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.
Key links: RP depth chart | Player Rater | Scoring leaders
10-day pitching forecaster | 10-day hitting forecaster
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.
March 31: Ryan Helsley starts season strong
By Eric Karabell
Helsley permitted 16 earned runs over 20 innings after being traded to the New York Mets late last season (7.20 ERA, 1.80 WHIP), so it was easy to wonder which version would show up for the Baltimore Orioles. So far, things look positive for Helsley, who saved a pair of games against the Minnesota Twins this past weekend, averaging 99.8 mph with his fastball and issuing nary a walk.
For the rest of this week’s fantasy closer stock watch, see Eric’s full article.
March 31: Tuesday morning’s news to know
By Todd Zola
-
It’s a rare Tuesday off for the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins, but everyone else is in action today. The first pitch of the night comes at 6:35 p.m. ET with the Baltimore Orioles hosting the Texas Rangers. Jacob deGrom is set to start for the Rangers tonight. He was scratched last Saturday due to a stiff neck, but he’s been cleared to return to the hill.
-
After the Atlanta Braves called up Martin Perez from Triple-A Gwinnett, it was assumed he would step into the rotation and start tonight’s home affair with the Athletics, but Jose Suarez will get the nod with Perez serving as a long reliever.
-
PJ Poulin will open for the Washington Nationals in tonight’s road date with the Philadelphia Phillies. While it is not official, Zack Littell will likely make his Nationals debut in a “bulk relief” capacity. Littell joined the club late in camp and isn’t fully stretched out, maxing out at 64 pitches in his Grapefruit League finale.
-
After struggling in his first save chance, the Tampa Bay Rays used Griffin Jax in the seventh inning last night, with the Rays and Milwaukee Brewers tied at two. He faced the bottom third of the order, so it wasn’t a move designed to handle the Brewers’ best hitters. Garrett Cleavinger worked the eighth in the 2-2 tie, then the Rays went ahead in the top of the ninth. Ian Seymour, who had yielded six runs without recording an out in his first outing, started the ninth. He hit the first batter and then retired the next two. After the Brewers summoned switch-hitter Blake Perkins to pinch-hit, the Rays turned to Kevin Kelly, who secured the one-out save. Jax may eventually emerge as the main closer but, for now, it looks to be a committee.
March 30: Rookies that should be rostered
By Tristan H. Cockcroft
Rookie heroics dominated baseball’s opening weekend, as three players making their MLB debuts homered on an Opening Day for the first time in history, and two rookies hit home runs in each of their first three big-league games (they are two of the four in history to do that).
It served a reminder of the immense talent possessed by the group and the importance to ensure that the following first-year players are rostered in your league:
For the rest of this week’s waiver wire recommendations, see Tristan’s full article.