Sunday was an odd day in the 2026 MLB schedule, as Saturday’s postponement of the Cubs-Guardians game meant both teams played a doubleheader on Sunday. With 16 games on the schedule, here are the notable happenings around the majors following a packed Sunday slate.
Are the Chicago White Sox Good?
The White Sox have gone 4-5 to start the season, and while that’s not a mark to be completely proud of, that’s exactly the case if you’re a White Sox fan. Chicago completed a sweep of the reigning AL East champion Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend, and it seems the team is trending in the right direction.
Through 9 games, the White Sox sit tied for 8th in homers (10) and rank 19th in OPS (.647), showing clear improvement over the last two seasons. One player who has stood out in terms of fantasy production is Munetaka Murakami, who has 4 homers and a .955 OPS.
The White Sox won’t be pushing for a playoff spot anytime soon, but the improvements compared to 2025 are noticeable. Sometimes, that’s all a rebuilding team needs.
Boston Red Sox Own the Worst Record in Baseball but Aren’t That Bad
If the White Sox are turning heads with their play during their recent series sweep of the Blue Jays, the Red Sox are doing it for all the wrong reasons. Following an 8-6 loss to the San Diego Padres, the Red Sox are now 2-7, the worst record in all of baseball. However, Boston hasn’t been nearly as bad as its record indicates.
Boston ranks 18th in collective OPS (.669) and 17th in batting average (.226), ahead of a New York Yankees team that has hit .223 despite a 7-2 record. Wilyer Abreu has been a standout performer for the Red Sox in the early stages of the season, going 15-for-35 with 7 extra-base hits and a 1.301 OPS to open the campaign.
Boston has enough talent to turn things around once the pitching comes into form, so don’t judge the Red Sox players by their record. The team still has quite a few valuable fantasy options amid its struggles.
Oneil Cruz Continues to Rake for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Oneil Cruz was tipped to be a disappointment in the 2026 season, but the Pirates outfielder is showing he can rake and be a valuable fantasy contributor. Cruz hit another homer in Sunday’s 8-2 win over the Orioles, finishing with 2 hits, 3 RBIs, and 2 runs scored.
On the season, Cruz already has 4 homers, which is tied for second-best in the majors, while hitting .314 with a 1.025 OPS in 35 at-bats. Those numbers will eventually regress, but right now, Cruz has been far better than anyone expected.
Over the last 7 games, the slugging outfielder has hit .360 with a 1.247 OPS. If he’s still available in your leagues, or if you have the chance to stream him in a DFS contest, do so while his bat remains hot.
Who Were the Top-Scoring Players in Fantasy Baseball on Sunday, April 5?
Among hitters, Brent Rooker was the highest-scoring player after hitting 2 homers and racking up 6 total RBIs in the Athletics’ 12-10 win over the Astros. Mickey Moniak also had 2 solo homers in the Rockies’ 4-1 win over the Phillies.
Ben Rice reached base 4 times in the Yankees’ 7-6 loss to the Marlins, hitting a homer and finishing with 2 runs scored, 3 RBIs, and 3 walks. Richard Palacios hit a home run, stole a base, and had 2 hits, 2 RBIs, and 1 walk in the Rays’ 4-1 win over the Twins.
When it comes to pitchers, Braxton Ashcraft stole the show for the Pirates after tossing 6 innings of 1-run ball against the Orioles while striking out 8. Chase Burns (Reds) and Jack Leiter (Rangers) each struck out 9 in Cincinnati’s 2-1 win over Texas.
Davis Martin also stood out after firing 6 scoreless innings with a 6:2 K:BB and 4 hits as the White Sox blanked the Blue Jays. Tomoyuki Sugano was another surprising performer after tossing 6 innings of 1-run ball with 5 strikeouts when the Rockies topped the Phillies.
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