March 3, 2026
Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher
Hunter Gaddis made his spring debut this past Friday, striking out two while allowing no hits or walks in the one-inning outing. However, the right-hander experienced mild forearm tightness following the appearance. According to manager
Stephen Vogt, the 27-year-old went for imaging that "came back clean," and will be reevaluated on Thursday before being built back up. Sounds like a minor injury, and it doesn't appear to put his status for Opening Day in doubt for now. The 6-foot-6 hurler had a strong season for the Guardians in 2025, striking out 73 batters in 66 2/3 innings of work on his way to a 3.11 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and the second-most holds in all of baseball with 35. For fantasy managers looking for some ratio help, Gaddis could be a worthwhile roster addition, especially in the event something were to happen to the Guardians' closer,
Cade Smith, as Gaddis could potentially be the one to step into that role.
--Jarod RuppSource: Tim Stebbins
March 3, 2026
The Major League Baseball Players Association plans to challenge the league's intention to suspend outfielder
Jurickson Profar for 162 games after a second violation of the league's performance-enhancing drug policy in the last year, a source told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The 33-year-old Profar was suspended for 80 games in his first year in Atlanta in 2025, and now he's looking at missing all of 2026 and forfeiting all of the $15 million he was scheduled to earn. It is highly unlikely that the 162-game suspension will be overturned, so fantasy managers need to cross Profar off their cheat sheets for upcoming drafts. It's a big blow to Atlanta's lineup, as Profar was expected to serve as the primary designated hitter this year while potentially hitting second in the batting order behind outfielder
Ronald Acuna Jr.--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
March 3, 2026
Minnesota Twins third baseman
Royce Lewis (side) is back in the starting lineup for Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Tampa Bay Rays, starting at third base and batting leadoff. Lewis missed a bit of time in spring training after reporting tightness in his side last week, but an MRI exam was clean, and he's back in action this week. The Twins weren't going to take any chances with the oft-injured 26-year-old this early in camp. Lewis played in over 100 games for the first time in 2025 in his fourth year in the majors, but he disappointed by hitting .237/.283/.388 with a career-low .671 OPS, 13 home runs, 36 runs scored, 52 RBI, and a career-high 12 stolen bases in 403 plate appearances. Fantasy managers should consider Lewis a top-10 fantasy third baseman because of his ability to carry a roster with high-end power when he's on, but durability concerns for the former first overall pick put him on the low end of the top 15 at his position.
--Keith HernandezSource: Minnesota Twins
March 3, 2026
Cincinnati Reds second baseman
Matt McLain is seeing the baseball as well as any hitter early in spring training. The 26-year-old former first-rounder went 2-for-2 with two home runs, six RBI, three runs scored, and two walks in Monday's Cactus League game against the Chicago Cubs. McLain enters Tuesday's action with a .571 batting average (8-for-14) with three homers, nine RBI, seven runs scored, three walks, and only one strikeout in five games played. Injuries have been a big part of McLain's story so far in his big-league career, and he struggled to a .220/.300/.343 slash line, .643 OPS, 15 homers, 50 RBI, 73 runs, and 18 stolen bases in 147 games in his second year in the Show in 2025. McLain had an .864 OPS and 127 OPS+ as a rookie in 2023, though, and is looking like a nice late-round sleeper target at the second base position in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 3, 2026
New York Yankees outfield prospect
Spencer Jones is now swinging like Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar
Shohei Ohtani, according to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic. After reviewing last year's film, Jones quickly found that his swing wasn't getting started until it was too late. The 6-foot-7 left-handed slugger "began constructing his swing in a way that attempted to resemble" Ohtani's, especially in the lower half. Jones expects the offseason changes to stick as he attempts to finally break into the big leagues in 2026. The 24-year-old former first-rounder has seen results this spring, hitting .300 (3-for-10) with three homers, four strikeouts, and two walks. Jones has elite power upside, can play all three outfield positions, and also runs the bases well. However, he tends to have a lot of swings and misses. Jones hit 35 homers and drove in 80 runs in 116 games in the minors in 2025, but he also struck out 35.4% of the time. He also had an in-zone contact rate of just 72%.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Brendan Kuty
March 3, 2026
New York Mets right-hander
Nolan McLean (illness) is scheduled to start for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic on March 10 against Italy, but he's now "day-to-day" due to a recent illness, USA manager Mark DeRosa told reporters on Monday. McLean was experiencing vertigo-like symptoms, but he's feeling better now. The 24-year-old threw a side session a few days ago and is scheduled to throw some more in camp on Wednesday. If he continues to improve, he'll likely take the hill against Italy, but DeRosa won't push the young hurler. McLean is one of the top young arms in baseball after going 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 48 innings over his first eight major-league starts last year. He should be ready in plenty of time for the start of the 2026 regular season after pitching for Team USA. McLean should already be rostered in all dynasty/keeper leagues, and he'll have SP2 upside in redraft leagues going into his first full MLB season.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
March 3, 2026
Chicago White Sox catcher
Edgar Quero has looked impressive on both sides of the ball so far this spring, and the switch-hitter is tied for the Cactus League lead with nine RBI and nine hits after going deep against Chicago Cubs lefty
Shota Imanaga on Sunday. MLB.com's Scott Merkin writes that Quero's "diligent offseason work focused on strengthening all areas of his game," but change with his swing "came especially within his hips." "Try to rotate a little better with my load, in my back hips, and it's working right now. Both sides, same thing. I figured it out in the offseason, and now it's working," Quero said. The 22-year-old Cuban backstop hit .268/.333/.356 with five homers, 17 doubles, and 36 RBI, but he hit .357 with an .851 OPS in 137 plate appearances versus lefties. The White Sox don't have a set DH, so both Quero and
Kyle Teel could rotate time at DH if the Sox want to keep their bats in the lineup.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Scott Merkin
March 3, 2026
Atlanta Braves outfielder
Jurickson Profar is facing a 162-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug for the second time in the last year, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Profar becomes the sixth player in MLB history to receive a 162-game suspension for PED use, and he will forfeit the entirety of his $15 million salary and be ineligible for the 2026 postseason. He also won't be allowed to play for the Netherlands in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Profar was suspended 80 games on March 31 of last year for human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone that can encourage testosterone production. After his return in July of 2025, Profar hit .245/.353/.434 with 14 home runs and 43 RBI while playing left field in Atlanta. Profar was set to mostly be a DH in 2026, but now that he's out for the year, the Braves could use catcher
Drake Baldwin more in that spot once
Sean Murphy (hip) returns from injury. Fantasy managers will obviously want to remove Profar from their draft boards.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
March 3, 2026
The Miami Marlins announced on Tuesday that they reassigned left-handed pitching prospect
Thomas White (oblique) to minor-league camp. White was already not expected to open the 2026 regular season in Miami's big-league starting rotation, and that was confirmed when the 21-year-old was diagnosed with a strained oblique muscle in spring training. White will most likely start the year at Triple-A Jacksonville, but he could be one of the first options for an open rotation spot in Miami this year. In three minor-league stops last year, White was impressive, going 4-3 with a 2.31 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 145 strikeouts and 51 walks in 89 2/3 innings over 21 starts. The 6-foot-5 southpaw needs to improve his control, like many young pitchers, but if he does, White has top-of-the-rotation potential at the big-league level.
--Keith HernandezSource: Miami Marlins
March 3, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander
Max Scherzer said he'll be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season and is completely past his thumb issues, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. "I feel good. I feel healthy. I just want to pitch," Scherzer said. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer signed a one-year, $3 million deal to return to Toronto last week, and he confirmed he'll make his Grapefruit League debut on Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies. The eight-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young winner missed three months last year with thumb issues and had a career-worst 5.19 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 82 strikeouts in 85 innings over 17 starts during the regular season. Scherzer had a 3.77 ERA with 11 K's and six walks in 14 1/3 innings over three playoff starts. Scherzer is no longer the dominant pitcher he was in his prime, and he's hard to recommend in mixed leagues with durability concerns in a hitter-friendly home ballpark.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson
March 3, 2026
New York Mets shortstop
Francisco Lindor (hand) played catch on Monday in camp, and the hope is he's able to take batting practice on Wednesday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman writes that it "seems like a good sign" for the notoriously quick-healing Lindor to reach his goal of being ready to play on Opening Day. The 32-year-old All-Star will do defensive drills and other baseball activities on Tuesday as he works his way back from hamate bone surgery. If Lindor isn't quite ready for Opening Day at the end of this month, he should miss minimal time going into April, barring a setback. The Puerto Rican veteran has reached the 30-homer mark in each of the last three seasons and has 30-plus steals in two of the last three years, making him a clear top-10 fantasy shortstop on one of the best teams in baseball.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
March 3, 2026
Houston Astros starting pitcher
Mike Burrows landed with his new team as part of a three-team swap this offseason, and the team sees him as an "upside play" who can jump into their rotation right away. The Astros saw an opportunity to adjust his pitch mix a little bit and add in a two-seam fastball. The early returns have been very positive for Burrows, who has pitched five scoreless innings in his first two Grapefruit League outings, striking out six with two walks and two hits allowed. He went 2-4 with a 3.94 ERA, 4.00 FIP, and 97 strikeouts in 97 MLB innings with the Pirates last year, but the Astros could help unlock even stronger results from the 26-year-old righty this season. He's going at the end of drafts in most formats but is worth considering as a deep-league sleeper with considerable upside. The team has several starting pitching options to consider for the rotation, but they are high on Burrows, who seems to be on his way to earning a spot in the Opening Day rotation. At his extremely low ADP, Burrows is bursting with sleeper potential.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
March 3, 2026
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher
Garrett Crochet can be a first-round pick in almost all fantasy baseball formats, and is the No. 10 overall player in RotoBaller's rankings coming into the year. He's the second-highest starting pitcher on the board behind only
Tarik Skubal. Crochet put up dazzling numbers last year with a 2.59 ERA, 2.89 FIP, and 1.03 WHIP over 205 1/3 IP in 32 starts. It was his second straight season with 32 starts, and he set a new career-high in innings and strikeouts. He also looked strong in the postseason with an 11-strikeout outing against the Yankees. While pitching his home games at Fenway Park did lead to a few more homers, he continued to limit damage by holding opponents to a .216 batting average and allowing a career-low 37.3% hard-hit rate. Crochet will look to build on that success in 2026 and can serve as the ace of your fantasy staff, just like he will for the Red Sox this year.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
March 3, 2026
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher
Casey Mize finally had a healthy season in 2025, and the No. 1 overall pick from the 2018 MLB Draft had his best season in the majors. He went 14-6 in his 28 starts with a 3.87 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 3.89 FIP, while totaling 139 strikeouts over 149 innings. Mize doesn't pick up enough strikeouts to be an elite starting option, but he should open the season as the Tigers' fifth starter behind
Tarik Skubal,
Framber Valdez,
Jack Flaherty, and
Justin Verlander. With a good lineup behind him, he can be a solid source of wins, ERA, and innings if he stays healthy again this season, which will be his last year before becoming a free agent for the first time in his career. He is currently ranked as RotoBaller's No. 104 starting pitcher, but his ADP (average draft position) has him even lower than that, so if you need a late-round depth option to help round out your staff, Mize has a high floor with enough upside to make him a good value consideration, especially if you have high-strikeout, high-risk options elsewhere in your rotation.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
March 3, 2026
Washington Nationals outfielder
Daylen Lile was one of the few bright spots in a rough season for the team last year, and the 23-year-old lefty brings a ton of upside based on his ADP (average draft position) in fantasy drafts coming into his second season in the majors. He closed out last year with NL Player of the Month honors in September, and in his 91 games as a rookie, Lile hit .299 with 35 extra-base hits, including nine home runs, 15 doubles, and a club rookie record with 11 triples. Lile added eight stolen bases (in 14 attempts), 51 runs scored, 41 RBI, and finished with a 132 wRC+, .199 ISO, and .360 wOBA. He finished in the 100th percentile of qualified hitters in both xBA and LA Sweet-Spot%, showing his results were definitely not fluky. This year, he should occupy a premium spot in the batting order and bring his well-balanced skillset to a great run-producing spot in a rising young lineup. Lile's excellent contact skills give him a high floor to go with a very high ceiling, and if he carries over his momentum from the end of last season, he will be a great late-round addition.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
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