March 24, 2026
Cincinnati Reds second baseman
Matt McLain (illness) is back at second base and is batting second in the team's exhibition game on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer. McLain caught a bug going around the team's clubhouse and was held out of Monday's exhibition game. The 26-year-old former 17th overall pick in 2021 out of UCLA has major bounce-back potential for fantasy managers in 2026 near the top of a powerful Reds lineup. McLain turned heads as a rookie in 2023 with a .290/.357/.507 slash line with 16 homers, 50 RBI, and 14 stolen bases, but he missed all of 2024 due to injuries and returned as a disappointment last year. He hit .220/.300/.343 in 2025 with 15 homers, 50 RBI, and 18 steals in 147 games played. McLain has mashed this spring, going 27-for-51 (.529) with seven homers and 16 RBI in 17 Cactus League games. He's an excellent choice as a starting second baseman in fantasy after some of the high-end names at the position come off the board.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Gordon Wittenmyer
March 24, 2026
MLB.com's Jessica Camerato and Paige Leckie have Washington Nationals outfielder
Daylen Lile starting in right field for the team going into the 2026 regular season this week. Lile will get the nod next to left fielder
James Wood and center fielder
Jacob Young after the team surprisingly optioned
Dylan Crews to Triple-A Rochester at the end of spring training. Outfield prospect
Robert Hassell III is also beginning the year at Rochester. Lile, a former second-round pick in 2021, made his major-league debut in 2025 and hit an impressive .299/.347/.498 with an .845 OPS, nine home runs, 41 RBI, 51 runs, and eight stolen bases in 351 plate appearances over 91 games played. The 23-year-old left-handed hitter makes plenty of contact and has emerging power and speed skills. His defense won't do him any favors, though, and he'll likely need to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump in 2026 to hold Crews off eventually. Still, there's a lot to like about his profile in dynasty/keeper leagues, and he's now firmly on the radar in mixed fantasy leagues as well. RotoBaller has Lile ranked as the No. 44 fantasy outfielder in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Jessica Camerato and Paige Leckie
March 24, 2026
Washington Nationals catcher
Keibert Ruiz is projected to be the team's primary catcher entering the 2026 regular season, according to Jessica Camerato and Paige Leckie of MLB.com. This was the expectation after the Nats optioned prospect
Harry Ford to Triple-A Rochester to get him more consistent reps to begin the season. The team's No. 3 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, is very much in Washington's long-term plans, though, and he could even have a good shot to become the team's No. 1 backstop by the conclusion of this season.
Drew Millas will open the year as Ruiz's backup behind the dish. The 27-year-old Ruiz, a Venezuelan switch-hitter, is RotoBaller's No. 34-ranked fantasy catcher because of his declining offensive profile. Since hitting a career-high 18 home runs in 2023, Ruiz has a .235/.266/.345 slash line with a .610 OPS, 15 homers, 82 RBI, 80 strikeouts, and 24 walks in 752 plate appearances in the last two seasons. Ruiz doesn't strike out much, but he also makes a lot of weak contact.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Jessica Camerato and Paige Leckie
March 24, 2026
Atlanta Braves right-hander
Reynaldo Lopez made some mechanical tweaks and showed improved velocity during his bullpen session in camp on Tuesday, according to Ken Sugiura of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Lopez was last seen averaging 89 mph on his fastball in his final Grapefruit League appearance. The 32-year-old veteran averaged 95 mph on his heater when he was a first-time All-Star in 2024 in his first year in Atlanta. Unfortunately, Lopez only made it one start last year before needing right-shoulder surgery. His velocity will be something to watch early on in 2026 as he returns from major shoulder surgery. Fantasy managers definitely shouldn't be expecting him to return to the form he displayed in 2024, when he had a 1.99 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 148:42 K:BB in 135 2/3 innings. As a former reliever, Lopez could be in danger of moving back to the bullpen in 2026 if his velocity dips again. Even if he stays healthy and stays in a starting role, Lopez's expected workload restrictions will limit his upside as a back-end fantasy starter.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Ken Sugiura
March 24, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that right-hander
Roki Sasaki will remain in the starting rotation to begin the 2026 season despite his struggles on the mound this spring, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. Sasaki had an ugly outing on Monday against the Los Angeles Angels, surrendering five runs on six walks with two hit-by-pitches in two-plus innings before being pulled without allowing a hit. It was a spring training to forget for the second-year pitcher, as he posted a 15.58 ERA with 12 strikeouts and 15 walks in 8 2/3 innings pitched. The 24-year-old Japanese hurler also struggled in 10 regular-season appearances (eight starts) in 2025, allowing 18 earned runs while walking 22 and fanning 28 in 36 1/3 innings before becoming L.A.'s closer in their World Series fun last fall. Fantasy managers should be very hesitant to use Sasaki in his first scheduled regular-season outing against the Guardians after he showed erratic fastball command, continuous arm-side misses, and out-of-sync mechanics during Cactus League play.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Katie Woo
March 24, 2026
The Detroit Tigers announced on Tuesday that shortstop prospect
Kevin McGonigle has made the Opening Day roster. Not only has McGonigle won an Opening Day roster spot, but he's expected to open the 2026 campaign as the team's starting shortstop after hitting .250 (10-for-40) with two home runs, two doubles, a triple, six RBI, eight runs scored, two stolen bases, 11 walks, and eight strikeouts in 19 Grapefruit League contests. The 21-year-old is set to make his major-league debut this Thursday at Petco Park against the San Diego Padres and right-hander
Nick Pivetta. McGonigle's fantasy stock in all formats has been on the rise all spring while displaying maturity beyond his years on both offense and defense. The former first-rounder in 2023 is developing as a power/speed threat, slashing .305/.408/.583 with a .991 OPS, 19 homers, 80 RBI, 68 runs, and 10 stolen bases at three minor-league levels in 2025. RotoBaller has McGonigle ranked as the No. 19 fantasy shortstop. There could be growing pains in his first taste of the majors, but there's no doubt that McGonigle will contribute in all fantasy formats in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Detroit Tigers
March 24, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander
Nick Martinez (hamstring) will have his first start of the 2026 season pushed back to Game 4 due to a minor hamstring issue, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Right-hander
Joe Boyle will now start the second game of the season for the Rays, with
Ryan Pepiot (hip) landing on the 15-day injured list. The 35-year-old Martinez will make his first start for the Rays on Monday, March 30, in Milwaukee against the Brewers. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues and in DFS should be looking to avoid Martinez next week in a bad matchup, especially since he has allowed 18 runs in just 7 2/3 innings in the Grapefruit League in his last two starts. Since returning from a four-year stint in Japan in 2022, Martinez has a 3.67 ERA (3.96 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 433 strikeouts and 141 walks in 61 outings (26 starts). Martinez doesn't walk many, but he lacks the strikeout upside to make him intriguing outside of shallow-mixed fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
March 24, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said that outfielder
Lars Nootbaar (heels) will be evaluated this week for a potential placement on the 60-day injured list, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. If Nootbaar lands on the 60-day IL, he won't be eligible to make his 2026 season debut until late May, so the Cardinals would like to avoid that if possible. The 28-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder had surgery to fix deformities in both of his heels in the offseason, and he's just not ready yet. The good news is that he's scheduled to take batting practice with minor-leaguers in camp on Tuesday. Nootbaar has teased fantasy managers for years, but he has never delivered, and now his dynasty/keeper stock is at a new low. Despite playing in a career-high 135 games in 2025, Nootbaar disappointed with a .234/.325/.361 slash line with a career-low .686 OPS, 13 homers, and 48 RBI in 583 plate appearances. Look for
Nathan Church, Thomas Saggesse, and
Jose Fermin to compete for playing time in left field for the Cardinals to begin the season.
--Keith HernandezSource: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
March 24, 2026
Boston Red Sox right-hander
Johan Oviedo will begin the 2026 season in the bullpen, likely as a piggyback option for rookie left-hander
Connelly Early in his first start of the year on Sunday versus the Cincinnati Reds, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. The Red Sox will reassess the situation after a couple of turns through the starting rotation. Oviedo, 28, lost out on the No. 5 starting-rotation spot to Early despite going into his outing on Monday allowing only two earned runs while walking six and striking out 14 in 11 1/3 innings this spring over four Grapefruit League starts. The Cuban hurler then allowed six runs in 3 1/3 innings on Monday against the Minnesota Twins with diminished velocity on his pitches. Oviedo will surely make starts for the Red Sox in 2026 in his first year with the team, but he has some things to clean up first, and his opportunities could depend on how Early fares early on. Oviedo is merely an arm to stash in AL-only leagues at the moment.
--Keith HernandezSource: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
March 24, 2026
Colorado Rockies right-handed reliever
Victor Vodnik struck out the only batter he faced and nailed down the save in Monday night's Cactus League win over the Detroit Tigers, and manager Warren Schaefer hinted that it's something we could see more of going into the 2026 regular season, according to Steve Stockmar of MLB.com. "Also, Victor, we're gonna see a lot of that this year late in the game," Schaeffer said. It helps that last year's saves leader for the Rockies, Seth Halvoresen, isn't expected to make the Opening Day roster. In addition to Vodnik,
Juan Mejia and
Jimmy Herget could be options to see save chances for the Rockies in 2026. Even though Vodnik, 26, has struggled in spring training with a 15.43 ERA, five walks, and five strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings pitched, he should have a leg up on save chances after recording 10 saves, a 3.02 ERA, and a 49:26 K:BB in 50 2/3 innings in 2025. Only fantasy managers desperate for saves in deeper leagues should seriously consider Vodnik or any other reliever in Colorado's bullpen.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Steve Stockmar
March 24, 2026
New York Yankees shortstop
Anthony Volpe (shoulder) will hit off the Trajekt machine this week, and he'll progress to facing live pitching next week, according to Greg Joyce of The New York Post. Volpe is working his way back from left shoulder surgery and won't be ready for Opening Day. However, he believes he's making good progress, and a late-April or early-May return still appears to be in play. Hitting off the Trajekt machine is a step in the right direction for Volpe, because it means he can face factors like increased velocity, spin, and break. The same can be said about Volpe facing live pitching next week. The young shortstop is surely eager to get back and avenge last season, which included a .212/.272/.391 slash line, a 25.2% strikeout rate, and a career-low 83 wRC+. He was also held to fewer than 20 steals for the first time in his career.
--Andersen PickardSource: Greg Joyce
March 24, 2026
Boston Red Sox first baseman
Triston Casas (knee) will stay in Fort Myers to continue his recovery, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Casas suffered a ruptured left patellar tendon on May 2, 2025, and hasn't played since then. At this point, it seems likely he'll remain sidelined on the one-year anniversary of his injury. The first baseman didn't get into any Grapefruit League games this spring, but he did log some innings in a minor league game. So far, Casas has been cleared to hit against live pitching, but not run the bases or slide. Once he's cleared for those activities, the Red Sox can schedule him for a rehab assignment in Triple-A. He remains on track for a return sometime in mid-to-late May, but even when he gets back to the majors, he'll have to compete for playing time.
Willson Contreras, acquired from the Cardinals during the offseason, is Boston's projected everyday first baseman.
--Andersen PickardSource: Chris Cotillo
March 24, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitcher
Joe Boyle will open the season as the team's No. 2 starter, according to Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times. Boyle was originally projected to start the year in Triple-A, but he'll now shift to the big-league rotation after
Ryan Pepiot (hip) was placed on the 15-day injured list. At a minimum, Boyle will make two starts, but there's a strong chance that he could stay in the rotation longer. His third start would be scheduled for April 8, which is the same day that Pepiot is eligible to be activated. If Pepiot misses the minimum amount of time, Boyle will likely head back to the bullpen or minors after two starts. Otherwise, he'd be on track for three-plus. The 26-year-old is no stranger to longer appearances, as nine of his 13 outings last year were starts. Across 52 total innings, he posted a 4.19 FIP with 10.04 K/9 and 4.85 BB/9. He also brought his ground ball rate up to a career-high 43.8% mark.
--Andersen PickardSource: Marc Topkin
March 24, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop
Carson Williams has made the Opening Day roster, according to Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times. Williams will be the team's starting shortstop. The 22-year-old made his MLB debut just last season, appearing in 32 games. He definitely offered more value in the field than at the plate, slashing just .172/.219/.354 with a 41.5% strikeout rate and 54 wRC+. At Triple-A prior to his promotion, he had a mere .213 batting average but offered power and speed with 23 homers and 22 stolen bases. In his first full season at the major league level, we wouldn't be shocked to see Williams continue to hit right around the Mendoza line while still offering solid power, impressive speed, and above-average defense. The 2026 ZiPS projections have Williams launching 21 homers, stealing 16 bags, and posting 91 wRC+. Now that he's penciled into the starting role, he should handle enough playing time to get on the fantasy radar, especially in deeper leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: Marc Topkin
March 24, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher
Ryan Pepiot (hip) has been placed on the 15-day injured list, according to Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times. Pepiot has been dealing with right hip inflammation, and as a result, he won't be available for the first couple of weeks of the regular season. That's crushing news for the Rays, who are dealing with several pitcher injuries and were hoping Pepiot could be a source of health and stability in the rotation. He threw a career-high 167.2 innings over 31 starts last year, posting a 3.86 ERA with 8.96 K/9 and 3.27 BB/9. Moving forward, the Rays and fantasy managers will look for Pepiot to get healthy and minimize loud contact. He allowed 1.40 HR/9 last year (consistent with his career rate) and surrendered ground balls at a 38.2% clip, which was somehow the highest mark of his career.
Joe Boyle will occupy Pepiot's slot in the rotation until the 28-year-old is able to return.
--Andersen PickardSource: Marc Topkin
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