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
March 23, 2026
The Milwaukee Brewers announced on Monday that right-handed pitching prospect
Brandon Sproat has made the Opening Day starting rotation, and he will make his first start of the year on Sunday, March 29, in the final game of the series against the Chicago White Sox. Sproat will only be making his fifth major-league start against the White Sox after posting a 4.79 ERA (2.80 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and seven walks in 20 2/3 innings over four starts in 2025 with the New York Mets in his MLB debut. He came to Milwaukee in the offseason in the trade that sent pitcher
Freddy Peralta to Queens. The 25-year-old was a late bloomer in the upper levels of the minors and could be headed for a trip back to the minors with the Brewers if he isn't consistent early in the year. Sproat has a rotation spot locked down, though, boosting his single-year and dynasty value. He'll be a matchup-based streaming option next week against the White Sox.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
March 23, 2026
San Diego Padres right-hander
Nick Pivetta is scheduled to take the ball on Opening Day this Thursday at Petco Park against the visiting Detroit Tigers. He'll be opposed by reigning American League Cy Young winner
Tarik Skubal. Pivetta earned the Opening Day nod after having a career-best season last year in his first year in San Diego. The nine-year veteran went 13-5 with a 2.87 ERA (3.49 FIP) and 0.98 WHIP with 190 strikeouts and 50 walks in 181 2/3 innings over 31 regular-season starts. He definitely didn't look as good this spring, allowing 12 runs (11 earned) on 19 hits (four homers) while walking six and striking out nine in 12 innings over four Cactus League starts. Pivetta reportedly dealt with some arm fatigue this spring, but he should be fine for close to a full workload on Thursday. Against a strong Tigers offense on Opening Day after struggling this spring, DFS managers will probably be scared off Pivetta as a starter on Thursday.
--Keith HernandezSource: San Diego Padres
March 23, 2026
Houston Astros shortstop
Jeremy Pena (finger) traveled with the Astros back to Houston, where he is currently taking batting practice at Daikin Park, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The Astros have not ruled Pena out for Opening Day. The 28-year-old took swings over the weekend in camp and apparently didn't suffer any setbacks after fracturing the tip of his right ring finger during an exhibition game for the Dominican Republic before the World Baseball Classic. Pena is recovering nicely, but if he isn't cleared to face live pitching before Thursday, there's a good chance he won't be in the Opening Day lineup against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels. It's still possible he begins the 2026 campaign on the injured list. Pena's injury shouldn't negatively affect his fantasy value too much to begin the year. As a low-end starting shortstop in fantasy, Pena has 30-30 potential if all the pieces fall in the right place this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
March 23, 2026
The Milwaukee Brewers announced on Monday that right-hander
Brandon Woodruff (lat) will make his 2026 season debut on Tuesday, March 31, against the Tampa Bay Rays, according to Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Woodruff got a late start to the 2025 season while recovering from right-shoulder surgery, and then he injured his lat late in the year. It's why the Brew Crew played it safe with the 33-year-old veteran this spring. The good news for fantasy managers who are rolling the dice on Woodruff this year, though, is that he will avoid opening the regular season on the injured list. In just five Cactus League innings in spring training, Woodruff allowed three earned runs while walking two and striking out seven in two starts. DFS managers will probably want to avoid Woodruff early on because of his workload restrictions, but once he's fully stretched out, he can be a high-upside fantasy starter in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
March 23, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander
Zack Wheeler (shoulder) has done so well in his rehab this spring that he will officially begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Saturday and throw three innings at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Wheeler got the green light to start a rehab assignment this weekend after feeling good during a 29-pitch simulated game in camp on Monday. The 35-year-old veteran had surgery for venous thoracic outlet syndrome on Sept. 23, but he has looked great while ramping up this spring, and the Phillies are optimistic that he will be able to make his 2026 debut before the end of April. The Phillies already announced that Wheeler will start the season on the 15-day injured list. Although Wheeler is more of a risk in fantasy baseball drafts this spring, his ADP continues to rise with all of the reports on his rehab being excellent. RotoBaller has him currently ranked as the No. 26 fantasy starting pitcher.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Gelb
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