April 1, 2026
Houston Astros shortstop
Jeremy Pena is out of the lineup on Wednesday as the team continues to ease him back into action following a fractured finger that he suffered this spring. The right-handed slugger went 1-for-5 in Tuesday's contest, and although he is out of the lineup Wednesday, Pena could play in back-to-back games this weekend, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. The 28-year-old is 3-for-15 (.200) so far this season with two runs scored and a stolen base. If the former third-round draft pick returns Friday, it would be against left-hander
Jeffrey Springs for the Athletics, and Pena has hit lefties better for his career, with a .302/.344/.468 slash line against them compared to .259/.311/.397 against righties.
--Jarod RuppSource: Brian McTaggart
April 1, 2026
Chicago Cubs outfielder
Seiya Suzuki (knee) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Knoxville on Friday, according to Taylor McGregor of the Marquee Sports Network. Per McGregor, Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that he expects the assignment to last anywhere from three to seven days. Suzuki started the season on the 10-day injured list after spraining his PCL in Team Japan's loss to Venezuela in the quarterfinal round of the World Baseball Classic on March 14. In 2025, Suzuki hit just .245, but reached career highs in home runs (32) and RBI (103), and will be a welcome addition back to the heart of the Cubs' lineup. His return will squeeze utilityman
Matt Shaw and outfielder
Michael Conforto out of their regular roles and into a possible split platoon.
--Dan StephensSource: Taylor McGregor - Marquee Sports Network
April 1, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher
Cody Ponce (knee) will visit Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles on Monday, per Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. The visit is scheduled one week after Ponce injured his knee during his March 30 start against the Colorado Rockies. While attempting to field a ground ball in the third inning, Ponce came up limp and, after a few steps, fell to the dirt in noticeable pain. He had to be carted off in what was his first MLB start since 2021. In 2.1 innings pitched, Ponce allowed one hit, one run, one walk, and recorded three strikeouts. His current diagnosis is a sprained right ACL. The 31-year-old's evaluation by Dr. ElAttrache should determine if surgery will be required and help to establish a timeline for recovery. Manager John Schneider said on Tuesday that Ponce can be expected to miss "a significant chunk of time." Ponce was placed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday.
--Dan StephensSource: Mitch Bannon - The Athletic
April 1, 2026
The Colorado Rockies announced that utilityman
Tyler Freeman (back) will be reinstated from the 10-day injured list, effective April 1. Backup catcher
Braxton Fulford is being optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque in a corresponding move. Freeman started the 2026 season on the IL due to back inflammation, which limited him to just eight games in spring training. With a profile that emphasizes contact ability and speed, Freeman hit just two home runs in 110 games in 2025, but finished with a batting average of .281, 50 runs scored, and 18 stolen bases. The right-handed batter's career-long numbers favored a reverse split, but last season he showed vast improvements against southpaws, and he hit .291 against lefties. The Rockies used Freeman mainly at second base and right field last season, but the 26-year-old also has experience at third base and center field from his three seasons with the Guardians. He should be a regular when the Rockies face left-handed starters, and his versatility in the field will allow him to pick up an occasional start in between.
--Dan StephensSource: Colorado Rockies
April 1, 2026
The Baltimore Orioles announced on Wednesday morning that they have placed starting pitcher
Zach Eflin (elbow) on the 15-day injured list. Eflin started Tuesday's game against the Texas Rangers but left partway through the fourth inning due to discomfort in his throwing elbow. In 3.2 innings pitched, Eflin allowed two walks and a home run as his only hit of the ballgame and racked up seven strikeouts on 74 pitches. Eflin was limited to 71.1 IP in 2025 due to lat and back injuries and a subsequent surgery on his back. The Orioles called up pitcher
Albert Suarez from Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move. A shoulder strain held Suarez to just 11.2 IP in 2025, but in 2024 the righthander tossed 133.2 innings for the O's, resulting in a 9-7 record, 108 strikeouts, a 3.70 ERA, and a 1.29 WHIP.
--Dan StephensSource: Baltimore Orioles
April 1, 2026
The Baltimore Orioles announced on Wednesday that they have transferred infielder
Jordan Westburg (elbow) to the 60-day injured list. Westburg started the season on the 10-day IL after a partial tear in the UCL of his right arm was discovered during imaging early in spring training. Westburg opted against surgery to repair the ligament and instead received a plasma-rich platelet injection on February 20 in the hopes that that treatment, along with rest, would get him back on the field sooner. Westburg's timeline for recovery is still uncertain, but the move to the 60-day IL means that the soonest he will be back in action is May 21. On a positive note, Jacob Calvin Meyer of the Baltimore Sun reports that Westburg has progressed to swinging a bat and playing catch. In the meantime,
Coby Mayo is holding down the hot corner in Baltimore, but is off to a 2-and-13 start with one stolen base.
--Dan StephensSource: Jacob Calvin Meyer
April 1, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks reliever
Paul Sewald continued his strong start Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers, earning his second save of the season with a clean inning. Sewald struck out the side and has yet to allow a baserunner through 2 1/3 innings of work this year. His early dominance positions him for more opportunities as Arizona works to solidify its closer role. Sewald saw limited innings last season in Detroit, but he has shown the ability to anchor the back end of a bullpen. The 35-year-old owns a 4.09 ERA and 1.14 WHIP across 398 career innings and is quickly building momentum in Arizona.
--Julian BrookeSource: MLB.com
April 1, 2026
Detroit Tigers closer
Kenley Jansen blew his second save opportunity of the season Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves, surrendering a three-run go-ahead home run after entering with two runners on base in the eighth inning. Jansen is now one for two in save chances this year. Despite the setback, he is not expected to lose trust from his manager after over a decade of dominance in the role. The 38-year-old is in his first season with Detroit and has allowed one run across 1 1/3 innings. He will look to rebound quickly and remain a steady presence at the back end of the bullpen.
--Julian BrookeSource: MLB.com
April 1, 2026
Athletics reliever
Mark Leiter Jr. earned his first save of the season Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves, working through traffic to secure the win. Leiter Jr. allowed two hits in the inning but limited the damage, recording one strikeout and stranding both runners. The left-hander is in his first season with Oakland and is working to establish a role early. The 35-year-old has never recorded more than eight save opportunities in a season, but early success could create more chances. He has pitched 2 2/3 innings this year, allowing one run on five hits with one strikeout, and is beginning to emerge as an option in late innings.
--Julian BrookeSource: MLB.com
April 1, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals reliever
Ryne Stanek was used earlier than expected in Tuesday's 3-0 win against the New York Mets. The 34-year-old worked a clean seventh inning, allowing one walk and recording one strikeout. The outing followed a blown save Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays in his second opportunity of the season. Stanek will look to build on this performance and regain his manager's trust in high-leverage situations. The 10-year veteran is in his first season with St. Louis and has posted a 2.70 ERA across 3 1/3 innings this year.
--Julian BrookeSource: MLB.com
April 1, 2026
Los Angeles Angels reliever
Jordan Romano earned his second save in as many chances Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs, continuing a strong early-season run. Jordan Romano entered for
Drew Pomeranz with one out in the ninth inning and worked around a walk, recording a lineout before finishing the game with a strikeout. The right-hander has appeared in three games and has not allowed a hit, while tallying two strikeouts and four walks. This marks a sharp turnaround from 2025, when he posted an 8.23 ERA across 42 2/3 innings. His early role in save situations signals growing trust with his new team, and he is positioning himself to claim a firm grip on the closer job in Los Angeles.
--Julian BrookeSource: MLB.com
April 1, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals reliever
Riley O'Brien picked up his first save of the season Tuesday against the New York Mets, tossing one hitless inning to close out the win. The right-hander has now appeared in three games, logging 3 1/3 innings with two strikeouts, three hits allowed, and zero earned runs. O'Brien is building on last season's breakout, when he posted a 2.06 ERA and 0.90 WHIP across 48 innings. His early usage in high-leverage spots suggests growing trust from the coaching staff. If this trend continues, he could carve out a steady role in late-game situations for St. Louis.
--Julian BrookeSource: MLB.com
April 1, 2026
Cleveland Guardians left-handed pitching prospect
Parker Messick should be viewed as a priority waiver wire pickup this week after his strong season debut. On Monday evening, the young southpaw was tasked to face the reigning two-time World Series Champions in Los Angeles. However, Messick looked quite comfortable on the bump, logging six shutout frames. He surrendered just five hits and no walks. He struck out five hitters. Last season, the 25-year-old made his MLB debut and flashed similar upside over a short 39 2/3 inning stint, holding a 2.72 ERA with a 1.31 WHIP. Last summer, Messick spent most of his campaign with Triple-A Columbus, where he held a 3.47 ERA with a 119:42 K:BB. Given his impressive showing against the game's top lineup, Messick should be viewed as a worthy starting pitcher target on the waiver wire.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
April 1, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitching prospect
Bubba Chandler struggled to command his pitches in his season debut on Tuesday evening. Facing the Cincinnati Reds, Chandler tossed 4 1/3 innings with one run (unearned), no hits, and six punchouts. However, he allowed a hefty six free passes, which has limited his effectiveness. While he was able to keep runs and hits off the board, his command remains a serious issue. Last season, Chandler allowed 53 free passes over just 100 innings at the Triple-A level. While he struck out 121 hitters in this stint, his weak command significantly hindered his upside. While he carried a near-perfect 3.2% BB% over his first stint in the majors in 2025 (31 1/3 innings), seeing him command stumble again is not a good sign. While the high-end strikeout upside is still elite, he remains a difficult pitcher to trust on a weekly basis. He will look to bounce back facing the San Diego Padres next week.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
April 1, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies top pitching prospect
Andrew Painter was sharp in his MLB debut on Tuesday evening. Facing the Washington Nationals, Painter logged 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball with just four hits and one free pass. He struck out eight batters en route to picking up the victory as well. Painter endured some serious growing pains working his way back from injury last season, but he appears to have taken a massive step forward in the majors. In 2025, Painter spent 106 2/3 innings with Triple-A Lehigh Valley but carried a modest 5.40 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, and a 111:46 K:BB. In spring training, the former 13th overall pick showed some signs of progress, holding a 2.31 ERA over 11 2/3 innings. Given his impressive debut, Painter should be viewed as a primary target on the waiver wire ahead of his next outing, against the San Francisco Giants.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
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