Through the first month of the 2026 season, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker hasn't quite given his new team the production they were hoping for. Across 133 plate appearances, Tucker is hitting .241/.331/.371 with three home runs, 15 RBI, 21 runs scored, and three stolen bases. The 29-year-old has been a bit better of late, as he enters play on Thursday riding a five-game hitting streak. Still, Tucker's 21.8% strikeout rate is his worst mark since 2019. His underlying metrics don't point to an imminent power breakout either, as his 8.0% barrel rate is the lowest mark he's posted since a 72-plate appearance sample size from his rookie season in 2018. As long as Tucker stays healthy, he's a lock for everyday playing time in Los Angeles and should continue to rack up counting stats, which gives him a safe fantasy floor. However, fantasy managers hoping for Tucker to return to his 29-homer, 30-steal peak from 2023 may end up disappointed.

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Seattle Mariners infield prospect Colt Emerson (wrist) returned to the lineup at Triple-A Tacoma last week after sitting out a few games with a minor wrist injury. In the five games since his return, the Mariners' top-ranked prospect has struggled to get back into a rhythm at the plate, going 3-for-20 (.150) over that span, though two of his hits went for extra bases (one double, one home run) and he drew five walks as well (20.0 percent BB%). For the season, the former first-round draft pick is hitting just .232, but has recorded a solid .351 on-base percentage thanks to a 13.3 percent walk rate, and is slugging .427. With seven steals already through 23 games, the left-handed slugger has the look of a potential multi-category contributor for fantasy. Though he's just 20 years old, MLB's No. 7 prospect overall could be in the majors within weeks, so fantasy managers in deeper leagues should consider stashing him ahead of time.

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Milwaukee Brewers pitching prospect Logan Henderson continues to be one of the top pitchers to stash for fantasy baseball while being downright dominant for Triple-A Nashville to begin the year. The Brewers' sixth-ranked prospect made his longest appearance of the season in his last outing, throwing 67 pitches (46 strikes) over five innings of one-run ball while striking out nine batters. The right-hander now owns a 1.02 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and a 26:9 K:BB over 17 2/3 innings pitched. A 12.3 percent walk rate is a bit out of character for the former fourth-rounder after coming into the season with a 7.1 percent walk rate during his minor league career to that point, but he's still posting a strong 23.3 percent K-BB%. With Quinn Priester, who had a strong 2025 campaign, currently in the midst of a rehab assignment at Nashville, Henderson may have some competition the next time a rotation spot opens up, but he offers far more strikeout upside, and the 24-year-old is worthy of stashing in all formats. It is worth noting that Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff exited his start on Thursday in the second inning after seeing a significant dip in velocity compared to his previous starts, so the time is now to grab Henderson from the waiver wire.

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Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar has largely been a steady producer throughout his career to this point. However, the 24-year-old is off to a nightmarish start to the 2026 season, hitting .195/.235/.292 with one home run, eight RBI, nine runs scored, and two stolen bases across 119 plate appearances entering play on Thursday. Tovar's plate skills remain a major flaw, as he's walked in just 3.4% of his plate appearances while striking out at a 29.4% clip. Unlike in previous seasons, Tovar's quality of contact hasn't been enough to make up for his free-swinging approach, as he currently owns a career worst 7.7% barrel rate. Tovar's .273 batting average on balls in play is significantly below his career average of .327, so he should see some regression over a larger sample size of plate appearances. Still, fantasy managers may want to consider going in a different direction, particularly when Tovar and the Rockies are on the road and away from the hitter-friendly Coors Field.

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Detroit Tigers outfield prospect Max Clark continues to show off his offensive potential that could soon be on display in the majors. The Tigers' second-ranked prospect is riding a four-game hit streak and has now reached base via hit or walk in all but three of his 26 games for Triple-A Toledo this season. The left-handed hitter is slashing .301/.378/.437 with nearly as many walks (14) as strikeouts (16) and nine stolen bases. The former third-overall draft pick came into the season with a career 18.5 percent strikeout rate, but has cut that all the way down to 13.4 percent this season, and it is looking like there isn't much left to prove offensively in the minors. President of baseball operations Scott Harris recently stated the team isn't ready to promote him, but with Detroit's outfield options getting thin after injuries to Parker Meadows (arm) and Javier Baez (ankle), the 21-year-old's MLB debut presumably draws nearer and nearer. With the potential to be a solid five-category contributor, there aren't many better hitters in the minor leagues to stash for fantasy.

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Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff (undisclosed) exited in the second inning of his start against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday. Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, Woodruff's fastball velocity failed to reach 87 mph after sitting at 92.5 mph across his first five starts of the year. Woodruff faced just six batters against Arizona, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out two across 1 1/3 scoreless innings. The 33-year-old had been effective across 28 2/3 innings entering Thursday, pitching to a 3.77 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 23 strikeouts and two wins. However, Woodruff has not reached 100 innings in a season since 2022 and missed the entire 2024 campaign due to shoulder surgery. While it's too early to speculate on an injury for Woodruff, the drastic velocity drop is obviously a major cause for concern. If Woodruff requires a trip to the injured list, Brewers right-hander Logan Henderson could get the call from Triple-A to take Woodruff's place in the Brewers rotation.

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By his own lofty standards, Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got off to a little bit of a slow start to the 2026 season. However, the 25-year-old has started to heat up as April draws to a close and is currently riding a 10-game hitting streak into the Royals matchup against the Athletics on Thursday. Across 134 plate appearances for the season overall, Witt Jr. is hitting .297/.366/.441 with two home runs, 15 RBI, 10 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. While Witt Jr.'s power stroke hasn't quite gotten going yet, his 12.2% barrel rate is right in line with his career mark of 11.9%, and his 52% hard-hit rate would be a single-season best. Witt Jr. remains an elite fantasy shortstop who should provide above-average five-category production once again in 2026.

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Miami Marlins pitching prospect Robby Snelling should remain a top pitcher to stash in fantasy leagues for his strikeout upside. The Marlins' second-ranked prospect displayed uncharacteristically poor command in his latest start, yielding five walks and being charged with a wild pitch in five innings of work, but still only allowed two hits in the outing while adding four strikeouts. The southpaw owns a 2.25 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP, and a strong 22.3 percent K-BB% (35:14 K:BB) in 24 innings pitched at Triple-A Jacksonville. Snelling is not on the 40-man roster, while teammate Braxton Garrett is, and with the latter looking dominant in his own right, Snelling may not be the first name called when the Marlins need an arm, but he'll likely be called upon for his MLB debut in the coming weeks. Look for him to bounce back in his next start on Friday against Durham, and with his strikeout potential, the 22-year-old is worth stashing in deeper leagues ahead of his eventual call-up.

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Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz has gotten off to a slow start to the 2026 season. Entering play on Thursday, the 27-year-old is hitting .229/.250/.349 with two home runs, 12 RBI, and six runs scored across his first 88 plate appearances of the year. Diaz's underlying metrics don't provide much reason for optimism either, as he currently owns career low barrel (4.2%) and hard-hit (29.6%) rates. Diaz's lack of plate discipline continues to be an issue, as his 3.4% walk rate is right in line with his career mark of 3.6%. Diaz entered 2026 Spring Training dealing with a foot sprain, which could be a reason for his poor production at the plate so far. Either way, veteran Astros catcher Christian Vazquez is off to a red-hot start to the year with a .913 OPS. If Vazquez continues to play well and Diaz continues to struggle, Diaz could find himself losing playing time in Houston.

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Houston Astros closer Josh Hader (biceps) has yet to pitch in 2026 as he works his way back from a biceps injury. There was some thought in Spring Training that Hader might have a chance to return in April, but the 32-year-old was transferred to the 60-day injured list in the middle of the month and is not eligible to return in late May. Still, the Astros have struggled mightily to backfill for Hader while he's been out, as right-hander Bryan Abreu has pitched to a 12.96 ERA. Hader remained one of the best relievers in baseball when healthy in 2025, pitching to a 2.05 ERA and 0.85 WHIP with 76 strikeouts and 28 saves across 52 2/3 innings. Once he makes it back to the big leagues, Hader should immediately step in as the unquestioned closer in Houston. However, health remains a question mark until Hader can progress to a rehab assignment.

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Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (back) will miss a second straight game on Thursday against the Athletics in the series finale at Sutter Health Park after aggravating a back injury on Tuesday night, according to MLB.com. Catcher Salvador Perez will start at first base again and bat cleanup against A's left-hander Jeffrey Springs, with Elias Diaz doing the catching for left-hander Noah Cameron while hitting ninth in the batting order. Pasquantino is not ready to return, plus the Royals are facing a lefty starter. Fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on the Pasquatch going forward, as he said on Wednesday that he's been dealing with back issues for a while now. It helps explain why he's currently hitting just .167 (17-for-102) in the early portion of the year with three home runs, 14 RBI, and 11 runs scored. If he's unable to return to the Royals' starting lineup for their weekend series in Seattle against the Mariners, he might be forced to the 10-day injured list to let his back heal.

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Athletics first baseman/outfielder Tyler Soderstrom (head, shoulder) remains out of the starting lineup for Thursday's series finale against the visiting Kansas City Royals at Sutter Health Park, according to MLB.com. Carlos Cortes will make another start in left field for the A's and will hit sixth against Royals left-hander Noah Cameron. Soderstrom is still a little banged up from making a diving catch in left field on Tuesday and will sit out for the second straight game. His injury isn't serious at all, though, so fantasy managers should expect the left-handed-hitting slugger to return to action on Friday for the series opener against the visiting Cleveland Guardians. The 28-year-old Cortes has been on fire in the early going of the 2026 season for the A's, batting .400 (26-for-65) with four home runs, 13 RBI, and eight runs scored in his first 24 games. He comes into Thursday's game riding a nine-game hitting streak, going 17-for-30 (.567) with three homers, three doubles, a triple, seven RBI, and four runs scored during that span.

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Baltimore Orioles left-hander Trevor Rogers (illness) is dealing with the flu and stayed home the last two days throwing up, which is why the team made the move to put him on the 15-day injured list, manager Craig Albernaz told Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun. The skipper expects Rogers back as soon as the minimum 15 days are up. After three straight quality starts to begin the 2026 campaign, Rogers has gone in the wrong direction, allowing 13 runs (12 earned) on 19 hits (three homers) while walking five and striking out 13 in 11 1/3 innings pitched over his last three starts. His placement on the IL will give Rogers plenty of time to overcome the flu and be ready to rejoin Baltimore's starting rotation in a couple of weeks. It's unclear who will take over Rogers' spot in the rotation for the next two turns through, but it could be young left-hander Cade Povich. Fantasy managers holding Rogers should give him the benefit of the doubt and stash him while he recovers from his illness. In 18 starts for the O's in 2025, he had an ERA under 2.00 with 103 K's in 109 2/3 innings.

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Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday (hand) expects to start another minor-league rehab assignment next week, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. Holliday has been working out at Camden Yards after being pulled off his rehab assignment for a second time with soreness in his surgically-repaired right hand. The 22-year-old suffered a broken hamate bone early in spring training and required surgery, which is why he has yet to appear for Baltimore this year. Hopefully, the third time on a rehab assignment for Holliday is the charm, but there remains no timetable for him to make his 2026 season debut in the majors. In the meantime, Jeremiah Jackson will continue to carve out regular playing time in the keystone in Baltimore. In 56 plate appearances in the minors, Holliday has struggled to the tune of a .176/.250/.235 slash line. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues appear to be getting tired of stashing the former first overall pick, as he's now rostered in under 50% of Yahoo leagues.

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New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (forearm) could return to playing the outfield this weekend in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels, manager Carlos Mendoza told Jorge Castillo of ESPN. Soto was initially limited to designated hitter after returning from his calf strain last week before dealing with left-forearm tightness. In seven games since returning from the 10-day injured list, Soto has picked up where he left off offensively, going 7-for-24 (.292) with two home runs, a double, three RBI, and two runs scored in seven games played. The 27-year-old Dominican All-Star continues to be an offensive force for the Mets and for fantasy managers, and he's a must-start in all traditional leagues when he's active. Overall in 55 at-bats in 2026, Soto has a .327/.422/.545 slash line with a .967 OPS, three homers, eight RBI, and five runs scored. Even with Soto returning to the outfield soon, both MJ Melendez and Tyrone Taylor could see expanded playing time in New York going forward with Luis Robert Jr. (back) landing on the IL on Thursday.

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Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II will take a seat for Thursday's series finale against the visiting Detroit Tigers with left-hander Framber Valdez on the mound, according to MLB.com. Eli White will make the start in center field for the Braves and will bat ninth. Harris typically starts against lefties, so this is probably just a good time for the Braves to give him a day off. He's gone 7-for-28 (.250) in 30 plate appearances against southpaws so far this year and has one of his six home runs on the season against them. Overall, Harris has been great in 2026, slashing .320/.355/.540 with an .895 OPS, six long balls, 20 RBI, 11 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 29 games played. He's gone 18-for-38 (.474) with four of his six homers in 12 games across the last two weeks. There aren't many players hotter than Harris in the first month of the season, and he should be back in Atlanta's starting nine for their series opener in Colorado against the Rockies on Friday.

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Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart is making a start at third base and will bat cleanup for the Reds in Thursday's series finale against the visiting Colorado Rockies and right-hander Michael Lorenzen, according to MLB.com. Ke'Bryan Hayes is getting the day off, and Nathaniel Lowe will make the start across the diamond at first base for Cincy. This will be Stewart's first start at the hot corner in 2026, although he started four games at third last year and played the position plenty in the minors. If Stewart sees enough playing time at third to gain eligibility at the position in fantasy, it would only add to his rising profile in his first full season in the majors. The 22-year-old former first-rounder in 2022 has been one of the most productive hitters in baseball through the first month, hitting .288 (32-for-111) with nine home runs, 29 RBI, 19 runs scored, and even seven stolen bases in 30 games played. He leads baseball with his 29 RBI and .442 rOBA. Stewart quickly became a popular waiver-wire pickup in April, and he's now rostered in over 90% of Yahoo leagues.

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Philadelphia Phillies right-handed closer Jhoan Duran (oblique) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Thursday for the first time since landing on the 15-day injured list with a left-oblique strain, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Duran has been on the IL for 16 days, but the Phillies are optimistic about his progress, and he could rejoin the back of the Phillies' bullpen soon. The hard-throwing 28-year-old Dominican is rostered in 97% of Yahoo leagues, so there's a slim chance he's available on your league's waiver wire. When healthy, Duran is one of the most dominant closers in baseball. Before going on the IL, he had a 1.35 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, five saves, eight strikeouts, and no walks in his 6 2/3 innings pitched. Duran had a career-high 32 saves last year between the Phillies and Minnesota Twins. With Duran sidelined of late, right-hander Brad Keller has emerged as the club's primary option for saves in the ninth inning.

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Atlanta Braves rookie right-hander JR Ritchie will stick around in the team's starting rotation for now, even with Spencer Strider (oblique) set to come off the 15-day injured list to make his 2026 season debut on Sunday against the Colorado Rockies in Denver, manager Walt Weiss told Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The 22-year-old former first-rounder in 2022 made his major-league debut on April 23 against the Washington Nationals and struck out seven while giving up two earned runs in seven innings for his first big-league victory, and he followed it up with a 5 1/3-inning showing on April 29 against the Detroit Tigers in which he allowed two earned runs while fanning four. Ritchie's next scheduled outing will come against the Seattle Mariners next week, but it's unclear how Atlanta's rotation will adjust after that. For now, Ritchie remains one of the best young arms to roster in fantasy baseball, and it appears he may not be headed back to Triple-A Gwinnett after all. He's rostered in only 36% of Yahoo leagues, so Ritchie is widely available.

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Toronto Blue Jays third baseman/outfielder Addison Barger (ankles) is scheduled to run the bases for the first time on Thursday, and he could head for a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend and rejoin the Jays next week, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. Barger is recovering from an injury to both of his ankles that he suffered when sliding back on April 5. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter was off to a rough start at the plate before landing on the 10-day injured list, too, going just 1-for-19 with two RBI and a run scored in his first eight games. It's a small sample size, though, and Barger should play regularly in Toronto in right field against right-handed pitchers when he's back to full speed and with the big-league club. The former sixth-round pick in 2018 was a postseason hero for Toronto last fall in their run to the World Series, and he slashed .243/.301/.454 with 21 home runs, 74 RBI, 61 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 135 regular-season games in 2025 in his first full year in the majors for the Jays. Barger is rostered in 27% of Yahoo leagues at the moment while he recovers from injuries to both of his ankles.

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