2 weeks agoNew York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo is making his Grapefruit League debut on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays and right-hander Luis Patino. Nimmo is starting in center field and hitting in his usual leadoff spot in the batting order. The 29-year-old has been healthy this spring, but the Mets opted to hold him back to give him some extra rest this spring. Injuries have been an issue for Nimmo in the past, but he played in a career-high 151 games in 2022 and slashed .274/.367/.433 with an .800 OPS, 16 home runs, career-high 64 RBI, career-high 102 runs scored and three stolen bases in 673 plate appearances. Durability is an issue, but fantasy managers are getting a strong on-base guy and plenty of runs if they draft Nimmo.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

2 weeks agoThe Houston Astros sent right-hander Forrest Whitley to minor-league camp on Sunday. Now ranked as the team's No. 21 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, Whitley's prospect status has faded in recent years due to injuries, struggles in the minors and a suspension. The 25-year-old starter went 0-2 with a 6.53 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 45 strikeouts in 40 innings over 13 outings (11 starts) at three minor-league levels in 2022 while returning from Tommy John surgery. Control has been a big issue for him, but he'll have a good shot to make his major-league debut in 2023 if he stays healthy. He's still young and the upside is there, but those in mixed redraft leagues can ignore him for now.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart

2 weeks agoHouston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) threw 30 pitches off flat ground on Saturday for the first time since a bullpen session on Feb. 14. McCullers is dealing with a small muscle strain in his right forearm and will open the 2023 campaign on the injured list. The 29-year-old will now begin to build his arm back up, and if he doesn't suffer another setback, he could make his debut in the Astros' rotation around the end of April. Injuries continue to impede McCullers, but he has the stuff to be very useful for fantasy managers when he's healthy. He's worth a late-round flier in mixed leagues if you have room to stash him on the injured list for most of the first month of the season.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart

2 weeks agoHouston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) hit soft toss again on Sunday and felt good. Alvarez resumed swinging on Saturday and is expected to be ready for Opening Day, barring any setbacks with his sore left hand. It's been a little concerning for Alvarez, considering he dealt with soreness in both of his hands last year, too. It remains to be seen when he'll get into a Grapefruit League game, but for now, fantasy managers should still consider him in the first round of drafts as one of the best all-around hitters in the game.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart

2 weeks agoSeattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz (ankle) is likely within a week from making his Cactus League debut. He's tentatively scheduled to throw one more live batting practice before getting into a spring game. Munoz had surgery shortly after last seven to clean up a previously fractured ankle. The 24-year-old right-hander is throwing pain-free now and has added a two-seam fastball to his repertoire. It's still a work in progress, but it will give hitters something else to think about other than his four-seam fastball and slider. Munoz has time to get ready for Opening Day and could be even nastier as a setup man for Seattle. Even though he's not expected to open the year as the M's primary closer, Munoz has plenty of value for his strikeouts and holds.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: 710 AM Seattle Sports - Shannon Drayer

2 weeks agoSeattle Mariners right-hander Casey Sadler (shoulder) threw to live hitters for the first time in camp on Friday after coming off surgery. It was a big step, but Sadler still has a ways to go before he is pitching in big-league games. He wasn't throwing at full intensity and hitters were told to just track pitches and not swing. The 32-year-old reliever is currently on a team-record streak of 29 straight appearances without allowing a run. Sadler won't be rushed. He can start the season in the minors before working his way up to a potentially big part of Seattle's bullpen. Sadler didn't pitch at all in 2022 but had a 0.67 ERA in 40 1/3 inning of work in 2021. It remains to be seen when he'll be ready for the M's this year, but when he's back, he'll be an option in holds leagues.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: 710 AM Seattle Sports - Shannon Drayer

2 weeks agoNew York Yankees outfield prospect Jasson Dominguez is living up to all of the hype in spring training this year. Dominguez just turned 20 years old last month but hit his fourth Grapefruit League home run on Saturday. The switch-hitting center fielder has plenty of power, but he's maturing before the Yankees' eyes in camp. He's quickly becoming one of the highest-ceiling prospects in all of baseball with a five-tool pedigree. Dominguez is looking very comfortable in spring training, but even with Harrison Bader (oblique) likely to miss Opening Day, it's unlikely Dominguez starts the season in the big leagues. After all, he's played in only five Double-A games. He needs to be stashed in all dynasty leagues, and he'll be fantasy relevant in all single-year leagues whenever he makes his MLB debut.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman

2 weeks agoThe Minnesota Twins are non-committal regarding the Opening Day readiness of outfielder Alex Kirilloff (wrist), who is still "a little behind our schedule" in his progressions against live pitching, according to president of baseball operations Derek Falvey. Kirilloff's progression has depended on his tolerance on a daily basis this spring. The 25-year-old left-handed slugger is trying to return from wrist surgery last August, and it's looking more likely that he'll open the 2023 season on the injured list for the Twins. And when he is healthy, the former first-rounder could be limited to a part-time role in a corner outfield spot for Minnesota. Kirilloff has shown flashes of his upside, but he hasn't been able to stay healthy and has plenty to prove this year.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Do-Hyoung Park

2 weeks agoMilwaukee Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell (hamstring) is "doing good," according to manager Craig Counsell. The skipper also said that Mitchell would probably hit a little on Saturday and be back in the Cactus League lineup in around a week's time. Mitchell was removed from the game on Thursday with right hamstring tightness, but it doesn't appear that the injury will put him in danger of missing Opening Day later this month. The 24-year-old is being given every opportunity to be the team's regular center fielder in 2023 after the former first-rounder hit .311 with two home runs, nine RBI, nine runs scored and eight stolen bases in a small sample size of 28 games in his first taste of the big leagues last year. Mitchell is a very intriguing young player.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Manny Randhawa

2 weeks agoSan Francisco Giants right-hander Alex Cobb (knee) was diagnosed with a left knee contusion after he took a hard line drive off his knee in the team's Cactus League game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday. When he initially went down, he was in so much pain that he thought his season might be over. Luckily, tests came back negative and it's possible that he won't miss any spring starts. The 35-year-old dodged a bullet on Saturday and should be just fine for Opening Day. Cobb went 7-8 with a 3.73 ERA (2.80 FIP), 1.30 WHIP and 23.9 percent walk rate in 28 starts (149 2/3 innings) in his first year in the Bay Area in 2022. There are injury concerns, but he pitches in a great ballpark and has a secure spot in the rotation. Cobb is a decent end-game target as a streamer in deep mixed leagues.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic

2 weeks agoSan Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (toe) threw off a mound on Saturday just 12 days after fracturing his left big toe in a weight-room accident. Musgrove was looking good and appears to be ahead of schedule, but the Padres will still probably take it slow with him. The 30-year-old right-hander is targeting a season debut on April 6 against the Atlanta Braves, so Musgrove shouldn't miss much time early on in 2023. Musgrove has been strong for the Friars and fantasy managers the last two seasons and is looking to carry it into 2023. He's not a fantasy ace, but he's a solid SP2/3 target in fantasy drafts with one of the best lineups in baseball backing him in San Diego.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Kevin Acee

2 weeks agoTexas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (side) looked pretty loose on Saturday morning while throwing a bullpen session in camp. If he comes out of the session on Sunday feeling fine, deGrom could make his Cactus League debut as early as Monday. The 34-year-old right-hander experienced some left side tightness early in spring training and was shut down as a precaution, but he's looked good ever since he resumed throwing and will have time to be ready for Opening Day in his first year in Texas. The Rangers could take it easy on the two-time Cy Young winner out of the gates given his extensive recent injury history, but when he's healthy, there's no doubt that he still possesses ace potential for fantasy managers.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Levi Weaver

2 weeks agoToronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (knee) will run the bases on Sunday, according to manager John Schneider. Guerrero has been hitting and doing defensive drills recently, and all has been going well with his knee. The 23-year-old has been dealing with some minor knee inflammation, but the Blue Jays aren't taking any chances, and Guerrero also dropped out of the World Baseball Classic as a result. As long as he doesn't suffer another setback, he should be ready for Opening Day. If everything goes well with his running on Sunday, Guerrero should be back in the Grapefruit League lineup at some point next week. He is RotoBaller's top-ranked fantasy first baseman.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson

2 weeks agoNew York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that outfielder Harrison Bader (oblique) will be out around six weeks due to a left oblique strain. Bader will begin the 2023 regular season on the injured list and won't make his debut until late April or early May. With the 28-year-old sidelined, the Yankees could use either Aaron Judge or Aaron Hicks to patrol center field, with Oswaldo Cabrera and Estevan Florial benefitting from more playing time in left field as a result. A foot injury limited Bader to 86 games with the Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals last year, and it wasn't until the postseason with the Yanks that he really started to swing a hot bat. Injuries continue to be an issue for him, and it will knock down his fantasy value in upcoming drafts.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Newsday - Erik Boland

2 weeks agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes (hamstring) is scheduled to make his Spring Training debut on March 18 against the Baltimore Orioles. It's worth noting this is a tentative date, so it could change. The left-hander is scheduled to throw a live bullpen session on Monday. He was diagnosed with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain in mid-February. This caused him to miss the World Baseball Classic, but the hope is that Cortes will be ready in time for Opening Day. Fantasy managers will have to check back after his bullpen session on Monday.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Bryan Hoch