April 18, 2026
Athletics right-hander
Joel Kuhnel has been excellent in the early portion of the 2026 season, as he's yet to allow an earned run or a walk and has given up just one hit over his first five appearances (4 2/3 innings) of the year. The 31-year-old right-hander appears to have settled into his team's primary closer role, as he's logged saves in three out of his last four outings. Kuhnel's rise to the ninth-inning role comes as a bit of a surprise, as he had recorded just one save across 93 2/3 career MLB innings entering 2026. Kuhnel also owns a career strikeout rate of 18.7%, so he does not possess the swing-and-miss stuff of a prototypical closer. Still, he's been effective in the role so far this season, and as such is worth targeting on the waiver wire.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 18, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman
Max Muncy is off to an excellent start to the 2026 season, hitting .254/.338/.556 with six home runs, seven RBI, and 14 runs scored across his first 71 plate appearances. The 35-year-old owns a stellar 15.4% barrel rate and a ridiculous 59% hard-hit rate, which would be the best mark of his career over a full season by over seven percentage points. The lefty-swinging Muncy is still at risk of losing some playing time against same-handed pitching, which limits his fantasy upside. He's also currently striking out in 33.8% of his plate appearances and owns a career batting average of .230. Still, Muncy remains an elite source of power on a per-plate appearance basis. He's also posting a double-digit walk rate for the 10th consecutive season, which keeps his playing time and ability to score runs consistent even if he slumps at the plate. For fantasy managers looking for power on the waiver wire, Muncy is a high-end option.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 18, 2026
Houston Astros right-hander
Enyel De Los Santos has now earned saves in each of his last two appearances. The 30-year-old is off to a strong start to the 2026 season overall, recording a 1.35 ERA and 0.75 WHIP with six strikeouts across 6 2/3 innings pitched. While De Los Santos was off fantasy radars coming into the year, he could be emerging as the Astros' new preferred option in the ninth inning. Houston closer
Josh Hader (biceps) was recently transferred to the 60-day injured list, meaning he will not be eligible to return from his current biceps injury until late May. Long-time Astros setup man
Bryan Abreu got the first chance to fill in for Hader, but Abreu has struggled to a 14.73 ERA and a 30.2% walk rate across his first nine appearances (7 1/3 innings) of the season. De Los Santos entered 2026 with just three saves in over 300 career MLB innings, but he appears to have earned a chance to stick as the closer in Houston. As a result, he should be a waiver wire target for fantasy managers in desperate need of saves.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 18, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher
Kyle Harrison (wrist, knee) suffered an injury scare after being involved in a collision while attempting to cover first base in his most recent appearance. Thankfully, Harrison was able to avoid a trip to the injured list and is in line to rejoin the Brewers' starting rotation on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers. The 24-year-old has been solid through his first three starts for Milwaukee, recording a 1-1 record with a 3.07 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 15 strikeouts across 14 2/3 innings. Albeit in a small sample size, Harrison's strikeout rate is a career-high 25% while his walk rate is a career low 6.7%. The Brewers have a long history of helping pitchers reach their full potential, so Harrison could be on the verge of a breakout season in his first year with Milwaukee. In any leagues where he may have been dropped after getting injured, Harrison profiles as a worthy waiver-wire target.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 18, 2026
Texas Rangers first baseman
Jake Burger had a miserable year in 2025, hitting .236 with 16 home runs across 376 plate appearances. However, the 30-year-old has been much better to open 2026, hitting .275/.298/.513 with five home runs, 17 RBI, and 10 runs scored across 84 plate appearances. Burger's 50.9% hard-hit rate is his best mark since 2021. He's also worked his way into an everyday role in the cleanup spot in the Rangers' lineup, putting him in a good spot to continue to rack up RBI. Burger's plate skills remain a question, as he's striking out in 28.6% of his plate appearances while walking at just a 2.4% clip. Still, as long as Burger continues making plenty of hard contact, he profiles as a power bat for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 18, 2026
Colorado Rockies outfielder
Mickey Moniak is off to a strong start to the 2026 season, hitting .261/.300/.630 with five home runs, nine RBI, seven runs scored, and one stolen base across his first 50 plate appearances of the season. So far, the 27-year-old is backing up the power breakout he experienced in 2025, when he hit 24 home runs in 461 plate appearances with the Rockies. The lefty-swinging Moniak is still seeing most of his playing time against right-handed starting pitching, which limits his overall counting stat upside. He's also striking out at a 26% clip, so his batting average could come down over the course of the season. Still, Moniak has proven he can be effective in a platoon role and should be rostered in most fantasy leagues.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 18, 2026
New York Yankees right-hander
Gerrit Cole (elbow) made his first minor-league rehab start on Friday night with Double-A Somerset, and he allowed three earned runs on three hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out three in 4 1/3 innings of work. Cole missed all of the 2025 season after having right-elbow surgery last March. The Yankees aren't in any rush to bring the 35-year-old veteran back from Tommy John surgery, and they'll likely ease him back into the big-league rotation when he's eventually activated from the 15-day injured list. Barring a setback during his rehab assignment on the farm, Cole could be back in the Yankees' starting rotation in early May. The former first overall pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011 out of UCLA should be rostered in all fantasy leagues as fantasy managers hope the six-time All-Star can recapture the Cy Young form he had in 2023. Cole is currently rostered in 83% of Yahoo leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milb.com
April 18, 2026
Cincinnati Reds left-hander
Nick Lodolo (finger) threw 31 pitches in two simulated innings during live batting practice on Friday, according to MLB.com. He's scheduled to bump up to three innings on Tuesday, April 21. Lodolo has yet to pitch for the Reds in 2026 due to a blister on his pitching hand that he developed right at the end of spring training. The 28-year-old southpaw is building up slowly and could get up to three innings next Tuesday. After that, the former TCU pitcher could get cleared to go on a minor-league rehab assignment. With plenty of boxes left to check, it's unlikely that Lodolo will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list before the end of April. Despite being on the sidelines for the first month of the season, Lodolo is rostered in 90% of Yahoo leagues for his strikeout upside when he's fully healthy. The former first-rounder has fanned 26.2% of the hitters he's faced in his first four years in the majors.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 18, 2026
Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever
Kirby Yates (knee) began his minor-league rehab assignment on Friday with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and allowed an earned run on one hit while walking one and striking out two in his inning of work with the Quakes. Yates, who began the year on the 15-day injured list with left-knee inflammation, is nearing his 2026 season debut and could be thrown right into the mix for save chances with right-hander
Jordan Romano blowing back-to-back save opportunities against the New York Yankees in the Bronx earlier this week. Fantasy managers should consider picking up the 39-year-old veteran with his return potentially coming next week. Yates had a rough year with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025, but he had 33 saves for the Texas Rangers in 2024, and he's racked up 98 saves over the course of his 11-year MLB career. At the very least, Yates could be a sleeper in holds leagues as a late-inning setup man for the Halos in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Angels PR
April 18, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman
Max Muncy had a big day at the plate in Friday's series opener at hitter-friendly Coors Field in the team's 7-1 win, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI, and a strikeout. Both of Muncy's home runs on the night were of the solo variety. It was his second multi-home run game within the past week, and he's now up to six home runs and seven RBI on the season in his first 18 games played. The 35-year-old veteran left-handed slugger swings and misses a lot and is going to drag your fantasy team's batting average down, but he still has plenty of power and potential to drive in runs in the league's best lineup. Muncy entered Friday's game in Denver with a .220/.313/.424 slash line with a .737 OPS in 67 plate appearances. The more he ages, the more Muncy becomes an all-or-nothing player.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 18, 2026
Seattle Mariners second baseman
Brendan Donovan (undisclosed) left Friday night's game early against the division-rival Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park with an undisclosed injury, according to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times. Donovan was replaced by infielder
Leo Rivas at third base after going 0-for-2 out of the leadoff spot before hitting the showers. We should have an update on the 29-year-old's injury soon. Even if he escapes with a minor injury and is day-to-day, we wouldn't be surprised if he's held out of Game 2 of the series in Seattle on Saturday. Donovan continues to make a lot of contact at the plate in his first year with the M's, as he entered Friday's game slashing .315/.449/.537 with a .986 OPS, three home runs, eight RBI, seven runs scored, and a stolen base in 17 games played. Donovan doesn't provide much power, but he's useful for runs, average, and on-base percentage atop a potent Seattle lineup. If he were to miss time moving forward, Rivas could become the team's primary option at the keystone.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Seattle Times - Ryan Divish
April 18, 2026
Seattle Mariners right-hander
Bryce Miller (oblique) will start a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday, according to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. Miller will likely need the full 30-day allotment on the IL to build up his workload, according to president of baseball operations Justin Hollander. He's scheduled to throw two innings and/or 30 pitches on Saturday. If all goes well, the 27-year-old might be ready to come off the 15-day injured list to make his 2026 season debut near the end of May. Miller took a step forward in his second MLB season in 2024, when he went 12-8 with a 2.94 ERA and 0.98 WHIP with 171 strikeouts and 45 walks in 180 1/3 innings over 31 starts, but he was bitten by the injury bug last year and this spring. He only made 18 starts in 2025 and posted a career-worst 5.68 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and 74:34 K:BB in 90 1/3 innings. Miller still has a way to go before he's contributing for fantasy managers, and he's rostered in 28% of Yahoo leagues currently.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
April 18, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (knee) is already in Arizona and is expected to make his 2026 season debut on Saturday against his former team, the Toronto Blue Jays, a source told Francys Romero. Gurriel made a speedy recovery after having surgery for a torn ACL in his right knee last September. It should give fantasy managers cautious optimism for Gurriel upon his return after a major injury toward the end of last season. It's great news for Arizona's lineup, as the 32-year-old veteran should be a regular in left field going forward, although the Snakes could ease Gurriel in. The return of Gurriel is bad news for
Jorge Barrosa's playing time in the desert. Gurriel was a first-time All-Star in 2023, when he hit 24 home runs and 82 RBI while slashing .261/.309/.463 with a 772 OPS in 145 games played. The Cuban outfielder is rostered in only 3% of Yahoo leagues right now, but he deserves some consideration as bench depth in deep-mixed leagues now that his return is imminent.
--Keith HernandezSource: Francys Romero
April 18, 2026
Atlanta Braves third baseman
Austin Riley could be coming out of his early-season slump at the plate after a two-homer performance in the team's 9-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park. Riley went 2-for-5 with two home runs, four RBI, and three strikeouts to raise his average to .240 and his OPS to .734 in the early going in 2026. The 29-year-old right-handed slugger has now hit three home runs in the last two games. He came into Friday's game slashing .229/.316/.329 with a .645 OPS, one homer, nine RBI, 10 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 70 at-bats. The two-time All-Star could finally be starting to heat up, especially in the power department. Injuries have hurt Riley in each of the last two seasons, but before that, he had three straight 30-home run seasons, giving fantasy managers an idea of what kind of power upside he has when he's right.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 18, 2026
Houston Astros outfielder
Joey Loperfido (quadriceps) left Friday's game early against the St. Louis Cardinals at Daikin Park due to right-quad tightness, according to The Athletic's Chandler Rome. Before leaving the eventual 9-4 loss, Loperfido went 0-for-3 at the plate with one strikeout. He was replaced in left field by
Brice Matthews. For now, fantasy managers in deeper leagues will want to consider Loperfido as day-to-day while checking on his status for Game 2 of the series on Saturday. The 26-year-old former seventh-rounder in 2021 out of Duke came into Friday's game hitting .273 (15-for-55) with no home runs, six RBI, seven runs scored, and a stolen base in 19 games played and 63 plate appearances. Loperfido is currently rostered in just 2% of Yahoo leagues. If he's forced to miss time moving forward with his quad injury, Matthews would most likely be the biggest beneficiary of playing time in left field in Houston.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
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