Andres Gimenez Emerging As Waiver Wire Target; Hot Start Adding Value: Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Andres Gimenez has established himself as an intriguing waiver wire option for fantasy managers with his hot start to the 2026 season. The 27-year-old is in his second year with Toronto and owns an .848 OPS with two home runs in nine games. Known for his defense, Gimenez has taken a step forward with the bat this season and is worth adding as he continues to produce. It is worth noting that he has also shown a positive trend in reducing strikeouts over his career, something for fantasy managers to keep an eye on as he looks to continue this production from the bottom end of the Jays lineup. - as of Sun, 05 Apr 2026 22:58:35
Kazuma Okamoto Struggles Continue; Adjustment Period Still Evident: Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto struggled again Sunday in a 3-0 loss vs. the Chicago White Sox, finishing 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a walk. This marks the 29-year-old's sixth game with multiple strikeouts, as he continues to have trouble limiting swing-and-miss. Okamoto is in his first MLB season and was known for an elite contact tool in Japan before coming overseas. He may still be adjusting to increased velocity at the major league level, with his strikeout rate at 42.9 percent. He has shown positive signs, however, with two home runs while slashing .235/.333/.412 in eight games. He will look to make adjustments quickly as he works to settle into Major League pitching. - as of Sun, 05 Apr 2026 22:46:50
Garrett Mitchell Off To Hot Start; Priority Waiver Target On The Rise: Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell is off to a hot start this season and has become a priority waiver wire target as he continues his early success. The 27-year-old is hitting .318 with a 1.014 OPS in eight games, showing an increase in power numbers early. Four of Mitchell's seven hits have gone for extra bases, and his average exit velocity sits at 98.4 mph, which ranks in the 99th percentile league-wide. This uptick in power has led to 11 RBI, and his strong production early is expected to create more opportunities moving forward. - as of Sun, 05 Apr 2026 22:37:46
Jordan Walker Breaking Out Early; Must-Add Waiver Target Emerging: St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker has enjoyed an early breakout in the 2026 season, emerging as a must-add waiver wire target with significant upside. The 23-year-old has already recorded two three-hit games along with two home runs, and is slashing .300/.382/.567 in nine games. Walker has always been a power threat, but he has displayed a major uptick in barrel percentage from 6.6% last year to 13.3% this year. He has cut down on strikeouts and taken more walks, all positive signs for the young talent in a limited sample size. These early underlying metrics point to extremely high potential for a breakout year, and fantasy managers should add Walker as soon as possible. - as of Sun, 05 Apr 2026 22:23:57
Gregory Soto Emerging As Must-Add Bullpen Option; Waiver Wire Value Rising: Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Gregory Soto is emerging as a key waiver wire opportunity, showing strong upside early in the 2026 season. The left-hander has allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings, while relying heavily on swing-and-miss stuff with 11 strikeouts. His 52.4 K% ranks in the 99th percentile, highlighting his dominance in a small sample. Soto has already recorded his first save of the season and owns a 0.75 WHIP with a .111 opponents average. If the 31-year-old maintains control and limits walks, he can continue to thrive in the back end of the Pirates bullpen and push for more save opportunities. - as of Sun, 05 Apr 2026 22:13:38
Seiya Suzuki Continues Rehab Assignment; Cubs Eye Weekend Return?: Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (knee) is expected to continue his rehab assignment Tuesday and Wednesday before rejoining the team Friday for a weekend series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Suzuki was placed on the 10-day injured list March 25 with a right knee injury and has spent the last few days playing with Double-A Knoxville. The 31-year-old has not played a game this season and will look to return to his everyday role upon activation. Suzuki is in his fifth season with Chicago and posted a .245 AVG, .326 OBP, and .478 SLG last year, providing a steady and productive bat in the lineup. - as of Sun, 05 Apr 2026 22:05:57
Mike Trout Exits Early After Getting Hit by Pitch: Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (hand) was removed early during Sunday's game against the Seattle Mariners. Trout was taken out of the contest after getting hit by a pitch during the eighth inning. According to Rhett Bollinger, it sounded like it hit Trout's hand pad, but he was pulled from the contest anyway. Before leaving, Trout went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a double. The expectation is that Trout will undergo imaging to determine the severity of the injury. Fantasy managers will need to check back for another update on his status. Bryce Teodosio took over in center field and could see an expanded role if Trout misses time. - as of Sun, 05 Apr 2026 19:11:49
Kodai Senga Sees Velocity Drop During Sunday's Start: New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga saw his velocity drop during Sunday's start against the San Francisco Giants. Senga was averaging 97.4 mph during his last start. He began Sunday's outing sitting at 96 mph on his fastball. The right-hander was averaging 93-94 mph during his final inning of work. Outside of the decreased velocity, Senga was sharp during Sunday's victory. He tossed 5.2 innings, allowing two earned runs while striking out seven batters in the no-decision. Senga has pitched well over his first two starts of the season, but the dip in velocity is concerning. Fantasy managers should monitor this situation during his next outing against the Athletics on April 11. - as of Sun, 05 Apr 2026 19:02:28
Sal Frelick Held Out for Precautionary Reasons: Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick (side) was held out of the starting lineup during Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals. This isn't shocking considering Frelick exited early during Saturday's contest due to a side issue. Brewers' manager Pat Murphy said Frelick could've played on Sunday, but they decided to play it safe. The Brewers were facing a southpaw on Sunday, so it's probably best for Frelick to return against right-hander Brayan Bello on Monday. Fantasy managers should check back ahead of Monday's game to confirm Frelick is back in the mix. - as of Sun, 05 Apr 2026 18:49:40
Brandon Lockridge Suffers Hip Injury on Sunday: Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Brandon Lockridge (hip) appears to have suffered an injury during Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals. Lockridge looks like he suffered a hip injury during this game, but didn't exit the contest. He was seen hobbling around late in the game, but stayed in through the entire contest. He finished this game, 1-for-2 with an RBI, a stolen base, and two walks. Lockridge should be considered day-to-day for now. He could miss a game or two, but hopefully won't need to be placed on the Injured List. - as of Sun, 05 Apr 2026 18:38:28
Carlos Santana Departs with Groin Issue: Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Carlos Santana (groin) was forced to exit early during Sunday's game against the Atlanta Braves. Santana singled in his lone plate appearance, but appears to have tweaked his groin in the process. Ildemaro Vargas replaced Santana at first base and could see more action at the cold corner. For now, Santana is considered day-to-day, but the D-Backs will likely continue to evaluate him. The veteran switch-hitter is off to a sluggish start and doesn't need to be rostered in most leagues at the moment anyway. - as of Sun, 05 Apr 2026 18:23:53
Addison Barger Exits with Ankle Injury: Toronto Blue Jays infielder/outfielder Addison Barger (ankle) was forced to make an early exit from Sunday's game against the Chicago White Sox. Barger departed the game in the bottom of the sixth inning due to bilateral ankle discomfort. Before exiting the game, Barger went 0-for-3 at the plate. Jays' manager John Schneider said Barger could return as early as Monday's game versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jesus Sanchez took over in right field during Sunday's game. The expectation is that Sanchez could see a few starts if Barger does miss any time. It doesn't sound like fantasy managers should be worried about Barger missing an extended period of time from this injury. - as of Sun, 05 Apr 2026 18:13:55
Hunter Brown Felt Something in His Shoulder on Friday: Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown (right shoulder) initially felt something in his shoulder on Friday, manager Joe Espada told Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. He had some imaging done in Sacramento before flying back to Houston to be evaluated by team doctors. After being evaluated, Brown was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain, retroactive to April 2. It's a crushing loss for the Astros. Brown is their ace and had been off to a 1-0 start with a 0.84 ERA through two starts. Across 10.2 innings of work, he has allowed five hits and six walks while striking out 17 batters. The team hasn't provided a timeline for his return, nor have they clarified who will take his spot in the rotation. Christian Roa was called up to fill his void on the 26-man roster, but he hasn't started a game since 2024 in the minors. - as of Sun, 05 Apr 2026 15:09:39
Brett Baty Scratched From Sunday's Lineup: New York Mets first baseman Brett Baty (thumb) was a late scratch after initially appearing in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the San Francisco Giants. Manager Carlos Mendoza told Andrew Tredinnick of USA Today that Baty is dealing with a sore left thumb after jamming it on a slide on Saturday. The injury is not believed to be serious, and there's a strong chance that the 26-year-old will get back into the lineup on Tuesday. Baty is off to a slow start at the plate, slashing .242/.242/.364 with zero home runs, zero walks, and a 30.3% strikeout rate so far. He has primarily played first base but also has three appearances at designated hitter and two in right field. Mark Vientos will start at first base in his absence on Sunday, and Jorge Polanco (Achilles) is back in the lineup as the designated hitter. - as of Sun, 05 Apr 2026 14:50:42
Pete Fairbanks Serving as Opener Before Going on Paternity List: Miami Marlins right-handed pitcher Pete Fairbanks will serve as the opener for Sunday's game against the New York Yankees. After the game, he will be placed on the paternity list. Fairbanks has been excellent, as per usual, in his role as the Marlins' closer early this season. Through three relief appearances, he has a 0.00 ERA, -0.15 FIP, five strikeouts, one hit, zero walks, and two saves. He won't be up for a save opportunity on Sunday, but rather will be tasked with setting an early tone against the top half of the Yankees' lineup. Marlins fans will have to be patient, though, as the start of Sunday's game has been delayed due to rain. As it stands, Fairbanks ranks as the #13 reliever in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026. - as of Sun, 05 Apr 2026 14:37:38
George Klassen Called Up to Start on Sunday: The Los Angeles Angels have selected the contract of right-handed pitching prospect George Klassen. He will be the Halos' starting pitcher on Sunday, making his MLB debut against the Seattle Mariners. Klassen was the Phillies' sixth-round pick in 2023, but he made his way to the Angels organization via trade in 2024. He posted an impressive 3.29 FIP and 11.05 K/9 at Double-A last year, but he did have an issue with walks. He was roughed up with a 7.94 FIP over 14 innings in spring training, but he posted a solid 4.2-inning start in Triple-A last week. He'll start for the Angels on Sunday after Ryan Johnson (illness) was scratched. Klassen throws an upper-90s fastball and puts effective break behind both his slider and cutter. It will be interesting to watch how his stuff plays against a star-studded Seattle lineup featuring Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh. - as of Sun, 05 Apr 2026 14:17:59
Juan Soto Not in the Lineup on Sunday: New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (right calf strain) remains absent from the lineup for Sunday's game against the San Francisco Giants. Soto suffered the injury on Friday and has been sidelined throughout the weekend. He's not expected to land on the injured list, but there hasn't been an exact timetable for his return. Soto is one of the best hitters in baseball, so the Mets would love to get him back in the lineup, but they also won't rush him back before he's ready. Through eight games this year, the 27-year-old owns a .355/.412/.516 slash line with one home run, five RBI, and 165 wRC+. Jared Young has taken over as the Mets' left fielder in Soto's absence. - as of Sun, 05 Apr 2026 14:10:55
Hunter Brown Placed on 15-Day Injured List with Right-Shoulder Strain: The Houston Astros have placed right-handed pitcher Hunter Brown (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list with a right-shoulder strain. According to Matt Kawahara of The Houston Chronicle, this transition is retroactive to April 2. In a corresponding move, the Astros promoted Christian Roa from Triple-A Sugar Land. Brown made his last outing on March 31 against the Boston Red Sox. In this start, the ace looked like his dominant self, logging six innings of one-run ball with just one hit and two walks. He struck out eight hitters. In his season debut, Brown tossed 4 2/3 innings with four hits, four walks, no runs, and nine punchouts. While Brown remains on the shelf, the Astros could turn to right-hander Spencer Arrighetti, who was unable to crack the team's Opening Day roster. - as of Sun, 05 Apr 2026 13:27:45
Jesus Luzardo Dominates Rockies on Saturday: Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo was dominant on Saturday in his first win of the 2026 season against the Colorado Rockies, allowing just one earned run on five hits while walking none and striking out 11 in 6 2/3 innings of work at Coors Field in Denver. It was a nice bounce-back outing early on for the 28-year-old southpaw, as he was greeted harshly in his season debut last week by the Texas Rangers, allowing six runs in six innings. Fantasy managers should have had Luzardo in their starting lineups on Saturday against the Rockies despite his rough opening start. In his dominant outing, he generated 23 swinging strikes. The former third-round pick by the Washington Nationals in 2016 is a high-upside strikeout arm on one of the best teams in baseball, giving him plenty of fantasy appeal in his third year in Philly. Fantasy managers will want to keep him active in his next scheduled outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks. - as of Sun, 05 Apr 2026 11:58:52
Byron Buxton Back in Sunday's Lineup: Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (forearm) is back in Sunday's lineup against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays and right-hander Nick Martinez, according to MLB.com. Buxton will serve as the designated hitter and will bat second for the Twins. The 32-year-old oft-injured veteran was removed from Friday's game against Tampa after being hit in the forearm by a pitch, and he was held from the lineup on Saturday as a precaution. Buxton thankfully avoided any structural damage in his arm and will return to action for the series finale. He will most likely return to outfield duties early next week. Fantasy managers may want to keep Buxton on their benches on Sunday, though, given his slow start at the plate in 2026. He's hitting just .154/.207/.269 with an RBI, one walk, and nine strikeouts in a small sample size of seven games. The good news is Buxton has a good history against Martinez, as he's hit .400 against him with two home runs and three RBI in 10 career at-bats. - as of Sun, 05 Apr 2026 11:54:46