March 25, 2026
The Toronto Blue Jays placed right-handed pitching prospect
Trey Yesavage (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to March 22) on Wednesday with a right-shoulder impingement, according to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. The Blue Jays are being extremely careful with Yesavage's workload after he joined the big-league roster late in the regular season and pitched into the World Series for the team last fall. It's not a serious injury, and the 22-year-old was able to pitch on the back fields at spring training on Wednesday. It's unclear when exactly Toronto will allow him to make his 2026 season debut, but it should be at some point in April. Left-hander
Eric Lauer is the biggest beneficiary for the Jays with Yesavage,
Jose Berrios (elbow), and
Shane Bieber (elbow) all starting on the IL. Yesavage was a top-25 MLB prospect at the conclusion of last regular season, and then he proceeded to display his upside by striking out 12 against the Dodgers in the World Series. The former 24th overall pick creates deception with his delivery and features a three-pitch mix. Lack of control is probably the biggest knock on Yesavage. He'll have workload limitations early on, but long-term, he's one of the highest-upside young starting arms in baseball.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet.ca - Arden Zwelling
March 25, 2026
The Boston Red Sox released veteran infielder
Brendan Rodgers (shoulder) on Wednesday, according to Brendan Campbell of BloggingTheRedSox.com. Rodgers was in camp as a non-roster invite in spring training before suffering a right-shoulder injury earlier this month that required season-ending surgery. The 29-year-old will now rehab for all of the 2026 campaign and hope he can latch on with another team on a likely minor-league deal going into spring training of next year. The former third overall pick by the Colorado Rockies in 2015 only appeared in 43 major-league games with the Boston Red Sox in 2025, going 22-for-115 (.191) with two home runs, 11 RBI, and 12 runs scored in 128 plate appearances. Rodgers' best season came in 2021 in Colorado, when he slashed .284/.328/.470 with 15 home runs, 51 RBI, and 49 runs scored in 102 games played. Injuries have derailed his career and left him off the fantasy radar in all formats, including dynasty/keeper leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: BloggingTheRedSox.com - Brendan Campbell
March 25, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander
Ryan Pepiot (hip) saw a doctor on Wednesday about his right-hip inflammation and is "in a really good spot," according to Ryan Bass. Pepiot will rest for a few days and should resume throwing this weekend. He is starting the season on the 15-day injured list and won't be with the team for their first road trip, but the expectation is that he'll rejoin the starting rotation during the first homestand, which starts on Monday, April 6, against the Chicago Cubs. Pepiot's injury has opened the door for right-hander
Joe Boyle to join the team's Opening Day rotation. In his second year with the Rays in 2025, Pepiot went 11-12 with a career-high 3.86 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 167:61 K:BB in 167 2/3 innings over a career-high 31 starts. Pepiot mostly relies on his fastball/changeup mix to fool hitters and has a 25.3% strikeout rate in his four MLB seasons. Fantasy managers should consider him a decent No. 4/5 hurler who could benefit from the move back to Tropicana Field.
--Keith HernandezSource: Ryan Bass
March 25, 2026
San Francisco Giants outfielder
Heliot Ramos is starting in left field and batting sixth for the Giants on Opening night at Oracle Park on Wednesday against the visiting New York Yankees and left-hander
Max Fried, according to MLB.com. It's a tough matchup, and many DFS managers won't feel comfortable pulling the trigger on Ramos in the first game of the regular season, especially since he's hitless in eight career at-bats against Fried. On a random note, Ramos becomes the first Giants left fielder to make back-to-back Opening Day starts since Barry Bonds in 2007. The 26-year-old former first-rounder in 2017 has back-to-back 20-homer seasons for the Giants as well, and he also cut his strikeout rate considerably in 2025. But with
Luis Arraez now in town and hitting leadoff, Ramos' counting stats could take a big hit while residing further down the Giants' batting order. Ramos might have already reached his fantasy ceiling, especially at pitcher-friendly Oracle Park.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 25, 2026
New York Yankees first baseman
Ben Rice is hitting cleanup on Opening night on Wednesday at Oracle Park against the San Francisco Giants and right-hander
Logan Webb, according to MLB.com. Rice is entrusted in the middle of New York's potent lineup after breaking out in 2025 to the tune of a .255/.337/.499 slash line, .836 OPS, 26 home runs, 65 RBI, and 74 runs scored in 530 plate appearances over 138 regular-season games. He has only faced Webb three times in his career and has one hit and an RBI. Not only does Rice have 30-homer potential at Yankee Stadium from the left side of the plate, but he also has catcher eligibility for fantasy managers. In 16 Grapefruit League games in spring training, Rice went 11-for-46 (.239) with two home runs, five RBI, seven runs scored, and a stolen base. He's as good a DFS selection on Opening night in San Fran as any Yankees hitter.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 25, 2026
San Francisco Giants outfielder
Jerar Encarnacion is not in the team's starting lineup on Opening Day on Wednesday evening at Oracle Park against the visiting New York Yankees and left-hander
Max Fried, according to Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Rafael Devers is serving as the Giants' designated hitter, with infielder
Casey Schmitt making the start at first base. The 28-year-old Encarnacion could find playing time difficult to come by again in 2026 after playing in just 19 games in 2025 and slashing .200/.214/.364 with two home runs, seven RBI, and five runs scored in just 56 plate appearances. He dealt with hamstring, hand, and oblique injuries. Encarnacion makes very loud contact when he impacts the baseball, but he struggles to make consistent contact and has a history of injuries. He's out of minor-league options and will have to produce when he's given the opportunities in 2026 if he wants to stick around in the Giants' organization. Encarnacion has hit just .216 with 10 homers and 40 RBI in his 77 big-league games over three seasons with the Giants and Marlins.
--Keith HernandezSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Shayna Rubin
March 25, 2026
The Atlanta Braves placed catcher
Sean Murphy (hip) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with right-hip labrum repair, according to MLB.com. Murphy was always expected to begin the 2026 regular season on the shelf, and now it's official. He underwent surgery on his right hip in September of last year and isn't expected to be ready to make his season debut this year until sometime in May. It obviously makes Murphy much less attractive in fantasy baseball, especially with
Drake Baldwin and
Jonah Heim totally capable of handling the catching duties in Atlanta. The 31-year-old veteran backstop was able to take on-field batting practice on March 9, but he still has plenty of boxes to check in his rehab, including defensive work and running. Murphy was a first-time All-Star in his first year in Atlanta in 2023, but he has played in a combined 166 games the last two years while hitting just .197/.293/.384 with a .676 OPS in 601 plate appearances. When healthy, a lesser role could be coming for Murphy between catcher and designated hitter, and there's no guarantee the pop returns after having hip surgery.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 25, 2026
The Seattle Mariners placed right-hander
Bryce Miller (oblique) on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday with a left-oblique strain, according to MLB.com's Daniel Kramer. Miller only made one appearance during spring training after injuring his oblique late last month. The good news, though, is that the 27-year-old hasn't had any setbacks after throwing a couple of bullpen sessions in camp. Miller still needs a couple of weeks to build his arm back up, but barring a setback, he figures to rejoin Seattle's starting rotation before the end of April. In the meantime,
Emerson Hancock will take Miller's spot in the team's rotation. The former fourth-round pick of the Mariners in 2021 out of Texas A&M went 12-8 with a 2.94 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 171:45 K:BB in 31 starts in his second big-league season before dealing with injuries and posting a 5.68 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in just 18 starts in 2025 due to injuries. Miller is pitching with a bone spur in his right elbow as well, making him more of a risk in 2026, but he's still a worthwhile IL stash for his upside in mixed fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
March 25, 2026
The Seattle Mariners placed shortstop
J.P. Crawford (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with right-shoulder inflammation, according to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. Crawford received a cortisone injection last week for a shoulder injury that he's dealt with since the start of spring training in February. He managed to play in seven Cactus League games, though, going 2-for-16 (.125) with three RBI and a stolen base. The good news for the M's is that they could have their starting shortstop back when he's eligible to come off the IL on Wednesday, April 1. Until then,
Leo Rivas will have added value in AL-only leagues as middle-infield depth as the starter at the 6 for Seattle. Crawford's injury isn't serious, but it's another knock on the former first-rounder and his limited fantasy upside. He had double-digit home runs (12) for just the second time in his nine-year MLB career in 2025, and he's never had double-digit stolen bases in 930 career games.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
March 25, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder
Lars Nootbaar (heels) was placed on the 60-day injured list on Wednesday. This means the left-handed hitter will be out until at least late May as he recovers from offseason surgery to both of his heels. The team was hoping to avoid a 60-day IL stint, but instead,
Nathan Church,
Thomas Saggese, and
Jose Fermin will compete for playing time in left field to begin the year. When Nootbaar returns, he does offer some pop after having reached at least 12 home runs the last four seasons, along with a solid OBP thanks to a strong walk rate, but you may be able to find higher-upside options on the waiver wire even when he's back in the lineup.
--Jarod RuppSource: St. Louis Cardinals
March 25, 2026
Baltimore Orioles outfield prospect
Dylan Beavers (knee) said he "peeled back" on activity that irritated his right knee/quadriceps and has been receiving treatment, according to Jake Rill of MLB.com. Beavers had a full work day on Tuesday, including running the bases, and "feels ready to go" for Opening Day on Thursday against the Minnesota Twins. In 11 Grapefruit League games this spring before his injury, Beavers went 7-for-33 (.212) with a homer, four doubles, two RBI, four runs scored, one walk, and 10 strikeouts in 34 plate appearances. He played in 35 games for the O's in his MLB debut in 2025, hitting .227 (25-for-110) with four homers, 14 RBI, 16 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 137 plate appearances. It remains to be seen how big a role Beavers will have in the outfield in Baltimore to begin his first full year in the big leagues, but he's a high-floor prospect who had a .304 batting average, 18 home runs, and 23 steals in 94 games at Triple-A Norfolk in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Jake Rill
March 25, 2026
Baltimore Orioles second baseman
Jackson Holliday (hand) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday. The left-handed slugger is working his way back from a broken hamate bone that he suffered back in February and has been making steady progress, even taking live batting practice last week. A minimal stay on the IL appears to be in order, so expect an announcement of a rehab assignment soon, which would likely take place at Triple-A Norfolk. The former first overall draft pick debuted in 2024 and showed signs of improvement in 2025, dropping his K% from 33.2 percent to 21.6 percent as his contact rate went from 70.3 percent to 78.7 percent, resulting in a wRC+ that went from 62 to 96. If the 22-year-old can continue to improve, he could be on the verge of a very fantasy-friendly third season in the big leagues.
--Jarod RuppSource: Jacob Calvin Meyer
March 25, 2026
New York Yankees starting pitcher
Clarke Schmidt (elbow) is expected to begin throwing bullpen sessions at the end of March and could progress to throwing to live hitters in April if all goes well. The right-hander is continuing his recovery from Tommy John surgery that he underwent last July, and his current track puts him on pace to return to the big league mound sometime in the second half of the season, so long as he does not encounter any setbacks. The former first-round draft pick has been a relatively effective pitcher for the Yankees over the last few years, but he also missed a lot of time in 2024 due to injury. The 6-foot-1 hurler recorded a 3.07 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 15.8 percent K-BB% in 30 starts between 2024 and 2025, and if he can regain that form, he could be a worthy stash candidate or waiver add later in the year.
--Jarod RuppSource: MLB.com
March 25, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman
Freddie Freeman batted fifth in the lineup in Monday's Cactus League game against the Angels with left-hander
Reid Detmers on the mound, something manager Dave Roberts stated he would do with his lineup against southpaws to begin the season. Freeman will typically bat fourth, and catcher
Will Smith will bat fifth, but against lefties, they'll be swapped. It is somewhat of a head-scratcher given Freeman's ability to hit lefties just fine, even better than Smith, both for his career and in 2025, so there hasn't been a dropoff in effectiveness from the veteran slugger. We'll see how long the change holds up, but regardless, Freeman and Smith should remain plenty productive in a loaded Los Angeles lineup.
--Jarod RuppSource: Jack Harris
March 25, 2026
Boston Red Sox first baseman
Triston Casas (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday. This was not a surprise as the 6-foot-4 slugger was unable to participate in any Grapefruit League action as he continues to recover from a ruptured left patellar tendon that he suffered in 2025. He recently faced live hitters and has been cleared to run the bases and slide, but with no rehab assignment scheduled yet, it's not certain when he might be able to return to the majors. Mid-to-late May is probably a good estimate based on the usual timeline, but there is no rush as the team acquired
Willson Contreras in the offseason to man first base, and before his injury last year, the left-handed hitter was slashing just .182/.277/.303, so they may want to make sure he's fully knocked the rust off before he competes for at-bats with the big league club. The former first-rounder does have some power, though, as he belted 24 home runs in 2023 in 132 games, so the 26-year-old's progress is certainly worth monitoring for fantasy.
--Jarod RuppSource: Boston Red Sox
RADIO
