Walker Buehler Looks Likely to Make Padres Opening Day Rotation: MLB.com's Manny Randhawa writes that at this point, "it stands to reason" that right-hander Walker Buehler "will be part" of the San Diego Padres' Opening Day starting rotation now that right-hander Joe Musgrove (elbow) will start the year on the injured list. As camp progressed, Buehler and German Marquez emerged as the favorites for the final rotation spot. Buehler entered his start against the Giants on Monday with a 5.40 ERA over two spring outings, and Marquez was hit hard his last time out against the Royals to push his spring ERA to 12.15. Buehler tossed five scoreless innings against the Giants on Monday with seven strikeouts to drop his Cactus League ERA to 3.09. The 31-year-old is no longer the same pitcher who throws in the high-90s after missing all of the 2023 season due to arm issues. He had an ERA over 5.00 in his final season in L.A. in 2024 and had a 5.38 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 126 innings with Boston and Philadelphia last year. The fantasy upside is now limited with a lowered strikeout rate, but Buehler could bounce back in San Diego in a pitcher-friendly home environment. Buehler's fantasy stock in NL-only leagues is on the rise. - as of Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:16:39
James Wood Struggling at the Plate This Spring: Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood entered Monday's Grapefruit League action in spring training hitting just .074 (2-for-27) in 11 games played. The 23-year-old left-handed slugger has not hit a home run, has driven in three, scored two runs, walked five times, and struck out 10 times in 32 plate appearances. It's worth noting, but fantasy managers shouldn't put too much stock into Wood's small spring training sample size. Remember, he was a first-time All-Star in 2025 in his first full season in the majors, slashing .256/.350/.475 with an .825 OPS, 31 home runs, 94 RBI, 87 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases in 689 plate appearances over 157 games played. However, Wood did also lead the league with 221 strikeouts. The young outfielder has elite raw power and uses the entire field, making him one of the higher-upside fantasy outfielders going into just his second full MLB season. RotoBaller has Wood ranked as its No. 12 outfielder. Don't let his slow spring cause you to devalue him in upcoming drafts. - as of Mon, 16 Mar 2026 22:49:13
Raisel Iglesias a Risky Fantasy Closer After Inconsistent Season?: Atlanta Braves right-handed reliever Raisel Iglesias should be considered a shaky low-end No. 1 fantasy closer going into the 2026 season after a notable bullpen addition for Atlanta this offseason and following an inconsistent 2025 campaign. Iglesias had a strong 85.3% save share for the Braves last year and racked up 29 saves in 67 1/3 innings pitched in his 11th year in the big leagues. The 36-year-old veteran converted on 21 of his 22 save chances and had a stingy 1.34 ERA and 0.72 WHIP with 44 strikeouts and 10 walks in his last 40 1/3 innings, but he really struggled early on and held a 6.00 ERA into June. With the addition of All-Star closer Robert Suarez in free agency, the Braves surely won't hesitate to give Suarez the ninth-inning role in 2026 if Iglesias falters again like he did in the first half of last season. RotoBaller has Iglesias ranked as the No. 10 fantasy closer. If you take him, landing Suarez later in your draft would be ideal. - as of Mon, 16 Mar 2026 22:39:33
Wyatt Langford Tearing the Cover Off the Ball in Cactus League: Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford might be primed for a breakout season in 2026 in his third year in the league. Going into Monday's Cactus League action, the 24-year-old was hitting .481/.548/.1.000 with a ridiculous 1.548 OPS, four home runs, 12 RBI, nine runs scored, four walks, and four strikeouts in 31 plate appearances over 11 games played. The former fourth overall pick in 2023 out of the University of Florida has played in exactly 134 games in both of his two MLB seasons so far. In 268 total games, he's hit .247/.335/.423 with a .758 OPS, 38 home runs, 136 RBI, 147 runs scored, and 41 stolen bases in 1,130 plate appearances. Langford had his first 20-20 campaign last year despite three separate trips to the injured list due to oblique injuries. Durability is certainly a question, but when healthy, there's no debating that Langford's high-end power/speed upside makes him a top-15 fantasy outfielder. Fantasy managers will be hoping that he can carry over his hot hitting this spring into the regular season. - as of Mon, 16 Mar 2026 22:30:37
Cade Cavalli on the Rise After Strong Spring Showing: Washington Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli, who will start on Opening Day on March 26 against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, continues to boost his fantasy baseball stock going into the 2026 season with a strong spring performance. Cavalli, 27, has allowed just an unearned run on one hit while walking two and striking out nine in nine innings over his three Grapefruit League starts. The former first-round pick in 2020 out of the University of Oklahoma made his major-league debut in 2022 (one start), but he didn't return to the majors until 2025 after multiple setbacks following Tommy John surgery in 2023. In his 10 starts last year, he went 3-1 with a 4.25 ERA and 1.48 WHIP with 40 strikeouts and 15 walks in 48 2/3 innings. Not only did Cavalli look solid in his return in the second half of 2025, but he also displayed better velocity than before his right-elbow surgery. With strong results this spring, Cavalli's fantasy ADP is on the rise as an intriguing late-round flier for starting pitching depth in mixed leagues. - as of Mon, 16 Mar 2026 22:24:31
Kevin McGonigle Homers, Drives in Four on Monday: Detroit Tigers infield prospect Kevin McGonigle continues to impress in spring training as he looks to break camp with the major-league team on Opening Day in less than two weeks. McGonigle went 1-for-3 with a home run, four RBI, and two walks in Monday's 13-6 Grapefruit League win over the Philadelphia Phillies. The 21-year-old former first-round pick in 2023 has looked mature beyond his years at the plate and on defense this spring for Detroit. Offensively, McGonigle is sporting a strong 1.063 OPS with two home runs, 10 walks, and six strikeouts in 16 Grapefruit League games. It's unclear whether he'll actually make the Tigers' Opening Day roster, but even if he doesn't, McGonigle will push to make his major-league debut sooner rather than later. He proved last year that he's one of the best hitting prospects in baseball, and MLB Pipeline has him ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect, behind only the Pirates' Konnor Griffin. McGonigle's stock continues to rise, and he's ranked as RotoBaller's No. 23 fantasy shortstop for 2026. - as of Mon, 16 Mar 2026 22:08:51
Zyhir Hope Reassigned to Minor-League Camp on Monday: The Los Angeles Dodgers announced on Monday that they reassigned outfield prospect Zyhir Hope to minor-league camp, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Hope was always a long shot to break camp with the big-league squad out of spring training, especially after hitting just .167 (6-for-36) with no homers, two doubles, five RBI, seven runs scored, three walks, and 12 strikeouts in 39 plate appearances over 20 Cactus League games in spring training. The 21-year-old is expected to begin the 2026 campaign at Double-A Tulsa after hitting .266/.376/.428 with an .804 OPS, 13 home runs, 80 RBI, 69 runs scored, and 27 stolen bases in 127 games with High-A Great Lakes and Tulsa in 2025. Hope played in only six games for Tulsa. Despite standing at only 5-foot-10, 193 pounds, he has impressive raw power from the left side. The Dodgers' No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, is likely to spend all of 2026 in the minors before potentially debuting in the Show in 2027. For now, he's strictly a stash candidate in dynasty/keeper leagues for his power/speed upside. - as of Mon, 16 Mar 2026 21:55:39
White Sox Reassign Hagen Smith to Minor-League Camp: The Chicago White Sox announced on Monday that they reassigned left-handed pitching prospect Hagen Smith to minor-league camp. Smith will begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Charlotte, but he figures to make his major-league debut with the Pale Hose at some point this year. The 22-year-old southpaw spent all of last year working at Double-A Birmingham, going 3-3 with a 3.57 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 108:56 K:BB in 75 2/3 innings pitched over his 20 starts. The former fifth overall pick in 2024 out of the University of Arkansas was considered one of the highest-floor starting pitchers of his draft class, but his inability to throw strikes so far in the minors has been worrisome. Elbow soreness early last year also caused Smith to miss six weeks. The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder still has a dominant fastball/slider combination, but he's going to need to throw more strikes if he's going to be successful at the major-league level. Smith is strictly a dynasty/keeper-league stash for now. - as of Mon, 16 Mar 2026 21:47:44
Orion Kerkering to Pitch in Minor-League Game on Tuesday: Philadelphia Phillies right-handed reliever Orion Kerkering (hamstring) will pitch in a minor-league game on Tuesday, according to Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Kerkering is ready to make his first appearance in a game this spring after throwing a successful live batting practice session in camp over the weekend. The 24-year-old is recovering from a Grade 1 right-hamstring strain, but barring a setback, he has time to be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season at the end of this month. The hard-throwing former fifth-rounder in 2022 out of the University of South Florida struggled with command in 2025, walking 27 batters in 60 relief innings during the regular season. He also went 8-4 with a 3.30 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and the first four saves of his big-league career. Kerking also had 19 holds for the Phillies. He'll only be appealing in fantasy in leagues that count holds in 2026. - as of Mon, 16 Mar 2026 21:01:46
Diamondbacks Expect Gabriel Moreno to be Ready for Opening Day: Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (forearm) will start throwing next week, and manager Torey Lovullo feels strongly that Moreno will be ready for Opening Day in late March, according to Jose M. Romero of The Arizona Republic. Moreno has been dealing with right-forearm inflammation, but an MRI exam over the weekend ruled out any structural damage. The 26-year-old's arm injury affects him more when he throws than when he hits, too, so fantasy managers shouldn't have to be too worried about his status for the start of the 2026 regular season. Still, it's a reminder that the Venezuelan backstop is more of a No. 2 catcher in fantasy leagues than a starter, as he's played in over 100 games just once in his four MLB seasons. Despite hitting a career-high .285 (79-for-277) in 83 games in 2025, Moreno still didn't reach double-digit home runs and only drove in 40. He missed two months due to a fractured right index finger. The good news is he was hitting well to close out the year. - as of Mon, 16 Mar 2026 20:54:31
Brewers Reassign Jett Williams to Minor-League Camp: The Milwaukee Brewers reassigned infield prospect Jett Williams to minor-league camp on Monday, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. We recently posted that Williams has been putting up video-game numbers in Cactus League play this spring with a .364 batting average, .500 on-base percentage, .636 slugging percentage, and a 1.136 OPS, but apparently it wasn't enough to convince the team's brass that he should start on the big-league roster for Opening Day. It was pretty much a done deal that the 22-year-old would begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Nashville when he missed over two weeks this spring with a left-quadriceps injury. Still, Williams turned heads at the plate during the Cactus League and could make his big-league debut sooner rather than later this year if he continues to swing the bat this well in the minors. The former 14th overall pick in 2022 has intriguing power/speed potential at a premium position after hitting .261/.363/.465 with 17 homers, 52 RBI, and 34 stolen bases in 130 minor-league games in 2025. Williams is Milwaukee's No. 3-ranked prospect, per MLB Pipeline. - as of Mon, 16 Mar 2026 20:45:38
Kyle Higashioka Back in Action on Monday: Texas Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka (back) returned to the Cactus League lineup on Monday against the Chicago White Sox, doing the catching while hitting seventh in the batting order. Higashioka had not played since suffering a back injury in spring training on March 5. Now that the 35-year-old veteran backstop is back in action, he should have no problems being ready for Opening Day later this month, barring a setback with his back. Higgy split catching duties in 2025 with Jonah Heim in his first year in Texas and finished with a .241/.291/.403 slash line, .693 OPS, 11 home runs, 47 RBI, 33 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 94 games and 327 plate appearances. In 2026, he'll be splitting catching duties with Danny Jansen in Texas. Unless Jansen misses time with injury, Higashioka will likely be the team's No. 2 catcher, leaving his upside limited in fantasy. His 17-homer season in 2024 with the Padres will most likely end up being his best MLB season. - as of Mon, 16 Mar 2026 20:11:43
Josh Jung Returns to Cactus League Lineup on Monday: Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (groin) returned to the team's Cactus League lineup on Monday against the Chicago White Sox, playing third base and batting sixth in the order. An adductor strain had kept Jung out for all of March until Monday. Barring a setback, the 28-year-old right-handed slugger should be ready to go for Opening Day later this month. There's no arguing that Jung has a high-upside power stroke, but he's risky in fantasy baseball drafts because he's had a lot of trouble staying healthy so far in his four years in the majors. The former eighth overall pick out of Texas Tech in 2019 played in a career-high 131 games in 2025 and hit .251/.294/.390 with a .684 OPS, 14 home runs, 61 RBI, 53 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 511 plate appearances. Jung has easy 20-homer power over a full season if he can stay off the injured list. His injuries last year led to a disturbing drop in his batted-ball metrics. - as of Mon, 16 Mar 2026 20:05:37
Jacob Young Returns to Grapefruit League Action on Monday: Washington Nationals outfielder Jacob Young (wrist) got the start in center field and was in the two-hole for Monday's Grapefruit League game against the New York Mets. Young made his return to the spring lineup to begin the week for the first time since suffering a bruised right wrist back on Feb. 27. The 26-year-old now has a little under two weeks to get fully back up to speed for Opening Day at the end of the month. Young is projected to be Washington's primary center fielder in 2026 in his third full season in the big leagues. He stole over 30 bags in his first full major-league season in 2024, but he hit just three home runs and drove in 36 runs in 150 games played. Last year, Young had a career-low .231 batting average, just two home runs, 15 stolen bases, and was caught stealing a league-high 11 times. Speed and defense are what keep him in the lineup, but even in NL-only leagues, fantasy managers should have better offensive outfielders to target. - as of Mon, 16 Mar 2026 19:59:41
Brusdar Graterol Continues to Throw: Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed reliever Brusdar Graterol (shoulder) played catch again in camp on Monday and appeared to go just beyond 90 feet, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Graterol had surgery to fix the labrum in his right shoulder in November of 2024 and was unable to pitch at all last year. The 27-year-old hard-throwing right-hander had a setback late last year, but he appears to be back on track this spring. However, Graterol also isn't expected to pitch in any Cactus League games in spring training, and he's likely to open the 2026 regular season later this month on the injured list. He has struggled to regain his pre-surgery velocity on the mound, so the Dodgers have taken it slow with his throwing program. When healthy, Graterol has already proven that he can be a key late-inning reliever for the Blue, but right now, he's a big question mark because of his shoulder. The Venezuelan hurler had a career-best 1.20 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with a career-high seven saves in 67 1/3 innings back in 2023. - as of Mon, 16 Mar 2026 19:53:40
Jett Williams Producing Insane Spring Training Numbers: Milwaukee Brewers shortstop prospect Jett Williams has produced insane numbers in Cactus League action this year with a .364 batting average, .500 on-base percentage, .636 slugging percentage, and a 1.136 OPS. Williams, 22, came to Milwaukee in the offseason in the trade that sent right-hander Freddy Peralta to the New York Mets. The former 14th overall pick in 2022 missed two-plus weeks this spring with a left-quadriceps injury, but he's fully recovered now. Despite his strong play at the plate in spring training, the expectation is that Williams will begin the 2026 campaign in the minors for more seasoning. The team's No. 3 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, hit .261/.363/.465 with an .828 OPS, 17 home runs, 52 RBI, 91 runs scored, and 34 stolen bases in 130 games with Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse in 2025. He's the No. 51 overall prospect in baseball, and his power/speed upside makes him a must-stash in all dynasty/keeper leagues going into this year. - as of Mon, 16 Mar 2026 19:46:47
Triston Casas Plays in Minor-League Game on Monday: Boston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas (knee) played in a minor-league game on Monday and showed that his hit tool is still sharp, hitting a double, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. Casas has been cleared to take at-bats on the minor-league side of things in spring training, but he has yet to be cleared to run the bases or slide. The 26-year-old left-handed slugger is most likely to continue to serve as the designated hitter in minor-league games for the rest of camp as he continues to work his way back from a surgically-repaired left knee. The Red Sox aren't going to rush Casas back after trading for first baseman Willson Contreras in the offseason. Fantasy managers hoping that Casas can bounce back in 2026 need to be prepared for him to potentially miss the first month of the 2026 regular season as he continues to get his legs back underneath him. Casas hasn't been able to reach his true potential in the big leagues due to injury, making him RotoBaller's No. 53 fantasy first baseman. - as of Mon, 16 Mar 2026 19:38:41
Johan Rojas Suspended 80 Games for PED Violation: Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas has been suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Rojas tested positive for Boldenone. The announcement is bad news for Rojas' 2026 fantasy value, which was limited to deep-mixed and NL-only leagues for his speed. The 25-year-old will not be eligible to make his season debut now until late June. Rojas' absence should open up regular playing time for outfield prospect Justin Crawford in the first half of the season, as well as the left-handed-hitting Brandon Marsh. Rojas has an OPS of just .633 in his first three major-league seasons, slashing .252/.294/.340 with six home runs, 73 RBI, 94 runs scored, and 51 stolen bases in 699 plate appearances over 250 games played. - as of Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:23:48
No Plans for Jose Ramirez to Undergo Imaging on Injured Shoulder: Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said on Monday that third baseman Jose Ramirez (shoulder) is doing much better on Monday after exiting Sunday's Cactus League game against the Athletics with left-shoulder soreness, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. Ramirez tested his shoulder on Monday and doesn't have any plans to undergo imaging. "He's feeling much, much better today, so we're going to reassess him day by day. He should be just fine in a few days," Vogt said. The 33-year-old seven-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger winner is day-to-day for now and should be good to go for Opening Day at the end of the month. It's great news for the Guardians and fantasy managers. J-Ram has been one of the best all-around hitters for the last eight years. He has made the All-Star team each of the last five seasons and has hit 30-plus home runs in three of the last five years, while also driving in over 100 runs in three of the last five years and stealing 40-plus bases in the last two seasons. Ramirez is a top-10 overall fantasy player. - as of Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:17:07
Travis Bazzana Won't Make Opening Day Roster: Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said that the team officially informed second baseman Travis Bazzana that he will not make the Opening Day roster out of spring training, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. Bazzana will remain in big-league camp for a few more days before being reassigned to minor-league camp. The 23-year-old Australian and former first overall pick in the 2024 draft out of Oregon State came into Monday hitting a strong .286 (4-for-14) with a homer, four RBI, two runs scored, one walk, and a strikeout in just five Cactus League games this spring. He also got some action in the World Baseball Classic for Team Australia. Bazzana hit .245/.389/.424 with an .813 OPS, nine home runs, 39 RBI, 71 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases in 84 games over three minor-league levels in 2025. He should be a future starting second baseman at the big-league level, with his ability to get on base being perhaps his greatest talent for fantasy managers. Bazzana will have to continue to improve at Triple-A Columbus to get called up to the big leagues for the first time in 2026. - as of Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:08:35