Spencer Strider Shows Increased Velocity on Thursday: Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider touched 96.7 mph twice on the radar gun during his Grapefruit League outing on Thursday, and his four-seam fastball averaged 95 mph, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. The late life on Strider's pitches was there, and he got a swhiff on five of the 12 sliders that he threw against the Toronto Blue Jays. Strider allowed two earned runs on two hits while walking one and striking out four in his 2 1/3 innings of work. It's good news after the 27-year-old averaged 93.1 mph with his fastball in his spring debut on Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles. Strider wasn't too worried about the radar gun, though, and it's encouraging that his velocity was back up this week. He averaged 98.2 mph in his first two MLB seasons before struggling in 2025 with a 4.45 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and 9.4 K/9 in his return from elbow reconstruction last year. Strider may never recapture his pre-injury form, but a rebound in 2026 is possible while being another year removed from surgery. Expect to see his ADP rise this spring if his velocity slowly comes back. Right now, he's ranked as the No. 26 fantasy starting pitcher at RotoBaller. - as of Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:50:27
Jeremy Pena has Finger Fracture, to be Re-Evaluated in Two Weeks: Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (finger) has been diagnosed with a fracture in the tip of his right ring finger, according to the team, and he'll be re-evaluated in two weeks, per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. Pena and the Astros were downplaying the severity of the injury that occurred on Wednesday while playing for Team Dominican Republic, when a ground ball took a bad hop and hit him in the finger. The 28-year-old will now miss the World Baseball Classic, and there's a chance he'll be forced to miss the start of the 2026 regular season as well, depending on how he recovers in the next couple of weeks. If Pena is forced to the injured list, Carlos Correa would slide over to shortstop, and Isaac Paredes would fill in at third base in Houston. Fantasy managers might be a little more hesitant to take Pena as a low-end starting shortstop in fantasy drafts now. - as of Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:36:01
Cade Smith Emerging as an Elite Source of Saves: Cleveland Guardians closer Cade Smith has emerged as an elite source of saves in 2026, now sitting as the fourth-highest ranked reliever for the upcoming 2026 fantasy season at RotoBaller, just ahead of Andres Munoz, who registered 38 saves for Seattle a season ago. The right-hander has had a phenomenal first two seasons in the big leagues, amassing 103 strikeouts in 75 1/3 innings as a reliever in 2024 with a 1.91 ERA and 0.90 WHIP, then followed it up with 104 strikeouts in 73 2/3 innings with a 2.93 ERA (1.95 FIP) and 1.00 WHIP in 2025 while racking up 16 saves for the Guardians, 13 of which came after August 5 on the heels of the suspension of former closer Emmanuel Clase. Stepping in as the full-time closer in 2026, the 6-foot-5 Smith brings a 96.4 average fastball velocity with a 95th percentile whiff rate and 97th percentile strikeout rate to the role, on a team that won 88 games in '25 and should compete for a division crown once again. He won't be cheap on draft day, but with no indications of a slowdown on the horizon, the 26-year-old is rightfully not only one of the top relievers for fantasy, but he's also one of the top pitchers for fantasy regardless of role (starter or reliever). - as of Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:16:51
Xavier Edwards Exits With Calf Tightness on Thursday: Miami Marlins second baseman Xavier Edwards was removed from Thursday's Grapefruit League game with left calf tightness. The diminutive infielder was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a stolen base before his removal in the fourth inning. The severity of the injury is not yet clear, but for a player whose speed could be his greatest fantasy asset, it is certainly a situation to monitor. The 26-year-old swiped 27 bags last season and 31 the year before, and had already recorded three steals through five spring games this year. The switch-hitter makes a ton of contact, registering an 89.2 percent contact rate last season with a low 14.2 percent strikeout rate, which should continue to help buoy his batting average, which came in at .283 in 2025, but there is little power to speak of, thus limiting his fantasy appeal. Still, he's fairly priced in drafts, going around pick 175, and he offers positional versatility with 2B and SS eligibility, so managers in need of steals should consider him there, so long as Thursday's injury proves to be minor. - as of Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:11:35
Could Jordan Lawlar Finally Be Ready for a Breakout?: Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Jordan Lawlar started off Cactus League action with a bang, belting two home runs in his first two games and going 4-for-6 with a walk during that time. Since then, he's gone 0-for-6 over the next three games, but the former first-rounder has also drawn five walks over that stretch, so he's continued to get on base. Set to be the team's everyday center fielder, it should be exciting to see how the organization's former top prospect can perform in 2026 with regular playing time. The right-handed slugger got only sporadic starts during his two stints in the majors last season, but was phenomenal during his time at Triple-A, producing a .313/.403/.564 slash line with 11 home runs and 20 steals in 63 games. The drawback is that he was limited by injury yet again, missing nearly two months with a hamstring strain after playing just 14 games in 2024 between Double and Triple-A due to multiple injuries that included an injury to a hamstring and a reaggravation of it. Once he becomes OF eligible on Yahoo!, it will make him that much more versatile and appealing for fantasy. There is 15/15 likelihood here with 20/20 upside, and he'll cost next to nothing in drafts, if he even gets drafted at all. Remember, this is a player that Arizona thought enough of to allow him to debut in the majors at 20 years old back in 2023. - as of Thu, 05 Mar 2026 14:47:42
Is Kyle Bradish Going Too High in Drafts?: Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish had Tommy John surgery in June of 2024 and finally made his long-awaited return to the mound last August. The right-hander was superb in the six starts that he tallied, posting a 2.53 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and an elite 29.4 percent K-BB%. In 30 starts back in 2023, the former fourth-rounder pitched to a 2.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 18.5 percent K-BB%, then logged a 2.75 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 23.3 percent K-BB% in his eight starts in 2024, so last year's success appeared to be a continuation of that stretch of dominance. Fantasy managers are hoping the 6-foot-3 hurler can replicate that success in 2026, and he's mostly looked the part through two spring starts. Although he's yielded four runs on seven hits, the New Mexico State product has walked just one while striking out seven in five innings of work. The hype has potentially driven his ADP of 81 into overvalued territory for someone who's made just 14 starts over the last two years and who could be on an innings limit in 2026, however, there is upside as well if he can make around 25 starts and log 150 innings, as fantasy managers would gladly roster a pitcher at that price who can provide 160 strikeouts while chipping in some wins, lowering ERA, and lowering WHIP along the way. - as of Thu, 05 Mar 2026 14:18:44
Tyler Freeman Making Cactus League Debut on Thursday: Colorado Rockies utility man Tyler Freeman (back), who had an injection in his back over the winter, is in the Cactus League lineup on Thursday against the Milwaukee Brewers for the first time this spring, according to MLB.com's Thomas Harding. Freeman was dealing with a lower-back strain when he reported to spring training last month, but he's healthy now and is in line to be ready for Opening Day later this month, barring a setback. The 26-year-old right-handed hitter hit an impressive .281/.354/.361 with a career-best .715 OPS, two home runs, 31 RBI, 50 runs scored, and a career-high 18 stolen bases in 428 plate appearances over 110 games last year in his first season with the Rockies. Freeman's ability to play multiple positions will help his cause, as will hitter-friendly Coors Field, but his lack of power upside keeps his ceiling and floor low in fantasy. Still, he can be useful with a big enough role for his contact/speed profile in deep-mixed and NL-only leagues. - as of Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:42:46
Brenton Doyle Thinks he Can Play on Friday: Colorado Rockies center fielder Brenton Doyle (wrist), who is battling a left-wrist sprain in camp, hit in the batting cage on Wednesday and thinks he can play in a Cactus League game on Friday, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com. Doyle has not played in spring training since being scratched from the lineup last Wednesday with a wrist sprain. The Rockies will surely exercise caution in getting him back into a game this spring, but it sounds like he should be ready for Opening Day in late March, barring a setback. The 27-year-old former fourth-rounder in 2019 out of Shepherd University will be Colorado's starting center fielder in 2026 despite disappointing with a .233/.274/.376 slash line, .651 OPS, 15 homers, 57 RBI, 57 runs, and 18 steals in 138 games last year. Doyle broke out in 2024 with 23 homers, 72 RBI, and 30 stolen bases, and with his batted-ball metrics looking similar last year, he's a prime candidate to bounce back in hitter-friendly Coors Field. - as of Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:34:40