Fantasy baseball news: A rainy Wednesday leads to Thursday doubleheadersRain in Philadelphia and Baltimore yesterday results in some unexpected doubleheaders today. John Geliebter-USA TODAY SportsESPN FantasyApr 30, 2026, 07:38 AM ETClose
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 30: Thursday’s news to know
By Todd Zola
Today’s 11-game slate gets an early start at 12:15 p.m. ET with the Atlanta Braves going for a home sweep over the Detroit Tigers. Initially, there were just nine scheduled games, but rain in the mid-Atlantic yesterday forced the postponement of the Philadelphia Phillies hosting the San Francisco Giants and the Baltimore Orioles entertaining the Houston Astros. Both are rescheduled as single-admission doubleheaders this afternoon, with Mother Nature expected to cooperate.
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The Tigers placed IF/OF Javier Baez on the 10-day IL due to a sprained right ankle. The club called up Jace Jung and started him at DH yesterday, though Matt Vierling and Wenceel Perez are also expected to see an uptick in playing time while Baez is out. The club also placed Casey Mize on the 15-day IL due to a right adductor strain. He left Tuesday’s start in the third inning, with yesterday’s MRI revealing the diagnosis.
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The Orioles placed Trevor Rogers on the 15-day IL with an illness. The stint can be backdated to Sunday, but Rogers must be dealing with something serious enough to miss two starts. Cameron Foster was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to help fortify a bullpen that will likely be busy with today’s twin bill. Rogers’ next start was slated for Sunday.
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The Colorado Rockies lineup received a boost last night with the return of Willi Castro. He had last started one week ago and only appeared for one inning as a defensive replacement on Tuesday night. He celebrated his return from a sore knee with a 2-for-4 effort, scoring twice with an RBI in the Rockies’ 13-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds. They’ll play the rubber game of their series this afternoon at Great American Ball Park.
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Luis Robert Jr. missed his third straight game last night as he’s been nursing a sore back. He is slated for an MRI, the results of which will help determine his availability for today’s rubber game between the New York Mets and Washington Nationals in Queens.
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Vinnie Pasquantino missed last night’s game due to a sore back. He’s been dealing with a lingering issue and tweaked it on Tuesday night. The Kansas City Royals and the Athletics meet this afternoon with both clubs having a win in the series. With lefty Jeffrey Springs getting the start in Sacramento, the Royals may opt to give Pasquantino another day off.
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The Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins wrap up today’s docket with the opener of a four-game series at Target Field. George Springer returned to the Blue Jays yesterday in their 8-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox entering the game in the fifth inning as a pinch hitter and singled in a run. Eloy Jimenez was designated for assignment in the corresponding move.
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Be sure to check out the recent fantasy lineup advice as well as the MLB betting tips for Thursday.
April 29: George Springer’s return to Jays lineup pushed back
George Springer tests out his footing as he prepares for a return to action sometime this week. Nick Turchiaro-Imagn ImagesBy Tristan H. CockcroftLast season’s No. 4 outfielder in terms of fantasy points — and this year’s No. 18 outfielder in terms of ADP — was rumored to be getting back in action on Wednesday as the Toronto Blue Jays had reported they were considering activating Springer from the injured list in time to start their 3:07 p.m. ET game against the Boston Red Sox (which can be viewed on ESPN Unlimited). While he has indeed been activated from the IL, he is not in their starting lineup today.
Springer has missed 17 days and 15 Blue Jays games due to a fractured left big toe, an injury he suffered when he fouled a ball off his foot in an April 11 game. In his absence, the Blue Jays haven’t gotten much production out of his designated hitter spot. Their .279 wOBA from DHs over that time rank 24th, and the team’s early overall offensive struggles continue without his bat. The team averaged 3.87 runs per game while he was out after averaging 3.93 in the 14 season-opening games in which he played.
Since Springer didn’t require a minor league rehabilitation stint and his Blue Jays are in a stretch of 13 games without a day off, the thought was he might be ready to lead off today. While that’s no longer the case, he is available off the bench and could well start as soon as tomorrow. Brace yourself for the possibility that he might be eased back into the lineup over time with a day off or some early exits over the coming week. He’s still worth immediately slotting back into your fantasy lineup in ESPN standard and all daily leagues.
Springer has averaged over 3.0 fantasy points per game in five of his 13 MLB seasons, including most recently in 2025 (3.18). His spot atop one of the game’s most potent lineups — even if it has been slow-starting – should assure he’ll rebound to a rate closer to that number than either the 2.35 or 2.02 averages he had in 2023-24. Springer places among my top-12 fantasy outfielders going forward, in the same tier as Cody Bellinger, Taylor Ward and Jackson Merrill.
April 29: Wednesday’s news to know
Junior Caminero was struck in the face with a foul ball, but appears to have avoided major injury. David Richard-Imagn ImagesBy Todd ZolaWednesday’s 15-game slate gets underway at 1:10 p.m. ET with a pair of contests. Five more matinees are staggered throughout the afternoon, leaving eight total evening affairs.One of the early games features the Tampa Bay Rays visiting the Cleveland Guardians. The Rays were victorious 1-0 last night, despite losing slugger Junior Caminero in the second inning. He fouled a ball into the dirt that bounced up and hit him in the face. He has been diagnosed with a right jaw contusion and is listed as day-to-day.
Tyler Soderstrom left last night’s game in the sixth inning after appearing to hurt his shoulder while diving for a ball in the fifth. He is off to a slow start, but his underlying metrics are close to what they were last season. Assuming last night’s injury is not serious, Soderstrom’s production should pick up soon. He’s questionable for tonight when the Athletics try to even their series with the Kansas City Royals after falling 4-1 in 10 innings yesterday.
The Royals also lost a man last night, with Vinnie Pasquantino exiting the contest in the sixth after getting out of the box slowly after hitting a ground ball. Early reports indicate lower back tightness, with an news expected today. Prior to last night’s game, the Royals revealed that Jonathan India required season-ending left shoulder labrum surgery.
After a slow start, Dansby Swanson has hit .273/.400/.600 over his last 17 games. However, he left last night’s game due to a left glute cramp. He’s questionable for this afternoon’s rubber game between the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres in Petco Park. Prior to yesterday’s game, the Cubs unveiled that Justin Steele has suffered a setback in his rehab from UCL revision surgery and now isn’t expected back until at least the All-Star break.
Javier Baez was carted off the field last night after hurting his ankle sliding into first base. He is no longer a regular, having appeared in only 24 of the Detroit Tigers’ 30 games, splitting his time between shortstop and center field (with occasional action at second base). Baez’s status for tonight’s game, when the Tigers will try to even their series with the Atlanta Braves, is unclear.
The Miami Marlins placed closer Pete Fairbanks on the 15-day IL due to nerve irritation. He had stated losing sensation in his right hand after being lifted from Monday’s outing. Fairbanks experienced a similar issue in 2024, costing him three weeks. However, the club is hopeful that he’ll only miss the minimum amount of action this time. Last night, Tyler Phillips sealed the deal in the Marlins’ 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, making him the favorite for saves while Fairbanks is out.
The New York Yankees will promote Elmer Rodriguez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start today’s matinee with the Texas Rangers. Rodriguez recorded a 1.27 ERA and an 0.90 WHIP in 21 1/3 frames for the RailRiders, fanning 20 with seven walks. He turned heads in the spring, but the 22-year-old right-hander was sent to the farm for more seasoning. Rodriguez is taking the open spot after the club sent Luis Gil to Triple-A. A solid effort could earn Rodriguez another start or two, with neither Gerrit Cole nor Carlos Rodon due back until the second week of May.
