New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (calf), who is on the 10-day injured list with a right-calf strain, has been swinging a bat indoors and playing catch, but he's not close to starting a running program, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Soto will continue to take part in light baseball activities when he heals. It's not a very serious calf injury, but the All-Star outfielder won't be back immediately when he's eligible to return from the 10-day IL. The four-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger winner is an absolute must-stash in all fantasy leagues as a five-category contributor. Soto was off to a strong start before his injury, too, going 11-for-31 (.355) at the plate with a homer, two doubles, five RBI, three runs scored, three walks, and six strikeouts in eight games played. Mark Vientos should continue to see his playing time rise as long as Soto remains on the shelf.

From RotoBaller

New York Mets infielder Jorge Polanco (Achilles) is getting the day off in Thursday's series finale against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks after his Achilles didn't feel great after playing on Wednesday, according to Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News. Manager Carlos Mendoza said that at some point, the Mets might have to put Polanco on the injured list, but for now, the situation remains "fluid." It's a recurring Achilles tendon issue for the veteran infielder, which is bad news for the Mets, considering his lengthy history of lower-body injuries. The 32-year-old Dominican's production on the field could be affected by his Achilles, too, as he's gone just 8-for-40 (.200) with no homers, one RBI, two runs, five walks, and six strikeouts in his first 10 games with the Mets in 2026. With outfielder Juan Soto (calf) on the 10-day injured list, both Mark Vientos and Brett Baty are seeing more consistent playing time in Queens.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll (hip) is out of the starting lineup against the New York Mets in the series finale on Thursday because he's dealing with what he says is a minor hip injury that he felt during his triple on Wednesday, according to Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. Carroll doesn't think the injury is serious and doesn't expect to miss much time. We'll consider him day-to-day for now and check back on his status on Friday to see if he can play against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. With Carroll out on Thursday, Jorge Barrosa is starting in right field for the Snakes and is batting ninth against Mets right-hander Nolan McLean. Carroll's hip injury is worth watching, and hopefully, for his fantasy managers' sake, it doesn't affect him on the basepaths. The former National League Rookie of the Year and two-time All-Star is off to a strong start in 2026, hitting .333/.408/.690 with two homers, 11 RBI, nine runs scored, and a steal in 42 at-bats.

From RotoBaller

Miami Marlins outfielder Griffin Conine (knee) will likely be placed on the 10-day injured list after injuring his left knee in Thursday's win over the Cincinnati Reds, according to Daniel Alvarez-Montes of El Extra Base. The Marlins are calling up first baseman Deyvison De Los Santos from Triple-A Jacksonville to replace Conine on the active roster. Conine came up lame on Thursday while diving for a ball in left field and limped off the field with a trainer. The severity of his knee injury is unknown, but it looks like he'll at least miss the next 10 days. The 28-year-old former second-round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018 out of Duke came into Thursday's action hitting .300 (6-for-20) with two home runs, four RBI, six runs scored, and two stolen bases, and he went hitless in two at-bats before departing the game. Heriberto Hernandez replaced Conine in left on Thursday and could see more playing time in the outfield with Conine on the IL.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll is taking the day off on Thursday in the series finale at Citi Field against the hosting New York Mets, according to MLB.com. Jorge Barrosa will make the start in right field for the Snakes and will hit ninth against Mets right-hander Nolan McLean. Carroll will take a seat after a strong start to the 2026 season, as he has gone 14-for-42 (.333) with two home runs, three doubles, a league-leading three triples, 11 RBI, nine runs scored, a steal, six walks, and 10 strikeouts in 49 plate appearances over 12 games played. Because of his ability to contribute in all fantasy categories at a high level, Carroll is one of the most valuable players in the game. He should be back in action on Friday for the team's series opener in Philadelphia against the Phillies. Barrosa has gone 4-for-19 (.211) with four doubles and two RBI in his first six games of the year. He'll be a poor DFS option on Thursday out of the nine-hole for Arizona.

From RotoBaller

Milwaukee Brewers third base prospect Andrew Fischer belted his first home run of the season (a grand slam) at High-A Wisconsin on Wednesday, finishing 2-for-4 with a walk, four RBI, and two runs scored; he was also caught stealing once. The Brewers' first-round pick from the 2025 Draft is now 5-for-13 (.385) on the young season, with three walks and a hit-by-pitch helping him to a robust .529 OBP. The Brewers' sixth-ranked prospect hit well at that level in 19 games last season, too, slashing .311/.402/.446 with a home run and eight steals. The left-handed slugger could see a quick hook to Double-A Biloxi and could see some time at Triple-A before the season is over. Although he is unlikely to see the majors in 2026, with a solid hit tool and above-average power, the 21-year-old could be fantasy-relevant in redraft leagues in 2027.

From RotoBaller

Colorado Rockies corner infielder/outfielder prospect Charlie Condon went 3-for-6 in his second game back at Triple-A Albuquerque after having a cyst removed, smacking his third home run of the season, and crossing the plate three times. Perhaps just as notable is that it was the first time this season that the right-handed hitter did not strike out in a game. The Rockies' second-ranked prospect is now 10-for-28 (.357) through seven games, and although the strikeouts remain on the high side (27.3 percent), he's hitting well and continuing to draw walks at an above-average rate (12.1 percent). If that trend continues, the former third-overall draft pick should get his call to the majors sooner rather than later. The 6-foot-5 slugger's power will be an asset at Coors Field, and managers looking for some home run and RBI production should consider stashing the 22-year-old in advance of a future call-up.

From RotoBaller

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso is off to a slow start in his first year with the club, hitting .188/.264/.292 with one home run, three RBI, and four runs scored through his first 53 plate appearances of 2026. The 31-year-old is striking out in a career-worst 28.3% of his plate appearances, and his 9.1% barrel rate is less than half of the 18.9% barrel rate he posted in 2025 as a member of the New York Mets. Still, Alonso has a long track record of being one of the best power hitters in baseball. Dating back to 2021, he's recorded five consecutive seasons with at least 34 home runs and 88 RBI. After signing a five-year, $155 million contract with the Orioles in free agency, Alonso could simply be pressing in an effort to ingratiate himself with a new fanbase. Fantasy managers should afford him a much larger sample size of plate appearances before hitting the panic button.

From RotoBaller

New York Mets pitching prospect Jonah Tong made his third start of the season on Wednesday for Triple-A Syracuse, allowing two earned runs on one hit and two walks while striking out seven in five innings of work. He also hit one batter. The right-hander threw 83 pitches in the outing (53 of them for strikes) and, at that pitch count, should be ready to return to the majors whenever the need arises for the Mets. The team's second-ranked prospect had an uneven debut in the majors last year, allowing one run or less in two starts but four or more in the other three; however, he was able to maintain his strikeout-per-inning rate with 22 punchouts in 18 2/3 innings pitched. Through three starts for Syracuse, the 22-year-old has looked good in two of them, while the other was a dud, but if he can get on a roll, the former seventh-rounder should get the call to the big leagues again within the next couple of months. There is strikeout upside here if managers in deeper leagues are looking for a stash option, but others may want to take a wait-and-see approach before rostering him.

From RotoBaller

San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. has established himself as one of the better players in all of baseball in recent seasons, making his third All-Star game and finishing eighth in the National League MVP vote in 2025. However, the 27-year-old is off to a slow start to his 2026 campaign. Through his first 53 plate appearances, Tatis Jr. is hitting .196/.283/.261 with zero home runs, four RBI, six runs scored, and three stolen bases. He's struck out in 28.3% of his plate appearances, which would be his worst mark over a full season since his rookie year in 2019. Still, a look under the hood at Tatis Jr.'s underlying hitting metrics should allay concerns for fantasy managers. He's posted an elite 68.8% hard-hit rate, meaning his lack of power can be ascribed to his average launch angle of 2.7 degrees. Once Tatis Jr.'s launch angle drifts back towards his career average of 10.1 degrees, his .261 slugging percentage should skyrocket. Tatis Jr.'s batting average is at risk without some improvement in his strikeout rate, but he remains an elite power/speed threat for fantasy managers despite the slow start.

From RotoBaller

Across 51 plate appearances so far in 2026, Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is hitting .268/.412/.366 with one home run, four RBI, and three runs scored. The 27-year-old currently boasts a career-best 17.8% walk rate while striking out in just 9.8% of his plate appearances. However, Guerrero Jr. has yet to get his power stroke going. With an average launch angle of 3.7 degrees, Guerrero Jr. is pounding the ball into the ground at a 52.8% rate. The lack of lift has been a problem for Guerrero Jr. at previous points in his career, as he's hit 26 home runs or fewer in two out of the last three seasons despite consistently posting elite batted-ball metrics. Still, Guerrero Jr. owns elite plate skills and should see his counting stats rise once Toronto comes out of its team-wide offensive funk. He remains an elite first base option for fantasy managers despite the relatively slow start.

From RotoBaller

Across his first 18 innings (three starts) in 2026, Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto has recorded a 2-1 record with a 2.50 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts. The 27-year-old has allowed just two walks on the season, and his overall line remains excellent. However, Yamamoto is not generating his usual level of swing-and-miss so far, as his 20.9% strikeout rate is down from the 29.4% rate he posted in 2025. Yamamoto threw 211 innings between the regular season and postseason in 2025, so his ability to sustain high-level production coming off a significant workload will be something for fantasy managers to monitor throughout this year. Still, Yamamoto's average fastball velocity early in the year is 95.8 mph, right in line with where he's been over his first two MLB seasons. He remains an elite starting pitcher option for fantasy managers in 2026.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect Josue De Paula's bat woke up in a big way on Wednesday for Double-A Tulsa, going 4-for-5 with his first home run of the season and five RBI. The Dodgers' top-ranked prospect is now 8-for-22 (.364) through five games and has shown the patient approach that has been evident throughout his minor league career with more walks (four) than strikeouts (three) thus far. The 20-year-old has also been active on the basepaths in the early going, with two steals so far, and he was also caught stealing twice. The 6-foot-3 slugger spent nearly all of 2025 at High-A, slashing .263/.406/.421 with 12 home runs, 32 steals, and an impressive 81:86 BB:K in 98 games there. MLB's No. 12 prospect could make quick work of Double-A if he continues to perform and should see time at Triple-A this year. With his talent and trajectory, he could even be in the mix for a late-season debut, but he is not a stash candidate in redraft leagues at the moment. The youngster has the makings of a future star and could have a big fantasy impact in 2027.

From RotoBaller

Through his first three starts of 2026, Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo has posted a 1.50 ERA and 0.78 WHIP with 17 strikeouts across 18 innings pitched. While Woo's numbers are excellent, the 26-year-old has yet to record his first win of the season due to a distinct lack of run support. Seattle has scored just six runs combined over Woo's three appearances. Woo established himself as one of the best young arms in baseball in 2025 by recording a 15-7 record with a 2.94 ERA and 0.93 WHIP with 198 strikeouts across 186 2/3 innings (30 starts). His trademark excellent control has been on display so far in 2026, as he's allowed just four walks and has yet to surrender a home run. Early on, Woo looks ready to repeat his ace-level production from 2025. His next start is scheduled for Tuesday in San Diego against the Padres.

From RotoBaller

Atlanta Braves pitching prospect Didier Fuentes was a bit erratic in his second start for Triple-A Gwinnett, but overall turned in another impressive outing. The Braves' third-ranked prospect allowed two hits, four walks, and he hit a batter, but yielded no runs and struck out eight in six innings of work. Through two starts, the right-hander has yet to allow a run and owns a 15:5 K:BB in 9 2/3 innings pitched. With the Braves' rotation depleted by injury in 2025, the 6-foot Colombian had a four-start debut with the team last season and has already made one relief appearance with the big league club in 2026, but was sent to Triple-A to get stretched out as a starter, as the rotation is again very much in need of help. The 20-year-old could be back in the majors soon if he continues to pitch well, and his strikeout upside should make him a viable stash option in deeper leagues.

From RotoBaller

Miami Marlins outfielder Griffin Conine (knee) left Thursday's game early against the visiting Cincinnati Reds with left-knee discomfort, according to the Marlins' broadcast. Conine injured his left knee while attempting to make a diving catch in left field in the top of the sixth inning and got up gimpy before eventually walking off the field under his own power with a trainer. We should know more about the severity of his injury following the game. Before getting hurt, Conine was hitless in his two at-bats. He was replaced in left field by Heriberto Hernandez. Conine came into Thursday's game hitting .300 (6-for-20) in his first 10 games in 2026 with two home runs, four RBI, six runs scored, two stolen bases, two walks, and six strikeouts. The 28-year-old has been relatively healthy in his professional career before suffering a shoulder subluxation in 2025 that required surgery. He played in just 54 games in the majors in his first two seasons with the Fish, hitting five home runs and driving in 20 in 175 plate appearances.

From RotoBaller

Athletics designated hitter/outfielder Brent Rooker (side) was forced to exit his team's Thursday matchup against the New York Yankees in the first inning after pulling up gingerly during a swing. While it's not yet entirely clear what Rooker's exact injury is, he was holding his side/oblique area as he went down the stairs of the Athletics dugout. Entering play on Thursday, Rooker was hitting .150/.250/.300 with two home runs, eight RBI, four runs scored, and two stolen bases across his first 48 plate appearances of 2026. The 31-year-old has established himself as one of the better right-handed power hitters in baseball in recent years, slugging 99 home runs over the past three seasons combined. Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler entered the game for Rooker on Thursday, and right-handed hitting utility man Andy Ibanez could be in line for more playing time if Rooker is sidelined for an extended stretch.

From RotoBaller

Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers (hamstring) will officially begin his minor-league rehab assignment on Friday with Triple-A Jacksonville, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. Stowers will then take Saturday off before returning to action with the Jumbo Shrimp on Sunday. The left-handed-hitting outfielder started the 2026 season on the 10-day injured list due to a right-hamstring strain that he suffered in spring training in March. The 28-year-old former second-round pick by the Baltimore Orioles out of Stanford in 2019 should be rostered in all fantasy leagues while he recovers from his hamstring injury. In an effort to keep Stowers healthy, the Marlins are considering using him as a first baseman, and he could see action there during his rehab assignment. Stowers was Miami's lone All-Star representative in 2025 and hit an impressive .288/.368/.544 with a .912 OPS, 25 home runs, 73 RBI, 61 runs scored, and five steals in 457 plate appearances. If Stowers can avoid further injuries, he has clear 30-homer power from the left side.

From RotoBaller

Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers is not in the team's starting lineup in the Bronx on Thursday against the New York Yankees, according to MLB.com. Austin Wynns will do the catching for left-hander Jeffrey Springs and will bat seventh against Yankees left-hander Ryan Weathers. Langeliers has been among the hottest hitters in baseball in the first couple of weeks of the season, as he enters play on Thursday with a .289/.333/.644 slash line, .978 OPS, five home runs, eight RBI, and seven runs scored in 45 at-bats. The 28-year-old backstop is tied for the major-league lead with his five home runs. Langeliers has had at least 22 home runs in each of the last three seasons, culminating in a career-high 31 long balls in 123 games in 2025. He has elite power at the weak catching position, making him a high-end starting fantasy backstop in a hitter-friendly home environment in Sacramento. Wynns has appeared in only three games this year and is 1-for-6 at the plate.

From RotoBaller

New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) is scheduled to face hitters in Hudson Valley on Sunday, manager Aaron Boone told Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Cole is going to start his minor-league rehab assignment this weekend after getting into a few spring training games last month and throwing live batting practice last Friday. The 35-year-old former Cy Young winner is recovering from Tommy John surgery that kept him out for all of last season. He threw 2 2/3 innings in Grapefruit League action and will be eased back into New York's starting rotation when he's activated from the injured list. Barring any setbacks, Cole probably won't make his 2026 season debut until mid- to late-May. Still, fantasy managers need to keep him stashed in an IL spot until then because of his ability to carry a rotation when healthy. Expectations should be tempered as he comes off TJ surgery, but Cole's upside is undeniable when he's in top form.

From RotoBaller