New York Mets infielder Jorge Polanco (Achilles) remains out of the starting lineup for Friday's series opener at Citi Field against the visiting Athletics, per MLB.com. Jared Young will make another start at first base and will hit third in the batting order versus A's right-hander J.T. Ginn. Polanco continues to deal with Achilles soreness early in the 2026 season, and the Mets admitted that it could lead to a stint on the injured list as a precaution for a player with a lengthy history of lower-body injuries. The 32-year-old Dominican switch-hitter's Achilles' issues could help explain why he's hitting .200 (8-for-40) in the early going with just one RBI, two runs scored, five walks, and six strikeouts in his first 10 games. Polanco has an interesting power profile as long as he remains eligible at second base, but that won't continue into the 2027 campaign. When healthy, Polanco will rotate between first base and designated hitter in Queens.

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St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker is showing off his power stroke as the 2026 season gets underway, with the former first-round draft pick hitting four home runs in his last five contests. Through all 12 games he's played, the 6-foot-6 slugger is slashing .295/.367/.682 with five home runs, 12 RBI, 10 runs scored, and one steal, good for a .458 wOBA and 192 wRC+. A high 28.6 percent strikeout rate might give some fantasy managers pause, but it's actually an improvement over last season's 31.8 percent rate, as are his contact and chase rates. The 23-year-old's xBA is near his batting average, too, sitting at .305, and there is no abnormally highBABIP (.320 vs. career .310), so there are no major signsof regression around the corner. Hopefully theformer top prospectcan keep it up, and he's still available in over 30 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

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Detroit Tigers outfielder Wenceel Perez has been recalled from Triple-A Toledo to take the active roster spot of injured outfielder Parker Meadows (arm, concussion), according to The Athletic's Cody Stavenhagen. The 26-year-old Perez could be worth a look in AL-only fantasy leagues because he could see considerable playing time in center field with Meadows facing a lengthy absence. The Dominican has hit .243/.304/.405 with a .709 OPS, 22 home runs, 80 RBI, 98 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases in 212 games over his first two seasons in the big leagues in Motown. Last year, he had 13 home runs, 43 RBI, 47 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in 383 plate appearances over 100 games played. Perez offers modest power and speed, but he'll need to produce to avoid falling into a full-time bench role, even with Meadows out for a lengthy period of time.

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Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (foot) is behind the plate doing the catching for left-hander Jesus Luzardo on Friday against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander Michael Soroka, and he'll hit eighth in the batting order, according to MLB.com. Realmuto did not play on Wednesday after he was hit in the foot by a foul tip while catching on Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants, but he's feeling good enough to return to action on Friday in the series opener in Philly after a scheduled off day on Thursday. The three-time All-Star backstop definitely doesn't provide as much fantasy thump hitting near the bottom of the batting order for the Phillies. Through his first nine games of 2026 in his 13th MLB season, Realmuto has gone 6-for-25 (.240) with a solo home run and four runs scored. He's faced Soroka 13 times in his career and has hit just .154 with an RBI and a .445 OPS.

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Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll (hip) remains out of the lineup on Friday as he deals with a sore hip. The former NL Rookie of the Year had been rolling in his last three games before the injury, going a combined 7-for-14 (.500) with two doubles, two triples, three RBI, four runs scored, and a stolen base, raising his season slash line to .333/.408/.690 with a .469 wOBA and 196 wRC+. This will be the second straight game he's missed, but the injury is considered minor and is not expected to keep him out long. Jorge Barrosa will man right field on Friday against the Phillies, and he'll bat out of the ninth spot in the order.

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Detroit Tigers outfielder Parker Meadows (arm, concussion) is going on the 10-day injured list on Friday after being diagnosed with a broken left arm (radius bone) and a concussion, according to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. Meadows also received five stitches in his cheek. He has been cleared to travel and should be back in Detroit in the next day or two. Meadows had a scary collision with outfielder Riley Greene in Thursday's loss to the Minnesota Twins, and now he's in line for a lengthy absence. The Tigers recalled Wenceel Perez from Triple-A Toledo in a corresponding move, and he, Javier Baez, and Matt Vierling could battle for playing time in center field with Meadows out. In his first 12 games in 2026, Meadows hit .250 (9-for-36) with no homers, two RBI, three runs scored, and three stolen bases. Fantasy managers looking for versatility and depth in deeper leagues should consider picking up Perez.

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Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins (arm) is dealing with soreness in his arm, according to Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer. On Thursday, the Cubs' top pitching prospect was scratched from his next start for Triple-A Iowa that was originally scheduled for Friday, and per Hoyer, Wiggins is "being backed up for now." It sounds like they intend to give him some rest before sending him out again, and hopefully it doesn't turn into a longer-term problem. The 24-year-old will likely make his major league debut this season, so long as he's healthy and pitching well. So far, he's made two starts at Triple-A, allowing five earned runs on seven hits and five walks while striking out 10 in eight innings of work. The strikeout potential makes him intriguing for fantasy, so keep an eye out for any updates.

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Athletics infielder Max Muncy is on a roll in the early going of the 2026 season. The former first-rounder is riding a six-game hit streak and has hit safely in 10 of the 12 games he's played, producing a .319.333/.574 slash line, with seven extra-base hits (two home runs), five RBI, 11 runs scored, and one steal. It all adds up to a .400 wOBA and 161 wRC+. While all that is good, it's worth noting that he's striking out at a high rate of 33.3 percent and has drawn just one walk all season. Nevertheless, he's swinging a hot bat and is a worthy waiver wire consideration. The 23-year-old is available in about half of Yahoo! leagues and is eligible at 2B, 3B, and SS, adding to his fantasy appeal.

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St. Louis Cardinals closer Riley O'Brien is off to an impressive start to the season, having not allowed an earned run yet through seven appearances. The right-hander has yielded just four hits and has yet to walk a batter as well, while striking out seven in 7 1/3 innings of work, tallying three saves along the way. The 31-year-old showed well last season, too, posting a 2.06 ERA and 1.15 WHIP while converting six saves and six holds in 48 innings pitched. Despite the sterling results this year, the 6-foot-4 hurler is still available in over half of Yahoo! leagues. That number should be higher for a reliever having so much success and who does not currently have competition for the closer role.

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Houston Astros outfielder Cam Smith is off to a hot start in 2026, going 11-for-31 (.355) over his last nine games with three home runs, six RBI, and six runs scored. The former first-round draft pick is slashing .273/.385/.523 overall with a .407 wOBA and 170 wRC+. Notably, the 23-year-old appears to be finally using his 96th-percentile sprint speed, with three steals already this season, which is about a 30-steal pace; he stole eight all of last season in 134 games. A 26.9 percent strikeout rate is on the high side, but he's been able to help offset that with a well-above-average 13.5 percent walk rate thus far. The 6-foot-3 slugger could be having a true breakout campaign, and although he is available in 40 percent of Yahoo! leagues, the right-handed hitter should be rostered in most formats.

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Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (knee) is starting in right field and is batting fifth for the Cubbies in his 2026 season debut on Friday in the series opener against the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates and right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski at Wrigley Field, according to MLB.com. Suzuki was reinstated from the 15-day injured list on Friday, and he'll immediately enter the starting rotation. The Japanese outfielder sprained his knee on March 14 with Team Japan while playing in the World Baseball Classic. Manager Craig Counsell said that the Cubs will ease Suzuki back into the fold, so fantasy managers should probably expect him to be on the bench for Game 2 of the series against the Bucs on Saturday. The 31-year-old veteran sacrificed some contact for more power last year, hitting a career-high 31 homers and driving in a career-high 103 runs in 151 regular-season games. Hopefully, his knee sprain doesn't sap him of that power in 2026.

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New York Yankees right-hander Luis Gil will make his 2026 season debut for the Yankees and start against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, per Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. Gil was initially sent to the minors to begin the year because the Yankees didn't need a fifth starter for the first few weeks of the season. There will be plenty of pressure for Gil to perform, as his spot in the rotation could be in jeopardy once left-hander Carlos Rodon (elbow) is ready to return after having left-elbow surgery in the offseason. He had mixed results in his outing for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday, allowing three runs on four hits while walking three and striking out six. Gil's fastball topped out at 96 mph, three mph slower than his hardest pitch in spring training. The cold weather could have played a factor, but the most interesting development was that Gil threw his sinker the most. It's a pitch he debuted in spring training, and the Yankees think the pitch could become a difference-maker for him. The Yankees have also worked on Gil having a higher release point, which they think gives his fastball more deception. A lack of a quality heater derailed Gil's 2025 season after he returned from a lat strain, but if he can improve there and also get more swing and miss with his sinker, a bounce-back in 2026 is possible.

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Chicago Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd (biceps) will make a minor-league rehab start next week, according to 670 The Score's Bruce Levine. It's unclear which affiliate Boyd will be making the start for, but regardless, it's a good sign that he'll be back in game action so soon after being placed on the 15-day injured list earlier this week with a left-biceps strain. The veteran left-hander is eligible to be activated from the IL for next weekend's series against the New York Mets, but that's unlikely to happen with his rehab coming at some point next week. However, if Boyd fares well during his rehab start in the minors next week, he should be able to rejoin Chicago's starting rotation before the end of April. The Cubs need all the help they can get in their rotation after they just lost right-hander Cade Horton (elbow) for the season. Perhaps Boyd's early-season struggles can be attributed to his biceps injury, as he has a 6.75 ERA over his first two starts. He also has 17 strikeouts and only three walks in his 9 1/3 innings.

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Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (knee) will not play every day upon his return from the 10-day injured list, manager Craig Counsell told Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. The Cubs reinstated Suzuki from the IL on Friday, but fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if he's not included in the starting nine for the series opener at Wrigley Field against the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates. The 31-year-old Japanese native sprained his knee back on March 14 in the World Baseball Classic while playing for Team Japan, which is why he wasn't available for the Cubbies to begin the 2026 regular season. His playing time might be sporadic initially, but Suzuki will eventually be an everyday player for Chicago between right field and designated hitter. Suzuki launched the ball more in 2025 in his fourth year in the big leagues, setting career-highs in homers (32) and RBI (103) in 651 plate appearances. The hope is that his knee injury doesn't sap him of that power going forward.

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The Chicago Cubs reinstated outfielder Seiya Suzuki (knee) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and designated outfielder Dylan Carlson for assignment in a corresponding move, according to Taylor McGregor of Watch Marquee Sports. It remains to be seen if Suzuki will make his season debut in Friday's series opener at Wrigley Field against the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates, so fantasy managers will want to check back for when the Cubs release their starting lineup. Suzuki strained his knee while playing for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic back on March 14, but now that he's back, he should be a lineup regular for Chicago between right field and designated hitter. It will mean less time for Michael Conforto in the outfield. Suzuki's fantasy managers are hoping that his knee injury doesn't sap him of his power after he slugged a career-high 31 homers while driving in 103 in 151 regular-season games in 2025.

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Chicago White Sox right-hander Seranthony Dominguez tallied his second save of the season on Thursday in the White Sox's 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals. He had a clean ninth inning, allowing one walk and striking out two Royals batters. Dominguez has now secured two saves in three total opportunities after a disappointing effort in his first save chance, where he allowed two earned runs in 1/3 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers back on March 29. Since that blown save, Dominguez has recorded three converted on three consecutive scoreless outings and has racked up a win and two saves in that time, and appears to have a clear grip on the closer role for the White Sox so long as he keeps converting his chances to close out games. On the season, Dominguez owns a 3.86 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with five strikeouts and three walks in five appearances.

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Seattle Mariners superstar outfielder Julio Rodriguez is off to a slow start to the season, slashing .143/.250/.143 with zero home runs, zero stolen bases, four runs scored, and two RBI. The Mariners' offense as a whole has been struggling; they rank last in MLB in batting average (.184) and runs per game (3.1), and fourth-worst in strikeout rate (27.6 percent). Rodriguez is notorious for being a second-half player; every year he has been in the Majors (since 2022), his second-half numbers have been better than his first half. Last year, for example, he slashed .252/.313/.417 in the first half and .290/.341/.560 in the second half. In 2024, the same story, .267/.318/.372 in the first half and .285/.336/.482 in the second half. Rodriguez is a superstar in this league and has shown it time and time again, so fantasy managers, although they have every right to be frustrated thus far, should not be throwing in the towel or looking to sell low on him after a slow start to the season.

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Minnesota Twins infield prospect Kaelen Culpepper has enjoyed an impressive start to his time at the Triple-A level and is quickly climbing up the stash rankings. Through his first 11 contests at the top level of the Minnesota system, Culpepper has posted a .283/.365/.500 slash line with one double, three home runs, and a stolen base. Last summer, the former 21st overall selection split time between High-A and Double-A and is now quickly approaching the major leagues. At High-A, Culpepper posted a .293/.385/.479 line with nine long balls. At Double-A, he continued to produce, carrying a .285/.367/.460 line with 11 long balls over a 59-game stint. Currently, Minnesota's starting shortstop Brooks Lee carries a modest .194 AVG with a .436 OPS over his first 11 games, which could provide Culpepper an MLB role much sooner than expected. He is a solid stash option in deeper 12+ team formats.

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Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitcher River Ryan is emerging as a sneaky stash candidate for fantasy baseball. Ryan fell short of the Opening Day rotation, but could be in the mix to return to the majors much sooner than expected. He made his MLB debut back in 2024 and was quite sharp, logging 20 1/3 innings ot the tune of a 1.33 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. However, he underwent Tommy John surgery in August of 2024, which has kept him on the shelf ever since. While he was a full participant in spring training, the Dodgers opted to keep him in the minor leagues to continue to increase his workload. He has made one start with Triple-A Oklahoma City this season and struck out six hitters over four frames. While their starting rotation appears to be full at the moment, both Emmet Sheehan and Roki Sasaki have struggled in the early going. If Ryan continues to impress in the minor leagues, he could see occasional spot starts and push either Sheehan or Sasaki back into a bullpen role.

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Miami Marlins left-handed pitching prospect Thomas White (oblique) has made two rehab appearances with Low-A Jupiter while working his way back from an oblique injury he suffered during camp. In his first outing, the team's top pitching prospect struck out four hitters over 2 1/3 innings. On Thursday, he made his second appearance, striking out six hitters over 3 2/3 innings of one-run ball. However, his command was shaky in this short start, as he walked five batters. Given that he has not faced any setbacks, White should be in the mix to return to Triple-A Jacksonville in the near future, which will put him one step closer to the major leagues. In 2025, White spent most of his time at High-A and Double-A, logging 80 1/3 innings to the tune of a 2.13 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 128:41 K:BB. He then earned a short taste of Triple-A shortly after. Even though fellow Triple-A teammate Robby Snelling is likely to earn the call before White, he possesses far more strikeout upside and could become a major impact player for fantasy once he earns the call.

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