March 11, 2026
The Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Wednesday that right-hander
Zac Gallen will make his fourth career Opening Day start on the road against the World Series-champion Los Angeles Dodgers on March 26. Gallen is the obvious choice for the D-backs after re-signing this offseason, especially with
Merrill Kelly (back) dealing with an injury in spring training. The 30-year-old veteran won't be a popular DFS play on Opening Day against the best lineup in baseball, but he could make for a nice value pick later in fantasy baseball drafts as he looks to bounce back from a career-worst 4.83 ERA (4.50 FIP) that he had in 33 starts (192 innings) last year in Arizona in his seventh year in the league. Gallen has looked sharp in his first two Cactus League starts this year, tossing four shutout innings while walking none and striking out five.
--Keith HernandezSource: Arizona Diamondbacks
March 11, 2026
Chicago White Sox catcher
Kyle Teel (hamstring) has been diagnosed with a right-hamstring strain and could end up missing four to six weeks, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Officially, Teel has a Grade 2 hamstring strain that he suffered while running out a double in Team Italy's upset win over the United States in the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday. The 24-year-old left-handed-hitting catcher will drop out of the WBC and will most likely start the 2026 regular season on the injured list as a result. It will mean more catching duties for
Edgar Quero to begin the year for the White Sox. Teel's injury should also free up more playing time at designated hitter for
Lenyn Sosa. When he's past his hamstring injury, Teel should be in Chicago's lineup regularly after hitting .273/.375/.411 with a .786 OPS, eight homers, and 35 RBI in his first 78 major-league games in 2025. His injury shouldn't change the fact that he's a high-end No. 2 catcher target in fantasy drafts with upside for more going into his first full MLB season.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Scott Merkin
March 11, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander
Quinn Priester (wrist) will visit with a specialist in Dallas on Thursday as he seeks answers about the lingering soreness in his right wrist, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Priester hasn't pitched in a Cactus League game this spring because of the injury, but he has been throwing to keep his arm in shape. It's an injury that the 25-year-old also dealt with late last season. At this point, it's unlikely that Priester will be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season later this month, and a timetable for when he might make his season debut probably won't be known until after he sees a specialist. The former first-rounder by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019 had a league-best .813 win-loss percentage in his first year in Milwaukee, going 13-3 with a 3.32 ERA (4.01 FIP) and 1.24 WHIP with a career-best 132 K's and 50 walks in 157 1/3 innings over his 29 outings (24 starts).
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
March 11, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays reliever
Griffin Jax could be the early favorite for the closer role in Tampa Bay once the regular season gets underway. The right-hander was superb for the Twins from 2022 through 2024, but despite an elite 36.4 percent strikeout rate (29.8 percent K-BB%) in 50 appearances for Minnesota in 2025, the 6-foot-2 hurler recorded a 4.50 ERA through the end of July and was shipped to Tampa, where he posted a 3.60 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, while maintaining a strong 31.8 percent strikeout rate. All in all, the former third-round draft pick finished the season with 99 strikeouts in just 66 innings pitched between Minnesota and Tampa Bay, registering 98th percentile or better strikeout, whiff, and chase rates. With
Edwin Uceta (shoulder) expected to begin the season on the injured list, Jax's only real competition for the role might come from
Garrett Cleavinger, who was fantastic in 2025 as well, but who is a left-hander and may be deployed more opportunistically. Manager Kevin Cash has not committed to any particular reliever just yet, and may end up going for a closer-by-committee approach, but Jax has the prototypical stuff to grab hold of the role and keep it for the entire season, making him an attractive target who is currently being drafted after the likes of
Dennis Santana and
Ryan Walker.
--Jarod RuppSource: Baseball Savant
March 11, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher
Logan Henderson (elbow) is scheduled to "throw a mound session" on Thursday. The right-hander experienced mild elbow soreness last week and hasn't pitched in a Cactus League game since March 4. Assuming Thursday's session goes well, the 24-year-old is expected to return to game progression on Sunday, which should still put him on track to be ready for Opening Day. The Brewers' seventh-ranked prospect debuted last season and showed well in his limited sample, recording a 1.78 ERA (3.20 SIERA), 0.99 WHIP, and a 25.3 percent K-BB% in five starts (25 1/3 innings pitched), but isn't necessarily a lock to begin the year with the club. If he doesn't suffer any setbacks and can break camp in the rotation, the 6-foot hurler could be a real value pick based on his ADP, which is well after pick 200.
--Jarod RuppSource: Adam McCalvy
March 11, 2026
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher
Kyle Bradish made his third Grapefruit League start on Wednesday, tossing five scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out two in the outing. Although fewer than one strikeout per inning is not what we've grown accustomed to from the right-hander, his stuff was clearly working, and notably, the velocity on his fastball topped out at 97.5 mph; the 6-foot-3 hurler's high in his first two Grapefruit League outings was 95.9 mph. It should only reinforce that the 29-year-old appears to be fully recovered from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in 2024. The New Mexico State product looked sharp in his return to the mound last August, pitching to a 2.53 ERA (2.63 SIERA) and 1.03 WHIP while recording an elite 29.4 percent K-BB% in six starts. It has pushed his price tag up in fantasy drafts, going as the 27th pitcher off the board since the beginning of March, but he may still return value if he can continue to pitch at such a high level.
--Jarod RuppSource: Jake Rill
March 11, 2026
Houston Astros reliever
Bryan Abreu appears to be in a position to take over as the team's closer to begin the year. Houston's regular closer,
Josh Hader (biceps), threw his first bullpen session of the spring on Tuesday, but manager Joe Espada has already ruled the veteran out for Opening Day. Abreu has been both durable and effective for the Astros over the last four years, recording a 2.30 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 23.9 percent K-BB% during that span. Hader is not expected to miss too much time, so Abreu's hold on the closer role should only be temporary, but given Hader's lengthy injury history and Abreu's ability to perform, there could be opportunities for additional save chances throughout the year. Bump Abreu up draft boards slightly, as the early-season save chances added to his ability to lower ratios while providing plenty of strikeouts should only bolster the 28-year-old's fantasy relevance.
--Jarod RuppSource: Chandler Rome
March 11, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher
Trey Yesavage faced some of the Jays' minor leaguers on Wednesday, totaling 35 pitches in the two-inning simulation. The right-hander is slowly being brought up to speed this spring as a result of throwing 139 2/3 professional innings last season, way more than he accumulated in any season during his time in college at East Carolina, although it's unclear what is next in his progression. The 6-foot-4 hurler was a key piece in the Jays' run to the World Series last year and struck out 55 batters in just 41 2/3 innings pitched, but as good as he looked, the team is going to try to ensure that they don't pile too many innings on the youngster's arm. Unfortunately for fantasy, that will likely limit the former first-rounder's ceiling in 2026, making him more of a No. 3 fantasy rotation piece. Still, the 22-year-old appears to be fairly valued in drafts, going right around his RotoBaller rank of 158 overall.
--Jarod RuppSource: Arden Zwelling
March 11, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman
Brandon Lowe (lower body) was removed from the team's lineup for its Spring Training game on Wednesday due to lower body tightness, per DK Pittsburgh Sports. Lowe was originally scheduled to bat second and play second base against the Baltimore Orioles, but is now expected to go through a normal practice session at the team's Spring Training facility. Injuries have been a persistent issue throughout Lowe's time in the big leagues, as he's cracked 600 plate appearances just once in eight MLB seasons. Pittsburgh may be simply being overly cautious with the veteran infielder, as the Pirates traded for Lowe this past offseason and he projects as a key hitter in the middle of the team's lineup. Across 553 plate appearances with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2025, Lowe hit .256 with 31 home runs, 83 RBI, 79 runs scored, and three stolen bases. Still, any injury situation for Lowe warrants attention from fantasy managers.
--Will BradySource: DK Pittsburgh Sports
March 11, 2026
Houston Astros infielder/outfielder
Brice Matthews is among the players that MLB.com's Brian McTaggart lists as having a "strong case" to make the team's Opening Day roster. A first-round pick of Houston's in 2023, Matthews made his MLB debut in 2025 and hit .167/.222/.452 with four home runs, nine RBI, 6 runs scored, and one stolen base across 47 plate appearances. Matthews posted strong numbers across 498 plate appearances in Triple-A, slashing .260/.371/.458 with 17 home runs, 64 RBI, 70 runs scored, and 41 stolen bases. However, the 23-year-old posted a 27.9% strikeout rate in the Minors and a 42.6% rate in a small sample size at the big-league level. If he cracks Houston's Opening Day roster, Matthews would likely open the season in a utility role. Still, his power-speed profile gives him some fantasy upside.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
March 11, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman/designated hitter
Yandy Diaz (hand) is scheduled to return to Spring Training game action on Friday, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Diaz has been out a little over a week due to soreness in his left hand, but it appears as though the issue is not overly serious. Across 681 plate appearances in 2025, Diaz slashed .300/.366/.482 with 25 home runs, 83 RBI, 79 runs scored, and three stolen bases. The 34-year-old has little to prove in Spring Training, so it would make sense if Tampa Bay were taking the stance of being overly cautious with its veteran slugger. Assuming he can return to full health, Diaz should be locked into an everyday role at the top of the Rays lineup in 2026. With a career batting average of .290, Diaz profiles as a reliable corner infield bat for fantasy managers.
--Will BradySource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
March 11, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher
Dennis Santana posted a breakout season in 2025, collecting a 4-5 record with a 2.18 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 60 strikeouts, and 16 saves across 70 1/3 innings pitched. The 29-year-old emerged as Pittsburgh's primary ninth-inning option down the stretch of 2025 after the Pirates traded veteran closer
David Bednar to the New York Yankees at the trade deadline. Heading into 2026, Santana looks set to get the first shot as Pittsburgh's primary save-earner. Santana's numbers are almost certain to regress from the outlier marks he posted in 2025, as he was buoyed by an unsustainably low .211 opponent batting average on balls in play. Santana is also not an elite strikeout pitcher, as he posted a 22.2% strikeout rate in 2025 and owns a career mark of 22.1%. However, Santana has now posted consecutive seasons with a WHIP of 1.09 or better and may have the trust of the Pirates organization. If he can do enough to maintain the closing job in Pittsburgh, Santana could be an undervalued source of saves for fantasy managers in 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 11, 2026
Across 61 innings (65 games) in 2025, St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher
JoJo Romero posted a 4-6 record with a 2.07 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 55 strikeouts, and eight saves. With former Cardinals closer
Ryan Helsley now a member of the Baltimore Orioles, Romero is in the mix to close games in St. Louis along with fellow Cardinals relievers
Riley O'Brien and
Matt Svanson. Romero outperformed his peripherals in 2025, as he posted a middling 10.2% K-BB rate. His 3.49 xERA and 3.28 FIP, while strong marks, were both significantly worse than his 2.07 ERA. Still, Romero has been an effective setup man for multiple seasons in St. Louis and saw some work in the ninth inning down the stretch of the 2025 season. As a left-handed reliever, Romero could emerge as Cardinals manager Oli Marmol's preferred ninth-inning option against lefty-heavy portions of opposing lineups. Romero may be worth targeting late in fantasy drafts heading into 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 11, 2026
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Colin Beazley and Noah Hiles both included Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect
Konnor Griffin on their projected Opening Day roster. Nothing is official from the Pirates. Kriffin has so far gone 5-for-24 (.208) with three home runs, eight RBI, three runs scored, no walks, and six strikeouts in 26 plate appearances over nine Grapefruit League games in spring training. The 19-year-old phenom has looked the part and is mature beyond his years, not to mention all of the physical skills he has on defense and at the plate. In his first minor-league season in 2025, Griffin spent time at three different levels and hit a combined .333/.415/.527 with a .941 OPS, 21 home runs, 94 RBI, 117 runs scored, and 65 stolen bases in 122 games. There isn't anything he can't do on the diamond. The only question now is whether the Bucs feel he needs a tad bit more seasoning before being given the starting duties at the 6 in the Show. Either way, Griffin is going to make a potentially big impact in all fantasy leagues in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley, Noah Hiles
March 11, 2026
Houston Astros left-handed closer
Josh Hader (biceps) will start the season on the injured list, manager Joe Espada told Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Hader threw his first spring training bullpen session on Tuesday and felt good, but the timeline the Astros have laid out won't have Hader ready by Opening Day at the end of the month. The 31-year-old six-time All-Star has become a much more risky fantasy closer because of his injury and the fact that he finished last year injured as well with a left-shoulder strain. Hader was still pretty dominant in 2025 when he was healthy, going 6-2 with a 2.05 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 28 saves, and 76 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings pitched, and he will take over closing duties in Houston as soon as he's ready to make his season debut. In the meantime, though,
Bryan Abreu is absolutely worth a late-round flier for saves for however long Hader is out.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
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