Fantasy baseball information: Thursday’s three-game slate makes streaming troublesome

On Apr 2, 2026

Everything that happens in and around MLB has some additional context when viewed from a fantasy baseball perspective. From lineup changes to minor league call-ups to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy baseball.

Our fantasy baseball buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around MLB.

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April 2: Thursday’s morning’s news to know

By Todd Zola

Today’s already abbreviated slate lost got even shorter when the decision was made to preemptively postpone the Chicago White Sox’s home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays until Friday due to rain in the forecast. As such, the first of today’s three games begins at 2:10 p.m. ET with the Kansas City Royals hosting the Minnesota Twins.
The Twins face their third straight lefty, with the Royals giving the ball to Cole Ragans. In both of the past two games, Austin Martin started in left field and Victor Caratini started at first base, leaving Trevor Larnach and Kody Clemens on the bench. Larnach managed to find his way to the plate just once in those games, while Clemens did not appear at all. Both are risky starts against Ragans.
Jonathan Loaisiga recorded a save for the Arizona Diamondbacks in last night’s 1-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers. However, before heading to the waiver wire to grab the “latest emerging closer,” keep in mind that Paul Sewald had collected saves in the team’s previous two games and was likely unavailable. Sewald would probably be manager Torey Lovullo’s choice to lock down tonight’s home affair with the Atlanta Braves, if needed.
The New York Mets had right-handed hitters Mark Vientos and Tyrone Taylor in the starting lineup for Wednesday’s matinee against left-hander Matthew Liberatore. However, as soon as the St. Louis Cardinals brought in a right-handed reliever, Brett Baty and Carson Benge came off the bench and logged multiple plate appearances. Tonight, the Mets face San Francisco Giants southpaw Robbie Ray. The Giants have three left-handers in their bullpen, so it’s unclear how the Mets will handle the platoon scenarios.
It was a rough defensive night for Casey Schmitt, as the first baseman failed to handle a pair of catchable throws from third baseman Matt Chapman. The Giants manager indicated that he still has confidence in Schmitt as he learns the position, but right-handed Jerar Encarnacion will likely get the nod tonight when the Giants welcome lefty David Peterson and the Mets to Oracle Park. Regular first baseman Rafael Devers remains limited to DH duties as he nurses a tight left hamstring.

April 1: No joke! Shohei Ohtani might reach 1,000 fantasy points

By Tristan H. Cockcroft

In his regular-season debut on Tuesday, Ohtani threw six shutout innings of one-hit baseball worth 22 fantasy points. Give him 20-25 starts with that level of production and we could be ready to witness something legendary.

Yes, we all know Ohtani is always likely to be in the MVP conversation as a hitter alone … but if the Dodgers are willing to let Ohtani challenge his career high of 166 innings pitched (2022) — and I suspect they might be — his 2025 gains in terms of velocity, control and whiff rate give him a legitimate chance at a 1,000-point (550 hitting, 450 pitching) season.

We might have yet to see Ohtani’s MVP-level pitching come to life. Wow!

For more on surprising pitching performances we could see in 2026, see Tristan’s full article.

April 1: Carlos Estevez lands on the injured list

By Tristan H. Cockcroft

In a transaction that shouldn’t remotely surprise fantasy managers, the Kansas City Royals placed Estevez, last season’s top save-getter (42), on the 15-day injured list with a left foot contusion. The right-hander had struggled with his fastball velocity since the dawn of spring training, so his deactivation comes at a convenient time accounting for his performance struggles, though it’s a legitimate injury, being that he was struck with a line drive during what was a disastrous 2026 debut outing.

In that outing, Estevez surrendered six runs while retiring only one of seven batters he faced, blowing what was at the time a 2-0 Royals lead over the Atlanta Braves. His fastball averaged a paltry 91.2 mph, easily his lowest in any of 506 career major league appearances. It’s important to point out, however, that his next five worst velocities (by game) came in April 2025, a reminder that he’s one of those pitchers who typically needs time to dial up his velocity to its usual 96-97 levels.

Estevez will probably allow his foot to heal, then work himself back into regular season form in lower-leverage situations once activated, meaning he’s probably not going to sniff save chances before May in the absolute best-case scenario. Still, as Eric Karabell noted on Tuesday, the Royals need Estevez as one of the high-leverage arms at the back of their bullpen, so they’ll presumably give him every chance to work himself back into the ninth-inning role if his velocity warrants it.

In the interim, Lucas Erceg, Matt Strahm and John Schreiber will probably serve in a closer-by-committee, until or unless one gets hot and secures the job for himself. Erceg saved the Royals’ Sunday victory, while Schreiber saved Monday’s win, though it’s important to stress that Erceg presumably wasn’t available for the latter after having worked each of the prior two days. Erceg and Strahm each have two scoreless appearances entering play on Wednesday.

Erceg would be my priority pickup from the Royals’ bullpen, in part because he got that Sunday save chance when all three pitchers were available and pitched, but also because his stuff and past experience in the role give him the highest upside of the trio. Erceg saved 11 games with a sterling 1.17 FIP (2.88 ERA) in 23 late-season games for the 2024 Royals, and his own fastball velocity is now back to its traditional 98-plus-mph levels after being down during spring training.

Be prepared to ping-pong between these three relievers on the free agent front, at least in ESPN standard leagues, should either of the other two emerge with the role exclusively.

April 1: Wednesday morning’s news to know

By Todd Zola

Today’s full slate gets underway at 12:15 p.m. ET with the Atlanta Braves hosting the Athletics. Nick Kurtz isn’t in today’s starting lineup for the visitors, with Chris Sale on the hill for Atlanta. Last season’s AL Rookie of the Year is just 1-for-17 with 11 strikeouts and four walks to open the season.
Cleveland Guardians’ Chase DeLauter has been the early talk of the league, with four home runs over the first three games of the season. He was deprived of the chance to extend his homer streak to four games after leaving yesterday’s game in the first inning due to fouling the ball off his foot. The good news is X-rays were negative. He’s been diagnosed with a bruise and is considered to be day-to-day, beginning with tonight’s rubber game on the road against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Baltimore Orioles starter Zach Eflin left last night’s game after tossing just 3 2/3 innings due to elbow discomfort. He allowed one run but surrendered four hits and two walks, albeit with seven strikeouts. The club is fearful he’ll require an IL stint but they will know more after today’s MRI. They have tomorrow and the following Thursday off, so a fifth starter won’t be needed until Friday, April 17.
Eugenio Suarez isn’t in the Cincinnati Reds lineup for the first time this season, with Nathaniel Lowe handling DH duties against Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ballpark. Suarez is batting just .190/.227/.333 over the first five games, with nine strikeouts and just one walk in 22 plate appearances.
Jose Fernandez of the Arizona Diamondbacks was called up Monday after Pavin Smith was placed on the 10-day IL. The rookie debuted last night and clubbed a pair of homers, going 3-for-4 with four RBI in his MLB debut. A natural shortstop, Fernandez played third base last night, giving Nolan Arenado the night off. Fernandez will reportedly be in the lineup again for tonight’s home date with Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers.