March 16, 2026
Seattle Mariners outfielder
Julio Rodriguez had fantasy managers a bit nervous early in 2025, as he was hitting .207 with four home runs at the end of April. However, the 25-year-old returned to his elite form the rest of the way, finishing the year with a slash line of .267/.324/.474 with 32 home runs, 95 RBI, 106 runs scored, and 30 stolen bases across 710 plate appearances. Rodriguez's barrel rate dipped below 10% for the first time in his career in 2025, but he also improved his strikeout rate to a career-best 21.4%. If he can merge the best aspects of his power and contact approaches in 2026, Rodriguez could take his game even higher. Even if he simply repeats his established norms, Rodriguez is a true five-category fantasy contributor who should continue to be a max-playing time outfielder as he enters the prime years of his career. Rodriguez is worthy of a first-round selection in fantasy drafts heading into 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 16, 2026
After recording three consecutive 30-homer, 90-RBI campaigns from 2021 through 2023, Atlanta Braves third baseman
Austin Riley looked to have established himself as one of the best right-handed hitters in baseball. However, the 28-year-old has battled injuries and underperformance in each of the last two seasons, bringing some question marks to his fantasy profile. Core muscle issues limited Riley to just 447 plate appearances in 2025, across which he slashed .260/.309/.428 with 16 home runs, 54 RBI, 54 runs scored, and two stolen bases. His strikeout rate jumped to 28.6%, his worst mark since his rookie season in 2019. Still, Riley posted an elite 15.2% barrel rate and 50.2% hard-hit rate in 2025, and he is entering 2026 fully healthy. If he can kick the injury bug, Riley may return to the ranks of elite fantasy third basemen.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 16, 2026
Across 59 innings with the Los Angeles Angels in 2025, veteran relief pitcher
Kenley Jansen recorded a 5-4 record with a 2.59 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 57 strikeouts, and 29 saves. The 38-year-old landed a one-year deal with the Detroit Tigers this past winter, and looks like the favorite to open the year as the team's primary closer. While Jansen's top-line numbers remained strong in 2025, his strikeout rate dipped to a career-worst 24.4%, and he benefited from an 85.2% strand rate, well above his career average of 79.9%. In Detroit, he lands with an organization that has typically preferred to spread saves around to multiple players. Should Jansen falter, the Tigers also have a quality ninth-inning option waiting in the wings in
Will Vest, who recorded 23 saves last season. Jansen's proven track record as one of the best closers of the 21st century should give him the leg up to begin the year, but he may have a short leash if his shaky underlying metrics from 2025 start to show up in his overall results in 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 16, 2026
Boston Red Sox closer
Aroldis Chapman was utterly dominant in 2025, recording five wins, 32 saves, and 85 strikeouts across 61 1/3 innings while pitching to a 1.17 ERA and a 0.70 WHIP. Chapman has always been an excellent source of strikeouts, and he delivered with a 37.3% strikeout rate last year. The more surprising aspect of his profile was his massively improved command. After posting four consecutive seasons with a walk rate of at least 14.5%, the 38-year-old slashed his walk rate to 6.6% in 2025, by far the best mark of his 16-season MLB career. It seems likely that Chapman's walk rate will regress towards his career norm to some degree in 2026. Still, he can remain an elite fantasy closer even if he allows free passes to somewhere around 10% of the batters he faces. Barring a complete collapse in his skills in his age-38 season, Chapman should have a chance to provide high-end fantasy production for the second straight year.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 16, 2026
New York Yankees first baseman/catcher
Ben Rice had a breakout season in 2025, slashing .255/.337/.499 with 26 home runs, 65 RBI, 74 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 530 plate appearances. The 27-year-old's underlying metrics fully supported his emergence, as he posted excellent barrel (15.4%) and hard-hit rates (55.8%). Rice is expected to be the Yankees' primary first baseman in 2026. Additionally,
Rice also started 36 games behind the plate for the Yankees in 2025, giving him catcher eligibility across all fantasy formats in 2026 and massively boosting his value. However, New York also re-signed veteran first baseman
Paul Goldschmidt over the offseason, which could eat into Rice's playing time against left-handed pitching. Rice posted a respectable .752 OPS against lefties in 2025, but Goldschmidt mashed southpaws to a .981 OPS. If Rice ends up sitting against left-handed starters, he may not end up logging enough playing time to fully justify his rising cost in drafts.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 16, 2026
Boston Red Sox outfielder
Roman Anthony already looks like a potential superstar. Through a limited sample of MLB action (plus plenty of minor league data and even some World Baseball Classic experience), Anthony has quickly shown that he can be an elite hitter at the plate with an everyday role in the Red Sox' lineup. The former second-round pick made his MLB debut last summer and played 71 games in the majors for Boston. He wasted no time making an impact, slashing .292/.396/.463 with eight home runs, a 13.2% walk rate, a 27.7% strikeout rate, and 140 wRC+. While his strikeout rate was a bit high, we're not too concerned, especially since the ball-in-play metrics are terrific and he was just a rookie last year. Anthony has continued to show signs of major upside this spring, going 7-for-22 with two homers, four walks, and five strikeouts in a prominent role for the United States in the World Baseball Classic. The 2026 ZiPS projections have Anthony listed at 18 home runs and 125 wRC+, but given how last year and this spring have gone, we'd be willing to bet on even greater production from the 21-year-old. He ranks as the #15 outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
March 16, 2026
Baltimore Orioles reliever
Ryan Helsley is looking for a bounce-back campaign after posting disappointing results in 2025. Splitting time with the Cardinals and Mets last year, Helsley posted a 4.14 FIP with 10.13 K/9 and 4.02 BB/9 across 56 innings. While these weren't terrible numbers, it was still a subpar year relative to Helsley's standards, as he posted his worst FIP since 2020. The 31-year-old right-hander will look to get back on track as he plays for his third different team in less than 12 months. The Orioles gave him a two-year, $28 million contract that pencils him into the closer role. It's a familiar role for Helsley, who had 70 saves between 2024 and 2025, and it could result in him offering significant fantasy value on a potential contender this year. He currently ranks #9 among relief pitchers in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
March 16, 2026
Minnesota Twins outfielder
Trevor Larnach (side) was scratched from the lineup with left side soreness prior to Sunday's spring training game, according to
Nick Nelson of Twins Daily. Manager David Shelton said the injury isn't currently serious enough to require imaging, but we wouldn't be surprised to see the organization exercise caution and keep him out of game action for a couple of days. Larnach stepped into an everyday role last year, slashing .250/.323/.404 across 142 games. He launched a career-high 17 home runs while posting a modest 9.3% walk rate and 21.5% strikeout rate. We expect Larnach to split time at designated hitter and the corner outfield spots in 2026, and he'll likely bat in the back half of the order.
--Andersen PickardSource: Nick Nelson
March 16, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Gavin Stone (shoulder) will begin playing catch next week, and he hopes to resume pitching from a mound within the next month, according to David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports. Stone has been shut down from throwing ever since he experienced a setback in his recovery earlier in spring training. The 27-year-old had been working his way back from a shoulder surgery that caused him to miss the entire 2025 season. While the setback took him out of the mix for an Opening Day roster spot, fans and fantasy managers should still be encouraged that Stone is recovering from the setback and continuing to make progress. The Dodgers would love to see him get back to his 2024 form, which included 25 starts, a 3.97 xERA, 7.44 K/9, and 2.37 BB/9.
--Andersen PickardSource: David Vassegh
March 16, 2026
Boston Red Sox infielder
Marcelo Mayer (knee) is "fine" and should return to the lineup on Tuesday, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. Manager Alex Cora told McCaffrey that Mayer had left knee soreness start to bother him prior to first pitch on Sunday, so the team scratched him from the lineup. He'll remain out of the lineup on Monday before getting back into his regular routine as a starter on Tuesday. All in all, this is very good news, especially given Mayer's injury history. He has already had four significant injured list stints in the last three years, including a months-long absence that sidelined him from July 2025 through the end of the regular season. Now, to further complicate the situation, he's also on the edge of the roster bubble, and it remains unclear if he'll open the 2026 season at Triple-A or the majors. Boston has locked in
Caleb Durbin as its starting third baseman, but second base remains an area of mystery, with Mayer and
Isiah Kiner-Falefa the top names in the mix. The fact that Mayer will return to the lineup on Tuesday will give him a few more opportunities to compete for a roster spot before spring training concludes.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jen McCaffrey
March 16, 2026
Boston Red Sox left-handed pitching prospect
Connelly Early has looked good so far at spring training as he competes for the final spot in the Boston starting rotation. Across 12 innings, the left-hander has held a 2.25 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP while striking nine hitters. He has allowed just three free passes. Early made his MLB debut in the second half of the 2025 campaign and posted a 2.23 ERA and 1.09 WHIP over his first 19 1/3 innings in the majors. During this impressive debut, he racked up 29 punchouts with a stellar 5.1% BB%. However, despite his high upside,
Johan Oviedo is trending towards claiming the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation, which would send Early to Triple-A Worcester. Even though he will likely begin the season in the minor leagues, he should contend for a first-half return to Boston. He is worth stashing in deeper leagues ahead of Opening Day.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 16, 2026
Cincinnati Reds infield prospect
Sal Stewart has continued to play at an elite level during spring training and appears ticketed for a major role during his first full MLB season. Through 13 spring games, the team's top infield prospect has held a dominant .355/.487/.613 line with two home runs and four stolen bases. This is an excellent sign for Stewart as he looked just as comfortable during his first taste of MLB action last summer. Over his first 18 games in Cincinnati, Stewart held a .255/.293/.545 line with five long balls. Earlier in the campaign, Stewart hit 10 home runs while swiping four bags across a brief 38-game stint at Triple-A, showcasing his five-category upside. Given Stewart's ability to play at several positions, he carries elite breakout appeal heading into the 2026 season, as he should have an everyday role in the offense.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 16, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect
Eduardo Quintero is a name to keep a close eye on during the 2026 season. Quintero is currently considered the No. 30 overall prospect on MLB.com and the No. 3-ranked prospect in the system. In 2025, Quintero spent his time in the lower levels of the season, shared between Low-A and High-A. At Low-A, Quintero logged 81 games to the tune of a .301/.426/.533 slash line with 18 doubles, 14 home runs, and 35 stolen bases. Then, during his first 32 games at High-A Great Lakes, Quintero posted a strong .259/.384/.440 line with an .824 OPS. Given that he only had a brief taste of High-A, managers should expect him to begin the 2026 regular season at that level. However, the 20-year-old appears ticketed for an early promotion to Double-A, which keeps him on track for a 2027 MLB debut.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
March 16, 2026
Minnesota Twins outfield prospect
Walker Jenkins (hamstring) is expected to be ready for the beginning of the Triple-A regular season, according to Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune. The team's top prospect is dealing with a Grade 1 hamstring strain but is not expected to be limited in any capacity ahead of the start of the regular season. Jenkins was in the mix to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster but was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul to continue his development earlier in March. However, a hot start should push me into serious promotion conversations. Last season, Jenkins played 23 games at Triple-A and hit for a .242/.324/.396 line with two home runs and four stolen bases. Managers in deeper five-outfielder leagues should pay close attention to his early-season production as he could emerge as a high-end stash candidate.
--Andy SmithSource: Bobby Nightengale
March 16, 2026
Chicago Cubs first base prospect
Jonathon Long (elbow) went 1-for-3 with an RBI during his return on Saturday against the Colorado Rockies. The first base prospect has been on the shelf for all of March due to this minor elbow sprain. However, seeing that he has already returned to action suggests he will not face many restrictions by the start of the regular season. Per MLB.com, Long is considered the team's No. 7-ranked prospect. In 2025, Long spent his entire campaign with Triple-A Iowa and appears destined to begin his 2026 season there as well. Over his first 140 games with the Iowa Cubs, Long held a .325/.404/.479 line with an .883 OPS and 20 home runs. Given that
Michael Busch holds the everyday role at first base on the MLB roster, Long will likely have to wait for an injury to earn his first call to the big leagues.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
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