Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman (toe) is back in the starting lineup for Wednesday's series finale against the hosting San Diego Padres and right-hander Matt Waldron, playing third base and batting third, according to MLB.com. Meanwhile, shortstop Dansby Swanson (glute) will sit this one out after leaving Tuesday's win early with glute cramps. Bregman fouled a ball off his toe in Sunday's series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he was held out of the starting lineup on Tuesday, although he did later enter the game as a pinch-hitter. Nico Hoerner will start at shortstop on Wednesday and bat leadoff, with Matt Shaw getting the start at second base. With an off day scheduled on Thursday, it seems likely that Swanson will return for Friday's series opener in Chicago against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Bregman went 2-for-2 at the plate on Tuesday night after entering the game as a pinch-hitter, and he should be returned to all starting lineups in traditional fantasy formats against the knuckleballer Waldron.

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Chicago Cubs right-handed closer Daniel Palencia (lat) has made enough progress that the Cubs are considering activating him from the 15-day injured list on Friday for the start of a three-game series at Wrigley Field against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks, according to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic. With Chicago's pitching staff decimated by injuries early in 2026, the Cubs could have Palencia return to their major-league bullpen without going on a minor-league rehab assignment. When active, the hard-throwing right-hander should immediately return to closing duties in Chicago, especially with Caleb Thielbar (hamstring) and Hunter Harvey (triceps) on the IL. The 26-year-old Venezuelan high-leverage reliever had a career-best 22 saves in 52 2/3 regular-season innings last year in his third year with the Cubs, and he had tossed five scoreless innings with a save and five strikeouts in five relief appearances for Chicago this year before injuring his lat. Pick Palencia up immediately if he's available in your league with his return on the horizon. Palencia is rostered in 81% of Yahoo leagues.

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Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (oblique) was expected to begin a rehab assignment this weekend, but on Wednesday, he stated that he felt some soreness in his oblique recently while taking batting practice on the field, so the team backed off his rehab a bit. Since then, the veteran has been hitting in the cage and has said he's "turned a corner," with the expectation that he'll try to take batting practice on the field again. It sounds like a minor setback that should still allow the eight-time All-Star to begin a rehab assignment soon and potentially be back with the team sometime in early May if all goes well. The former MVP was 5-for-28 (.179) before going down with the injury, but two of his five hits were home runs, and he was making good contact (90.7 percent) while recording a 3:4 BB:K, so expect the 33-year-old to put up Betts-like numbers when he returns.

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Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi (shoulder) was removed after two innings in Wednesday's game against the White Sox with what is being described as shoulder tightness. The southpaw came out to warm up before the third inning but left with the trainer. The extent of the injury is not yet known, but fantasy managers should have a backup plan in the event he needs to miss time. The 34-year-old has had a rough go of it so far in 2026, coming into Wednesday's game with a 6.21 ERA (3.71 FIP) and a 1.59 WHIP, although he was generating more than a strikeout per inning with 32 punchouts in 29 innings pitched. His next start would line up with the White Sox again next week, which could make whoever replaces him a potential streaming option.

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Miami Marlins outfielder Jakob Marsee has been a fantasy disappointment in the early going of 2026 after a breakout 2025. The left-handed hitter slashed .292/.363/.478 with five home runs and 14 steals in 55 games after his promotion to the big leagues last year, but so far in 2026, he's slashing just .184/.304/.272 through 30 games. On the bright side, the former sixth-round draft pick has continued to get on base thanks to a strong 13.2 percent walk rate, which has in turn allowed him to leverage his baserunning abilities, swiping 10 bags already, which is tied for fourth-most in the majors. There have also been signs he could be breaking out of his slump, going 8-for-27 (.296) over his last seven contests, with three of his six extra-base hits coming during that stretch (two doubles, one home run). Though not known for exit velocities (EV), the 24-year-old had an average EV of 87.0 mph earlier in the year, but it has popped up to 91.6 in this recent seven-game turnaround, so he could be locking in. If he can get going, fantasy managers will once again have a multi-category contributor on their hands, so patience is warranted with Marsee.

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Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen (shoulder) played catch on Monday and will throw a regular between-starts bullpen on Wednesday, according to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. Gallen expects to make his next start on Friday on the road atWrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs, but he'll know for sure after throwing a bullpen. The 30-year-old veteran was pulled from his last outing early in Mexico City on Saturday against the San Diego Padres after being hit by a comebacker. Although Gallen has looked good so far in 2026 in his first six starts, fantasy managers may want to avoid him this weekend in his first start back after an injury against a Cubs offense that ranks fourth in the majors with a .777 team OPS in the first month of the season. In his eighth year in the big leagues, Gallen has gone 1-1 in his first 28 2/3 innings with a 3.14 ERA (3.58 FIP) and 1.36 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and seven walks.

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Miami Marlins catcher/first baseman Liam Hicks (illness) is feeling better and is back behind the plate on Wednesday to catch right-hander Sandy Alcantara while hitting fifth against Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow, according to MLB.com. Hicks was under the weather in L.A. on Tuesday night and was scratched from the starting lineup, but he's back in there a day later. The 26-year-old left-handed-hitting Canadian catcher has been very hot in the early going this year, batting .311 (28-for-90) for the Fish with six home runs, 27 RBI, 17 runs scored, and one stolen base in 28 games in just his second year in the majors. Hicks slashed .247/.346/.346 with six homers and 45 RBI in 119 games across 390 plate appearances in his rookie campaign in Miami in 2025. It's not a great matchup on Wednesday in his return in the series finale against Glasnow, but DFS managers can't be blamed for wanting to ride the hot hand in Hicks.

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The Kansas City Royals announced on Tuesday that infielder Jonathan India (shoulder) underwent successful season-ending labral repair surgery. India only played in 17 games in his second season in KC and wasn't looking great at the plate before landing on the 10-day injured list, going 8-for-48 (.167) with two home runs, eight RBI, eight runs scored, eight walks, and 13 strikeouts in 58 plate appearances. He was also a disappointment in his first year with the Royals in 2025, slashing .233/.323/.346 with a career-low nine home runs, 45 RBI, and 63 runs scored in 136 games. India can obviously be dropped in all redraft fantasy baseball leagues now that it's official that he'll miss the rest of the 2026 season. With India now done for the year, it's a boost for both Michael Massey and Nick Loftin, who are the top two options for the Royals at second base.

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Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson said that third baseman Brendan Donovan (groin) is on track to be reinstated from the 10-day injured list on the upcoming homestand, according to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times. Donovan has been working out and doing some baseball activities in Seattle. The Mariners' next homestand begins on Friday, May 1, against the Kansas City Royals and runs through next Wednesday, May 6. When active, Donovan will serve as Seattle's regular third baseman. In his first 18 games with Seattle to begin the 2026 campaign, Donovan went 17-for-56 (.304) with three home runs, three doubles, eight RBI, seven runs scored, and a stolen base in 71 plate appearances. The 29-year-old German native has very little power or speed, but he's useful in fantasy for his elite contact abilities and high batting average. He was a first-time All-Star in 2025 with the St. Louis Cardinals, hitting .287 (132-for-460) with only 10 home runs, 50 RBI, and three steals in 118 games played. Donovan should be back in the M's starting nine at some point this weekend against KC.

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder/designated hitter George Springer (toe) is being activated from the 10-day injured list on Wednesday, according to Hazel Mae of Sportsnet. In a corresponding move, the team is designating outfielder Eloy Jimenez for assignment. Springer isn't in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the visiting Boston Red Sox, but he's available off the bench. The 36-year-old four-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger winner didn't go on a minor-league rehab assignment before being reinstated from the IL, so don't be surprised if he's a little rusty at the plate upon his return to the majors. The veteran outfielder/DH was ice-cold with the bat before fracturing his toe, going 10-for-54 (.185) with two home runs, six RBI, four runs scored, and a stolen base in 14 games played. Springer was fantastic for fantasy managers last year, slashing .309/.399/.560 with a .959 OPS, 32 home runs, 84 RBI, and 18 stolen bases in 140 regular-season games. His increased usage as Toronto's DH should help keep him healthy, but a repeat of last year's performance feels unlikely.

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The Chicago White Sox announced on Wednesday that they selected the contract of outfielder Jarred Kelenic from Triple-A Charlotte and placed outfielder Everson Pereira (pectoral) on the 10-day injured list with a right-pectoral strain in a corresponding move. Kelenic was not in the team's starting lineup for Wednesday's series finale against the Los Angeles Angels, but the Angels also had a left-hander on the mound. The 26-year-old former top prospect for the Seattle Mariners will most likely serve as a reserve outfielder for the White Sox, so fantasy managers in mixed leagues can likely continue to ignore him now that he's back in the big leagues. Before his call-up to Chicago, Kelenic was hitting just .202 with a strikeout rate just below 30%, although he did clear the fences five times in his last 10 games played. The former sixth overall pick by the New York Mets in 2018 only appeared in 24 games with the Atlanta Braves last year, and he's struggled to a .211/.282/.376 slash line with a .658 OPS and 30.6% strikeout rate in his five big-league seasons.

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New York Mets left-hander David Peterson is returning to a starting role for Wednesday's matchup at home against the visiting Washington Nationals, according to Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record. Right-hander Christian Scott will start the series opener on Thursday versus the Los Angeles Angels. After being used as a reliever his last two times out, Peterson will make his fifth start of the 2026 season. The 30-year-old southpaw has been more effective out of the bullpen for the Mets so far, as he's allowed 15 runs (14 earned) on 26 hits (one homer) while walking 10 and striking out 21 in 19 2/3 innings over his four starts. Fantasy managers considering streaming Peterson at Citi Field on Wednesday will be taking on a considerable amount of risk with a low ceiling. The Nationals as a team are in the middle of the pack in terms of OPS to begin the season. Overall, Peterson has an ERA just over 5.00 this year with a career-low 19.2% strikeout rate.

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Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford (forearm) said the plan is for him to be activated from the 10-day injured list on Saturday, according to Jeff Wilson of All City DLLS. The Rangers want Langford to play in a minor-league rehab game somewhere on Thursday. Langford is attempting to come back from a flexor strain in his right forearm. Because of the nature of the 24-year-old's injury, the Rangers could use him more as the designated hitter in the big-league lineup upon his expected return this weekend. Ezequiel Duran has seen more playing time in left field in Texas with Langford on the shelf. Langford wasn't swinging the bat all that well in his first 80 at-bats of 2026 before his arm injury, going 19-for-80 (.238) with only one home run, four RBI, nine runs scored, and three stolen bases. Despite his quiet start, Langford is a must-roster and must-start outfielder for his power/speed upside in fantasy. The former fourth overall pick in 2023 from the University of Florida had 22 homers and 22 steals in just 134 games in 2025 in his second year in the big leagues.

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San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (calf) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting third for the Friars in Wednesday's series finale against the Chicago Cubs and right-hander Jameson Taillon at Petco Park, per MLB.com. With Machado at DH, Miguel Andujar will get the start at third base and bat sixth. The 33-year-old Machado was removed early as a precaution due to calf cramps on Monday, and he sat out of Tuesday's loss to Chicago in Game 2 of the series. Now that the seven-time All-Star is back in the starting lineup, fantasy managers will want to get him back into their starting lineups. Machado hadn't done much at the plate this year until homering twice in Mexico City on Sunday and hitting two doubles before his early exit on Monday night. He's now hitting .232/.342/.400 with a .742 OPS, four home runs, 16 RBI, 18 runs scored, and a steal in his 95 at-bats in 2026. Machado has gone hitless in just four career at-bats versus Taillon.

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Boston Red Sox right-hander Sonny Gray (hamstring) threw a successful bullpen session on Monday, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. "Everything went really well," interim manager Chad Tracy said. "And the next step would be probably when we get home in Fenway sometime to throw another bullpen with more volume." It was Gray's first bullpen session since he landed on the 15-day injured list with a strained hamstring. The 36-year-old veteran is expected to throw a more intense bullpen session his next time out. He is eligible to come off the IL next Wednesday, May 6, but it's still unclear at this time if that will happen. Gray won't be back by then if the Red Sox want him to make a minor-league rehab start first. Left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) landing on the IL on Wednesday could influence Gray's return date. Gray, a three-time All-Star in his 14th year in the league, is 2-1 to start his Red Sox tenure with a 4.30 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 13:5 K:BB across his five starts so far this year.

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Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) is being placed on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday with left-shoulder inflammation, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. It's especially disappointing for the BoSox and fantasy managers after Crochet bounced back to throw six scoreless innings in his most recent start last Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles. The 26-year-old two-time All-Star's injury doesn't sound too serious, but he'll have to miss at least a couple of turns through the starting rotation. Despite a good recent outing, Crochet has mostly been a disappointment for fantasy managers so far in 2026, going 3-3 with a 6.30 ERA (4.33 FIP) and 1.47 WHIP with 37 strikeouts and 11 walks in 30 innings pitched over his six starts in his second year in Beantown. Despite the tough start and placement on the IL, Crochet absolutely must be stashed in all fantasy formats. This could be a good time to buy low on him as well.

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Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Quinn Priester (wrist) is scheduled for four innings and around 60 pitches in his next minor-league rehab appearance on Friday, according to Jack Stern of Brewer Fanatic. Priester was not efficient at all in his second rehab start on Sunday at Triple-A Nashville, as he threw 45 pitches in just 2 1/3 innings while walking three. The 25-year-old has thrown only 30 of his 74 total pitches for strikes in his two rehab appearances, so the Brewers want to see him improve his control before they consider activating him from the 15-day injured list to rejoin the big-league starting rotation. In addition to a lack of control on the farm, Priester has had diminished velocity on his pitches as he attempts to rehab from thoracic outlet syndrome symptoms. Priester had a breakout year in 2025 for the Brew Crew, but there are plenty of reasons to be skeptical that he can repeat it in 2026 and overcome his injury early this year. He's rostered in just 23% of Yahoo leagues while he rehabs.

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Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Andrew Vaughn (hand) will start a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday, according to Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Barring a setback on his rehab assignment, Vaughn is expected to come off the 10-day injured list when he's eligible on Monday, May 4. The 28-year-old right-handed slugger fractured his left hamate bone in his hand on Opening Day and needed surgery, which is why he's been out since then. The former third overall pick by the Chicago White Sox in 2019 out of Cal looked like a totally different hitter in his 64 games for the Brew Crew late last year, hitting .308 (68-for-221) with nine home runs, 46 RBI, and 26 runs scored across 254 plate appearances. When he returns next week, Vaughn should play regularly between first base and designated hitter, and he could be a nice boost as a corner infielder off the waiver wire in deeper fantasy leagues. Vaughn is currently rostered in only 34% of Yahoo leagues. Jake Bauers has also become a waiver-wire consideration in Milwaukee of late with elevated playing time at first base.

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Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene (elbow) is throwing from 110 feet and is roughly three weeks away from throwing bullpen sessions, according to FOX 19's Charlie Goldsmith. Greene is currently on the 60-day injured list after having surgery in mid-March to remove bone chips from his right elbow, and he's expected to miss at least the first half of the 2026 season. It's a big blow for the Reds and for fantasy managers, but the 26-year-old hard-throwing righty deserves to be stashed in most fantasy leagues for his potential to be a game-changer down the stretch. Greene was a first-time All-Star in 2024, when he went 9-5 with a 2.75 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 169:57 K:BB in 150 1/3 innings over a career-high 26 starts. He made a career-low 19 starts in 2025 due to injuries, but he was strong again with a 2.76 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 132:26 K:BB in 107 2/3 innings pitched when he was healthy. Despite likely missing the entire first half this year, Greene is currently rostered in 62% of Yahoo leagues.

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Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger) is set to make his next minor-league rehab start on Saturday, according to Charlie Goldsmith of FOX 19. Lodolo, who threw around 10 breaking balls in his first rehab start, is expected to up his pitch count and expand his arsenal this weekend. In his first rehab start for High-A Dayton on Sunday, the 28-year-old southpaw looked good, throwing five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. Lodolo is working his way back from a blister on his left index finger that prevented him from being in Cincy's Opening Day starting rotation. When he's ready to return from the 15-day injured list, though, he'll be locked into a rotation spot and has plenty of strikeout upside for fantasy managers. If his outing goes well on Saturday, Lodolo could make his 2026 season debut for the Reds at some point next week. Grab Lodolo now if he's floating around your league's waiver wire. He's rostered in 88% of Yahoo leagues despite not throwing a pitch for the Reds yet this year.

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