Hitter Fantasy Baseball Sleepers at Each Position for 2026 Drafts

Spring training arrived this week, and with it, so begins our speculation on perhaps the best topic of fantasy baseball: who are this season's sleepers at every position? Hope springs eternal, as the poets say. We all have opinions as to who these players are. The debates rage on in late winter, when fantasy players […]

Closer Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers, Values: Middle-Round Discounts With Upside

Welcome to our latest 2026 draft values article, looking at middle-round closer fantasy baseball sleepers, values, and targets to target in 2026 fantasy baseball drafts. With relievers/closers being the most volatile position in fantasy baseball, waiting until the middle rounds to draft your first closer is a good strategy. For the fantasy baseball managers who […]

Shohei Ohtani Might Not be Fully Built Up as a Pitcher by Opening Day

MLB.com's Sonja Chen suggests that Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar and four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani is fully expected to begin the 2026 regular season in the starting rotation, but he has limited time to build up as a pitcher while representing Team Japan exclusively as a hitter in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. The Dodgers […]

Ben Joyce Throws Successful Bullpen Session on Friday

Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Ben Joyce (shoulder) threw a successful bullpen session on Friday. According to Jeff Fletcher, Joyce looked good and was able to mix in secondary pitches as well. The 25-year-old is currently on track to be ready by Opening Day. He's working his way back from a torn labrum that required […]

Yoshinobu Yamamoto to Start on Saturday

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto is scheduled to take the mound versus the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday. This is likely going to be his only start before he joins Team Japan for the World Baseball Classic. Yamamoto probably won't pitch long during Saturday's game, but at least fans will get to see […]

Orioles Claim Bryan Ramos Off Waivers From Cardinals

The Baltimore Orioles claimed infielder Bryan Ramos off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday. Ramos was claimed off waivers by the Cardinals from the O's earlier this month. Now, Ramos will head back to Baltimore for the second time this offseason. The Orioles need extra depth with Jordan Westburg (elbow) set to open […]

Blue Jays Have Intensified Talks With Max Scherzer

The Toronto Blue Jays are reportedly staying in touch with free-agent starting pitcher Max Scherzer. According to Ben Nicholson-Smith, talks between the two sides have intensified over the last week. It sounds like other teams remain in the mix, but the Blue Jays appear to be the most serious suitor for Scherzer right now. A […]

Marcelo Mayer Likely Out for a Few More Days

Boston Red Sox infielder Marcelo Mayer (wrist) is expected to remain sidelined for a few more days. According to Ian Browne, Mayer isn't expected to make his spring debut for a couple of days. Mayer still needs to do some batting practice and get his wrist more exposed to hitting before moving into live games. […]

Yimi Garcia Won't be Ready for Opening Day

Toronto Blue Jays right-handed reliever Yimi Garcia (elbow) said on Friday that he is "a little behind" the other pitchers in camp and will "100%" not be ready for Opening Day in late March, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. The 35-year-old veteran reliever had right-elbow surgery in September of last year and is still […]

Gerrit Cole Hits 96.9 MPH in First Live Session

New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) reached 96.9 mph on the radar gun in his first live batting practice session against hitters in camp on Friday since he had Tommy John surgery last March, according to The Associated Press. Cole threw around 20 pitches to Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge, and Jasson Dominguez. The Yankees […]

Nolan Schanuel Improves Bat Speed, Hoping for More Power

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel improved his average bat speed by 2.3 mph from 2024 to 2025, which was the sixth-best jump in the majors, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. Schanuel said he spent the offseason working on the same type of drills while also working on his barrel […]

Tyler Mahle Expected to Face Hitters Next Week

San Francisco Giants right-hander Tyler Mahle (illness) is a bit behind the other pitchers in camp because he got sick, but he's expected to face hitters next week, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports. Mahle should be ready to roll for Opening Day in late March in his first year with the Gigantes after […]

Orioles Place Felix Bautista on 60-Day Injured List

The Baltimore Orioles placed right-handed reliever Felix Bautista (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list on Friday and claimed third baseman Bryan Ramos off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals in a corresponding move, according to Cordell Woodland of 105.7 The Fan. Bautista had surgery on his right shoulder in August of last year and isn't […]

Sung-Mun Song to Make Spring Training Debut Soon

The San Diego Union-Tribune's Kevin Acee reports that San Diego Padres infielder Sung-Mun Song (oblique) is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut in spring training in the coming days after recovering from a minor oblique injury that he suffered while taking batting practice last month. The 29-year-old took live batting practice in camp on […]

Jason Adam to be Ready for Opening Day?

San Diego Padres right-handed reliever Jason Adam (quadriceps) "remains on track to potentially be ready" for Opening Day in late March, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune's Kevin Acee. Adam said last week that he feels it's realistic for him to be ready for the start of the 2026 season, and he said on Friday […]

Yuki Matsui Dealing With Groin Tightness

San Diego Padres manager Craig Stammen said that left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui (groin) had his live batting practice session cut short in camp on Thursday due to left-groin tightness, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. Although the injury doesn't sound very serious, it could keep Matsui from participating for Team Japan in […]

Red Sox Want Johan Oviedo to be More Explosive

The Boston Red Sox want right-hander Johan Oviedo's delivery "to be more explosive," according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. The team wants him to "create more force down the mound." "The extension," manager Alex Cora said. "And that's kind of key for him. We saw him last year, he did a good job against us, […]

Sawyer Gipson-Long to Throw a Bullpen on Friday

Detroit Tigers right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long (oblique) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session in camp on Friday, according to Evan Petzold of MLive.com. Gipson-Long is battling through a left-oblique injury in spring training, but barring a setback, he should be ready for Opening Day in late March. The 28-year-old missed all of the 2024 season […]

Drew Rasmussen to See Career-High in Innings?

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, who has been named the team's Opening Day starter in 2026, is a pretty good bet to see a career-high in innings pitched this year, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Rasmussen exceeded expectations in his first full year back from Tommy John surgery in 2025, […]

Bryce Miller Looking to "Go Even Further" in 2026

The Seattle Times' Ryan Divish reports that Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller (elbow) has no pain in his right elbow and has two improved breaking pitches this spring. Miller is "excited to pitch a full season" and to help the Mariners "go even further" in 2026. The 27-year-old did not need surgery to have bone […]

Brandon Nimmo Ramping Up Slowly With New Team

Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said that outfielder Brandon Nimmo will be ramped up slowly in spring training, like he always does, according to MLB.com's Kennedi Landry. Nimmo is unlikely to play in any Cactus League games until March. The Rangers acquired Nimmo in a trade from the New York Mets in the offseason, and […]

Rangers Easing Wyatt Langford into Cactus League Games

Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said that outfielder Wyatt Langford won't play in a Cactus League game until a few days in, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. Langford is fine physically, but the Rangers are slowly ramping him up this spring. The 24-year-old power-hitting outfielder dealt with an oblique injury in spring training last […]

Pablo Lopez to Have Season-Ending Tommy John Surgery

Minnesota Twins right-hander Pablo Lopez (elbow) will have season-ending Tommy John surgery next Wednesday, according to Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic. This was the expectation after it was announced earlier this week that Lopez suffered a tear in his right UCL. Fantasy managers can now officially cross the 29-year-old off their 2026 draft boards, and […]

Jose Berrios has "Looked Sharp" This Spring

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios, who has been the team's Opening Day starter in three of the last four seasons, is "once again looking like the pitcher who built the reputation as one of the most reliable workhorses in the sport," according to MLB.com's Keegan Matheson. Despite Berrios' dip in velocity at the end […]

Blaze Alexander Likely to be Starting Second Baseman on Opening Day?

MASN Sports' Brendan Mortensen writes that Baltimore Orioles infielder Blaze Alexander is likely to be the team's starter at second base on Opening Day, with Jackson Holliday (hand) starting the year on the injured list after having surgery to remove the hamate bone from his hand. Mortensen mentions Jeremiah Jackson and Weston Wilson as other […]

Trey Sweeney Dealing With Shoulder Strain

The Detroit Tigers have paused shortstop Trey Sweeney's (shoulder) throwing activities in camp due to a right-shoulder strain, according to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. Sweeney's injury doesn't mean he won't be ready in time for Opening Day in late March, but it definitely hurts his chances of winning a big-league roster spot out of […]

Jared Jones Scheduled to Throw Live Batting Practice on Friday

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones (elbow) is scheduled to throw live batting practice on Friday in camp and will face designated hitter Marcell Ozuna and outfielder Oneil Cruz, according to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. It's a significant development since it will be the first time that Jones will face hitters since having surgery […]

JJ Wetherholt an Option to Bat Leadoff for Cardinals?

As part of a wide-ranging discussion about lineup construction with St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol on Friday, the Belleville News' Jeff Jones reports that shortstop prospect JJ Wetherholt's name was "bandied about as an option at leadoff." It's looking more likely that Wetherholt will not only be on the team's Opening Day roster, but […]

Riley O'Brien to be Shut Down for a Few Days, Expected to Miss WBC

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that right-handed reliever Riley O'Brien (calf) will be shut down for the next few days, and it will take a couple of weeks for him to ramp up, according to Brian Murphy of MLB.com. O'Brien is expected to miss the upcoming World Baseball Classic for Team South Korea, […]