January 29, 2026
Sacramento Kings guard
Russell Westbrook (foot) was originally questionable for Thursday's game against the 76ers but was downgraded to out on Thursday afternoon. The game is the first half of a back-to-back that finishes Friday in Boston, so Westbrook may be able to get back in action right away on Friday. Without him against the Sixers,
Dennis Schroder,
Keon Ellis, and
Nique Clifford will get more minutes and usage.
Malik Monk (ankle) remains questionable and could also help carry the load if he's able to play through his ankle soreness.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NBA Injury Report
January 29, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals running back
Chase Brown said his representation is in talks with the team about a new long-term contract extension, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. Brown, 25, is eligible for an extension after completing his third year in the NFL in 2025. "I would love to do something and be a part of this team," Brown said. "I don't want to go anywhere else." The 25-year-old finished 11th in the NFL last year with a team-high 1,456 scrimmage yards. He was also sixth among all RBs with 437 receiving yards, and he had his first 1,000-rushing campaign (1,019 yards). Given all of the other financial commitments to key players on the offensive side of the ball in Cincy, and the fact that the Bengals' defense needs a lot of help, it remains to be seen if the Bengals will extend Brown going into the final year of his deal. Regardless of his contract going into the 2026 season, Brown should at least be viewed as a low-end RB1 target as the team's No. 1 backfield option in a high-scoring offense.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Ben Baby
January 29, 2026
Houston Rockets forwards
Tari Eason (leg, injury management) and
Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle, injury management) will not play in the second game of the team's back-to-back set on Thursday night in Atlanta. Eason had 10 points, six rebounds, three steals, and one block in 25 minutes on Wednesday in a loss to the Spurs, while Finney-Smith played 19 scoreless minutes with two rebounds. Without both forwards and possibly
Alperen Sengun (ankle), who is questionable, there should be plenty of minutes for
Josh Okogie and
Jae'Sean Tate in the frontcourt. Okogie doesn't usually get a lot of usage, but he should have plenty of minutes available on Thursday.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NBA Injury Report
January 29, 2026
The San Diego Padres have signed left-handed pitcher
Marco Gonzales to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. If he ends up in the majors, he'll have a $1.5 million salary with an additional $1 million available in the form of performance-based incentives. Gonzales, who turns 34 years old before Opening Day, hasn't pitched since a seven-game stint with the Pirates in 2024. During his brief tenure in Pittsburgh, he amassed a 4.71 FIP across seven starts. His appearances occurred somewhat sporadically, as he dealt with a nagging left forearm strain that ultimately shut him down in August. Gonzales didn't sign a contract in 2025, but it appears that he's fully healthy and ready to make a comeback of sorts. He'll offer the Padres experienced minor league pitching depth behind a veteran-heavy rotation of
Michael King,
Nick Pivetta,
Joe Musgrove,
Randy Vasquez, and
JP Sears.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jon Heyman
January 29, 2026
The New York Giants are scheduled to meet with Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter to discuss their vacant offensive-coordinator position, according to Peter Schrager of ESPN. Cooter has also interviewed for the offensive-coordinator job with the Philadelphia Eagles. The 41-year-old has been the Colts' OC since 2023, but he hasn't called plays while working under offensive-minded head coach Shane Steichen. Moving to either New York or Philly would allow Cooter to call plays. Under Cooter in 2025, the Colts' offense ranked eighth in points per game and yards per play. He was also the OC for the Detroit Lions from 2015 to 2018. Cooter has previous ties to the Eagles after serving as an offensive consultant in 2021. The Giants were expected to go with Todd Monken as their OC, but he took the job as the next head coach for the Browns.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Peter Schrager
January 29, 2026
Houston Rockets center
Alperen Sengun (ankle) was listed as questionable for his team's road game in Atlanta against the Hawks on Thursday due to a right ankle sprain. Sengun has played in 10 straight games for Houston since missing three games early in January. Over that stretch, the 23-year-old has averaged 20.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 34.1 minutes per game. If he's out on Thursday,
Clint Capela could play more minutes against his former squad, since he would be the team's only traditional big man.
Josh Okogie and
Jae'Sean Tate could get some minutes at center in small lineups, and
Onyeka Okongwu (face) is out for the Hawks, leaving both teams short on big men up front.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NBA Injury Report
January 29, 2026
The Los Angeles Angels have acquired left-handed reliever
Jayvien Sandridge from the New York Yankees in exchange for cash considerations. In a corresponding move, right-handed pitcher
Osvaldo Bido was designated for assignment to make space on the Halos' 40-man roster. Sandridge, who was recently DFA'd by New York, made his MLB debut last season but finished his lone appearance with two earned runs over 0.2 innings of work. He fared much better at Triple-A, where he posted a 3.65 FIP, 13.36 K/9, and 4.83 BB/9 across 31.2 frames. Originally drafted by the Orioles in the 32nd round of the 2018 draft, the 26-year-old is now headed to his fifth organization. He has two options remaining, so even if he doesn't make the Angels' bullpen out of spring training, he can offer depth on the 40-man roster.
--Andersen PickardSource: Angels PR
January 29, 2026
New England Patriots quarterback
Drake Maye (shoulder) did not throw the football around during the period of practice open to the media on Thursday, according to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. Maye injured his right (throwing) shoulder in the AFC Championship victory of the Denver Broncos last weekend and was listed as limited on Wednesday's estimated injury report. The Patriots have downplayed the second-year QB's injury and said he should be fine for the Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Feb. 8. With an extra week off before the big game, the Pats are likely just resting their star signal-caller to make sure that he's closer to full health next week. The North Carolina product was the QB3 in overall fantasy points during the regular season in his first full year as the starter, completing a league-high 72% of his pass attempts for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, and eight picks. He hasn't been nearly as good in his first three career playoff games, though, completing 55.8% of his passes for 533 yards, four TDs, and two interceptions while fumbling six times (three lost).
--Keith HernandezSource: Boston Herald - Doug Kyed
January 29, 2026
Houston Astros outfielder
Zach Cole will have a chance to compete for a starting role in the team's Opening Day lineup, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The Astros have reportedly made it clear they "want to see more" of him, and he "will arrive [at spring training] with every chance to crack the club." Cole slashed .255/.327/.553 across a small sample size (15 games) in the majors as a rookie last year. He struck out at a 38.5% clip, but that number should settle down as he accumulates at-bats. There's a lot to like about his four home runs, .303 xwOBA, and 142 wRC+ during that span. He also flashed upside defensively and is certainly capable of an everyday role in either corner outfield spot. Rome projects that Cole,
Jake Meyers, and
Cam Smith will occupy the Astros' Opening Day outfield from left to right.
--Andersen PickardSource: Chandler Rome
January 29, 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back
Rachaad White had his worst statistical season in 2025, even though
Bucky Irving missed seven games due to injury. White was the RB35 in half-PPR scoring with 132 carries for 572 yards (4.3 yards per tote) and four touchdowns in 17 games played. He added a career-low 40 receptions on 45 targets for 218 yards through the air. White failed to score a receiving TD for the first time in his four NFL seasons. Even with Irving sidelined with injury, White wasn't given a workhorse role, as
Sean Tucker saw plenty of involvement in a committee approach. The 27-year-old just didn't have a big enough role in Tampa's backfield when Irving was healthy, and he voiced his frustration about that at the end of the year. White will almost certainly look to sign elsewhere as a free agent, although a new location won't necessarily guarantee him a lead-back role in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 29, 2026
Atlanta Hawks center
Onyeka Okongwu (dental) left Wednesday's win in Boston early with what was called a facial contusion but has now been updated to a dental fracture, which will keep him out of Thursday's game against the Rockets. Okongwu has averaged 16.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 32 minutes per game in his 47 contests this season. It is unclear if this issue will cause him to miss any further time, but for as long as he's out,
Christian Koloko and
Mouhamed Gueye will be in line for expanded playing time at center. Both have streaming and DFS bargain upside, with Gueye showcasing a high ceiling in an expanded role earlier this season.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NBA Injury Report
January 29, 2026
Atlanta Hawks forward
Jalen Johnson (calf) was listed as questionable for Thursday night's home game against the Rockets, as his team finishes out a back-to-back. On Wednesday, Johnson had 19 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists to help Atlanta get a nice road win in Boston against the Celtics, but his is now dealing with left calf tightness. With
Onyeka Okongwu (face) ruled out, the Hawks will be very shorthanded in the frontcourt if Johnson is also out.
Corey Kispert,
Christian Koloko, and
Mouhamed Gueye are likely to play more minutes in that scenario, along with
Asa Newell, who was just recalled from the G League.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NBA Injury Report
January 29, 2026
Detroit Lions wide receiver
Jameson Williams was slightly more productive in his fourth year in the league in 2025 despite the loss of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Williams, the 12th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, set new career highs in catches (65), targets (102), and receiving yards (1,117) while scoring seven times for the second straight season in 17 starts. The 24-year-old only played in six games in his rookie campaign in 2022 as he recovered from an ACL tear, and Detroit struggled to find a role for him in Year 2. But Williams has reached his true potential over the last two years with 1,000-yard seasons, and he could have an even higher ceiling in new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing's scheme in 2026. Williams finished as a top-12 fantasy wideout in half-PPR scoring and will definitely have WR1 upside again for the Lions in 2026 as a big-play threat all over the field.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 29, 2026
Atlanta Falcons quarterback
Michael Penix Jr. (knee), who had ACL reconstruction on his left knee on Nov. 25, is hoping that he'll be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season this fall, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta-Journal Consitution. "I've been doing great," Penix said. "Each and every day, just trying to get better. I feel like my confidence has been building." The 25-year-old signal-caller was given a nine- to 12-month timetable at the time of his surgery, the third ACL surgery of his career. There's optimism right now from Penix and the Falcons, but Penix's availability for the start of next season is still very much up in the air. It sounds like new head coach Kevin Stefanski is fully committed to Penix as the team's starter going forward, but his lengthy injury history -- he also suffered two season-ending shoulder injuries in college -- makes him an extremely volatile dynasty asset in fantasy football. In his 14 games (12 starts) in his first two NFL seasons, Penix has completed only 59.6% of his passes for 2,757 yards with 12 TDs and six interceptions.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - D. Orlando Ledbetter
January 29, 2026
Houston Astros corner infielder
Isaac Paredes may not appear in the Opening Day lineup if he ends up in a platoon role with
Christian Walker. "Walker and Paredes seem primed to begin the season [at first base] as a $29 million timeshare," writes Chandler Rome of The Athletic. There has been plenty of buzz about a potential Paredes trade, but as spring training approaches, he remains on the Astros' roster. The vast majority of his MLB experience comes at the hot corner (including all 89 of his defensive appearances last year), but he's starting to be viewed as more of a first baseman or designated hitter after the Astros re-acquired
Carlos Correa last summer. While Paredes finished the 2025 campaign with -3 OAA and -2 FRV at third base, he was markedly better with the bat in his hands. He slashed .254/.352/.458 with 20 homers, 53 RBI, and 128 wRC+ to go along with his 11.4% walk rate and 17.4% strikeout rate. Paredes currently ranks 14th among third basemen in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings, but a trade or reshuffling of the Astros' lineup could drastically impact his stock.
--Andersen PickardSource: Chandler Rome
January 29, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver
A.J. Brown voiced his frustration with his involvement in a lackluster offense throughout the 2025 campaign. The 28-year-old three-time Pro Bowler went quiet for long stretches, but he still finished with a team-high 121 targets and caught 78 passes for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 regular-season games. Brown has scored exactly seven times in each of the last three years. Despite all the drama between Brown, quarterback
Jalen Hurts, and head coach Nick Sirianni, he still finished as the WR12 in half-PPR scoring and averaged 12.1 fantasy points per game. He has gone over 1,000 receiving yards in each of his four seasons in Philly and in six of his seven NFL seasons. Brown should remain in the WR1 conversation in fantasy going into 2026, but he's becoming more volatile, and he could be traded this offseason. The three-time Pro Bowler had a career-low 12.9 yards per catch in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 29, 2026
Buffalo Bills tight end
Dalton Kincaid (knee) said on Thursday that he doesn't need surgery on his knee this offseason, according to Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News. Kincaid missed time in 2025 with knee and hamstring issues, which limited him to a career-low 12 games played during the regular season. It was a disappointing year for the 26-year-old, although he did have a career-high five touchdown catches. Kincaid had a career-low 39 receptions on 49 targets for 571 yards during the regular season to finish as the TE18 in half-PPR scoring. The disappointing campaign makes more sense after it was announced that the former 25th overall pick in 2023 out of Utah played most of the year with a PCL tear, which was the same injury he suffered in November of 2024. Concerns about Kincaid's long-term durability will keep his fantasy price low in 2026, but if he can put together a fully healthy season, he could easily wind up as Buffalo's leading receiver as one of quarterback
Josh Allen's favorite targets.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Buffalo News - Jay Skurski
January 29, 2026
Updating a previous report, Buffalo Bills quarterback
Josh Allen (foot) confirmed on Thursday at a press conference that he had surgery on a broken bone (fifth metatarsal) in his right foot, according to Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network. Doctors took out his broken bone and cleaned it up. Allen suffered the injury to his foot in the Week 16 win over the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 21, but he didn't miss any time after that, although he did acknowledge that it wasn't ideal and was painful during the week. The 29-year-old former MVP was on crutches and wearing a walking boot on Thursday, but he's expected to be healed up in time for organized team activities this spring. Allen surely wasn't 100% the rest of the way, but he still ran the ball 23 times for 99 yards and two touchdowns in two postseason games. Despite having offseason foot surgery, Allen should still be considered the top fantasy QB going into his ninth NFL season in 2026.
UPDATE: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Allen was given a recovery timeline of eight to 10 weeks.--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Cameron Wolfe
January 29, 2026
Baltimore Orioles corner infielder
Coby Mayo was optioned to Triple-A last season, and he publicly expressed his frustration by describing the demotion as a lose-lose situation. He's still not a lock to make the Opening Day roster in 2026, as Roch Kubatko of MASN writes that "optioning Mayo is one solution." He also notes that the Orioles could put Mayo on their 26-man roster if they don't carry a utility infielder. Additionally, while Kubatko didn't mention it, we can't rule out a potential Mayo trade, especially if he and the organization don't have the same vision for his role. For now, though, he's an Oriole and will use spring training as an opportunity to make the big-league club. He slashed .217/.299/.388 through 85 MLB games last season, contributing 95 wRC+ and 11 home runs with a 9.2% walk rate and 28.6% strikeout rate. Although he came up as a third baseman, he spent most of his innings last year at first base, where he tallied -2 OAA and -2 FRV.
--Andersen PickardSource: Roch Kubatko
January 29, 2026
New York Giants wide receiver
Wan'Dale Robinson made a statement in 2025 in his contract year with the G-Men, catching 92 of his 140 targets for a career-high 1,014 receiving yards and a career-high four touchdowns in 16 games played. Robinson was especially valuable for fantasy managers in PPR formats, with his 92 receptions ranking seventh among all wideouts. After a previous career high of 699 receiving yards in 2024, the 25-year-old finished as the WR16 in overall half-PPR points. It certainly helped that WR1
Malik Nabers (knee) suffered a season-ending torn ACL early in the year, but then again, Robinson also had 93 catches and 140 targets in 2024. Robinson finished the year on Injured Reserve due to fractured ribs, but he should be fully healthy in 2026 as he enters free agency for the first time. Staying in New York will probably be the most favorable outcome for his 2026 fantasy value, but even so, his 2025 breakout may very well be Robinson's ceiling.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 29, 2026
Even with Houston Texans quarterback
C.J. Stroud struggling for the second straight year in 2025, wide receiver
Nico Collins managed a third straight 1,000-yard season in his fifth year in the NFL. Collins caught 71 of a career-high 120 targets for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns in 15 regular-season games to finish as the WR9 in half-PPR scoring. His season finished on a sour note, though, as he was unable to play in the Divisional Round loss to the New England Patriots due to a concussion that he suffered in the Wild-Card round of the playoffs. The 26-year-old pass-catcher ranked 15th among all WRs with his 120 targets, and his 12.7 half-PPR points per game were 10th in the league. Collins could see more competition for targets from young wideouts
Jayden Higgins and
Jaylin Noel in 2026, but he should still be Stroud's unquestioned top target in the passing game.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 29, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals running back
Chase Brown has been a workhorse for the team the last two seasons, combining for 461 rushing attempts for 2,009 yards and 13 touchdowns while also catching 123 of his 153 targets for 797 yards and nine more trips to the end zone in 33 regular-season games. In a quick-strike offense led by quarterback
Joe Burrow and with one of the top receiver duos in the league in
Ja'Marr Chase and
Tee Higgins, it makes Brown extremely attractive in fantasy football. The 25-year-old produced his first 1,000-yard season in 2025, going for 1,019 yards and six TDs on a career-high 232 carries over 17 games to finish as a top-10 fantasy RB in half-PPR scoring. Brown has totaled 11 touchdowns (rushing and receiving) in each of the last two years. He'll be locked into the RB1 role again in Cincy in 2026 in the final year of his contract, giving him clear RB1 upside in fantasy football.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 29, 2026
MASN Sports' Roch Kubatko thinks that Baltimore Orioles catcher
Adley Rutschman could be used some at designated hitter while
Samuel Basallo catches. Basallo is one of the top catching prospects in all of baseball, so if he plays up to his potential, the O's will be forced to get creative to keep his bat in the lineup. Rutschman, a switch-hitting backstop, only played in 90 games in 2025 due to injuries to both of his obliques. The former first overall pick in 2019 out of Oregon State hit a disappointing .220/.307/.366 with nine home runs, 29 RBI, and 37 runs scored in his 322 at-bats. He also had a career-worst .673 OPS and 91 wRC+. When healthy, Rutschman will be an everyday player for Baltimore who has excellent plate discipline and rarely strikes out. However, his fantasy stock has plummeted going into 2026, especially with the team already heavily committed to Basallo after signing him to an extension last August. Rutschman is ranked as RotoBaller's No. 14 fantasy catcher.
--Keith HernandezSource: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
January 29, 2026
Buffalo Bills quarterback
Josh Allen (foot) was on crutches while wearing a walking boot on his right foot at a press conference on Thursday, according to Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News. Additional details on Allen's foot are scarce, but general manager Brandon Beane said that Allen "went and got his foot fixed." It appears that the former MVP had a procedure after the season on a foot injury that was bothering him late in the year. The 29-year-old never missed any games, though, and it shouldn't impact his availability for the start of the 2026 campaign. We'll have additional details on his foot when they become available. Allen should be present for organized team activities in the spring, too. In his eighth NFL season in 2025, Allen was the QB1 in fantasy after throwing for 3,668 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 picks in 17 regular-season starts. He set himself apart as a runner, adding 579 rushing yards and 14 more TDs. Despite his foot injury, Allen should be the first QB off the board in 2026 fantasy drafts this fall.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Buffalo News - Lance Lysowski
January 29, 2026
The Las Vegas Raiders plan to interview Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak over the weekend and then make a decision on their head-coaching vacancy, sources told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. "It's probably (Kubiak's) job to lose," one candidate predicted. Kubiak's interview with the Raiders will be his second with the organization. The Raiders cannot officially hire Kubiak until after Super Bowl LX is played on Sunday, Feb. 8. The Raiders are also looking at Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach/passing-game coordinator
Davis Webb and Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero for the head-coaching job, but Kubiak appears to be the clear front-runner. Under Kubiak in 2025, Seattle finished third in points per game (28.4) and eighth in total yards per game (351.4). If hired by the Raiders, Kubiak will likely be tasked with developing Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
January 29, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles running back
Saquon Barkley carried the Eagles to a Super Bowl championship and a lot of fantasy managers to a championship as well in 2024 in his first year with the team, when he ran for a league-high 2,005 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns on a whopping 345 rushing attempts in 16 regular-season games to win Offensive Player of the Year honors. The 28-year-old was a consensus top-three fantasy pick in drafts last fall, but he ended up being a bust (mainly because of Philly's lackluster offense) as the RB15 in half-PPR scoring with 1,140 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 280 carries in the regular season. Barkley added 37 receptions for 273 yards and two scores through the air. The three-time Pro Bowler will still be in the RB1 conversation in 2026 as a workhorse, but his ability to bounce back as a high-end fantasy RB will depend on whether the Eagles' offense can return to its 2024 form.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 29, 2026
Chicago Bears wide receiver
Rome Odunze was a popular preseason breakout candidate in fantasy football going into his sophomore campaign in 2025, mainly because of new head coach Ben Johnson. Fantasy managers who drafted Odunze were stoked early on, as he caught 20 of his 35 targets for 296 yards and five touchdowns in the first four weeks. That's where the good news last season ended, as the 23-year-old second-year pass-catcher only had one 100-yard game and scored just one more touchdown all year to finish with a 44-661-6 line in 12 games. Odunze missed the final five games of the regular season due to a stress fracture in his foot, and he caught four of his 12 targets for 88 yards in two postseason contests. It was a disappointing end to what could have been a second-year breakout. The good news is that he won't need surgery on his foot, and his chemistry with rising young quarterback
Caleb Williams is strong. There's still a lot of upside with Odunze, but the emergence of young receiver
Luther Burden III and tight end
Colston Loveland could cap his ceiling in the years to come.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 29, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder
Corbin Carroll had the best season of his young career in 2025, posting a personal-best 139 wRC+ and 6.5 fWAR while enjoying his first-ever 30/30 campaign (30 home runs and 30 stolen bases). He accomplished all of this despite playing in just 143 games, the lowest mark since his rookie season in 2022. He also continued to flash the leather in the outfield, where he posted a career-high 10 OAA and 7 FRV. Carroll's dominance at the plate and in right field should continue in 2026. He projects as the Diamondbacks' No. 3 hitter and should be one of the first 10 players selected in fantasy baseball drafts. As it stands, he currently ranks as the eighth-best player and fourth-best outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy rankings.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
January 29, 2026
New York Mets starting pitcher
Jonah Tong has decided that he will not play for Canada in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. While Tong expressed a desire to participate, he's ultimately opting out in order to get ready for the 2026 MLB season. The 22-year-old faced some adversity upon making his big-league debut last year, pitching to a 7.71 ERA and 4.31 FIP across five starts in Queens. His strikeout rate of 10.61 K/9 indicates impressive stuff, but there's still some concern about his control (4.34 BB/9) and ability to limit damage (1.45 HR/9). As a result, it was recently reported that Tong isn't a lock to make the Mets' Opening Day roster, with the idea that he could use a little more time in Triple-A. Before any transactional decisions are made, though, he'll have ample chances to compete for a roster spot by pitching in spring training, which begins in February. Tong currently ranks as the #88 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's 2026 fantasy baseball draft rankings.
--Andersen PickardSource: Shi Davidi
January 29, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher
Hunter Dobbins (knee) does not have a clear timetable for his return. President of baseball operations Chaim Bloom recently declined to comment on whether the right-hander will be ready to throw during spring training. He is certainly not a lock to be healthy in time for Opening Day, and as a result, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat projected Dobbins to open the season on the injured list. That would leave
Kyle Leahy in line to land the fifth rotation spot. Dobbins, who was acquired from Boston in exchange for
Willson Contreras during the offseason, tore his knee ligament last year. He made 13 appearances (11 starts) prior to his injury, posting a 3.87 FIP, 6.64 K/9, and 2.51 BB/9. He doesn't attack hitters with high velocity or generate exuberant amounts of whiff, but he does a good job limiting loud contact and inducing ground balls. Once healthy, he should be in the mix for an MLB rotation spot long-term.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jeff Jones
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