April 14, 2026
Miami Marlins catcher/first-baseman
Liam Hicks has come out of the gates fast this season, and he picked up three more hits, three RBI, and his first stolen base of the season on Monday night in a 10-4 win for his Fish over the Braves. Hicks is hitting .319 (15-for-47) with a double, three homers, and a .394 wOBA. He hit cleanup again on Tuesday and has regularly held down that important run production spot for the Marlins in the early part of the season. The 26-year-old lefty has bumped his hard-hit rate and barrel rate up this season and is a solid option behind the plate right now for fantasy baseball managers in almost all formats. If you need consistent contributions from behind the plate, Hicks is a strong option to consider in almost all formats for as long as he keeps rolling.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
April 14, 2026
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher
Rico Garcia has been excellent to start the season at the back end of Baltimore's bullpen. He worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning to earn his fourth hold of the year and has allowed just three walks in 7 2/3 scoreless innings across eight games. Garcia is still working in front of elite closer
Ryan Helsley, who has also been excellent, giving the Orioles a dynamic duo to lock down the end of close games. Garcia would likely be the next option if Helsley faltered or was injured, and he's a strong option to handcuff to Helsley if you're in a deep or AL-only league that highly values relief pitching. The 32-year-old has been virtually unhittable so far this season and has been one of the best setup men in baseball.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
April 14, 2026
Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher
Kirby Yates (knee) is working his way back from left knee inflammation and could be ready to step into a meaningful role in the bullpen soon. He threw to hitters last week but has not yet started a rehab assignment. He seems ready to start his rehab soon and could be set for his Halos' debut soon. Over the offseason, the 39-year-old veteran righty signed a one-year deal worth $5 million. He brings plenty of experience in high-leverage situations and could challenge
Jordan Romano for the closer job when he's healthy. Romano blew his first save of the season against the Yankees on Monday, so Yates' return could be at the perfect time for him to take over the role if Romano has more issues. If you're seeking saves on the waiver wire and trying to get ahead of potential changes in a deep league, Yates is worth stashing since he's such a proven option when healthy.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
April 14, 2026
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher
Garrett Crochet had an uncharacteristically rough outing on Monday night, allowing 10 runs on nine hits and three walks, while recording only five outs against the Twins. His velocity was down, and he allowed home runs to
Victor Caratini and
Ryan Kreidler in one of the worst statistical starts of his career. The Red Sox and their ace did not indicate they had any injury concerns coming out of the game, but it was an alarmingly bad showing that will take some time for his ERA to recover from. While it's definitely not the time to panic about Crochet just yet, his next outing will be an important one for him to prove this was just a blip and not a trend. His next start lines up for Sunday afternoon at home against the Tigers.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
April 14, 2026
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher
Ryan Helsley secured his team's dramatic comeback win over the Diamondbacks on Monday night by pitching a drama-free ninth inning. He retired the D-Backs in order, including a pair of strikeouts, to earn his fifth save in five save opportunities. He has pitched in seven games for Baltimore, allowing only two runs in 6 1/3 innings with nine strikeouts. He remains locked in as one of the best closing options in the league, and the 31-year-old righty reached a max of 101.2 mph on his 12 pitches on Monday. Fantasy managers can continue to use Helsley with confidence at the back end of Baltimore's bullpen.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
April 14, 2026
Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher
Jordan Romano locked up his first four saves of the season, but he stumbled on Monday night in New York. He came in with a 10-8 lead and failed to record a single out before giving up three runs on three hits, including a
Trent Grisham home run that tied the game. After Grisham's dinger,
Jose Caballero doubled, stole third, and scored on a wild pitch to get the Yankees a walk-off win and hand Romano his first loss of the year. In his previous six games, Romano had not allowed a hit over five innings with seven strikeouts and two walks. He hadn't pitched in a week coming into this appearance and was due for a little regression. He will likely remain the team's primary closer for now, but he'll need to get back on track the next time he's called on for relief.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
April 14, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Justin Wrobleski held the Mets to just two hits in eight shutout innings on Monday night to earn his second win of the season. Wrobleski only had two strikeouts but was very efficient, needing just 90 pitches to get 24 outs. The 25-year-old lefty has a 2.12 ERA and 3.37 FIP through his first three games this season, and he has held opponents to a 32.7% hard-hit rate with just a single barrel. While he only has a 9.5% K%, he has been very effective at limiting hard contact and contributing solid, efficient innings. He can be a nice pickup off the waiver wire for wins and quality innings, despite his limited strikeout upside. Wrobleski's next outing is scheduled for on the road at Coors Field next Monday, which will be a test given his contact-heavy approach.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
April 14, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman
Nolan Arenado turned back the clock on Monday night in the team's 9-7 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. Arenado went 2-for-4 with two home runs, five RBI, and a strikeout. The home runs were his first of the year in Arizona, which was nice to see after he entered Monday's action slashing .180/.192/.200 with no homers, three RBI, four runs scored, one walk, and 13 strikeouts in 14 games played. Before this contest, Arenado had just one extra-base hit. It was Arenado's 25th career two-home run game, and his first since the 2022 season. It was also the 11th time in Arenado's career in which he's had five RBI. Despite the strong game, the 34-year-old eight-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger winner has been in offensive decline the last several seasons, and he'll need to do more of this going forward to pique the interest of fantasy managers in mixed leagues that need corner-infield help.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 14, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman
Brandon Lowe stayed red-hot at the plate in Monday's 16-5 blowout victory over the visiting Washington Nationals at PNC Park. Lowe finished the game 3-for-5 at the plate with another home run, five RBI, and two runs scored out of the two-hole in the lineup. He had a three-run homer, his third in the last two days, and drove in five runs for the second consecutive game. It's safe to say that Lowe is locked in at the plate right now in his first year in the Steel City. After Monday's strong performance, the 31-year-old veteran infielder is hitting .278 (15-for-54) with six home runs and 14 RBI in 14 games played. This isn't unheard of from Lowe, as the two-time All-Star has two 30-homer seasons in his eight years in the big leagues (all with the Tampa Bay Rays). Lowe has been hit or miss in fantasy because of his inability to stay healthy consistently, but his power at the keystone is well-documented and is still going strong in Year 9. Stick with him in fantasy lineups while he's hot.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 14, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder/designated hitter
Kyle Schwarber had the 37th mult-homer game of his career on Monday night in the team's 13-7 win over the Chicago Cubs. Schwarber finished the night 2-for-3 with two home runs, four runs scored, three RBI, and a walk. The 33-year-old veteran three-time All-Star came into Monday's game hitting .212, but he now has six home runs on the year, 12 RBI, and 12 runs scored in 55 at-bats over 16 games played. Schwarber not only has elite power from the left side of the plate, but he gets on base consistently while taking plenty of walks near the top of Philly's batting order on a daily basis. He has hit safely in eight of his 11 games so far in April. Schwarber is a beast in Philly and has at least 46 home runs in three of the last four seasons with the Phillies. He should be in starting fantasy lineups every day.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 14, 2026
The Washington Nationals announced on Monday that they placed right-handed reliever
Cole Henry (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list with a right rotator-cuff strain. Manager Blake Butera said that Henry's MRI exam didn't show anything "too serious," but it's unclear when the 26-year-old will throw again. The 26-year-old has gotten off to a tough start in 2026 in his second MLB season, allowing seven runs (five earned) on eight hits (one homer) while walking four and striking out eight in seven innings out of the bullpen. There is opportunity in Washington's bullpen this year, but Henry is not only not healthy, but he hasn't been pitching well enough to be trusted in high-leverage situations. Henry might never be a very reliable late-inning pitcher for fantasy purposes with shaky control and fly-ball tendencies.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 14, 2026
The St. Louis Cardinals announced on Monday that right-hander
Richard Fitts (lat) was placed on the seven-day injured list at Triple-A Memphis with a right-lat strain. Fitts was acquired by the Cardinals in the offseason from the Boston Red Sox, but he has yet to appear at the big-league level in 2026. The 26-year-old was looking good early on at Memphis before his lat injury, going 2-0 with a 1.76 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 11 strikeouts and six walks in 15 1/3 innings over three starts. It's a tough break for Fitts as he seeks to get back to the big leagues, and it's uncertain how long he'll be out. The former sixth-round pick of the New York Yankees in 2021 out of Auburn has a 3.97 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 49 strikeouts, and 23 walks in 15 outings (14 starts) in his first two major-league seasons with the Red Sox. Fitts currently isn't rostered in any Yahoo fantasy baseball leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Cardinals Player Development
April 14, 2026
The Baltimore Orioles announced on Monday that they acquired infielder
Christian Encarnacion-Strand from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for cash considerations and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles will take a shot on the former fourth-rounder in 2021 out of Oklahoma State, with first baseman/designated hitter
Ryan Mountcastle (foot) going on the 60-day injured list with a broken foot. The 26-year-old Encarnacion-Strand didn't even make Cincy's Opening Day roster and was recently designated for assignment by the Reds. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues can continue to ignore him, but he might be worth a flier in AL-only leagues now with hopes that a change of scenery can get him going. Encarnacion had 13 homers in 63 games in his rookie year in Cincy in 2023, but he combined for eight homers in the next two seasons before falling out of favor in the organization. He went 8-for-36 (.222) with five runs scored, two home runs, and eight RBI
--Keith HernandezSource: Baltimore Orioles
April 13, 2026
The Baltimore Orioles announced on Monday that they optioned left-hander
Cade Povich to Triple-A Norfolk. For now, right-hander
Dean Kremer will take Povich's starting rotation spot in the big leagues. Kremer got off to a good start in his first start of 2026 on Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, walking none and striking out nine in five innings. With
Zach Eflin (elbow) done for the entire season after having Tommy John surgery, Kremer could stick around as a starter for the O's if he continues to hold his own as he did on Monday night. Fantasy managers in DFS may want to consider him as a matchup-based cheap streamer in his next scheduled outing against the Cleveland Guardians. Povich, 26, should be back in Baltimore sooner than later, but for now, he's out of the team's starting rotation despite going 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 7:3 K:BB in 12 1/3 innings over two outings (one start).
--Keith HernandezSource: Baltimore Orioles
April 13, 2026
The Baltimore Orioles recalled right-hander
Dean Kremer from Triple-A Norfolk to start Monday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and he was a mixed bag in his first start of the 2026 campaign. In the 9-7 win over the D-backs, Kremer allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits (three homers) while walking none and striking out nine in five innings of work. He did not factor into the decision and threw 55 of his 80 pitches for strikes. It was the fourth time in the 30-year-old's career that he struck out at least nine hitters in a game. He most likely earned another turn in Baltimore's starting rotation after the club optioned
Cade Povich to Norfolk in the corresponding move to bring Kremer back to the big leagues. Right-hander
Zach Eflin (elbow) is out for the rest of the regular season after having Tommy John surgery. Home runs have been an issue, and nights like Monday night have been rare for him in the strikeout department, which limits Kremer's overall fantasy upside.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baltimore Orioles
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