Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz is off to a very strong pace early in the 2026 season, and that continued in a big way on Tuesday night in the team's 12-6 win over the Rays in Tampa. De La Cruz went 3-for-6 at the plate with two home runs, five RBI, three runs scored, a stolen base, and a strikeout to boost his season average to .276 and his OPS to .914. The 24-year-old switch-hitting Dominican is a superstar, make no mistake about it. His .264/.336/.440 slash line with 22 home runs, 86 RBI, and 37 stolen bases in 2025 was considered a disappointment after he stole a league-high 67 bases the year prior in 2024. De La Cruz is already up to eight home runs, six steals, 18 RBI, and 21 runs scored in his first 24 games of the season. If De La Cruz stays healthy all season long, he should be near the top of leaderboards in multiple fantasy baseball categories because of his dynamic athletic traits on a baseball field. Not only is he an elite athlete, but he plays in a hitter-friendly home ballpark. De La Cruz is a stud and is a must-start in fantasy.

Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch said that right-handed veteran Justin Verlander (hip) is scheduled to throw a bullpen before the game on Wednesday, according to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. Verlander, who is on the 15-day injured list due to hip inflammation, has been slow to recover and won't be back in Detroit until the calendar flips to May. It should come as no surprise that a 43-year-old pitcher's rehab is "going slower than anticipated," which is why the three-time Cy Young winner, former MVP, and nine-time All-Star is only rostered in 5% of Yahoo leagues these days. The 21-year-old MLB veteran is running out of steam late in his amazing career and has had trouble staying on the mound as he ages. In his only start for the Tigers before landing on the IL this year, Verlander allowed five earned runs on six hits (a homer) while walking two and striking out one in only 3 2/3 innings of work. Not only is his strikeout rate declining rapidly, but he's having trouble staying healthy. It feels weird to say, but there are plenty of much younger upside stashes at starting pitcher in fantasy in 2026.

Chicago Cubs right-handed closer Daniel Palencia (lat) had an MRI exam that showed a lat strain, manager Craig Counsell told Patrick Mooney of The Athletic. An optimistic timeline would have Palencia reinstated from the 15-day injured list in two weeks. "He's responding very well right now. There's a chance that we're throwing here before we go to the West Coast," Counsell said. The Cubs put the 26-year-old on the IL last Friday with what was initially called a left-oblique strain. The Cubs' pitching staff has been hit hard by early-season injuries, but they are getting lefty starter Matthew Boyd (biceps) back on Wednesday, and Palencia could be back closing out games in a little over two weeks. Palencia should be held onto in fantasy leagues as a potential high-end closer when he's healthy. He's currently rostered in 82% of Yahoo leagues at the moment. Lefty Caleb Thielbar picked up Chicago's last save on Saturday, but righty Ben Brown could also contribute a few saves for the Cubbies until Palencia is cleared to return.

Across his first 98 plate appearances of 2026, Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene is hitting .265/.378/.386 with one home run, 14 RBI, 15 runs scored, and one stolen base. After his 36-homer campaign in 2025, Greene's lack of power early in the year is a bit surprising. However, his 13.8% barrel rate and 50% hard-hit rate remain stellar and signal that a home run-surge could be coming. Greene's improved plate skills are also an encouraging sign, as he's lowered his strikeout rate from 30.7% in 2025 to 22.4% while walking at a career-best 15.3% in 2026. The 25-year-old is also locked into an everyday role in the heart of the Detroit lineup, which should allow him to continue racking up counting stats. If Greene can avoid injury and maintain his improved control of the strike zone, he could be in line for a career year in 2026.