March 23, 2026
San Diego Padres right-hander
Nick Pivetta is scheduled to take the ball on Opening Day this Thursday at Petco Park against the visiting Detroit Tigers. He'll be opposed by reigning American League Cy Young winner
Tarik Skubal. Pivetta earned the Opening Day nod after having a career-best season last year in his first year in San Diego. The nine-year veteran went 13-5 with a 2.87 ERA (3.49 FIP) and 0.98 WHIP with 190 strikeouts and 50 walks in 181 2/3 innings over 31 regular-season starts. He definitely didn't look as good this spring, allowing 12 runs (11 earned) on 19 hits (four homers) while walking six and striking out nine in 12 innings over four Cactus League starts. Pivetta reportedly dealt with some arm fatigue this spring, but he should be fine for close to a full workload on Thursday. Against a strong Tigers offense on Opening Day after struggling this spring, DFS managers will probably be scared off Pivetta as a starter on Thursday.
--Keith HernandezSource: San Diego Padres
March 23, 2026
Houston Astros shortstop
Jeremy Pena (finger) traveled with the Astros back to Houston, where he is currently taking batting practice at Daikin Park, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The Astros have not ruled Pena out for Opening Day. The 28-year-old took swings over the weekend in camp and apparently didn't suffer any setbacks after fracturing the tip of his right ring finger during an exhibition game for the Dominican Republic before the World Baseball Classic. Pena is recovering nicely, but if he isn't cleared to face live pitching before Thursday, there's a good chance he won't be in the Opening Day lineup against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels. It's still possible he begins the 2026 campaign on the injured list. Pena's injury shouldn't negatively affect his fantasy value too much to begin the year. As a low-end starting shortstop in fantasy, Pena has 30-30 potential if all the pieces fall in the right place this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
March 23, 2026
The Milwaukee Brewers announced on Monday that right-hander
Brandon Woodruff (lat) will make his 2026 season debut on Tuesday, March 31, against the Tampa Bay Rays, according to Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Woodruff got a late start to the 2025 season while recovering from right-shoulder surgery, and then he injured his lat late in the year. It's why the Brew Crew played it safe with the 33-year-old veteran this spring. The good news for fantasy managers who are rolling the dice on Woodruff this year, though, is that he will avoid opening the regular season on the injured list. In just five Cactus League innings in spring training, Woodruff allowed three earned runs while walking two and striking out seven in two starts. DFS managers will probably want to avoid Woodruff early on because of his workload restrictions, but once he's fully stretched out, he can be a high-upside fantasy starter in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
March 23, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander
Zack Wheeler (shoulder) has done so well in his rehab this spring that he will officially begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Saturday and throw three innings at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Wheeler got the green light to start a rehab assignment this weekend after feeling good during a 29-pitch simulated game in camp on Monday. The 35-year-old veteran had surgery for venous thoracic outlet syndrome on Sept. 23, but he has looked great while ramping up this spring, and the Phillies are optimistic that he will be able to make his 2026 debut before the end of April. The Phillies already announced that Wheeler will start the season on the 15-day injured list. Although Wheeler is more of a risk in fantasy baseball drafts this spring, his ADP continues to rise with all of the reports on his rehab being excellent. RotoBaller has him currently ranked as the No. 26 fantasy starting pitcher.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Gelb
March 23, 2026
New York Mets outfield prospect
Carson Benge has officially made the team's Opening Day roster, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. It was pretty much a done deal once it was announced over the weekend that
Mike Tauchman needed knee surgery. The 23-year-old could split playing time against left-handers to
Tyrone Taylor in right field, but he figures to be on the strong side of a platoon to begin the 2026 campaign. Benge just looked like he belonged in spring training, hitting .366/.435/.439 with nine strikeouts and four walks in 46 Grapefruit League plate appearances. His fantasy ADP continues to rise now that it's official he'll be in the big leagues to begin the year. The former 19th overall pick and two-way player finished in a rough patch at Triple-A Syracuse last year, but overall he slashed .281/.358/.472 with 15 home runs and 22 stolen bases in 116 games over three minor-league stops in 2025.It's not often a young player is named a starter on Opening Day as he makes his MLB debut.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Mike Puma
March 23, 2026
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on Monday that outfielder
Seiya Suzuki (knee) will start the season on the injured list, according to Marquee Sports Network. We already knew that Suzuki wouldn't be ready for Opening Day this week after suffering a sprained PCL in his right knee while playing for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic. The good news for fantasy managers is that the 31-year-old veteran isn't expected to be out long term, and he should make his 2026 season debut at some point in May. With Suzuki out to start the year, fantasy managers should expect some sort of platoon in right field between
Michael Conforto and
Matt Shaw. Suzuki becomes slightly more risky for those who have yet to draft before Opening Day this week. If his knee injury lingers, he could lose plenty of power at the plate after setting career-highs in homers (32) and RBI (103) in 151 regular-season games for the Cubs in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: Marquee Sports Network
March 23, 2026
When asked who might be the Los Angeles Angels' primary closer this year, The Orange County Register's Jeff Fletcher said, "probably" right-hander
Kirby Yates.
Drew Pomeranz and
Jordan Romano are other options for saves in Anaheim to begin the 2026 season, but Yates feels like the favorite going into this week, with both
Ben Joyce (shoulder) and
Robert Stephenson (shoulder) sidelined by injuries. The 38-year-old veteran had a rough season with the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, posting a 5.23 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 41 1/3 innings, but he had 33 saves as a second-time All-Star in 2024 as a member of the Texas Rangers. Yates also led the league with a career-high 41 saves back in 2019 with the San Diego Padres. Yates' fantasy appeal is rising for managers that need help with saves, but he will be on a short leash with the Angels in the closer's role, and he could quickly shift to a late-inning setup role once Joyce and Stephenson get healthy.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Orange County Register - Jeff Fletcher
March 23, 2026
Jose Negron of DK Pittsburgh Sports reports that the Pittsburgh Pirates aren't expected to have a designated closer going into the 2026 regular season. Manager
Don Kelly said that right-hander
Dennis Santana will get a lot of time in the ninth inning, but "he won't be the only one." "
Gregory Soto has closed, we've got guys on the back end that can handle it with the stuff they have," Kelly said. Santana is still probably the best fantasy bet for saves in the Steel City, but Soto and
Isaac Mattson could also see opportunities, especially if Santana hits a rough patch at any point. The 29-year-old Dominican had a strong 2.18 ERA (3.21 FIP), 0.87 WHIP, a career-high 16 saves, 60 strikeouts, and 17 walks in 70 1/3 innings in a career year with the Bucs in 2025. Santana saw 10 of the team's final 12 save chances last year after they traded away
David Bednar. This news further cements the fact that Santana remains a risky fantasy closer despite the fact that he's the favorite for saves to begin the year.
--Keith HernandezSource: DK Pittsburgh Sports - Jose Negron
March 23, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander
Zack Wheeler (shoulder) threw 29 pitches in two innings on a back field in camp on Monday in a simulated game against low-level minor-league hitters with no outfielders and the catcher calling balls and strikes, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Wheeler "let it rip in the second inning" and was happy with the results. He will be with the team in Philadelphia on Opening Day this week and remains on schedule to come off the injured list to make his 2026 debut at some point in April. Wheeler had surgery last September to fix venous thoracic outlet syndrome, which is why he did not pitch at all during spring training this year. His fantasy ADP has continued to rise this spring with positive reports continuing to come in during his rehab. The 35-year-old veteran is a three-time All-Star and has been a fantasy ace for most of his six seasons in Philly. Wheeler is more of a risk in 2026 coming off a unique injury, but the upside is tantalizing if he can return to his pre-injury form.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Gelb
March 23, 2026
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the team is likely to begin the 2026 campaign with a four-man starting rotation, and right-hander
Luis Gil will not be one of the four, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
Max Fried,
Cam Schlittler,
Will Warren, and
Ryan Weathers will be the Yankees' four starters in the rotation to begin the year. Gil will remain behind in Tampa to throw live batting practice on Wednesday, according to pitching coach Matt Blake. New York is considering optioning Gil to the minors to begin the year, but if they don't, Blake said he'd be comfortable using Gil in a piggyback role. The 27-year-old Dominican had a 4.66 ERA with six homers allowed, five walks, and 24 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings pitched in six Grapefruit League starts. It's unclear if Gil will be summoned to start when the Yankees finally need a fifth starter on April 11 against the Rays. Gil was the American League Rookie of the Year in 2024, but he only made 11 starts in 2025 due to injury and was much less dominant on the mound.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
March 23, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals right-hander
Kyle Leahy will open the 2026 regular season in the team's starting rotation, according to Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He'll be joined in the rotation by
Matthew Liberatore,
Michael McGreevy,
Dustin May, and
Andre Pallante. Leahy's first start of the year won't be an easy matchup for fantasy purposes, as he'll face the New York Mets at home on March 30. The 28-year-old former 17th-rounder in 2018 out of Colorado Mesa University has made just one career start (last year) in 98 career appearances since breaking into the league in 2023 in St. Louis, so fantasy managers should expect workload restrictions after he threw 88 innings in the majors in 2025. Leahy had a lackluster 4.58 ERA in Grapefruit League play in 17 2/3 innings pitched, but he did strike out 20 and walk five. The last time Leahy was a full-time starter was in 2022 at Double-A, when he held a 5.23 ERA.
--Keith HernandezSource: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Daniel Guerrero
March 23, 2026
Atlanta Braves left-hander
Jose Suarez is likely to open 2026 as the team's fifth starter with starting pitcher
Spencer Strider (oblique) set to begin the year on the Injured List, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Bowman reports that Atlanta's plan for young right-hander
Didier Fuentes is still for him to open the year in the bullpen, with veteran lefty
Martin Perez the main competition for Suarez at the back end of the rotation. Suarez has made 62 starts over the course of his seven-year MLB career but has worked mostly as a reliever over the past two seasons. Across 19 1/3 innings (seven games) for Atlanta in 2025, the 28-year-old pitched to a 1.86 ERA and 1.29 WHIP but struck out just 16 while allowing 10 walks. With Strider,
Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow),
Hurston Waldrep (elbow),
AJ Smith-Shawver (elbow), and
Joey Wentz (knee) all on the Injured List, the Braves are digging deep into their pitching depth to begin 2026. Suarez could hold some fantasy appeal in deep leagues, but his lack of a proven track record as an MLB starter is a concern.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
March 23, 2026
Cincinnati Reds corner infield prospect
Sal Stewart could be one of the few young players whom veteran Reds manager Terry Francona entrusts to regularly bat in the cleanup spot, speculates Reds beat writer Charlie Goldsmith. The 22-year-old Stewart made his MLB debut in 2025, hitting .253/.295/.543 with five home runs in just 58 plate appearances. It appears the team is planning for him to play a prominent role in 2026, and he turned heads by hitting .333 with three home runs and four stolen bases across 54 Cactus League plate appearances this spring. Stewart seems likely to open the year as Cincinnati's starting first baseman, although he could also rotate through designated hitter with Reds veterans
Eugenio Suarez and
Spencer Steer. If Stewart can stick in the middle of the Cincinnati lineup, he could provide positive value across all five categories for fantasy managers in 2026.
--Will BradySource: Charlie Goldsmith
March 23, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers shortstop prospect
Jesus Made is set to open the 2026 season at Double-A Biloxi, per Francys Romero of Beisbol FR. The 18-year-old Made is widely considered one of the very best prospects in all of baseball. He made it to Double-A in 2025 after starting the year in Single-A, but logged just 24 plate appearances with Biloxi and will return to the level to open 2026. Across 525 plate appearances split between three levels in 2025, Made slashed .285/.379/.413 with six home runs, 61 RBI, 81 runs scored, and 47 stolen bases. If he tears the cover off the ball in the minors early in 2026, there is an outside shot Made could earn a late-season promotion to the big leagues. More likely, he will be in the mix for a role in Milwaukee in 2027 as he hits his age-20 season and has a bit more time to develop his ability to hit for power.
--Will BradySource: Beisbol FR - Francys Romero
March 23, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect
Andrew Painter has made the team's starting rotation to open 2026. Once considered one of the very best prospects in all of baseball, Painter posted a ridiculous 38.7% strikeout rate across 103 2/3 minor league innings as a 19-year-old in 2022. However, he missed the entirety of both 2023 and 2024 due to Tommy John surgery. Painter struggled upon his return to the mound in 2025, recording a 5.26 ERA and 1.55 WHIP with 111 strikeouts across 106 2/3 innings at Triple-A. The soon-to-be 23-year-old logged a 2.31 ERA and 0.77 WHIP across 11 2/3 innings this spring, but he also recorded just eight strikeouts. Still, Painter's performance was enough for him to win a role with the big-league club to open 2026. Phillies' ace
Zack Wheeler (shoulder) could return to the team's rotation as soon as late April, which could mean Painter's MLB time is limited. On the other hand, Painter may simply need to out-pitch Phillies veteran right-hander
Taijuan Walker, who owns a 4.88 ERA and 1.43 WHIP across 480 innings over the last three seasons for Philadelphia.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
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