 2025 before suffering a season-ending patellar tendon tear. Casas hit only .182/.277/.303 with three homers and 11 RBI in those 29 games, too. In 132 games in 2023 in his first full season in the majors, Casas hit .263 with 24 home runs and 65 RBI in 502 plate appearances, but injuries have wrecked his last two seasons.
Willson Contreras is locked in at first base for the BoSox now, so when Casas is finally ready to make his 2026 debut, he could be battling for at-bats in the designated-hitter role.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
April 14, 2026
San Diego Padres outfielder
Fernando Tatis Jr. is starting in right field and will bat in the two-hole for the Friars for Tuesday's series opener against the visiting Seattle Mariners and right-hander
Bryan Woo at Petco Park, according to MLB.com. The Padres moved Tatis to second base in the last two games of the four-game series against the Colorado Rockies over the weekend, and he went 5-for-9 at the plate with a double, an RBI, and a stolen base in those two games to break out of a little early-season funk as a hitter. The 27-year-old Dominican All-Star is hitting .242 (15-for-62) on the season with six RBI, six runs scored, and four stolen bases in 16 games played. Tatis is still searching for his first home run of the season. If he were to play enough games at the keystone to pick up second base eligibility, it would make Tatis more valuable to fantasy managers. He'll look to keep it up offensively on Tuesday against Woo, whom he's hitting .333 against with a 1.333 OPS, two home runs, and two RBI against in nine career at-bats.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 14, 2026
Imaging on Houston Astros right-hander
Tatsuya Imai's right arm came back clean and "positive," according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The Astros will try to increase his arm strength before Imai resumes throwing. The 27-year-old is definitely struggling in his adjustment from Nippon Professional Baseball to Major League Baseball. The Astros placed him on the 15-day injured list on Monday with right-arm fatigue just three starts into his career in the big leagues. And in his first three starts (8 2/3 innings), Imai has struggled, allowing seven earned runs on seven hits while walking 11 and striking out 13. It's certainly not what fantasy managers were envisioning for Imai to begin his Astros tenure in 2026. The good news, though, is that Imai isn't dealing with any structural damage, and it's still early in his first year in MLB. Don't expect a quick return to Houston's starting rotation, though, as the Astros look to build up his arm strength, which will take time.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
April 14, 2026
Texas Rangers outfielder
Wyatt Langford (quad) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Athletics. Langford is returning after missing the last three games due to a minor quad issue. Luckily, Langford was able to avoid a trip to the Injured List and only missed a few contests. The Rangers will ease him back into action by placing him at designated hitter against southpaw
Jeffrey Springs on Tuesday. It has been a slow start to the season for Langford, but hopefully he can turn it around now that he's fully healthy. Fantasy managers should make sure to get him active in their lineups ahead of first pitch.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
April 14, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman
Ketel Marte (back) is a late scratch from Tuesday's game against the Baltimore Orioles. Marte was pulled out of the lineup minutes before first pitch. There should be another update on his status following Tuesday's game, but for now, his injury is being called lower back tightness. Fantasy managers should consider Marte as day-to-day until another update is provided.
Ildemaro Vargas will take over at second base and bat in the leadoff spot against left-hander
Trevor Rogers.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
April 14, 2026
San Diego Padres starting pitcher
Nick Pivetta (elbow) was placed on the 15-day Injured List, retroactive to April 13. Pivetta will head to the shelf after being lifted from Sunday's start against the Colorado Rockies due to elbow stiffness. The Padres are calling the injury right elbow inflammation, but he'll likely undergo further testing to determine the severity of the issue. In a corresponding move, right-hander
Alek Jacob has been recalled from Triple-A El Paso. Jacob should provide bullpen depth with
Matt Waldron set to replace Pivetta in the rotation. Waldron hasn't pitched this season, but is scheduled to start against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. The 29-year-old should be viewed as a risky streaming choice for that one.
--Andy WebbSource: San Diego Padres
April 14, 2026
Detroit Tigers infielder
Colt Keith (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Kansas City Royals. Fantasy managers don't need to panic as this appears to be a rare rest day for Keith. The Tigers will opt to go with
Javier Baez at shortstop and
Kevin McGonigle at the hot corner with tough lefty
Cole Ragans on the mound for Kansas City. The expectation is that Keith will be back in the lineup on Wednesday. Keith has been great with the bat, slashing .340/.375/.472 through 15 games this season.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
April 14, 2026
San Francisco Giants outfielder
Harrison Bader (hamstring) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. Bader has been dealing with a lingering hamstring issue since Spring Training. It's unclear if he tweaked it recently or if this is just a routine maintenance day. The ongoing hamstring injury could explain his slow start to the season. Bader is slashing .115/.145/.192 through 15 games this season. Fantasy managers should monitor this situation in case Bader does end up on the Injured List.
Jared Oliva will cover center field and bat ninth versus right-hander
Brady Singer on Tuesday.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
April 14, 2026
Houston Astros first baseman
Christian Walker (leg) is in the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Colorado Rockies. Walker appears to be back to 100 percent after missing a game over the weekend due to a leg issue. Since returning to the lineup, Walker is 0-for-6 over the last two games. He'll bat fifth and cover first base ahead of Tuesday's contest. Walker has struggled with only five hits in his last seven games. Fantasy managers in season-long formats can get him active, but Walker won't be an ideal DFS option for Tuesday's slate.
--Andy WebbSource: Houston Astros
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