Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford spent the entire offseason working on his fielding mechanics. He also committed to a strict conditioning regimen that resulted in an added 10 pounds of muscle growth, which, according to the once-promising prospect, may help him battle fatigue later on in the season. The 25-year-old, who made his debut with the team in May of 2019 after being traded by the Phillies, finished the year batting just .226 while accumulating 46 RBI and seven home runs throughout 93 games. He is virtually a lock to start come Opening Day and could be in store for his best campaign to date for a young Mariners team. Fantasy managers will want to monitor his progress throughout 2020.]]>
Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler has a minor back injury but is expected to play in the next few days. It doesn't sound like anything serious for the 27-year-old, who is coming off a career-year with 36 homers and a .855 OPS. He did this while missing 30 games last year, which makes his 131 ADP look pretty good at the moment. With more protection in the lineup this year, Kepler seems poised to return good value for those who invest in him.]]>
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Asher Wojciechowski is being withheld from exhibition games due to a blister on his right middle finger, per MASNSports.com's Roch Kubatko. However, he is slated to throw two innings in a simulated game Wednesday morning. This is a good sign for the 31-year-old, who made 16 starts for the O's last season, going 4-8 with a 4.92 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. As such, he is not fantasy relevant at this time.]]>
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (shoulder) could start playing in games next week. The Yankees are being cautious with Judge's shoulder, but he seems to be progressing well after experiencing discomfort early in spring training. Manager Aaron Boone continues to assert that Judge should be ready for Opening Day, and if he's able to start playing in spring training games next week, then Judge should comfortably make that timeline. Still, fantasy owners should continue to monitor Judge's shoulder over the next few weeks. Despite some injury concerns, Judge is an elite power hitter and is coming off the board in the early rounds of drafts.]]>
Toronto Blue Jays reliever Ryan Borucki (elbow) played catch for the second day in a row on Tuesday as he works his way back from an elbow injury that kept him sidelined for the majority of 2019. With some lingering stiffness so far in camp, the left-hander is too far behind schedule to begin the season in the rotation, and will be utilized out of the bullpen for the club in the early going. If his health holds up he may get some starts during the season, but the Jays aren't likely to force the issue with the 25-year-old. Borucki can be ignored in all fantasy formats until he proves he can stay on the field with decent production.]]>
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Matt Shoemaker(knee) is scheduled to throw in a simulated game on Wednesday as he works his way back from an ACL tear he suffered last April. Barring any setbacks, his next outing should take place in a Grapefruit League start, putting him on track to begin the year in the Jays rotation. Shoemaker was off to a terrific 2019 season, holding a 1.57 ERA and 0.87 WHIP through his first five starts before going down for the year. Injuries have plagued the 33-year-old throughout his career, but he carries some deep league and AL-only appeal as a projected starter.]]>
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matthew Boyd will open the season as the team's No. 1 or 2 starter, according to manager Ron Gardenhire. Gardenhire has not yet selected an Opening Day starter, but Boyd is the clear front-runner. Looking at the depth chart, Boyd is definitely Detroit's strongest starting pitcher at the moment. He appeared in his first spring training game on Monday against the Houston Astros. Boyd had three strikeouts in two innings, but he also allowed a solo home run and a walk. Last season, Boyd was a good source of strikeouts (238) but gave up too many home runs (39). His spring training debut was a continuation of that trend. Nevertheless, he is a solid value at his current ADP of 163.]]>
Oakland Athletics outfielder Stephen Piscotty (rib cage) took swings in the batting cage and is feeling a little better, according to A's beat reporter Susan Slusser. Piscotty is dealing with a strain on his left side and said he won't be able to play until at least the Vegas games later this month. Injuries limited Piscotty to only 93 games last season when he hit a disappointing .249 with just 13 homers. Getting in the batting cage is a positive sign, but fantasy managers will need to see more from the veteran outfielder before he warrants consideration in standard-size mixed leagues.]]>
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Drew Smyly turned in a solid debut for the Giants Monday, pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings with one walk and two strikeouts. The 30-year-old missed the 2017 and 2018 seasons while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and turned in a poor 2019 season, posting a 6.24 ERA and 1.59 WHIP over 114 IP. However, with his regained health and familiarity with manager Gabe Kapler, Smyly will look to have a bounceback season in 2020. He is expected to open the season in the Giants rotation, but fantasy players cannot trust him until he proves that he can contribute any fantasy value.]]>
Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman was scratched from Tuesday's Grapefruit League lineup due to elbow inflammation. It is the same elbow that Freeman had surgery on back in October. Thankfully, this type of irritation is commonplace during the recovery process, so the Braves do not seem overly worried about their All-Star first baseman. The expectation is that the Braves will handle Freeman with the utmost care until he feels back to normal, so expect more information to come out in the following days.]]>
Cincinnati Reds utility man Kyle Farmer got the start at shortstop on Sunday in Cactus League action. Farmer can play all over the diamond for Cincinnati as he made appearances at first base, second base, third base, shortstop, and catcher during the 2019 season. That being said, his stint at shortstop was limited as he only spent one inning there last year. The Reds don't have a reliable option at backup shortstop behind Freddy Galvis, so Farmer could secure a spot on the Opening Day roster if he can prove he can play the position.]]>
On Monday, New York Mets relief pitcher Seth Lugo(toe) ran at an estimated 65% of full speed for the first time since fracturing his left pinkie toe last week. He will participate in agility drills and a cutting session on Tuesday, followed by bullpen work on Wednesday. If all goes well, Lugo should throw live batting practice later this week. This injury does not appear serious and Lugo should be ready to go by Opening Day. Lugo is expected to serve in a setup role to closer Edwin Diaz in 2020. As a setup man, Lugo does not have much appeal in leagues that do not reward holds unless Diaz gets injured or is removed from the closer role. Even then, however, save opportunities are not a given for Lugo since Dellin Betances could be next in line as the Mets closer.]]>
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Felix Pena (knee) is likely to open the season as a reliever instead of a starter if he makes the team's Opening Day roster. Pena is recovering from a torn ACL last year and hasn't been built up as a starter this spring. The 29-year-old (30 on Tuesday) Dominican pitched in 22 games (seven starts) for the Angels last year and had a 4.58 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 9.4 K/9 in 96 1/3 innings. He's on the outside looking in for a rotation spot, but he gives the Angels some rotation depth and will be a swingman in 2020. He won't be one to draft in mixed leagues, but he could have some appeal in deep mixed and AL-only leagues if he's making starts at some point during the season.]]>
Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon said it's a pretty safe bet that relief pitcher Hansel Robles will enter the season as the team's closer. This was the expectation all along, with Ty Buttrey likely to serve as the primary eighth-inning setup man. Robles had a nice 2.48 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with 23 saves and 75 strikeouts in 72 2/3 innings in his first year in Anaheim in 2018. He's not the most flashy closer in the game, but he's not a bad second fantasy closer worth targeting in the late middle rounds of mixed league drafts. Before the 2019 season, Robles had three saves in his career.]]>
Texas Rangers infielder Nick Solak was the designated hitter on Monday against the Cincinnati Reds and hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning as he pushes for playing time in a crowded Rangers lineup. It was the first long ball of the spring for the 25-year old and capped a solid 2-for-4 day at the plate. The Rangers want to have Solak become defensively capable in center to allow utility man Danny Santana the flexibility of filling in around the diamond when needed. If he can handle the defensive responsibilities, the 25-year old will be an attractive deep sleeper after he slashed .293/.393/.491 in 33 games with the AL West club at the end of 2019.]]>
Los Angeles Angels infielder Tommy La Stella went 0-for-2 in his spring training debut on Monday. La Stella got off to a fantastic start last season but it was derailed on June 30 when he broke his leg. In his first 78 games, La Stella slashed .300/.353/.495 with seven doubles, 16 home runs and 44 runs batted in. The 31-year-old has the inside track on being the Angels leadoff hitter this season, kicking off a lineup that now features plenty of firepower. La Stella's slugging percentage could be in line for a regression but if he can pick up where he left off last season, the veteran will carry some intriguing fantasy bench value in most formats.]]>
Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman went 1-for-2 with a walk and a double in the team's 11-1 spring training win over the Tigers. Bregman took the field for the first time since the sign-stealing scandal came to light in the offseason. Bregman and other Astros player were booed during the introduction and throughout the game. But totaling three bases in his first outing of the spring is a positive step for a top-eight talent in fantasy heading into drafts. Whether Bregman's production will dip this season will be a story to follow all season but he still should be considered a sure-fire first round selection at this time.]]>
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve made his spring training debut by going 1-for-2 in the Astros victory over the Tigers 11-1. Altuve and the rest of the Astros were booed significantly at times during the game and the Astros second baseman heard the crowd cheer after dropping a throw from teammate Alex Bregman for an error. He did, however, manage to silence the crowd by smacking an RBI double into the left field corner. Few doubt, despite the intense controversy surrounding the team, that Altuve is still an elite offensive talent. But it will be fair to question what kind of drop-off in production could be in store for Altuve and company once the season starts.]]>
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Sean Manaea was hit hard in his spring debut on Monday, getting pulled in the second inning against the Brewers. Manaea cruised through a 12-pitch first inning before allowing three straight doubles and a two-run homer before getting lifted in the second inning. There's not much that can be taken from one spring start, and according to reports, Manaea was working on his slider and had trouble commanding the pitch, so hopefully he can use the rest of the spring to correct what went wrong on Monday. Manaea missed most of last season while recovering from surgery, but he has been a productive fantasy asset in the past and looked great at the end of last season, posting a 1.21 ERA in 29 2/3 innings.]]>
Oakland Athletics designated hitter Khris Davis (calf) will be in the lineup for Tuesday's spring training game versus the Padres. Davis was dealing with a minor calf issue, but the team was never too worried about it. Clearly, they were right, as Davis will begin spring training looking to put a disappointing 2019 behind him. Assuming he's healthy, Davis is as good a bet as anyone to blast 40-plus homers and is a steal at his current ADP of 176.]]>