New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge went 3-for-3 with a home run, three RBI, one run, and one walk in a 5-4 loss to the Orioles on Wednesday. He continues to show why he is the best hitter in baseball, and his .427/.521/.761 slash line is almost unbelievable. This was his fourth straight multi-hit game and his third home run over that span. Judge could potentially make a run at the triple crown this season and is making his case to be the first overall pick of 2026 fantasy drafts.

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Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk in a 7-2 win over the Nationals on Wednesday. It was his ninth home run of the season, and he is now slashing .245/.398/.538 on the season. The slugger has taken a step forward in plate discipline through the first month of the year, as his 18.0% walk rate and 21.8% strikeout rate are both better than their 2024 counterparts of 15.3% and 28.5%, respectively. He is also seeing more time in the cleanup spot instead of being the primary leadoff hitter, which has allowed him to drive in 23 runs in 30 games. He remains one of the premier sources of power for fantasy.

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Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito tossed a quality start in his first game of the season on Wednesday in a 7-6 loss to the Blue Jays. He struck out seven while allowing three runs on five hits and two walks over six innings. He didn't break a sweat through the first five innings, holding Toronto scoreless with just three hits and a walk. He began to unravel a bit in the sixth, allowing all three of his earned runs on a walk and two home runs. Overall, it was a very promising start for someone who hasn't pitched in a major league game since 2023. The former ace is finally healthy again and is worth an add in fantasy in case he starts to look like his old self again.

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Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Luis L. Ortiz pitched 6 scoreless innings in a 4-2 win over the Twins on Wednesday. He struck out five while allowing three hits and two walks. This was his best start of the season so far, as he came into the outing with an inflated 5.96 ERA, which he lowered to 4.78 after this start. Ortiz certainly isn't the most stable pitcher, but one promising aspect of his skillset is his 30.9% whiff rate, which ranks in the 80th percentile. If he can continue to miss bats while limiting hard contact, he could become more fantasy relevant down the line, but for now, he's a streaming option at best.

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St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn filled up the stat sheet in a 6-0 win over the Reds in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday. He was moved up into the second spot in the batting order and instantly showed he belonged there by hitting two home runs, walking twice, and stealing a base. He's gotten off to a slow start at the dish this season but has slowly raised his stat line to a respectable .260/.345/.425 with three home runs and two stolen bases. It's too early to give up on Winn as a potential breakout candidate with the upside for 20 homers and 20 steals.

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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that right-handed reliever Justin Martinez (shoulder) said he feels great despite dealing with shoulder fatigue recently, but with his velocity down, the skipper said that imaging and/or an injured-list stint are possible. The D-backs continue to evaluate Martinez, and an IL stint can't be ruled out. The 23-year-old Dominican gave up his first run of the season, walked two and hit a batter on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves but still managed to hold on for his third save of the year in the 6-4 win. He entered for another save chance on Wednesday night against the New York Mets but allowed two earned runs on a homer while walking two without recording an out before Ryan Thompson came entered to close things out. It's looking more and more like that Martinez is going to need a trip to the IL, and with A.J. Puk (elbow) already out, Thompson, Shelby Miller and Jalen Beeks could be candidates for saves in Arizona moving forward.

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Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect Konnor Griffin went 2-for-5 on Wednesday for Single-A Bradenton, with a solo home run and two runs scored. It was the third multi-hit game in his last four contests, going 8-for-18 (.444) with three doubles, two home runs, and a stolen base over that stretch. The hot streak pushed his season-long slash line to .265/.333/.518 with five home runs and 11 steals. The ninth-overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft is getting his first taste of professionalbaseball this season and performing well, although if there's one thing to criticize, it is that the former first-rounder has struck out at least once in seven consecutive games and owns a 29.7 percent strikeout rate on the year. Nevertheless, Pittsburgh's second-ranked prospect (MLB No. 40) is just 19 years old, so there's plentyof time to make improvements. With five-category potential, dynasty managers shouldbe keeping a very close eye on him, and the 6-foot-4 slugger could easily find himself comfortably within the top 25 prospects in all of baseball by season's end.

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WashingtonNationals outfield prospect Daylen Lile was promoted to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday on the heels of a 14-game hit streak, and promptly collected his first Triple-A hit in a 1-for-4 day at the plate, extending the streak to 15 games. The formersecond-round draft pick flashed his speed, withthe hit going for a triple, and he also walked once in the contest. Before the call-up, the 22-year-old was slashing .319/.340/.505, displaying a blend of speed and power with five doubles, three triples, a pair of home runs, and six stolen bases. The Nationals don't have a need for an outfielder at the moment, and also have outfield prospect Robert Hassell III already at Triple-A, but with a strong season at the highest level of the minors, Lile and his intriguing fantasy tools could push for a late-season call-up.

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Colorado Rockies right-handed reliever Victor Vodnik (shoulder) resumed playing catch on Saturday and said the inflammation in his right shoulder has calmed. Vodnik was placed on the injured list on April 20 with right-shoulder inflammation but is making progress and is expected to return to the major-league bullpen on May 5. Between now and then, the 25-year-old should be expected to go on a short minor-league rehab assignment to get back up to speed. The former 14th-round pick by the Atlanta Braves in 2018 appeared in nine games out of the bullpen for Colorado before his injury and allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits while walking six and striking out eight in eight innings. Vodnik also recorded a save and also picked up nine saves in 15 chances a year ago. Given his lack of strikeout stuff and his inability to miss bats in 2024, Vodnik isn't a great option for fantasy managers speculating on saves.

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The Chicago Cubs called up right-hander Chris Flexen from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, sources told ESPN's Jesse Rogers. The 30-year-old veteran gets the call to the big leagues after going 3-0 with a 1.16 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 21 strikeouts and eight walks in 23 1/3 frames over five starts at Iowa to begin the year. Flexen's solid results on the farm have come after he made a change to his arm slot. It remains to be seen if he can continue to be that successful in the big leagues with the Cubs, where he's expected to work in a long-relief role out of the bullpen, at least initially. Flexen won't have much fantasy appeal, even in deep leagues, unless he eventually earns a starting-rotation spot. In his seven big-league seasons, Flexen has a 4.95 ERA and 1.49 WHIP with a weak 16.4% strikeout rate and 8.6% walk rate in 153 outings (110 starts), so not much will be expected of him.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates placed right-hander Dennis Santana on the bereavement list on Tuesday, according to manager Derek Shelton. Right-handed reliever Hunter Stratton took Santana's spot on the active MLB roster. Santana will be away from the team for a few days but could be back and available to work in relief for Friday's series opener at PNC Park against the visiting San Diego Padres. While Santana is away from the Bucs for a few days, right-hander David Bednar should see any save chances that arise. Santana has been sharp so far in 2025 in his 13 relief appearances for the Pirates, allowing only three runs (two earned) on eight hits while walking three and striking out seven with three saves in 12 1/3 innings pitched. He should be back with the club at some point this weekend.

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Colorado Rockies infielder Thairo Estrada (wrist) is doing fielding drills and light swinging of the bat, according to manager Bud Black. Estrada remains on the 60-day injured list (retroactive to March 24) after fracturing his right wrist in spring training, and there is no specific timetable for his return. At the very least, Estrada will remain on the shelf until late May, and it might not be until June when we see him make his 2025 debut. The 29-year-old Venezuelan infielder will eventually need to go on a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment before rejoining the Rockies' big-league roster. When healthy, he's expected to be Colorado's primary second baseman despite hitting .217/.247/.343 with nine homers and 47 RBI in 96 games for the Giants in 2024 before being cut. Estrada had 28 homers, 44 steals and 111 RBI in 2022-23 in San Fran and has enough contact skills to be a waiver-wire sleeper in deeper fantasy leagues when he's back.

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Washington Nationals infielder Paul DeJong (nose) had sinus, orbital plate and nose surgery on Monday after getting hit by a pitch in the face against the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 15 and breaking his nose. It will be at least two months, if not longer, before DeJong will be able to play again. "I will start using the C-flap helmets now to give me protection," DeJong said. The 31-year-old veteran plans to rejoin his teammates in D.C. when they begin their next homestand on May 5, but he won't be playing anytime soon. DeJong's goal is to simply be playing again before the All-Star break in mid-July. He was playing regularly at third base for the Nats before his injury, but he went just 11-for-54 (.204) with no homers, two RBI, two steals, three runs, two walks and 24 K's in 16 games, so he won't be guaranteed a starting role when he returns by any means.

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Detroit Tigers outfielder Manuel Margot (knee), who has been on the 10-day injured list since April 8 with a patellar tendon strain in his left knee, started his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday night, according to MLive's Evan Woodbery. If Margot doesn't have a setback with his knee, it's possible that he'll come off the injured list to rejoin the big-league squad by the weekend series in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels. The 30-year-old Dominican outfielder was signed by Detroit after the start of the 2025 regular season due to several injuries to an already thin outfield group. The 10-year MLB veteran got off to a nice start in his six games played before the injury, going 6-for-19 with three RBI and a run scored. Margot is nearing a return, but he will most likely serve in a reserve role for the Tigers when he's ready, leaving him very little fantasy value in AL-only leagues.

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MLB.com's AJ Cassavell writes that the San Diego Padres are hopeful that right-hander Yu Darvish (elbow), who has been out since mid-March with right-elbow inflammation, will rejoin the starting rotation at some point in May. Darvish threw another bullpen session last Friday and was able to mix in a heavier dose of breaking balls. His ramp-up has been slow because of the fact that he hadn't fully built up his arm in spring training when he was sidelined. The Japanese veteran is at least several weeks off but could move to facing live hitters in the near future. Darvish is expected to need around three or four bullpen sessions before he's cleared to face live hitters. The 38-year-old was avoided by many fantasy managers in spring drafts to his injury, and rightfully so, but he'll be a waiver-wire pickup as he gets closer to a 2025 debut. The four-time All-Star had a 3.31 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in his 16 starts in 2024.

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Baltimore Orioles corner infield prospect Coby Mayo hasbegun to catch fire at Triple-A Norfolk, going 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, two home runs, three RBI, and two runs scored on Wednesday. It was the 23-year-old's fourth multi-hit game in his last six, going 9-for-23 (.391) over that stretch and pushing his slash line up to .268/.368/.567 for the year, with six home runs and a 16:26 BB:K in 26 games (117 PA). Baltimore's second-ranked prospect continues to be the odd-man out for playing time, as the O's recalled 28-year-old corner infielder Emmanuel Rivera from Norfolk on Tuesday after Jordan Westburg hit the IL. Despite a 47.8 percent strikeoutrate in his 46-plate appearance debut last season, the 6-foot-4 slugger should get another chance in Baltimore this season, or elsewhereif they have no intentions of using him in the majors, but whenever he's recalled, power needy managers in deep leagues should considerrostering MLB's 13th-ranked prospect.

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Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh (hamstring) will resume his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Scott Lauber. Marsh will play again on Friday and could rejoin the Phillies' big-league roster after that. A strained right hamstring landed Marsh on the 10-day injured list, and the 27-year-old experienced cramping in the same hamstring while playing for Lehigh Valley last Sunday. He's feeling good enough to play in games again, though, and he could rejoin the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park this weekend for their series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. It's been a tough year so far for Marsh, who in addition to his hamstring injury has gone 4-for-42 (.095) with a homer and five RBI. Before landing on the IL, he had gone hitless in his last 31 at-bats. It remains to be seen how much he'll play when he returns to Philly.

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St. Louis Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera (knee) traveled to Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday and was scheduled to go through a pre-game workout with the Redbirds, according to manager Oliver Marmol. Herrera will then serve as the designated hitter for five innings with Memphis on Thursday and catch on Friday. He went through running drills on Tuesday in St. Louis before being cleared to start a minor-league rehab assignment. It's unclear how many games the 24-year-old backstop will play on the farm, but if he avoids setbacks, it's entirely possible that he'll come off the injured list to rejoin the Cardinals sometime next week. Herrera is recovering from a bone bruise in his left knee. When he's back in St. Louis, Herrera will serve as the team's starting catcher after opening the year red-hot with a .381/.458/.1.048 slash line with four homers in his first 21 at-bats.

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Los Angeles Dodgers infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman (ankle), who did not start in Wednesday's series finale win over the visiting Miami Marlins, said he tweaked his right ankle on Tuesday night and still felt some discomfort on Wednesday. The Dodgers have a scheduled day off on Thursday before beginning a series in Atlanta against the Braves on Friday, so fantasy managers will want to check back then to see if Edman is feeling good enough to play. The 29-year-old should be considered day-to-day until further notice. The veteran switch-hitter isn't tearing the cover off the baseball through the first month of the 2025 season -- he's hitting .252 (28-for-111) -- but he's managed to be productive for his fantasy managers with 24 RBI, 19 runs scored, two stolen bases and eight home runs in 30 games played.

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Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suarez (back) is scheduled to make his season debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday. This is good news for the Phillies as Suarez has been sidelined since spring training due to a back issue. He has been pitching well during his rehab outings, so the team feels Suarez is ready to return. It won't be an ideal matchup for Suarez against a tough D-Backs lineup. Despite that, Suarez is worth rostering in most standard 12-team formats right now. The assumption is that Taijuan Walker moves into the bullpen which is something he did during part of the season last year.

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