Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena is back in the starting lineup for the team's series finale on Sunday against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels, batting out of the leadoff spot against right-hander Jack Kochanowicz. Pena did not play in the Opening Day loss on Thursday while recovering from a fractured finger that he suffered earlier this spring while preparing for the World Baseball Classic, but he returned on Friday to go 2-for-5 with a run scored and a double before resting again in the team's win on Saturday. With Pena back in there, Carlos Correa will move back to third base, and Isaac Paredes will start at second base. Jose Altuve will serve as the designated hitter. The Astros are being careful not to overwork Pena early in the regular season, but his outing on Friday proved that his finger issue shouldn't be a problem when it comes to hitting. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues will want to get him back in their starting lineups on Sunday. Pena has one hit in just two career at-bats against Kochanowicz.

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Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom (neck) said his stiff neck feels "much better" on Sunday, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. deGrom played catch from 120 feet, which he couldn't do on Saturday before he was scratched from his first start of the 2026 season against the Philadelphia Phillies. The veteran hurler still feels it a bit, but he's hopeful that he can start in Baltimore against the Orioles this week. deGrom woke up Saturday morning with a stiff neck, and the Rangers decided not to take any chances with the oft-injured 37-year-old veteran. If the two-time Cy Young winner is cleared to take the ball for his first start of the year, it will likely come on either Tuesday or Wednesday at Camden Yards. deGrom was an All-Star for the fifth time in his career in 2025 and made 30 starts, but from 2021 to 2024, he made a total of just 35 starts for the Mets and Rangers due to injuries. He'll be a bit riskier against Baltimore if he ends up starting this coming week.

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Boston Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Cincinnati Reds. Rafaela had started the first two games of the season, but he'll open Sunday's game on the bench. Masataka Yoshida will make his first start of the year at designated hitter, shifting Jarren Duran to center field. Rafaela has been off to an impressive start so far, hitting 3-for-9 with one run, one RBI, and one strikeout. He's also one of the most prominent defenders in baseball, so losing his glove in center field puts the Red Sox at a disadvantage. It makes sense to get Yoshida's left-handed bat in the lineup against Reds righty Rhett Lowder, although Rafaela did have reverse splits in 2025 (.720 OPS against right-handed pitching).

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Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's contest against the Toronto Blue Jays. Butler started Opening Day but hasn't played since then. It's unclear if his absence is related to his pre-season knee injury or the fact that the A's have faced a left-handed pitcher on back-to-back days. Butler went 0-for-3 in his lone appearance back on Friday. He's coming off a suboptimal 2025 season in which he slashed .234/.306/.404 with 21 home runs, 22 stolen bases, and 96 wRC+. It will be interesting to see if Butler comes off the bench Sunday and if he gets into the lineup against Braves right-hander Bryce Elder on Monday. If not, it will be safe to assume that his knee injury is lingering into the regular season.

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Toronto Blue Jays left-handed pitcher Mason Fluharty (knee) was hit by two consecutive comebackers during Saturday's game against the Athletics. Fluharty exited the game after the second occurrence. He was diagnosed with a right knee contusion, but his X-rays came back negative, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. The 24-year-old is reportedly "feeling good," and although he might be a little sore on Sunday, the team doesn't expect the injury to be anything serious. It sounds like he'll avoid landing on the injured list and could possibly return to game action within the next few days. Fluharty had a 4.44 ERA as a rookie last year, with opponents hitting just .193 against him.

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Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman isn't in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Twins. Instead, Samuel Basallo will catch and bat fifth. Rutschman has been hitting well through the Orioles' first two contests. He's 2-for-6 with a single, double, two walks, and one strikeout. Defensively, he does have one error and is 0-for-2 throwing out base stealers. Rutschman gets the day off because the Orioles are facing Twins right-hander Bailey Ober. The backstop had a mere .659 OPS against righties last year. Basallo's OPS against righties was even worse (.556), but he still hit them better than lefties. He started at designated hitter in the previous two games, going 1-for-7 with a single, a walk, and two strikeouts. We expect to see Rutschman in the starting lineup on Monday, and we wouldn't be surprised if he comes off the bench as a pinch-hitter in the series finale against Minnesota on Sunday.

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Baltimore Orioles outfielder Dylan Beavers will bat eighth and play center field during Sunday's game against the Minnesota Twins. Beaver sat out the season opener while recovering from knee and quadriceps injuries, but he made his season debut on Saturday, going 0-for-2 before the Orioles pinch-hit for him. It's interesting to see that he's playing center field, because that's a somewhat new position for him. He did play center in the minors, but all of his defensive innings in the majors have come in right or left field. He'll be up for the task, though, as he posted a modest 0 OAA and -1 FRV in the outfield last year. Beavers is a candidate to get his first hit of the season on Sunday against Twins right-hander Bailey Ober. The left-handed-hitting outfielder posted a strong .244/.387/.411 slash line against righties in 2025.

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Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Carlos Estevez (ankle) was hit with a comebacker during the ninth inning of Saturday's loss to the Atlanta Braves. Initial X-rays came back negative, but he will be reassessed on Sunday morning, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Estevez entered Saturday's game with a two-run lead and an opportunity to earn the save. However, he allowed six runs, including a walk-off grand slam to Dominic Smith, while recording just one out. The veteran closer surrendered four hits and two walks along the way, and he was charged with the loss and blown save. Depending on the severity of the injury, Estevez could be headed for a stint on the injured list. Given that he likely lost his job as the team's closer on Saturday night, the Royals might feel less pressure to have him play through his ankle injury. Lucas Erceg, who had 14 saves in 2024, could be Estevez's successor if he does get removed from the closer role.

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New York Mets outfield prospect Carson Benge turned in a strong showing in his MLB debut on Thursday and is a top waiver-wire target. In his MLB debut on Thursday afternoon, Benge drew the start in right field and did not disappoint, going 1-for-3 with a home run, a stolen base, and two walks. Benge was in competition for the starting right-field job throughout spring training and ultimately claimed the role. In camp, the former 19th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft posted a strong .366/.435/.439 line with an .874 OPS. Last summer, Benge spent his time at High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A. He would finish the campaign carrying an overall .281/.385/.472 line with 15 home runs and 22 stolen bases (over 116 games). Given his clear starting role in one of the sport's most potent lineups and five-category skill set, Benge should be added in all formats ahead of Week 2 and be viewed as a starting-caliber outfielder.

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Tampa Bay Rays right-handed reliever Edwin Uceta (shoulder) threw a live batting practice session on Friday and has another one scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, according to MLB.com. If he gets through those unscathed, Uceta should start a minor-league rehab assignment soon after that. The 28-year-old was put on the 15-day injured list on March 22 with right-shoulder soreness. He reported not feeling great in spring training when playing catch on Feb. 19 and received a cortisone injection on Feb. 20. Uceta had a 1.51 ERA and 0.82 WHIP in 41 2/3 relief innings for the Rays in 2024 and was one of only five relievers in 2025 to have over 100 strikeouts in 76 innings in 2025. Right-hander Griffin Jax entered the 2026 season as the Rays' favorite for saves, but he has blown his first two opportunities. When Uceta is activated from the IL, he could quickly become manager Kevin Cash's go-to man in the ninth inning. He has the most upside of Tampa's high-leverage arms, not only for saves, but also for strikeout potential.

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Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford (shoulder) went through a light workout under the eye of infield coach Perry Hill and the team's athletic training staff before the game on Saturday against the Cleveland Guardians, according to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. Crawford is scheduled to remain with the team through the weekend, and if all goes well, he'll begin a minor-league rehab assignment. His rehab assignment would likely come at Triple-A Tacoma. Crawford will likely be back from the 10-day injured list during the team's road trip, which begins on Friday and runs through Anaheim and Arlington. The 31-year-old received a cortisone shot for his ailing right shoulder last week for an injury that has been bothering him from early on in spring training. He's expected to go through a more vigorous workout on Sunday. Crawford only played in seven Cactus League games, but he's been receiving at-bats in minor-league games in camp for over a week. He should be ready to hit the ground running next weekend, barring a setback, but Crawford doesn't offer a ton of fantasy upside with very modest power and speed abilities in a pitcher-friendly home ballpark.

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Kansas City Royals right-handed closer Carlos Estevez had a rough night on Saturday in the 6-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Estevez was hit with a blown save and his first loss of the 2026 season after surrendering six runs on four hits (one home run) while walking two in one-third of an inning. The 33-year-old entered the ninth inning in Atlanta with a 2-0 lead in his season debut, but he imploded and continued to exhibit the diminished velocity that we also observed during spring training. Estevez will likely get some more chances to redeem himself early in the season, but this could become a real problem for his fantasy managers. The Dominican reliever was an All-Star for the second time in his career in 2025 and had a 2.45 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, a league- and career-high 42 saves, 54 strikeouts, and 22 walks in 66 innings pitched. Estevez's drop in velocity and strikeout rate have definitely made him more susceptible to outings like this. If it continues, Lucas Erceg would likely be next in line for save situations in KC.

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Cleveland Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee (shoulder) threw a 26-pitch bullpen session on Saturday and felt good, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. Manager Stephen Vogt said that Bibee is still day-to-day, but said that "today was a really good day for Tanner." Bibee was pulled from his Opening Day start on Thursday night against the Seattle Mariners due to right-shoulder inflammation, but the Guardians never believed it was a serious situation. The 27-year-old allowed three solo runs to the Mariners on Thursday in the 6-4 win while also walking two and striking out seven in a no-decision in five innings pitched. Bibee could make his next scheduled start in a tough matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but if the Guards play it safe and push him back, the best bet is that left-hander Logan Allen makes a spot start. Bibee would be a pretty risky fantasy starter on Tuesday if he makes his next start against the back-to-back World Series champions.

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Tampa Bay Rays right-handed reliever Griffin Jax has put himself on the closer hot seat early in 2026 after blowing each of his first two save opportunities as he begins his first full year with the team. In Saturday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, Jax blew the save and took his first loss of the year after allowing two runs (one earned) on a hit while walking one in just one-third of an inning. The 31-year-old blew the save on Opening Day at Busch Stadium on Thursday and could not get it done on Saturday in the bottom of the 10th inning. Infield prospect JJ Wetherholt delivered the dagger against Jax. The former third-rounder by the Minnesota Twins in 2016 out of Air Force has been manager Kevin Cash's first choice for saves to begin the year, but that could be changing the next time a save situation comes up, with Bryan Baker and Garrett Cleavinger both being options. Edwin Uceta (shoulder) should get ninth-inning duties when he returns from the injured list, and he has the most upside of any Rays high-leverage arm.

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Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers is showing his high-end power early in 2026, homering for the third time in just the second game in Saturday's extra-inning loss to the hosting Toronto Blue Jays. Langeliers went 2-for-4 with a grand slam, one walk, and a strikeout in the team's 8-7 loss at the Rogers Centre. In Friday night's 3-2 loss to Toronto, Langeliers hit two solo homers to carry the A's offense. He's feeling it at the plate early on this year after hitting a career-high 31 long balls and driving in 72 in 123 games in 2025 in his third full season in the majors. The 28-year-old also had seven stolen bases and a .277/.325/.536 slash line with an .861 OPS in 523 plate appearances. Langeliers hit 82 home runs and drove in 215 runs from 2023 to 2025 and appears headed for a possible second straight 30-home run season for the A's.

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Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease looked excellent in his debut for the team in Saturday's 8-7 win in 11 innings over the Athletics for their second walk-off win in the first two games of the 2026 season. Cease was on point for a great first impression for the home faithful, allowing just one earned run on three hits in 5 1/3 innings pitched while walking only two and striking out 12. Fantasy managers would have loved the win on top of it, but they don't really have anything to complain about in Cease's first outing of the year in his new digs at hitter-friendly Rogers Centre. He threw 61 of his 90 pitches for strikes, and his fastball velocity was up a tad from last year. At one point in the game, Cease struck out seven straight batters. Cease could be money once again for his fantasy managers in his second start with Toronto, which is scheduled to come next Sunday against his former team, the Chicago White Sox. It's a very encouraging start for Cease in his move back to the American League.

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Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (shoulder) looked solid on the mound during his first minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday. The right-hander tossed three innings, allowing two hits, one walk, and striking out three batters. The plan was for Wheeler to throw 45 pitches, but he only needed 38 to get through three innings. Now, the next step is for Wheeler to make another rehab start against Triple-A Durham. After that, Wheeler will make a start at Double-A Reading. The 35-year-old is currently working his way back after undergoing surgery in September. The timetable for Wheeler's return isn't clear, but his season debut should be sometime in April. Wheeler should be stashed in all fantasy formats.

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Chicago White Sox infielder Curtis Mead has been traded to the Washington Nationals in exchange for catcher Boston Smith. It didn't take long for the White Sox to find a trade partner after designating Mead for assignment before Opening Day. Mead doesn't offer a ton of upside with the bat, but is a decent depth option. Last season, Mead slashed .233/.299/.321 with three home runs, 19 RBI, and five steals in 90 games between the Tampa Bay Rays and White Sox. The 25-year-old is unlikely to play enough to warrant looking at in fantasy leagues. As for Smith, he was drafted by the Nationals in the sixth round of the 2025 Amateur Draft. The 23-year-old figures to begin his career in the lower levels of the minor league system.

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St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael McGreevy was locked in against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday. McGreevy was stellar as he tossed six no-hit innings versus the Rays. The right-hander was pulled out of the game before allowing a hit. Sadly, the Cardinals' bullpen was unable to hold the lead for McGreevy. He finished this outing with six shutout innings, allowing zero hits, walking two batters, while striking out five in the no-decision. The 25-year-old registered a 4.42 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and a 58:20 K/BB ratio across 17 games (16 starts) in 2025. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect McGreevy to continue having this type of success. His velocity has been down all spring and surrendered some hard-hit balls that found gloves on Saturday. There could be some mixed league value, but McGreevy is far from a must-have fantasy option despite a stellar outing.

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St. Louis Cardinals infielder JJ Wetherholt came up clutch for his team during Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Wetherholt blasted his first career home run on Thursday and had more fun in his second career game. It was mostly a quiet game for the rookie infielder until he came up to the plate in extra innings. Wetherholt smacked a single off right-hander Griffin Jax to score two runs and win the game. He's 3-for-9 with one homer, four RBI, and one stolen base over two games. It has been an exciting beginning to Wetherholt's career and a great start for the Cardinals. The rookie infielder should be rostered in most fantasy formats at the moment.

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