March 5, 2026
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher
Spencer Strider was a fantasy ace earlier in his career, but he has not been able to return to his dominant levels since missing almost all of the 2024 season with an elbow injury that required an internal brace procedure. He did make 23 starts last year but posted a 4.45 ERA and 4.53 FIP with a 9.4 K/9 rate that was a huge dropoff from his elite 13.8 K/9 in 2022 and 13.6 K/9 in 2023. He is "pacing himself" this spring, but his velocity was noticeably down in his two innings against the Baltimore Orioles. He's a high-risk pick in the middle rounds of your fantasy baseball drafts at this point, especially with renewed velocity concerns. He has a very high ceiling but a low floor as well. He's ranked as the No. 38 pitcher in the RotoBaller rankings, so avoid reaching for him as a top talent unless you've already built in depth or are confident you can get reliable, high-floor options later in your draft
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
March 5, 2026
New York Yankees outfielder
Aaron Judge is coming off another massive season and is starring this spring training for both the Yankees and Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Last year, the Yankees slugger delivered an impressive .331/.357/.688 slash line with 53 home runs, 137 runs scored, 114 RBI, and 12 steals over 152 contests. He claimed his second straight AL MVP Award and continued to be one of the most reliable players for fantasy baseball at any position. Judge has been consistent and elite over the past few seasons, and playing at Yankee Stadium and hitting in the heart of a strong lineup should set him up for another huge season in 2026. Depending on how your league treats the dual-threat of
Shohei Ohtani, Judge can definitely be worth the top pick overall. He is ranked No. 2 overall in the RotoBaller rankings behind Ohtani, but either option is a great way to start fantasy baseball drafts with a reliable anchor for your roster.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
March 5, 2026
Baltimore Orioles second baseman/third baseman
Blaze Alexander continues to be in line for more playing time early in the season and is projected to slot in as the team's primary second baseman early in the season while
Jackson Holliday (hand) recovers from hamate bone surgery. Alexander was acquired from Arizona this offseason after he hit .230/.323/.383 with seven home runs and four steals in 74 games last season. The 26-year-old righty has looked solid in spring training and could move to third base after Holliday returns to his everyday role. If you need some infield help early in the season for AL-only leagues, Alexander is an intriguing flier with upside. He has both power and speed potential and should settle into a utility role once everyone in Baltimore is healthy.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Roch Kubatko
March 5, 2026
The Cincinnati Reds acquired relief pitcher
Kyle Nicolas from the Pirates on Wednesday, sending left-handed utilityman
Tyler Callihan to the Pirates. Nicolas is a 27-year-old righty who has pitched in 86 games out of the bullpen for the Buccos over the last three seasons, compiling a 4.68 ERA and 4.10 FIP with 96 strikeouts in 98 career innings. Nicholas will likely slot into a middle relief spot for the Reds and provide solid depth. He's consistently in the upper-90's with his fastball and has posted a solid strikeout rate, even though he does have some control questions. He joins a crowded middle relief mix for the Reds and could start the year in the minors since he has one more option remaining. He'll add organizational depth for Cincinnati and will likely get a chance to contribute at some point this season, although he doesn't need to be considered for fantasy baseball in standard-sized mixed leagues.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Cincinnati Reds
March 5, 2026
The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired utilityman
Tyler Callihan (left forearm) from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for
Kyle Nicolas in a rare trade inside the division. Callihan was expected to compete for a roster spot in Cincinnati after suffering a grisly left forearm fracture while crashing into the left-field wall in Atlanta last May. He was unable to return after only four games in his rookie campaign. The 25-year-old played LF and 2B in his four MLB games and also played 1B at Triple-A and 3B earlier in his minor-league journey. In addition to his high level of versatility, he has a solid bat, as he showed in 24 Triple-A games last year, posting a solid .303/.410/.528 triple-slash with a 15.1% walk rate, a 27.4% strikeout rate, and 150 wRC+. Callihan will get a chance to compete for an Opening Day job in Pittsburgh, but even if he starts at Triple-A, he'll likely get a look at some spot in the Pirates lineup this season. He's an interesting bat to watch in Pittsburgh, but he isn't mixed-league material at this point.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Pirates
March 5, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitching prospect
River Ryan is in consideration for a starting position in the rotation to begin the 2026 MLB season, according to Courtney Hollmon of MLB.com. With
Blake Snell (elbow) expected to miss the start of the season and
Gavin Stone (shoulder) sidelined, Ryan could carve out a role at the back of the rotation. The 27-year-old underwent Tommy John in August of 2024 but is fully healthy to begin 2026. In 2024, he made his MLB debut, logging 20 1/3 innings while looking quite comfortable, posting a 1.33 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. Through the early part of spring, Ryan has logged three scoreless frames with a 4:2 K:BB. Ryan is a name to monitor closely in deeper 12+ team formats, as he could hold early-season streaming appeal if he earns a starting role.
--Andy SmithSource: Courtney Hollmon
March 5, 2026
Detroit Tigers top prospect
Kevin McGonigle has made a strong case through the opening weeks of spring training to begin the regular season on the MLB roster. The No. 2-ranked prospect in the sport (on MLB.com), trialing only Pittsburgh's
Konnor Griffin, has posted an elite .400/.471/.667 slash line with two doubles, one triple, and one stolen base over just six games. Even though McGonigle has yet to play a game at Triple-A, the budding star is looking quite comfortable against MLB-caliber pitching. Last summer, McGonigle spent most of his time at High-A and Double-A, where he held a cumulative .309/.411/.596 line with a 1.007 OPS, 19 HRs, and 10 SBs over 82 games. If he continues this pace in spring training, he could win the starting shortstop job over
Javier Baez and
Zach McKinstry.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 5, 2026
Cincinnati Reds infield prospect
Sal Stewart has flashed high power upside over his first taste of spring training games. The team's No. 1 prospect has posted an elite .429/.529/.929 line with one double and two long balls over just six games. He trails only infielder
Matt McLain for the team lead in spring training home runs. Stewart earned a taste of the majors later in the second half of last season and held his own, carrying a .255/.293/.545 line with one double and five home runs over a brief 18-game stint. Earlier in the campaign, Stewart launched 20 home runs over a 118-game stint between Double-A and Triple-A. Fantasy managers should expect Stewart to carve out an everyday role in the Cincinnati offense, seeing time at several infield positions. He is a prime breakout candidate in drafts as he possesses elite power upside with the potential to chip in double-digit stolen bases.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 5, 2026
Boston Red Sox left-handed pitching prospect
Connelly Early will likely begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Worcester. According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com,
Johan Oviedo is the current favorite to claim the starting position, which will push Early and fellow prospect
Payton Tolle to Triple-A. The 23-year-old looked quite comfortable in his first taste of MLB action, logging 19 1/3 innings to the tune of a 2.33 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a 29:4 K:BB. He struck out at least seven batters in all but one of his outings, and even hit the double-digit strikeout mark in his first career start against the Athletics. At Triple-A, the southpaw tossed 28 2/3 innings with a 2.83 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. Even if Early were to begin the season in the minors, he is a worthy stash target in deeper formats given the high strikeout upside he flashed in his first taste of MLB action.
--Andy SmithSource: Chris Cotillo
March 5, 2026
New York Yankees right-handed pitching prospect
Carlos Lagrange has looked very comfortable through the early part of spring training and could be in serious contention to begin the season on the MLB roster. The team's No. 2-ranked prospect on MLB.com has appeared in two games so far (one start) and logged 5 2/3 innings with one earned run (two total runs) and a stellar 1.06 WHIP. He has struck out six batters and allowed just two free passes. Last summer, Lagrange spent most of his time at Double-A Somerset, where he logged 78 1/3 innings with a strong 3.22 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and a 104:50 K:BB. While he possesses immense strikeout upside, his weaker command has limited his production. If Lagrange continues this early success in camp, he could earn a spot on the Opening Day roster with both
Carlos Rodon (elbow) and
Gerrit Cole (elbow) set to miss the start of the season.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 5, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect
Ryan Waldschmidt has made a strong case for a starting job early in spring training and is quickly approaching sleeper territory in drafts. Through his first six contests, Waldschmidt has posted a .316/.350/.632 slash line with three doubles, one home run, and one stolen base. Even though Waldschmidt has yet to step foot on a Triple-A diamond, the team's top prospect is in serious contention to crack the Opening Day roster. Last season, he spent time at High- and Double-A and posted a cumulative .289/.419/.473 line with a .892 OPS, 18 home runs, and 29 stolen bases. With
Corbin Carroll (hand) in question for Opening Day and
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (knee) set to miss the start of the season, Waldschmidt could hold high-end early-season value in all formats.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 4, 2026
The Athletics are open to reuniting with
Kyler Murray, who was the ninth overall selection in the 2018 MLB draft out of Oklahoma, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. Murray ultimately chose football over baseball and was taken first overall in the 2019 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals will be releasing the 28-year-old QB after seven seasons with the organization, though. The A's retained Murray's baseball rights in the event he decides to return to baseball. Murray should have plenty of suitors in free agency in the NFL this offseason, which makes it unlikely that he'll give up football in favor of baseball in 2026. He was regarded as a five-tool player on the diamond, however, after hitting .296 with 10 home runs and 47 RBI in 51 games for the Sooners in 2018. The New York Jets are a team that is reportedly looking into Murray.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
March 4, 2026
Houston Astros shortstop
Jeremy Pena (finger) suffered a small fracture in one of his fingers and will miss at least the first round of the World Baseball Classic, according to Dionisio Soldevila. It doesn't sound like it's too serious, but this will also put the 28-year-old's availability for the start of the 2026 regular season up in the air. If Pena opens the year on the injured list,
Carlos Correa would likely move over to the 6, opening up starting duties at the hot corner for
Isaac Paredes. Pena was a first-time All-Star last year, slashing .304/.363/.477 with a career-high .840 OPS, 17 home runs, 62 RBI, 68 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases in 125 games played over 543 plate appearances. He was pretty productive for the Astros and fantasy managers despite missing time with oblique and rib injuries. Pena is a more modest five-category contributor at a premium position, but he won't cost as much as the elite names on draft day. He could be even more of a value pick due to his finger injury.
UPDATE: Pena will undergo X-rays after a ground ball took a bad hop and struck a fingertip during Wednesday's exhibition game.--Keith HernandezSource: Dionisio Soldevila
March 4, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks reliever
Drey Jameson could be a key piece of the team's bullpen in 2026 after injuries have left the staff thin, as
A.J. Puk (elbow) is not expected to return until July and
Justin Martinez (elbow) is targeting an August return. That leaves closing duties to the likes of
Kevin Ginkel and
Paul Sewald, who combined for five total saves last season, as Sewald dealt with a shoulder injury for most of the year and has been less effective since his 34-save campaign in 2023. Jameson may not get a crack at closing duties, but if he does, the right-hander has the stuff to be effective, including a fastball that can touch 99 mph. The former 34th-overall draft pick experienced elbow pain last year that caused him to be shut down in June, but he was able to strike out 19 batters in 12 2/3 innings pitched at Triple-A before that and was healthy enough to pitch again in the Arizona Fall League. The 28-year-old has looked good so far this spring, too, punching out three batters in two innings of work, with his four-seamer topping out at 98.7 mph. Jameson is not rosterable in most fantasy leagues at the moment, but he's a name to keep on the radar should Ginkel or Sewald falter early on.
--Jarod RuppSource: Baseball Savant
March 4, 2026
San Francisco Giants first baseman
Rafael Devers (hamstring) told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that he's feeling much better. "I feel good!" Devers said. He's unsure if he'll be able to play in the team's next Cactus League game on Friday, but this weekend might be more likely for a return. The 29-year-old left-handed hitter was scratched from the spring training lineup last Friday with a hamstring injury and was also shut down from all baseball activities. Devers will still be considered day-to-day until he gets back on the field, but it sounds like he dodged a bullet and should be ready for Opening Day in late March. The three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger hit only .236/.347/.460 in 90 games for the Giants after being acquired in a trade with Boston, but he still finished with 35 homers and 109 RBI in 163 games played. Devers will be playing a full season in one of the more pitcher-friendly parks in baseball, but he's still a top-10 fantasy first baseman with a solid bat and safe floor.
--Keith HernandezSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Susan Slusser
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