April 7, 2026
The Chicago White Sox announced on Tuesday that they placed outfielder
Austin Hays (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list with a right-hamstring strain and selected the contract of outfielder
Dustin Harris from Triple-A Charlotte in a corresponding move. The move comes after Hays injured his right hamstring while on defense in Monday's game against the Baltimore Orioles. With the veteran outfielder on the shelf,
Andrew Benintendi should see more action in left field for the Pale Hose. The 30-year-old veteran was off to a slow start at the plate for the White Sox before his injury, going 7-for-32 (.219) with a home run, six RBI, and two runs scored in nine games in his first year on the South Side in Chicago. In addition to Benintendi,
Derek Hill,
Tanner Murray, and Harris could see some playing time in left field until Hays is cleared to come off the IL, potentially before the end of April.
--Keith HernandezSource: Chicago White Sox
April 7, 2026
ESPN's Jesse Rogers reports that Chicago Cubs right-hander
Cade Horton's (forearm) MRI results did not look clean, so he will visit with Dr. Keith Meister in Texas on Tuesday. Horton is "trending down a bad path." The Cubs pulled Horton from his last start early with a right-forearm strain. At the very least, it looks like Horton is looking at an extended absence, but he could also need season-ending surgery, depending on what Meister says. It's bad news for a Cubs' starting rotation that is already missing
Matthew Boyd (biceps) and
Justin Steele (elbow). With Chicago's rotation snakebitten by injuries early in the season, both
Javier Assad and Collin Rea could end up making plenty of starts in the first half of the season. Horton, a former seventh overall pick in 2022 out of Oklahoma, allowed just two earned runs with two walks and four strikeouts in his first two starts of 2026 before dealing with forearm issues his last time out. For now, keep him stashed in an IL spot in fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
April 7, 2026
Cleveland Guardians shortstop
Gabriel Arias (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday with a left-hamstring strain, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. In a corresponding move, the Guardians called up
Juan Brito from Triple-A Columbus. Arias suffered the injury while running out a double in Monday's game versus the Kansas City Royals. Until he's able to return,
Brayan Rocchio will likely move from second to shortstop, with Daniel Schneeman and Brito platooning at the keystone in Cleveland. Brito will make the start on Tuesday for the Guards against a lefty. Arias, 26, is more of a glove-first player with very modest power and speed at the plate. Before his injury, he had gone 6-for-30 (.200) in the first 10 games of the 2026 season with two home runs, four RBI, two runs scored, two walks, and 12 strikeouts.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
April 7, 2026
New York Yankees catcher/first baseman
Ben Rice has gotten off to a great start to the season, going 10-for-27 (.370) in his first eight games. Of his 10 hits, seven have been for extra bases, and he has four doubles and three homers as a result of a sparkling 77.8% hard-hit rate and 27.8% barrel rate. The lefty has all of his extra-base hits against righties this season, but is 1-for-4 with a walk in his limited action against lefties as well. After the Yankees' off day to start the week, the team will host the Athletics Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in a three-game set in the Bronx. The A's are scheduled to start righties
Aaron Civale and
Luis Severino in the first two games of the series, setting up Rice to keep on rolling from New York's cleanup spot.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
April 7, 2026
Seattle Mariners catcher
Cal Raleigh connected on his first home run of the season on Monday night in his team's loss to the Rangers. Raleigh didn't homer in his first 10 games of the season, going 5-for-38 (.132) with five walks and 20 strikeouts. He had a pair of hard-hit balls on Monday night, and his home run came in the first inning after a 12-pitch duel with
Jacob deGrom. Raleigh didn't have another hit in the contest, but the Mariners and his fantasy managers will hope that this gets the start catcher back in the home run groove after he smashed 60 homers last season with a .342 ISO that stands in stark contrast to his .122 ISO so far this season. He'll look to build some momentum as the Mariners continue their series in Texas by facing Nate Eovaldi on Tuesday.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
April 7, 2026
Washington Nationals starting pitcher
Cade Cavalli is set to make his third start of the season on Tuesday against the Cardinals, and he makes sense to consider if you need a starting pitcher pickup from the waiver wire. The 27-year-old righty has allowed a total of three earned runs in his first two starts of the season, picking up eight strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings in a pair of no-decisions. He looked strong in his last outing on the road against the Phillies, going six innings and allowing one run on five hits. He's in a favorable matchup at home against the Cardinals on Tuesday night and will be looking to turn in his second straight quality outing after struggling a little with his command in his first start of the season. If you're looking for solid innings off the waiver wire, Cavalli is a solid place to look on Tuesday.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
April 7, 2026
Texas Rangers relief pitcher
Jakob Junis earned his first save of the season on Monday by shutting down Seattle in the ninth inning of a close, 2-1 victory. Junis faced the middle of the Mariners' order and got
Cal Raleigh to ground out to start the inning and
Josh Naylor to hit into a game-ending double play after he hit
Julio Rodriguez with a pitch. Junis only needed four pitches to get through the inning after
Robert Garcia worked the eighth inning and earned a hold against the bottom of the order. Garcia and
Chris Martin have had some early-season struggles, while Junis has worked six scoreless innings with just one hit allowed. He could continue to get opportunities, and he makes sense as a speculative addition if you're searching for saves on the waiver wire. He isn't the primary closing option yet, but with more outings like Monday's, he could secure that role soon.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
April 7, 2026
Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher
Jordan Romano only needed three pitches to secure his fourth save of the season on Monday night. He didn't start the ninth inning since the Angels had a 6-1 lead, but he entered with the tying run on deck after
Chase Silseth gave up a run and put two more runners on base. Romano retired
Mike Yastrzemski on a flyout to center to end the threat and earn his fourth save in six games to start the season. He has not allowed a run or a hit in his five innings, while picking up seven strikeouts and issuing two walks. He is still available in over 40% of leagues on Yahoo! leagues and is a great closer pickup after his hot start.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
April 7, 2026
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher
Jose Soriano has looked outstanding in his three outings this season, improving to 3-0 by out-dueling
Chris Sale to help the Halos beat the Braves on Monday, 6-2. Soriano did give up his first run of the season, but worked eight innings with 10 strikeouts while giving up just three hits and one run. He has a 0.45 ERA and 2.63 FIP in his first 20 innings this season with 21 strikeouts and a 0.65 WHIP. Soriano flashed potential in dominant starts last year, but the 27-year-old righty has looked like a true ace in his first three starts of this year and is a great option if you need some help in your starting rotation. He's scheduled to take the mound again this coming weekend in Cincinnati, and his road splits were very strong last season, so you can start him with confidence after his three excellent outings to begin the 2026 season.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
April 7, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher
Bubba Chandler took the loss in his team's 5-0 loss to the Padres on Monday night. While Chandler did pick up four strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings, he issued four walks and was charged with three earned runs. In just 8 2/3 innings in his first two starts, he has issued 10 free passes, which is a major concern after he only walked four batters in 31 1/3 innings in the majors last year. He walked 11 in 11 spring training innings as well, so it's not just a small sample-size issue anymore. Chandler still has a very high ceiling and can dominate with a high strikeout ceiling, but his control issues are a major concern for his fantasy managers and the Pirates. He'll make his second start of the week on Sunday in Chicago against the Cubs, and he'll remain a high-risk, boom-or-bust fantasy asset until he gets his control back.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
April 7, 2026
Houston Astros outfielder
Cam Smith is off to a scorching start this season. He is slashing .297/.422/.595 with three home runs, six RBI, nine runs, and three stolen bases across nine games. The 23-year-old is currently on a seven-game hitting streak and has homered twice in the last three contests. His wOBA has increased from .298 to .399 compared to last season, while his hard-hit percentage has gone up from 40.8% to 47.8%, and his K% has decreased from 27.8% to 25%. Smith is Houston's starting right fielder, and his hot start has kept his bat in a potent Astros lineup that includes
Yordan Alvarez,
Jeremy Pena, and
Jose Altuve. He has moved to the No. 1 spot on the RotoBaller waiver wire rankings list for Week 2 and has become a must-add due to his hot start. Only rostered in 37% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues, Smith should be a priority for fantasy managers searching for outfield help.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Savant
April 6, 2026
Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said that right-hander
Jacob deGrom (knee) felt something in his knee before his start on Monday against the division-rival Seattle Mariners, according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. The Rangers didn't want to push the oft-injured deGrom too hard, which is why he only went 78 pitches in the 2-1 win in the series opener. deGrom managed to make it five innings but took a no-decision, allowing an earned run on a solo homer while walking one and striking out six. "I feel OK, it's a little tender, but I think we'll be okay," said deGrom. Fantasy managers familiar with deGrom's injury history won't be surprised if his next start is pushed back or if he lands on the 15-day injured list eventually. deGrom will be a much riskier fantasy starter in his next outing after dealing with knee discomfort, as he's set to face the World Series-champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The 37-year-old two-time Cy Young winner allowed three earned runs with no walks and seven strikeouts in 4 2/3 frames in his first start of 2026 against the Orioles.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
April 6, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher
Dalton Rushing helped the Dodgers dismantle the hosting Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre on Monday by a score of 14-2 in Monday's series opener. Rushing went 4-for-4 at the plate with two solo home runs and three runs scored out of the eight-hole. The 25-year-old backstop was only playing in his third game of the 2026 season, going 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI in his first two games played. The former second-rounder in 2022 out of Louisville made his major-league debut in 2025 and hit just .204/.258/.324 with four home runs and 24 RBI in 53 games played. Rushing is already one homer shy of matching his career high, but his fantasy upside in single-year formats remains low as the backup to All-Star
Will Smith, who should be back in the starting lineup for the second game of the series in Canada on Tuesday.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 6, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander
Max Scherzer (forearm) left his start on Monday in the World Series rematch against the Los Angeles Dodgers with right-forearm tendinitis, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. Matheson also explains that the Blue Jays knew about Scherzer's forearm tendinitis going into his start on Monday, and it didn't get any worse. Manager John Schneider is "fairly confident" that Scherzer will make his next start. The 41-year-old veteran was pulled from the game at the Rogers Centre after just two innings and 36 pitches. Scherzer allowed two runs on two hits while walking one and striking out two over his two innings. Toronto can ill-afford another injury to its decimated starting rotation, but it looks like Scherzer will be allowed to make his next start on Saturday against the Minnesota Twins. The aging and no longer dominant future Hall of Famer should be avoided in DFS in that matchup.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson
April 6, 2026
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher
Brandon Williamson picked up his first win of the season on Monday, pitching 6 2/3 scoreless innings and allowing three hits and a walk while striking out four in his team's 2-0 win over the Miami Marlins. The quality start against Miami was a much-needed bounce-back effort for the 28-year-old, who got roughed up for six earned runs in his first start of the year against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Entering 2026, Williamson had pitched just 14 1/3 MLB innings across the past two seasons due to shoulder and elbow injuries. However, with Reds starters
Hunter Greene (elbow) and
Nick Lodolo (finger) both opening the year on the injured list, Williamson is getting his chance to prove he's worthy of a rotation spot. The left-hander owns just a 19.8% strikeout rate across 136 career big-league innings, so he may not offer fantasy managers much swing-and-miss ability. However, Williamson could be worth monitoring as a potentially cheap source of innings in deep leagues. His next scheduled start is Saturday at home against the Los Angeles Angels.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
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