March 27, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman
Ryan O'Hearn made his team debut versus the New York Mets on Thursday. He came ready to swing the bat on Opening Day. O'Hearn went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored in the loss. He took right-hander
Tobias Myers deep in the sixth inning and singled in the ninth inning. The Pirates signed O'Hearn to a two-year, $29 million deal over the offseason. The first time All-Star slashed .281/.366/.437 with 17 home runs and 63 RBI across 144 games with the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres last season. The 32-year-old should get regular playing time in the middle of the order in Pittsburgh. He's someone worth monitoring in fantasy leagues, but is more of a deep league option at the moment.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
March 27, 2026
Washington Nationals starting pitcher
Cade Cavalli got the Opening Day nod versus the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. The right-hander didn't work deep into the game as he only threw 3.2 innings before getting pulled at 75 pitches. He allowed three runs (two earned), on three hits, with three walks, and five strikeouts in the no-decision. The former first-round pick registered a 4.25 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and a 40:15 K/BB ratio across 10 starts last season. Cavalli showed some promising signs here, but he will have a tough challenge against the Philadelphia Phillies during his next time out. Fantasy managers should keep their eye on Cavalli right now.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
March 27, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder
Alec Burleson came ready to hit during Thursday's Opening Day matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays. Burleson went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk during the 9-7 victory. The Cardinals moved on from multiple key hitters this offseason, which allowed for Burleson to move into the three-hole on Thursday. Given the results, Burleson figures to stick in the spot for now. The 27-year-old should offer good upside as the three-hole hitter, even in this lackluster Cardinals' lineup. Last season, Burleson slashed .290/.343/.459 with 18 home runs and 69 RBI in 139 games. There's enough upside with his bat to warrant rostering Burleson in most fantasy formats.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
March 27, 2026
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher
Jose Soriano was tough to hit during Thursday's Opening Day nod against the Houston Astros. Soriano threw six scoreless innings, allowing two hits, four walks, and striking out seven batters in the win. It was an impressive outing for Soriano, who allowed one hit through his first five innings of work. The lack of command is a concern going forward, but Soriano was able to work around the damage on Thursday. He did get 19 swings and misses on Thursday, which registered an elite CSW of 36 percent. The upside makes Soriano worth a look as a waiver wire pickup. His next outing will come on Tuesday versus the Chicago Cubs.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
March 27, 2026
Atlanta Braves right-handed pitching prospect
JR Ritchie should contend for an early MLB debut during the 2026 campaign. Ritchie was sharp in spring training, logging 12 innings to the tune of a 2.25 ERA, 0.58 WHIP, and a 14:5 K:BB. However, even with
Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow),
Spencer Strider (oblique), and
Hurston Waldrep (elbow) all beginning the season on the IL, the Braves opted to send Ritchie back to Triple-A for further development. Instead, fellow emerging arm
Didier Fuentes earned a spot on the Opening Day roster. However, given Atlanta's lack of pitching depth, Ritchie may get the call to the major leagues in the near future. Last summer, the former 35th overall selection made his Triple-A debut and logged 59 2/3 innings to the tune of a 3.02 ERA and a strong 1.09 WHIP. Managers should pay close attention to this early production at Triple-A, as he could earn the call in the coming weeks. For now, he is a viable stash option in deeper 12+ team leagues.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
March 27, 2026
Boston Red Sox left-handed pitching prospect
Payton Tolle is worth stashing ahead of his return to the major leagues. Tolle joined the Red Sox with the 50th selection in the 2024 MLB Draft and quickly progressed through the minor leagues last summer. He opened the 2025 campaign with High-A, but was able to debut in Boston late in the second half. Across 76 2/3 innings shared between High-A and Double-A, Tolle posted a strong 2.93 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, with a 116:21 K:BB. During a short 16 1/3-inning stint with Triple-A, Tolle struck out 17 hitters before joining the major league roster. However, Tolle would take a step back in his first taste of MLB action, posting a high 6.06 ERA over 16 1/3 innings of work. In camp, Tolle fell short of the final starting role and was optioned to Triple-A. Despite this, he may only need a short taste at the top level before returning to the majors. Given the high-end strikeout upside he flashed last summer, Tolle is a top early-season pitcher to stash in all 12+ team leagues.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
March 27, 2026
Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher
Cade Smith was tasked with shutting the door on Opening Day. Smith was called upon with a two-run lead in the ninth inning of Thursday's game versus the Seattle Mariners. He retired the side on 13 pitches while striking out one batter to earn his first save of the season. Smith took over the closer role last season following the departure of
Emmanuel Clase due to legal troubles. The right-hander recorded a career-high 16 saves during the 2025 campaign. He should easily surpass that number as the clear-cut favorite for saves in Cleveland.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
March 27, 2026
Chicago White Sox first baseman
Munetaka Murakami went 1-for-2 with a home run and two walks during his MLB debut on Thursday afternoon. The White Sox took a tough 14-2 loss to the reigning NL Central Champion Milwaukee Brewers, but Murakami was one of the few bright spots on the roster. The 26-year-old slugger would hit his first MLB long ball in the ninth frame. Murakami has spent his entire professional career overseas in the NPB before joining the White Sox this winter. Last season, Murakami hit .244 but continued to flash high-end power, launching 33 home runs and posting a .379 OPB. In 2022, Murakami enjoyed the best season of his professional career, launching 56 home runs with a .318/.458/.710 line. While his batting average may remain low, Murakami possesses high-end raw power and should contend for a 30-HR campaign with an everyday role in the Chicago starting nine.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 27, 2026
Seattle Mariners outfielder
Dominic Canzone came ready to play on Opening Day. He went 2-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs during Thursday's loss to the Cleveland Guardians. Canzone took right-hander
Tanner Bibee deep in the second inning and blasted a 444-foot homer off
Shawn Armstrong in the seventh inning. He started at designated hitter on Thursday, but Canzone figures to see playing time in the outfield as well. The 28-year-old slashed .300/.358/.481 with 11 home runs and 32 RBI across 82 games last season. His hot start to the season makes him worth snagging off waivers right now.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb
March 27, 2026
Cincinnati Reds first base prospect
Sal Stewart went 3-for-4 on Opening Day with two doubles. Despite facing Boston Red Sox ace
Garrett Crochet, Stewart filled the statsheet, hitting a double in his first at-bat against the Cy Young contender. Later in the contest, he would tally another hit off Crochet (a single) and would add his second double in the eighth inning. Stewart made his MLB debut late in the 2025 season and flashed high-end power during this short 18-game stint, hitting five round-trippers. During spring training, Stewart looked just as comfortable, carrying a .327/.450/.592 line with three home runs and four stolen bases over a 20-game sample. Fantasy managers should expect Stewart to remain a key part of the starting nine, seeing time at first, second, and third base. He remains a high-end corner infielder with five-category upside going forward.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 27, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher
Paul Skenes is arguably the best pitcher in baseball and has been a hot topic in trade rumors. The New York Yankees reportedly offered four prospects for Skenes during the offseason. It wasn't enough as the Pirates didn't even listen to the offer, according to Jon Heyman. The 23-year-old star pitcher isn't a free agent until 2030, so there's no urgency for the Pirates to move the right-hander. The organization made multiple moves this offseason to add offense in an attempt to build a better team around Skenes. It's not shocking that they weren't willing to trade him with the organization actively trying to be competitive right now. The Pirates didn't even entertain an offer of four prospects, so it's unclear what they'd even consider for Skenes.
--Andy WebbSource: Jon Heyman
March 27, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies outfield prospect
Justin Crawford went 2-for-4 in his MLB debut. The team's No. 1 outfield prospect knocked two singles and scored a run off an
Alec Bohm home run. Crawford broke camp as the team's starting center fielder and appears to be transitioning well to the major leagues. In camp, the former first-round selection held a .250/.291/.346 line with three stolen bases. Last summer, Crawford spent the entire campaign at Triple-A Lehigh Valley and performed at a high level, carrying a .334/.411/.452 line with 23 doubles, seven home runs, and 46 stolen bases. Fantasy managers should continue to view Crawford as a solid No. 4/No. 5 outfielder in standard category leagues, given his high-end contact skills and elite speed. He should remain penciled in as the team's center fielder for the foreseeable future.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 27, 2026
Cleveland Guardians top outfield prospect
Chase DeLauter went 3-for-5 with two home runs during his MLB debut on Thursday evening. DeLauter wasted little time making an impact as he hit a solo shot off Seattle ace
Logan Gilbert in the opening frame. Later in the ninth inning, DeLauter would hit his second long ball of the game (also a solo blast), this time off Seattle reliever
Cooper Criswell. DeLuater turned in a dominant showing in spring training, posting a .459/.535/.838 slash line with three home runs and a 4:6 K:BB, which earned him a starting role on the roster. Given his incredible regular-season debut, DeLauter should remain a staple in the Cleveland lineup for the foreseeable future. He is a top waiver-wire target heading into Week 2.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 27, 2026
Cleveland Guardians right-hander
Tanner Bibee (shoulder) left Thursday night's Opening Day start on the road against the Seattle Mariners with trainer Jeff Desjardins before throwing a pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning with right-shoulder inflammation, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. Before leaving, Bibee had allowed three earned runs on four hits (three solo homers allowed) while walking two and striking out seven in five innings of work. The 27-year-old could go for imaging on Friday to determine the severity of his shoulder injury. Expect the Guardians to proceed with caution with their star pitcher early in the season, which means fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if Bibee goes on the injured list. Bibee posted a 3.61 ERA (3.83 FIP), 1.17 WHIP, 23.8% strikeout rate, and a 7.0% walk rate in 498 innings over 87 starts in his first three years in Cleveland. He came into the 2026 season just inside RotoBaller's top-50 fantasy starting pitcher rankings. Bibee will need to be stashed in all fantasy formats if he ends up going on the injured list.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
March 26, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies left-hander
Cristopher Sanchez picked up where he left off in 2025 with six shutout innings, no walks, and 10 strikeouts on Thursday in the team's 5-3 Opening Day win over the visiting Texas Rangers at Citizens Bank Park. Sanchez was masterful and allowed only three hits (one extra-base hit) on the day. The Rangers did hit some balls hard, but they didn't have anything to show for it and were unable to draw a single base-on-balls in the contest. The 29-year-old Dominican lefty has emerged as one of the best arms in baseball in the last couple of seasons. Sanchez was a first-time All-Star in 2024 and then backed it up by finishing second in the National League Cy Young race last year with a 13-5 record, career-best 2.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and a 212:44 K:BB in 202 innings over 32 starts. Not only does Sanchez have plenty of strikeout upside, but he also rarely walks hitters, making him an elite No. 1 fantasy starter. You'll want him in all lineups when he faces the Nationals in his second start of the 2026 season next week.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
RADIO
