March 26, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman
Brandon Lowe had a really nice debut with the Bucs in an 11-7 Opening Day loss to the New York Mets on Thursday, going 2-for-4 with two solo home runs and three RBI. Both of his home runs came off new Mets right-hander
Freddy Peralta. It's nice to see for Lowe, who hit just 6-for-30 (.200) with no homers or RBI, six walks, and 12 strikeouts in 36 plate appearances over 13 Grapefruit League games in spring training. There's still a lot to like about the left-handed pop that Lowe can provide at the second base position, especially if he continues to hit near the top of the Pirates' batting order. However, the drawbacks are that Lowe is very injury-prone and that he has never hit lefties well (.695 career OPS). He's coming off his second career 30-homer season in 2025, though, and he's had at least 21 long balls in each of the last three seasons. The two-time All-Star's .326 career on-base percentage doesn't scream two-hole hitter.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 26, 2026
Cleveland Guardians left-handed pitching prospect
Parker Messick is set to open the 2026 season with a spot in the team's big-league rotation. Messick made his MLB debut in 2025, recording a 3-1 record with a 2.72 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 38 strikeouts across 39 2/3 innings (seven starts). While the 25-year-old posted just a 23% strikeout rate in his first taste of the big leagues, he demonstrated more impressive swing-and-miss generation throughout his time in the minors. Across 98 2/3 Triple-A innings in 2025, Messick struck out 29.1% of the batters he faced. In 19 2/3 innings this spring, Messick recorded a 4.12 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 17 strikeouts. If Messick can hold a spot in the Guardians' rotation throughout 2026, he could emerge as a worthy waiver-wire target for fantasy managers.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 26, 2026
Seattle Mariners second baseman
Cole Young made his MLB debut in 2025, hitting .211/.302/.305 with four home runs, 24 RBI, 24 runs scored, and one stolen base across 257 plate appearances. While Young's numbers at the plate amounted to well below-average production, it's important to remember that 2025 was just his age-21 season. Entering 2026, Young projects as Seattle's everyday second baseman and should have a second chance to establish himself as an everyday big-leaguer. Young put together an impressive performance in the Cactus League this spring, hitting .281/.349/.667 with six home runs and three stolen bases across 63 plate appearances. While Young recorded just one steal in the majors in 2025, he showcased more speed in his minor league career with back-to-back 20-plus steal seasons in 2023 and 2024. If he can take a step forward across the board with another year of development in 2026, Young could be a sleeper second base option off the waiver wire for deep-league fantasy managers.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 26, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks infield/outfield prospect
Jordan Lawlar is officially an Opening Day starter in 2026, batting ninth and playing left field for his team's first game of the season against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lawlar has long been considered one of the Diamondbacks' top prospects, but he's struggled with injuries and hit just .182/.257/.288 with a 35.8% strikeout rate across 74 plate appearances after making his MLB debut in 2025. Lawlar also had some defensive issues while spending time at every infield position other than first base, leading the Diamondbacks to shift him to the outfield this spring. Still, Lawlar will not turn 24 years old until July and posted a .967 OPS across 300 Triple-A plate appearances in 2025. With Diamondbacks outfielder
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (knee) currently working his way back from a torn ACL, Lawlar could have an extended run of everyday playing time to open 2026.
--Will BradySource: Arizona Diamondbacks
March 26, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman
Ketel Marte (lower leg) is in the lineup and batting leadoff for his team's Opening Day matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday. Marte was scratched from Arizona's exhibition finale on Tuesday due to lower-leg soreness, but it appears the 32-year-old has avoided a serious issue. Marte is coming off an excellent 2025 season in which he hit .283/.376/.517 with 28 home runs, 72 RBI, 87 runs scored, and four stolen bases across 556 plate appearances. When healthy, Marte is arguably the premier second baseman in all of baseball. However, the veteran switch-hitter does have a fairly extensive injury history, reaching 600 plate appearances just twice in 11 MLB seasons. Fantasy managers can breathe a bit easier now that Marte is officially good to go for the start of 2026.
--Will BradySource: Arizona Diamondbacks
March 26, 2026
New York Mets outfielder
Mike Tauchman (knee) underwent surgery on the meniscus tear in his left knee on Thursday, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman reports that Tauchman is expected to be sidelined for "six weeks before returning to play," so it appears as though Tauchman avoided a full meniscus repair, which would have kept him out for significantly longer. Across 385 plate appearances with the Chicago White Sox in 2025, Tauchman hit .263/.356/.400 with nine home runs, 40 RBI, and 44 runs scored. The 35-year-old owns a career 12.6% walk rate and has posted an on-base percentage of at least .350 in three consecutive campaigns. Once healthy, Tauchman could challenge Mets rookie
Carson Benge for playing time in right field.
--Will BradySource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
March 26, 2026
In his first full season in the big leagues in 2025, New York Yankees starting pitcher
Will Warren recorded a 9-8 record with a 4.44 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and 171 strikeouts across 162 1/3 innings (33 starts). The 26-year-old struggled with consistent command (9.1% walk rate) and allowed a slightly elevated 1.22 HR/9. However, Warren held a spot in the Yankees' rotation for the entire season and has consistently shown the ability to generate swing-and-miss pitches throughout his entire professional career. With Yankees starting pitchers
Gerrit Cole (elbow),
Carlos Rodon (elbow), and
Clarke Schmidt (elbow) all opening 2026 on the injured list, Warren currently pencils in as the number three starter in New York. Warren is also coming off an impressive Grapefruit League, where he pitched to a 1.42 ERA and 0.63 WHIP while allowing just three walks across 25 1/3 innings. Warren could emerge as a breakout starting pitcher for fantasy managers in 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 26, 2026
San Francisco Giants right-hander
Hayden Birdsong (elbow) had successful surgery on his right elbow for UCL reconstruction on Wednesday with Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas, Texas, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Birdsong will return to Arizona later this week to start his rehab at the minor-league complex. The Giants placed the 24-year-old on the 60-day injured list before the start of the regular season in their loss on Wednesday night to the New York Yankees. The former sixth-round selection in 2022 out of Eastern Illinois will miss the entire 2026 campaign and most likely the start of the 2027 regular season after having elbow surgery. It's a tough setback for his fantasy baseball value in dynasty/keeper leagues. In his first two MLB seasons with the Gigantes, Birdsong went 9-10 with a 4.77 ERA (4.81 FIP), 1.44 WHIP, 25.4% strikeout rate, and a 13.1% walk rate in 137 2/3 innings over 37 appearances (26 starts). Command/control issues make Birdsong a shaky long-term asset.
--Keith HernandezSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Susan Slusser
March 26, 2026
Athletics shortstop prospect
Leo De Vries will start the 2026 regular season at Double-A Midland, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. The big return that the A's got in the
Mason Miller trade, De Vries is the A's top prospect and the No. 4 overall prospect in all of baseball at MLB Pipeline. He's the No. 4 shortstop prospect, behind
Konnor Griffin,
Kevin McGonigle, and
Jesus Made. The 19-year-old switch-hitter looked like the real deal this spring, hitting .426/.460/.723 with a 1.183 OPS, three home runs, 12 RBI, 10 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 18 Cactus League contests. De Vries is obviously still young, but if he continues to perform like that in the minors early this year, he could quickly make his way to Triple-A Las Vegas and potentially the big leagues by the end of 2026. With
Jacob Wilson locked in at shortstop, De Vries' future at the big-league level could be at second base. De Vries, who is a must-roster in all dynasty leagues, doesn't have elite speed, but he still has the potential to be a high-end starting fantasy shortstop in time.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
March 26, 2026
New York Mets pitching prospect
Jonah Tong could be an early-season call-up for the team whenever they find themselves in need of pitching. Although the right-hander struggled to a 7.71 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, and a 14.9 percent K-BB% in his five starts with the Mets last year, he was one of the most dominant arms in the minors before that. Despite being in the majors for the final month, the former seventh-round draft pick still led all minor leaguers with 179 strikeouts in just 113 2/3 innings pitched, good for a 14.17 K/9. If he can continue to dominate to begin the 2026 campaign and perhaps tone down the walks (career rate of 11.5 percent) then he should be in contention for an early-season call-up. Pitching-needy managers in deeper leagues could consider stashing the 22-year-old, who is available in over 90 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
March 26, 2026
Seattle Mariners right-hander
Luis Castillo will make his first start of the 2026 season in the team's fifth game on Monday, March 30, against the New York Yankees at T-Mobile Park, according to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times. Fantasy managers shouldn't read anything into the fact that Castillo will start the fifth game of the regular season after he pitched in the team's Cactus League finale on Monday. The 33-year-old veteran will have a difficult matchup to kick things off, though, after struggling in spring training. Castillo allowed 14 runs (13 earned) on 23 hits (five home runs) while walking four and striking out 13 in 15 innings pitched over five starts. Spring statistics should always be taken with a grain of salt. Castillo has had ERAs under 4.00 in three straight seasons and has also made at least 30 starts for fantasy managers over that span. He's no ace, but Castillo's fantasy floor is pretty high, especially when starting at pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Seattle Times - Adam Jude
March 26, 2026
Washington Nationals catching prospect
Harry Ford was optioned to Triple-A Rochester earlier this month after an underwhelming spring, but that doesn't mean he won't be back in the big leagues soon. The Nats' third-ranked prospect is a former 12th-overall draft pick and had a strong 2025 at Triple-A, hitting .283 with 16 home runs while walking (74) nearly as many times as he struck out (88), which earned him a late-season promotion with the Mariners. The former first-rounder has a solid contact/power blend with his bat, and with his ability to draw walks, there is a solid OBP floor. The catcher's position is one of wear and tear, so there could be an opening for him on the major league roster sooner rather than later, and the 23-year-old should be considered one of the top stash candidates in deep two-catcher leagues.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
March 26, 2026
Texas Rangers left-handed-hitting outfielder
Evan Carter will take a seat on the bench on Thursday for the team's Opening Day contest against the Philadelphia Phillies and left-hander
Cristopher Sanchez at Citizens Bank Park, according to MLB.com.
Wyatt Langford is moving to center, while
Sam Haggerty will make the start in left field and bat ninth for Texas. Haggerty is hitless in three career at-bats against Sanchez and will be a poor low-upside DFS option on Thursday against Sanchez. Injuries have held the 23-year-old Carter back from reaching his potential early in his MLB career, but he's expected to play more against southpaws in 2026 if he can stay healthy. The former second-round pick in 2020 played in a career-high 63 games in 2025 and hit .247/.336/.392 with five home runs, 25 RBI, 31 runs, and 14 steals in 220 plate appearances. Carter has hit just .083 (5-for-60) with 21 K's against lefties in his three big-league seasons.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 26, 2026
Los Angeles Angels infielder
Oswald Peraza is getting the start at second base and will bat ninth for the Halos on Opening Day on Thursday on the road against the division-rival Houston Astros and right-hander
Hunter Brown at Daikin Park, per MLB.com. The left-handed-hitting
Adam Frazier will start on the bench for Game 1 despite a right-hander being on the mound. The 25-year-old Peraza is coming into the start of the regular season hot after batting .315 (17-for-54) with an .888 OPS, two home runs, 10 RBI, six doubles, six runs scored, and six stolen bases in 18 Cactus League games. The former Yankees top prospect has also hit .750 with a home run and two RBI in four career at-bats against Brown, which might be why he's getting the starting nod on Thursday over Frazier. Speed is Peraza's biggest asset for fantasy managers in AL-only leagues, but he'll need to keep up his strong play from spring training to hold off Frazier against right-handed pitchers.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 26, 2026
Miami Marlins pitching prospect
Robby Snelling did not earn a spot in the team's starting rotation to begin the season, but will likely be one of the first names called when Miami needs pitching reinforcements. The Marlins' second-ranked prospect made the top two levels of the minors look easy in 2025, recording a 2.51 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and a 23.2 percent K-BB% across 25 starts (136 innings pitched) between Double and Triple-A. Despite allowing seven earned runs in 8 1/3 IP this spring, the southpaw showed his strikeout potential with 13 punchouts during that time. The 6-foot-3 hurler owns a 27.1 percent K% in 71 minor-league starts and has shown solid command, too, with an 8.0 percent BB% for his career. With the 22-year-old standing on the doorstep to the big leagues, the 39th-overall selection in the 2022 Draft is one of the top pitching stashes for fantasy, and is available in over 90 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
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