Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich provided one of the more thrilling moments of the opening weekend of the season on Sunday, coming off the bench to hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the eighth inning of his team's 9-7 win over the Chicago White Sox. The 34-year-old is off to a hot start to the year, having recorded six hits in 10 at-bats while logging a homer, five RBI, four runs scored, and a stolen base. However, it's worth noting that Yelich was not in the starting lineup in just the third game of the season for Milwaukee on Sunday. The team chose to shift star catcher William Contreras to designated hitter in a day game after night game situation. Even with regular starting outfielder Jackson Chourio (hand) currently on the injured list, Yelich has not yet been trusted to start a game in the field. Yelich has an extensive track record of back injuries, so Milwaukee could simply be looking to ease him into the regular season. When he's on the field, Yelich looks capable of providing excellent five-category production. Still, his playing time is something for fantasy managers to monitor in the early portion of 2026.

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Washington Nationals outfielder Joey Wiemer is off to a scorching start to the 2026 season, recording two home runs and four RBI in his first eight plate appearances of the year. The 27-year-old right-handed hitter currently appears limited to a short-side platoon role, as he was out of the starting lineup for his team's matchup against Chicago Cubs right-hander Cade Horton on Saturday. Still, Wiemer could force his way into everyday playing time in short order if he continues to rake. Wiemer logged just 61 MLB plate appearances in 2025 as a member of the Miami Marlins, hitting .236/.279/.436 with three home runs, 12 RBI, and seven runs scored. He struck out in 37.7% of his plate appearances and owns a career strikeout rate of 29.2% across 507 career trips to the plate in the big leagues. However, he's yet to strike out this season, albeit in a very small sample size. Wiemer could easily regress to career norms over a more extended run of playing time, but he could be a player for deep-league fantasy managers to monitor early in 2026.

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Houston Astros starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai struggled in his MLB debut on Sunday, allowing three hits, four walks, and four earned runs while striking out four over 2 2/3 innings in his team's 9-7 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Imai comes to the Astros after a lengthy professional career in Japan, where he largely logged excellent results. Across 163 2/3 innings (24 starts) for the Seibu Lions in 2025, Imai posted a 10-5 record with a 1.92 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 178 strikeouts. While Imai lowered his walk rate to 7% in 2025, he posted double-digit walk rates in each of his first six professional seasons from 2018 through 2023. If his first start in the big leagues is any indication, command and control could be an issue for Imai in 2026. It's too early for fantasy managers to panic after just one start, but Imai will obviously need to pitch better in the weeks to come. His next outing is currently scheduled for Saturday in Sacramento against the Athletics.

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Texas Rangers starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore picked up the win in his first start of 2026 on Sunday, pitching 5 1/3 innings and recording seven strikeouts while allowing two hits, three walks, and two earned runs in his team's 8-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Across 159 2/3 innings (30 starts) for the Washington Nationals in 2025, Gore recorded a 5-15 record with a 4.17 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 185 strikeouts. Generating swing-and-miss has never been an issue for the 27-year-old, as he owns a 25.6% strikeout rate for his career and posted a 27.2% strikeout rate in 2025. However, Gore has never posted a WHIP below 1.35 thanks to his 9.7% career walk rate and .323 career opponent batting average on balls in play. Allowing three walks in 5 1/3 innings on Sunday won't allay concerns about Gore's command, but it's still encouraging to see him pitch well against a tough Phillies lineup. Gore has the stuff to be a breakout candidate in 2026 if he can put it all together.

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Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman picked up his first save of the 2026 season on Sunday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts in his team's 5-2 win over the Athletics. The steady outing is a welcome sign for fantasy managers after Hoffman blew his first save chance of the year on Friday, allowing a game-tying solo home run to Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers. Hoffman is coming off an up-and-down season with the Blue Jays in 2025. The 33-year-old recorded 33 saves and a 29.3% strikeout rate, but he also pitched to an elevated 4.37 ERA thanks to his 1.99 HR/9. Hoffman still appears to be secure in the closer role in Toronto for the time being, but he may not have the longest leash, particularly if his home run issues persist.

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Milwaukee Brewers closer Trevor Megill struck out two batters while pitching a scoreless ninth inning and earning the save during Sunday's win over the Chicago White Sox. Megill did allow a hit along the way, but otherwise, he escaped unblemished. His fastball velocity was sitting around 99 mph, and he threw strikes at a phenomenal 73.3% rate. There had previously been some speculation that Abner Uribe could steal the closer role from Megill. While Uribe has also looked fantastic so far (1.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 K), it seems like Megill has a leg up on the competition for save opportunities. He's appropriately ranked as the #14 reliever in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.

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The Atlanta Braves have optioned right-handed pitching prospect Didier Fuentes to Triple-A Gwinnett. This is the corresponding move to make space on the 26-man roster after Atlanta selected the contract of left-handed starter Martin Perez. Fuentes was effective in his lone relief pitching appearance during the Braves' opening series. He tossed four innings out of the bullpen, allowing just one run on two hits and one walk. He also struck out four batters. At first, the decision to option Fuentes after such a strong outing may come as a surprise. However, it's consistent with the Braves' plan for building up Fuentes into a major league starter. It was previously reported that Fuentes would open the year in the majors as a reliever before returning to Triple-A to be stretched out as a starter. He'll presumably join Gwinnett's rotation, and we wouldn't be surprised to see him back in the majors (as a starter) after just a few Triple-A outings.

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Seattle Mariners third baseman Brendan Donovan was highly productive at the plate during the first series of the regular season. Across four games, he went 6-for-14 with one double, two home runs, and four RBI. He also added two walks, two hit by pitches, and four strikeouts. The 29-year-old is on pace for the best home run output of his career, and it's also been encouraging to see his walk rate improve, albeit over a small sample size. Defensively, the 29-year-old is still adapting to third base, where he hadn't previously played since 2024. He has 0 OAA and 0 FRV at the hot corner, but he has already made an error. In most fantasy leagues, Donovan has eligibility as a middle infielder and outfielder. He currently ranks #23 among second basemen in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.

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Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Lucas Erceg appears to have taken over as the team's closer for the time being. Carlos Estevez (ankle) opened the season in the closer role, but he allowed six runs over 0.1 innings on Saturday and blew the save along the way. He also suffered an ankle contusion during the loss. Between the poor performance and the injury, Estevez has quickly worked his way out of the closer role. Erceg has taken his place, and the 30-year-old stepped up by earning the save in Sunday's win over the Atlanta Braves. He has yet to allow an earned run through two innings, and his fastball velocity has jumped to a career-high mark of 98.9 mph. Erceg's closer role isn't as safe as some of the other prominent relievers in baseball, but it's safe to say that it's his job to lose at this point. The right-hander has legitimate streaming appeal in most fantasy leagues as he continues to handle save situations.

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Houston Astros right-handed reliever Bryan Abreu is off to a shaky start this season, allowing four earned runs over just 1 1/3 innings of work. He has allowed one hit and four walks over that span, struggling with free passes. He has also struck out three batters so far. Control has been a major issue for the 28-year-old, whose 40% strike rate is significantly below the league average. His fastball velocity is also way down, dropping from 97.2 mph in 2025 to 94.4 mph thus far. Abreu hasn't found himself in a save situation yet, but it's fair to question whether the Astros might start to lose faith in his ability to handle high-leverage outings. We already saw manager Joe Espada give a save situation to Bryan King, who converted and now has one save, five strikeouts, and a 1.64 FIP over 2.2 innings of work.

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Minnesota Twins right-handed pitcher Mick Abel operated out of the bullpen on Sunday, allowing five earned runs and eight hits over 3.1 innings of work. He also issued four walks while striking out four batters. It was an ugly outing for the 24-year-old, who struggled with control and only induced ground balls at a 25% rate (albeit over a small sample size). Abel had been projected to be the Twins' No. 5 starter, so it was somewhat surprising to see him pitch out of the bullpen this weekend. Minnesota's starter for Tuesday's game against the Kansas City Royals has yet to be determined. If Abel is stuck in the bullpen for the time being, he can be avoided in most fantasy baseball leagues.

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The Atlanta Braves have selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Martin Perez from Triple-A Gwinnett. In a corresponding move, right-handed pitcher Didier Fuentes was optioned to Triple-A. Perez is expected to start Tuesday's game against the Athletics. He spent last season with the Chicago White Sox, posting a 3.54 ERA but a 5.36 xERA. He amassed 7.07 K/9, 3.54 BB/9, and 0.96 K/9 while inducing ground balls at a career-low 39% clip. When the veteran toes the rubber on Tuesday, it'll mark the start of his 15th season in Major League Baseball. Depending on how the outing goes, he could stick in the Braves' rotation. If it doesn't go well, the only way for the Braves to get him off their 26-man and 40-man rosters would be to designate him for assignment (or trade/release him outright).

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New York Yankees top outfield prospect Spencer Jones went 1-for-3 with a home run during Sunday's contest against Triple-A Buffalo. This was his first long ball of the Triple-A regular season and also extended his hitting streak to three games. Jones was unlikely to break camp with the MLB roster given their depth in the outfield, but he continues to perform at a high level. In spring training, Jones flashed elite power, hitting six home runs while carrying an incredible .357/.455/1.071 slash line. During the 2025 season, Jones spent time at both Double-A and Triple-A and showed similar raw power upside, hitting 35 home runs over a 116-game stint. While his strikeout rate remains a concern, Jones would carry intriguing fantasy potential as soon as he earns the call to the major leagues.

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New York Mets right-handed pitching prospect Jonah Tong tossed four shutout frames in his Triple-A debut on Friday. Tong logged four clean innings with just one hit and two free passes. He struck out four. This was a strong debut for Tong, who was in serious competition for a lead role on the MLB roster during spring training. The right-hander made his MLB debut last summer but struggled in his first taste, logging 18 2/3 innings with a hefty 7.71 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP. However, as he progressed through the system, Tong flashed immense upside and quickly established himself as one of the game's top pitching prospects. In 2025, Tong posted a stellar 1.43 ERA and 0.92 WHIP over 113 2/3 innings split between Double-A and Triple-A, with 179 punchouts. The 22-year-old remains a solid stash candidate in deeper 12+ team leagues as he will likely be the first name called when the Mets need additional pitching depth.

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Pittsburgh Pirates infield prospect Konnor Griffin looked very comfortable during his opening series at Triple-A Indianapolis and is quickly making his case to join the major league roster. Over his first three games at the top level of the minor leagues, Griffin went 5-for-10 with two doubles, one RBI, two stolen bases, and a 3:3 K:BB. Griffin nearly made the MLB roster without taking a single at-bat at the Triple-A level but ultimately fell short in the competition. In spring training, Griffin launched four home runs but carried an inconsistent .184 AVG. Last season, the team's No. 1 prospect held a dominant .333/.415/.527 line with 21 home runs and 65 stolen bases over 122 MiLB games. Given his high-end five-category skill set, he remains a priority stash candidate in all formats.

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Cincinnati Reds first-base prospect Sal Stewart has been swinging a hot bat to begin the 2026 season and enters Week 2 as a must-start first baseman in all formats. Over their opening series against the Boston Red Sox (three games), the former 32nd overall selection posted three straight multi-hit performances. He would finish the series going 7-for-10 with three doubles, one home run, and a 2:3 K:BB. The Red promoted Stewart during the back half of the 2025 campaign, and he enjoyed similar success, launching five home runs with a .838 OPS over his first 18 games in the majors. Through 118 games shared between Double-A and Triple-A in 2025, Stewart carried a .309/.383/.524 line with 20 home runs and 17 stolen bases. Given his dominant start and elite minor-league track record, managers should continue to start Stewart with confidence across all formats.

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Miami Marlins outfield prospect Owen Caissie turned in an impressive showing in the team's opening series and has emerged as a viable waiver-wire target in deep five-outfielder leagues. Over Miami's first three games of the campaign, Caissie went 5-for-10 with two doubles, one home run, four RBI, and a stolen base. While he started the first two games, he was left on the bench on Sunday, facing a left-handed starting pitcher. However, the No. 42-ranked prospect would enter the game and launch his first long ball of the campaign in walk-off style in the final frame. Caissie made his MLB debut last season with the Cubs but was only given a short 12-game stint. He spent most of the 2025 campaign with Triple-A, where he posted a .937 OPS with 22 home runs. While he will likely continue to sit against left-handed pitchers, he is a viable waiver target in all five-outfielder leagues ahead of Week 2.

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Boston Red Sox starting pitching prospect Connelly Early logged five innings of one-run ball in his season debut against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. The young left-hander struck out six hitters while allowing just five hits and two free passes. Early was able to claim the final spot in the starting rotation after a strong spring training. In camp, the Virginia product logged 17 innings to the tune of a 1.59 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and a 16:5 K:BB. Early made his MLB debut late last season and enjoyed similar success against the game's top hitters, tossing 19 1/3 innings with a 2.33 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. Given his strong debut, managers should look to add Early off the waiver wire ahead of his next outing against the San Diego Padres. He is a viable starting pitcher in all formats.

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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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