News: George Springer fractures toe; O’s Adley Rutschman to IL

April 12, 2026 No Comments

Fantasy baseball news: Springer fractures toe, O’s Rutschman to ILBlue Jays DH George Springer suffered a fractured toe after fouling a ball off his left foot Saturday. Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via APESPN FantasyApr 12, 2026, 09:41 AM ETClose

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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 12: Sunday morning’s news to know

By Todd Zola

Sunday’s action gets underway at 1:35 p.m. ET with a pair of contests, followed by 12 more matinees staggered throughout the afternoon. The final game of the fantasy week features the Atlanta Braves hosting the Cleveland Guardians at 7:20 p.m. ET.

Jeremy Pena was lifted from Saturday night’s contest with a sore right knee. He reached on a single in the fourth inning, then advanced to third base on a flyout and single but left for a pinch runner. His is uncertain for Sunday as the Houston Astros try to avoid being swept by the Seattle Mariners.
Brendan Donovan is expected to return to the Mariners’ starting lineup this afternoon. He missed Friday’s contest with an illness and was on the bench to begin Saturday night’s matchup. However, he completed infield drills before the game and appeared late as a pinch hitter.
The Baltimore Orioles are already without Jordan Westburg and Jackson Holliday, and now they’ll be without starting catcher Adley Rutschman for at least 10 days after he was placed on the IL with left ankle inflammation. He’s scheduled for imaging Sunday. Samuel Basallo will take over behind the plate, with Maverick Handley summoned from Triple-A Norfolk to be the backup. Basallo has been seeing a lot of time at DH. Ryan Mountcastle would have been a candidate to help fill in, but he’s scheduled for an MRI on his foot after losing his footing halfway to second base and awkwardly reaching for the bag.
It was a rough day to take the hill for the Milwaukee Brewers, as both starter Kyle Harrison and reliever Brandon Sproat had knee examinations after Saturday’s game. Harrison’s injury occurred as he was covering first base; it’s unclear how Sproat was hurt. More should be known on both Sunday.
Luis Arraez left Saturday’s game in the fifth inning after being kicked in the hand during the prior frame while making a throw. He has been diagnosed with a right wrist contusion and is questionable for Sunday when the San Diego Padres try to complete a four-game sweep over the Colorado Rockies.
The Toronto Blue Jays will likely be without George Springer for at least 10 days after he was diagnosed with a fractured left big toe. He fouled a ball off his foot in the third inning but stayed in until the sixth.
The Arizona Diamondbacks placed starting catcher Gabriel Moreno on the 10-day IL with a sore back. Manager Torey Lovullo indicated that he didn’t expect Moreno to be out for an extended absence. The club has been carrying three catchers, with primary backup James McCann now expected to receive the bulk of the action. Adrian Del Castillo will serve as the No. 2 backstop. He has appeared at DH three times over the past week.

Be sure to check out the just in fantasy lineup advice as well as the MLB betting tips for Sunday.

April 11: Saturday morning’s news to know

Wyatt Langford exited Friday’s game with quad tightness. AP Photo/LM OteroBy Todd ZolaToday’s full slate gets underway at 1:05 p.m. ET with the Arizona Diamondbacks visiting the Philadelphia Phillies. Six more matinees follow, with eight early-evening games rounding out the docket.

The Diamondbacks may be without starting catcher Gabriel Moreno after he had to leave last night’s series opener with lower back tightness. Veteran James McCann took over and will likely continue to fill in, with Adrian Del Castillo serving as the backup. Corbin Carroll missed his second straight game but is expected to return today.
Wyatt Langford left last night’s contest in the sixth inning due to a tight right quad. His status for tonight’s road date with the Los Angeles Dodgers is uncertain. Sam Haggerty and Ezequiel Duran will see more action if Langford must miss time.
Oft-injured Royce Lewis is headed for the 10-day IL yet again after he hurt his knee on Thursday night and then missed last night’s series opener at Rogers Centre against the Toronto Blue Jays. Tristan Gray manned third base and should continue to see action at the hot corner.
Clay Holmes left last night’s game after tossing 5⅓ innings due to a tight left hamstring. After the game, he indicated that he doesn’t feel the injury is serious and hopes it can clear up in a couple of days. Before signaling for the trainer, the New York Mets righty yielded just one run to the Athletics.
Hunter Goodman didn’t start last night’s NL West tilt between the Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres, but he was able to pinch-hit and delivered a single to get the Rockies on the board in the eighth, then came around to score the tying run. The Padres walked it off with a long ball for the second straight night. It was also the second consecutive outing where Mason Miller fanned the side, giving him 19 strikeouts in just 7⅓ innings.

April 10: Forecaster findings

By Tristan H. Cockcroft

Fantasy baseball’s Week 3 is a busier one for you AL-only fantasy baseball players, as among the 10 teams scheduled to play on all seven days, eight hail from the American League. Still, all 30 teams are scheduled for at least six games.
Wednesday is Jackie Robinson Day, with every MLB team scheduled to play. Among the highlights are the New York Mets visiting the Los Angeles Dodgers on ESPN, beginning at 10 p.m. ET. Shohei Ohtani currently aligns to start that game for the Dodgers.
The top four teams in the NL East — both in the standings at publishing time and in terms of playoff odds — have their work cut out for them. The Atlanta Braves play a pair of series against teams in the division, hosting the hot-starting Miami Marlins before visiting the Philadelphia Phillies.
The other series for these teams all involve matchups against some Central and West playoff favorites, as the Marlins host the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend, the Mets visit the Chicago Cubs (in addition to their trip to Los Angeles), and the Phillies host those same Cubs prior to the Braves’ visit. This tough schedule is what keeps all of these teams’ ratings below average, although the Forecaster projections most favor the Phillies, primarily thanks to the hitting boost that Citizens Bank Park provides.
Speaking of the Phillies, there’s an outside chance that ace Zack Wheeler, on the mend at Triple-A Lehigh Valley following thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, will make his 2026 debut during that weekend series against the Cubs. Wheeler is scheduled for a fourth minor league rehabilitation start on Tuesday, potentially aligning him for a Sunday return, assuming the team is comfortable with how his velocity and pitch count improves in that next outing.

Be sure to check out the complete Forecaster rankings before setting your Week 3 lineups.

April 10: Friday morning’s news to know

A hard swing results in some hard times for Brent Rooker of the Athletics. APBy Todd ZolaToday’s 15-game slate commences at 2:20 p.m. ET with the Chicago Cubs hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates in an NL Central affair. Action picks up again at 6:40 p.m. ET with the first pair of 14 contests to be played under the lights.

Brent Rooker left Thursday’s game in the middle of a first-inning at-bat after he hurt himself taking a swing. He’s slated for imaging today. Carlos Cortes and Andy Ibanez are the likely replacements for the Athletics should Rooker need to miss time.
The Colorado Rockies could be without catcher Hunter Goodman for the second game of their road set against the San Diego Padres after he left last night’s game due to a lacerated finger, the result of his being hit by a pitch on the hand. His status is day-to-day.
Parker Meadows of the Detroit Tigers was carted off the field Thursday after he and Riley Greene banged heads chasing a fly ball in the left field gap. Greene was able to stay in the game, but Meadows remained on the ground for a bit before being carted off the field. He stayed overnight at a Minneapolis hospital and is expected to be placed on the 7-day concussion list today. The team could call up Wenceel Perez from Triple-A Toledo to fill the roster spot, with Perez and Matt Vierling sharing center field duties. There is also speculation that top prospect Max Clark could get the call. Stay tuned.
Corbin Carroll missed Thursday’s game due to a sore hip. He hurt it Wednesday night hustling for a triple. It isn’t considered serious, but his status for this evening when the Arizona Diamondbacks visit the Philadelphia Phillies is unclear. Jorge Barrosa handled right field.
Jorge Polanco missed Thursday’s game due to recurring Achilles tendinitis. His status is day-to-day, but since he missed a game earlier in the month for the same issue, New York Mets manager indicated that Polanco may require a visit to the 10-day IL.
Griffin Conine exited Thursday’s game in the sixth inning due to a hamstring injury he suffered while diving for a fly ball. Heriberto Hernandez took over in left field for the Miami Marlins and is likely to see more action with Conine requiring an IL stint. Deyvison De Los Santos is set to be called up from Triple-A Jacksonville.

Be sure to check out the just in fantasy lineup advice as well as the MLB betting tips for Friday.

April 9: Thursday morning’s news to know

One game, two steals. Can Dustin Harris be a solid source for stolen bases going forward? Patrick Gorski/Icon SportswireBy Todd ZolaToday’s six-game slate kicks off at 12:10 p.m. ET with the Miami Marlins hosting the Cincinnati Reds. There are two more matinees, followed by three evening games.

The Chicago White Sox called up Dustin Harris on Monday. The outfielder swiped 68 bases combined over the past two seasons for Triple-A Round Rock and had a steal for Triple-A Charlotte just prior to his promotion. Harris got the start last night and celebrated with two stolen bases. He could be in line for more playing time with Austin Hays and Everson Pereira both on the IL.
The Reds placed backup catcher Jose Trevino on the 10-day IL due to a thoracic outlet spine strain. It was backdated to Sunday, so he is eligible to be activated next Wednesday. P.J. Higgins was called up from Triple-A Louisville to serve as Tyler Stephenson’s understudy. Christian Encarnacion-Strand was designated for assignment to clear a spot on the team’s 40-man roster.
Joel Kuhnel logged a save for the Athletics last night. It was just his second appearance of the season. Prior to Tuesday’s call-up, he last pitched in the majors in 2024. While it’s not clear that Kuhnel will be the club’s closer going forward, it does seem like the job is currently up for grabs.
Mark Vientos began the season in the lineup against only left-handed pitching, but he’s now started eight consecutive contests, albeit in part due to Juan Soto’s absence. However, after a modest five-game hitting streak, he has since gone hitless over the last two New York Mets games.
Cole Ragans left Wednesday’s start after recording just two outs. He was hit in the thumb on his pitching hand by a batted ball and had to leave the game after trying to stay in. The southpaw fanned the first two hitters but subsequently ended up giving up three earned runs. Even so, the Kansas City Royals don’t expect Ragans to miss any starts.

April 8: Juan Soto injury analysis

Stephania Bell breaks down Soto’s expected 2-3 week return from a calf strain.

Can Juan Soto return within 2-3 weeks?

Stephania Bell breaks down Juan Soto’s expected 2-3 week return from a calf strain.

April 8: Wednesday morning’s news to know