RADIO
Cade Cavalli Punches Out 10 in Impressive Outing, Worth a Pickup?
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli looked sharp on the mound during Thursday's outing against the Atlanta Braves. The right-hander tossed five innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits, while striking out 10 batters. He came out for the sixth inning, but was pulled after allowing a leadoff single. It didn't take long for the Nats' bullpen to blow this game, which will keep Cavalli out of the win column. The biggest problem for the right-hander this season has been an inability to work deep into games. Cavalli has only pitched into the sixth inning once in six starts. He'll take a 4.01 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, and a 28:18 K:BB ratio into his next outing against the New York Mets. He'll offer some streaming appeal against the struggling Mets offense.
Source: mlb.com
Source: mlb.com
Abner Uribe Takes Loss on Thursday, Remains Volatile Fantasy Asset
Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Abner Uribe has seen better days after struggling during Thursday's appearance. The right-hander was called upon in a tie game in the ninth inning on Thursday. Uribe was able to record one strikeout before allowing a walkoff home run to Spencer Torkelson. Before this, Uribe was looking sharp with two saves in his last three appearances ahead of Thursday's game. Trevor Megill pitched a scoreless seventh inning, but holds an 8.00 ERA on the season. Angel Zerpa blew the lead on Thursday and owns a 6.00 ERA so far this year. Uribe should remain the favorite for saves in Milwaukee going forward.
Source: mlb.com
Source: mlb.com
Trevor Megill Pitches in Seventh Inning, Trending in Wrong Direction for Saves?
Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Trevor Megill could be trending in the wrong direction as a saves candidate. The right-hander has four saves on the season, but isn't always tasked with pitching in the final frame. On Thursday, Megill came into the game in the seventh inning and picked up his third hold of the year. He tossed a clean inning, but Angel Zerpa coughed up the lead in the next inning. The scoreless inning from Megill is positive, but that doesn't erase his 9.00 ERA through eight innings in 2026. Abner Uribe appears to be the player the Brewers plan to lean on in the ninth inning right now. Megill isn't a must-roster player until he can fully claim the ninth-inning role.
Source: mlb.com
Source: mlb.com
Ben Brown Stands as Potential Saves Candidate
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Ben Brown is likely going to be the next man up for saves in Chicago. The Cubs are already without multiple key arms in the bullpen, and likely lost another on Thursday. Southpaw Caleb Thielbar (hamstring) was forced to make an early exit from Thursday's win over the Philadelphia Phillies. The team is calling it left hamstring tightness, so it's unclear if Thielbar will require a trip to the Injured List. Given all the injuries, Brown is likely going to be the next man up, assuming Thielbar misses time. Fantasy managers looking for a source of saves might want to consider adding Brown. The right-hander only has one career save, but certainly has the stuff on the mound to succeed as a closer.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Tanner Scott Tallies First Save, Entering Must-Roster Territory
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Tanner Scott was tasked with holding the lead in the final frame during Thursday's game against the San Francisco Giants. Scott was handed the ball with a three-run lead and three outs to go. The southpaw had no problems as he threw a scoreless frame with one strikeout to earn his first save of the season. Scott has allowed one earned run all season and is looking like the best bet for saves with Edwin Diaz (elbow) out right now. The Dodgers aren't officially naming a closer, but Scott has experience in that role and is pitching very well right now. He's a borderline must-add player with many fantasy managers struggling to find a reliable source for saves at the moment.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Kyle Teel hasn't Started a Rehab Assignment
Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel (hamstring) said his injured right hamstring is "still grabbing at him a little bit," which is why he didn't start a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte earlier this week as was previously scheduled, according to Connor McKnight of the Chicago Sports Network. The 24-year-old also said that he's improving from a hamstring strain that he suffered in mid-March while playing in the World Baseball Classic for Team Italy. Teel won't be able to make his 2026 season debut until some point in early May, most likely. Until then, the Pale Hose will continue to mix and match at the catching position at the big-league level with Edgar Quero and Reese McGuire. Teel is only 11% rostered in Yahoo leagues currently, but he'll be worth a look soon off the waiver wire once he's on the verge of coming off the 10-day injured list. The former 14th overall pick in 2023 out of Virginia has the most offensive upside of any White Sox catcher and should see most of the starts behind the dish when he's active.
Source: Chicago Sports Network - Connor McKnight
Source: Chicago Sports Network - Connor McKnight
Willi Castro Leaves Thursday's Loss With Knee Soreness
Colorado Rockies infielder Willi Castro (knee) left Thursday's series finale against the visiting San Diego Padres at Coors Field after three innings with right-knee soreness, according to Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post. Castro was replaced by Tyler Freeman at second base. Before leaving with his knee injury, Castro went 0-for-1 at the plate with a walk and a strikeout. It remains to be seen if Castro will be available on Friday for the team's series opener in New York against the Mets at Citi Field. The 28-year-old Puerto Rican switch-hitter has been playing regularly for the Rockies in the first month of the season, and he came into Thursday's game slashing .250/.311/.353 with a .664 OPS, one home run, nine RBI, 10 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 68 at-bats. Castro offers modest power/speed numbers as a utility infielder for fantasy managers in NL-only leagues, but you can avoid him in mixed leagues. He's currently rostered in just 14% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: The Denver Post - Patrick Saunders
Source: The Denver Post - Patrick Saunders
Robert Garcia Placed on Injured List With Shoulder Inflammation
The Texas Rangers announced on Thursday that they placed left-hander reliever Robert Garcia (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list with left-shoulder inflammation and selected the contract of right-hander Peyton Gray from Triple-A Round Rock in a corresponding move. Because the 29-year-old southpaw hadn't pitched in a week, he'll be eligible to return from the IL on May 5. Garcia had a 2.95 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, his first nine career saves, and a 68:22 K:BB in a career-high 64 innings for the Rangers in his first year with the team in 2025, but he had yet to pick up a save before his shoulder injury in his first nine outings this year. Right-hander Jakob Junis has so far been tasked with save situations for the Rangers, limiting Garcia's fantasy appeal in all formats. He will now be out at least two weeks, and he's only rostered in 10% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Texas Rangers PR
Source: Texas Rangers PR
Jack Leiter Dealing With "Sore" Ankle
Texas Rangers right-hander Jack Leiter (ankle) said that his right ankle is "a little sore" after his fall during his start on Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Globe Life Field, but he doesn't expect to miss any time because of it as of now, according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. Leiter's next start is scheduled to come on Monday against the New York Yankees, which is a matchup that most fantasy managers will want to avoid in deeper leagues. The 26-year-old tripped over a weighted bat that was in the on-deck circle and fell to the ground in the fifth inning against the Bucs on Wednesday. Leiter took a no-decision while giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits while walking two and striking out five in his five innings of work. The former second overall pick in 2021 out of Vanderbilt has been pretty inconsistent through five 2026 starts, posting a 4.97 ERA (3.81 FIP) and 1.46 WHIP with 29 punchouts and 11 walks in 25 1/3 innings pitched.
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
Caleb Thielbar Injures his Leg on Thursday
Chicago Cubs left-handed reliever Caleb Thielbar (leg) left the extra-innings win on Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field with an apparent leg injury after throwing just one pitch, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN. The Cubs have had by far the most injuries to their pitching staff in the early portion of the 2026 season among MLB teams. In addition to Thielbar, closer Daniel Palencia and late-inning relievers Phil Maton and Hunter Harvey are also on the injured list. The Cubs had been leaning on the 39-year-old Thielbar quite a bit recently, too. Depending on how serious Thielbar's injury is, right-hander Ben Brown could become the Cubs' primary closer if Thielbar is forced to miss time with his leg injury. Thielbar came into Thursday's action with a 2-2 record, 2.08 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, two saves, 11 strikeouts, and four walks in 8 2/3 relief innings. Despite Thielbar's recent usage in save situations for the Cubs, he's only rostered in 24% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
Source: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
Francisco Lindor Expected to Miss "Significant Time"
The New York Mets don't have a clear timetable yet on shortstop Francisco Lindor (calf), who went on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with a left-calf strain, but they expect him to miss "significant time," according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Lindor's calf strain is considered more serious than outfielder Juan Soto's was. The Mets recalled infielder Ronny Mauricio from Triple-A Syracuse, and manager Carlos Mendoza said that Mauricio is going to get a "long run" at shortstop to prove himself with Lindor sidelined. Soto just returned from a stint on the IL on Wednesday, when Lindor went down with his calf injury. Despite the bad news for the 32-year-old All-Star shortstop, fantasy managers need to stash Lindor everywhere. Mauricio, a former top prospect, now has the chance to be a post-hype prospect with regular playing time. The switch-hitting Dominican infielder was hitting .293 (17-for-58) with six home runs, 13 RBI, 12 runs, and five steals in 15 games at Triple-A before his call-up. In deep-mixed and NL-only leagues, Mauricio is worth a flier off the waiver wire.
Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
Sonny Gray Expected to Play Catch on Friday
Boston Red Sox right-hander Sonny Gray's (hamstring) MRI exam didn't show anything worse than what the team expected, manager Alex Cora told Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald. Gray will probably play catch on Friday. Gray strained his right hamstring in his outing on Monday against the Detroit Tigers and was officially placed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday. It appears to be a pretty minor injury, though, so he could be ready to rejoin Boston's starting rotation when he's eligible to be reinstated on May 6. In the meantime, rookie left-hander Payton Tolle has been called up from Triple-A Worcester and will make his 2026 season debut in Thursday's series finale at Fenway Park against the division-rival New York Yankees. Tolle is one of the best young arms in baseball and deserves a pickup off the waiver wire for fantasy managers in deeper mixed leagues that are struggling with starting pitching. Gray has started his first year in Beantown with a 2-1 record, 4.30 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 13 strikeouts in 23 innings pitched across five starts.
Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
Blake Snell Goes an Inning in First Rehab Start
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell (shoulder) was eased into his first minor-league rehab start on Wednesday at Single-A Ontario, as he only threw one inning. In 32 pitches, Snell allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits while walking one and striking out none. The two-time Cy Young winner will receive a pass since he didn't pitch at all during spring training, but he was pretty inefficient his first time out on the rehab trail. We all know what kind of upside Snell can have when he's fully healthy because of his high strikeout rate, but the Dodgers aren't going to rush him back, and he could need the full 30 days on his rehab assignment. Snell said he felt good coming out of his first rehab appearance, and he'll be hoping to go deeper into his next outing, which should come at some point next week. The 92% of fantasy managers stashing Snell in Yahoo leagues need to stay patient.
Source: Milb.com
Source: Milb.com
Mets Officially Place Francisco Lindor on Injured List With Calf Strain
The New York Mets officially announced on Thursday that they placed shortstop Francisco Lindor (calf) on the 10-day injured list with a left-calf strain and recalled infielder Ronny Mauricio from Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move. Lindor will miss at least 10 days with a calf injury that he suffered in the team's win over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday. With Lindor on the shelf, Mauricio will start at the 6 and bat eighth in Thursday's series finale against the Twins and right-hander Joe Ryan. Mauricio is worth a look in deeper fantasy baseball leagues if he sees regular playing time in New York with Lindor sidelined, as he was really hitting the ball well at Syracuse before his call-up. There's a chance that Bo Bichette is moved from third base to short, too, which would open up the hot corner for either Mauricio or Brett Baty. Lindor was off to a slow start by his standards early on in 2026, but he's a must-stash in an IL spot while he heals in all fantasy formats.
Source: New York Mets
Source: New York Mets
Michael Harris II Removed Early With Quad Tightness
The Atlanta Braves announced that outfielder Michael Harris II (quadriceps) was pulled from Thursday's 7-2 win over the Washington Nationals early as a precaution with left-quadriceps tightness. Before Harris was pulled from the game, he was going off at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBI. He was removed in the seventh inning of this contest after doubling in the top of the inning. Harris has been among the hottest hitters in the league of late, hitting .447 with five home runs over his last 11 games, so it would be a terrible time for him to go on the 10-day injured list. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Friday to see if Harris is feeling good enough to give it a go for the series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies. Eli White took over for Harris in center field on Thursday and would see a notable bump in playing time in the short term if Harris misses any additional time with his quad injury.
Source: Atlanta Braves
Source: Atlanta Braves
