Seattle Mariners right-hander Emerson Hancock had a special night on Sunday in Seattle in the series finale against the Cleveland Guardians at T-Mobile Park to earn his first victory of 2026. Hancock has never looked so good, throwing six scoreless and hitless innings while walking just one and striking out a career-high nine. If the 26-year-old keeps pitching anywhere near this level going forward, it will be impossible for Seattle to kick him out of the starting rotation when right-hander Bryce Miller (oblique) is ready to return from the injured list. It's unclear exactly how long he'll stick in the M's rotation, but he'll definitely be a popular matchup-based streamer in his second scheduled start of the year next week against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels. Hancock has been mediocre at the big-league level the last three years, going 8-9 with a 4.81 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 15.6% strikeout rate, and 7.6% walk rate in 162 2/3 innings. He's going to need to keep it up to be considered more than just a swingman in Seattle. Fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on Hancock's progression.

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Minnesota Twins right-handed reliever Cole Sands was called on for the team's first save opportunity on Saturday in Baltimore against the Orioles at Camden Yards, and he delivered for his first save of the year and his ninth total in his fifth big-league season. The 28-year-old slammed the door shut by striking out two in two scoreless and hitless innings in the 4-1 victory. The Twins are expected to utilize a closer-by-committee situation for saves, but it's definitely worth noting that Minnesota went with Sands for their first save chance. Other relievers that could be options for saves for manager Derek Shelton include Taylor Rogers and Justin Topa. Sharpening his secondary pitches would go a long way towards helping Sands lock down more save chances in the Twin Cities. For fantasy managers in deeper leagues in need of more saves options, Sands will be worth a look early on. He's currently only rostered in 11% of Yahoo leagues.

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Tampa Bay Rays right-handed reliever Edwin Uceta (shoulder) started the 2026 season on the 15-day injured list with a right-shoulder impingement, but he threw live batting practice on Friday and could be nearing a return to the Rays' bullpen in early April, barring a setback with his rehab. The 28-year-old carries plenty of strikeout upside at the back end of the Rays' bullpen, and he could have a clear path to lead the team in saves this year, especially after Griffin Jax blew his first two save opportunities in the first two ballgames of the season. Uceta is widely available in fantasy leagues right now, too, and is only rostered in 14% of Yahoo leagues. The Dominican reliever had a tidy 1.51 ERA and 0.82 WHIP in 41 2/3 innings with five saves in 2024 and was one of just five relievers to reach the 100-strikeout mark last year in 76 innings pitched. For the strikeout upside alone and potentially plenty of saves/holds, Uceta is probably one of the most attractive relief arms widely available on the waiver wire early in the season because of his shoulder injury.

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Los Angeles Angels right-hander Jose Soriano got off on the right foot in 2026 in his Opening Day start on Thursday in the team's 3-0 shutout win over the Houston Astros. Soriano was in top form on the road at Daikin Park, tossing six shutout innings with only two hits allowed, four walks, and seven strikeouts to pick up his first win of the year. The 27-year-old has teased upside before, only to disappoint fantasy managers. Still, Soriano is worth a look as a waiver-wire pickup early this year for his ground-ball abilities and high-end velocity as starting pitching depth. The Dominican hurler had a 4.26 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 31 starts a year ago and has a career .3.82 ERA (3.77 FIP), 1.31 WHIP, 22.3% strikeout rate, and 10.7% walk rate in four MLB seasons. Soriano will need to lower his walk rate to tap into his true ceiling. He faces a matchup against the Chicago Cubs in his second start of 2026 next week.

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St. Louis Cardinals left-hander looked sharp against the Tampa Bay Rays in his Opening Day start on Thursday, allowing only one earned run on seven hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out two in five innings of work for a no-decision. The 26-year-old southpaw was in a full-time starting role for the Cardinals in 2025 and went 8-12 with a 4.21 ERA (4.03 FIP) and 1.30 WHIP with a career-high 122 strikeouts and 40 walks in 151 2/3 innings over his 29 starts. Most of his best work last year came early in the season before a rough 14-start stretch in the middle of the year, where he had an ERA over 5.00. Liberatore was passable as a deep-league, matchup-based streamer in 2025, but his 18.8% strikeout rate left a lot to be desired in fantasy formats. It was a nice start for him on Thursday, but he faces a tough second matchup against the Mets, and fantasy managers in mixed leagues will want to see plenty more before they consider him off the waiver wire. Liberatore is only rostered in 24% of Yahoo leagues currently.

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Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick opened his 2026 season with a bang on Opening Day in Thursday's win over the Chicago White Sox with a rare home run. Frelick also went 1-for-3 with two walks and a run scored in Sunday's 9-7 victory over the White Sox, and he could be worth a look off the early-season waiver wire in fantasy leagues for managers looking for a boost in counting stats with Jackson Chourio out with a fractured hand. The 25-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder should see more consistent playing time while Chourio is out in Milwaukee's outfield. In his two full MLB seasons, Frelick has offered limited fantasy upside, though, slashing a combined .274/.336/.372 with a .708 OPS, 14 home runs, 95 RBI, 142 runs scored, and 37 stolen bases in 287 total games. Frelick is mostly an asset for his speed and runs scored, and he's currently only rostered in 27% of Yahoo leagues.

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The San Diego Union-Tribune's Jeff Sanders reports that although San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove (elbow) has resumed playing catch, there is no timeline for him to rejoin the team's starting rotation to make his 2026 debut. The last time Musgrove threw off a mound was when he delivered 60 pitches in an exhibition game against Great Britain on March 4 due to a setback with his right elbow after having Tommy John surgery in October of 2024. Musgrove didn't pitch at all for the Padres last year. The good news is that an MRI exam didn't show anything concerning. Still, he needs to build up to bullpen sessions before eventually going on a minor-league rehab assignment. Given where Musgrove is in his throwing program, we'd be surprised if the Padres get the 33-year-old veteran back in April. President of baseball operations A.J. Preller didn't have a good answer for when Musgrove might be back, but he doesn't think it will be months out, either. Fantasy managers stashing Musgrove in deeper leagues will need to be patient early this year.

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Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs in the team's 6-3 loss to the visiting Washington Nationals on Sunday in the series finale at Wrigley Field. It was a nice bounce-back game for Bregman, who had recorded just one single in his first two games with the Cubbies, but it was not enough to keep Chicago from losing two of the three games in the series against the Nats. Along with providing excellent defense at the hot corner, the 31-year-old veteran should have a good chance for a strong offensive season at the Friendly Confines at Wrigley in 2026. The three-time All-Star was an All-Star in 2025 in his lone season with the Boston Red Sox, slashing .273/.360/.462 with an .821 OPS, 18 home runs, 62 RBI, and 64 runs scored in 495 plate appearances and 114 regular-season games. Bregman isn't getting any younger, but he still has enough power from the right side of the plate and great plate discipline that make him a starting fantasy third baseman in all formats.

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Tampa Bay Rays first baseman/designated hitter Yandy Diaz was at his best in the team's 11-7 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Sunday in the series finale, going 5-for-6 with a double, four RBI, and two runs scored as the designated hitter out of the leadoff spot. It's a reminder that the 34-year-old Cuban veteran is a pretty darn good hitter. It was his 10th career game with four hits. Diaz is blazing hot at the plate to begin the 2026 season, going 9-for-16 (.563) in the first three games. He might not provide a ton of power -- he's only had 20-plus homers in two of his 10 big-league seasons -- but there is plenty of value in Diaz having the fourth-best batting average in baseball since 2021. Over that same timeframe, Diaz has the sixth-best on-base percentage. He's not incredibly sexy in fantasy leagues, but he's a glue guy for your lineups in OBP leagues, and he'll also provide a stable batting average and plenty of runs scored at the top of Tampa's lineup.

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Los Angeles Dodgers utility men Tommy Edman (ankle) and Enrique Hernandez (elbow) were both able to take batting practice on the field on Sunday and are progressing well, manager Dave Roberts told Jack Harris of The California Post. The hope is that Edman can return in late May, but the team is also optimistic that he could be back sooner. Roberts said he'd be "shocked" if Hernandez isn't ready to return when his 60-day injured list stint is up. Edman had right-ankle surgery in November of last year and opened the 2026 campaign on the 10-day IL. The veteran infielder is expected to see most of his playing time at the keystone in L.A. when he returns, battling for playing time with Miguel Rojas and Hyeseong Kim. Neither Edman nor Hernandez has much fantasy value, outside of deep NL-only leagues for bench depth.

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Seattle Mariners outfielder Dominic Canzone is off to a hot start to the 2026 season, hitting two home runs in eight plate appearances across the team's first three games of the season. As expected, the lefty-hitting Canzone was out of the starting lineup for Seattle's matchup against Cleveland Guardians' left-handed starter Joey Cantillo on Sunday. Still, Canzone looks like the Mariners primary designated hitter against right-handed starting pitchers. The 28-year-old excelled against right-handed pitching in 2025, slashing .308/.355/.524 with 10 home runs and 28 RBI in 201 plate appearances. Canzone could be a cheap source of power for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire heading into the second week of the 2026 season.

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Texas Rangers first baseman is off to a strong start to the 2026 season, hitting two home runs in nine plate appearances across the Rangers' first two games. The 29-year-old had a down year in his first season with Texas in 2025, hitting .236/.269/.419 with 16 home runs, 53 RBI, 43 runs scored, and one stolen base across 376 plate appearances. However, Burger still owns a 14.3% barrel rate for his career and hit 63 home runs across 1,109 plate appearances split between the Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins in 2023 and 2024. Burger has also been parked in the cleanup spot in the Texas order in each of the team's contests in 2026, which should put him in a prime position to rack up RBI. Burger has also struck out four times in his nine trips to the plate so far this year, so fantasy managers should consider the damage he might do in the batting average category. Still, Burger could be a cheap source of power to pick up off the waiver wire early in 2026.

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St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Ryne Stanek appears to be the team's preferred closer early in the 2026 season, as he came into the game in save opportunities in each of his first two appearances of the season. Stanek converted the save in his first chance and blew the save in his second, so he may not have an ironclad hold on the ninth-inning role. However, St. Louis does not have an obvious alternative on its roster between high-leverage arms Riley O'Brien, JoJo Romero, and Matt Svanson. The 33-year-old Stanek had recorded 14 saves across 458 1/3 career big-league innings entering 2026. He owns a 27.1% career strikeout rate, but has also walked 11.9% of the batters he's faced in his career and pitched to a 5.30 ERA with a 1.57 WHIP across 56 innings for the New York Mets in 2025. Still, Stanek is worth picking up off the waiver wire as an early-season saves candidate in most fantasy formats.

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Cleveland Guardians outfielder Chase DeLauter is off to a red-hot start to the 2026 season, as he's hit four home runs in 14 plate appearances over his first three games of the year. The 24-year-old has also batted second in front of superstar Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez all three contests, a good sign for DeLauter's ability to rack up counting stats. While DeLauter was called up to the big leagues for Cleveland's postseason run in 2025, 2026 represents his first chance to establish himself as an everyday MLB outfielder. Health remains the biggest red flag in DeLauter's profile, as he has failed to reach 250 plate appearances in three consecutive professional seasons and has broken his left foot twice. However, if he can stay healthy, DeLauter could challenge for the American League Rookie of the Year Award. In any fantasy league where DeLauter is not already rostered, he should be a priority waiver wire target.

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Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Lucas Erceg was primarily utilized as a setup man in 2025, posting a 2.64 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 48 strikeouts, eight wins, and two saves across 61 1/3 innings (61 games). However, Royals closer Carlos Estevez (ankle) allowed six earned runs while recording just one out in his first appearance of the 2026 season on Saturday. Estevez also allowed three home runs and four walks in five innings pitched in Spring Training, and he's currently nursing an ankle injury. Royals manager Matt Quatraro alluded to using Estevez in lower-leverage situations for the time being, which could open the door for Erceg to take over as Kansas City's primary closer. Erceg recorded 14 saves and a 28.5% strikeout rate across 61 2/3 innings split between the Athletics and Royals in 2024. He profiles as a priority waiver-wire target in any fantasy league where he is not currently roster.

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Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Jordan Romano looks to be his team's primary closer early in the 2026 season. The 32-year-old has recorded three strikeouts and a save without allowing a hit across his first two appearances, both of which came in the ninth inning. With Angels relievers Kirby Yates (knee) and Ben Joyce (shoulder) both currently on the injured list, Romano should have an extended run in the closer role in Los Angeles as long as he pitches reasonably well. The veteran right-hander recorded 95 saves across three seasons as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays from 2021 to 2023, but he's battled injuries and ineffectiveness over the past two seasons. While he may never get back to his peak form, Romano could be a bounce-back candidate with improved health in 2026. He profiles as a priority waiver-wire target in any fantasy league where he's not already rostered.

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Chicago White Sox infielder Lenyn Sosa is out of the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. This marks the second time in the first three games that Sosa has been held out of the starting lineup. The expectation was that Sosa would have a bigger role after smacking a career-high 22 home runs in 2025. Instead, Sosa appears to be stuck in a part-time role on the South Side of Chicago. So far this season, Sosa is 0-for-6 and might end up only playing against left-handed pitching. Andrew Benintendi will serve as the designated hitter while Everson Pereira starts in right field versus right-hander Brandon Sproat on Sunday.

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New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez will head to the bench ahead of Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. This appears to be a routine rest day for Alvarez, who has started in both games to begin the season. So far this season, Alvarez is 2-for-6 with one home run, one RBI, and one walk. Luis Torrens will take over behind the plate and bat ninth versus right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski on Sunday. Torrens doesn't offer enough upside to warrant streaming, but Alvarez has mixed league value at the moment.

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Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Marcell Ozuna (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the New York Mets. This looks to be a routine rest day for Ozuna, who started the first two games of the season. Over that span, Ozuna is 1-for-9 with a walk, so a trip to the bench seems fair. Bryan Reynolds will cover left field, while Jake Mangum takes over as the designated hitter versus right-hander Nolan McLean on Sunday. Ozuna has good power upside, but is only worth a look in mixed leagues to start the season.

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