Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Jake Fraley (shoulder) is starting in right field and batting cleanup for the Rays in his return to the lineup on Tuesday versus Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff at American Family Field, according to MLB.com. Fraley is making his return after being scratched from Sunday's series finale. He was also held out of the first game of the series against the Brewers on Monday. It's not a great matchup for Fraley for DFS purposes, but he's in a great lineup spot to drive in some runs for Tampa. In six career at-bats against Woodruff, Fraley is hitting .167 with a .500 OPS in the small sample size. In his first two games with the Rays in 2026, Fraley has gone 1-for-6 with two strikeouts at the plate. There is plenty of competition at the corner-outfield spots in Tampa this year, so the left-handed-hitting Fraley is going to need to produce and stay healthy to keep a strong-side platoon role in right field.

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Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz hit leadoff for the team in the first four games of the 2026 season, but with Atlanta Braves left-hander Jose Suarez on the mound on Tuesday, Kurtz will drop down to third in the batting order, per MLB.com. The power-hitting left-hander looked amazing in his MLB debut with the A's last year, hitting .290/.383/.619 with a 1.002 OPS, 36 home runs, 86 RBI, and 90 runs scored in 489 plate appearances over 117 games played. The former fourth overall pick out of Wake Forest in 2024 is off to a slot start in 2026, though, going 1-for-13 with three runs scored, a stolen base, four walks, and eight strikeouts in four games played. Kurtz really struggled against southpaws in his rookie season, going 27-for-137 (.197) against them with nine of his 36 homers and a .685 OPS. With Kurtz dropping to third in the lineup, shortstop Jacob Wilson will jump up to the leadoff spot against a lefty on Tuesday at Truist Park.

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Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Cody Ponce (knee) has been diagnosed with a right ACL sprain after having to be carted off the field in his 2026 season debut on Monday night against the Colorado Rockies, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. More doctors will review Ponce's MRI results to see if there's a full tear for the final diagnosis. Manager John Schneider said the team is "holding onto" hope that he can pitch again this year, but regardless, he's going to miss "significant time." It's a tough break for the 31-year-old veteran, who was making his first start back in the big leagues on Monday since 2021 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Before leaving with his knee injury, Ponce allowed an earned run while walking one and striking out three in 2 1/3 innings of work. He'll likely be placed on the 15-day injured list in the coming days, adding further stress to an already thinned-out Blue Jays starting rotation early on in 2026.

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The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal said on Foul Territory on Tuesday that the odds of shortstop Gunnar Henderson signing a long-term contract extension with the Baltimore Orioles are likely "extremely low." Henderson is represented by super-agent Scott Boras, which means he's unlikely to agree to an under-market deal for the sake of long-term stability. As Rosenthal notes, Boras prefers to see his clients reach the open market so that they can sell their services to the highest bidder. If the 24-year-old reaches the open market, he'll be one of the top players available in free agency. Henderson was a first-time All-Star in 2024 and had a monster season, slashing .281/.364/.529 with an .893 OPS, 37 home runs, 92 RBI, 118 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases in 719 plate appearances over 159 regular-season games. He came back down to Earth in 2025 with a .274/.349/.438 slash line, 17 homers, 68 RBI, and 30 stolen bases in 154 games, but he's still one of the premier shortstops in the league in his prime. We wouldn't be surprised if Henderson posts his first 30-30 season in 2026 if he stays healthy.

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The Milwaukee Brewers announced on Tuesday that they optioned catching prospect Jeferson Quero back to Triple-A Nashville and selected the contract of outfielder Luis Matos to the active roster in a corresponding move. The Brewers acquired Matos, a former top prospect, from the Giants in a minor trade on Monday. Milwaukee temporarily called up their top catching prospect late last week after first baseman Andrew Vaughn (hand) landed on the 10-day injured list, but Quero only saw two plate appearances, walking and grounding out. Quero is already one of the best defensive catching prospects in baseball, but he'll head back to the farm for more seasoning with the bat after missing extended time in recent seasons due to a shoulder injury in the minors. For now, the Brewers will move forward with starter William Contreras and backup Gary Sanchez at catcher.

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St. Louis Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera is behind the dish to catch right-hander Andre Pallante for Tuesday's matchup against the visiting New York Mets and right-hander Kodai Senga, according to MLB.com. Herrera is off to a cold start offensively, going 2-for-17 (.118) with a double, two RBI, and one strikeout in four games played, but the main takeaway is that he's already had two starts at catcher, so he should quickly regain catcher eligibility for fantasy managers. The 25-year-old native of Panama hit a strong .284/.373/.464 with an .837 OPS, 19 home runs, 66 RBI, 54 runs scored, and even eight stolen bases in 452 plate appearances in 107 games in 2025 in his first full year in the majors, but he didn't play at all on defense in the second half due to injuries. Durability is a real concern for the Cardinals catcher, but Herrera's solid contact rate and batted-ball metrics make him an intriguing catching option in fantasy leagues as long as he can stay on the field. He has never faced Senga in his career.

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Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Andrew Vaughn (hand) had surgery on Monday for the fractured hamate bone in his left hand and will begin post-operation rehab on Tuesday, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Vaughn is expected to return in the middle of May, barring a setback. The Brewers placed Vaughn on the 10-day injured list on Saturday. With Vaughn sidelined for the first month-plus of the 2026 regular season, Jake Bauers and Gary Sanchez figure to split playing time at first base for the Brew Crew. If you haven't already done so in deeper fantasy leagues, Bauers is worth considering as a short-term boost for bench depth with more playing time. In his first four games, he's gone 4-for-15 (.267) with a home run, three RBI, three runs scored, and a stolen base. Vaughn, a former third overall pick in 2019 by the White Sox out of Cal, will be hoping he can pick up where he left off last year in Milwaukee (.308 average with nine homers and 46 RBI in 64 games) when he returns from his hand injury in May.

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Detroit Tigers outfield prospect Max Clark is getting his first taste of Triple-A this year, and although he's just 2-for-10 (.200) to begin the season, the Tigers' second-ranked prospect has walked four times compared to just one strikeout, and has stolen one base in each of his first three games played for Toledo thus far. The former third-overall draft pick split time between High-A and Double-A last season, registering a .271/.403/.432 slash line with 14 home runs and 19 steals in 111 games. The left-handed slugger has shown better-than-average strikeout and walk rates throughout his time in the minors and could be in store for a big season at Triple-A. The 21-year-old has the potential to be a multi-category producer for fantasy and should be long stashed away in dynasty leagues, however, with a chance for a late-season call-up, he should also be on the redraft radar.

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New York Yankees pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange made his season debut at Triple-A on Sunday, allowing one earned run on four hits and no walks while striking out three in four innings of work. The Yankees' top pitching prospect began 2025 at High-A and moved up to Double-A after just eight starts, where his ERA improved, but his walk rate jumped. All in all, the right-hander posted a 3.53 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and a 21.1 percent K-BB% in 24 appearances (23 starts). His 168 strikeouts were the third-most in all the minors, collecting them all in just 120 innings pitched. The 22-year-old even got a taste of big league camp this spring, striking out 17 batters in 16 1/3 IP, and could be in line for an early-season call-up if he continues to perform. The 6-foot-7 hurler has a fastball that can touch 103 mph and sits in the high 90s, and if he's going to be in the majors sooner rather than later, fantasy managers in redraft leagues may want to consider stashing the flamethrower for his strikeout upside.

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Seattle Mariners pitching prospect Ryan Sloan will begin the year at Double-A Arkansas. The Mariners' third-ranked prospect spent most of 2025 at Single-A, where he pitched to a 3.44 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a 21.8 percent K-BB%, which earned him three starts at High-A late in the season before an eye procedure ended his campaign somewhat prematurely. The 6-foot-5 hurler is now fully recovered and has looked good this spring by all accounts, although he logged just one inning in the Cactus League. The former second-rounder has a fastball that sits in the upper 90s along with two strong secondary offerings: a changeup and slider. There is projectability in his large frame, and he could make quick work of Double-A, likely making it to Triple-A by the end of the year. Although he should move fast through the organization, he's still just 20 years old, so a 2027 debut is more likely. The right-hander has the makings of a frontline starter and should be stashed away in dynasty leagues.

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Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Quinn Priester (wrist) is scheduled to throw a 20-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday before heading to Arizona during the team's road trip to keep building up his arm, according to Jack Stern of Brewer Fanatic. Priester is still looking at going on a minor-league rehab assignment in early April, barring a setback. The 25-year-old was forced to the 15-day injured list to begin the 2026 regular season due to symptoms related to thoracic outlet syndrome in his right wrist, but thankfully, he has avoided the need for surgery. Priester didn't pitch at all during spring training, so he has a ways to go before potentially making his season debut with the Brew Crew. The former first-rounder in 2019 by the Pittsburgh Pirates went 13-3 with a career-best 3.32 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 132:50 K:BB in a career-high 157 1/3 innings in Milwaukee last year, but he's trending as an extremely risky fantasy arm right now who could need surgery down the road if his symptoms return.

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Houston Astros infield/outfield prospect Brice Matthews went 1-for-4 in Monday's 8-1 win over the Red Sox. His lone hit was a 434-foot solo blast off of left-hander Ranger Suarez that came off the bat at 111.1 mph. The right-handed hitter is now 2-for-9 (.222) on the young season, his other hit being a double, so there is certainly some pop in his bat, although he also owns a 0:6 BB:K, so there is some swing-and-miss, too. Houston's fourth-ranked prospect debuted in the majors in 2025 and saw similar results, belting four home runs in 13 games with a .167 average and 42.6 percent K%. Still, fantasy managers in need of some power could consider picking up the 24-year-old, as he also offers some stolen base potential, having swiped 41 bags at Triple-A last year. The former first-rounder has been used as more of a platoon option to start the year, but if he were to find his way into regular at-bats, more home runs and steals could follow, so managers in deeper leagues would be wise to keep an eye on him as he could become a solid waiver add.

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Seattle Mariners pitching prospect Kade Anderson will begin the 2026 campaign at Double-A Arkansas. Seattle's selection at third overall in last year's Draft did not pitch in regular-season games last year, but did get an invite to big league camp this spring, striking out nine batters in seven innings pitched. If all goes well, the southpaw could see time at Triple-A later this year and could be in the mix for a September debut in the majors. The 6-foot-2 hurler has a fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup in his repertoire, and with Seattle's penchant for developing pitchers, he's expected to be a quick mover through the system. The 21-year-old, who is already MLB's No. 19 prospect overall, should be on dynasty managers' radar if not already stashed away.

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Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. is fully healthy to begin the 2026 season and was dominant in his first start of the year in an 8-1 win over the visiting Boston Red Sox on Monday evening. McCullers allowed just one earned run on four hits while walking one and striking out nine in seven innings of work for his first victory. The 32-year-old veteran was in complete control and induced 17 swings and misses. It was the first time that McCullers went seven innings in a game since 2022. Arm injuries have derailed the former first-rounder's career in Houston in recent seasons, but he was an All-Star in 2017, and his strikeout upside and strong ground-ball rate could quickly make him attractive off the waiver wire in fantasy leagues if he keeps this up. McCullers' next scheduled outing won't be an easy one against a power A's lineup. He's currently rostered in just 10% of Yahoo leagues.

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Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Michael Soroka looked really good against the Detroit Tigers on Monday night for his first win of the 2026 season, and he even recorded an immaculate inning along the way in the team's 9-6 win in the desert. Soroka threw five shutout innings, allowing four hits, walking one, and striking out 10 Tigers hitters. There's no telling what Soroka could have done had the D-backs allowed him to keep going, but with the season young, Arizona pulled the 28-year-old at 89 pitches. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues are probably going to want to see more from the Canadian hurler, especially in a hitter-friendly home environment. Soroka was an All-Star in his second year in the majors in 2019 with the Atlanta Braves, but that was his only season in six years where he has gone over the 100-inning mark. The D-backs will likely continue to handle Soroka with care, too, which will limit his fantasy ceiling.

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New York Mets closer Devin Williams retired all three batters he faced while pitching a scoreless ninth inning and earning the save during Monday's win over the St. Louis Cardinals. This was Williams' first save of the season, and he now has two scoreless innings to his name this year. The right-hander has a firm grasp on the closer role in New York, resulting in him being projected for more than 30 saves this season. In addition to averaging more than 13.0 K/9 between 2025 and the start of 2026, Williams gains plenty of fantasy value from racking up saves. He should continue to benefit from pitching high-leverage situations in the later innings for a Mets team that will contend for a playoff spot this year. As it stands, he ranks #8 among relievers in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.

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Seattle Mariners shortstop prospect Colt Emerson signed a massive eight-year extension on Tuesday, but the team won't allow the new deal to rush his development. According to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times, Emerson will remain in Triple-A for the time being. The Mariners will surely want Emerson and his new $95 million deal in the majors sometime this season, but for now, they will allow him to gain more development in the minors. After all, he's only 20 years old and has spent just nine games at Triple-A. We'd be surprised if he isn't called up by midseason, though, as he's 13-for-36 in Tacoma with three home runs and 11 RBI. He has shown that he can handle Triple-A pitching, and he also fared well against a higher caliber of arms in spring training, where he slashed with a .268/.340/.488 slash line, two home runs, eight RBI, and 111 wRC+. Emerson currently ranks as the #17 prospect to stash in RotoBaller's redraft fantasy baseball leagues for 2026.

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Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Kevin Kelly earned the save after facing one batter during Monday's win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Kelly entered with two outs and a one-run lead in the ninth inning. He threw just five pitches, ultimately getting Blake Perkins to ground into a forceout to end the game. It was Kelly's first save situation of the season, and he now has 1.1 innings of scoreless work with one hit and one strikeout. The Rays don't necessarily have a dedicated closer, especially after Griffin Jax blew a save in each of his first two outings this season, but Kelly could be in the mix to handle more save situations going forward. It's too early to pursue him in fantasy baseball leagues, but he could be a name to monitor if he starts appearing in save situations more frequently.

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Milwaukee Brewers closer Trevor Megill allowed one run, one hit, one walk, and one strikeout over one inning of work during Monday's loss against the Tampa Bay Rays. He entered a tie game in the ninth inning and was ultimately charged with the loss after Tampa Bay took the lead and held on to win. It could be a costly outcome for the veteran righty, given that there's not much separating him from Abner Uribe in the competition for save situations. While Megill opened the season as the closer, he could be on a short leash, especially if Uribe continues to pitch well. Megill has pitched on back-to-back days, earning a save and a loss, so we expect the Brewers to use Uribe in any high-leverage situation in the later innings on Tuesday. Depending on how he pitches, he could be in the mix for save situations going forward, boosting his fantasy value and detracting from Megill's value. As it stands, Megill is the #14 reliever in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.

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Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (neck stiffness) will start Tuesday's game against the Baltimore Orioles, according to an announcement from the team. deGrom was scratched from his scheduled season debut last week due to neck stiffness, but he only missed one start and will now make his season debut on Tuesday. The veteran right-hander can be an elite pitcher when healthy, but starts have been hard to come by due to his recent injury history. He made just 22 total appearances from 2022-2024 before returning for 30 starts in a healthy 2025 campaign. Across those 30 starts (172.2 innings) last year, he posted a 3.37 xFIP with 9.64 K/9, 1.93 BB/9, and a 37.8% ground ball rate. He allowed more loud contact than usual, including a career-worst 1.36 HR/9. However, he still managed to be a highly effective starter in the Rangers' rotation and ultimately posted his highest fWAR total since 2021. As long as he can stay healthy this year, deGrom should continue to be one of the most dependable starters in baseball. He currently ranks #12 among starting pitchers in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.

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