March 30, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitching prospect
Trey Yesavage (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a three-inning/45-pitch simulated game on Friday, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. Yesavage was held back on purpose in spring training and then landed on the 15-day injured list to begin the 2026 regular season due to a right-shoulder impingement. The 22-year-old will be given plenty of time to build up his workload as he looks to rejoin Toronto's starting rotation. Yesavage made a quick ascent to the big leagues in 2025 and only made three regular-season starts before hurling 27 2/3 innings over six outings (five starts) in the postseason, which included an epic 12-strikeout performance in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He struck out 39 batters and walked 11 in the postseason, putting his high-end upside on full display. Control can be an issue for Yesavage, though, and his redraft upside could be capped in 2026 with the Blue Jays handling him with extreme care to ensure his long-term health.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Mitch Bannon
March 30, 2026
Atlanta Braves catcher
Sean Murphy (hip) could begin a minor-league rehab assignment as early as this week with High-A Rome, according to Grant McAuley of 929 The Game. Murphy is scheduled to take live batting practice at Rome on Wednesday as the Braves head out on a seven-game road trip. The 31-year-old veteran backstop began the 2026 season on the 10-day injured list after having offseason hip surgery, but it might not be long before he can make his debut this year for Atlanta. Fellow catcher
Drake Baldwin is an everyday player now for the Braves after winning National League Rookie of the Year honors in 2025, but Murphy should also play regularly between catcher and designated hitter, while
Jonah Heim will revert to No. 3 catching duties. Murphy was an All-Star in his first year in Atlanta in 2023, when he hit 21 home runs in 108 games. He had just 26 combined long balls in the last two years, though, while battling injuries. It remains to be seen if Murphy can rediscover his pre-injury power stroke after having hip surgery.
--Keith HernandezSource: 929 The Game - Grant McAuley
March 30, 2026
Atlanta Braves right-hander
Spencer Strider (oblique) will be on the team's road trip, but there's still no timetable for when he might make his first minor-league rehab start, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Strider will likely throw a live batting practice session on the road, and that will give the Braves a better feel for his potential return date from the 15-day injured list. The Braves reportedly don't think Strider will miss too much time after being diagnosed with an oblique strain, but he's not going to be ready to return from the IL when he's eligible on April 6. But barring a setback as he ramps back up, fantasy managers should get him back before the end of April. The 27-year-old was a first-time All-Star in 2023 and won a league-high 20 games that year, but he pitched in only two games in 2024 due to injury and went 7-14 with a 4.45 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 23 starts for the Braves last year. Strider's injury history makes him riskier, especially since he's experienced a drop in velocity since his strong 2023 campaign.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
March 30, 2026
Houston Astros shortstop
Jeremy Pena will take another day off on Monday for the series opener against the visiting Boston Red Sox at Daikin Park, per MLB.com.
Carlos Correa will shift over to shortstop again, with
Isaac Paredes making the start at third base against Red Sox left-hander
Ranger Suarez. Pena has started just two of the team's first four games of the 2026 regular season as the Astros ease him in following his recovery from a fractured finger that he suffered during an exhibition game earlier in March while preparing for the World Baseball Classic. Pena has gone 2-for-10 with a run scored and a stolen base in the two games he's played so far. He should be back in the lineup at shortstop for the Astros for the second game of the series against Boston on Tuesday evening. Paredes is hitless in just two career at-bats against Suarez, while Correa has never faced the southpaw in his career.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 30, 2026
Athletics outfielder
Lawrence Butler is back in center field and will hit sixth in the batting order on Monday for the series opener in Atlanta against the Braves and right-hander
Bryce Elder, according to MLB.com. Butler had a rough Opening Day in the walk-off loss to the Toronto Blue Jays last week while going 0-for-3, and then was kept on the bench for the final two games of the series north of the border. The 25-year-old power/speed threat is back in action on Monday, though, and will hope to get going early in the 2026 season at Truist Park. Butler is hitless in three career at-bats against Elder with one RBI. Butler had his first career 20-20 season with the A's in 152 games played in 2025, but he disappointed with a .234/.306/.404 slash line and a .710 OPS in 630 plate appearances while dealing with knee issues for most of the year. If fully healthy and clicking, Butler is a candidate for 30 homers and 30 steals, so he should be rostered in all fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 30, 2026
Baltimore Orioles catcher
Samuel Basallo is not in the starting lineup for the series opener on Monday at Camden Yards against the visiting Texas Rangers, according to MLB.com.
Adley Rutschman is behind the plate and will bat cleanup for the O's against right-hander
Jack Leiter. Outfielder
Tyler O'Neill is the designated hitter and will hit out of the five-hole. The 21-year-old Basallo will get his first day off of the 2026 season after he started in each of the first three games of the year versus the Minnesota Twins. Basallo went 2-for-10 in the first three games with two walks and four strikeouts at the dish. Young outfielder
Dylan Beavers is also making a start on Monday with O'Neill at DH, getting the nod in right field and batting sixth. Basallo should be back in the starting lineup for fantasy managers for Game 2 of the series on Tuesday night.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 30, 2026
The Milwaukee Brewers are on the verge of finalizing an eight-year deal for just more than $50 million with 21-year-old prized shortstop prospect
Cooper Pratt, who had not played above Double-A until this year, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. The deal will include two option years for roughly $15 million per season. Per MLB Pipeline, Pratt is considered the Brewers' No. 4 prospect. Pratt isn't considered a top-10 prospect at the shortstop position going into the 2026 season, but he could be up in the big leagues sooner than later after this massive deal for an unproven commodity. Milwaukee did something similar with outfielder
Jackson Chourio before he even had stepped foot on a major-league field. Pratt hit .238/.343/.348 with eight home runs and 31 steals in 120 games with Double-A Biloxi last year. He can run and has 15-20 homer power eventually at the next level. Pratt has come up in the system as a shortstop, but his future in Milwaukee might be at the hot corner, with top prospect
Jesus Made considered the future of the franchise at the 6.
--Keith HernandezSource: USA Today Sports - Bob Nightengale
March 30, 2026
The Milwaukee Brewers acquired outfielder
Luis Matos from the San Francisco Giants on Monday in exchange for cash considerations, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. The Giants also acquired right-hander
Dylan Smith from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for cash considerations and designated
Tyler Fitzgerald in a corresponding move. Matos will head to the National League Central after he was designated for assignment last week. The 24-year-old will help give the Brewers some additional outfield depth early in the season with
Jackson Chourio (hand) on the injured list. The Venezuelan outfielder has yet to click as a former top prospect in the big leagues, as he sports a .231/.281/.369 with a .650 OPS, 15 home runs, 61 RBI, 64 runs, and seven steals in 178 games played over three MLB seasons. It's worth noting that he's out of minor-league options. Matos has always made decent contact, but the power just hasn't manifested itself in the big leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Susan Slusser
March 30, 2026
Baltimore Orioles right-handed pitcher
Andrew Kittredge (shoulder inflammation) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday, according to Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun. Kittredge opened the 2026 regular season on the 15-day injured list, but he previously told reporters that he didn't expect to miss too much time. Indeed, he'll return to the mound for his rehab assignment on April 1 and could possibly be activated as soon as he's eligible to return on April 6. With that said, he's eligible to remain on rehab assignment through the end of April. The veteran reliever is looking to build off an impressive 2025 campaign in which he posted a 3.06 FIP with 10.9 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9. He's capable of pitching in high-leverage scenarios in the later innings. He projects best as an eighth-inning setup option before the Orioles turn to closer
Ryan Helsley, who recorded two saves in the Orioles' opening series.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jacob Calvin Meyer
March 30, 2026
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher
Nick Lodolo (finger) will pitch in a minor-league rehab game on Thursday, according to Charlie Goldsmith of FOX19. He'll make his appearance with the Reds' Low-A affiliate in Daytona, and if all goes well, he'll be activated from the injured list to start a game when the Reds are in Florida to take on the Miami Marlins. Lodolo opened the regular season on the 15-day injured list due to a blister on his left index finger, but the fact that he'll return in the first or second week of April after requiring just one rehab outing is a good sign. He's looking to build off a strong 2025 season in which he made 29 appearances with a 3.66 xFIP, 8.96 K/9, 1.78 BB/9, and 42.6% ground ball rate. The 28-year-old southpaw currently ranks #41 among starting pitchers in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: Charlie Goldsmith
March 30, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers right-handed pitcher
Brandon Sproat allowed seven earned runs, six hits, and four walks in his 2026 regular-season debut on Sunday against the Chicago White Sox. In his first career start as a Brewer, Sproat was roughed up, but he managed to escape with the no-decision as Milwaukee's bats came alive late in the game and dropped a six-spot in the eighth inning to take the lead (and win). Still, it was a frustrating outing for the young right-hander following an offseason trade from the New York Mets. His ground ball rate was down (albeit over a small sample size), and his control problems came out of nowhere. The lone bright spot from his outing was the fact that his fastball velocity jumped from 96.5 mph in 2025 to 98.6 mph in 2026. Sproat ranks #90 among starters in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026, but he'll need to bounce back in his next outing to prove Sunday's poor performance was a fluke.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
March 30, 2026
Colorado Rockies outfielder
Brenton Doyle is not in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Leadoff hitter
Jake McCarthy will patrol center field in his absence. Doyle has been off to a woeful start offensively, going 0-for-11 with one walk, one stolen base, and two strikeouts. His .168 xBA suggests he's been only a little unlucky. Doyle has always been someone whose glove offers more value than his bat, but a three-game hitless streak is still concerning. He'll get the day off Monday to reset as the Rockies face off against Blue Jays right-handed pitcher
Cody Ponce. If this is just a day off rather than a pure benching, he should get back into the lineup on Tuesday against veteran righty
Max Scherzer.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
March 30, 2026
Cincinnati Reds outfielder
Noelvi Marte is not in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Marte started each of the first three games of the season, but he was slumping at the plate with a 0-for-6 line and four strikeouts. Given his slow start offensively, we're not surprised to see him get the day off against Pirates right-hander
Braxton Ashcraft. It's too early to panic on Marte, though, as he's fully capable of returning to his 2025 form (14 home runs, 10 stolen bases, and 101 wRC+). Perhaps the day off will allow him to reset and turn things around after a small sample size of disappointing results. There's still plenty of upside in the 24-year-old, who ranks #39 among outfielders in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.
--Andersen PickardSource: MLB.com
March 30, 2026
The Miami Marlins are sending first base prospect
Deyvison De Los Santos back to Triple-A Jacksonville on Monday, according to Craig Mish of Sports Grid. It will make room for recently acquired infielder
Leo Jimenez. With De Los Santos back in the minors,
Connor Norby should play a lot of first base until
Christopher Morel (oblique) returns from the 10-day injured list. The 22-year-old De Los Santos went 1-for-2 with a double in a cup of coffee with the Fish to begin the 2026 regular season, but the Marlins would like to get him more development on the farm. De Los Santos adds very little defensively, so he's going to need to hit to find his way into the lineup at the big-league level consistently. That may be asking a lot for a player that had a below-average 85 wRC+ last year in the minors. The good news is that De Los Santos showed more plate discipline and made more contact, but his quality of contact left plenty to be desired. For the time being, De Los Santos is merely a stash candidate in dynasty formats for his raw power at the plate.
--Keith HernandezSource: SportsGrid - Craig Mish
March 30, 2026
Baltimore Orioles corner infielder
Coby Mayo spent the offseason hitting sliders, curveballs, and changeups "at their most extreme movement profiles" off a pitching machine in an effort to help him square the baseball up more frequently, according to Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner. Mayo is Baltimore's everyday third baseman to begin the 2026 season with
Jordan Westburg (elbow) likely out through April. In 2025, Mayo whiffed on 43.8% of the breaking balls that he swung at. Although he's gone just 2-for-9 in the early going in the first three games of the 2026 season, Mayo has two walks and two strikeouts and is already squaring the ball up more frequently. In 85 games for the O's last year, Mayo slashed .217/.299/.388 with a .687 OPS, 11 home runs, 28 RBI, and 30 runs scored in 294 plate appearances. With more consistent playing time at third base early on this year, Mayo will have an opportunity to become a post-hype breakout in Baltimore.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Baltimore Banner - Andy Kostka
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