Harry Ford Optioned to Triple-A

The Washington Nationals announced on Wednesday that they optioned catching prospect Harry Ford to Triple-A Rochester. To begin the 2026 season, Keibert Ruiz and Drew Millas will be the Nationals' catchers. Ford could have an opportunity to overtake Ruiz as the Nats' primary catcher sooner than later in 2026, but for now, the 23-year-old will […]

Vaughn Grissom Receives Injection, Unsure if he'll Open on Injured List

Los Angeles Angels infielder Vaughn Grissom (hand) received a cortisone shot in his left hand on Tuesday, and he's unsure if he'll have to open the 2026 regular season on the injured list, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. Grissom hurt his hand during a Cactus League game last week against the Chicago White Sox. […]

Guardians Won't Rush George Valera to be Ready for Opening Day

Cleveland Guardians outfielder/designated hitter George Valera (calf) has been sidelined by a mild left-calf strain in camp, and there is some question as to whether he'll be ready for Opening Day later this month, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. He has been throwing and hitting, and on Tuesday, he did some running. Valera "appears […]

Richard Fitts Sent to Minors

The St. Louis Cardinals optioned right-hander Richard Fitts to Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday, according to MLB.com. Pitchers Kyle Leahy and Andre Pallante have earned the final two spots in the Cardinals' Opening Day starting rotation. St. Louis will have Fitts, 26, get some more seasoning in the minor leagues, but he'll surely be counted on […]

Hayden Birdsong Receives Second Opinion, Unsure on Course of Action

San Francisco Giants right-hander Hayden Birdsong (elbow) told the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser that he saw Dr. Keith Meister for a second opinion on the UCL/flexor tendon/forearm strain in his right arm. Birdsong still hasn't decided whether he will try to rehab or undergo surgery. If he were to undergo surgery, he wouldn't be […]

Eric Lauer "Firmly in the Mix" for Rotation Spot

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that left-hander Eric Lauer is "firmly in the mix to be in the rotation," according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. The team's management of young right-hander Trey Yesavage is the "big remaining variable," and Lauer is "right on that line" now that right-hander Jose Berrios (elbow) won't be […]

Bo Naylor Primed for Big Season After Mechanical Change?

Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor hit under .200 with a career-high 14 home runs, 47 RBI, and 46 runs scored in 123 games in his second full season in the big leagues in 2025. However, he went from a leg kick to a toe tap in August of last year, and in September, he was […]

Logan Allen Joins Dodgers on Minor-League Deal

Free-agent left-hander Logan Allen is joining the Los Angeles Dodgers on a minor-league deal on Wednesday, an industry source told Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. Fresh off pitching for Canada in the World Baseball Classic, Allen will report to Triple-A Oklahoma City to begin the 2026 season. The 28-year-old southpaw previously agreed to a deal to […]

Ramon Urias Back in Grapefruit League Lineup on Wednesday

St. Louis Cardinals infielder Ramon Urias (elbow) is starting at third base and will hit third in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Houston Astros. It will be Urias' first game since March 9 due to elbow soreness. Barring a setback, Urias should be ready for Opening Day next Thursday. The 31-year-old veteran is heading […]

J.P. Crawford Receives Injection, Uncertain for Opening Day

Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford (shoulder) received an injection in his shoulder on Wednesday and will be shut down for a few days, according to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times. Manager Dan Wilson is unsure if Crawford will be ready for Opening Day in late March. The 31-year-old has been dealing with a cranky […]

Jose Berrios has Stress Fracture, Won't be Ready for Opening Day

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios (elbow) has a stress fracture in his right elbow, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. However, manager John Schneider said that Berrios is pain-free and that the team hopes he will resume throwing soon and can continue pitching through it. Berrios will not be ready for Opening Day at […]

Starting Pitcher Fantasy Baseball Breakouts: Young Pitchers With Huge Upside

Welcome to the third and final installment of my "Build-A-Breakout" series that focuses on trying to find the next crop of talented young starting pitchers for the 2026 season by leaning into advanced metrics. If you're looking for part one, you can find it here, and part two (which focused on fastball quality) here. In […]

Top Third Base Fantasy Baseball Prospect Breakouts and Stashes (2026)

Third base is called the hot corner because of the quick reaction time needed on line drives or hard groundballs down the line that come in "hot." It's a position that also requires quick reactions in fantasy baseball, since there is a big drop-off after the elite options are off the board. If you need […]

Five Outfield Breakout Candidates for Fantasy Baseball (2026) - National League

Finding a breakout player in the middle to late rounds of your draft can provide your team with a massive boost. Those who selected Pete Crow-Armstrong secured an MVP candidate for the first half of the season who greatly outperformed his ADP, despite his rough second half. In this piece, I will spotlight five of my […]

6 Fantasy Baseball Bargain Hitters With Upside - Discount Bats At Every Position (2026)

If every fantasy team could be stacked with top-end talent at the end of drafts, would fantasy baseball really be any fun? Yeah, probably, but to win your drafts and your leagues, you have to be able to find talent at bargain prices. Championships are not won in the first five rounds; they are won […]

8 Fantasy Baseball Bold Predictions - Rick Lucks' 2026 Picks

Welcome to another round of MLB Bold Predictions from the MLB RotoBaller team! Several of my colleagues have already published some of their boldest takes, and now it's my turn to ramp up the boldness. Notably, bold predictions aren't supposed to be likely outcomes. Instead, they're supposed to be wild prognostications with some statistical support, […]

10 Breakout Pitchers For Fantasy Baseball Drafts: Nick Mariano's Picks

Fantasy titles are built on early-round foundations, sleepers, and of course, breakouts. Some of you may have a blurred line between "sleeper" and "breakout," but just know that we're looking at arms that have shown glimpses, with plenty more to offer. There are post-hype prospects and others who found another gear overseas to help us […]

Predicting Fantasy Baseball Prospect Call-Up Timelines - Updated Top Prospect ETAs (March)

We're now just over a week away from the MLB regular season, and fantasy baseball drafts are in full swing. Around a month ago, I posted my initial prospect ETA charts here on RotoBaller, but with a month of spring training in the book, some prospect ETAs have shifted. My ETAs below are based on […]

8 League-Winning Fantasy Baseball Prospects - Frank Ammirante's High-Upside Draft Targets (2026)

We've gone through my 10 league-winning hitters, so now it's time to take a look at prospects with a high upside. These can be hitters or pitchers with high ceilings to put your team over the top. Last year, we saw Nick Kurtz crush expectations, so he'd be the benchmark in what we're looking for […]

9 League-Winning Fantasy Baseball Hitters: Kipp Heisterman's High-Upside Draft Targets

We are putting together a very fun series of articles here at RotoBaller where our writers list their league-winning draft selections. Our guy Frank Ammirante has already written 10 league-winning hitters and 10 league-winning pitchers articles, and I am here to follow up with another hitters piece. This article will focus on high-end talent and […]

Can Brandon Nimmo Remain a Consistent Contributor in His New Home?

After 10 seasons as a member of the New York Mets, veteran outfielder Brandon Nimmo was traded to the Texas Rangers this past offseason. The soon-to-be 33-year-old Nimmo posted rock-solid numbers across 652 plate appearances with New York in 2025, hitting .262/.324/.436 with 25 home runs, 92 RBI, 81 runs scored, and 13 stolen bases. […]

Late-Round Fliers and Fantasy Baseball Lotto Tickets: Upside Hitter and Pitcher Value Picks

This premium article is part of our 2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit and a free sample of the expert analysis loaded up in RotoBaller's Draft Kit. Enjoy this premium article for free for a limited time. All other Premium Tools can be accessed on the premium dashboard. Much is made about your first few picks, […]

2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers List - Hitters and Pitchers

This premium article is part of our 2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit and a free sample of the expert analysis loaded up in RotoBaller's Draft Kit. Enjoy this premium article for free for a limited time. All other Premium Tools can be accessed on the premium dashboard. Little else has changed over the years in […]

Fantasy Baseball Early-Round Overvalued Draft Picks: ADP Analysis for Every Position

This premium article is part of our 2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit and a free sample of the expert analysis loaded up in RotoBaller's Draft Kit. Enjoy this premium article for free for a limited time. All other Premium Tools can be accessed on the premium dashboard. Everyone loves to celebrate the good times and […]

Fantasy Baseball Auction Draft Strategy Guide and Expert Tips (2026)

This premium article is part of our 2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit and a free sample of the expert analysis loaded up in RotoBaller's Draft Kit. Enjoy this premium article for free for a limited time. All other Premium Tools can be accessed on the premium dashboard. Auctions are a marathon that will demand your […]

Brandon Williamson Will Open 2026 in the Reds' Rotation

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Brandon Williamson has been informed he will be on the team's Opening Day roster and will be part of a six-man starting rotation in Cincinnati, per Reds beat writer Charlie Goldsmith. A former top prospect, Williamson pitched just 14 1/3 big-league innings in 2024 due to a shoulder injury and then missed […]

Alex Bregman Remains a Steady Third Base Option Heading into 2026

The Chicago Cubs made one of the bigger splashes of the offseason by signing veteran third baseman Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract. The soon-to-be 32-year-old was limited to 495 plate appearances by a quad injury in 2025 while playing for the Boston Red Sox. Still, Bregman posted quality numbers when healthy, slashing […]

CJ Abrams Remains a Solid Starting Shortstop Option Heading into 2026

Across 635 plate appearances in 2025, Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams hit .257/.315/.433 with 19 home runs, 60 RBI, 92 runs scored, and 31 stolen bases. Some of the shine has come off the 25-year-old's real-life profile, as he's struggled at shortstop defensively and saw his name come up in trade rumors throughout the offseason. […]

Does Kyle Schwarber Warrant First-Round Consideration?

Since signing with the Philadelphia Phillies ahead of the 2022 season, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber has established himself as one of baseball's premier power hitters. Over the last four years, Schwarber has belted 187 home runs while collecting 434 RBI and scoring 429 runs. 2025 was Schwarber's best season to date, as he slashed .240/.365/.563 […]

Opening Day "Not Ruled Out" for Jeremy Pena

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said that shortstop Jeremy Pena (finger) will resume throwing and swinging this weekend and that an Opening Day return has "not been ruled out," per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Pena is recovering from a fracture in the tip of his right ring finger. The 28-year-old was excellent across 543 […]