March 25, 2026
Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher
Jordan Romano was a high-end closer for the Toronto Blue Jays from 2021 through 2023, recording 95 saves while recording 230 strikeouts across 186 innings. However, the 32-year-old missed most of 2024 due to elbow surgery and struggled mightily upon his return to the mound as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2025. Across 42 2/3 innings for the Phillies, Romano recorded an 8.23 ERA and 1.45 WHIP with 47 strikeouts and eight saves. Despite his recent issues, Romano could be the favorite to open the 2026 season as the Angels' primary closer with fellow Halos relievers
Kirby Yates (knee) and
Ben Joyce (shoulder) both set to start the year on the 15-day injured list. Romano pitched well in Cactus League action, allowing five hits and zero walks while striking out six across six innings of work. He'll need to prove he can be effective to hold the closer role, but Romano could be a solid source of early-season saves for fantasy managers in 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 25, 2026
Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher
Ben Joyce (shoulder) has been placed on the 15-day injured list to open 2026, per Jack Janes of The Sporting Tribune. Joyce is working his way back from the surgery he underwent in May 2025 to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. The 25-year-old fireballer struggled in a very limited sample size before getting injured last season, pitching to a 6.23 ERA in 4 1/3 innings. However, Joyce showed flashes of dominance in 2024, averaging over 102 mph on his fastball and pitching to a 2.08 ERA with four saves across 32 1/3 innings. When healthy, Joyce may be the favorite to work as the Angels' primary closer. With both Joyce and veteran right-hander
Kirby Yates (knee) sidelined to start the year,
Jordan Romano could get the first chance at regular save opportunities for Los Angeles in 2026.
--Will BradySource: The Sporting Tribune - Jack Janes
March 25, 2026
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher
Grayson Rodriguez (arm) has officially been placed on the 15-day injured list to open 2026, per Jack Janes of The Sporting Tribune. Rodriguez is battling dead arm, so the hope is that he will be able to return to the mound sooner rather than later. Still, the 26-year-old's extensive injury history makes him difficult to trust for fantasy managers. Rodriguez missed the entire 2025 season after undergoing elbow surgery to remove bone spurs. Before this most recent ailment, Rodriguez recorded a 4.97 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 12 strikeouts across 12 2/3 Cactus League innings for the Angels. Command was a major issue in the spring, as he issued 10 walks. Rodriguez has fantasy appeal if he can get back to the level he showed in 2024 while pitching for the Baltimore Orioles, when he recorded a 26.5% strikeout rate across 116 2/3 innings. However, he will need to prove he can stay healthy for an extended stretch.
--Will BradySource: The Sporting Tribune - Jack Janes
March 25, 2026
The San Francisco Giants have optioned right-handed pitching prospect
Trevor McDonald to Triple-A Sacramento. McDonald was in the mix to earn a role on the Opening Day roster but eventually fell short in the competition. The right-hander logged 15 innings in San Francisco last season and was quite effective, posting a near-perfect 1.80 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. He struck out 14 hitters. He was deployed primarily as a starter but has also seen time operating out of the bullpen. He spent most of the 2025 season with Triple-A, where he logged 142 1/3 innings to the tune of a 5.31 ERA with a 1.45 WHIP. He struck out just 144 hitters while totaling a high 62 free passes. Managers should monitor his development with Triple-A, as he could have some streaming appeal if he earns spot starts in the majors later in the summer.
--Andy SmithSource: Shayna Rubin
March 25, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays third baseman
Kazuma Okamoto was an intriguing mid-to-later-round corner infielder in drafts and could emerge as a start-up option early in the season. Okamoto is slated to have an everyday role at the hot corner in Toronto, joining one of the game's most potent lineups. Okamoto has spent his entire professional career with the NPB. He battled injuries during the 2025 season but was productive when on the field, posting a .327/.416/.598 line with 15 home runs over a short 69-game stint. The previous season (143 games), the 29-year-old held a .280/.362/.501 line with 27 home runs. He has more than held his own in spring training, posting an impressive .316/.435/.632 line with three doubles, one home run, and a 4:3 K:BB. Given his projected playing time and previous career success, Okamoto has the potential to emerge as a must-start third baseman in all leagues early in the season. He is worth starting in Week 1 as a high-end corner infiedler but could see his ceiling rise quickly.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 25, 2026
Chicago White Sox first baseman
Munetaka Murakami is slated to have a starring role to begin his debut season in the major leagues and could emerge as one of the game's top power hitters. Murakami has spent his entire professional career overseeing in the NPB and consistently flashed elite power. He enjoyed his best season back in 2022 when he launched an eye-catching 56 home runs. Since 2023, Murakami has hit at least 30 home runs in two seasons and was on pace to meet that mark once again in 2025, but he only appeared in 56 games. However, in this short stint, Murakami hit 22 long balls while holding a .273 AVG. The lone knock on his profile is his high strikeout rate that has sat above 28.0% in each of his last three seasons. In spring training, Murakami held a .276/.323/.448 line with a home run, but struck out at a 25.8% rate. While his value could drop in points leagues that punish high strikeout hitters, he does draw walks at an impressive rate, which can offset his strikeout totals. Given that he is slated to see an everyday role in the Chicago starting lineup, the rookie slugger possesses 30-HR upside if he can make a quick adjustment ot major-league pitching. He is worth starting in all 12+ team leagues in the opening week of the season.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
March 25, 2026
New York Mets right-handed pitching prospect
Nolan McLean enjoyed a strong showing in his first taste of MLB action last summer and is well-positioned to take the next step in his first full season. McLean opened the 2025 campaign with Double-A, but needed only 26 1/3 innings before earning the call to Triple-A Syracuse. With Double-A, McLean struck out 30 hitters while holding a 1.37 ERA. At Triple-A, McLean continued to find success, striking out 97 hitters over 87 1/3 innings while posting a 2.78 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. This dominant play earned him a late-season ticket to Queens, where he carried this momentum, logging 48 innings to the tune of a 2.067 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. He struck out 57 hitters and allowed walks at an 8.5% rate. McLean is slated to remain in the starting rotation in 2026 and is set up well to emerge as one of the game's top emerging starting pitchers, given the consistent success across all levels he enjoyed in 2025.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
March 25, 2026
Minnesota Twins top infield prospect
Kaelen Culpepper is set to begin the 2026 regular season with Triple-A St. Paul. Culpepper will open the campaign just one step away from the major leagues, which will set him up for an early 2026 debut. Culpepper joined the Twins as the 21st overall selection in the 2024 Draft out of Kansas State. Last summer, Culpepper split his time between High-A and Double-A. At High-A, the infielder carried a .293/.385/.479 line with nine home runs and 15 stolen bases. At Double-A, the 23-year-old took a slight step down, carrying a .285/.267/.460 slash line with 11 home runs and 10 stolen bases. If Culpepper continues this trajectory with St. Paul, he should join Minnesota before the All-Star break. He is worth monitoring in deeper formats for now and could emerge as an early-season top stash candidate.
--Andy SmithSource: Theodore Tollefson
March 25, 2026
Chicago White Sox right-handed pitching prospect
Jedixson Paez has made the Opening Day roster. Paez was a Rule 5 Draft selection. Even though the 22-year-old has yet to spend time in the upper minor leagues, the White Sox believe he is ready to face the top hitters in the sport. Last summer, Paez logged just 19 1/3 innings with High-A Greenville and posted a 2.79 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a stellar 23:3 K:BB. In 2024, he logged 96 2/3 innings across time at Low-A and High-A, where he carried a 3.17 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and a 113:12 K:BB. Given his high strikeout upside and elite command, Paez is worth monitoring in deeper formats. Due to his lack of experience in the upper levels, managers should expect the right-hander to open the season as a low-leverage reliever.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB Central
March 25, 2026
MLB.com reports that Colorado Rockies outfield prospect
Zac Veen (knee) is day-to-day with a right-knee contusion that he injured while sliding to make a catch in the outfield during a spring training game on March 9. Veen hasn't played since, putting his status in question for Opening Day on Thursday. Before his injury, the 24-year-old former ninth overall pick in 2020 was hitting .250 (5-for-20) with two home runs, four RBI, and two runs scored in 11 Cactus League games this spring. He looked overmatched in his first taste of the big leagues in 2025, going 4-for-34 (.118) at the plate with a homer, two RBI, one steal, two walks, and 14 strikeouts in just 12 games played. Veen hasn't lived up to expectations in the minors the last two years, either, although he transformed his body in the offseason and is jacked. It remains to be seen if it will solve his strikeout issues. We'd expect Veen to start the year either on the injured list or at Triple-A Albuquerque. For now, he's a stash in dynasty/keeper formats, but we should see him back in Denver sooner than later in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 25, 2026
The Los Angeles Angels placed right-handed reliever
Kirby Yates (knee) on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with left-knee inflammation, retroactive to March 22, according to the team. In addition to Yates, the Angels also placed right-handed reliever
Ben Joyce (shoulder) on the 15-day IL and right-hander
Robert Stephenson (elbow) on the 60-day IL, leaving the back end of their bullpen very thin for the start of the 2026 regular season on Thursday against the division-rival Houston Astros. The Angels are hoping that Yates will be able to return when eligible on April 6, but in the meantime, expect the Halos to mix and match in the ninth inning with
Jordan Romano and
Drew Pomeranz. It's probably a situation to avoid for fantasy managers, unless you're desperate for saves in deeper leagues. When Yates returns, he could be the team's preferred saves option until Joyce can make his 2026 season debut. Romano might be the slight favorite over Pomeranz, with 133 career saves, and the fact that he looked much sharper in spring training.
--Keith HernandezSource: Angels PR
March 24, 2026
The Los Angeles Angels have placed starting pitcher
Alek Manoah (finger) on the 15-day injured list due to a fingernail issue, per Jack Janes of The Sporting Tribune. Had he been healthy, Manoah may have broken camp as a member of the Angels' Opening Day starting rotation, particularly with fellow Angels starter
Grayson Rodriguez (arm) also opening the year on the injured list. The 28-year-old Manoah is attempting to resurrect his career in Los Angeles after being waived by the Toronto Blue Jays last September. Manoah finished third in the American League Cy Young vote while pitching for Toronto in 2022, but has battled injuries and ineffectiveness ever since. He opened the 2025 season rehabbing an elbow injury and never made it to the big leagues, finishing the year with a 3.96 ERA and 1.53 WHIP across 38 2/3 minor league innings (10 starts). Manoah struggled mightily in Cactus League action for the Angels before getting injured, allowing 14 walks and five home runs across 15 1/3 innings pitched. Manoah will need to show a sustained run of both health and production before he's worthy of fantasy consideration in the majority of league formats.
--Will BradySource: The Sporting Tribune - Jack Janes
March 24, 2026
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher
Nick Lodolo (finger) will open 2026 on the injured list due to a blister on his left index finger, per Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Lodolo enjoyed a breakout season in 2025, posting a 9-8 record with a 3.33 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 156 strikeouts across 156 2/3 innings (28 starts). However, the 28-year-old has battled injuries throughout his career and is no stranger to finger ailments specifically, which caused him to miss time in both 2024 and 2025. Without Lodolo and star right-hander
Hunter Greene (elbow) to open the year, the Reds will likely be relying on starting pitchers
Rhett Lowder and
Brandon Williamson at the back end of their rotation. Lodolo's current ailment may not ultimately cause him to miss much time, but his continued issues with blisters are a red flag for fantasy managers to be aware of.
--Will BradySource: Cincinnati Enquirer - Gordon Wittenmyer
March 24, 2026
ESPN's Jeff Passan reports that the Chicago Cubs extension agreement with outfielder
Pete Crow-Armstrong is worth $115 million over six years and will start in 2027. Passan also notes that the deal does not include a club option, allowing Crow-Armstrong to hit free agency ahead of his age-31 season in 2033. The 24-year-old enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2025, hitting .247/.287/.481 with 31 home runs, 95 RBI, 91 runs scored, and 35 stolen bases across 647 plate appearances. Crow-Armstrong's profile is not without flaws, as he walked at just a 4.9% rate in 2025 and owns a .591 OPS across 284 career plate appearances against left-handed pitching. Still, Crow-Armstrong's elite center field defense guarantees him playing time, and his combination of power and speed provides him plenty of fantasy upside. The Cubs' financial commitment to Crow-Armstrong should only strengthen his already stellar dynasty outlook.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Jeff Passan
March 24, 2026
The Los Angeles Angels have placed second baseman
Vaughn Grissom (hand) on the 10-day Injured List to open 2026, per Jack Janes of The Sporting Tribune. Janes reports that Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said Grissom is "progressing well" from the hand injury he suffered in a Cactus League game in mid-March. Grissom spent all of the 2025 season in the minor leagues, hitting .270/.342/.441 with 13 home runs, 48 RBI, 69 runs scored, and nine stolen bases across 418 Triple-A plate appearances as a member of the Boston Red Sox organization. If healthy, Grissom might have had a chance to challenge veteran journeyman
Adam Frazier for the starting second base job with the Halos. Upon his return, Grissom will likely be battling Frazier and utility infielder
Oswald Peraza for a spot on the Angels' active roster. However, Grissom should remain off the radar of fantasy managers for the time being.
--Will BradySource: The Sporting Tribune - Jack Janes
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