March 23, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that the team is hoping to get left-hander
Blake Snell (shoulder) back sometime around the end of May, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. Snell isn't injured specifically, but the 33-year-old southpaw was exhausted physically after pitching deep into the postseason last fall to help the Dodgers win a second straight World Series championship. Snell also missed four months during the 2025 regular season due to left-shoulder inflammation, so the Dodgers would rather have him miss a month-plus of the 2026 campaign instead of losing him for longer. He has been throwing off a mound in camp, but he still has a ways to go to build his arm back up and eventually resume facing live hitters. The fact that he'll miss at least the first month definitely drops his fantasy value right before Opening Day, but Snell was great in his 61 1/3 regular-season innings last year and still has high-end strikeout upside.
--Keith HernandezSource: The California Post - Jack Harris
March 23, 2026
Houston Astros shortstop
Jeremy Pena (finger) could play in Tuesday's exhibition game against Triple-A Sugar Land, manager Joe Espada told Chandler Rome of The Athletic. After resuming swinging over the weekend, Pena is taking live batting practice at Daikin Park on Monday and has a chance to be cleared to play on Opening Day on Thursday against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels. Facing live pitching is probably the last box that Pena needs to check after fracturing the tip of his right ring finger while working out for the Dominican Republic while preparing for the World Baseball Classic. If Pena is forced to miss any time to begin the 2026 season,
Carlos Correa will shift over to shortstop, and
Isaac Paredes will start at third base in Houston. The 28-year-old was a first-time All-Star in 2025, slashing .304/.363/.477 with an .840 OPS, 17 home runs, 62 RBI, and 20 stolen bases in 125 games played. He's not an elite option at the shortstop position in fantasy, but he's a lower-end five-category contributor at a premium position.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
March 23, 2026
Detroit Tigers shortstop prospect
Kevin McGonigle remains with the big-league squad for their Cactus League game on Monday against the Colorado Rockies. He is starting at third base and will hit sixth in the batting order. Opening Day is coming on Thursday against the hosting San Diego Padres, so it's looking awfully likely that the 21-year-old will make Detroit's Opening Day roster as its starting shortstop despite having no experience beyond Double-A. He has held his own in spring training, going 10-for-40 (.250) with two home runs, two doubles, a triple, six stolen bases, eight runs scored, two stolen bases, 11 walks, and eight strikeouts in 52 plate appearances. McGonigle can do it all, but what has been most impressive this spring has been his plate discipline at such a young age. His power and speed are still developing, but McGonigle can at least serve as middle-infield depth with upside in mixed fantasy leagues in 2026 with a clear path to the majority of playing time at the 6 in Motown. He's ranked as the No. 2 prospect in all of baseball for a reason.
--Keith HernandezSource: Detroit Tigers
March 23, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy announced on Monday that center field will be a platoon between
Garrett Mitchell and
Brandon Lockridge to begin the 2026 season. Mitchell, who hits from the left side, will be on the strong side of the platoon and will face right-handed pitchers. The 27-year-old former 20th overall pick in 2020 out of UCLA has a much higher fantasy ceiling than Lockridge because of his power/speed upside. He's been unable to stay on the field so far in his major-league career, though, so perhaps being in a platoon will help him in that regard. In his 443 big-league plate appearances since debuting in Milwaukee in 2022, Mitchell has hit .254/.333/.433 with a .766 OPS, 13 home runs, 40 RBI, 61 runs, and 40 stolen bases in 141 games played. Fantasy managers will be hoping that his rough spring training showing (.063 average, 19 strikeouts in 11 games) won't carry over to the regular season. Lockridge, on the other hand, has hit .317 with four homers and nine RBI in 14 Cactus League games. Expect him to serve in more of a super-utility role in his first full year in Milwaukee.
--Keith HernandezSource: David Gasper
March 23, 2026
Houston Astros right-hander
Spencer Arrighetti will start the 2026 regular season at Triple-A Sugar Land, manager Joe Espada told Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Arrighetti will begin down on the farm after allowing six earned runs on five hits (two homers) while walking five and striking out 12 in eight innings over three relief appearances in the Grapefruit League this spring. It's disappointing for Arrighetti, but it might not be long before he's back in the big leagues if the team goes to a six-man starting rotation early in the year. Injuries kept Arrighetti limited to only seven starts in 2025 after he made 29 appearances (28 starts) in 2024 in his rookie season in Houston. The 26-year-old former sixth-round pick in 2021 has gone 8-18 in his two big-league seasons with a 4.69 ERA (4.45 FIP), 1.41 WHIP, and 202:85 K:BB in 180 1/3 innings. Because of his lack of control and issues keeping the ball in the yard, Arrighetti is merely a stash candidate in AL-only and keeper leagues going into the 2026 season.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
March 23, 2026
The Boston Red Sox optioned left-handed pitching prospect
Payton Tolle to the minors on Monday, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Tolle is Boston's top prospect, per MLB Pipeline, but he'll likely begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Worcester. The 23-year-old southpaw pitched well in spring training, allowing only three earned runs while walking one and striking out 13 in 10 2/3 Grapefruit League innings over four appearances (one start). Tolle made his major-league debut late last year and struggled with a 6.06 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, and 19:8 K:BB in 16 1/3 innings over seven outings (three starts), but he should be one of the first arms up in Boston when the BoSox need rotation help. He throws in the upper-90s, but he needs to show better command consistently. As a fly-ball pitcher, he could get into quite a bit of trouble at Fenway Park if he's not locating his pitches. Tolle is one of the better under-the-radar pitching prospects to stash in deep-mixed and AL-only leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
March 23, 2026
The Cincinnati Reds announced on Monday that they placed right-hander
Hunter Greene (elbow) on the 60-day injured list after he had surgery this month to remove bone chips from his right elbow. In a corresponding move, the team selected the contract of infielder
Nathaniel Lowe from Triple-A Louisville. Greene will be eligible to make his 2026 debut in late May, but there's a good chance we won't see him until the second half of the season. It's a serious blow to the Reds' pitching staff and for any fantasy managers that already have Greene rostered. You'll want to keep him stashed everywhere for his high-end strikeout upside when he finally returns this year. With Greene on the shelf for the foreseeable future, the Reds chose to keep all of
Rhett Lowder,
Chase Burns, and
Brandon Williamson on the Opening Day roster to split the final two spots in the starting rotation to begin the year.
--Keith HernandezSource: Cincinnati Reds
March 23, 2026
The Washington Nationals placed right-hander
Josiah Gray (elbow) on the 60-day injured list (retroactive to March 22) on Monday with a right-flexor strain in his right elbow, according to the team. Gray was expected to be part of Washington's starting rotation in 2026 after missing all of 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but now he'll miss at least the first two months of the season. It's really bad news for Gray's dynasty/keeper value, and he can obviously be avoided for now in all single-year mixed leagues. He was an All-Star as recently as 2023 in his second full season with the Nats, but he made just two starts the following year and hasn't pitched in the majors since. Gray's new right-elbow injury has allowed left-hander
Foster Griffin to make the team's Opening Day starting rotation in D.C. Gray didn't have great command of his pitches before having Tommy John surgery, so it could be rough going for him if/when he returns in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Nationals Communications
March 23, 2026
Texas Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said that veteran outfielder/designated hitter
Andrew McCutchen made the team's Opening Day roster, according to The Dallas Morning News' Shawn McFarland. McCutchen went 8-for-18 (.444) with a homer, seven RBI, five runs scored, six walks, and five strikeouts in seven Cactus League games to win a spot out of spring training in his first year with the team. Despite his age (39), Cutch continues to swing the bat. The five-time All-Star and former National League MVP is heading into his 18th major-league season after slashing .239/.333/.367 with a career-low .700 OPS, 13 home runs, 57 RBI, and 51 runs scored in 551 plate appearances and 135 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2025. McCutchen can still offer modest power from the right side, but the floor and ceiling are low for fantasy managers as he looks for playing time in Texas, mostly as the designated hitter.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
March 23, 2026
Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said on Monday that the closer position will "depend on the situation," according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. The skipper also said that he's comfortable with relievers
Robert Garcia and
Chris Martin in the ninth inning, but also said that "there's a chance you see a couple different guys there." This isn't exactly what you want to hear if you invested in Garcia as a late-round closing option in deeper fantasy leagues. In addition to Garcia and Martin, Schumaker could opt to use
Cole Winn or
Josh Sborz in high-leverage situations out of the bullpen late in games. Garcia, a 29-year-old lefty, figures to be the favorite in 2025 for save opportunities after he led the team with nine saves, a 2.95 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 68:22 K:BB in 64 innings pitched in his third year in the majors. Garcia is still the odds-on favorite to be Texas' preferred closing option, but this news makes him less attractive in what could evolve into a committee.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
March 23, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy said that right-hander
Quinn Priester (wrist) will throw a couple more bullpen sessions and then head back to the spring training complex in Arizona during the team's first road trip of the 2026 regular season to start ramping his arm back up, according to Jack Stern of Brewer Fanatic. Priester's right wrist has given him problems this spring, and it's because of a nerve issue related to thoracic outlet syndrome. For now, the Brewers hope that rest and rehab will help the 25-year-old, but he may need to go under the knife at some point this year, which would knock him out for the season. It obviously makes him a pitcher to avoid in 12-team mixed leagues that haven't drafted yet before Opening Day. Priester's injury has allowed right-handed pitching prospect
Brandon Sproat to make the Opening Day starting rotation, and he could be a sneaky streamer early in the year with some nice matchups on tap.
--Keith HernandezSource: Brewer Fanatic - Jack Stern
March 23, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals infield prospect
JJ Wetherholt has made the team's Opening Day roster, according to president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom. Wetherholt will not just be on the big-league roster to begin the 2026 season, but he'll be starting at second base in what will be his MLB debut on Opening Day. The 23-year-old left-handed hitter batted .212 (7-for-33) with two home runs, seven RBI, six runs scored, two steals, nine walks, and seven strikeouts in 15 Grapefruit League games this spring. He really turned heads at Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis in 2025, slashing .306/.421/.510 with a .931 OPS, 17 home runs, 59 RBI, 82 runs scored, and 23 stolen bases in 109 total games. Wetherholt came up as a shortstop on the farm, but with
Masyn Winn entrenched at the position in the big leagues, he'll begin his big-league career at the keystone. He hasn't shown an obvious weakness at the plate in the minors, and he could even hit leadoff for the Red Birds in his first year in the Show. Wetherholt could eventually hit 20-plus homers from the second base position.
--Keith HernandezSource: Belleville News - Jeff Jones
March 23, 2026
Texas Rangers right-hander
Kumar Rocker will open the 2026 season in the starting rotation as the team's fifth starter, according to Jeff Wilson of All City DLLS.
Jacob Latz will head to the bullpen after competing for a rotation spot in spring training. It's a big turnaround for Rocker, who ended the 2025 season in the bullpen. The 26-year-old former third overall pick in the 2022 draft had a 5.74 ERA (4.88 FIP), 1.46 WHIP, and 56:23 K:BB in 64 1/3 innings over 14 starts with the Rangers in his second year in the big leagues after making only three starts in his debut in 2024. In 12 2/3 frames in the Cactus League this spring, he allowed six earned runs while walking three and striking out 14 over four outings (three starts). Rocker also made last year's starting rotation, but he was quickly knocked around on the mound before eventually injuring his shoulder. After working on his mechanics late last year, he'll get another chance in the rotation, but he'll need to improve against left-handers if he wants to turn things around.
--Keith HernandezSource: All City DLLS - Jeff Wilson
March 23, 2026
Cincinnati Reds left-hander
Nick Lodolo's (finger) status for Opening Day later this week remains up in the air, but he will play catch on Tuesday, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer's Gordon Wittenmyer. Manager Terry Francona said there are three options for Lodolo: To stay on schedule and start on March 28, which is viewed as the longest shot, get pushed back to the back of the starting rotation, or to go on the injured list and lose at least the first 12 days of the 2026 season. The 28-year-old southpaw was pulled early from his Cactus League outing on Sunday against the Cleveland Guardians with a blister issue on his left index finger. It's not the first time that Lodolo has dealt with blister problems, so we wouldn't be surprised if he goes on the IL. Injuries have been an issue for Lodolo in his career, but he still has No. 2 starting pitcher upside because of his 26.2% career strikeout rate. In five Cactus League starts this spring, Lodolo allowed 12 runs (11 earned) while walking four and striking out 18 in 13 2/3 innings pitched.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Gordon Wittenmyer
March 23, 2026
Cincinnati Reds second baseman
Matt McLain (illness) will not play in the team's exhibition game on Monday night against the Milwaukee Brewers because he caught a bug that has been going around the Reds' clubhouse, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer. McLain is doing pre-game work, though, and he's expected to play in Tuesday's final exhibition game before Opening Day on Thursday. The 26-year-old former first-rounder out of UCLA is a sleeper second baseman in fantasy baseball this year who is projected to hit second in a hitter-friendly home environment in Cincy. McLain burst onto the scene in 2023 in his rookie season and hit .290 with 16 home runs, 50 RBI, and 14 stolen bases in 89 games. He didn't play at all in 2024 due to injury before disappointing with a .220/.300/.343 slash line, 15 homers, 50 RBI, and 18 steals in 147 games in 2025. McLain has torn the cover off the baseball in spring training, going 27-for-51 (.529) with seven home runs, 16 RBI, 18 runs scored, and two steals in 17 Cactus League games played.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Gordon Wittenmyer
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