April 17, 2026
Boston Red Sox first baseman
Willson Contreras (back) is starting at first base and is hitting in the two-hole in Friday's series opener against the visiting Detroit Tigers and right-hander
Casey Mize at Fenway Park, according to MLB.com. Contreras suffered from back tightness earlier this week and was held out of Wednesday's game against the Minnesota Twins. With an off day on Thursday, he's feeling much better and will return to the starting nine in Beantown. Fantasy managers will be hoping that his back injury won't affect him at the plate moving forward, as Contreras has been one of the most consistent hitters in baseball in the first couple of weeks of the season. The 33-year-old three-time All-Star comes into Friday's action slashing .298/.444/.491 with a .936 OPS, three home runs, 11 RBI, and nine runs scored in 57 at-bats. Contreras has faced Mize just twice in his career and has one hit with a 1.000 OPS. Get him back into your starting lineups.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 17, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers reliever
Abner Uribe notched his first save of the season in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Blue Jays. The right-hander needed just 12 pitches to dispatch Toronto in the top of the ninth, throwing eight of them for strikes and striking out one batter. With
Trevor Megill's recent struggles, Milwaukee's closer has been moved to a setup role, leaving the door open for others to compete for save opportunities. With seven saves and a 30.2 percent strikeout rate last season, Uribe certainly fits the bill. Although his strikeout rate is down somewhat to start the year (25.8 percent), the 6-foot-3 fireballer has walked just one batter (3.2 percent) in eight innings pitched. However, it doesn't appear to be Uribe's job alone at the moment, as
Angel Zerpa was called upon to shut the door for Milwaukee on Thursday, earning his second save of the season. Nevertheless, Uribe's profile likely gives him the edge as Zerpa owns an opponent batting average of .324 and just a 4:4 K:BB in 10 innings of work. The 25-year-old Uribe is available in almost 40 percent of leagues for managers looking to collect saves.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
April 17, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder
Andy Pages had a breakout season in 2025, but so far is on pace to outproduce that campaign in the early going of 2026. With two hits in his latest contest, the right-handed slugger now has hit safely in 14 of 18 games, with nine multi-hit performances included in there. In all, it has produced a .409/.451/.697 slash line with five home runs, 20 RBI, 10 runs scored, and three steals. His .502 wOBA and 220 wRC+ both rank in the top three in all of baseball. An unsustainable .512 BABIP and xwOBA that is more than 125 points lower (.376) than his actual wOBA point to eventual regression, but for now, he's hot. Although a slowdown will come at some point, the 25-year-old should continue to have success over the course of the season and is looking like one of the biggest draft-day values of 2026.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
April 17, 2026
Chicago Cubs right-handed closer
Daniel Palencia (oblique) was placed on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to April 14) on Friday with a left-oblique strain, according to Meghan Montemurro of The Chicago Tribune. It's yet another injury for Chicago's pitching staff, which has been decimated early in the 2026 season. The 26-year-old Palencia has yet to allow a run for the Cubbies so far this year in five relief innings, recording a save, two walks, and five strikeouts along the way. However, he'll now likely have to miss more than two weeks with his oblique injury. In the meantime, right-hander
Ben Brown figures to see the majority of save chances for the Cubs with Palencia on the shelf. Palencia hadn't pitched since last Sunday, and now we know why. High-leverage relievers
Phil Maton (knee) and
Hunter Harvey (triceps) are also on the IL right now. In addition to Brown,
Caleb Thielbar could see some save opportunities in Chicago.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Chicago Tribune - Meghan Montemurro
April 17, 2026
New York Mets rookie outfielder
Carson Benge is starting in right field and is hitting leadoff for Friday's series opener in Chicago at Wrigley Field against the Cubs and right-hander
Edward Cabrera, according to MLB.com. With Benge moving up to leadoff, shortstop
Francisco Lindor will drop down to the three-hole for the struggling Mets lineup. New York heads into Friday's action on an eight-game losing streak without star outfielder
Juan Soto (calf). Benge, 23, hit a home run in his major-league debut on Opening Day, but it's been downhill since then. The former 19th overall pick in 2024 out of Oklahoma State is hitting just .151/.237/.226 with a homer, three RBI, five stolen bases, five runs scored, six walks, and 15 strikeouts in 59 plate appearances over his first 16 MLB games. Hitting leadoff will give him a fantasy boost, but it probably won't last for long, with Soto expected to come off the IL at some point next week for the Mets.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 17, 2026
New York Mets outfielder
Juan Soto (calf) is progressing with his baseball activities and is "still on track" to return from the 10-day injured list next week, but the Mets will want to do a supplemental MRI exam to ensure that Soto is OK before activating him, according to Laura Albanese of Newsday. Soto landed on the IL with a right-calf strain, but he's made good progress and could be back for fantasy managers at some point next week. The Mets have really struggled mightily offensively without the 27-year-old four-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger winner, as they currently rank second-to-last in baseball with a .617 team OPS. In his first 31 at-bats before going on the IL, Soto was hitting a cool .355 (11-for-31) with a homer, five RBI, and three runs scored. Obviously, fantasy managers everywhere will want to get Soto back into their starting lineups immediately next week when he's reinstated.
--Keith HernandezSource: Newsday - Laura Albanese
April 17, 2026
Outfielder Garret Anderson, who is a member of the Los Angeles Angels' Hall of Fame, died at the age of 53 on Friday, according to ESPN. No cause of death was given. Anderson played 15 of his 17 major-league seasons with the Angels after he was drafted by them in the fourth round in 1990. Anderson was a three-time All-Star in his 17 big-league seasons and ultimately finished with a .293/.324/.461 slash line, .785 OPS, 287 home runs, 1,365 RBI, 80 stolen bases, and 1,084 runs scored in 2,228 regular-season games. Anderson also won two Silver Slugger awards, was a Home Run Derby champion, and was part of the Angels' 2002 World Series champion squad. The smooth left-handed swinger was fourth in the American League MVP voting in 2002. Following his playing career, Anderson served as a television analyst for Angels broadcasts. RotoBaller offers its condolences to Anderson's family and friends at this difficult time.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
April 17, 2026
New York Mets infielder
Jorge Polanco (Achilles, wrist) is in a "better place" with his Achilles bursitis on Friday, but now he's dealing with a right-wrist issue, manager
Carlos Mendoza told Max Goodman of NJ.com. The Mets are waiting for MRI results on Polanco's wrist. Although his Achilles bursitis is not considered serious, Polanco could land on the 10-day injured list this weekend. He is not in the starting lineup for the second straight game on Friday as the Mets get set to take on the hosting Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. With
Jared Young also on the shelf with a torn meniscus in his left knee,
MJ Melendez could see the majority of starts at designated hitter for the Mets against right-handed pitchers until Polanco can return.
Brett Baty is starting at first base and batting eighth on Friday against Cubs right-hander
Edward Cabrera. Polanco, who has a history of lower-body injuries, is hitting just .179 (10-for-56) to start his Mets tenure.
--Keith HernandezSource: NJ.com - Max Goodman
April 17, 2026
Chicago Cubs right-hander
Cade Horton (elbow) had Tommy John surgery on Thursday and will need 15 to 16 months of recovery, according to Taylor McGregor of the Marquee Sports Network. Horton needed a full right-elbow reconstruction. He will miss the rest of the 2026 campaign and most likely the first half of next season as well. The 24-year-old former seventh overall pick in 2022 out of Oklahoma can obviously be dropped in all redraft fantasy baseball leagues, but he should be held in dynasty/keeper leagues. Horton looked solid in his first 23 big-league appearances (22 starts) in 2025, going 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA (3.58 FIP), 1.08 WHIP, and a 97:33 K:BB in 118 innings pitched during the regular season. He had allowed only two earned runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts in his two starts this year before being shut down with elbow/forearm issues. The good news for the Cubbies' starting rotation is that veteran left-hander
Matthew Boyd (biceps) should return to the team sooner rather than later.
--Keith HernandezSource: Marquee Sports Network - Taylor McGregor
April 17, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander
Braydon Fisher will serve as the opener for the team in Friday's series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. Left-hander
Eric Lauer, not Fisher, is who fantasy managers will want to consider starting in this matchup at Chase Field in Arizona. Fisher, however, has been lights-out so far for Toronto in eight relief appearances, as he's sporting a 0.93 ERA and 0.72 WHIP with 12 strikeouts and only one walk in 9 2/3 innings of work. The most pitches Fisher has thrown in an outing in 2026 is 32, so he's unlikely to work more than an inning or two on Friday in the desert. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues will probably want to avoid Lauer, too, as he's gone 1-2 so far this year with an ugly 7.82 ERA (6.48 FIP) and 1.58 WHIP with 12 K's and nine walks in 12 2/3 innings over his first three starts. The Diamondbacks currently rank 20th in team OPS in the early going at .687.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet.ca - Arden Zwelling
April 17, 2026
New York Mets infielder
Jorge Polanco (Achilles) is not ready to rejoin the starting lineup for Friday's series opener at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs, according to MLB.com. Bretty Baty will make the start at first base and is batting eighth, while
MJ Melendez is serving as the designated hitter and is batting sixth for the Mets against Cubs right-hander
Edward Cabrera. Polanco continues to deal with Achilles bursitis early in the 2026 season, his first with the Mets, and will miss a second straight game going into the weekend. If he continues to be bothered by the injury, the Mets could place Polanco on the 10-day injured list. It could be a big reason why the 32-year-old Dominican switch-hitting veteran is hitting just .179 (10-for-56) so far with just one home run, two RBI, three runs scored, five walks, and 11 strikeouts in his first 14 games. Polanco has a history of lower-body injuries, so this is definitely not ideal for the Mets or Polanco's fantasy managers.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 17, 2026
San Diego Padres outfielder
Ramon Laureano is the team's leadoff man "until further notice," manager
Craig Stammen told AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. The skipper cited Laureano's quality of at-bats wherever he's hit in the lineup so far this season, whether it's first or "seventh, eighth, whatever, when I was dumb, putting him lower in the lineup." Laureano's fantasy baseball will be at its highest if he can stay in the leadoff spot for the Friars all season. The 31-year-old veteran Dominican outfielder has earned it, hitting .290/.355/.551 with a .906 OPS, four home runs, 13 RBI, 12 runs scored, and three stolen bases so far in the 2026 campaign in his 69 at-bats. Not only does Laureano bring quality at-bats to the leadoff spot in SD, but he's a gritty player who also has been spectacular with his glove in left field for SD. He's currently riding a six-game hitting streak in which he's gone 9-for-23 (.391) with two homers, two doubles, a triple, seven RBI, and seven runs scored.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - AJ Cassavell
April 17, 2026
Chicago White Sox catcher
Kyle Teel (hamstring) will be with the team in Sacramento for their series against the Athletics and will then report to Triple-A Charlotte to start a minor-league rehab assignment on Monday, per MLB.com. Teel's last recovery component will be running at 100% after he was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right-hamstring strain. Barring a setback on his rehab assignment, Teel should be back with the Pale Hose in early May. Teel has yet to make his 2026 debut because of his hamstring injury, but when he does, he should see the majority of playing time behind the dish in Chicago. Until then,
Edgar Quero and
Reese McGuire will continue to split the catching duties for the White Sox. Teel was a 14th overall pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2023 out of Virginia, and he hit .273/.375/.411 with a .786 OPS, eight homers, 35 RBI, 38 runs, and three stolen bases in 78 games in his rookie campaign in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 17, 2026
Baltimore Orioles second baseman
Jackson Holliday's (hand, wrist) father, Matt, said on Foul Territory on Friday that his son is fine after he experienced inflammation on the other side of his right wrist recently. Holliday will resume his minor-league rehab assignment at Double-A Bowie this weekend and then potentially join Triple-A Norfolk next Tuesday/Wednesday before being re-evaluated. The 22-year-old former first overall pick in 2022 had surgery for a broken right hamate bone in his hand back in spring training, which forced him to open the year on the 10-day injured list. He was pulled off his rehab assignment earlier this week due to soreness in the same wrist, but it turns out it's nothing serious. Holliday should rejoin Baltimore's big-league roster for his 2026 season debut sooner rather than later, and he needs to be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues until then as the O's starting second baseman when he's healthy.
Jeremiah Jackson, who has been swinging the bat well, should continue to work as the primary second baseman until Holliday returns.
--Keith HernandezSource: Foul Territory
April 17, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitching prospect
Trey Yesavage (shoulder) could return from the 15-day injured list next week after throwing 4 1/3 innings during a minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. Yesavage got up to 71 pitches this week in his third rehab start while he continues to recover from a right-shoulder impingement. Although his fastball velocity was slightly down at 93.3 mph on Wednesday and his fastball command was spotty, at times, manager John Schneider said it was everything the team expected out of Yesavage. He could throw 85 to 90 pitches in his next rehab start, which would put him on track to rejoin the big-league club in Anaheim next week. However, with veteran lefty Patrick Corbin pitching well, Toronto could delay Yesavage's return for another week. Yesavage will return to a rotation role, but don't be surprised if the Jays ease the young pitching prospect back into the fold. He should be rostered in all fantasy formats for his high-end strikeout upside.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Mitch Bannon
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