The MLB season is a relentless marathon, and the injury bug is already biting hard in 2026, forcing fantasy managers into early-season adjustments. As we push deeper into April, several superstar names are sidelined, impacting lineups and fantasy fortunes. Here’s the latest on key players working their way back to the diamond.

New York Mets fans are holding their breath after All-Star slugger Juan Soto landed on the 10-day IL with a calf strain. Expected to miss 2-3 weeks, his powerful bat leaves a significant gap. The Mets have rallied to win five straight in his absence, employing a platoon of Carson Benge, Brett Baty, Tyrone Taylor, and Jared Young in the outfield corners. For fantasy purposes, Baty, hitting in the heart of the order, offers the most immediate upside as a temporary fill-in.

In Milwaukee, a pair of Brewers are dealing with early ailments. Second baseman Brice Turang is day-to-day with ankle tendinitis, missing the last two games. He's targeting a return this Friday, but his absence opens the door for David Hamilton. While Hamilton's fantasy appeal is limited, managers scrambling for middle-infield help might look to Oakland's Max Muncy, who is widely available and swinging a hot bat. Meanwhile, top prospect Jackson Chourio hasn't seen the field this season due to a fractured hand suffered just before Opening Day. The Brewers are awaiting updated imaging to set a clearer timeline, with Brandon Lockridge seeing increased playing time in the outfield mix.

The Los Angeles Dodgers suffered a major blow when superstar Mookie Betts exited a game on April 4 with a right oblique strain. Placed on the IL, the typical recovery for this injury is 4-6 weeks, but manager Dave Roberts expressed optimism that Betts could beat that timeline. His absence reshuffles the entire Dodgers' infield and leaves a massive hole at the top of the lineup for fantasy squads that drafted him early.