Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider (oblique) will continue his minor-league rehab assignment this week and is not expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list for a start against the Colorado Rockies this weekend, as of Tuesday morning, according to Lindsay Crosby. Strider has made two rehab starts with Triple-A Gwinnett and one with High-A Rome and got up to 82 pitches in his third rehab start with Gwinnett on Sunday, but the Braves want him to make one more start in the minors before reinstating him from the IL for his 2026 season debut with Atlanta. It'll allow pitching prospect Didier Fuentes to remain in the Show for a bit longer, although it may come as more of a long reliever than a starter. Strider is close to fully stretched out and showed better velocity in his last rehab start, making him a more intriguing fantasy stash with hopes of rediscovering his pre-elbow-surgery form. Most managers in fantasy leagues are thinking the same thing, as he's rostered in 90% of leagues on Yahoo.

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Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Braxton Ashcraft (personal) is expected to be activated from the bereavement list to start Tuesday's game against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park, according to DK Pittsburgh Sports' Jose Negron. Ashcraft ended up being pushed back one spot in the team's starting rotation after they placed him on the bereavement list on Saturday. The 26-year-old former second-rounder in 2018 has displayed solid command of the baseball so far in 2026 in his five starts, going 1-1 with a 2.43 ERA (2.42 FIP) and 1.01 WHIP with 32 strikeouts and nine walks in 29 2/3 innings pitched. The Cardinals' offense ranks 13th in baseball in OPS (.713), but Ashcraft, who could be pitching with a heavy heart, should be returned to starting fantasy lineups in most leagues. He went 4-4 with a 2.71 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 71:24 K:BB in 69 2/3 frames over 26 appearances (eight starts) as a rookie in Pittsburgh in 2025.

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Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy (hip) will continue rehabbing this week with High-A Rome as he works toward back-to-back nine-inning catching appearances before the Braves activate him from the 10-day injured list, according to Lindsay Crosby. The first-place Braves are in no rush to bring Murphy back to the big leagues just yet, especially since he's gone just 3-for-23 (.130) with no homers, two RBI, one walk, and seven strikeouts in eight rehab games played with Rome and Triple-A Gwinnett as he rehabs from offseason hip surgery. The Braves are also fine at the major-league level at the catching position with the combination of Drake Baldwin and Jonah Heim. Once Murphy is cleared to be reinstated from the IL, we'd expect him to find at-bats as the designated hitter primarily. Despite hitting 82 home runs in 541 games over the last five seasons with the Athletics and Braves, Murphy is only 1% rostered in Yahoo leagues at this time.

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Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said that right-hander Jared Jones (elbow) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Low-A Bradenton on Wednesday, according to Jason Mackey. Jones has finally been cleared to pitch in games as he continues his rehab from an internal-brace procedure on his right elbow last May. The 24-year-old former second-round pick in 2020 did not pitch at all last year for the Pirates and isn't eligible to return from the 60-day injured list until late May, so fantasy managers stashing him right now must remain patient. When healthy, though, Jones will have a starting rotation spot waiting for him in Pittsburgh after he had a 4.14 ERA (4.00 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 132 strikeouts and 39 walks in 121 2/3 innings in his first 22 major-league games in 2024 in his big-league debut with the Bucs. Right now, Jones is rostered in 17% of Yahoo leagues. When Jones initially returns to the Bucs' rotation, expect plenty of workload restrictions after he missed all of the 2025 campaign.

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The New York Mets promoted outfield prospect A.J. Ewing to Triple-A Syracuse this week, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Per MLB Pipeline, Ewing is the Mets' third-ranked prospect. Ewing got the call to Syracuse after going 22-for-63 (.349) with two home runs, six doubles, a triple, seven RBI, 12 stolen bases, and 16 runs scored in just 18 games at Double-A Binghamton. In 2025, the 21-year-old ranked fourth in the minor leagues with 70 stolen bases while also slashing .315/.401/.429 with an .830 OPS, three home runs, 55 RBI, and 87 runs scored in 124 games at three different minor-league levels. Not only can Ewing fly on the base paths, but he has raised his walk rate early this year. If Ewing continues to excel at Triple-A, the former fourth-round selection in 2023, we could see him up in the big leagues for the first time later this year. Long-term, Ewing could have a similar profile to Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner, just in the outfield and with better speed.

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Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe (wrist) said the fracture in his left wrist is small, and he thinks he'll only be out a "couple of weeks," according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. O'Hoppe doesn't think it's a long-term injury that he suffered on Saturday against the Kansas City Royals, when he took a foul ball off his wrist while catching. If the 26-year-old does only need a few weeks to recover, he could be back with the Angels by mid-May. For now, though, veteran Travis d'Arnaud will be the Halos' primary catcher, with Sebastian Rivero serving as his backup. O'Hoppe hit a combined 39 home runs in 2024 and 2025 for the Angels, but he was off to a slow start in 26 games this season, batting .205 (16-for-78) with just one long ball, eight RBI, nine runs scored, 11 walks, and 23 strikeouts across 93 plate appearances. His rough start and wrist fracture have tanked his fantasy value in the early going in 2026, and O'Hoppe is only rostered in 4% of Yahoo leagues right now.

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Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen (shoulder) was feeling better over the weekend, according to manager Torey Lovullo, and the club is more encouraged that he will be able to make his next start, per Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. Gallen was hit on his right (throwing) shoulder by a line drive on Saturday night in Mexico City in the opener of a two-game series against the San Diego Padres. He made it through three innings before being pulled early, allowing no runs on just one hit while walking none and striking out three. The 30-year-old's next scheduled outing will come this weekend against the hot-hitting Chicago Cubs. The former third-round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2016 out of North Carolina has looked good so far in 2026 despite a lack of strikeouts, posting a 3.14 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and seven walks in 28 2/3 innings pitched over six starts. DFS managers will probably want to fade Gallen this weekend against the Cubs coming off his shoulder injury.

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Boston Red Sox left-hander Ranger Suarez was dominant in his latest start on Monday in the series opener in Canada against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays. Suarez allowed just one hit in eight scoreless innings while walking one and striking out a season-high 10 to pick up his second win of the 2026 season. It was a nice bounce-back performance for the 30-year-old southpaw after he surrendered four runs in 4 2/3 innings his last time out against the division-rival New York Yankees. In his first year in Beantown, Suarez has been hit or miss so far, alternating excellent starts with clunkers. Overall, the Venezuelan hurler holds a 2-2 record with a 3.09 ERA (3.36 FIP), 0.94 WHIP, and 29:9 K:BB in 35 innings pitched across his six starts. Suarez has allowed four runs and gone fewer than five innings in three of his six starts, while tossing 22 scoreless innings in his other three starts. Fantasy managers will be hoping that he can put two straight strong starts together his next time out.

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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani will only pitch on Tuesday in Game 2 of the series against the visiting Miami Marlins, according to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. Ohtani will only be on five days of rest for this one, and the Dodgers-Marlins game has an earlier start time on Tuesday. It's the second time this year that the 31-year-old four-time MVP won't serve as the team's designated hitter on the day that he is scheduled to pitch. Ohtani seems immortal, but after all, he's still human, and the Dodgers like to get him some rest when they can. The five-time All-Star has hit .278 (30-for-108) at the plate so far in 28 games this year with six home runs, 13 RBI, 21 runs scored, and three steals. He's been even better on the mound, allowing just two runs (one earned) while walking six and fanning 25 in 24 innings over his four starts. Ohtani is a no-brainer must-start as a pitcher in all fantasy lineups on Tuesday in L.A. versus the Fish.

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San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (undisclosed) left Monday's victory over the visiting Chicago Cubs at Petco Park early with an undisclosed injury after grounding out to end the sixth inning, according to 97.3 The Fan. It's unclear what exactly is bothering the 33-year-old veteran, but he was seen getting his calf massaged after exiting. The Padres will most likely send Machado for imaging, and we should have a better idea of his status before Game 2 of the series against the Cubs on Tuesday. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Machado to be in the lineup on Tuesday. Ty France shifted from first base to third base on Monday night, with Gavin Sheets entering the game to play first base. If Machado is forced to miss additional time, Miguel Andujar is another candidate with experience at third base who could see playing time at the hot corner. After a slow start in 2026 at the plate, Machado hit two home runs in Mexico City on Sunday and had doubled twice before leaving Monday's contest early. The former third overall pick is now hitting .232 (22-for-95) with four homers, 16 RBI, 18 runs, and a steal. Machado is a must-stash in all fantasy formats if he lands on the injured list.

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Miami Marlins right-handed closer Pete Fairbanks (thumb) was pulled from his outing on Monday against the Los Angeles Dodgers with an "unusual sensation" in his right thumb, manager Clayton McCullough told Fish on First. The Marlins will evaluate Fairbanks further on Tuesday. "Just a lot of diminished sensation," Fairbanks said. "Felt like any movement of the wrist would exacerbate just loss of sensation in the index finger." The 32-year-old veteran entered the ninth inning with a two-run lead and looking for his sixth save of the season, but he ended up being saddled with his second loss after allowing three earned runs on one hit and three walks in just one-third of an inning. Fairbanks threw only nine of his 23 pitches for strikes. A nerve-related issue first surfaced with Fairbanks in April of 2024, which caused him to go on the injured list. Fantasy managers might want to brace for another trip to the IL for Fairbanks. If Fairbanks misses time, the Marlins could go to a closer-by-committee like they did last year. Tyler Phillips, Anthony Bender, Andrew Nardi, and Calvin Faucher would all be options for saves in Miami if they go with a committee approach.

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The New York Yankees are promoting third-ranked pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez to make his MLB debut on Wednesday against the Texas Rangers. Rodriguez was considered to break camp with the MLB roster, with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Clarke Schmidt all on the shelf. However, after a brief stint with the Triple-A, Rodriguez is set to make his MLB debut. This season, the No. 74-ranked prospect according to MLB.com has looked quite comfortable at the top level of the minor leagues, posting an elite 1.27 ERA with a 0.89 WHIP. During this 21 1/3 inning stint, Rodriguez has struck out 20 hitters while walking only seven batters. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his status, as he may be given a few extra starts if he can hold his own in his debut. He should be viewed as a solid streaming option in all 12-team leagues facing the Rangers.

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The Atlanta Braves announced on Tuesday that they are recalling right-handed pitching prospect Didier Fuentes from the minors and placing left-hander Dylan Lee on the paternity list in a corresponding move. Fuentes is one of the brighter young pitching prospects in the game and is Atlanta's No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, but he will most likely only work out of the bullpen for a few days in the big leagues with Lee on paternity leave. The 22-year-old 6-foot-2, 185-pounder out of Colombia was greeted harshly in the big leagues, allowing five earned runs on nine hits while walking two and striking out 11 in seven innings in a start and relief appearance for the Braves in his first two MLB outings. Fuentes has been much stronger at Triple-A Gwinnett, though, posting a 2.16 ERA with 20 strikeouts and six walks in 16 2/3 innings pitched. Fuentes might find himself back on the farm by the weekend, but he's still one of the better deep-league pitching stashes for his strikeout upside in 2026.

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Cleveland Guardians second baseman/outfielder Angel Martinez offers both power and speed potential as he continues to earn playing time in the Cleveland lineup. He's hit near the top of the order lately, giving him even more run production upside, and he has hit .318 (21-for-66) over his last 18 games with four doubles, five homers, four stolen bases, and a .398 wOBA. Martinez remains ultra-aggressive at the plate and did not draw a single walk in those 18 games, with just three walks all year to go with his 18 strikeouts. While he remains aggressive in his approach, he has still managed to make good contact in those 18 games, with a 45.3% hard-hit rate and 13.2% barrel rate. If he continues hitting near the top of the order, he has intriguing potential with five homers and five stolen bases in his first 27 games. The 24-year-old switch-hitter has only played the outfield this season, but still has infield eligibility in some formats, making him an even easier option to slide around your roster to fill in holes. As long as he keeps hitting near the top of the order and providing big-play production, he's definitely worth a look in standard-sized leagues.

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New York Mets starting pitcher Christian Scott had a brutal season debut last Thursday and was optioned back to Triple-A Syracuse last Friday. The 26-year-old righty still has a high ceiling, though, and his potential is high enough to keep him on the radar in deep leagues or leagues that make it easy to stash players in the minors. He issued five walks and hit a batter while lasting just 1 1/3 innings in his start against the Twins, exiting with a 6.75 ERA and 15.13 FIP in his only MLB outing of the year. He was 0-2 in his three minor-league starts with a 5.27 ERA, but he continues to showcase strikeout upside with 17 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings. He has good stuff but his control still needs to be refined. Scott has a high ceiling and could be worth stashing, but the former top prospect is best left for deep leagues until he gets another chance to contribute.

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Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Tanner Scott pitched a strong seventh inning for his team against the Marlins on Monday, needing 17 pitches to navigate the inning with one walk and three punchouts. Scott came into a game the Dodgers were trailing 4-2 at the time and kept the Marlins off the board before L.A. rallied for three runs to win in the ninth. With Edwin Daz (elbow) out until the second half of the season, the Dodgers' bullpen will be a very important one for fantasy managers to watch since save opportunities should be available. Scott is part of the closer-by-committee approach that manager Dave Roberts will use, but he could also be used earlier in the game, as he was on Monday, depending on how the game script unfolds. It was actually Jake Eder who pitched the ninth and got the win on Monday. Scott remains one of the Dodgers' options for the end of the game, but don't count on him to be the only source of saves on the team.

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San Diego Padres relief pitcher Mason Miller started the season with sheer dominance over his first 13 games, allowing just three hits and picking up 27 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings. On Monday, though, the 27-year-old closer looked human, giving up two earned runs on three hits with a wild pitch on Monday night against the Cubs. It was a non-save situation since he entered with a four-run lead, so it doesn't count as a blown save. The Padres still secured the 9-7 win, and Miller will still be an elite closer option going forward. This outing just serves as a reminder that he really is human, and keeping a 0.00 ERA for the entire season isn't realistic. He's sure to get the next save chance for the Padres, and this is not a cause for concern at this point for his fantasy managers. It is noteworthy, though, since it's the first time he's been touched at all this year.

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Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia pitched a scoreless inning and struck out the side on Monday night against the Marlins, but fantasy managers should take note that he made his appearance in the sixth inning. Manager Dave Roberts has said he'll go with a closer-by-committee approach while Edwin Daz (elbow) is out until the second half, and while Vesia is part of that committee, it doesn't look like he'll be one of the primary closer options. The 30-year-old lefty has given up just two runs in 10 1/3 innings in 12 games this season while racking up 14 strikeouts. If a team has lefties due up at the end of a game, he could get a look in that matchup, but he'll be hard to count on for saves if Roberts follows Monday's pattern. He has been effective enough to be worth holding in deep leagues, but if all you are looking for is saves, he isn't a must-own option in standard leagues at this point.

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Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami went 2-for-4 with three RBI and his 12th homer of the season on Monday night in his team's rain-delayed win over the Angels. The White Sox exploded for seven runs in the seventh inning of their 8-7 win, and Murakami delivered one of the big blows, smashing a three-run homer to give his team the lead. The 26-year-old from Japan has quickly established himself as one of the biggest early-season fantasy baseball breakouts, hitting .243 with a .407 wOBA in his 29 games, with 12 homers, 23 RBI, and a 61.9% hard-hit rate. Murakami has the sixth-highest barrel rate per batted ball event and the sixth-highest hard-hit rate in the majors this season, and he hit his homer on Monday night against veteran lefty Drew Pomeranz. Four of his 12 homers have come off southpaws, so he is a great power option to keep in your lineup regardless of matchup going forward.

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Boston's SP Ranger Suarez recorded 10 strikeouts in 8 innings getting the win in a 5-0 win over Toronto on Monday, Apr. 27.