April 26, 2025
Houston Astros infielder/outfielder
Cam Smith is out of the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Kansas City Royals. The rookie slugger will get a breather here after going 0-for-2 during Friday's contest. The Astros are hopeful for big things from Smith, but he has started slowly out of the gate. He's slashing .219/.306/.391 with three homers and 10 RBI in 20 games this season.
Zach Dezenzo will take his place in right field and bat seventh versus right-hander
Michael Wacha. The assumption is that Smith will be back in the lineup following this contest.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
April 26, 2025
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher
Logan Evans will take the mound for his MLB debut against the Miami Marlins on Sunday. Evans is one of the top pitching prospects in the Mariners system, so there is plenty of hype surrounding him. He posted a 3.86 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 23/4 K/BB ratio across five starts in Triple-A this season. Before those five outings, Evans had only pitched as high as Double-A, but it appears the Mariners believe he's ready for the big leagues. He'll get a favorable matchup against the Marlins offense on Sunday. That being said, Evans is worth a look as a streaming choice against Miami. He could very well stick in the rotation for a few weeks with
Logan Gilbert (elbow) heading to the injured list.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Adam Jude
April 26, 2025
Atlanta Braves outfielder
Jarred Kelenic (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Kelenic will remain on the bench for the second straight game, which shouldn't come as a surprise given how his season has gone. Over his last six games, Kelenic has four hits with only one homer and four strikeouts to go along with it.
Eli White will take over right field and bat eighth versus right-hander
Merrill Kelly. Fantasy managers should be able to find a better streaming option than White for Saturday's slate.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
April 26, 2025
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher
Logan Gilbert (elbow) has been placed on the 15-day injured list on Saturday. Gilbert was forced to exit early during Friday's start due to an elbow issue. Gilbert will now officially head to the injured list due to a right elbow flexor strain. The right-hander will miss at least two starts, but fantasy managers should expect him to be out a little longer than that. This is a tough break for the Mariners considering how well Gilbert has been pitching for them. So far this season, Gilbert has allowed two earned runs or less in every start, but one. It's unclear at the moment who is going to replace Gilbert in the Mariners rotation. The expectation is that
Logan Evans could see a few starts while Gilbert is sidelined.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Adam Jude
April 26, 2025
Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher
Emmanuel Clase was asked to come on a little early during the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox. The right-hander tossed a perfect eighth inning with two strikeouts as he needed only 14 pitches in this one. Manager
Stephen Vogt said that Clase would be available as the closer for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. Clase has been off to a rough start to the season, so the Guardians wanted to give him a lower leverage situation to build up some confidence. It sounds like he'll be back in the closer role for now, but
Cade Smith should also be in the mix for saves.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Brian Dulik
April 26, 2025
Chicago Cubs first baseman
Michael Busch is absent from the lineup for Saturday's matchup with the Phillies as Philadelphia sends lefty
Jesus Luzardo to the mound. Busch is off to a good start at the plate, slashing .295/.386/.568 with a .414 wOBA and 167 wRC+ over 101 plate appearances, but will give way to
Justin Turner on Saturday. The veteran, on the other hand, has been atrocious at the plate, hitting .154 without a single extra base hit on the year so far, and even worse lately, going 1-for-18 (.056) over his last seven games. Although Turner is batting fourth, the Cubs have a low implied run total in this one, and Turner is 1-for-10 in his career off of Luzardo, so DFS users will likely want to look elsewhere for options at first base.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Cubs
April 26, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher
Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) made a 61-pitch rehab start at Triple-A Nashville on Thursday, but felt "really tired" afterward, according to manager Pat Murphy. Murphy also indicated that, although Woodruff experienced tiredness, there were no physical setbacks, so a return to the major league mound in May still appears to be on track. Despite not pitching in a game since 2023, the righty owns a career 3.10 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 22.4 percent K-BB%, so for those in need of pitching help, the 32-year-old is a worthwhile bench or IL stash in most fantasy leagues.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Todd Rosiak
April 26, 2025
San Francisco Giants second baseman
Tyler Fitzgerald was scratched from Saturday's game against the Rangers with a chest contusion. The injury happened when attempting to make a diving play on a ground ball during Friday's contest, but he remained in the game, so consider him day-to-day for now. The 27-year-old is off to a good start to the year, slashing .289/.341/.447 with seven extra-base hits (two HR), seven RBI, 13 runs scored, and five stolen bases, along with a .347 wOBA and 123 wRC+. Fantasy managers should continue to use the former fourth-round draft pick once he returns to the lineup; in the meantime,
Christian Koss will fill in at second base and bat eighth on Saturday.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Susan Slusser
April 26, 2025
Athletics outfielder
Lawrence Butler is not in Saturday's lineup against the White Sox, who will send
Jonathan Cannon to the mound. Cannon is a righty, so it doesn't appear to be matchup or injury-related, simply a day of rest. It could be good for the young slugger who has slumped a bit over the past week, going 3-for-22 (.136) in the last five games, although two of those three hits were home runs.
Brent Rooker will bat second and man right field on Saturday for the A's.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Athletics on X
April 26, 2025
Colorado Rockies shortstop
Ezequiel Tovar (hip) is still at least a week away from returning from the injured list according to manager Bud Black.
Aaron Schunk had been filling in as of late for the injured Tovar, but has now been placed on the IL as well.
Kyle Farmer will man shortstop in Saturday's game against the Reds, but has not recorded a hit in his last 17 at-bats. So, needless to say, the 4-21 Rockies will hope to get Tovar back as soon as possible to hopefully breathe some life into the offense, although he was struggling to begin the year, slashing .212/.257/.303 with no home runs, a .251 wOBA, and 44 wRC+. In contrast, Tovar put together a .269-26-78-83-6 line last season with a .324 wOBA and 95 wRC+.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Patrick Lyons
April 26, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals catcher
Ivan Herrera (knee) caught a bullpen session on Saturday as he works his way back from a bone bruise in his left knee. Herrera began running the bases earlier this week and is expected to begin a rehab assignment on Thursday of next week. The 24-year-old had gotten off to a hot start to the year, going 8-for-21 (.381) with two doubles, four home runs, 11 RBI, six runs scored, and a 3:5 BB:K. Fantasy managers who had rostered the Panamanian backstop who had to use a less-potent fill-in during his absence will welcome him back with open arms as the right-handed hitter still ranks within the top 12 at the position despite not having played in a game since April 6. Rostered in less than half of fantasy leagues, managers looking for catching help should stash him before his eventual return.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Katie Woo
April 26, 2025
The Baltimore Orioles have recalled outfielder
Dylan Carlson in light of fellow outfielder
Tyler O'Neill's (neck) move to the 10-day IL. Carlson will join the O's big-league roster, likely serving as depth while O'Neill works out a nagging neck injury that's forced him from a few appearances over the prior weeks. The switch-hitting 26-year-old has already been up with the Orioles briefly in 2025, going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts, a RBI, and a walk. However, he's been much better for Triple-A Norfolk, batting .286 (18-for-63) with 18 runs, 11 RBI, and a 19:15 BB:K ratio. Once a first-round pick, Carlson has yet to live up to his power-speed billing in the MLB. Unless he captures some of his minor-league magic, it's unlikely he'll stick long at the major-league level. Teammate
Ramon Laureano is covering right field on Saturday during their outing against the Tigers, batting ninth.
--Alex CiullaSource: Matthew Postins
April 26, 2025
Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports that x-rays on Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher
Jalen Beeks (forearm) came back negative following his early removal from the team's loss against the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday. The 31-year-old picked up his fourth hold in the contest, allowing one hit while striking out one batter. However, he was struck with a comebacker on his left forearm. Fortunately, there was no structural damage to his arm, but the injury required him to leave the game as his arm immediately began to swell. He can be considered day-to-day for now. Beeks has been superb for the D-Backs in 2025, bolstering a 0.60 ERA and 0.73 WHIP over 15 innings pitched. He's struck out 15 batters (27.3% K%) to just three walks on the season.
--Alex CiullaSource: Steve Gilbert
April 26, 2025
Boston Red Sox pitcher
Lucas Giolito (hamstring) will line up for his first scheduled start of the season this coming Wednesday when his team squares off against the Toronto Blue Jays for their second game of the series. The veteran hurler has been shelved since Spring Training after suffering a low-grade hamstring strain. Giolito had a rough go over his five rehab starts, compiling a 5.19 ERA in 17.1 innings with a 17:13 K:BB ratio across two levels. He was better for Triple-A Worcester, but walked ten batters in 10.1 innings there. The former first-round pick hasn't pitched in the Majors since 2023 after missing all of last season due to an internal brace procedure on his elbow. He has the tools to boost Boston's rotation, but fantasy managers may want to exhibit caution before immediately slotting him into their lineups.
--Alex CiullaSource: Christopher Smith
April 26, 2025
The Baltimore Orioles have placed outfielder
Tyler O'Neill (neck) on the 10-day IL retroactive to Apr 24 with neck soreness. O's manager, Brandon Hyde, stated that he's "hopeful" it's a minimum stay for the veteran. O'Neill has been battling his neck issue for a few weeks now, and he'll finally have time to get it sorted. The power-hitting right-hander has had trouble staying healthy over the years, and 2025 has been no different. Baltimore recalled outfielder
Dylan Carlson in a corresponding move. Before his trip to the IL, the 29-year-old had been scuffling at the plate, batting .118 over his last 51 at-bats (six hits). It's possible his neck ailment is at least partially to blame.
--Alex CiullaSource: Mark Brown
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