March 20, 2026
Cleveland Guardians outfielder
George Valera (calf) is "highly likely" to start the 2026 regular season on the injured list, per MLB.com's Zack Meisel. Valera suffered a strained left calf earlier this month and will not be ready for Opening Day next week. The 25-year-old was competing for a spot on the team's Opening Day roster in spring training and went 7-for-24 (.292) with a homer, four RBI, four runs scored, two walks, and seven strikeouts in his 10 Cactus League games this spring. Valera earned his first call to the big leagues in 2025 and went 9-for-41 (.220) with two home runs, five RBI, seven runs scored, seven walks, and 13 strikeouts in just 16 games played in the final month of the regular season. When healthy, Valera could be back at Triple-A Columbus early in the 2026 season. He has plenty of competition for playing time at the big-league level between outfield and designated hitter, making him merely a stash candidate in dynasty/keeper leagues right now.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Zack Meisel
March 20, 2026
Cleveland Guardians right-hander
Hunter Gaddis (forearm) is "highly likely" to begin the 2026 regular season on the injured list, according to Zack Meisel of MLB.com. Despite being cleared to throw live batting practice in camp earlier this week, the 27-year-old probably isn't going to be ready for Opening Day next week after he began feeling forearm tightness in early March. When healthy, Gaddis has earned high-leverage opportunities at the back end of Cleveland's new-look bullpen. He had a 1.57 ERA and 0.76 WHIP with 66 strikeouts and 14 walks in 74 2/3 innings in 2024 and posted a 3.11 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, his first three career saves, and a career-high 73 punchouts in 66 2/3 innings of work out of the bullpen in 2025. Gaddis finished third with 34 holds in 2024 and second last year with 35. When he's past his forearm injury, he'll absolutely be in play in holds leagues again this year as a reliable setup man in front of closer
Cade Smith.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Zack Meisel
March 20, 2026
New York Yankees outfielder
Jasson Dominguez was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Dominguez was having a strong spring training at the plate, but he just got caught in a numbers game for the major-league roster with all of
Aaron Judge,
Giancarlo Stanton, and
Trent Grisham healthy and ready for Opening Day next week. The 23-year-old that they call The Martian will surely be up in the big leagues at some point in 2026, but starting in the minor leagues is now what his fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues were expecting. The Dominican outfielder hit .342 (13-for-38) with three home runs, 10 RBI, nine runs scored, and three stolen bases in 42 plate appearances over 13 Grapefruit League games. In his first full big-league season in 2025, Dominguez hit .257/.331/.388 with a .719 OPS, 10 homers, 47 RBI, 58 runs scored, and 23 stolen bases in 123 games played. His redraft stock is obviously way down, but Dominguez remains a high-upside stash candidate in deeper leagues as a toolsy outfielder with plenty of upside if he can ever find regular playing time in the Bronx or elsewhere.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
March 20, 2026
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell informed catcher/designated hitter
Moises Ballesteros on Friday that he will be on the team's Opening Day roster, according to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic. Most of Ballesteros' playing time is expected to come as the Cubbies' designated hitter as he heads into his first full major-league season, but he will also provide depth at catcher behind
Carson Kelly and
Miguel Amaya. The 22-year-old Venezuelan left-handed hitter went 17-for-57 (.298) with two homers and 11 RBI in his first 20 major-league games at the end of last season and then went 11-for-31 (.355) with two homers, eight RBI, and four runs scored in 11 Cactus League games this spring to convince the powers that be that he should be on the Opening Day roster. Ballesteros can swing the bat, but his fantasy value will be limited if he cannot regain catcher eligibility in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Patrick Mooney
March 20, 2026
Los Angeles Angels shortstop
Zach Neto (undisclosed) left Friday's Cactus League game against the Chicago White Sox after being hit by a pitch, but he's fine, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. Neto was hit by a pitch in the first inning and stayed in to run the bases before being replaced with a pinch-hitter his next time up. The 25-year-old also suffered a wrist sprain last weekend, which kept him out for a few days. Neto is fully expected to be ready for Opening Day next week as he looks to continue to establish himself as one of the best shortstops in the game. In his third major-league season with the Halos last year, Neto turned in a .257/.319/.474 slash line with career-highs in OPS (.793), home runs (26), and runs scored (82) in 128 games played. It was his second straight 20-20 season for fantasy managers after hitting 23 homers and stealing 30 bases in 2024. Neto is the real deal and is RotoBaller's No. 5-ranked fantasy shortstop.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Rhett Bollinger
March 20, 2026
The Atlanta Braves announced on Friday that they reassigned right-handed pitching prospect
JR Ritchie to minor-league camp. Even with the Braves dealing with more injuries to their starting rotation, Ritchie will open the 2026 campaign in the minors. The 22-year-old former 35th overall pick in 2022 made his case in spring training, allowing three earned runs on just two hits (one homer) while walking five and striking out 14 in 12 Grapefruit League innings over four appearances. If Ritchie continues to pitch well at Triple-A Gwinnett in 2026, he should be called up at some point to make his major-league debut with the Braves. Per MLB Pipeline, Ritchie is Atlanta's No. 2 prospect. He made strides last year in three minor-league levels to post a 2.64 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 140:54 K:BB in 140 innings over 26 starts. Ritchie has a diverse arsenal that includes a two-seam and four-seam fastball, a changeup, a slider, a curveball, and a cutter. He's a name to monitor in deep-mixed leagues in 2026, while he's a high-upside stash in NL-only and dynasty/keeper formats.
--Keith HernandezSource: Atlanta Braves
March 20, 2026
The Milwaukee Brewers named right-hander
Jacob Misiorowski as their Opening Day starter this year on Thursday, March 26, against the Chicago White Sox. The hard-throwing right-hander made his major-league debut in 2025 and is now heading into his first full big-league season at the top of Milwaukee's starting rotation. Misiorowski got off to a strong start in his first taste of the majors before slowing down late in the year, but all in all, it was a success. He went 5-3 with a 4.36 ERA (3.62 FIP) and 1.24 WHIP with 87 strikeouts and 31 walks in 66 innings pitched over 15 appearances (14 starts). The 23-year-old was even better in the postseason in 12 innings, posting a 1.50 ERA for the Brew Crew. Misiorowski's elite strikeout upside alone makes him worth using as a No. 3 fantasy starter in all formats, despite his inexperience at the major-league level. In 7 1/3 Cactus League innings this spring, Miz has three earned runs allowed, three walks, and 12 K's in two appearances.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milwaukee Brewers
March 20, 2026
Baltimore Orioles outfield prospect
Dylan Beavers (knee) was scratched from Friday's Grapefruit League game against the New York Yankees due to right-knee discomfort, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. It's unclear if Beavers will undergo any testing on his injured knee, but when we know more about the severity of it, we'll pass it along. For now, the 24-year-old should be considered day-to-day and in danger of missing the start of the 2026 regular season next week. Beavers, a former first-rounder in 2022 out of Cal Berkeley, made his MLB debut in 2025 and went 25-for-110 (.227) with four home runs, 14 RBI, 16 runs, and two stolen bases in just 35 games. He slashed .304/.420/.515 with 18 home runs and 23 steals in 94 games at Triple-A Norfolk last year and has easy 20-20 potential at the next level if/when he becomes an everyday player in Baltimore. If he's at the big-league level early in 2026, Beavers will most likely sit against left-handed pitchers. MLB Pipeline has Beavers ranked as Baltimore's No. 2 prospect and the No. 69 prospect in all of baseball.
--Keith HernandezSource: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
March 20, 2026
Cincinnati Reds right-hander
Brady Singer (finger) says the blister on his index finger is back to normal and said he's "right back on regular schedule," according to Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer. FOX 19's Charlie Goldsmith reports that Singer will pitch in an exhibition game on Monday in Milwaukee against the Brewers. The Reds pulled Singer early from his Cactus League game on Wednesday due to the blister, but there's nothing to worry about heading into the start of the 2026 regular season next week. In his first season in Cincy in 2025, Singer went 14-12 with a 4.03 ERA (3.98 FIP) and 1.24 WHIP with a 163:60 K:BB in 169 2/3 innings over 32 starts. Not only does Singer, who is a ground-ball pitcher, pitch in a pretty hitter-friendly environment, but he doesn't have a ton of strikeout upside with a 22.1% strikeout rate in his six big-league seasons. Singer is best used to round out starting rotations in deep-mixed and NL-only leagues with more of a stable floor as a late-round flier.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Gordon Wittenmyer
March 20, 2026
Los Angeles Angels outfielder
Mike Trout (hand) underwent a precautionary X-ray on his hand on Friday, but it came back negative, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. Trout was hit by a pitch in Friday's Cactus League game against the Chicago White Sox in his first plate appearance. The 34-year-old veteran stayed in the game to run the bases but was later pulled and sent for precautionary tests. With X-rays negative, the future Hall of Famer will be just fine for Opening Day next week. The three-time MVP and 11-time All-Star came into Friday's game hitting just .219 (7-for-32) with no homers, four doubles, two RBI, one run scored, three walks, and nine strikeouts in 12 Cactus League games. Trout was a lock for a first-round fantasy selection for years on end, but he's now ranked as RotoBaller's No. 43 outfielder because of his inability to stay healthy in recent seasons. Since the start of the 2021 season, Trout has played in over 100 games just twice. He had 26 homers in 556 plate appearances in 2025, but his injuries have taken their toll.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Rhett Bollinger
March 20, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies right-handed pitching prospect
Andrew Painter has been told that he has made the team's 2026 Opening Day roster, as expected, according to Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Painter will start the Phillies' fifth game of the season on Tuesday, March 31, against the division-rival Washington Nationals. That will be the 22-year-old's major-league debut as well. Painter was a high-end pitching prospect from the day the Phillies took him 13th overall in 2021. Unfortunately, his 2023 and 2024 seasons were wiped out due to Tommy John surgery. Painter began to work his way back last year in the minors and looked good, but he ultimately never made the leap to the big leagues. Painter's stuff has been on point this spring, and he allowed three earned runs while walking only one and fanning five in 7 2/3 Grapefruit League innings. The sky is the limit for Painter as he embarks on his first major-league season, but he'll need to be pitching well early on to keep his rotation spot when
Zack Wheeler (shoulder) is ready to return at some point next month.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Scott Lauber
March 20, 2026
The Tampa Bay Rays optioned right-hander
Joe Boyle to the minors on Friday, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Boyle was competing for a spot in Tampa's bullpen to begin the 2026 regular season, but he'll instead start at Triple-A Durham after posting a 3.72 ERA and 1.65 WHIP with eight walks and 16 strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings over his four Grapefruit League appearances this spring. The strikeout upside with the 26-year-old is apparent, but the Rays want him to go down to the farm to get stretched out as a starter. In addition to building stamina, Boyle will work on commanding his electric stuff on the mound. The former fifth-rounder by the Cincinnati Reds in 2020 out of Notre Dame spent the first two years of his MLB career with the A's before posting a 4.67 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 58 strikeouts and 28 walks in 52 appearances in 2025 in Tampa in 13 outings (nine starts). Fantasy managers in mixed leagues can leave Boyle on the waiver wire for the time being.
--Keith HernandezSource: Tampa Bay Rays - Marc Topkin
March 20, 2026
Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said on Friday that shortstop
Jeremy Pena (finger) will swing a bat in the next two days, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Pena's status for Opening Day next week is up in the air after he fractured the tip of his right ring finger while fielding a ground ball for Team Dominican Republic in an exhibition game for the World Baseball Classic two weeks ago. The 28-year-old has been doing baseball activities, though, and he'll take an important step this weekend by swinging the bat again. How Pena feels after swinging will likely determine if he'll be in Houston's starting lineup on Opening Day. If Pena isn't ready, which seems likely,
Carlos Correa will slide over to the 6, while
Isaac Paredes will step in at third base. Pena is a low-end No. 1 starting shortstop in fantasy. He provides a solid counting-stat floor and has 20-20 potential, having stolen exactly 20 bases each of the last two years and reaching a career-high 22 homers in his rookie season in 2022. Pena's finger injury this spring shouldn't drastically affect his fantasy stock going into the 2026 season.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
March 20, 2026
San Francisco Giants outfielder
Harrison Bader (hamstring) is considered day-to-day with left-hamstring tightness, according to Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle. It doesn't sound like something overly serious, but with the Giants' 2026 regular season starting next Wednesday against the New York Yankees, it's something to watch with Bader. Right now, manager Tony Vitello is optimistic that the veteran outfielder will be ready for Opening Day. The Giants will most likely have the 31-year-old skip their final Cactus League game on Saturday to make sure he's good to go next week. Bader will be an everyday player in San Fran in 2026 after setting career-highs in home runs (17) and OPS (.796) in 146 combined games with the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies in 146 games played. He also added a modest 11 steals and 54 RBI. Bader was fortunate to post the numbers he did when considering his below-average batted-ball metrics. Fantasy managers should expect regression at pitcher-friendly Oracle Park in 2026. RotoBaller has Bader as the No. 81-ranked fantasy outfielder.
--Keith HernandezSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Shayna Rubin
March 20, 2026
Miami Marlins right-hander
Janson Junk will open the year in the team's starting rotation after left-hander
Braxton Garrett was optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday, according to Craig Mish of the Sports Grid. Junk won the competition for the No. 5 rotation spot with Garrett despite allowing five earned runs on seven hits (two homers) while walking two and striking out six in five innings over three Grapefruit League appearances this spring. Garrett has more long-term fantasy upside, but the Marlins will keep him in the minors to start the year so that they can manage his workload after he missed all of 2025 while recovering from left-elbow surgery. Junk, 30, went 6- 4 with the Fish last year with a 4.17 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 77:13 K:BB in a career-high 110 innings over 21 outings (16 starts). Sixteen of his 23 career MLB starts came last year. He's better-suited in a long-relief role and could be sent there sooner than later, but to open the season, he could be a cheap, matchup-based streaming option in deeper fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sports Grid - Craig Mish
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