Sung-Mun Song Exits Early on Thursday With Oblique Tightness

San Diego Padres infielder Sung-Mun Song (oblique) was pulled from Thursday's Cactus League game early against the Seattle Mariners with tightness in his right oblique, according to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. It's the same oblique that Song injured in the offseason, but manager Craig Stammen said his exit on Thursday was "precautionary." For now, the […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Robert Stephenson to Face Live Hitters on Friday

Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever Robert Stephenson (shoulder) will face live hitters in camp for the first time this spring on Friday, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. It's a big step for Stephenson, who still believes that he'll be ready for Opening Day later this month. The 33-year-old veteran missed all of the 2024 […]

Francisco Lindor Takes Swings on Wednesday

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (hand) continued his hitting progression in camp on Wednesday and took swings for the first time since his hamate bone surgery three weeks ago, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. There's still time for Lindor to be ready for Opening Day later this month, but nothing is guaranteed. The […]

The Best Fantasy Baseball Team Names - 100 Funny Team Names For 2026

Fantasy baseball season is here. After a long winter, fantasy managers are eager to begin analyzing this year's pool of players and start drafting their teams. However, one of the most important parts of the process is naming your team. In this piece, we will provide several suggestions for team names based on the top […]

Josh Hader to Throw Off a Mound Early Next Week

Houston Astros left-handed closer Josh Hader (biceps) will throw off a mound early next week, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. It will be the first time that Hader has thrown off a mound in camp after reporting to spring training this year with left-biceps inflammation. The 31-year-old veteran has only been throwing off flat […]

Jeremy Pena to Visit With Hand Specialist

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (hand) will visit with a hand specialist on Thursday to determine the extent of his finger injury, manager Joe Espada told Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. A ground ball hit Pena on the ring finger of his right hand and damaged the nail area while playing for Team Dominican […]

Andrew Kittredge's Shoulder a "Little Cranky," Not a Serious Issue

Baltimore Orioles right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge (shoulder) said his right shoulder is "just a little cranky," and he doesn't expect it to be a serious issue, according to Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun. Kittredge still expects to get back into Grapefruit League games before the end of camp. Manager Craig Albernaz said on Wednesday […]

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, […]

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 […]

Andrew McCutchen Signs One-Year Deal With Rangers

Free-agent outfielder/designated hitter Andrew McCutchen signed a one-year minor-league deal with the Texas Rangers on Thursday, according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. The four-time MVP and former National League MVP with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013 is entering his 18th MLB season at age 39. McCutchen played in 135 games in 2025 […]

Closers and Relievers Fantasy Baseball Rankings

The countdown to Opening Day continues, and at RotoBaller HQ, we are back with more updated rankings. Relief pitcher is the most challenging position to rank as MLB teams use committees, switch a struggling closer, or even deal them once out of the playoff picture. When should you draft a closer? Should fantasy managers ever […]

Will Spencer Strider Bounce Back?

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider was a fantasy ace earlier in his career, but he has not been able to return to his dominant levels since missing almost all of the 2024 season with an elbow injury that required an internal brace procedure. He did make 23 starts last year but posted a 4.45 […]

Is Aaron Judge Worth the First Overall Pick?

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is coming off another massive season and is starring this spring training for both the Yankees and Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Last year, the Yankees slugger delivered an impressive .331/.357/.688 slash line with 53 home runs, 137 runs scored, 114 RBI, and 12 steals over 152 […]

Blaze Alexander Remains the Front-Runner to Replace Jackson Holliday

Baltimore Orioles second baseman/third baseman Blaze Alexander continues to be in line for more playing time early in the season and is projected to slot in as the team's primary second baseman early in the season while Jackson Holliday (hand) recovers from hamate bone surgery. Alexander was acquired from Arizona this offseason after he hit […]

2026 Fantasy Baseball Prospect Rankings: Eric Cross' Top 25 Prospects for Redraft Leagues (March Update)

We're now officially in the heart of fantasy baseball draft season, with Opening Day approaching quickly. Regardless of what format you play in, high-upside rookies are always going to be intriguing. Grabbing the next prospect to ascend to star or superstar status is always rewarding and can be a part of your fantasy team's success. […]

Kyle Nicolas Traded to the Reds

The Cincinnati Reds acquired relief pitcher Kyle Nicolas from the Pirates on Wednesday, sending left-handed utilityman Tyler Callihan to the Pirates. Nicolas is a 27-year-old righty who has pitched in 86 games out of the bullpen for the Buccos over the last three seasons, compiling a 4.68 ERA and 4.10 FIP with 96 strikeouts in […]

Tyler Callihan Traded to the Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired utilityman Tyler Callihan (left forearm) from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Kyle Nicolas in a rare trade inside the division. Callihan was expected to compete for a roster spot in Cincinnati after suffering a grisly left forearm fracture while crashing into the left-field wall in Atlanta last May. He was […]

River Ryan in Serious Consideration for Starting Role

Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitching prospect River Ryan is in consideration for a starting position in the rotation to begin the 2026 MLB season, according to Courtney Hollmon of MLB.com. With Blake Snell (elbow) expected to miss the start of the season and Gavin Stone (shoulder) sidelined, Ryan could carve out a role at the […]

Kevin McGonigle Making Strong Case to Crack Opening Day Roster

Detroit Tigers top prospect Kevin McGonigle has made a strong case through the opening weeks of spring training to begin the regular season on the MLB roster. The No. 2-ranked prospect in the sport (on MLB.com), trialing only Pittsburgh's Konnor Griffin, has posted an elite .400/.471/.667 slash line with two doubles, one triple, and one […]

Sal Stewart Flashing Power in Spring Games

Cincinnati Reds infield prospect Sal Stewart has flashed high power upside over his first taste of spring training games. The team's No. 1 prospect has posted an elite .429/.529/.929 line with one double and two long balls over just six games. He trails only infielder Matt McLain for the team lead in spring training home […]

Connelly Early Ticketed to Begin Season at Triple-A?

Boston Red Sox left-handed pitching prospect Connelly Early will likely begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Worcester. According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, Johan Oviedo is the current favorite to claim the starting position, which will push Early and fellow prospect Payton Tolle to Triple-A. The 23-year-old looked quite comfortable in his first taste of […]

Carlos Lagrange Impressing in Spring Training

New York Yankees right-handed pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange has looked very comfortable through the early part of spring training and could be in serious contention to begin the season on the MLB roster. The team's No. 2-ranked prospect on MLB.com has appeared in two games so far (one start) and logged 5 2/3 innings with […]

Ryan Waldschmidt Making Strong Case for Starting Job

Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect Ryan Waldschmidt has made a strong case for a starting job early in spring training and is quickly approaching sleeper territory in drafts. Through his first six contests, Waldschmidt has posted a .316/.350/.632 slash line with three doubles, one home run, and one stolen base. Even though Waldschmidt has yet to […]

Overvalued Closers to Avoid in Fantasy Baseball Drafts - Bust Candidates (2026)

My friends, we have to talk about something we would rather not speak of too often. It's a topic that sends chills up and down the spine, makes us grit our teeth, and at times, reach into the cabinet for pain relievers, and maybe, some antacids. That topic is bullpens. Anecdotally, over the years, I […]