Welcome to Week 2 of the 2026 Stream Team. If the optimism of Opening Day has already been replaced by the cold reality of a 1-for-20 slump or a blown save, you’ve come to the right place.
Week 1 is for drafting your plan; Week 2 is for pivoting when that plan hits the IL. We’re moving past the draft-day hype and into the trenches, hunting for the guys whose early-season adjustments are being ignored by the rest of your league. To qualify for the Stream Team, a player must be more than just a “good idea”; they must be available.
The Criteria
- Availability: Every featured player is rostered in fewer than 45% of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.
- The Goal: Identifying high-upside plays for managers who need to replace struggling starters and injured players at specific positions.
The Stream Team
SP – Randy Vasquez, San Diego Padres – If you need starting pitching, then Randy Vasquez is currently a must-add. Despite his dominant performance against the Detroit Tigers, he is roughly 35%. Vasquez only needed 83 pitches to get through a full six innings against the Boston Red Sox, showing elite efficiency and great command with only one walk to start. Through his first two appearances, he has a sparkling 0.75 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and two Quality Starts over 12.0 innings pitched. While the strikeouts took a dip slightly against the Red Sox, he still suppressed the lineup in a tough Fenway Park.
Although he is scheduled for one start this week, it is a home start against the Colorado Rockies. So, this matchup will be a great Win/Quality Start hunter for your lineup this week.
RP – Erik Sabrowski, Cleveland Guardians – If you’re in a league that counts Holds or SV+HLD, then you need to check the waiver wire for Erik Sabrowski. While the mainstream focus is on the Guardians’ rotation, Sabrowski has quietly emerged as an elite high-leverage weapon out of the bullpen. Through his first four appearances of 2026, he has nothing short of perfect: almost four innings pitched, zero hits, zero earned runs, six strikeouts, and a microscopic 0.55 WHIP.
He has a perfect ERA and is seeing a lot of volume for the Guardians, racking up four holds. He’s currently posting a 35% strikeout rate and is a total ratio-saver. He is currently rostered in only 14% of leagues and has increased his rostered percentage by 11%, so claim him while you can.
C – Liam Hicks, Miami Marlins – If you’re looking for a spark in the thinnest position in fantasy baseball, then Miami’s Liam Hicks is your guy. He had a blistering series against the Chicago White Sox and has entered the conversation for production at the catcher position. Hicks is slashing .368/.435/.895 with three HRs and 12 RBI in just 19 plate appearances.
He provides a great positional combination of C/1B eligibility, giving you crucial lineup flexibility. He sees a packed six-game week that splits between home and the road, the New York Mets and the Detroit Tigers. One thing to monitor is his usage against left-handed pitching; historically, Hicks has been much more effective against righties (.256 AVG vs. .196 AVG in 2025). However, given how he is currently driving the ball, he is worth starting in 12-team formats until he cools off.
1B – Josh Bell, Minnesota Twins – Josh Bell’s recent performance indicates he is finding a rhythm precisely when you need a first baseman. Bell was quiet to open the year, but his bat has heated up significantly over his last two starts (2-for-6 with two home runs and four RBI). He is barreling the ball at a 12% clip, which shows his current production is not just luck. He is consistently seeing playing time, and with his power, there is always a chance he gets moved back to the cleanup spot in the lineup.
Bell is platoon-proof, unlike many depth options on the wire; he is a switch-hitter who isn’t susceptible to a traditional platoon. Bell is rostered in only 21% of leagues, and he has seven games this week, including a home game vs. the Detroit Tigers and a three-game road trip vs. the Toronto Blue Jays. He is the prime candidate to anchor your power categories.
2B – Max Muncy, Oakland Athletics – If you are looking for a high-upside infielder in a 12-team format, keep an eye on Oakland’s Max Muncy. He has firmly planted himself in the Athletics‘ starting lineup to open the 2026 season, primarily handling duties at third base. Muncy is already making an impact, providing a blend of power and contact that is rare for a player so early in his career and at second base.
What makes him a star for the Stream Team this week is his current hot streak; he is showing excellent plate coverage and has already tallied key hits and home runs in the team’s opening series. For managers in 12-team or deeper leagues, Muncy is a high-reward “swing” player. Suppose he continues to lock down the starting job at the hot corner; he will be a mainstay. He is rostered in only 13% of leagues and has prime-position eligibility at 2B/3B/SS. He could easily become a primary source of value for your infield if you’re dealing with any injuries.
3B – Colt Keith, Detroit Tigers – If you need a middle-infield spark, it is time to check the availability of Detroit’s Colt Keith. Now, in his age-24 season, the former top prospect has officially graduated from “potential” to “production”. Through his first six games of 2026, he has been the engine with Kevin McGonigle in the Tigers’ offense, slashing a robust .364/.417.545 and hitting safely in every single contest. A.J. Hinch moved Keith to the leadoff spot for three of the last four games. Batting at the top of the order in front of Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter means a massive spike in runs scored and plate appearances.
He is scheduled for a high volume of games this week, with seven. A road stint against a stingy Twins at Target Field, and a home matchup against the Marlins, where he could truly explode, especially if he continues to feast on right-handed pitching. Colt Keith is currently rostered in fewer than 40% of leagues and has 1B/2B/3B eligibility, which is very enticing across all league formats.
SS – Mauricio Dubón, Atlanta – If you are already reeling from early-season injuries, Mauricio Dubón is the ultimate “Swiss Army Knife” to stabilize your roster for now. After an offseason trade to Atlanta, Dubon has been thrust into a near-everyday role at shortstop while Ha-Seong Kim recovers from finger surgery. He hasn’t just filled that gap, but has been one of the most productive hitters in the National League over the first week. Through his first seven games, Dubon is slashing a blistering .360/.407/530 with a home run and six RBI. He is a “No-Strikeout” machine, remaining in the 97th percentile in contact rate, which is a major boost to your team’s average contact rate. Batting in an Atlanta lineup, even at the bottom of the order, provides constant opportunities for runs and RBIs when turning the lineup over to Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson.
Depending on your league settings, he likely carries eligibility at 2B/3B/SS/OF, allowing you to plug him into almost any hole in your lineup. Dubon is rostered in about 15% of leagues and is a great plug-and-play asset to add to your lineup if he is available.
OF – Owen Caissie, Miami Marlins – If you want a player that is most likely surging up the waiver wire in your league, that’s Owen Caissie, and you should probably hop on it ASAP. After being traded from the Chicago Cubs this past offseason, the young outfielder has wasted no time proving he is a bona fide superstar in the making. Caissie is currently rostered in 29% of leagues’ waiver wires, and he won’t be there much longer. He continues to pad stats with teammate Liam Hicks. He is currently hitting an eye-popping .348 AVG and 1.081 OPS. He is consistently driving the ball with authority and looks completely comfortable at the major league level.
He has a weekend series at home against the Tigers and a three-game road series against the New York Mets. I was set on Caissie after his walk-off homer vs. the Colorado Rockies, contributing to the Marlins’ first 3-0 start since 2009.
OF – Kyle Isbel, Kansas City Royals – Kyle Isbel is defying all career norms. Typically known as a defensive specialist, Isbel has started 2026 on an absolute tear. Fantasy manager should jump on these acquisitions as soon as they can, as he is currently batting a staggering .500 with two home runs and three stolen bases in his first few games, and he is showing power metrics that are exponentially higher than any point in his career. Kansas City moved the fences in at Kauffman Stadium this season. For a player like Isbel, who consistently has been a “warning-track-power” hitter, this change is a massive boost to his fantasy value. His barrel rate has skyrocketed to a phenominal 16.7%, ten times higher than his 2025 mark.
The Royals have a favorable schedule ahead, splitting a series in Cleveland and hosting the Chicago White Sox in Kansas City. Isbel is only rostered in 15% of leagues, and, similar to Mauricio Dubón, he hits in the nine-hole for the Royals with sluggers Maikel Garcia, Bobby Witt Jr, Vinnie Pasquantino, and Salvador Perez following to drive him in.
