March 2, 2026
Los Angeles Angels shortstop
Zach Neto hit an RBI double off the base of the left-field wall in Cactus League action on Monday against the Kansas City Royals and is now hitting .400 with a 1.267 OPS in spring training, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. The 25-year-old closed out his 2025 campaign on the injured list with a left-hand strain, but he's completely healthy now and has picked up where he left off. He finished 2025 with a .257/.319/.474 slash line, career-best .793 OPS, career-high 26 home runs, 62 RBI, 82 runs scored, and 26 stolen bases in 554 plate appearances over 128 games played. Neto ranked in the top 10% in xwOBA on contact and was also in the top 15% of the league in barrel rate and xSLG. He's proving to be the real deal, and he could improve even more if he lowers his strikeout rate and increases his walk rate. Over a full season, Neto has 30-30 potential as a clear top-10 fantasy shortstop.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Rhett Bollinger
March 2, 2026
Los Angeles Angels right-hander
Grayson Rodriguez is happy with his slider and curveball in spring training, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. "This is the best those two pitches have ever been. So I've got that going for me. Heater is obviously there. The velocity is there. One big thing for me, and kind of what's been in the past, is working on command," Rodriguez said. The 26-year-old missed all of last year with the Baltimore Orioles due to elbow and lat injuries, but he appears to be fully healthy this spring as he enters his first season with the Angels. In his lone Cactus League outing last week against the San Francisco Giants, G-Rod allowed a run on one hit and three walks while striking out two batters in 1 2/3 innings. His command left a lot to be desired, but the primary takeaway is that Rodriguez is healthy. Durability is a question mark, but Rodriguez has displayed elite upside in the past, making him worth a late-round flier in mixed fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Rhett Bollinger
March 2, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander
Gavin Stone (shoulder) had a "setback" with his shoulder and is "paused" from throwing right now in camp, manager Dave Roberts told Jack Harris of The California Post. Roberts said Stone's surgically-repaired shoulder was bothering him after last week's Cactus League start and subsequent bullpen session. Harris adds that it "probably scuttles his chances for Opening Day." It's not good news for the 27-year-old hurler, who had surgery to fix a full capsule tear and partial tears of his labrum and rotator cuff. It caused Stone to miss the entire 2025 season, and he most likely will open on the injured list again in 2026. The former fifth-rounder in 2020 out of Central Arkansas debuted in 2023 (eight appearances) in the big leagues before going 11-5 with a 3.53 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 116:37 K:BB in 25 starts (140 1/3 frames) in 2024. Even if Stone recovers to pitch this year, his fantasy upside will be limited with expected workload restrictions.
--Keith HernandezSource: The California Post - Jack Harris
March 2, 2026
The San Diego Padres agreed to a minor-league deal with free-agent outfielder
Alex Verdugo on Sunday, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. Verdugo appeared in only 56 games with the Atlanta Braves last year and was eventually designated for assignment over the summer after hitting just .239/.296/.289 with no homers, 12 RBI, and 21 runs scored in 213 plate appearances. The nine-year veteran is getting a late start in spring training and won't be guaranteed to make the Padres' Opening Day roster. If Verdugo did make the big-league squad out of camp, he'd most likely be a platoon option from the left side of the plate in a corner-outfield spot or at designated hitter. Most likely, Verdugo will offer the Padres some outfield depth at Triple-A El Paso to begin the 2026 regular season. In 149 games with the Yankees in 2024, Verdugo held a .233/.291/.356 slash line with 13 homers and 61 RBI in 621 plate appearances.
--Keith HernandezSource: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Kevin Acee
March 2, 2026
San Diego Padres right-hander
Joe Musgrove (elbow) will start in the team's exhibition against Team Great Britain on Wednesday, his first appearance in a game since his 2024 Tommy John surgery that October, according to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. Musgrove didn't pitch at all for the Padres in 2025 as the results of his surgery, but he has worked his way all the way back and will be part of SD's Opening Day starting rotation. The 33-year-old is not expected to have any workload restrictions, but it's fair for fantasy managers to wonder how effective he'll be in 2026 in his return. Musgrove was a first-time All-Star back in 2022 with the Friars, when he went 10-7 with a career-best 2.93 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 184:42 K:BB in 181 innings (30 starts), but that was the last time he went over 100 innings in a season. Expecting him to return to that All-Star form in 2026 is a lot to ask, but Musgrove is definitely worth a late-round flier in fantasy drafts as rotation depth.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - AJ Cassavell
March 2, 2026
The St. Louis Cardinals are holding shortstop
Masyn Winn (arm) out of the Grapefruit League lineup on Monday against the Miami Marlins due to right-arm soreness, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Manager Oliver Marmol said that Winn is "fine" and that his soreness is the result of a "heavy" workload on Sunday. The 23-year-old is expected to return to spring training action later this week on Thursday or Friday, but he could also play in an exhibition game on Wednesday against Team Nicaragua. Through four Grapefruit League games, Winn has gone 2-for-8 at the plate with a stolen base. A knee injury that eventually required meniscus surgery last year may have been to blame for his disappointing offensive numbers. He had a .253/.310/.363 slash line .673 OPS, nine homers, 51 RBI, and nine steals in 129 games. Winn could bounce back some with better health, but with middling power and speed, there's limited upside here. He profiles better as a middle-infield option in mixed fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
March 2, 2026
Houston Astros designated hitter/outfielder
Yordan Alvarez is making his Grapefruit League debut on Monday against the Washington Nationals, serving as the DH and batting second, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Alvarez isn't dealing with an injury, but the Astros chose to slow-play him this spring after he was limited to 48 games in 2025 due to ankle and hand injuries. To keep the 28-year-old left-handed slugger healthy all year, the Astros plan on using him primarily as a DH this year, while occasionally giving him some action in left field. The Cuban slugger made the All-Star team for three straight years from 2022 to 2024 and was annually one of the best all-around hitters in the game before struggling with injuries last year. Alvarez reached the 30-homer mark for four straight seasons from 2021-24, and he could easily bounce back in the power department in 2026 if he stays on the field.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
March 2, 2026
X-rays on Washington Nationals outfielder
Dylan Crews' left thumb were negative, and he is considered day-to-day, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Crews suffered a left-thumb contusion after getting hit by a pitch during live batting practice in camp on Saturday and was scratched from Sunday's Grapefruit League lineup. The 24-year-old isn't back in the lineup on Monday, either, but we should see him return to the field at some point this week. So far, Crews has gone 1-for-9 at the plate in spring training with a walk and three strikeouts. The former second overall pick in 2023 out of LSU hasn't lived up to lofty expectations in his first 116 major-league games, slashing .211/.282/.352 with a .634 OPS, 13 home runs, 35 RBI, 55 runs scored, and 29 stolen bases in 454 plate appearances. Crews missed considerable time last year with an oblique injury, though, and he's too young and too talented to write off completely.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
March 2, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitching prospect
Bubba Chandler stumbled in his second outing of spring training on Sunday afternoon. The top pitching prospect entered the game in relief behind
Braxton Ashcraft and struggled, tossing 1 1/3 innings of two-run ball. In this brief appearance, Chandler allowed a high three walks with only two strikeouts. Chandler has now logged three innings in the spring with six earned runs and a modest 4:7 K:BB. Last summer, Chandler struggled with his command at Triple-A, which kept him in the minor leagues for most of the season. However, in the majors, Chandler looked far more comfortable, allowing only four total free passes over 31 2/3 innings. Managers should continue to keep a close eye on his progression in camp. While he remains locked into a starring role, Chandler could see his upside significantly capped due to his inconsistent command.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 2, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect
Jett Williams (quadriceps) is dealing with left quad soreness. He sustained this injury during last week's spring training contest. The young infielder has been held out of action since then. However, Brewers manager Pat Murphy noted that the injury is a "2 out of 10" on the severity scale, which suggests the infielder should be back in action in the coming days. The Brewers acquired Williams from the New York Mets as the headliner piece in the deal that sent right-handed pitcher
Freddy Peralta to Queens earlier in the winter. Williams is in the mix to compete for a starting role out of spring training, but will likely be sent to Triple-A to open the 2026 season. Last summer, Williams struggled over his first 36 games at Triple-A, holding a .209/.285/.433 line. He remains a viable early-season stash target in deeper 12+ team formats.
--Andy SmithSource: Adam McCalvy
March 2, 2026
Houston Astros shortstop/outfield prospect
Brice Matthews has enjoyed a hot start to spring training and is making a strong case to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster. The team's top prospect (according to MLB.com) has gone 4-for-10 at the plate with one double and one stolen base. Matthews progressed through the minors as a shortstop but has begun to see time in the outfield, given Houston's immense infield depth. Last summer, the former 28th overall pick made his MLB debut and held a .167/.222/.452 line with four home runs and one stolen base across a brief 13-game stint. He spent most of the summer at Triple-A Sugar Land, where he held a .260/.371/.458 line with 17 home runs and 41 swiped bases over a 112-game stint. Given Houston's lack of proven options in the outfield, Matthews could be worth a late-round selection given his power and speed upside.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 2, 2026
New York Yankees outfield prospect
Spencer Jones has already launched three long balls through the opening week of spring training. Across his first five games, the young slugger has gone 3-for-10 with three home runs, one stolen base, and a 4:2 K:BB. The 24-year-old flashed elite upside in the minor leagues last season and appears poised to contend for his MLB debut later in 2026. He opened the 2025 campaign with Double-A and posted a .274/.389/.594 line with eight doubles, 16 home runs, and 10 stolen bases. He then moved up to Triple-A, where he continued to hit for high power, launching 19 home runs with 15 doubles and 19 stolen bases across a 67-game stint. However, his hefty 36.7% K% at Triple-A raises concerns about his long-term outlook. With the Yankee outfield quite crowded following the re-signing of
Cody Bellinger, Jones figures to earn a promotion as an injury replacement later in the season.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 2, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect
Konnor Griffin launched his third home run of the spring during their contest on Sunday afternoon against the St. Louis Cardinals. The top prospect hit a two-run shot in the game's opening frame off right-handed pitcher
Kyle Leahy. While Griffin has shown immense upside, hitting three home runs over his first six games, he has posted a modest .214 AVG with a low .267 OBP as all three of his total hits have left the yard. Fantasy managers should continue to pay close attention to his production in camp, as he could contend for an early-season promotion or even crack the Opening Day lineup. Last summer, Griffin made his MiLB debut and was nothing short of dominant across his first 122 games, posting an elite .333/.415/.527 line with 21 home runs and 65 stolen bases. Given his five-category upside, he should be viewed as a high-end stash target in all formats if he were to fall short of the Opening Day roster.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 2, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies right-handed pitching prospect
Andrew Painter was sharp in his spring training debut and is making a strong case to earn the final role in the starting rotation at the beginning of the campaign. Painter was given the starting nod on Sunday afternoon and tossed two shutout frames. He did not allow a hit or a walk and struck out one hitter. His command was a glaring issue during his 2025 season, and seeing him toss two clean frames is an excellent sign for his early-season outlook. In 2025, the former first-round selection spent most of the campaign at Triple-A Lehigh Valley and logged 106 2/3 innings to the tune of a 5.40 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, and a 111:46 K:BB. With
Zack Wheeler (shoulder) set to miss the start of the season, Painter appears poised to begin the season as the team's final starter and could remain in that role if he enjoys a strong start. He is a top late-round sleeper pick when looking for an upside starter.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 1, 2026
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher
Shelby Miller (elbow) was officially placed on the 60-day injured list on Sunday. This was expected as Miller is recovering from UCL and flexor tendon surgery that he underwent in October. The right-hander signed a two-year, $2.5 million deal with the Cubs over the offseason. The 35-year-old won't pitch in 2026, but the Cubs are hopeful Miller can contribute in 2027. The move to put Miller on the 60-day injured list opens up a 40-man roster spot. In a corresponding move,
Ben Cowles has been claimed off waivers by the Cubs from the Toronto Blue Jays. The 26-year-old infielder is expected to serve as depth at Triple-A Iowa to begin the season.
--Andy WebbSource: Bruce Levine
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