March 27, 2026
Across 151 2/3 innings (29 starts) in 2025, Texas Rangers starting pitcher
Jack Leiter pitched to a 10-10 record with a 3.86 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 148 strikeouts. While the former top prospect established himself as a back-end rotation piece in Texas, his season-long K-BB% of 12.5% does not jump off the page. However, Leiter finished the 2025 season significantly stronger than he started it. After the All-Star break, the 25-year-old pitched to a 3.28 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 79 strikeouts across 71 1/3 innings. Command remains a red flag in Leiter's profile, as he's recorded a walk rate below 10% just once across his four professional seasons. Still, if he can re-produce the 26.3% strikeout rate he recorded in the second half of 2025 over a full season in 2026, Leiter could easily emerge as a very valuable fantasy starting pitcher. Entering the year, Leiter profiles as a fantasy SP5 with upside.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 27, 2026
Across 166 1/3 innings (31 starts) for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2025, starting pitcher
Shane Baz recorded a 10-12 record with a 4.87 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 176 strikeouts. Baz was traded to the Baltimore Orioles over the offseason, and he's currently penciled into a mid-rotation role in Baltimore. While Baz's ERA and WHIP were both inflated in 2025, there's reason to believe he may have gotten a bit unlucky. He had the misfortune of pitching his home games in a minor league park last season, which helped contribute to his elevated 1.42 HR/9. Baz allowed 18 home runs across 82 1/3 innings at home, compared to just eight home runs in 84 innings on the road. If Baz can hold his 24.8% strikeout rate while doing a better job limiting the long ball, he could easily see his ERA regress closer to his 2025 xERA of 3.86. Baz also performed well in Spring Training for Baltimore, allowing just three earned runs and four walks while striking out 14 across 10 1/3 innings. He profiles as a fantasy SP4/5 with upside entering 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 27, 2026
After signing a two-year deal with the team over the offseason, Colorado Rockies utility man
Willi Castro is expected to serve as the team's primary third baseman to open 2026. Across 454 plate appearances split between the Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs in 2025, Castro hit .226/.316/.366 with 11 home runs, 33 RBI, 58 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. The 28-year-old's main appeal is his positional versatility, as he's logged significant time at every position on the diamond other than first base, catcher and pitcher. With a career 5.9% barrel rate and 33.2% hard-hit rate, Castro is unlikely to provide more than 10-15 homer power for fantasy managers. However, he's just two years removed from stealing 33 bases as a member of the Twins in 2023. If Castro can hold everyday playing time while playing his home games in the hitter-friendly environment of Coors Field, he could be a useful multi-positional eligible depth piece for fantasy managers in 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 27, 2026
The New York Yankees signed free-agent right-hander
Luis Garcia (elbow) to a two-year minor-league deal on Friday, a source told Jorge Castillo of ESPN. Garcia is currently rehabbing after having the second Tommy John surgery of his career last October. His base salary for the 2027 season would be $2.25 million with another $750,000 in possible performance bonuses. The 29-year-old Venezuelan hurler also missed all of the 2024 season due to injury. Garcia entered the league in 2020 with the Houston Astros and has gone 29-19 with a 3.60 ERA (3.82 FIP), 1.15 WHIP, 25.3% strikeout rate, and a 7.7% walk rate in 359 2/3 innings over 71 appearances (65 starts) in the majors in five seasons with the Astros. He only made two starts in 2025 before being shut down. The Yankees are hoping that Garcia can be an option for their starting rotation in 2027 after he recovers from right-elbow surgery.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jorge Castillo
March 27, 2026
The New York Daily News' Gary Phillips reports that New York Yankees pitching prospect
Carlos Lagrange is scheduled to make his debut at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday for the RailRiders. Lagrange, who is considered the team's No. 2 prospect by MLB Pipeline, was named the Yankees' most outstanding rookie during spring training. The 22-year-old right-hander struck out 17 batters while walking six in 16 1/3 innings pitched in five Grapefruit League appearances (two starts). The hard-throwing Dominican is one of the better pitching stashes in dynasty/keeper leagues. The 6-foot-7, 248-pounder had a 3.53 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 168 strikeouts and 62 walks in 120 innings over 24 outings (23 starts) with High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset in 2025. Lagrange had an impressive 31% strikeout rate but also a concerning 14.9% walk rate. If Lagrange cannot improve his control, he could be ticketed for a high-leverage bullpen role in the Bronx by the 2027 season.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
March 27, 2026
New York Yankees left-handed-hitting first baseman/catcher
Ben Rice will take a seat on Friday at Oracle Park against the San Francisco Giants with left-hander
Robbie Ray on the mound, according to MLB.com. Rice will give way to right-handed-hitting
Paul Goldschmidt, who is starting at first base and batting leadoff for the Yanks. Rice, who broke out in 2025 with 26 home runs and 65 RBI in 138 games played, is expected to play more against lefties in 2026, but he'll start on the bench in this one. In his young MLB career, Rice has a .683 OPS against left-handers as opposed to an .809 OPS versus righty pitchers. He went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in Wednesday night's Opening Day win over San Fran. Goldschmidt, a former National League MVP, has seen a decline in his production in recent years, but the 38-year-old veteran did have an impressive .981 OPS with seven of his 10 homers against southpaws last year. He's gone hitless in five career at-bats against Ray.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 27, 2026
San Francisco Giants first baseman
Rafael Devers (hamstring) is still feeling something in his left hamstring, which is why he's serving as the designated hitter again on Friday at Oracle Park against the visiting New York Yankees, according to John Shea of The San Francisco Standard. Manager Tony Vitello said that Devers could play first if necessary. "Still a little bit of a feeling in there," Vitello said. Devers is the DH and is batting third on Friday against Yankees right-hander
Cam Schlittler, while infielder
Casey Schmitt will make another start at first base and bat seventh for the Gigantes. The 29-year-old Devers dealt with a balky hammy in late February during spring training, but it's obviously not a very serious injury since he remains in the starting lineup. Devers went 1-for-4 in the 7-0 Opening Day loss to New York on Wednesday night. Fantasy managers will want to keep him in their lineups as the Giants try for their first win of the 2026 season.
--Keith HernandezSource: The San Francisco Standard - John Shea
March 27, 2026
Kansas City Royals left-handed-hitting outfielder/first baseman
Jac Caglianone will start on the bench for the team's Opening Day game on Friday against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park with left-hander
Chris Sale on the mound. The Royals aren't going to have Caglianone face one of the nastiest left-handers in the game to begin his first full season in the big leagues, especially after the left-handed power bat struggled mightily in his first taste of major-league pitching in 62 games in 2025. The former sixth overall pick in 2024 out of the University of Florida did hit seven games in 232 plate appearances, but he also struck out 52 times and hit just .157 (33-for-210). Things looked better in spring training, though, as Cags went 7-for-23 (.304) in a small sample size with a homer, four RBI, six walks, and seven strikeouts in 10 Cactus League games. He's expected to be on the strong side of a platoon against righties in right field for KC in 2026. Veteran
Starling Marte is in right on Friday and will hit sixth against Sale. Marte has hit .286 with a .572 in just seven career at-bats versus Sale.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 27, 2026
Outfielder
Jason Heyward officially announced his retirement from professional baseball on Friday on MLB Network. Heyward played 16 years in the major leagues with the Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, and Houston Astros. The 36-year-old helped the Chicago Cubs win the World Series in 2016 and was also named to an All-Star team with the Braves in his rookie season in 2010, when he hit .277/.393/.456 with an .849 OPS, 18 home runs, 72 RBI, 83 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases in 142 games. Heyward was perhaps most known for his glove in right field, winning five Gold Glove in his career. He hit a career-high 27 home runs and stole 21 bases in his third season with the Braves in 2012. Heyward finishes his successful career with a .255/.336/.408 slash line, 186 home runs, 730 RBI, and 125 stolen bases in 1,824 regular-season games. He played in 34 games for the Padres in his final MLB season in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB Network
March 27, 2026
Miami Marlins outfielder
Kyle Stowers (hamstring), who began the 2026 season on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 1 right-hamstring strain, threw, hit, and ran during a workout on Wednesday as he builds up his workload and intensity, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. The plan is for the Marlins to reassess Stowers in three to four weeks. He strained his hamstring earlier this spring and then left last Friday's split-squad game against the Houston Astros with tightness in the same hamstring. Stowers' 2025 breakout season also ended prematurely last August when he suffered a left-oblique strain, but he had already managed to hit 25 home runs and drive in 73 runs in 117 games to establish himself as one of the National League's top hitters. The Marlins signed veteran
Austin Slater to help give them additional outfield depth with Stowers out. Durability concerns are real for Stowers, but he is a must-stash in all fantasy formats as the Marlins hitter with the most upside in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
March 27, 2026
Chicago White Sox right-hander
Shane Smith got off to a bad start to the 2026 season on Opening Day on Thursday in a 14-2 loss to the hosting Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Smith only went 1 2/3 innings in his first start of the year and surrendered four runs (three earned) on three hits while walking two and striking out two. All of the damage against Smith came on a bases-clearing double from catcher
William Contreras in the second inning. It was the shortest outing of the 25-year-old's career, and he threw only 54 pitches. Smith was an All-Star in 2025 in his first year in the majors, going 7-8 with a 3.81 ERA (4.10 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 145 strikeouts and 58 walks in 146 1/3 innings over his 29 starts for Chicago. Smith's 23.9% strikeout rate was slightly above league average, but his 9.4% walk rate was well below average. If Smith continues to exhibit poor control, it could be a tough sophomore season, especially since he's unlikely to pick up many wins on what should be another bad White Sox team.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 27, 2026
Cleveland Guardians right-hander
Tanner Bibee's right-shoulder issue that forced him out of his Opening Day start early on Thursday night against the Seatle Mariners "doesn't appear serious at this point," according to Tom Withers of The Associated Press. The Guardians will re-evaluate Bibee on Friday, at which point we should have a better idea of whether he might land on the injured list. The Guardians took the cautious approach in Game 1 of the season, but it's possible that left-hander
Logan Allen could take Bibee's rotation spot if rest is required. The 27-year-old took a no-decision on Thursday before leaving with a trainer, allowing three solo home runs while walking two and striking out seven in his five innings of work to begin the 2026 campaign. Cleveland called Bibee's injury right-shoulder inflammation on Thursday night. At the very least, Bibee's next start will most likely be pushed back, but he could also go on the IL and miss at least 15 days.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Associated Press - Tom Withers
March 27, 2026
Chicago White Sox third baseman
Miguel Vargas went hitless during Thursday's Opening Day matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers. Vargas went 0-for-3 at the plate with a walk in the blowout loss. It wasn't an ideal start for Vargas, but that shouldn't stop fantasy managers from considering scooping him up. The 26-year-old was in the three-hole, which should help his fantasy value if he sticks in that spot going forward. He's coming off a productive season with the White Sox in 2025. He slashed .234/.316/.401 with 16 home runs and 60 RBI across 138 games. The expectation is that Vargas will get a chance to play full-time at third base in 2026. He doesn't hit for average, but has decent pop, can draw walks, and has some speed as well. Vargas does enough right on the field to warrant a look in deep leagues to start the season.
--Andy WebbSource: Baseball Reference
March 27, 2026
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher
Mick Abel is expected to make his season debut at some point during the upcoming series against the Kansas City Royals. Although fantasy managers might not want to wait until then to scoop up Abel. The young right-hander earned a spot in the starting rotation after an impressive performance during Spring Training. Abel posted a 2.00 ERA, 0.83 WHIP with 23 strikeouts in 18 innings of work. The former first-round pick was part of the trade that sent
Jhoan Duran to the Philadelphia Phillies mid-season last year. Abel struggled in four outings with the Twins last season, but appears to have turned a corner. The 24-year-old could be a consistent big league starter as long as he can keep his walk rate in check. He's worth a look in mixed leagues and could quickly become a popular waiver wire pickup.
--Andy WebbSource: Baseball Reference
March 27, 2026
New York Yankees outfielder
Giancarlo Stanton got the season started the right way during Wednesday's Opening Day matchup versus the San Francisco Giants. Stanton went 2-for-4 with two singles and an RBI in the 7-0 win over the Giants. It was a nice beginning to the season for the oft-injured slugger who is hopeful to stay healthy in 2026. Although it's worth noting that Stanton continues to deal with elbow issues that he'll need to manage throughout the season. Stanton already spends most of his time at designated hitter, which is a trend that should continue going forward. The 36-year-old should also get plenty of maintenance days to keep managing his lingering elbow problems. When healthy, Stanton is a dangerous bat who is a threat to go deep at any moment. He's an intriguing fantasy option, but not someone that must be rostered in all fantasy formats.
--Andy WebbSource: ESPN
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