Texas Rangers left-hander Cody Bradford (elbow) has been sent to Triple-A Round Rock on an injury rehab assignment as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery. Cody Bradford has progressed well and is expected to return in May if his rehab continues without setbacks. The 28-year-old did not appear in a game last season and owns a 4.28 ERA across 34 career appearances, including 21 starts. Bradford, the 175th overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft is working to establish consistency at the Major League level and could compete for a role in the Rangers rotation upon his return.

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Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford (shoulder) has been reinstated from the 10-day injured list after missing the start of the season with right shoulder inflammation. Crawford is expected to return to his everyday role as a steady presence in the lineup. The 31-year-old is entering his eighth season with Seattle and appeared in 157 games in 2025, posting a .265 AVG, .352 OBP, and .370 SLG. He has reached at least 145 games played in four of the last five seasons. If he stays healthy, Crawford should provide consistency on both sides of the ball as the Mariners look to build on last season's success.

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Pittsburgh Pirates top prospect Konnor Griffin has agreed to a nine-year, $140 million contract, setting a new benchmark for a player who has yet to make his Major League debut. Konnor Griffin, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft and the No. 1 ranked prospect in baseball, is on the verge of reaching the majors after being called up by the Pirates on Thursday. He has appeared in five games with Triple-A Indianapolis, recording seven hits in 16 at-bats with a .438 AVG, .571 OBP, and 1.196 OPS. The Pirates are making a clear long-term investment in their young star, who could emerge as a key piece in their push for contention in the National League.

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Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia surged through the top two levels of the minors last season before a brief debut with Boston in August. The Venezuelan made a case for a spot on the Pirates' Opening Day roster this spring, going 15-for-37 (.405) with a double, two home runs, and three steals in 17 Grapefruit League games, but was ultimately reassigned to Triple-A Indianapolis. Things have not gone so well in Indy, with Garcia getting off to a 1-for-19 (.053) start with a 33.3 percent strikeout rate (21 plate appearances). Nevertheless, Pittsburgh's sixth-ranked prospect could find himself back on the doorstep to the majors if he can get going. A high strikeout rate could limit his batting average, but his power and ability to drive in runs would probably put him near the middle of the Bucs' lineup whenever he gets the call, which would make him an intriguing waiver wire consideration. For now, he's not a priority waiver stash, but that could change quickly, so interested managers should keep an eye out for any developments.

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Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi was excellent in 2025, posting an 11-3 record with a 1.73 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and 129 strikeouts across 130 innings (22 starts). However, the 36-year-old right-hander has been unable to repeat his stellar performance early in the 2026 season. Across his first two starts of the year, Eovaldi has allowed 16 hits, 11 earned runs, and three walks across 8 2/3 innings of work. Still, there may not be a reason for fantasy managers to panic just yet. Eovaldi is suffering from a 3.12 HR/9 and a 54.1% strand rate, both of which should regress closer to his career norms of 1.00 and 72.9% over a larger sample size. Additionally, Eovaldi's average fastball velocity has actually increased from 94.4 mph in 2025 to 94.8 mph in 2026, and he has posted a stellar 26.7% strikeout rate amidst his larger struggles. Eovaldi's age makes his early-season decline a bit more concerning, but the veteran could easily return to form with some improved luck going forward.

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Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo went 2-for-5 in Wednesday's 8-3 win over the Rangers, with one of his hits being his first home run of 2026. It was a 437-foot solo blast to center that came off the bat at 109.5 mph. The left-handed slugger has reached base safely via hit or walk in four of the first five games, and there should be plenty more home runs on the way over the course of the season. The 21-year-old is getting regular at-bats to begin the year, making three starts at designated hitter, two at catcher, and one at first base, so with consistent playing time, there should be upwards of 25 home runs (or more) in his bat in 2026. The Dominican is available in more than 60 percent of Yahoo! leagues, but that number will probably start to creep up, especially when he gains eligibility at first base.

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Cincinnati Reds outfielder Noelvi Marte is off to a slow start to the 2026 season, as he's logged zero hits and five strikeouts through his first 10 plate appearances of the year. Perhaps most worryingly for Marte's fantasy profile, he has been out of the Reds' starting lineup in three out of their first five contests and could be stuck on the short side of a platoon with lefty-swinging Cincinnati outfielder Will Benson. A former top prospect, Marte posted a strong .263/.300/.448 slash line with 14 home runs, 51 RBI, 45 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases across 360 plate appearances in 2025. However, the 24-year-old is a converted infielder who is not known for his defensive prowess in the outfield, which could be impacting his playing time. Marte's combination of power and speed provides him with plenty of upside, but he will need to start hitting and earning more playing time quickly to merit a roster spot in most fantasy formats.

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Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect Ryan Waldschmidt could be nearing his MLB debut as the 2026 campaign gets underway. The D-backs' top-ranked prospect excelled at High-A and Double-A last season, putting together a .289/.419/.473 slash line with 18 home runs and 29 steals in 134 games, and appeared to be on the verge of making the team's Opening Day roster before being sent to Triple-A to begin the year. The former first-rounder slashed .302/.348/.488 in 14 spring games, and although he is just 4-for-18 (.222) at Triple-A to begin the year, the right-handed slugger has also drawn six walks compared to seven strikeouts. If his bat gets hot and there is an opportunity on the big league roster, either due to injury or underperformance, the 23-year-old could be on his way to Arizona. With a solid combination of contact, power, and speed, Waldschmidt is a name to consider stashing away in deeper leagues ahead of his eventual call-up.

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Washington Nationals outfielder Joey Wiemer is absolutely on fire to open the 2026 campaign. Across 22 plate appearances, the 27-year-old is hitting .588/.682/1.059 with two home runs, four RBI, and seven runs scored. The righty-swinging Wiemer did not start Washington's season opener against a right-handed starter, but he's been in the lineup for each of the Nationals' last two matchups against righties. Wiemer logged just MLB 61 plate appearances with the Miami Marlins in 2025, spending most of the year in Triple-A. Swing-and-miss has been a major issue for him to this point in his big league career, as he's struck out in 29.2% of his 521 career plate appearances in the Majors. However, Wiemer logged a 61.8% hard-hit rate in a small sample with Miami last season, so this early-season breakout is not entirely out of the blue. While his numbers are sure to regress over a larger amount of playing time, Wiemer currently profiles as a priority waiver wire target for fantasy managers.

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Tampa Bay Rays reliever Griffin Jax has gotten off to a nightmare start to the 2026 season. Across two innings (four games), the 31-year-old has allowed five hits, five earned runs, and two walks while recording just one strikeout. With fellow Rays right-hander Edwin Uceta (shoulder) on the injured list, Jax opened the year with a chance to emerge as Tampa Bay's preferred ninth-inning option. However, Jax has already blown two saves and may have pitched his way out of high-leverage opportunities. Jax has posted K-BB rates north of 27% in each of the last two seasons, so he has upside if he can settle in and find his prior form. Still, fantasy managers should be aggressive in search for other relief options off the waiver wire, given Jax's poor performance thus far. Rays relievers Bryan Baker and Garrett Cleavinger look like the favorites for saves in Tampa Bay until Uceta returns.

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Cleveland Guardians second base prospect Travis Bazzana is off to a slow start at Triple-A to begin the 2026 campaign, going 3-for-18 (.167) with no home runs in his first five games, but that doesn't mean his MLB debut isn't just over the horizon. The former first-overall draft pick had a strong spring, going 8-for-21 (.381) with three home runs during the Cactus League, and also belted a homer for Team Australia during the World Baseball Classic. Also, despite the slow start with the bat at Triple-A, the Guardians' top-ranked prospect has five walks compared to four strikeouts. A patient approach is something he's displayed throughout his time in the minors, with a career walk rate of 17.0 percent (MLB average is 8.4 percent) in 116 games. Add in above-average speed, and the left-handed slugger has the makings of a potential multi-category fantasy producer whenever he gets the call to the majors. An early-season debut is well within reach if his bat gets hot, so fantasy managers in redraft leagues will want to keep an eye on his performance these first few weeks at Columbus.

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Veteran second baseman Marcus Semien has struggled out of the gates in his first season with the New York Mets, hitting .100/.240/.250 with zero home runs, zero RBI, and two runs scored across his first 25 plate appearances of 2026. New York acquired Semien over the offseason in a high-profile trade with the Texas Rangers, sending out fan-favorite outfielder Brandon Nimmo in return. Semien's production at the plate has slowly been declining in recent years, as he hit .230/.305/.364 with 15 home runs, 62 RBI, 62 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases across 534 plate appearances with Texas in 2025. Swing-and-miss has been a major source of concern for Semien so far in New York, as he currently owns a 32% strikeout rate. The 35-year-old has posted strikeout rates below 18% in each of the last four seasons, so he should post better numbers over a larger sample size. However, if he cannot cut down his whiffs, Semien could be in line for a steep drop-off at the plate in 2026.

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Addison Barger is off to a rough start to the 2026 season, as he's yet to record a hit across 16 plate appearances. The left-handed hitting Barger has also been out of Toronto's starting lineup each of the team's first two games against left-handed starting pitchers. Barger had a breakout year in 2025, hitting .243/.301/.454 with 21 home runs, 74 RBI, 61 runs scored, and four stolen bases across 502 plate appearances. The 26-year-old posted an excellent 50.9% hard-hit rate and slugged .480 against right-handed pitching. Early in 2026, Barger has struck out in 37.5% of his plate appearances and owns a hard-hit rate of just 25%. While it's obviously still very early in the season, Barger could be at risk of losing even more playing time given the presence of quality bench outfielders Davis Schneider and Nathan Lukes in Toronto.

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The Long Island Ducks have signed right-handed pitcher Trevor Bauer for the upcoming season and have named him their Opening Day starter. Bauer spent 10 seasons in the MLB after being selected with the third overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. During the 2020 season, Bauer enjoyed his best season as he won the NL Cy Young Award with the Reds when he logged 73 innings to the tune of a 1.73 ERA, 0.79 WIHP, and a career-best 36.0% strikeout rate. He last appeared in the majors during the 2021 season with the Dodgers. Following several accusations of sexual assault, Bauer took his professional career to the NPB, where he spent the 2023 and 2025 seasons. In 2025, Bauer logged 133 2/3 innings with a high 4.51 ERA. Given the time he has spent away from the major leagues, fantasy managers should not expect him to be in contention to return to an MLB club.

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Kansas City Royals catcher Carter Jensen (undislocated) was a late scratch from Thursday's lineup due to an undisclosed injury. Instead, the Royals will move outfielder Jac Caglianone to the DH spot, which opens a position for Lane Thomas in the outfield. Through the early part of the young season, Jensen has spent time both behind the dish and serving as the DH. Across five games, the young catcher has held a .125/.167/.313 line with two hits. However, one of his hits left the yard. He made his MLB debut late in the 2025 season and immediately flashed high-end talent, posting a .300/.391/.550 line with a .941 OPS over a short 20-game stint. Managers should continue to monitor his status in case Jensen needs to miss additional time.

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Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman has been sharp through two outings this season. During Tuesday's start against the Colorado Rockies, he allowed two hits and zero walks over six shutout innings. He also struck out 10 batters along the way. Gausman has been spectacular so far in the 2026 campaign, albeit over a small sample size. He has allowed just one run, zero walks, and three hits through two starts (12.1 innings) while striking out 21 batters. The right-hander has continued to prove himself as one of the most effective starters in baseball, even at 35 years old. He has kept his FIP below 4.00 every season since 2018, and he's certainly on track to extend that streak in 2026. As it stands, he ranks #25 among starters in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings. However, he has top-five upside if he continues to pitch at an elite level.

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Houston Astros third baseman Carlos Correa went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run during Wednesday's win over the Boston Red Sox. He is now slashing .296/.367/.444 with seven RBI, a 10% walk rate, a 10% strikeout rate, and 132 wRC+. Correa has always been an above-league-average player, but his hefty contract made him appear somewhat overpaid last year, prompting the Twins to dump his salary in a trade with the Astros. However, his hot start to the 2026 season has made his contract (and the Astros' decision to re-acquire him) look more like a worthwhile investment. The 31-year-old has taken on an everyday role on the left side of the infield. He played shortstop in Jeremy Pena's absence, and he should play out the rest of the season as the everyday third baseman, barring injuries. He ranks #22 among third basemen in the latest fantasy baseball rankings from RotoBaller, and he should climb up the rankings if he continues to produce consistent results at the plate.

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Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu is off to an incredible start to the season. He slugged another home run during Wednesday's loss to the Houston Astros, bringing his season slash line to .417/.417/.917 with three home runs, six RBI, and 281 wRC+. Presumably, his stats will cool down a little over a larger sample size, but the hot start is still indicative of a big year to come for the young outfielder. Abreu is a positive-value defender in right field, where he displays good glovework, plus elite arm strength and accuracy. At the plate, he has hit well enough to earn a spot in the lineup every day, progressing from last year's platoon role. He currently ranks #44 among outfielders in RotoBaller's fantasy baseball rankings, and he'll presumably rise up the rankings as long as he continues to produce consistent results at the plate.

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Cincinnati Reds left-handed pitcher Nick Lodolo will begin a rehab assignment at Single-A Dayton on Thursday. Lodolo has been sidelined since the end of spring training due to a blister on his left index finger, but the rehab assignment indicates that he's making progress and could be close to returning. Although the Reds now have until the start of May to activate him, it presumably won't take that long. He's expected to throw 60 to 65 pitches on Thursday, so we wouldn't be surprised to see him make one more start at Double-A or Triple-A before re-joining the major league roster. Lodolo is coming off a strong 2025 season in which he made 29 appearances with a 3.66 xFIP, 8.96 K/9, 1.78 BB/9, and 42.6% ground ball rate. The 28-year-old southpaw currently ranks #41 among starting pitchers in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.

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According to Jason Mackey, the Pittsburgh Pirates are promoting top infield prospect Konnor Griffin to the MLB roster ahead of their home opener on Friday. Griffin was in serious contention to break camp with the MLB roster despite not playing a single game at the Triple-A level. In spring training, the former ninth overall pick launched four home runs while going 5-for-24 at the dish. As a result, the Pirates opted to send Griffin to Triple-A for a brief stint. In this five-game appearance, Griffin would flash high-end upside, posting a .438/.571/.625 slash line with three doubles and three stolen bases. Last summer, Griffin appeared in 122 games, spent primarily in the lower levels and hit for a .333 AVG with 21 HRs and 65 SBs. Given his high-end five-category upside, Griffin should be viewed as a must-roster middle infielder in all formats going forward.

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