MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo reports that he has heard from some people in the industry who think that free-agent right-hander Lucas Giolito and the San Diego Padres is "an inevitable marriage that could take shape soon." Giolito has been holding out early in the 2026 season for a deal to his liking, but something could be finalized soon. The 31-year-old veteran would make sense for a Padres team looking for additional starting-pitching depth with right-hander Nick Pivetta (elbow) looking at a multi-month absence. Giolito, a former first-rounder by the Washington Nationals back in 2012, didn't play at all in 2024 due to injury and then went 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA (4.17 FIP), 1.29 WHIP, and 121:56 K:BB in 145 innings over 26 starts for the Boston Red Sox last year. It's unclear how long it will be before Giolito is ready to pitch in the big leagues, but he recently said he's been throwing around 75 pitches to stay in shape. Landing in San Diego would make Giolito attractive in mixed fantasy leagues. He's currently rostered in only 3% of Yahoo leagues.

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Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Corbin Burnes (elbow) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday, according to Jose M. Romero of The Arizona Republic. Burnes is slowly recovering from Tommy John surgery, with Tuesday's session being his fourth bullpen since the start of spring training. "He just wants to make sure everything is feeling right; he's duplicating his delivery," manager Torey Lovullo said. The 31-year-old veteran still has a ways to go in his rehab, and he isn't expected to make his 2026 season debut until right around the All-Star break in mid-July. Burnes was an All-Star from 2021 to 2024 before making only 11 starts in 2025 in his first season in Arizona before tearing the UCL in his right elbow. He was looking like his normal ace-like self in 64 1/3 innings last year, posting a 2.66 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 63 strikeouts and 26 walks. Burnes is stash-worthy -- he's rostered in 38% of Yahoo leagues -- but there's no guarantee he'll return as a high-end fantasy starting pitcher for the second half of this season.

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The New York Yankees announced on Wednesday that they have placed left-hander Ryan Weathers on the paternity list and recalled right-handed reliever Jake Bird from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in a corresponding move. Weathers will be away from the team for as many as three days, and his next start is scheduled to come on Saturday against the Astros in Houston. In his last start on Sunday versus the Kansas City Royals, Weathers looked excellent, tossing 7 1/3 scoreless frames. The 26-year-old former seventh overall pick by the San Diego Padres in 2018 has been healthy so far in 2026 and has looked good in his first season in pinstripes, recording a 3.18 ERA (3.28 FIP) and 1.23 WHIP with 36 strikeouts and only eight walks in 28 1/3 innings across his five starts. If Weathers continues to pitch like this, he will need to be picked up off the waiver wire in more leagues. He's currently rostered in just under 50% of Yahoo leagues.

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Minnesota Twins left-handed pitching prospect Connor Prielipp has been called up from the minors to make his major-league debut and start against the New York Mets on Wednesday, according to Matthew Leach of MLB.com. Prielipp is taking the roster spot of Mick Abel (elbow), who landed on the 15-day injured list on Monday. He was a former second-round pick in 2022. Prielipp has a lengthy injury history, but the team's No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has "dynamite stuff" when he's healthy. In his last start for Triple-A St. Paul on April 16, the young lefty struck out eight over five innings. The 25-year-old has already had two Tommy John surgeries, but he's healthy now and was looking great at St. Paul, posting a 2.30 ERA with 22 strikeouts and eight walks in 15 2/3 innings before his call-up. Prielipp probably won't go very deep in his MLB debut at Citi Field on Wednesday, but he does have an excellent matchup against a struggling Mets team that has lost 12 straight games.

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Milwaukee Brewers right-handed pitching prospect Logan Henderson is emerging as a top pitching prospect to stash, given his dominance at Triple-A Nashville. Henderson made a spot-start for the Brewers earlier this season but logged only two innings of work before being sent back down to Triple-A. However, with the top level of the system, Henderson has been near-perfect and could be given a longer leash in his next MLB stint. Through 12 2/3 innings with Triple-A this season, the right-hander has posted an incredible 0.71 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP. He has struck out 17 hitters but showed shaky command at times, walking eight batters. Currently, the Brewers' rotation is full at the moment, but Henderson is quickly establishing himself as the next man up in this pitching staff. Given his impressive run at Triple-A, Henderson is worth stashing in an "N/A" spot on deeper rosters in 12+ team leagues.

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Atlanta Braves right-handed pitching prospect JR Ritchie has enjoyed a dominant start to his 2026 MiLB season and is quickly knocking on the MLB door. Ritchie has made five starts for Triple-A Gwinnett (27 1/3 innings), and posted an elite 0.99 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP. During this stretch, Ritchie has struck out 28 hitters while walking 13. Last summer, Ritchie spent his time pitching in High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A and quickly progressed through each level of the system. Overall, across 140 frames last season, the right-hander posted a 2.64 ERA with a strong 1.01 WHIP. While fellow right-handed prospect Didier Fuentes earned the call to Atlanta on Wednesday morning, Ritchie is looking quite dominant at Triple-A and may not need to wait long to make his MLB debut, especially if the Braves need additional pitching depth.

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San Francisco Giants first base prospect Bryce Eldridge has continued to play at an elite level at Triple-A Sacramento and has established himself as a must-stash prospect in all 12-team formats. Eldridge was in the running to break camp with the MLB roster but was sent to the minor leagues to further his development. Through the opening 19 games of the Triple-A regular season, Eldridge has been nothing short of impressive, posting an elite .314/.425/.479 line with a .904 OPS. During this stretch, Eldridge has hit six doubles and gone deep twice. During his first brief taste of the majors last summer, Eldridge posted a modest .107 AVG with a .476 OPS. However, seeing him continue to hit for elite power against Triple-A pitching should set him up for far better success in his second stint. He should be viewed as a priority stash option in all standard leagues in Week 4.

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Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect Ryan Waldschmidt carries priority stash upside in all formats among outfield prospects. The former Kentucky standout was given a serious opportunity to break camp with the MLB roster out of spring training despite not playing in a single contest at Triple-A. While he was sent to Triple-A Reno to begin the 2026 regular season, the former first-round pick has not missed a step and looked quite comfortable. Over his first 22 contests in the top level, Waldschmidt has posted an elite .337/.455/.554 slash line with a 1.009 OPS. The outfielder has gone deep twice, added six doubles, and even swiped four bases. In 2025, Waldschmidt hit 18 home runs and stole 29 bases over 134 games at High-A and Double-A. Given his five-category upside, Waldschmidt should be viewed as a high-end stash option among hitters in Week 4.

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Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Walker Jenkins has begun to find his footing at Triple-A St. Paul and is emerging as a deep-league stash option in Week 4 of the fantasy baseball season. Over his first eight games of the campaign, Jenkins posted a low .154/.313/.192 slash line with just one extra-base hit and a 6:5 K:BB. However, over his last eight games, Jenkins has looked like a completely different hitter, posting a much-improved .273/.400/.364 line with his first home run of the season. While he has yet to tap into this power upside on a consistent basis, Jenkins is slowly growing accustomed to Triple-A pitching. Last summer, Jenkins made his Triple-A debut but only appeared in 23 games at the level. If Jenkins can continue to improve over the opening months, he should be in the mix for a second-half MLB debut.

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Kansas City Royals reliever Matt Strahm struggled in a late-inning opportunity Tuesday, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk, including a home run. Matt Strahm has had trouble finding consistency in his first season with Kansas City after strong years in Philadelphia. The 34-year-old now owns a 5.19 ERA through 8.2 innings this season and has allowed five runs in April. He has not limited damage in key situations, and his reliability in a setup role is declining. Strahm still has the experience and pitch mix to rebound, but his current form warrants close monitoring as the Royals evaluate late-inning options.

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Atlanta Braves right-hander Didier Fuentes has been recalled and will start Wednesday against the Nationals. The move comes after Ian Hamilton was optioned, giving Didier Fuentes another opportunity at the major league level. He made one start earlier this season before being sent down on March 30 to Triple-A Gwinnett. Fuentes has not secured a consistent role in Atlanta, but this start presents a clear opening. The 20-year-old is the No. 3 prospect in the organization and features electric stuff. He has recorded 16 strikeouts across 17 innings in the majors and has the upside to develop into a long-term rotation piece.

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Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jeff Hoffman struggled again in a save situation Tuesday, allowing one run on two hits and hitting two batters while recording just one out in a 4-2 win. Hoffman has now allowed seven runs across his last four appearances, and his ERA has climbed to 7.59 through 10.2 innings this season. His command has been inconsistent, and his inability to limit damage in key moments is becoming a concern. Hoffman showed flashes of high-end ability last year, but those stretches have not carried over. If these struggles continue, his hold on the closer role will weaken and Toronto may explore other options.

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Chicago Cubs veteran left-hander Caleb Thielbar secured his second save of the season with a clean 2/3 innings of work on Tuesday, as he needed just six pitches to secure the 7-4 win. Thielbar has continued his late-career resurgence during his time in Chicago, posting a 2.08 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and a .221 opponents batting average across 10 appearances this season. He also has one hold and has become a trusted option when the Cubs need outs late in games. Thielbar is emerging as a primary bullpen weapon and is worth adding as save chances increase.

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Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Louis Varland picked up his first save of the season in Monday night's 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels and has still not allowed a run this year. The 28-year-old has been dominant across 12 appearances, recording 19 strikeouts in 13 innings of work while consistently missing bats in high-leverage spots. With expected closer Jeff Hoffman struggling early, Varland has positioned himself as the clear next option for save chances in Toronto. This is Louis Varland's first full season with the Blue Jays, and his electric start could earn him an even larger bullpen role. Fantasy managers should view him as a must-roster reliever and priority waiver wire target.

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Atlanta Braves right-handed pitching prospect Didier Fuentes is "part of the discussion" to join the MLB roster in the coming days, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Fuentes is credited as being a "top option" to provide Atlanta with some pitching depth. While it is yet to be decided whether Fuentes will earn another opportunity as a starter, it appears he is quickly approaching a return to the big leagues. Out of spring training, Fuentes broke camp with the MLB roster as a long reliever but appeared in only one outing before being sent back to Triple-A. With Triple-A, Fuentes has operated as a full-time starter and has been able to log at least six innings of work in each of his last two outings. During this two-game stretch, Fuentes has allowed four runs (13 innings), while striking out 13 batters. While his fantasy upside would be limited if he were to operate out of the bullpen, he could be worth a speculative stash ahead of his eventual promotion in 12-team leagues.

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Reds' SS Elly De La Cruz had five RBIs going 3-for-6 with two home runs in a 12-6 win over Tampa Bay on Tuesday, Apr. 21.

Mets' SP Nolan McLean recorded 10 strikeouts in 6.2 innings in a 5-3 loss to the Twins on Tuesday, Apr. 21.

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz is off to a very strong pace early in the 2026 season, and that continued in a big way on Tuesday night in the team's 12-6 win over the Rays in Tampa. De La Cruz went 3-for-6 at the plate with two home runs, five RBI, three runs scored, a stolen base, and a strikeout to boost his season average to .276 and his OPS to .914. The 24-year-old switch-hitting Dominican is a superstar, make no mistake about it. His .264/.336/.440 slash line with 22 home runs, 86 RBI, and 37 stolen bases in 2025 was considered a disappointment after he stole a league-high 67 bases the year prior in 2024. De La Cruz is already up to eight home runs, six steals, 18 RBI, and 21 runs scored in his first 24 games of the season. If De La Cruz stays healthy all season long, he should be near the top of leaderboards in multiple fantasy baseball categories because of his dynamic athletic traits on a baseball field. Not only is he an elite athlete, but he plays in a hitter-friendly home ballpark. De La Cruz is a stud and is a must-start in fantasy.

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Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch said that right-handed veteran Justin Verlander (hip) is scheduled to throw a bullpen before the game on Wednesday, according to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. Verlander, who is on the 15-day injured list due to hip inflammation, has been slow to recover and won't be back in Detroit until the calendar flips to May. It should come as no surprise that a 43-year-old pitcher's rehab is "going slower than anticipated," which is why the three-time Cy Young winner, former MVP, and nine-time All-Star is only rostered in 5% of Yahoo leagues these days. The 21-year-old MLB veteran is running out of steam late in his amazing career and has had trouble staying on the mound as he ages. In his only start for the Tigers before landing on the IL this year, Verlander allowed five earned runs on six hits (a homer) while walking two and striking out one in only 3 2/3 innings of work. Not only is his strikeout rate declining rapidly, but he's having trouble staying healthy. It feels weird to say, but there are plenty of much younger upside stashes at starting pitcher in fantasy in 2026.

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Chicago Cubs right-handed closer Daniel Palencia (lat) had an MRI exam that showed a lat strain, manager Craig Counsell told Patrick Mooney of The Athletic. An optimistic timeline would have Palencia reinstated from the 15-day injured list in two weeks. "He's responding very well right now. There's a chance that we're throwing here before we go to the West Coast," Counsell said. The Cubs put the 26-year-old on the IL last Friday with what was initially called a left-oblique strain. The Cubs' pitching staff has been hit hard by early-season injuries, but they are getting lefty starter Matthew Boyd (biceps) back on Wednesday, and Palencia could be back closing out games in a little over two weeks. Palencia should be held onto in fantasy leagues as a potential high-end closer when he's healthy. He's currently rostered in 82% of Yahoo leagues at the moment. Lefty Caleb Thielbar picked up Chicago's last save on Saturday, but righty Ben Brown could also contribute a few saves for the Cubbies until Palencia is cleared to return.

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