Houston Astros veteran second baseman Jose Altuve can still hit. The 35-year-old nine-time All-Star, former MVP, and three-time batting champion had a big night as the team's leadoff hitter in the 8-1 win over the Boston Red Sox, going 4-for-4 at the plate with two home runs, four runs scored, and a walk to boost his early-season batting average to .412 and his OPS to 1.389. Both of Altuve's home runs in the first game of the series at Daikin Park came off right-hander Johan Oviedo. It was Altuve's 15th career multi-homer game. Father Time remains undefeated, and Altuve is no spring chicken anymore, but Monday night's performance is a reminder that he still has plenty of fantasy value as a starting second baseman in mixed fantasy leagues. If Altuve can remain healthy, we wouldn't rule out his chances of posting another 20-20 season in his 17th year in the big leagues.

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Chicago White Sox infielder Miguel Vargas took care of business on Monday to help the team beat the Miami Marlins 9-4 in the opening game of a series at LoanDepot Park, going 2-for-4 with a grand slam, two runs scored, and a career-high six RBI. Vargas was playing first base in this one while batting out of the leadoff spot. His grand slam came in the fourth inning off right-hander Chris Paddack. The home run was his first of 2026, and his six RBI were also his first runs batted in of the season. In his first full season with the White Sox in 2025, Vargas hit .234/.316/.401 with a .717 OPS, 16 home runs, 60 RBI, 80 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 569 plate appearances over 138 games played. In deep-mixed leagues as corner-infield depth, Vargas is a fine power bat as an everyday player who has eligibility at both first and third base for the Pale Hose. Vargas' six-RBI game will surely draw attention to him in deeper leagues where he's available.

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Houston Astros manager Joe Espada thinks right-handed reliever Bryan Abreu's dip in velocity in Sunday's win over the Los Angeles Angels was due to issues with his mechanics and not any physical injury, according to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. Abreu's fastball averaged 93.2 mph in his outing on Sunday after averaging 97.3 mph a season ago. With his velocity being down early on, Abreu has struggled as the team's de facto closer with Josh Hader (biceps) on the injured list. He's allowed four earned runs on a home run while walking four and striking out three in 1 1/3 innings. Espada said on Monday that Abreu is "doing well." On Saturday, Abreu averaged 95.9 mph on his 12 fastballs but walked two batters and gave up a three-run homer to Nolan Schanuel. Abreu, who had a 2.28 ERA and led all relievers with 105 strikeouts in 70 outings, is capable of turning things around and needs to be rostered for saves as Houston's primary closer while Hader is sidelined.

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New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (shoulder) has been hitting off the Trajekt pitching machine and will advance to live batting practice soon, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. The Yankees put Volpe on the 10-day injured list to begin the 2026 campaign after he had surgery to fix the labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder last October. He has been brought along slowly, but he could be cleared to start a minor-league rehab assignment in the second week of April. The most likely scenario is that Volpe will be ready to make his 2026 season debut at some point in early May, barring a setback. The former first-rounder in 2019 hit just .212 (114-for-539) and managed to hit 19 home runs and steal 18 bases in 153 regular-season games despite dealing with a labrum tear for the majority of the season. Until he's ready to return, the speedy Jose Caballero will be the Yankees' primary shortstop. Volpe is rostered in just 7% of Yahoo leagues right now.

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New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) is scheduled to throw one "up" of live batting practice in a couple of days, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Cole continues to trudge along in his recovery from Tommy John surgery that he had in March of last year. Ultimately, the Yankees are hoping that he can return to the team's starting rotation by late May or early June. Cole threw 2 2/3 innings during spring training before the team placed him on the 15-day injured list for the start of the regular season. The former American League Cy Young winner deserves to be stashed in all fantasy baseball leagues, but you'll need to be patient. Because of Cole's long layoff, workload restrictions are expected to be in place to help ease him back in. The former first overall pick in 2011 out of UCLA is a six-time All-Star, but he has only made 17 starts for the Yankees since the start of the 2024 season.

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New York Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon (elbow) threw 50 pitches in a live batting practice session on Sunday, per MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. Rodon was forced to start the 2026 season on the 15-day injured list after having surgery in the offseason to remove a bone spur from his left elbow. However, he's already throwing off a mound against hitters, which means he might not be far off from a minor-league rehab assignment. If Rodon doesn't encounter any setbacks as he continues to ramp up, he could make his season debut for the Yankees in April. The three-time All-Star really struggled in his first year in the Bronx in 2023, but he's been much better the last two years, going 34-18 with a 3.50 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 398 strikeouts, and 130 walks in 370 1/3 innings over 65 starts in pinstripes. Rodon absolutely should be rostered in all fantasy leagues while he recovers, given his high-end upside for one of the best teams in baseball.

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Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Cody Ponce (knee) injured his right knee while fielding a ground ball in his first outing of the 2026 season on Monday against the Colorado Rockies, according to Blake Murphy of Sportsnet. Ponce was able to get up and limp around, but he was ultimately carted from the field. The team announced that he has "right-knee discomfort." We won't know more about the severity of his knee injury until he undergoes tests. Hopefully, the 31-year-old can avoid a serious injury in his return to the big leagues. In his first two major-league seasons in 2020 and 2021 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Ponce struggled to a 5.86 ERA and 1.54 WHIP with 48 strikeouts and 17 walks in 55 1/3 innings pitched over 20 appearances (five starts). He spent three years in Japan and one year in Korea before signing with Toronto in the offseason. Ponce only lasted 2 1/3 innings before getting hurt, allowing an earned run on one hit while walking one and striking out three.

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Cleveland Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee (shoulder) has been cleared to make his next start on Tuesday on the road against the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Bibee was pulled from his Opening Day start on Thursday against the Seattle Mariners after allowing three solo home runs due to right-shoulder inflammation. The injury was never considered serious, though, and he has been cleared to start on the road in a very difficult matchup. Fantasy managers in DFS will definitely want to avoid Bibee coming off his shoulder scare against the reigning World Series champions. The three solo shots that Bibee allowed at T-Mobile Park last Thursday night were the only runs he gave up, also walking two and striking out seven in five innings of work in his 2026 season debut.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Monday that they placed infielder Pavin Smith (elbow) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to March 29) with left-elbow inflammation and recalled infielder Jose Fernandez from Triple-A Reno in a corresponding move. Veteran Carlos Santana is starting at first base on Monday against the visiting Detroit Tigers and right-hander Justin Verlander, and he should see most of the playing time there with Smith on the injured list. Meanwhile, Ildemaro Vargas is the designated hitter and will bat eighth on Monday. Expect the Snakes to rotate at DH among Vargas, Tim Tawa, Fernandez, and Jorge Barrosa with Smith on the shelf for at least 10 days. Smith isn't dealing with any structural damage in his elbow, but it's something that has been bothering him since spring training. It's unclear if he'll return when eligible on April 8. In his two games played in the opening series against the Dodgers, Smith went 1-for-6 with an RBI, run scored, two walks, and two strikeouts at the plate.

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San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames has been moved to the leadoff spot for the Giants for Monday's series opener at Petco Park against the San Diego Padres and right-hander Walker Buehler, according to MLB.com. It's time for the Giants to shake up their batting order as they head into the second series of the 2026 season after they mustered just one run in the season-opening series at home against the New York Yankees. The 30-year-old Adames will become a better DFS play out of the leadoff spot after hitting cleanup twice and sixth once in the first three games. It's an unfamiliar spot for Adames, as he has only hit leadoff twice since the start of the 2018 season. Adames will be looking for his first career hit against Buehler, whom he's gone 0-for-5 against previously. Like most of the Giants' hitters, Adames is off to a slow start at the plate, going 1-for-11 with five strikeouts in his first three games.

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Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges (hand) is back behind the plate to catch left-hander Parker Messick on Monday night and will hit eighth in the batting order for the series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Roki Sasaki, per MLB.com. It will be Hedges' 2026 season debut after he dealt with a hand injury at the end of spring training. With the 33-year-old veteran back on the field, Bo Naylor will start on the bench. Hedges doesn't offer much offensively, leaving him only worth rostering in the deepest of AL-only and dynasty leagues for catching depth. The 11-year MLB veteran has a career slash line of just .185/.244/.313 with a .556 OPS over 820 games played. Hedges had five home runs and 10 RBI for the Guards last year in 68 regular-season games. He hasn't had double-digit home runs in a season since back in 2021 with Cleveland. Nobody in the Guardians' lineup has faced Sasaki in their careers.

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New York Mets infielder Jorge Polanco (Achilles) is dealing with a bit of an Achilles issue, manager Carlos Mendoza told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. The Mets are being cautious with him, but he'll stay in the lineup on Monday and serve as the designated hitter while batting cleanup for the Mets on Monday against the hosting St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander Kyle Leahy. Until Polanco can return to defensive duties at first base, expect Brett Baty and Jared Young to split playing time at the position. Both Young and Baty (starting in right field) are in the starting lineup against the Cardinals in the series opener. The 32-year-old veteran has a history of lower-body injuries, so it's not a great sign for his fantasy managers that he's already dealing with something in the first week of the regular season. Through his three games in 2026 with the Mets, Polanco has gone 1-for-10 with an RBI, two runs, five walks, and two strikeouts.

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Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is not in the team's starting lineup on Monday for the series opener against the visiting New York Yankees at T-Mobile Park, according to MLB.com. Mitch Garver is doing the catching for right-hander Luis Castillo and will hit sixth against Yankees lefty Ryan Weathers. Raleigh is just getting a normal day of rest against a lefty pitcher. After breaking out in 2025, the 29-year-old left-handed slugger has gone just 2-for-15 to start the 2026 season with a double, an RBI, a stolen base, three walks, and 10 strikeouts in 18 plate appearances. It's not the start his fantasy managers had hoped for, but it's still very early. With Yankees ace Max Fried on the mound on Tuesday against the M's, Raleigh's rough start to the season could continue if he's back in the starting lineup.

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Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott will get a breather on Monday in the series opener against the division-rival Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Veteran infielder Edmundo Sosa made the start at the keystone and is hitting sixth for the Phillies with Stott starting on the bench against left-hander Foster Griffin. It's the second straight day on the bench for Stott against a left-handed starting pitcher. If that continues, it will obviously be bad news for Stott and his fantasy managers in 2026. The 28-year-old former 14th overall pick in 2019 out of the University of Nevada has gotten off to a nice start at the plate in his first three games, though, going 3-for-8 (.375) with an RBI and a stolen base. Stott really struggled against southpaws in 2025, going 25-for-111 (.225) against them with a .575 OPS and just one of his 13 home runs on the season.

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The Athletic's Mitch Bannon reports that Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Shane Bieber (elbow) will throw off a mound for the first time on Saturday. Bieber didn't throw off a mound all spring due to elbow/forearm issues. The Blue Jays aren't going to take any chances with the 30-year-old veteran, especially after he didn't make his season debut in 2025 until August after recovering from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. The former American League Cy Young and two-time All-Star had a 3.57 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 37:7 K:BB in seven regular-season starts for the Blue Jays last year before posting a 3.86 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, and 18:6 K:BB in 18 2/3 playoff innings. Bieber can still be useful (when healthy) as starting rotation depth in deep-mixed leagues, but he's no longer as dominant as he once was after giving up plenty of loud contact in his return in 2025. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Bieber to be an option to come off the 15-day injured list until May.

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Miami Marlins infielder Graham Pauley is making the start at third base and will hit ninth for the Fish in Monday's series opener against the visiting Chicago White Sox and right-hander Davis Martin at LoanDepot Park, according to MLB.com. Pauley was sidelined for a good chunk of spring training with a forearm injury, but he's healthy now and will have a shot to play regularly at the hot corner in Miami, with Christopher Morel (oblique) on the 10-day injured list. Connor Norby will shift across the diamond and see most of the playing time at first base with Morel sidelined. Pauley has gone 1-for-4 with two strikeouts at the plate in two games to begin the 2026 regular season. There's probably a greater chance that Pauley serves in more of a super-utility role for the Marlins once Morel is ready to return. In his first 220 major-league plate appearances, Pauley has barely hit, slashing .208/.283/.355 with six home runs, 16 RBI, and 22 runs scored in 77 games.

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Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy (hip) could begin a minor-league rehab assignment as early as this week with High-A Rome, according to Grant McAuley of 929 The Game. Murphy is scheduled to take live batting practice at Rome on Wednesday as the Braves head out on a seven-game road trip. The 31-year-old veteran backstop began the 2026 season on the 10-day injured list after having offseason hip surgery, but it might not be long before he can make his debut this year for Atlanta. Fellow catcher Drake Baldwin is an everyday player now for the Braves after winning National League Rookie of the Year honors in 2025, but Murphy should also play regularly between catcher and designated hitter, while Jonah Heim will revert to No. 3 catching duties. Murphy was an All-Star in his first year in Atlanta in 2023, when he hit 21 home runs in 108 games. He had just 26 combined long balls in the last two years, though, while battling injuries. It remains to be seen if Murphy can rediscover his pre-injury power stroke after having hip surgery.

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Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitching prospect Trey Yesavage (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a three-inning/45-pitch simulated game on Friday, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. Yesavage was held back on purpose in spring training and then landed on the 15-day injured list to begin the 2026 regular season due to a right-shoulder impingement. The 22-year-old will be given plenty of time to build up his workload as he looks to rejoin Toronto's starting rotation. Yesavage made a quick ascent to the big leagues in 2025 and only made three regular-season starts before hurling 27 2/3 innings over six outings (five starts) in the postseason, which included an epic 12-strikeout performance in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He struck out 39 batters and walked 11 in the postseason, putting his high-end upside on full display. Control can be an issue for Yesavage, though, and his redraft upside could be capped in 2026 with the Blue Jays handling him with extreme care to ensure his long-term health.

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Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider (oblique) will be on the team's road trip, but there's still no timetable for when he might make his first minor-league rehab start, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Strider will likely throw a live batting practice session on the road, and that will give the Braves a better feel for his potential return date from the 15-day injured list. The Braves reportedly don't think Strider will miss too much time after being diagnosed with an oblique strain, but he's not going to be ready to return from the IL when he's eligible on April 6. But barring a setback as he ramps back up, fantasy managers should get him back before the end of April. The 27-year-old was a first-time All-Star in 2023 and won a league-high 20 games that year, but he pitched in only two games in 2024 due to injury and went 7-14 with a 4.45 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 23 starts for the Braves last year. Strider's injury history makes him riskier, especially since he's experienced a drop in velocity since his strong 2023 campaign.

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Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler is back in center field and will hit sixth in the batting order on Monday for the series opener in Atlanta against the Braves and right-hander Bryce Elder, according to MLB.com. Butler had a rough Opening Day in the walk-off loss to the Toronto Blue Jays last week while going 0-for-3, and then was kept on the bench for the final two games of the series north of the border. The 25-year-old power/speed threat is back in action on Monday, though, and will hope to get going early in the 2026 season at Truist Park. Butler is hitless in three career at-bats against Elder with one RBI. Butler had his first career 20-20 season with the A's in 152 games played in 2025, but he disappointed with a .234/.306/.404 slash line and a .710 OPS in 630 plate appearances while dealing with knee issues for most of the year. If fully healthy and clicking, Butler is a candidate for 30 homers and 30 steals, so he should be rostered in all fantasy leagues.

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