March 20, 2026
Los Angeles Angels outfielder
Mike Trout (hand) underwent a precautionary X-ray on his hand on Friday, but it came back negative, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. Trout was hit by a pitch in Friday's Cactus League game against the Chicago White Sox in his first plate appearance. The 34-year-old veteran stayed in the game to run the bases but was later pulled and sent for precautionary tests. With X-rays negative, the future Hall of Famer will be just fine for Opening Day next week. The three-time MVP and 11-time All-Star came into Friday's game hitting just .219 (7-for-32) with no homers, four doubles, two RBI, one run scored, three walks, and nine strikeouts in 12 Cactus League games. Trout was a lock for a first-round fantasy selection for years on end, but he's now ranked as RotoBaller's No. 43 outfielder because of his inability to stay healthy in recent seasons. Since the start of the 2021 season, Trout has played in over 100 games just twice. He had 26 homers in 556 plate appearances in 2025, but his injuries have taken their toll.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Rhett Bollinger
March 20, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies right-handed pitching prospect
Andrew Painter has been told that he has made the team's 2026 Opening Day roster, as expected, according to Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Painter will start the Phillies' fifth game of the season on Tuesday, March 31, against the division-rival Washington Nationals. That will be the 22-year-old's major-league debut as well. Painter was a high-end pitching prospect from the day the Phillies took him 13th overall in 2021. Unfortunately, his 2023 and 2024 seasons were wiped out due to Tommy John surgery. Painter began to work his way back last year in the minors and looked good, but he ultimately never made the leap to the big leagues. Painter's stuff has been on point this spring, and he allowed three earned runs while walking only one and fanning five in 7 2/3 Grapefruit League innings. The sky is the limit for Painter as he embarks on his first major-league season, but he'll need to be pitching well early on to keep his rotation spot when
Zack Wheeler (shoulder) is ready to return at some point next month.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Scott Lauber
March 20, 2026
The Tampa Bay Rays optioned right-hander
Joe Boyle to the minors on Friday, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Boyle was competing for a spot in Tampa's bullpen to begin the 2026 regular season, but he'll instead start at Triple-A Durham after posting a 3.72 ERA and 1.65 WHIP with eight walks and 16 strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings over his four Grapefruit League appearances this spring. The strikeout upside with the 26-year-old is apparent, but the Rays want him to go down to the farm to get stretched out as a starter. In addition to building stamina, Boyle will work on commanding his electric stuff on the mound. The former fifth-rounder by the Cincinnati Reds in 2020 out of Notre Dame spent the first two years of his MLB career with the A's before posting a 4.67 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 58 strikeouts and 28 walks in 52 appearances in 2025 in Tampa in 13 outings (nine starts). Fantasy managers in mixed leagues can leave Boyle on the waiver wire for the time being.
--Keith HernandezSource: Tampa Bay Rays - Marc Topkin
March 20, 2026
Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said on Friday that shortstop
Jeremy Pena (finger) will swing a bat in the next two days, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Pena's status for Opening Day next week is up in the air after he fractured the tip of his right ring finger while fielding a ground ball for Team Dominican Republic in an exhibition game for the World Baseball Classic two weeks ago. The 28-year-old has been doing baseball activities, though, and he'll take an important step this weekend by swinging the bat again. How Pena feels after swinging will likely determine if he'll be in Houston's starting lineup on Opening Day. If Pena isn't ready, which seems likely,
Carlos Correa will slide over to the 6, while
Isaac Paredes will step in at third base. Pena is a low-end No. 1 starting shortstop in fantasy. He provides a solid counting-stat floor and has 20-20 potential, having stolen exactly 20 bases each of the last two years and reaching a career-high 22 homers in his rookie season in 2022. Pena's finger injury this spring shouldn't drastically affect his fantasy stock going into the 2026 season.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
March 20, 2026
San Francisco Giants outfielder
Harrison Bader (hamstring) is considered day-to-day with left-hamstring tightness, according to Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle. It doesn't sound like something overly serious, but with the Giants' 2026 regular season starting next Wednesday against the New York Yankees, it's something to watch with Bader. Right now, manager Tony Vitello is optimistic that the veteran outfielder will be ready for Opening Day. The Giants will most likely have the 31-year-old skip their final Cactus League game on Saturday to make sure he's good to go next week. Bader will be an everyday player in San Fran in 2026 after setting career-highs in home runs (17) and OPS (.796) in 146 combined games with the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies in 146 games played. He also added a modest 11 steals and 54 RBI. Bader was fortunate to post the numbers he did when considering his below-average batted-ball metrics. Fantasy managers should expect regression at pitcher-friendly Oracle Park in 2026. RotoBaller has Bader as the No. 81-ranked fantasy outfielder.
--Keith HernandezSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Shayna Rubin
March 20, 2026
Miami Marlins right-hander
Janson Junk will open the year in the team's starting rotation after left-hander
Braxton Garrett was optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday, according to Craig Mish of the Sports Grid. Junk won the competition for the No. 5 rotation spot with Garrett despite allowing five earned runs on seven hits (two homers) while walking two and striking out six in five innings over three Grapefruit League appearances this spring. Garrett has more long-term fantasy upside, but the Marlins will keep him in the minors to start the year so that they can manage his workload after he missed all of 2025 while recovering from left-elbow surgery. Junk, 30, went 6- 4 with the Fish last year with a 4.17 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 77:13 K:BB in a career-high 110 innings over 21 outings (16 starts). Sixteen of his 23 career MLB starts came last year. He's better-suited in a long-relief role and could be sent there sooner than later, but to open the season, he could be a cheap, matchup-based streaming option in deeper fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sports Grid - Craig Mish
March 20, 2026
The Miami Marlins optioned left-hander
Braxton Garrett to Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday, according to Isaac Azout of Fish on First. It means that right-hander
Janson Junk has won the fifth starter role in Miami to begin the year. Garrett has more fantasy upside because of his strikeout potential, but the Marlins have decided to give the 28-year-old southpaw a longer runway to begin the 2026 season after he missed the entire 2025 campaign due to left-elbow surgery. In two Grapefruit League appearances this spring, Garrett allowed three earned runs while walking three and striking out three in four innings pitched. Durability has been an issue with the former seventh overall pick in 2016, but he showed plenty of potential in 2022 and 2023 in Miami with a 3.63 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and a 246:53 K:BB in 247 2/3 innings over 48 outings (47 starts). Fantasy managers in 12-team leagues can probably ignore Garrett for now, and those stashing him in deep-mixed and NL-only affairs must practice patience and expect plenty of workload management in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Fish On First - Isaac Azout
March 20, 2026
Baltimore Orioles second baseman
Jackson Holliday (hand) took live batting practice in camp on Thursday for the first time since having surgery on his right hand, and he will do so again on Friday, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. Holliday is "making great progress," although he's still expected to begin the 2026 regular season next week on the injured list while rehabbing at Triple-A Norfolk. But barring a setback there, the 22-year-old shouldn't have to miss much time to begin his third year in the big leagues. The former first overall pick in the 2022 MLB draft showed improvement in his first full big-league season in 2025, hitting .242/.314/.375 with a .690 OPS, 17 home runs, 55 RBI, 70 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases in 649 plate appearances and 149 games played. Holliday looked overmatched initially in 2024, but he cut his strikeout rate significantly last year and is probably a good bet for his first 20-20 campaign in 2026 if he stays healthy. He's RotoBaller's No. 12-ranked fantasy second baseman.
--Keith HernandezSource: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
March 20, 2026
Detroit Tigers shortstop prospect
Kevin McGonigle is a "toss-up" to make the team's Opening Day roster, per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Petzold reports that the team is not planning to decide on McGonigle until "the day before Opening Day or the morning of Opening Day." The 21-year-old is considered to be one of the top prospects in baseball, although he's yet to log a plate appearance above Double-A. Across 397 plate appearances split between three Minor League levels in 2025, McGonigle slashed .305/.408/.583 with 19 home runs, 80 RBI, 68 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases while recording a 14.9% walk rate and an 11.6% strikeout rate. The Tigers do not appear to have a clear shortstop option blocking McGonigle's path to everyday at-bats, so it may simply be a matter of time before he's in the big leagues, even if he misses out on the Opening Day roster. Fantasy managers may be wise to hold McGonigle for as long as they can should he start 2026 in Triple-A, given his well-rounded profile at the plate.
--Will BradySource: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
March 20, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher
Shane McClanahan impressed in a Spring Training start against the Boston Red Sox on Friday, throwing 73 pitches over five shutout innings and recording four strikeouts while allowing three hits and two walks. Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, McClanahan topped out at 96.8 mph on his fastball. The 28-year-old left-hander has not pitched in an MLB game since August of 2023. McClanahan first underwent Tommy John surgery, and then missed all of 2025 after a nerve issue was discovered in his triceps. Based on his extensive injury track record, expectations for McClanahan's workload and production should be tempered heading into 2026. Still, McClanahan has been an excellent pitcher when healthy, recording a 3.02 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 28% strikeout rate across 404 2/3 career innings (74 starts). His profile comes with significant risk, but McClanahan could provide standout fantasy production when on the mound in 2026.
--Will BradySource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
March 20, 2026
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher
Grayson Rodriguez (arm) played "light catch" on Friday, per Jeff Fletcher of SoCal News Group. Fletcher also reports that Rodriguez said he's not worried about a major injury, although it's still to be determined whether or not the 26-year-old will open the season on the Injured List. Injury troubles are nothing new for Rodriguez, who missed the entirety of 2025 due to an elbow issue. Rodriguez has shown he can be a productive pitcher when healthy, as he posted a 13-4 record with a 3.86 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 130 strikeouts across 116 2/3 innings (20 starts) in 2024. It's also a good sign that Rodriguez has not been shut down from throwing at this point. However, Rodriguez's track record of poor health, combined with his current arm troubles, makes it difficult for fantasy managers to trust him heading into 2026.
--Will BradySource: SoCal News Group - Jeff Fletcher
March 20, 2026
The Washington Nationals optioned outfielder
Dylan Crews to Triple-A Rochester on Friday, per Mark Zuckerman of Nats Journal. Barring an injury, it appears as though the 24-year-old former top prospect will open the 2026 season in the Minors. Crews struggled mightily across 322 plate appearances with the Nationals in 2025, slashing .208/280/.352 with 10 home runs, 27 RBI, 43 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases. Still, his demotion comes as a surprise, as Crews is widely considered to be one of the team's building blocks for the future as they enter another rebuilding season. Zuckerman points to Crews' spring troubles as fuel for this decision. Across 34 Grapefruit League plate appearances, Crews had recorded just three hits, none of which went for extra bases. While Crews could easily hit his way back to the big leagues with a few weeks of strong production at Triple-A, his fantasy outlook heading into 2026 has now been thrown into question.
--Will BradySource: Nats Journal - Mark Zuckerman
March 20, 2026
Seattle Mariners catcher
Cal Raleigh had one of the all-time great offensive seasons by a backstop in 2025, slashing .247/.359/.589 with 60 home runs, 125 RBI, 114 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases across 705 plate appearances. With a career 15.4% barrel rate and 153 career home runs to his name across 623 total MLB games, Raleigh's ability to hit for power is not up for debate. He also lowered his strikeout rate to a career-best 26.7% in 2025, which could help his batting average in 2026 stay closer to his 2025 mark than his career average of .226. While Seattle will deploy Raleigh at designated hitter on days when he needs a break from catching, it may be difficult for him to reach 700 plate appearances for the second straight year. However, even if his counting stats regress across the board, Raleigh still projects as the number one catcher in fantasy baseball by a significant margin. Managers will have to pay a steep price in drafts to get Raleigh on their teams, but his upside relative to his positional peers may make him worth it.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 20, 2026
Los Angeles Angels outfielder
Josh Lowe (oblique) is starting in left field and will hit fifth in Friday's Cactus League game against the Chicago White Sox, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. It's the first time that Lowe will play the outfield since injuring his oblique. Lowe had been serving as the designated hitter to ease his way back into action, and he even hit a grand slam in a Cactus League game on Wednesday. The 28-year-old left-handed slugger looks to be just fine for Opening Day next week. Staying healthy has been an issue for Lowe in his five-year major-league career, playing in over 108 games just one time. He hit 20 home runs and stole 32 bases in his best season in 2023 with the Tampa Bay Rays, but he has just 21 combined home runs in the last two seasons while battling various oblique injuries. If he can stay healthy, Lowe has clear 20-20 potential in his new home in Anaheim as he likely rotates between outfield and designated-hitter duties.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Orange County Register - Jeff Fletcher
March 20, 2026
The Athletics optioned infielder
Zack Gelof to Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, according to the team. The A's will give Gelof a little more time to dial in his swing in the minors after he returned late to spring training this year after recovering from surgery to fix a dislocated right shoulder in the offseason. The 26-year-old former second-round pick in 2021 out of the University of Virginia hit .278 (5-for-18) in spring training with a double, RBI, five runs scored, three walks, and four strikeouts in six Cactus League games. Gelof appeared to be the second baseman of the future for the A's after his rookie season, but he led the league in strikeouts in 2024 and has struggled to stay healthy the last two years. In his three MLB seasons, Gelof has hit just .225/.287/.397 with a .684 OPS, 33 home runs, 88 RBI, 112 runs, and 40 stolen bases in 237 games. The A's aren't giving up on Gelof just yet, but he's going to need to prove it to regain playing time at the big-league level in 2026, and he must first stay healthy.
--Keith HernandezSource: A's Communications
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