April 19, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said outfielder
Corbin Carroll will start in right field on Tuesday after leaving Sunday's game vs. the Blue Jays with back tightness. Carroll went 0-for-2 with a strikeout before exiting in the fourth inning, with
Jorge Barrosa taking over in right field. The quick return suggests Arizona avoided a more serious issue with one of its top stars. Carroll has been excellent early this season, slashing .309/.400/.618 through 19 games. The Diamondbacks are off Monday before opening a three-game series against the White Sox on Tuesday.
--Julian BrookeSource: Alex D’Agostino
April 19, 2026
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher
Didier Fuentes had his start with Triple-A Gwinnett skipped on Sunday. The Braves are in the midst of a stretch of 10 games in 10 days. With that being said, Fuentes could be needed to make a spot start or help out as a long relief option in the bullpen. The 20-year-old has already made one appearance for the Braves this season out of the bullpen. He has looked outstanding as a full-time starter in Triple-A so far this season. If he does get the call to start next week, Fuentes could be an interesting streaming option. He won't be an ideal long-term option with
Spencer Strider (oblique) working his way back soon. Fantasy managers should stay tuned to see if Fuentes is asked to join the big league club this week.
--Andy WebbSource: Mark Bowman
April 19, 2026
Houston Astros starting pitchers
Hunter Brown (shoulder) and
Cristian Javier (shoulder) aren't expected to be back in the mix until late May or early June. Astros general manager Dana Brown told reporters the expected timetable on Sunday, but is hopeful that both pitchers can be back sooner than expected. Both right-handers suffered Grade 2 right shoulder strains within a week of each other. Given the extent of the injury, both pitchers are looking at lengthy buildups. They'll likely need to ramp up throwing sessions before going on multiple rehab starts. Fantasy managers won't have either pitcher back in the mix for at least another month or so. Brown is worth holding through the injury, while Javier can be dropped for a healthy arm.
--Andy WebbSource: Brian McTaggart
April 19, 2026
New York Mets outfielder
Juan Soto (calf) is reportedly on track to return to the lineup for the upcoming homestand. Mets manager
Carlos Mendoza confirmed this news on Sunday, saying that Soto should be back for the homestand starting April 21-30. The plan is for Soto to undergo an MRI to confirm his right calf strain is fully healed. If all goes well, Soto could be activated as early as Tuesday's game for the beginning of the homestand. The superstar slugger has been out for the last two-plus weeks due to a calf strain. His return to the lineup will be a welcoming sight to this Mets team that dropped its 11th straight game on Sunday.
--Andy WebbSource: Laura Albanese
April 19, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder
Corbin Carroll (back) was forced to make an early exit from Sunday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Carroll didn't look right after striking out in the bottom of the third inning. He was later replaced by
Jorge Barrosa to open the fifth inning. The D-Backs are saying that Carroll was pulled due to lower back tightness. He was hitless in two plate appearances before being taken out of the contest. Fantasy managers should consider Carroll as day-to-day until the team gives more information on his status. This shouldn't be something that lands Carroll on the Injured List. If he misses any time, Barrosa will likely see some extra playing time.
--Andy WebbSource: Nick Piecoro
April 19, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher
Zack Wheeler (shoulder) took the mound for his second rehab start with Double-A Reading on Sunday. Wheeler didn't have the same success as he did during his first rehab start on Tuesday. On Sunday, Wheeler went four innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits while striking out four batters. The overall results don't matter much, as it's about building up Wheeler's stamina. The expectation is that Wheeler will make at least one more rehab start before rejoining the Phillies rotation. If everything goes well, Wheeler could return for next weekend's series against the Atlanta Braves.
--Andy WebbSource: milb.com
April 19, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies catcher
JT Realmuto (back) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the Atlanta Braves. Realmuto was removed from Saturday's game in the sixth inning due to lower back tightness. The Phillies are going to play it safe and give him the night off on Sunday. Fantasy managers should consider Realmuto as day-to-day until the team gives another update on his status.
Rafael Marchan will draw the start behind the plate and bat eighth versus right-hander
Grant Holmes on Sunday. Fantasy managers should check back for another update ahead of Monday's game versus the Chicago Cubs.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
April 19, 2026
Colorado Rockies infielder
Willi Castro (hand) is back in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander
Roki Sasaki at Coors Field, according to MLB.com. Castro is starting at shortstop and will hit seventh with regular shortstop
Ezequiel Tovar getting the day off.
Edouard Julien is at second base and is batting leadoff for Colorado. Castro is returning to the starting nine for the first time since suffering a right-hand contusion when he was hit by a pitch on Wednesday. The 28-year-old switch-hitting Puerto Rican outfielder had mostly been playing at second in his first year with the Rockies to begin the 2026 season, but he might be relegated to more of a bench role soon if he doesn't pick things up offensively. Going into Sunday's clash with L.A., Castro has gone just 12-for-56 (.214) with a homer, eight RBI, eight runs scored, and a stolen base. He has never faced Sasaki in his MLB career.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 19, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder
Daulton Varsho (knee) remains out of the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale on the road against the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to MLB.com.
Myles Straw will make the start in center field for Toronto and will bat eighth against D-backs right-hander
Ryne Nelson. Varsho will miss a second straight game after being pulled from Friday's series opener early at Chase Field due to left-knee discomfort. He's considered day-to-day for now, but fantasy managers will want to check back on Monday for an update on his status before the team's series opener on Monday night in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels. Varsho played only 71 games in the 2025 regular season due to injuries. In 19 games so far in 2026, he has slashed .262/.333/.462 with three home runs, seven RBI, and eight runs scored. Straw, who is more of a defensive asset for the Jays than an offensive one, should see most of the playing time in center for however long Varsho is out.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 19, 2026
The Houston Astros announced on Sunday that they placed outfielder
Joey Loperfido (quadriceps) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to April 18) with a right-quad muscle strain. In a corresponding move, the Astros recalled right-hander
Jayden Murray from Triple-A Sugar Land. Loperfido injured his quad during Friday's series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals and was held out of action on Saturday. It's unclear if the 26-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder will be ready to come off the IL in late April when he's eligible to be activated. In the meantime, young outfielder
Brice Matthews figures to see more playing time going forward in Houston's outfield. Lopefido, a former seventh-round selection out of Duke in 2021, is still searching for his first long ball of the 2026 season. Through his first 20 games played, he's gone 15-for-58 (.259) with five doubles, six RBI, seven runs scored, a stolen base, six walks, and 19 strikeouts for Houston.
--Keith HernandezSource: Houston Astros
April 19, 2026
San Francisco Giants infielder
Casey Schmitt has been one of the surprise success stories of the early portion of the 2026 season. Entering play on Sunday, Schmitt was hitting .317/.369/.517 with two home runs, seven RBI, seven runs scored, and one stolen base. The 27-year-old's strong production is supported by his underlying metrics, as he's posted above-average barrel (11.4%) and hard-hit (52.3%) rates. Schmitt has also moved into the heart of the Giants' lineup, which should allow him to rack up counting stats more consistently. While Schmitt has played exclusively at first base and designated hitter in 2026, he's capable of playing every infield spot and still offers fantasy managers multi-positional eligibility. As a cheap depth piece with some upside, Schmitt could be worth targeting on the waiver wire.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 19, 2026
Detroit Tigers infielder
Colt Keith has established himself as a key piece of his team's lineup early in 2026, hitting .317/.348/.429 with zero home runs, five RBI, and 10 runs scored across his first 66 plate appearances. Keith hasn't hit for much power in the early going, but his excellent 58.3% hard-hit rate supports his strong batting average. While Keith is looking like a potential breakout candidate early on this season, it's worth noting that he's logged just two plate appearances against left-handed pitching so far this year. Still, even in a platoon role, Keith profiles as a potentially valuable source of batting average for fantasy managers. In leagues where he's not already rostered, Keith could be worth targeting on the waiver wire.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 19, 2026
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher
Landen Roupp is off to an excellent start to the 2026 season, as he's posted a 3-1 record with a 2.38 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts across 22 2/3 innings (four starts). The 27-year-old has boosted his strikeout rate from 21.4% in 2025 to 26.7%, and he's also lowered his walk rate to a career-best 7.8%. Roupp has also yet to allow a home run this season, and owns a 50.9% ground ball rate. While Roupp established himself as a solid streaming option for fantasy managers in 2025, he appears to have taken his game to a new level in 2026. Combined with his pitcher-friendly home park in San Francisco, Roupp offers real upside as a waiver-wire target in any league where he's not already rostered.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 19, 2026
Detroit Tigers left-hander
Tarik Skubal looked to be in Cy Young form on Saturday night in the team's 4-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Skubal allowed only one earned run on four hits while walking two and striking out 10 batters in six innings to pick up his third win of the 2026 season. The talented left-hander was in top form in Beantown, retiring 12 of the first 13 batters he faced in the game, including striking out the side in two of his first four innings. The 29-year-old former ninth-rounder in 2018 out of Seattle University is showing why he's won back-to-back American League Cy Young awards. Through his first five starts in 2026, Skubal is 3-2 with a 2.08 ERA (2.07 FIP), 0.96 WHIP, and 33:6 K:BB in 30 1/3 innings pitched. He's currently tied for the fourth-most strikeouts in the AL. Skubal was the first pitcher off the board in fantasy drafts, and he'll be a must-start again in his next scheduled outing at home in Detroit against the Milwaukee Brewers.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 19, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks utility man
Ildemaro Vargas has played a bench role for the majority of his 10-season MLB career. However, the 34-year-old is off to a red-hot start to the 2026 season, hitting .377/.400/.623 with two home runs, eight RBI, and 11 runs scored across 56 plate appearances. With Diamondbacks first baseman/outfielder
Pavin Smith (elbow) recently hitting the 60-day injured list, Vargas has been getting the chance to play every day. Vargas' overall line is currently buoyed by an unsustainably high .409 batting average on balls in play, so regression is inevitable. Still, Vargas traditionally does a good job of making contact, which gives his batting average a high floor. As long as he continues to produce, Vargas should rack up counting stats in a strong Arizona lineup and offers multi-positional eligibility for fantasy managers. In deeper leagues, Vargas could be worth targeting on the waiver wire.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
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