February 23, 2026
Miami Marlins third baseman
Graham Pauley (forearm) has not appeared in a Grapefruit League game yet in spring training and underwent imaging for forearm tightness on Monday, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. Although Pauley doesn't have a ton of upside offensively, he was considered one of the favorites for regular playing time at third in Miami to begin the 2026 regular season. It's unclear if this injury will jeopardize his availability for Opening Day in late March, but if it does, it will be good news for
Connor Norby's path to regular playing time. The 25-year-old Pauley played in 62 games in 2025 in his first year with the Fish, slashing .224/.311/.366 with a .678 OPS, four home runs, 11 RBI, 18 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 184 plate appearances. For now, Pauley should be considered day-to-day.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
February 23, 2026
Boston Red Sox shortstop
Trevor Story is a strong candidate to hit second in the batting order this year, following outfielder
Roman Anthony in the leadoff spot, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Story was in the two-hole in his final 10 games of the 2025 regular season and also hit there in all three of the team's Wild-Card games in the playoffs against the New York Yankees. The veteran shortstop hit .294 with a .339 on-base percentage, .497 slugging percentage, and .836 OPS in his final 84 games last year, but overall, he had a .308 on-base percentage (tied for 11th), and his .433 slugging percentage ranked 72nd among qualified hitters. The 33-year-old two-time All-Star stayed healthy and hit 25 homers, drove in 96, scored 91 runs, and stole 31 bases in 157 regular-season games. Story is still a top-15 fantasy shortstop when healthy, but his lengthy injury history suggests volume could be an issue in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
February 23, 2026
Houston Astros relief pitcher
Bryan Abreu could be asked to step up into the closer role to begin the regular season while
Josh Hader (biceps) is dealing with biceps inflammation. Hader is playing light catch off flat ground and will need to ramp up his progress to be ready in time for Opening Day. Abreu is next in line after posting elite numbers as the set-up man for multiple years. The 28-year-old racked up a career-high seven saves with a 2.28 ERA, 1,15 WHIP, 25 holds, and a 105:31 K:BB across 71 innings last season. Abreu will handle ninth-inning duties if Hader starts the season on the injured list. He is currently RP23 in the latest RotoBaller rankings, and that number could rise if Hader remains sidelined.
--Andy WebbSource: The New York Times
February 23, 2026
Texas Rangers infielder
Justin Foscue (hamstring) was forced to make an early exit from Monday's Cactus League matchup versus the Los Angeles Angels. Foscue was removed from the contest due to right hamstring tightness. It sounds like he pushed to stay in the game, but the Rangers didn't want to risk him making it a more serious injury. He singled in his lone at-bat of the game and should be considered day-to-day for the moment. The former first-round pick has looked solid early in camp, so hopefully he can get back out there soon. There should be another update on his status in the coming days.
--Andy WebbSource: Kennedi Landry
February 23, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher
Trevor Megill (forearm) reportedly had platelet-rich plasma injections this offseason. The right-hander decided to get platelet-rich plasma injections after missing time due to a forearm strain in 2025. Megill appears to be healthy now, but his role in the bullpen is not certain yet. Last season, Megill registered a 2.49 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and a 60/17 K/BB ratio with 30 saves in 50 games. The 32-year-old has recorded over 50 total saves over the last two seasons, but might not be the full-time closer. It seems like the Brewers also like
Abner Uribe, who looked good as a closer when Megill missed time last season. Knowing how the Brewers operate, Megill could be a trade candidate given his age and current salary. His full-time closer gig could be in jeopardy, but at least it sounds like Megill is healthy heading into the 2026 season.
--Andy WebbSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
February 23, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Merrill Kelly (back) recently underwent an MRI after being scratched from his scheduled batting practice session last week. On Monday, D-Backs manager Torey Lovullo told reporters that they're still waiting for MRI results on Kelly's back issue. He continued by saying that Kelly is feeling good, so hopefully the 37-year-old will be able to avoid a significant injury. Kelly was recently named the Opening Day starter. At the moment, it doesn't sound like Kelly is in danger of missing the beginning of the regular season. Hopefully, the organization will be able to give a better timetable once the MRI results are in.
--Andy WebbSource: Jose M. Romero
February 23, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher
Jose Berrios is feeling 100 percent healthy in camp right now. According to Mitch Bannon, Berrios said on Monday that he was dealing with a bicep tendon issue in September of last season. This could help explain why Berrios struggled late last season and why he was eventually left off the postseason roster. Heading into camp, there was some uncertainty about whether or not Berrios would be in the starting rotation to begin the 2026 season. Now, Berrios is basically a lock to join the rotation with
Shane Bieber (forearm) heading to the injured list to start the regular season. The hope is that a fully healthy Berrios can bounce back after posting mediocre numbers in 2025.
--Andy WebbSource: Mitch Bannon
February 23, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said on Monday that "the goal is to get
Jared Jones (elbow) major-league game-ready at that one-year mark," according to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Tomczyk also said that Jones has looked "really good" coming out of his live batting practice sessions this spring. The 24-year-old will open the year on the 60-day injured list after having an internal-brace procedure on his right elbow last May. Jones obviously isn't going to have a full season in 2026, and there's a good chance he's eased back in after that, but he's still worthy of a late-round stash in mixed fantasy drafts. The former second-rounder in 2020 looked the part in his MLB debut in 2024, posting a 4.14 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 132 K's and 39 walks in 121 2/3 innings (22 starts). Right now, Jones is ranked outside the top 100 fantasy starting pitchers at RotoBaller.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jason Mackey
February 23, 2026
Seattle Mariners right-handed reliever
Matt Brash (mouth) played catch briefly in camp on Sunday but "still isn't feeling great," according to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times. Brash had issues with the tooth abstraction that led to more dental work and discomfort, which is why he's been slow to return in spring training. The Mariners still have plenty of time to get him ready for Opening Day in late March, though, since he will not take part in this year's World Baseball Classic. The 27-year-old missed all of the 2024 campaign after having elbow reconstruction, but he returned to a setup role last year and was solid, recording a 2.47 ERA (3.05 FIP), 1.25 WHIP, four saves, 58 strikeouts, and 18 walks in 47 1/3 frames. Brash induced more ground balls by using his slider and sinker more, and he'll return to the eighth-inning setup role for Seattle. Brash is primarily useful in holds leagues, but he has the stuff to close out games if needed if
Andres Munoz were to miss time due to an injury.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Seattle Times - Ryan Divish
February 23, 2026
Detroit Tigers left-hander
Tarik Skubal confirmed on Monday that he will only make one start for Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, according to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News. Skubal has been the best pitcher in baseball the last two years, winning back-to-back American League Cy Young awards while going a combined 31-10 with a 2.30 ERA (2.47 FIP), 0.91 WHIP, 469 strikeouts, and only 68 walks in 387 1/3 innings over 62 regular-season starts. He threw 216 innings last year between the regular season and playoffs, so he won't be pushed in the WBC or in spring training. Skubal is the top fantasy starting pitcher and will be a must-start in his first start of the regular season in 2026 in San Diego against the San Diego Padres in late March.
--Keith HernandezSource: Detroit News - Chris McCosky
February 23, 2026
The Athletic's Katie Woo writes that Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander
Blake Snell's (shoulder) Opening Day status is "in doubt." There is no real update on him, other than he's throwing off flat ground in camp. "Time's ticking, but like I told him the other day, Opening Day is not necessarily a hard and fast target for us," manager Dave Roberts said. Snell, 33, missed four months in 2025 due to left-shoulder inflammation and admitted that he was exhausted after an extended postseason run in October, which is why the Dodgers aren't making it a necessity that he be fully stretched out for Opening Day. Even if Snell were to land on the injured list to begin the regular season, it would likely be a short stay on the sidelines. The two-time Cy Young winner was solid when available for the Dodgers last year, going 5-4 with a 2.35 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 72:26 K:BB, but he only made 11 starts in the regular season. Snell is a risk/reward No. 3 fantasy starting pitcher because of his injury history.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Katie Woo
February 23, 2026
Chicago White Sox left-handed pitching prospect
Hagen Smith (elbow) will face hitters in a live batting practice session on Tuesday for the first time this spring, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Smith has another live batting practice session scheduled and then expects to get into some action in Cactus League games. The 22-year-old southpaw, who was the fifth overall pick in 2024 out of Arkansas, had a 3.57 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 108:56 K:BB in 75 2/3 innings over 20 starts with Double-A Birmingham last year. He missed six weeks in the first half of 2025 due to elbow soreness, which is why the White Sox have slow-played him so far this spring. Questionable control has fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues pumping the brakes a bit on Smith being a high-end starting pitcher at the next level, although if he can lower his walk rate in 2026, he should make his MLB debut. Smith is dominant with his fastball and slider, but a lack of a real third pitch may push him to a high-leverage relief role down the road.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Scott Merkin
February 23, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander
Brandon Woodruff (lat) said on Monday that being ready for Opening Day in late March is "up in the air right now," according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Woodruff added that he's feeling night and day better now than he was at this point in the year in 2025, but staying healthy all season is the No. 1 priority. The 33-year-old veteran threw 25 pitches in a simulated game in camp on Monday, but he said he's a "touch" behind some of the pitchers that are already throwing in Cactus League games. Woodruff didn't make his 2025 debut until July after recovering from right-shoulder surgery that he had in 2024, and he finished last year on the injured list due to a right-lat strain. Recent injuries certainly make Woodruff more risky in fantasy drafts this spring, but he showed that he still has the stuff to be a high-end fantasy starter when healthy, going 7-2 with a 3.20 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 83 K's in 2025. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 28 fantasy starting pitcher for this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
February 23, 2026
Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro said on Monday that outfielder
Dairon Blanco (head) avoided a full concussion, but he will be taking it easy over the next few days with light activity inside, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Blanco will continue to be evaluated by the medical staff after getting hit square in the helmet by a 90 mph pitch in the seventh inning of Sunday's Cactus League game against the Milwaukee Brewers. The 32-year-old Cuban outfielder should be fine for Opening Day in late March, but he won't be on the fantasy baseball radar in the vast majority of leagues. Blanco has a career .257/.312/.416 slash line with a .728 OPS, seven home runs, 34 RBI, 59 runs scored, and 59 stolen bases in 171 games over his four seasons with the Royals. He played in only nine big-league games in 2025 and went 1-for-6 at the plate with an RBI and three steals.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
February 23, 2026
Kansas City Royals outfielder
Isaac Collins (knees) received platelet-rich plasma injections in his knees this offseason, according to MLB.com's Anne Rogers. Collins didn't play in a Cactus League game over the weekend, but he's scheduled to play in Tuesday's road game against the Cincinnati Reds, and then again on Friday at home against the Athletics. He has been taking live at-bats against Royals pitchers and participating in all working, but the Royals are intentionally taking it slow with Collins. The 28-year-old has otherwise felt great. After Friday's game, he'll be a full-go and will be on a normal build-up schedule. At the time the Royals traded for Collins in December, manager Matt Quatraro said the team knew about his knee injections. Barring an injury before Opening Day, Collins projects as the Royals' fourth outfielder, limiting his fantasy appeal to deep-mixed and AL-only leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
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