7 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals outfielder Tyler O'Neill (illness) was back with his teammates on Tuesday after getting over a stomach virus, and he was able to take batting practice and shag fly balls. O'Neill hasn't playing since returning from the World Baseball Classic but hopes to play in a Grapefruit League game on Wednesday, according to manager Oliver Marmol. The 27-year-old is battling for the center field job this spring, but no matter how things shake out, he should be in St. Louis' lineup every day. He played in just 96 games in 2022 due to injury and hit just .228 with 14 home runs, 58 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 383 plate appearances. O'Neill is a nice bounce-back target as a No. 2 fantasy outfielder because of his power/speed profile.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - John Denton

7 hours agoLos Angeles Angels right-hander Shohei Ohtani is available to pitch one inning of relief for Team Japan on Tuesday night against Team USA in the World Baseball Classic final, according to Angels manager Phil Nevin. If Ohtani pitches on Tuesday evening, it won't affect his availability to make the team's Opening Day start on March 30 on the road against the Oakland Athletics. There's also a chance that San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish throws a couple innings in relief against Team USA. The 28-year-old Ohtani has proven that he can do anything on a baseball diamond, but he's arguably more dominant on the mound for the Angels and fantasy managers as an elite fantasy ace.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Rhett Bollinger

8 hours agoMinnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (knee) is making his Grapefruit League debut on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays and left-hander Josh Fleming. Buxton is serving as the designated hitter and is batting leadoff for the Twins. While this will be Buxton's first Grapefruit League game, he has already picked up a good amount of at-bats in minor-league games on the back fields and is expected to be ready to roll on Opening Day as Minnesota's starting center fielder and leadoff man. It's unclear when the 29-year-old will make his center field debut, and he's also expected to see more time at DH early in the season. Buxton is an excellent power/speed option for fantasy managers, but he's also one of the biggest injury risks in baseball.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

8 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (hand) is back in the team's Cactus League lineup on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels and left-hander Tyler Anderson. Moreno is behind the plate and is batting ninth in the lineup. The 23-year-old backstop will return to the spring lineup after being hit by a pitch in the hand on Saturday. He is completely fine and won't be in danger of missing Opening Day later this month. Even with Carson Kelly still around in Arizona, Moreno could force his way into significant playing time in his first year in the desert after being acquired in an offseason trade from the Toronto Blue Jays. He looked good in a small sample size in his MLB debut in 2022 and will be attractive in two-catcher formats.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

8 hours agoLos Angeles Angels corner infielder Brandon Drury (calf) is back in the team's Cactus League lineup on Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander Zach Davies. Drury is starting at first base and is hitting second in the batting order. It's his first spring game since injuring his calf while fouling a ball off his leg last Friday. The 30-year-old will be ready for Opening Day in his first year with the Halos. He hit a combined .263/.320/.492 with a career-high .813 OPS, career-high 28 home runs, 87 RBI and 87 runs scored in 568 plate appearances and 138 games with the Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres in 2022. It's tough to envision Drury being more valuable in mixed leagues than he was last year, especially with playing time a concern in LA.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

10 hours agoDetroit Tigers right-hander Michael Lorenzen (groin), who was scratched from his Grapefruit League start on Monday, is dealing with a mild left groin strain. He will progress to baseball activities in camp as his symptoms allow, but it doesn't sound like Lorenzen will need to begin the 2023 regular season on the injured list. The 31-year-old comes to Detroit after going 8-6 with a 4.24 ERA (4.31 FIP), 1.28 WHIP and 20.7 percent strikeout rate in 97 2/3 innings over 18 starts in his lone season with the Los Angeles Angels in 2022. The converted reliever has durability concerns and not much fantasy upside at all as a starter, although he has moved to a pitcher-friendly division in the American League Central.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Jason Beck

10 hours agoPhiladelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper (elbow) will not open the 2023 regular season on the 60-day injured list, according to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. The Phillies can put Harper on the 60-day IL at any time, if needed, retroactive to Opening Day. It doesn't mean that he'll be back earlier than anticipated around midseason, but it keeps the Phillies' options open. The 30-year-old former MVP is recovering from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and isn't expected to make his 2023 debut until near the end of the first half of the season, and he's unsure if he'll even play the outfield at all this year. Harper is still worth stashing in all fantasy leagues, and managers will be hoping he can pick up right where he left off last postseason at the plate.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Todd Zolecki

10 hours agoWith New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz (knee) likely to miss all of the 2023 season, reliever David Robertson will likely serve as the fill-in closer this year. It's also possible that the Mets look to trade for another closer-worthy reliever, but big trades are rare this time of year and the Mets guard their prospects like gold -- they do not want to trade Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty or Ronny Mauricio. The New York Post's Jon Heyman thinks a trade for Diaz's brother, Cincinnati Reds reliever Alexis Diaz makes a lot of sense. The Mets' current plan seems to be to hope that Robertson, who has 157 career saves, can step up and be the guy. Left-hander Brooks Raley could be another option, but for those looking for saves in fantasy drafts, Robertson is your best bet.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman

10 hours agoHouston Astros manager Dusty Baker all but confirmed on Tuesday that outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) will start the 2023 season on the injured list. Brantley had surgery on his right shoulder last August and has been taking it slow during spring training. He also missed some valuable time in camp while he was away from the team tending to a personal matter. There is no timetable for when the 35-year-old will make his season debut, which hurts his already low fantasy value heading into 2023. Brantley makes a lot of contact, doesn't strike out much and can contribute a valuable batting average, but he does little else for fantasy managers. And on top of it, he's now an injury risk at his age.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Houston Chronicle - Chandler Rome

10 hours agoHouston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut on Thursday, according to manager Dusty Baker. Alvarez has yet to play in a spring game while battling through left hand soreness in camp, but he's ready to go now and should be ready for Opening Day, barring a setback once he gets into a game setting. The 25-year-old left-handed slugger is one of the most dangerous hitters in the league when he's healthy, but fantasy managers have to be a bit more skeptical about taking him in the top 10 in the first round of drafts after he dealt with soreness in both of his hands last year as well. If he looks like his normal self this weekend in Grapefruit League games, it would ease a lot of concerns.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Houston Chronicle - Chandler Rome

10 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly has been confirmed as the starter for Team USA against Team Japan on Tuesday night in the World Baseball Classic final. Kelly's last outing in the WBC came last Wednesday against Team Colombia, when he allowed two runs in three innings of work. The 34-year-old right-hander will draw another tough matchup in the first ever meeting between these two teams in a WBC final. Kelly keeps hitters guessing with four different pitches and relies on weak contact, as he's not a big strikeout guy on the mound. He also relies on command, so he'll need to be spot-on to have success against a tough Japanese lineup on Tuesday night.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB Network - Jon Morosi

11 hours agoSan Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish, who was originally scheduled to start against Team USA in Tuesday night's World Baseball Classic championship game, will no longer get the nod. Instead, it will be left-hander Shoto Imanaga toeing the rubber for Japan. Even though Darvish won't get the start, he could be available for an inning out of the bullpen, as well as Shohei Ohtani. Darvish's lack of innings during the WBC has been an area of concern for the Padres, which means he could be on a strict innings/pitch limit early in the 2023 regular season for the Friars. The 36-year-old had one of the best seasons of his career in 2022 in SD and should enter drafts this spring as a strong No. 2 target on the mound.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball America - Kyle Glaser

11 hours agoBoston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas (finger) was scratched from Tuesday's Grapefruit League game with left fifth finger pain and is considered day-to-day. The injury isn't too serious, and the Red Sox expect Casas to return to spring action in a day or two. Fantasy managers won't need to worry about the 23-year-old not being ready for Opening Day at the end of March. The young first baseman is having a great spring, hitting .341 (14-for-41) with three doubles, two home runs, seven RBI and nine runs scored in 15 Grapefruit League games. Casas will be Boston's primary first baseman in 2023, and the 6-foot-4, 252-pounder and has huge raw power, which will play well at Fenway Park.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Jen McCaffrey

22 hours agoCincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo turned in another strong spring performance in Monday's 10-0 Cactus League win over the Angels. The 25-year-old lefty tossed 6 innings, allowing three hits and three walks with eight strikeouts. Lodolo has garnered a good deal of fantasy hype and had an encouraging rookie season, going 4-7 with a 3.66 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 29.7% strikeout rate in 19 starts. He has followed that up with a great spring, posting a 1.93 ERA through four starts. Fantasy managers are banking on Lodolo to be a higher-end fantasy option this season, with an average draft position of 135.--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

22 hours agoColorado Rockies manager Bud Black said Monday that he is not concerned about closer Daniel Bard's struggles throughout the World Baseball Classic. The 37-year-old has a massive 43.20 ERA over three games with Team USA; however, Black is not concerned that Bard may be experiencing the yips as he has previously in his career. Bard was a solid fantasy closer in 2022, earning 34 saves with a 1.79 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 28.2% strikeout rate. It is worth noting that Bard did not pitch from 2014-2019 due to struggles with throwing and pitches his home games in Coors Field, which may be of some concern to fantasy managers. Despite this, he appears to have solid job security entering the season and does possess strikeout upside, making him a worthwhile mid-tier closer option to start the season.--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Kyle Newman - Denver Post