February 26, 2026
Across 17 games in 2025, Tennessee Titans tight end
Chig Okonkwo recorded 56 receptions for 560 yards and two touchdowns on 79 targets. The 26-year-old has established himself as a solid real-life player, as he's logged at least 50 catches in three straight seasons and has never missed a game in his NFL career. However, Okonkwo's fantasy upside has never quite materialized, as he's never reached 80 targets or topped three touchdown catches in a season. Okonkwo is now set to hit free agency and could be with a new organization for the first time in 2026. A change of scenery could be a positive development for Okonkwo's fantasy outlook, as Tennessee has fielded a miserable offense overall in recent seasons and also has a rising young tight end in
Gunnar Helm. Still, Okonkwo has demonstrated a limited production ceiling to this point in his career, and there's no guarantee he will land in a true TE1 role with a new team. His fantasy value in dynasty formats is slowly declining heading into 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 26, 2026
A fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Los Angeles Rams running back
Jarquez Hunter played an extremely minimal role in all phases as a rookie. The 23-year-old was active for just five games and did not record a single touch on offense. Hunter's path to playing time is blocked in Los Angeles, as the Rams have arguably the best running back combination in the NFL in
Kyren Williams and
Blake Corum. In 2025, Williams and Corum combined for over 2,300 yards from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns. The pairing has also missed just one game combined over the past two seasons, and both are under contract through at least 2027. As a result, Hunter may need a change in scenery to work his way into a fantasy-relevant role. Even if one of Corum or Williams were to suffer a significant injury, the other is capable of taking on more of a workhorse role, which could still leave Hunter on the outside looking in for touches in Los Angeles. It's hard to say that Hunter can't eventually emerge as a productive NFL running back, as he's had no opportunity to prove himself either way. However, his fantasy value in dynasty formats is virtually non-existent heading into 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 26, 2026
After topping 570 scrimmage yards in each of his first two NFL seasons, Denver Broncos running back
Jaleel McLaughlin's production took a step back in 2025. Across eight games, the 25-year-old recorded 214 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown on 41 touches. McLaughlin was a healthy scratch on game day for much of the first half of the season, as he was stuck behind
J.K. Dobbins (foot),
RJ Harvey, and
Tyler Badie on the Broncos' running back depth chart. McLaughlin got more opportunities to play down the stretch after Dobbins went down in Week 11 with a foot injury. Dobbins is now set to hit free agency, which could open up a path to playing time for McLaughlin in Denver. However, Harvey emerged as the team's lead back in 2025 after Dobbins went down and looks like the Broncos' clear RB1 of the future. For his career, McLaughlin is averaging fewer than seven touches per game and looks more like a complementary, change-of-pace back than a fantasy-relevant workhorse.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 26, 2026
Across 14 games in 2025, Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Dontayvion Wicks recorded 30 receptions for 332 yards and two touchdowns on 46 targets. It was a disappointing year overall for the 24-year-old, as he posted the lowest receiving yards per game (23.7) and receptions per game (2.1) marks of his three NFL seasons. While Wicks has flashed upside at different points in his career, he's struggled to carve out a consistent role in Green Bay's equal-opportunity passing game. However, the Packers' pass-catching depth chart could get thinner in 2026. Wide receiver
Romeo Doubs is set to hit free agency, and tight end
Tucker Kraft (knee) could miss the start of the season as he recovers from a torn ACL. Still, Wicks would be competing with Packers wideouts
Christian Watson,
Jayden Reed, and
Matthew Golden for playing time. Based on his inability to differentiate himself in 2025, Wicks' fantasy value in dynasty formats is trending in the wrong direction.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 26, 2026
Houston Rockets guard
Amen Thompson (quad) missed Wednesday night's matchup with the Kings due to left quadriceps tendinitis, but he is not on the injury report and should be ready to return on Thursday against the Magic. Thompson will continue to play through the issue as he has for at least a few weeks. It seems to be slowing him down a little on offense, but he's still playing huge minutes and contributing on the defensive end. He did show a little offensive spark with 20 points on Monday against the Jazz, though, and he always brings a high ceiling with his multi-category potential. He can be used in your fantasy lineups as you normally would for Thursday's contest, while
Reed Sheppard will return to his normal role after getting extra work on Wednesday and dropping 28 points in 32 minutes against Sacramento.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NBA Injury Report
February 26, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that the team is "holding out hope" that if right-hander
Merrill Kelly (back) can ramp up his throwing "sooner than later," that he'll have time to get ready to pitch in the second series of the season and "avoid the injured list," according to The Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro. It was believed that the 37-year-old would open the 2026 season on the IL, and that's still likely to be the outcome, with the D-backs probably preferring not to rush the veteran hurler back early in the year. When healthy, Kelly is a top-of-the-rotation arm for Arizona, even though his fantasy baseball value is limited due to his lack of strikeouts (22% career strikeout rate). Kelly opened the 2025 season with the D-backs before being traded to the Rangers at midseason. He finished with a 3.52 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 167:48 K:BB in 184 innings (32 starts). An aging pitcher with an injury concern heading into the season isn't exactly a strong late-round fantasy target.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Arizona Republic - Nick Piecoro
February 26, 2026
Atlanta Hawks forward
Jalen Johnson (hip) was initially questionable for Thursday's game against the Wizards, but has been downgraded to out. He tweaked his hip in Tuesday's win over Washington and will miss the rematch Thursday. Without him, new Hawks addition
Jonathan Kuminga will carry a large workload. In his Hawks' debut on Tuesday, Kuminga impressed with 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, and three three-pointers in 25 minutes. In the same matchup on Thursday, Kuminga has a very high ceiling.
Zaccharie Risacher (hip) could also get extra work if he plays through his own questionable tag in this favorable spot
--Zach ThompsonSource: NBA Injury Report
February 26, 2026
Washington Wizards center
Tristan Vukcevic (hip) was questionable with a hip impingement, but he'll be able to play on Thursday against Atlanta. Vukcevic has been dealing with a hand injury in addition to his hip issue, but he should be ready to roll on Thursday. He had five points, six rebounds, and one assist in 22 minutes on Tuesday in the first game of this two-game series in Atlanta. He and
Anthony Gill have been sharing the minutes at center with Alex Sarr (hamstring) sidelined. If Vukcevic is limited at all, Gill could get more run, but for now, it looks like each will limit the upside of the other.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NBA Injury Report
February 26, 2026
Updating a previous report, Baltimore Orioles catcher
Samuel Basallo (abdomen) left Thursday's Grapefruit League game with right-side abdominal discomfort, the team announced. Basallo was injured when he reached out to tag
Matt Vierling out on a play at the plate. The 21-year-old Dominican backstop eventually walked off the field under his own power, and he should be considered day-to-day for now. After making his MLB debut last year, the left-handed hitter is expected to see plenty of playing time behind the dish in Baltimore if he's healthy in 2025, allowing
Adley Rutschman to play first base or serve as the designated hitter. Basallo hit only .165/.229/.330 with a .559 OPS over a small sample size of 31 games played last year, but he's a rising young catching talent who should be considered a high-end No. 2 fantasy catcher as long as this injury isn't serious.
UPDATE: Manager Craig Albernaz said Basallo's exit was "precautionary" and that he could have stayed in the game. He is not expected to undergo additional testing.--Keith HernandezSource: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
February 26, 2026
Washington Wizards forward
Kyshawn George (knee) was downgraded from questionable to out for Thursday night's matchup against the Hawks. George has been effective when available but has been in and out of the lineup with a variety of injuries. Now he's dealing with a left knee contusion, possibly suffered on Tuesday in a loss to the Hawks in the first game of this two-game set in Atlanta. Without him on Thursday, the Wizards will likely give more playing time to
Justin Champagnie,
Will Riley, and
Jamir Watkins, who has his two-way contract converted to a standard deal earlier in the day.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NBA Injury Report
February 26, 2026
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal said on Foul Territory on Thursday that it looks like Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect
Konnor Griffin is "trending toward being" the team's Opening Day shortstop. It was seen as a bit of a stretch going into spring training, since Griffin is only 19 years old and has played just 21 games in the minors above High-A. However, he's the consensus No. 1 prospect in baseball, and Rosenthal says the Pirates think he can be the hitting version of a "unicorn" that right-hander
Paul Skenes is. It puts a lot of expectations and pressure on Kriffin, but despite still being a teenager, he is "put together physically," is mature beyond his years, and has a good head on his shoulders. Rosenthal thinks it's possible that Griffin can be one of those rare players like Alex Rodriguez,
Albert Pujols, Ken Griffey Jr.,
Mike Trout, and
Juan Soto that can immediately come to the big leagues and succeed. The hype is real and will continue to inflate his ADP going into the 2026 season.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
February 26, 2026
Utah Jazz forward
Lauri Markkanen (ankle, hip) will not play Thursday after spraining his right ankle and suffering a right hip impingement during Wednesday's practice. His status is not surprising since the Jazz are being so cautious with their best players, and Markkanen could be headed for an extended absence, depending on the results of the MRI he had on Wednesday. Without him against the Pelicans on Thursday, other Jazz forwards like
John Konchar,
Brice Sensabaugh, and
Kyle Filipowski will pick up more work and could have fantasy value in a favorable matchup.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NBA Injury Report
February 26, 2026
Miami Heat guard/forward
Norman Powell (groin) was a late addition to his team's injury report on Thursday afternoon and is questionable for the team's game in Philadelphia due to right groin soreness. He missed time just before the All-Star break due to an illness, but he has played three games since the break and scored 26 points in Tuesday's loss to Milwaukee. With
Davion Mitchell (illness) also questionable, there could be lots of work in Miami's backcourt for
Kasparas Jakucionis,
Pelle Larsson, and
Jaime Jaquez Jr. alongside
Tyler Herro, who is still playing limited minutes after his recent return.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NBA Injury Report.
February 26, 2026
Washington Wizards forward
Jamir Watkins has been getting good playing time lately, and the two-way player has played his way into a standard contract. The 24-year-old has played seven of the Wizards' last eight games, averaging 12.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.0 steals in 28 minutes per game. Watkins should continue to get good playing time now that the team doesn't have to manage his days with the NBA team. He's a bargain DFS option or a deep league streamer to consider when the Wizards are short-handed, as they will be on Thursday against the Hawks.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Shams Charania
February 26, 2026
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales, who is giving up offensive play-calling this year, said that quarterback
Bryce Young will "increasingly be able to change plays at the line" when he recognizes mismatches with the opposing defense, according to Kassidy Hill of Panthers.com. "I love the strides we've taken in terms of the operation, how he gets us up there, makes great calls, fixes our protection problems, finding solutions in areas where we've talked about to take advantage of coverages, takes advantage of different fronts for run plays, and just wanting Bryce to continue to grow in the ownership of those things," Canales said. It's the next step in the former first overall pick's development as he heads into his fourth year in the league. The 24-year-old showed improvement in 2025, completing a career-high 63.6% of his passes for 3,011 yards and 23 touchdowns, which were also career-highs. Young will need to take another step forward in 2026 to be thrown into the QB1 conversation in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: Panthers.com - Kassidy Hill
February 26, 2026
The Minnesota Twins scratched third baseman
Royce Lewis (side) from Thursday's Grapefruit League game after he experienced tightness in his right side after running the bases before the game, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Lewis was scratched "out of an abundance of caution." It makes sense for the Twins to proceed cautiously with the 26-year-old, who has a lengthy history of injuries. The former first overall pick in 2017 played in a career-high 106 games for the Twins last year but disappointed offensively, slashing .237/.283/.388 with a career-low .671 OPS, 13 home runs, 52 RBI, 36 runs scored, and a career-high 12 stolen bases in 403 plate appearances. Lewis missed over a month of the season last year due to a strained left hamstring he suffered in spring training. He has played in only 70 games in his first two years in the big leagues due to injuries. Lewis' power is well above-average at third base, but durability concerns make him a risk/reward as a top-15 fantasy third baseman.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
February 26, 2026
Seattle Seahawks impending free-agent running back
Kenneth Walker III is a name that "I've heard floated around" as a player the Houston Texans may target in free agency, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. The Seahawks don't plan to use the franchise tag on Walker, who was the Super Bowl MVP, but that doesn't mean he won't re-sign with the organization. Coming off a strong postseason showing that led to a championship, Walker is expected to be one of the best available RBs on the open market if he makes it to free agency. He's projected to make somewhere between $12 million to $14 million per year and would likely sign a three- or four-year contract. The 25-year-old finally was able to stay healthy all year in 2025 and finished with 1,027 yards and five touchdowns during the regular season while splitting time with
Zach Charbonnet. If he were to land in Houston, Walker would split time with second-year back
Woody Marks.
--Keith HernandezSource: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
February 26, 2026
Las Vegas Raiders new head coach Klint Kubiak plans to use a committee backfield in his first year at the helm in 2026, saying that "it's important for
Ashton Jeanty to have a wingman." "We definitely want to have a two-man show," Kubiak added. It's bad news for Jeanty's already declining fantasy football value after a disappointing showing in his rookie season. Kubiak split the load at RB last year with the Seattle Seahawks, too, using
Kenneth Walker III and
Zach Charbonnet in tandem on the way to a Super Bowl championship. Jeanty, the sixth overall pick last April out of Boise State, averaged just 3.7 yards per carry for 975 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 266 carries in 17 regular season games in a bad Raiders offense. The 22-year-old should have a better supporting cast around him, with the team expected to take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall, but a backfield timeshare in Vegas will surely cap Jeanty's fantasy upside going into Year 2.
--Keith HernandezSource: Nick Walters
February 26, 2026
Baltimore Orioles catcher
Samuel Basallo (undisclosed) was injured on a play at the plate in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Detroit Tigers, according to Jake Rill of MLB.com. Basallo tagged the runner out, but then stayed down for a bit and was checked by head athletic trainer Scott Barringer. The Orioles removed Basallo from the game, but he was able to walk off the field under his own power. It appeared to be some sort of oblique or core-muscle injury, as the 21-year-old immediately grabbed at his midsection. We'll have more details on the severity and specific nature of Basallo's injury when they become available. The former top prospect is expected to do more catching in Baltimore this year, which will allow
Adley Rutschman to play either first base or serve as the designated hitter. In his major-league debut in 31 games last year, Basallo went 18-for-109 (.165) with four homers, 15 RBI, and 30 K's in 118 plate appearances. He's an up-and-coming catcher in the big leagues, but he could sit often against lefties.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Jake Rill
February 26, 2026
New York Yankees left-hander
Ryan Weathers looked good in his Grapefruit League debut with the Yankees on Wednesday, throwing 3 2/3 scoreless innings with no walks and five strikeouts against the Washington Nationals, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. In an effort to stay healthy in 2026 after two injury-riddled seasons, the 26-year-old southpaw has a new routine after working at Peak Kinetic Performance in the offseason. He eliminated some lifting patterns in the weight room and implemented more ground-based rolling exercises that focus on his spine. Weathers is hoping the changes he made in the offseason will keep him healthier, and he surely flashed his talent on Wednesday, topping out at a career-high 99.8 mph while averaging a 16-inch vertical break. The rest of his arsenal looked great, too, and he generated 12 whiffs. The former first-rounder has shown flashes, but injuries have held him back. His upside alone makes him worth a late-round dart throw in mixed fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
February 26, 2026
Los Angeles Angels outfielder
Mike Trout is playing in left field in the Cactus League game on Thursday against the Chicago Cubs, and the Angels are going to move him around in all three outfield spots this spring to "see what works best," according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. Trout wants to return to center field, where he feels most comfortable, but that might not be in the Angels' best interest if they want to keep the aging outfielder healthy for the entire season. The 34-year-old three-time MVP, 11-time All-Star, and nine-time Silver Slugger winner started as the team's right fielder in 2025 before eventually becoming the full-time designated hitter after suffering a bone bruise in his surgically repaired left knee in late April. Trout will eventually be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but he's past his prime now and has durability issues. At the right price, though, Trout still has plenty of fantasy value after hitting 26 homers last year. He's ranked as RotoBaller's No. 45 fantasy outfielder.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Orange County Register - Jeff Fletcher
February 26, 2026
The Athletics have made a long-term extension offer to American League Rookie of the Year first baseman
Nick Kurtz, two sources told Joel Sherman of the New York Post. There's no word on whether the two sides will actually get something done this spring, but the team has done pre-arbitration extensions with outfielder
Lawrence Butler, first baseman/outfielder
Tyler Soderstrom, and shortstop
Jacob Wilson. Going into his second MLB season, Kurtz is already the top-ranked fantasy first baseman at RotoBaller after hitting .290/.383/.619 with a 1.002 OPS, 36 home runs, 86 RBI, and 90 runs scored in 489 plate appearances in 117 games in 2025. The most impressive feat is the fact that he almost hit .300 despite striking out 30% of the time. Fantasy managers should expect regression with his average if he continues to whiff at that rate, but Kurtz's power upside from the left side is already elite, especially at one of the most hitter-friendly ballparks in the league.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Joel Sherman
February 26, 2026
Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard said that quarterback
Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye) is "trending in the right direction" as he recovers from an orbital fracture that he suffered during a "freak accident" during pregame warmups in 2025. Ballard also said that Richardson has "a ways to go," but "he's cleared to play, and the eye's getting better." The former fourth overall pick lost out on the starting QB competition to
Daniel Jones (Achilles) last summer and has been granted permission to seek a trade this offseason. The dual-threat signal-caller has played in just 17 games in his first three NFL seasons due to injuries, but he turns just 24 in May and could be given another start at a starting gig with another organization. Richardson's eye injury will be a key factor in any potential trade, and he has a pricey $10.8 million salary cap hit this year. His time in Indy is likely over, and Richardson's dynasty/keeper value has never been lower.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - James Boyd
February 26, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that left-hander
Shane McClanahan (triceps) did well in throwing "two innings" of live batting practice on Thursday in camp, and he's scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut next Tuesday against the Philadelphia Phillies, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The 28-year-old southpaw and two-time All-Star is currently the No. 69-ranked fantasy starting pitcher at RotoBaller, but his 2026 value will continue to rise if he proves he's fully healthy in spring training action. McClanahan last pitched in the big leagues in 2023, so there is obviously a lot of risk in rostering a pitcher that will surely have some workload restrictions this year, at least early on. He's a risk/reward fantasy selection who could struggle to return to his pre-injury form. McClanahan had Tommy John surgery in 2023 and then suffered a freak nerve injury to his triceps that kept him from pitching at all last year.
--Keith HernandezSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
February 26, 2026
The Indianapolis Colts have given quarterback
Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye) permission to seek a trade, a league source told Stephen Holder of ESPN. Richardson, the former fourth overall pick in 2023 out of the University of Florida, lost out on the QB competition to
Daniel Jones (Achilles) last summer and then sustained a freak eye injury during a pregame incident in which he broke his orbital bone. In his first three seasons in the NFL, Richardson has completed only 50.6% of his passes for 2,400 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions while running for 634 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 games (15 starts). With the Colts expected to re-sign Jones this offseason, Richardson's future with the Colts is very cloudy. He's still only 23 years old, so another QB-needy team could be willing to trade for him and give him a chance to win the starting job under center going into next season. A-Rich has elite rushing upside at QB, but durability and accuracy remain major concerns.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Stephen Holder
February 26, 2026
Colorado Rockies outfielder
Brenton Doyle (wrist), who was scratched from Wednesday's Cactus League lineup due to left-wrist soreness, said he underwent imaging on his wrist, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com. The results haven't come back yet. The Rockies announced that the move to scratch Doyle was precautionary, but we'll have a better idea of whether his status for Opening Day will be in question when the MRI results are released. If Doyle were to miss any time to begin the 2026 regular season,
Jake McCarthy would most likely slide over to center field in Denver. Doyle, 27, broke out with 23 homers and 30 stolen bases in 149 games in his sophomore season in 2024, only to regress last year with a .233/.274/.376 slash line, .651 OPS, 15 homers, 57 RBI, 57 runs, and 18 steals in 138 games. Doyle's batted-ball metrics show that he was a bit unlucky last year, so if fully healthy, a rebound could be in store.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Thomas Harding
February 26, 2026
San Diego Padres left-hander
Yuki Matsui (groin) has officially been ruled out for next month's World Baseball Classic with Team Japan, according to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. Matsui is recovering from a left-groin strain that he suffered in a recent live batting practice session in camp with the Padres. He has resumed playing catch, but he hasn't thrown off a mound, and his status for Opening Day in late March is also in question. In his two seasons in San Diego since coming over from Japan, Matsui has a 3.86 ERA in 125 appearances out of the bullpen. He resides in one of the best bullpens in baseball, but as more of a middle-inning arm, he has limited fantasy value. "Right now, I'm just continuing the throwing progression, getting intensities and distances of [playing] catch back up," Matsui said. "Once it's good enough, then I'll start throwing off the mound. But as to when, we don't know yet. We're not sure yet [about Opening Day]."
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - AJ Cassavell
February 26, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said on Sirius XM NFL Radio this week that he wouldn't rule out the return of All-Pro pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson. "I never will rule out any possibility," Tobin said. "He's a good football player. So, is there a chance he'll be with us? We're in the business of good football players, so I can't rule it out. But I don't know what the future holds." If the Bengals were to place the franchise tag on Hendrickson, it would cost north of $30 million with a salary cap hit of $36.7 million. A tag-and-trade scenario will be difficult, so if the two sides cannot work out an extension, the most likely scenario is that the Bengals just let Hendrickson walk in free agency. The 31-year-old had back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons in 2023 and 2024, but he had just four sacks in seven games last year while ending the season on Injured Reserve due to a core-muscle injury. If Hendrickson reaches the open market, he'll be one of the top edge rushers available.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sirius XM NFL Radio
February 26, 2026
The Athletic's Dan Hayes reports that the Minnesota Twins were pleased to learn on Wednesday that right-hander
Pablo Lopez's (elbow) surgery to fix a "significant" tear in the UCL of his right elbow was "less invasive" than a standard Tommy John surgery. Dr. Keith Meister was able to use an elbow graft from Lopez's 2014 TJ surgery to add an internal brace. The Twins are now "optimistic" about Lopez's chances of returning closer to the start of the 2027 season. The 29-year-old will have an MRI exam in roughly five months, at which point we should have a better idea of when he might be able to return to pitching. Fantasy managers should have already taken Lopez off their draft boards for the 2026 season. All things considered, it's good news for Lopez, but a second major right-elbow surgery means that he'll be more of a gamble as the Twins' ace next year.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
February 26, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander
Roki Sasaki allowed three runs, three hits, and two walks in 1 1/3 innings in his Cactus League debut on Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. It wasn't a good start to spring action for Sasaki, who is trying to win a starting rotation spot going into his second MLB season. The Japanese hurler had a 4.46 ERA (5.80 FIP) and 1.43 WHIP with 28 strikeouts and 22 walks in 36 1/3 innings over 10 appearances (eight starts) during the regular season last year before becoming a key piece at the back end of L.A.'s bullpen during their run to a second straight World Series championship. Sasaki struck out three on Wednesday, but he threw only 17 of his 36 pitches for strikes. His fastball topped out at 98.6 mph. Manager Dave Roberts thought Sasaki was overthrowing, but he's not too worried after just one spring outing. The 24-year-old's upside is intriguing, but until he figures out his control issues, he'll be a wild card in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Associated Press
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