Kansas City Royals right-handed closer Carlos Estevez had a rough night on Saturday in the 6-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Estevez was hit with a blown save and his first loss of the 2026 season after surrendering six runs on four hits (one home run) while walking two in one-third of an inning. The 33-year-old entered the ninth inning in Atlanta with a 2-0 lead in his season debut, but he imploded and continued to exhibit the diminished velocity that we also observed during spring training. Estevez will likely get some more chances to redeem himself early in the season, but this could become a real problem for his fantasy managers. The Dominican reliever was an All-Star for the second time in his career in 2025 and had a 2.45 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, a league- and career-high 42 saves, 54 strikeouts, and 22 walks in 66 innings pitched. Estevez's drop in velocity and strikeout rate have definitely made him more susceptible to outings like this. If it continues, Lucas Erceg would likely be next in line for save situations in KC.

Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford (shoulder) went through a light workout under the eye of infield coach Perry Hill and the team's athletic training staff before the game on Saturday against the Cleveland Guardians, according to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. Crawford is scheduled to remain with the team through the weekend, and if all goes well, he'll begin a minor-league rehab assignment. His rehab assignment would likely come at Triple-A Tacoma. Crawford will likely be back from the 10-day injured list during the team's road trip, which begins on Friday and runs through Anaheim and Arlington. The 31-year-old received a cortisone shot for his ailing right shoulder last week for an injury that has been bothering him from early on in spring training. He's expected to go through a more vigorous workout on Sunday. Crawford only played in seven Cactus League games, but he's been receiving at-bats in minor-league games in camp for over a week. He should be ready to hit the ground running next weekend, barring a setback, but Crawford doesn't offer a ton of fantasy upside with very modest power and speed abilities in a pitcher-friendly home ballpark.

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee (shoulder) threw a 26-pitch bullpen session on Saturday and felt good, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. Manager Stephen Vogt said that Bibee is still day-to-day, but said that "today was a really good day for Tanner." Bibee was pulled from his Opening Day start on Thursday night against the Seattle Mariners due to right-shoulder inflammation, but the Guardians never believed it was a serious situation. The 27-year-old allowed three solo runs to the Mariners on Thursday in the 6-4 win while also walking two and striking out seven in a no-decision in five innings pitched. Bibee could make his next scheduled start in a tough matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but if the Guards play it safe and push him back, the best bet is that left-hander Logan Allen makes a spot start. Bibee would be a pretty risky fantasy starter on Tuesday if he makes his next start against the back-to-back World Series champions.

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed reliever Griffin Jax has put himself on the closer hot seat early in 2026 after blowing each of his first two save opportunities as he begins his first full year with the team. In Saturday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, Jax blew the save and took his first loss of the year after allowing two runs (one earned) on a hit while walking one in just one-third of an inning. The 31-year-old blew the save on Opening Day at Busch Stadium on Thursday and could not get it done on Saturday in the bottom of the 10th inning. Infield prospect JJ Wetherholt delivered the dagger against Jax. The former third-rounder by the Minnesota Twins in 2016 out of Air Force has been manager Kevin Cash's first choice for saves to begin the year, but that could be changing the next time a save situation comes up, with Bryan Baker and Garrett Cleavinger both being options. Edwin Uceta (shoulder) should get ninth-inning duties when he returns from the injured list, and he has the most upside of any Rays high-leverage arm.