Blake Snell Progresses to Throwing Off of a Mound: Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell (shoulder) is "taking the next steps" in his throwing progression and threw off the mound to a standing catcher on Monday, per David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports. Snell is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, as the team is slow-playing his Spring buildup after he missed significant time in 2025 due to shoulder issues. However, it appears as though the 33-year-old is on track with the progression that the team has laid out for him. When healthy, Snell is one of the best pitchers in baseball. Across 1,158 career big league innings (222 starts), the veteran left-hander owns a 3.15 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 1,440 strikeouts, and two Cy Young Awards. However, Snell has thrown more than 128 2/3 innings just once since 2019 and seems likely to miss a chunk of time in 2026 as well. He profiles as a high-risk, high-reward fantasy SP3 heading into his second campaign with the Dodgers. - as of Tue, 10 Mar 2026 21:57:45
Caleb Durbin Expected to be Boston's Starting Third Baseman: Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora stopped short of making it official but "strongly indicated" on Tuesday morning that infielder Caleb Durbin will be the team's starting third baseman on Opening Day later this month, according to Sean McAdam of MassLive.com. The Red Sox will most likely go with Durbin at the hot corner after they were unable to re-sign Alex Bregman in free agency in the winter. The 26-year-old Durbin played third base with the Milwaukee Brewers last year in his MLB debut, too, while finishing with a .256/.334/.387 slash line, .721 OPS, 11 homers, 53 RBI, 60 runs scored, and 18 stolen bases in 136 total regular-season games. Durbin finished third in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. He displayed great plate discipline, but fantasy managers should be concerned about his 4.0% barrel rate, 26.9% hard-hit rate, and 85.2 mph average exit velocity. Durbin doesn't have the high-end power to be more than a backup third base option in mixed fantasy leagues. - as of Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:19:46
Angels Expect Josh Lowe to be Ready for Opening Day: Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Lowe (oblique) will likely start hitting in minor-league games in spring training this weekend, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. Lowe can rack up at-bats in minor-league games, so the Angels are currently expecting him to be ready for Opening Day in late March. More oblique issues this spring have limited the left-handed slugger to only three Cactus League games as he gets ready for his first season in Anaheim in 2026. Lowe was a former 13th overall selection in 2016, but he just hasn't panned out in five major-league seasons, hitting .250/.306/.414 with a .721 OPS, 43 home runs, 170 RBI, 188 runs scored, and 79 stolen bases in 403 games played. He does have two 20-homer seasons and plenty of speed, but his recurring oblique injuries make him hard to trust as outfield depth in fantasy in mixed leagues. RotoBaller currently has Lowe ranked as the No. 67 fantasy outfielder. - as of Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:55:39
Michael Massey has "Low-Grade" Calf Strain, Could be Out a Week: Kansas City Royals second baseman Michael Massey (calf) has a "low-grade" calf strain, manager Matt Quatraro told MLB.com's Anne Rogers on Tuesday morning. Massey tweaked it on a play in Cactus League action against the Los Angeles Dodgers last Friday, and it didn't improve, so the team had it checked out. He'll be out of game action for "hopefully just about a week." As long as the 27-year-old isn't out beyond a week, he'll still have a chance to be ready for Opening Day in late March. Massey isn't on the fantasy map in mixed leagues going into the 2026 campaign as more of a utility player for the Royals. The former fourth-rounder in 2019 played in only 77 games last year due to ankle, back, and wrist injuries for KC and slashed .244/.268/.313 with a career-worst .581 OPS, three home runs, 20 RBI, and 20 runs scored in 277 plate appearances. - as of Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:49:51
Jacob Young Starts Swinging, Still Hoping to be Ready for Opening Day: Washington Nationals outfielder Jacob Young (wrist) started swinging in camp on Tuesday, according to Jessica Camerato of MLB.com. Young is still considered day-to-day with a right-wrist contusion, with the Nationals' goal of making sure he's 100% healthy for Opening Day later this month. The 26-year-old has only been able to play in one Grapefruit League game so far this spring because of his wrist injury. In his third MLB season with the Nats last year, Young played in 120 games (364 plate appearances) and hit .231/.296/.287 with a career-worst .583 OPS, only two home runs, 31 RBI, 34 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases. The former seventh-round pick in 2021 out of the University of Florida is a speedster on the base paths -- he stole a career-high 33 bags in 2024 -- and is excellent on defense, but his lack of power and unclear playing time situation put him outside of RotoBaller's top-100 fantasy outfielders going into the 2026 season. - as of Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:39:41
Kyle Stowers to Make Grapefruit League Debut on Saturday: Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers (hamstring) is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut on Saturday in the outfield against the St. Louis Cardinals, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. The Marlins have been cautious with their lone All-Star representative from a year ago, but barring a setback once he starts playing in games, Stowers should be ready for Opening Day at the end of the month. It's good news that he's not being eased back in as the designated hitter. The 28-year-old left-handed slugger broke out in his first full year with the Fish in 2025, hitting .288/.368/.544 with a .912 OPS, 25 home runs, 73 RBI, 61 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 457 plate appearances over 117 games played. Stowers squares the ball up regularly, which bodes well for his future in dynasty/keeper leagues, but durability is definitely a concern. Draft him as a No. 3 fantasy outfielder with upside. - as of Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:08:45
Jeremy Pena Doing Infield Work in Camp: Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (finger) has still been able to do infield work in camp despite dealing with a fractured right ring finger that knocked him out of playing in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. The 28-year-old's status for Opening Day later this month will depend on how he progresses over the next couple of weeks. If Pena begins the year on the injured list, Carlos Correa will shift over to shortstop, allowing Isaac Paredes to play third base. Nick Allen would be another option to start at the 6 with Pena injured. The injury doesn't appear to be very serious, but it does make Pena a little less attractive as a low-end starting fantasy shortstop going into 2026. Pena was a first-time All-Star in 2025 in his fourth year in the league, slashing .304/.363/.477 with an .840 OPS, 17 home runs, 62 RBI, 68 runs, and 20 steals in his 125 games played. - as of Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:47:33
Josh Hader Throws Bullpen, Still Unsure on Opening Day Availability: Houston Astros left-handed closer Josh Hader (biceps) threw around 15 pitches in his first bullpen session of the spring on Tuesday, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. "Speed is there, fastball is there, action is there, synched up. All positives," Hader said. However, when asked about whether he'll be ready for Opening Day later this month, he said, "We'll see." The 31-year-old hard-throwing southpaw entered spring training last month with left-biceps inflammation and also ended the year on the injured list in 2025 with a left-shoulder strain. It makes Hader a lot more risky as a top-shelf closer in fantasy baseball entering the 2026 season, and it also makes late-inning setup man Bryan Abreu worthy of a late-round flier for saves speculators in case Hader isn't ready for the start of the season. When healthy last year, Hader was still dominant, posting a 2.05 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 76 strikeouts, and 28 saves in 52 2/3 innings pitched. - as of Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:34:31