March 22, 2026
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher
Mick Abel won a spot in his team's starting rotation to open 2026 with an impressive performance in Grapefruit League action. The 24-year-old recorded a 2.00 ERA and 0.83 WHIP with 23 strikeouts across 18 innings pitched. Abel was one of the key pieces the Twins received from the Philadelphia Phillies in last year's trade deadline deal for star reliever
Jhoan Duran. However, Abel struggled in a small sample size in 2025, posting a 6.23 ERA and 1.51 WHIP with 39 strikeouts across 39 innings split between Philadelphia and Minnesota. Walks have been a persistent issue for Abel to this point in his career. He recorded a 10.1% walk rate across 98 1/3 minor-league innings in 2025 and never recorded a single-digit walk rate in any of his four minor league seasons. Still, Abel logged an impressive 28.6% strikeout rate in the minors in 2025. If he can keep his walk rate under control, Abel could be an undervalued source of strikeouts for fantasy managers in 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 22, 2026
Veteran relief pitcher
Craig Kimbrel has been told he will not be on the New York Mets' Opening Day roster, per Mike Puma of the New York Post. Kimbrel signed a minor league deal with New York over the offseason in hopes of earning a role in the team's bullpen, but it appears he will start the year on the outside looking in. Across six appearances this spring, the 37-year-old recorded a 4.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and five strikeouts. While Kimbrel has extensive experience as a high-leverage reliever, command has become an issue for him in recent seasons. He posted a 14.3% walk rate across a limited 12-inning sample size in 2025 and a 13.4% walk rate across 52 1/3 innings in 2024. Kimbrel's closing experience makes him a candidate to earn some ninth-inning work wherever he lands, but he profiles better in middle relief at this point in his career.
--Will BradySource: New York Post - Mike Puma
March 22, 2026
Free-agent left-hander
Ryan Borucki and the San Francisco Giants agreed to an undisclosed one-year major-league deal on Saturday, sources told Robert Murray of FanSided. Borucki drew strong interest around the league over the winter and eventually signed with the Chicago White Sox before opting out after not being added to the Opening Day roster. The 31-year-old veteran threw six scoreless innings in the Cactus League with the White Sox with eight strikeouts and one walk in six appearances before he opted out of his deal with Chicago. The veteran southpaw will give the Giants another lefty in their bullpen. He has eight years of big-league experience and a 4.28 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 19.7% strikeout rate, and 8.9% walk rate in 187 appearances (21 starts) in his career with the Toronto Blue Jays, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Seattle Mariners. Borucki had a 4.63 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 35 innings with Pittsburgh and Toronto a season ago.
--Keith HernandezSource: FanSided - Robert Murray
March 22, 2026
Utility man
Dylan Moore and the Philadelphia Phillies agreed to an undisclosed major-league deal on Saturday, league sources told Will Sammon of The Athletic. Moore triggered the opt-out clause in his previous contract earlier this week, but he's now back with the organization and is expected to be on the team's Opening Day roster. The 33-year-old veteran recently fouled a ball off his foot during spring training, but it wasn't serious, and he should be fine for Opening Day on Thursday. The former seventh-round pick by the Texas Rangers in 2015 out of Central Florida will mostly be a bat off the bench for the Phillies in 2026, limiting his fantasy appeal to deeper leagues for his speed primarily. Moore struggled with a .201/.267/.374 slash line, .642 OPS, 11 home runs, 25 RBI, and 14 steals in 2025 with the Mariners and Rangers, but he did have a career-high 32 stolen bases in 2024 and is worth a bench stash in NL-only leagues for his speed on the basepaths.
UPDATE: Moore is back in the Grapefruit League lineup on Sunday against the Yankees.--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Will Sammon
March 22, 2026
New York Mets outfielder
Mike Tauchman (knee) is dealing with a meniscus tear in his left knee and will require surgery, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. Tauchman will begin the 2026 season on the injured list and, at the very least, will miss the first month of the year. If the 35-year-old veteran needs a full trim of his meniscus, it will be a much longer absence for the veteran outfielder. It's a tough way for Tauchman to begin his tenure in New York after he was hitting well in spring training, going 7-for-29 (.241) with a homer, three doubles, six RBI, and five runs scored in 13 Grapefruit League games. Tauchman was likely ticketed for a platoon role, at best, in right field with the Mets to begin the season if he wasn't injured. His injury should open up more consistent playing time for outfield prospect
Carson Benge. Tauchman has double-digit home runs in just one of his eight major-league seasons, and it came all the way back in 2019 with the Yankees.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Mike Puma
March 22, 2026
Houston Astros manager Joe Espada hasn't ruled out shortstop
Jeremy Pena (finger) from being ready for Opening Day next week, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Pena will hit again on Sunday in camp as he tries to get himself ready for Thursday's game against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels. The 28-year-old suffered a fracture in the tip of his right ring finger while playing in an exhibition game for Team Dominican Republic in the lead-up to the World Baseball Classic. Pena was cleared to swing a bat with both hands on Friday, though. The next step will be for Pena to face live pitching, and it's unclear if there is enough time for the team to clear him to play on Opening Day. If Pena isn't ready for Thursday, it shouldn't be long before he's cleared to return to his duties as Houston's starting shortstop. Despite the injury, Pena is still in play as a low-end starting fantasy shortstop. He was a first-time All-Star in 2025, slashing .304/.363/.477 with an .840 OPS, 17 homers, 62 RBI, and 20 steals in 125 games played.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
March 22, 2026
Houston Astros outfielder
Zach Dezenzo (elbow) will not travel back to Houston with the team after their Grapefruit League game on Sunday, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Dezenzo will remain in West Palm Beach, Fla., to rehab his elbow. The good news is that Dezenzo can hit without issue, but he's not going to be ready for Opening Day next week after injuring his right elbow while playing for Team Italy during the World Baseball Classic. When fully healthy, the 25-year-old is merely a backup at designated hitter behind
Yordan Alvarez and at the corner-outfield spots in Houston. The former 12th-round pick in 2022 out of Ohio State has played in only 53 games at the major-league level the last two years and has hit .244/.305/.369 with a .673 OPS, four home runs, 18 RBI, and 22 runs scored in 174 plate appearances. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues can ignore Dezenzo for the start of the 2026 season.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
March 22, 2026
Miami Marlins outfielder
Esteury Ruiz (oblique) has been diagnosed with a high-grade left oblique strain and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. Ruiz will be placed on the 10-day injured list prior to Opening Day, and given his timeline, it seems like the team could at least consider a shift to the 60-day injured list. This is a devastating blow for the Marlins, who will be without both Ruiz and
Kyle Stowers (hamstring) for an extended period of time. Ruiz, who was acquired from the Dodgers over the offseason, has never been a major threat at the plate, but he offers blazing speed and brought his walk rate up to an encouraging mark of 14.6% this spring. With Stowers and Ruiz sidelined, the Marlins will likely turn to a rotation of
Griffin Conine,
Javier Sanoja, and
Heriberto Hernandez in left field.
--Andersen PickardSource: Christina De Nicola
March 22, 2026
The Philadelphia Phillies and starting pitcher
Cristopher Sanchez have agreed to a six-year extension with $107 million guaranteed, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. The deal spans from 2027 through 2032, taking effect after he earns his existing $3.5 million salary in 2026. The new extension also offers the Phillies a potential extra year of control with a club option for the 2033 season. This pact reflects the Phillies' desire to preserve Sanchez as their ace long-term. As it stands, Sanchez is the front line of a very strong Phillies rotation that also features
Aaron Nola,
Jesus Luzardo,
Taijuan Walker, and
Andrew Painter. The left-hander was absolutely stellar in 2025, finishing as the National League Cy Young runner-up and an MVP finalist with a 2.55 FIP, 9.45 K/9, 1.96 BB/9, and a 58.3% ground ball rate across 32 starts. He currently ranks #4 among starting pitchers in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: Matt Gelb
March 22, 2026
The Philadelphia Phillies have signed relief pitcher
Tim Mayza to a one-year deal, according to Jeff Skversky of FOX29. Mayza had already been in camp with the Phillies, but he had asked to be released from his minor league contract. Ultimately, the Phillies wanted Mayza on their Opening Day roster, so they brought him back on a major league contract. It's a rewarding outcome for the veteran reliever after he posted a 3.75 xFIP with 10 strikeouts and two walks across 8.1 innings of work in spring training. He offers the Phillies' bullpen a reliable veteran left-handed presence. Philadelphia's bullpen is projected to open the year with four lefties and four righties.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jeff Skversky
March 22, 2026
Miami Marlins outfielder
Kyle Stowers (hamstring) has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring strain and will open the 2026 regular season on the injured list, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. Stowers had left Friday's game early with hamstring tightness, and he's now expected to miss 3-4 weeks. That's a crushing blow for the Marlins, given that Stowers was projected to be their No. 3 hitter and everyday left fielder. He was spectacular at the plate last season, slashing .288/.368/.544 with 25 home runs, 73 RBI, and 149 wRC+. Injuries have been the biggest obstacle in his career so far, and now, he's going to be sidelined for Opening Day in 2026.
Griffin Conine,
Javier Sanoja, and
Heriberto Hernandez will likely platoon in left field until Stowers is able to return in mid-to-late April.
--Andersen PickardSource: Christina De Nicola
March 22, 2026
Atlanta Braves right-handed pitching prospect
Didier Fuentes has made the Opening Day roster as a reliever, but Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports that the 20-year-old will eventually return to the minors to be stretched out. According to Bowman, the Braves want Fuentes "to spend the first couple weeks as a long reliever for Atlanta and then go to Triple-A Gwinnett to work as a starter." That's some deflating news for Braves fans and fantasy managers, as Fuentes is an appealing prospect who delivered nine scoreless innings this spring. The former international free agent out of Colombia has made just one professional relief appearance in the minors since 2023, so it's somewhat perplexing that the Braves are going to temporarily convert him to a reliever, just to send him back to Triple-A and stretch him out. Regardless, this news delays any potential fantasy breakout for Fuentes. Fantasy managers will have to exercise a little more patience.
--Andersen PickardSource: Mark Bowman
March 22, 2026
San Diego Padres starting pitcher
Walker Buehler has officially made the Opening Day roster, manager
Craig Stammen confirmed to radio host Sammy Levitt. This doesn't come as much of a surprise, as Buehler had put together an impressive spring training. Through three starts (11.2 innings) in the Cactus League, he maintained a 2.98 FIP with 10.03 K/9, 3.09 BB/9, and a 42.9% ground ball rate. Presumably, he'll end up in the No. 5 starter role, putting him in line to make his Padres regular-season debut on Tuesday, March 31, against the San Francisco Giants. Buehler was roughed up to the tune of a 5.45 ERA across 23 outings in Boston last year, but he latched on with the Phillies near the end of the season and enjoyed much better results. Across 13.2 innings with Philadelphia, he posted a 0.66 ERA with eight strikeouts and six walks.
--Andersen PickardSource: Sammy Levitt
March 22, 2026
Minnesota Twins relief pitcher
Matt Bowman has opted out of his minor league contract following a scoreless spring training, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post. Bowman didn't pitch in the majors from 2020 through 2022, but he came back in 2023 and has made big-league appearances every year since then. He had been particularly effective this spring, allowing zero runs over 5.1 innings of relief work with two walks, six strikeouts, and a 50% ground ball rate. He also maintained a 0.00 ERA while pitching for Israel in the World Baseball Classic. Presumably, Bowman was told he didn't make the Twins' Opening Day roster, so he's hitting the open market in hopes of finding a better opportunity elsewhere.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jon Heyman
March 22, 2026
Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias had good things to say when asked about his confidence in corner infielder
Coby Mayo, according to Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun. "We're very fortunate to have Coby Mayo right behind
Jordan Westburg. He's a promising young player. He's got a great opportunity ahead of him, and I think he's ready," Elias said. Not only is regular third baseman Jordan Westburg (elbow) expected to be out until some point in May, but Mayo has been raking in spring training. The 24-year-old came into Saturday's Grapefruit League action hitting .412 (14-for-34) with two home runs, three doubles, 12 RBI, three runs scored, and a stolen base in 37 plate appearances. The former top prospect will enter his third year in the majors as Baltimore's starting third baseman, giving him a huge opportunity to turn things around after hitting .201/.285/.349 with a weak .634 OPS, 11 home runs, 28 RBI, 34 runs scored, and a 106:31 K:BB in 102 games in his first two major-league seasons. Mayo's fantasy stock in both single-year and dynasty/keeper leagues is on the rise given Westburg's injury situation.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Baltimore Sun - Jacob Calvin Meyer
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