Braves Reassign JR Ritchie to Minor-League Camp

The Atlanta Braves announced on Friday that they reassigned right-handed pitching prospect JR Ritchie to minor-league camp. Even with the Braves dealing with more injuries to their starting rotation, Ritchie will open the 2026 campaign in the minors. The 22-year-old former 35th overall pick in 2022 made his case in spring training, allowing three earned […]

Jacob Misiorowski Named Opening Day Starter

The Milwaukee Brewers named right-hander Jacob Misiorowski as their Opening Day starter this year on Thursday, March 26, against the Chicago White Sox. The hard-throwing right-hander made his major-league debut in 2025 and is now heading into his first full big-league season at the top of Milwaukee's starting rotation. Misiorowski got off to a strong […]

Dylan Beavers Scratched on Friday With Knee Discomfort

Baltimore Orioles outfield prospect Dylan Beavers (knee) was scratched from Friday's Grapefruit League game against the New York Yankees due to right-knee discomfort, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. It's unclear if Beavers will undergo any testing on his injured knee, but when we know more about the severity of it, we'll pass it […]

Brady Singer Back on Schedule After Blister Issue

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Brady Singer (finger) says the blister on his index finger is back to normal and said he's "right back on regular schedule," according to Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer. FOX 19's Charlie Goldsmith reports that Singer will pitch in an exhibition game on Monday in Milwaukee against the Brewers. The Reds […]

X-Rays Come Back Negative on Mike Trout's Hand

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (hand) underwent a precautionary X-ray on his hand on Friday, but it came back negative, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. Trout was hit by a pitch in Friday's Cactus League game against the Chicago White Sox in his first plate appearance. The 34-year-old veteran stayed in the game […]

Andrew Painter Makes Phillies Opening Day Roster

Philadelphia Phillies right-handed pitching prospect Andrew Painter has been told that he has made the team's 2026 Opening Day roster, as expected, according to Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Painter will start the Phillies' fifth game of the season on Tuesday, March 31, against the division-rival Washington Nationals. That will be the 22-year-old's major-league […]

Rays Option Joe Boyle on Friday

The Tampa Bay Rays optioned right-hander Joe Boyle to the minors on Friday, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Boyle was competing for a spot in Tampa's bullpen to begin the 2026 regular season, but he'll instead start at Triple-A Durham after posting a 3.72 ERA and 1.65 WHIP with eight walks […]

Jeremy Pena to Swing a Bat in the Next Two Days

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said on Friday that shortstop Jeremy Pena (finger) will swing a bat in the next two days, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Pena's status for Opening Day next week is up in the air after he fractured the tip of his right ring finger while fielding a ground ball […]

Harrison Bader Day-to-Day With Hamstring Tightness

San Francisco Giants outfielder Harrison Bader (hamstring) is considered day-to-day with left-hamstring tightness, according to Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle. It doesn't sound like something overly serious, but with the Giants' 2026 regular season starting next Wednesday against the New York Yankees, it's something to watch with Bader. Right now, manager Tony Vitello […]

Janson Junk Opening the Year in Starting Rotation

Miami Marlins right-hander Janson Junk will open the year in the team's starting rotation after left-hander Braxton Garrett was optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday, according to Craig Mish of the Sports Grid. Junk won the competition for the No. 5 rotation spot with Garrett despite allowing five earned runs on seven hits (two homers) […]

Marlins Option Braxton Garrett to Triple-A

The Miami Marlins optioned left-hander Braxton Garrett to Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday, according to Isaac Azout of Fish on First. It means that right-hander Janson Junk has won the fifth starter role in Miami to begin the year. Garrett has more fantasy upside because of his strikeout potential, but the Marlins have decided to give […]

Jackson Holliday Takes Live Batting Practice, Making "Great" Progress

Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday (hand) took live batting practice in camp on Thursday for the first time since having surgery on his right hand, and he will do so again on Friday, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. Holliday is "making great progress," although he's still expected to begin the 2026 regular […]

Tigers Still Undecided on Kevin McGonigle's Opening Day Roster Status

Detroit Tigers shortstop prospect Kevin McGonigle is a "toss-up" to make the team's Opening Day roster, per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Petzold reports that the team is not planning to decide on McGonigle until "the day before Opening Day or the morning of Opening Day." The 21-year-old is considered to be one […]

Shane McClanahan Throws Five Scoreless Innings in Spring Start on Friday

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan impressed in a Spring Training start against the Boston Red Sox on Friday, throwing 73 pitches over five shutout innings and recording four strikeouts while allowing three hits and two walks. Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, McClanahan topped out at 96.8 mph on his fastball. […]

Grayson Rodriguez Plays Catch on Friday, Doesn't Consider Arm Issue to Be Serious

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (arm) played "light catch" on Friday, per Jeff Fletcher of SoCal News Group. Fletcher also reports that Rodriguez said he's not worried about a major injury, although it's still to be determined whether or not the 26-year-old will open the season on the Injured List. Injury troubles are […]

Dylan Crews Optioned to Triple-A Rochester

The Washington Nationals optioned outfielder Dylan Crews to Triple-A Rochester on Friday, per Mark Zuckerman of Nats Journal. Barring an injury, it appears as though the 24-year-old former top prospect will open the 2026 season in the Minors. Crews struggled mightily across 322 plate appearances with the Nationals in 2025, slashing .208/280/.352 with 10 home […]

3B Fantasy Baseball Rankings for Drafts: Nick Mariano's Top (March Updates)

Third base continues to be an interesting position to draft each year. Jose Ramirez has led the charge over the years and continues to be the top 3B in fantasy baseball. Junior Caminero is not far behind Ramirez, but there is a little bit of a drop-off once those two are off draft boards. At […]

Cal Raleigh Remains the Clear No. 1 Catcher Across All Formats

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh had one of the all-time great offensive seasons by a backstop in 2025, slashing .247/.359/.589 with 60 home runs, 125 RBI, 114 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases across 705 plate appearances. With a career 15.4% barrel rate and 153 career home runs to his name across 623 total MLB […]

Josh Lowe Returns to the Outfield on Friday

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Lowe (oblique) is starting in left field and will hit fifth in Friday's Cactus League game against the Chicago White Sox, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. It's the first time that Lowe will play the outfield since injuring his oblique. Lowe had been serving as the […]

A's Option Zack Gelof to Triple-A

The Athletics optioned infielder Zack Gelof to Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, according to the team. The A's will give Gelof a little more time to dial in his swing in the minors after he returned late to spring training this year after recovering from surgery to fix a dislocated right shoulder in the offseason. […]

Mick Abel to Make Twins Opening Day Roster

Minnesota Twins right-hander Mick Abel will make the team's Opening Day roster with right-hander Zebby Matthews being sent to Triple-A St. Paul, according to Betsy Helfand of the Pioneer Press. Abel has won a starting rotation spot to begin the 2026 regular season over Matthews after posting a 1.35 ERA with a 0.75 WHIP, 17 […]

Twins Option Zebby Matthews to Triple-A

The Minnesota Twins optioned right-hander Zebby Matthews to Triple-A St. Paul on Friday, according to Betsy Helfand of the Pioneer Press. Even with Pablo Lopez (elbow) injured, Matthews won't make the team's Opening Day starting rotation, paving the way for right-hander Mick Abel to make the team. The 25-year-old struggled again in 2025 in his […]

Emmanuel Clase, Luis L. Ortiz Shifting to Unpaid Non-Disciplinary Leave

Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis L. Ortiz will shift to unpaid non-disciplinary leave, per an agreement between the league and the Players Association, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Clase and Ortiz were previously being paid as they await trial for a pitch-rigging scheme. The two pitchers were put on non-disciplinary paid leave […]

Joe Ryan Named Opening Day Starter for Twins

The Minnesota Twins announced on Friday that right-hander Joe Ryan will be their Opening Day starter for next Thursday's game in Baltimore against the Orioles at Camden Yards. Ryan will get the nod after being named an All-Star for the first time in his career in 2025, when he went 13-10 for the Twins with […]

12 League-Winning Fantasy Baseball Hitters: RotoBaller Staff Picks

With Opening Day just days away, it's time to identify some league-winning hitters. Some of these hitters are significantly underpriced in current ADP or are poised for a breakout campaign. In this piece, we will spotlight 12 of our RotoBaller Fantasy Baseball Staff's league-winning hitters, including Francisco Alvarez, Cam Smith, Luke Keaschall, and more. Be […]

Twins Grant Liam Hendriks his Release

Minnesota Twins right-handed reliever Liam Hendriks triggered an opt-out in his minor-league contract and was granted his release by the team on Friday, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Hendriks will be looking to latch on with another team before the start of the 2026 regular season next week. The 37-year-old Australian veteran will […]

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 […]

Eric Lauer Expected to Win Rotation Spot

Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Eric Lauer "should once again move into the rotation" to begin the 2026 season now that right-hander Trey Yesavage (shoulder) will start the year on the injured list, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. Manager John Schneider hasn't guaranteed Lauer a rotation spot, but Lauer appears to have "gone from […]

Carson Benge Emerging as a Favorite to Start the Year in the Majors

New York Mets outfield prospect Carson Benge appears poised to win a spot on the Opening Day roster after impressing the team in spring training, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. "Carson Benge has made this team. The Mets have not announced that officially," Sherman said. Sherman goes on to explain that […]

Brice Matthews to Earn a Starting Role in Houston's Outfield?

Houston Astros outfield prospect Brice Matthews will start in left field in the team's Grapefruit League matchup on Friday night against the Miami Marlins, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Matthews got off to a hot start at the plate this spring but comes into Friday hitting .226 (7-for-31) with a home run, nine […]