March 25, 2026
San Francisco Giants outfielder
Heliot Ramos is starting in left field and batting sixth for the Giants on Opening night at Oracle Park on Wednesday against the visiting New York Yankees and left-hander
Max Fried, according to MLB.com. It's a tough matchup, and many DFS managers won't feel comfortable pulling the trigger on Ramos in the first game of the regular season, especially since he's hitless in eight career at-bats against Fried. On a random note, Ramos becomes the first Giants left fielder to make back-to-back Opening Day starts since Barry Bonds in 2007. The 26-year-old former first-rounder in 2017 has back-to-back 20-homer seasons for the Giants as well, and he also cut his strikeout rate considerably in 2025. But with
Luis Arraez now in town and hitting leadoff, Ramos' counting stats could take a big hit while residing further down the Giants' batting order. Ramos might have already reached his fantasy ceiling, especially at pitcher-friendly Oracle Park.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 25, 2026
Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice.com reports that Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward
Quentin Grimes (illness) is available for Wednesday's game against the Chicago Bulls after missing Monday's loss to Oklahoma City due to an illness. The 25-year-old has started each of his last 11 appearances, but with
Paul George returning tonight after serving a lengthy suspension, his role from here on out is uncertain.
--Andrew LennoxSource: Adam Aaronson
March 25, 2026
New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick (upper body) won't suit up on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Mollie Walker of the New York Post reports. According to Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan, Quick is "not there yet" but is "getting closer" to returning. The veteran netminder, who has a 5-16-2 record this season, suffered an upper-body injury during Saturday's practice. With Quick out, Dylan Garand made his NHL debut on Sunday against Winnipeg, stopping 35 of 37 shots in a 3-2 shootout defeat. Garand will serve as Igor Shesterkin's backup on Wednesday.
--Taavi PailkSource: Mollie Walker
March 25, 2026
New York Yankees first baseman
Ben Rice is hitting cleanup on Opening night on Wednesday at Oracle Park against the San Francisco Giants and right-hander
Logan Webb, according to MLB.com. Rice is entrusted in the middle of New York's potent lineup after breaking out in 2025 to the tune of a .255/.337/.499 slash line, .836 OPS, 26 home runs, 65 RBI, and 74 runs scored in 530 plate appearances over 138 regular-season games. He has only faced Webb three times in his career and has one hit and an RBI. Not only does Rice have 30-homer potential at Yankee Stadium from the left side of the plate, but he also has catcher eligibility for fantasy managers. In 16 Grapefruit League games in spring training, Rice went 11-for-46 (.239) with two home runs, five RBI, seven runs scored, and a stolen base. He's as good a DFS selection on Opening night in San Fran as any Yankees hitter.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 25, 2026
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (illness) has taken a temporary leave of absence for personal reasons, the team announced on Wednesday. The Lightning captain has sat out three games due to illness and is now expected to miss some more time. Emil Lilleberg has been playing in Hedman's absence, but he doesn't offer any fantasy value. Darren Raddysh has operated as the No. 1 defenseman and produced another outstanding performance with three points in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Minnesota Wild. He will aim to score in a third consecutive game on Thursday night against Seattle.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
March 25, 2026
The Detroit Lions officially announced on Wednesday that they re-signed kicker
Jake Bates to an undisclosed deal. Bates was an exclusive-rights free agent. The 27-year-old will return for his third season with the Lions in 2026. The former undrafted free agent out of Arkansas has become one of the more reliable kickers in fantasy football over the last couple of seasons in a Lions offense that should remain formidable in 2026. Last year in 17 games, Bates made 27 of his 34 field-goal tries (4-for-9 from 50-plus yards) and a league-high 54 extra points on 56 tries. He has made 84.1% of his 63 field-goal attempts in his two years in the NFL while succeeding on 95.9% of his 123 extra-point attempts. Bates was the No. 6 fantasy kicker in 2025. It also helps that half of his games come indoors, mitigating his volatility.
--Keith HernandezSource: Detroit Lions
March 25, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback
Patrick Mahomes (knee) posted a video on Wednesday of himself in a training session where he dropped back and threw the ball, according to ESPN's Nate Taylor. It's the first public footage of him doing anything football-related since he had surgery in December to fix the torn ACL and LCL in his left knee. "Day by Day!" Mahomes wrote his Instagram story. "Felt Great being able to throw the ball around today!" Based on the video clip, Taylor writes that the Chiefs are "optimistic" that Mahomes is on track to take part in the team's voluntary offseason practices, which are expected to start in May. The 30-year-old six-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl MVP had surgery exactly 100 days ago and said a month after the surgery that he hoped to be in uniform for the season opener in September. It's still early in the offseason, but it's a positive development for Mahomes to be ready for the start of the 2026 campaign. The question now is whether he has already peaked in KC's offense after failing to reach the 4,000-yard passing mark in each of the last two years. It hasn't been fruitful to bet against Mahomes, but coming off a serious knee injury, he needs to be knocked down to the low-end QB1 tier going into 2026 fantasy drafts.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Nate Taylor
March 25, 2026
Los Angeles Clippers guard/forward
Jordan Miller (back) is out for Wednesday's game against the Toronto Raptors. Miller has been healthy throughout most of the season, but he will sit out tonight's contest due to back soreness. His next chance to suit up is Friday against the Pacers. The 26-year-old is averaging 9.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists across 21.6 minutes per game this season. Fellow forward
Kawhi Leonard (ankle) could also sit out as he is carrying a questionable tag ahead of tonight's matchup.
Bennedict Mathurin (toe),
John Collins (ankle) and
Kobe Sanders could be asked to play bigger roles if Leonard is also unable to play.
--Andrew LennoxSource: Justin Russo
March 25, 2026
Former Los Angeles Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Najee Harris (Achilles) visited with the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday, and the plan is for him to visit with the Las Vegas Raiders next, a source told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Harris played in every single game in his first four years in the league with the Steelers, but he only played in three games in 2025 with the Chargers before tearing his left Achilles tendon. The 28-year-old former 24th overall pick in 2021 out of Alabama has progressed to sprinting on a treadmill this offseason, though, and he could make sense for a Seahawks backfield that lost Super Bowl MVP
Kenneth Walker III to free agency.
Zach Charbonnet (knee) isn't expected to be ready for Week 1 this fall, either, so the team could certainly use extra depth alongside
Emanuel Wilson and
George Holani. Harris had four straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons in the Steel City to begin his career, but his dynasty/keeper stock has taken a big hit coming off an Achilles tear. If he were to land in Seattle, he could be in a three-man committee backfield with Wilson and Holani until Charbonnet returns.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
March 25, 2026
Washington Wizards forward/center
Tristan Vukcevic (back) is unavailable for Wednesday's matchup with the Utah Jazz. Vukcevic did not return to Sunday's game against the New York Knicks after experiencing lower-back tightness and the same issue will keep him out of tonight's contest.
Alexandre Sarr (toe) is also out, so
Anthony Gill could see deeper rotation minutes after collecting 18 points, five rebounds, and three steals across 26 minutes on Sunday.
--Andrew LennoxSource: NBA Injury Report
March 25, 2026
Washington Wizards guard/forward
Bilal Coulibaly (heel) will play on Wednesday against the Utah Jazz. Coulibaly was previously listed as questionable with a heel injury, but he has since been cleared to play. The 21-year-old was out for two games in mid-March, but since then he's collected 34 points, nine rebounds, six assists, four steals and four blocks across 40 minutes in his past two outings. If his minutes are restricted this evening,
Will Riley and
Jaden Hardy will likely see extended minutes on the floor.
--Andrew LennoxSource: NBA Injury Report
March 25, 2026
San Francisco Giants outfielder
Jerar Encarnacion is not in the team's starting lineup on Opening Day on Wednesday evening at Oracle Park against the visiting New York Yankees and left-hander
Max Fried, according to Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Rafael Devers is serving as the Giants' designated hitter, with infielder
Casey Schmitt making the start at first base. The 28-year-old Encarnacion could find playing time difficult to come by again in 2026 after playing in just 19 games in 2025 and slashing .200/.214/.364 with two home runs, seven RBI, and five runs scored in just 56 plate appearances. He dealt with hamstring, hand, and oblique injuries. Encarnacion makes very loud contact when he impacts the baseball, but he struggles to make consistent contact and has a history of injuries. He's out of minor-league options and will have to produce when he's given the opportunities in 2026 if he wants to stick around in the Giants' organization. Encarnacion has hit just .216 with 10 homers and 40 RBI in his 77 big-league games over three seasons with the Giants and Marlins.
--Keith HernandezSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Shayna Rubin
March 25, 2026
The Atlanta Braves placed catcher
Sean Murphy (hip) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with right-hip labrum repair, according to MLB.com. Murphy was always expected to begin the 2026 regular season on the shelf, and now it's official. He underwent surgery on his right hip in September of last year and isn't expected to be ready to make his season debut this year until sometime in May. It obviously makes Murphy much less attractive in fantasy baseball, especially with
Drake Baldwin and
Jonah Heim totally capable of handling the catching duties in Atlanta. The 31-year-old veteran backstop was able to take on-field batting practice on March 9, but he still has plenty of boxes to check in his rehab, including defensive work and running. Murphy was a first-time All-Star in his first year in Atlanta in 2023, but he has played in a combined 166 games the last two years while hitting just .197/.293/.384 with a .676 OPS in 601 plate appearances. When healthy, a lesser role could be coming for Murphy between catcher and designated hitter, and there's no guarantee the pop returns after having hip surgery.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 25, 2026
The Seattle Mariners placed right-hander
Bryce Miller (oblique) on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday with a left-oblique strain, according to MLB.com's Daniel Kramer. Miller only made one appearance during spring training after injuring his oblique late last month. The good news, though, is that the 27-year-old hasn't had any setbacks after throwing a couple of bullpen sessions in camp. Miller still needs a couple of weeks to build his arm back up, but barring a setback, he figures to rejoin Seattle's starting rotation before the end of April. In the meantime,
Emerson Hancock will take Miller's spot in the team's rotation. The former fourth-round pick of the Mariners in 2021 out of Texas A&M went 12-8 with a 2.94 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 171:45 K:BB in 31 starts in his second big-league season before dealing with injuries and posting a 5.68 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in just 18 starts in 2025 due to injuries. Miller is pitching with a bone spur in his right elbow as well, making him more of a risk in 2026, but he's still a worthwhile IL stash for his upside in mixed fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
March 25, 2026
The Seattle Mariners placed shortstop
J.P. Crawford (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with right-shoulder inflammation, according to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. Crawford received a cortisone injection last week for a shoulder injury that he's dealt with since the start of spring training in February. He managed to play in seven Cactus League games, though, going 2-for-16 (.125) with three RBI and a stolen base. The good news for the M's is that they could have their starting shortstop back when he's eligible to come off the IL on Wednesday, April 1. Until then,
Leo Rivas will have added value in AL-only leagues as middle-infield depth as the starter at the 6 for Seattle. Crawford's injury isn't serious, but it's another knock on the former first-rounder and his limited fantasy upside. He had double-digit home runs (12) for just the second time in his nine-year MLB career in 2025, and he's never had double-digit stolen bases in 930 career games.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
March 25, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder
Lars Nootbaar (heels) was placed on the 60-day injured list on Wednesday. This means the left-handed hitter will be out until at least late May as he recovers from offseason surgery to both of his heels. The team was hoping to avoid a 60-day IL stint, but instead,
Nathan Church,
Thomas Saggese, and
Jose Fermin will compete for playing time in left field to begin the year. When Nootbaar returns, he does offer some pop after having reached at least 12 home runs the last four seasons, along with a solid OBP thanks to a strong walk rate, but you may be able to find higher-upside options on the waiver wire even when he's back in the lineup.
--Jarod RuppSource: St. Louis Cardinals
March 25, 2026
Baltimore Orioles outfield prospect
Dylan Beavers (knee) said he "peeled back" on activity that irritated his right knee/quadriceps and has been receiving treatment, according to Jake Rill of MLB.com. Beavers had a full work day on Tuesday, including running the bases, and "feels ready to go" for Opening Day on Thursday against the Minnesota Twins. In 11 Grapefruit League games this spring before his injury, Beavers went 7-for-33 (.212) with a homer, four doubles, two RBI, four runs scored, one walk, and 10 strikeouts in 34 plate appearances. He played in 35 games for the O's in his MLB debut in 2025, hitting .227 (25-for-110) with four homers, 14 RBI, 16 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 137 plate appearances. It remains to be seen how big a role Beavers will have in the outfield in Baltimore to begin his first full year in the big leagues, but he's a high-floor prospect who had a .304 batting average, 18 home runs, and 23 steals in 94 games at Triple-A Norfolk in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Jake Rill
March 25, 2026
Baltimore Orioles second baseman
Jackson Holliday (hand) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday. The left-handed slugger is working his way back from a broken hamate bone that he suffered back in February and has been making steady progress, even taking live batting practice last week. A minimal stay on the IL appears to be in order, so expect an announcement of a rehab assignment soon, which would likely take place at Triple-A Norfolk. The former first overall draft pick debuted in 2024 and showed signs of improvement in 2025, dropping his K% from 33.2 percent to 21.6 percent as his contact rate went from 70.3 percent to 78.7 percent, resulting in a wRC+ that went from 62 to 96. If the 22-year-old can continue to improve, he could be on the verge of a very fantasy-friendly third season in the big leagues.
--Jarod RuppSource: Jacob Calvin Meyer
March 25, 2026
Alabama quarterback
Ty Simpson is scheduled to hold a private workout with the New York Jets on Friday, according to Field Yates of ESPN. The Jets traded for veteran QB
Geno Smith this offseason, but they are very much in the quarterback market heading into this year's NFL draft and hold the No. 2 and No. 16 overall picks in the first round. Simpson threw for a large contingent of NFL personnel at his school's pro day on Wednesday and was "razor sharp," per Yates. "His accuracy and tempo stood out." Indiana QB
Fernando Mendoza is expected to go first overall to the Las Vegas Raiders, but it remains to be seen if the Jets like Simpson enough to pull the trigger at No. 2 overall. In his first year as a starter for the Crimson Tide in 2025, Simpson looked great, leading the SEC in completions (305) and pass attempts (473) while throwing for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and only five interceptions in 15 games played. He has quickly become the consensus No. 2 overall QB prospect in this year's draft class, with ESPN's Dan Orlovsky going as far as to say that Simpson could end up being a better franchise signal-caller than Mendoza.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Field Yates
March 25, 2026
New York Yankees starting pitcher
Clarke Schmidt (elbow) is expected to begin throwing bullpen sessions at the end of March and could progress to throwing to live hitters in April if all goes well. The right-hander is continuing his recovery from Tommy John surgery that he underwent last July, and his current track puts him on pace to return to the big league mound sometime in the second half of the season, so long as he does not encounter any setbacks. The former first-round draft pick has been a relatively effective pitcher for the Yankees over the last few years, but he also missed a lot of time in 2024 due to injury. The 6-foot-1 hurler recorded a 3.07 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 15.8 percent K-BB% in 30 starts between 2024 and 2025, and if he can regain that form, he could be a worthy stash candidate or waiver add later in the year.
--Jarod RuppSource: MLB.com
March 25, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman
Freddie Freeman batted fifth in the lineup in Monday's Cactus League game against the Angels with left-hander
Reid Detmers on the mound, something manager Dave Roberts stated he would do with his lineup against southpaws to begin the season. Freeman will typically bat fourth, and catcher
Will Smith will bat fifth, but against lefties, they'll be swapped. It is somewhat of a head-scratcher given Freeman's ability to hit lefties just fine, even better than Smith, both for his career and in 2025, so there hasn't been a dropoff in effectiveness from the veteran slugger. We'll see how long the change holds up, but regardless, Freeman and Smith should remain plenty productive in a loaded Los Angeles lineup.
--Jarod RuppSource: Jack Harris
March 25, 2026
The Los Angeles Rams re-signed running back
Ronnie Rivers to an undisclosed one-year deal on Wednesday, according to Stu Jackson of the team's official website. Rivers will return for a fifth year in L.A. after carrying the ball just nine times for 46 yards in 11 regular-season games in 2025. The 27-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Fresno State latched on with the Rams and made his NFL debut in 2022, also carrying the football just nine times that year for 21 yards in eight games. In his four seasons in the NFL with the Rams, he's had a very limited role on offense with only 72 carries for 295 yards (4.1 yards per carry) and no rushing touchdowns in 45 games (two starts), adding 15 receptions for 85 yards through the air. Rivers will return to the Rams as primarily a special-teamer in 2026 while also adding RB depth behind
Kyren Williams,
Blake Corum, and
Jarquez Hunter. Fantasy managers can continue to ignore him in all formats.
--Keith HernandezSource: Rams.com - Stu Jackson
March 25, 2026
The Las Vegas Raiders will host Indiana quarterback
Fernando Mendoza on a top-30 visit in two weeks, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The Raiders are expected to take Mendoza with the first overall pick in next month's draft. Mendoza will take part in Indiana's pro day on Wednesday, April 1, after not taking part in any drills at the scouting combine at the end of February. The Hoosiers' signal-caller led the team to an undefeated season in 2025 and the national championship. He completed a career-high 72% of his 379 pass attempts for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and only six interceptions in 16 games played and added 90 carries for 276 yards on the ground and seven additional touchdowns. Even though the Raiders are fully expected to make him their franchise QB in April, they reportedly don't want him to open the 2026 season as the starter under center. That shouldn't change the fact that Mendoza should be the first overall pick in rookie-only drafts this fall. Mendoza can do everything on the football field and has an incredibly high floor at the next level.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
March 25, 2026
Boston Red Sox first baseman
Triston Casas (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday. This was not a surprise as the 6-foot-4 slugger was unable to participate in any Grapefruit League action as he continues to recover from a ruptured left patellar tendon that he suffered in 2025. He recently faced live hitters and has been cleared to run the bases and slide, but with no rehab assignment scheduled yet, it's not certain when he might be able to return to the majors. Mid-to-late May is probably a good estimate based on the usual timeline, but there is no rush as the team acquired
Willson Contreras in the offseason to man first base, and before his injury last year, the left-handed hitter was slashing just .182/.277/.303, so they may want to make sure he's fully knocked the rust off before he competes for at-bats with the big league club. The former first-rounder does have some power, though, as he belted 24 home runs in 2023 in 132 games, so the 26-year-old's progress is certainly worth monitoring for fantasy.
--Jarod RuppSource: Boston Red Sox
March 25, 2026
The Atlanta Falcons will have a quarterback competition this year between
Tua Tagovailoa and
Michael Penix Jr. (knee) whenever Penix is cleared to resume football activities after having knee surgery last season. Tagovailoa, a former first-rounder by the Miami Dolphins, has embraced the competition after starting 76 of the 78 games he appeared in for the Dolphins. He's also fine with helping Penix improve as a QB. "I think whatever I can do to help Mike's game will help me because if I'm helping get him better, it's helping me get better, vice versa, we're then helping the team get better," Tagovailoa said. The 28-year-old went 44-32 in his six seasons in Miami and led all QBs in 2022 in touchdown percentage (6.3%), yards per completion (13.7), and passer rating (105.5). He then led the league with 4,624 passing yards in 2023. Since then, though, Tagovailoa has suffered multiple concussions and has regressed as a passer. He thinks he can still be dangerous as a passer and that his best football is ahead of him, but he'll first need to beat out a recovering Penix for the starting gig in Atlanta in 2026. If Tagovailoa wins the job, he'll merely be a low-end QB2 with a short leash.
--Keith HernandezSource: AtlantaFalcons.com - Will McFadden
March 25, 2026
The Baltimore Ravens are making a contract extension for wide receiver
Zay Flowers a top priority this offseason, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Flowers has made two Pro Bowls in three years, something no other homegrown Ravens receiver has done, and he's also gone over 1,000 receiving yards twice. His 3,128 receiving yards since 2023 rank 10th-most among NFL receivers during that span, and his 237 catches rank 13th. It's a pretty impressive feat, considering the team's run-first offensive philosophy. The 25-year-old pass-catcher may not be a prototypical No. 1 NFL wideout, but the Ravens love that he's a legitimate playmaker, a major threat with the ball in his hands, and that he's hard to cover by cornerbacks. In addition to Flowers' skills on the field, he's been durable, missing just one game in three seasons. He's also a close friend of quarterback
Lamar Jackson. The Ravens fully intend to keep him after he signed a four-year, $14.04 million contract back in June of 2023. The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec writes that the Ravens would like to reach a deal "sooner rather than later." They have until May 1 to pick up his fifth-year option and keep him under contract through at least 2027, but that's viewed as a formality.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec
March 25, 2026
As expected, the Cincinnati Reds officially announced on Wednesday that they placed left-hander
Nick Lodolo (finger) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to March 23) with a blister on his left index finger. Lodolo left his final Cactus League start last weekend with a blister issue, and as a precaution, the Reds are going to have him skip a start or two to begin the 2026 regular season. It means that all of
Chase Burns,
Rhett Lowder, and
Brandon Williamson will be locked into the rotation to begin the year. When Lodolo returns, the Reds plan to rotate the three in the final two rotation spots due to their inexperience and recent injury history. It's a frustrating start for Lodolo, who has dealt with blister issues in the past, but he should still be rostered in all fantasy formats due to his high-strikeout upside. Barring a setback, Lodolo figures to be ready to come off the IL when he's eligible on April 7. The former seventh overall pick in 2019 out of TCU has a 26.2% strikeout rate and 6.7% walk rate in his first four big-league seasons with the Reds.
--Keith HernandezSource: Cincinnati Reds
March 25, 2026
The Atlanta Braves placed right-hander
Spencer Strider (oblique) on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday, retroactive to Sunday, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. It's a disappointing start to the 2026 season for Strider, but reports continue to be promising regarding his oblique injury. He will be eligible to come off the IL on April 6, although that might be a little early. Still, there's a chance that Strider will only miss a turn or two through Atlanta's starting rotation to begin the year. The 27-year-old strained his left oblique in a spring training outing last week against the Boston Red Sox. With Strider opening the year on the shelf,
Jose Suarez is expected to take his rotation spot. Strider has fallen far since he won a league-high 20 games and struck out a league-high 281 batters for the Braves in 2023. He made only two starts in 2024 before having right-elbow surgery, and he didn't look the same in 23 starts last year, going 7-14 with a 4.45 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and 131:51 K:BB in 125 1/3 innings. A drop in velocity this spring isn't encouraging for fantasy managers hoping for a bounce-back.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
March 25, 2026
The Houston Astros officially placed left-handed closer
Josh Hader (biceps) on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday with left-biceps tendinitis, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. We already knew that Hader would begin the 2026 regular season on the IL, and now it's official. The Astros haven't given a timetable for when the 31-year-old veteran southpaw will be able to make his season debut, but it could come sooner than later in April, barring a setback. Until Hader returns, right-hander
Bryan Abreu should operate as the Astros' primary closer at the back end of the bullpen. Hader has been one of the most dominant fantasy closers in baseball for a while, but he was also shut down in August of last year with a left-shoulder sprain, so it's possible he could be starting to break down physically. He should take over closing duties in Houston when he comes off the IL, though, so Hader needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
March 25, 2026
The Houston Astros optioned outfield prospect
Zach Cole to Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Cole loses out on the final roster spot for Opening Day to infield prospect
Brice Matthews. The 25-year-old hit just .200 (8-for-40) with two home runs, five RBI, five runs scored, five stolen bases, eight walks, and 20 strikeouts in 16 Grapefruit League games this spring. The former 10th-rounder in 2022 out of Ball State made his big-league debut last year and hit .255 (12-for-47) with four home runs, 11 RBI, nine runs scored, and three steals in 15 games played. He hit .176 with a 40.5% strikeout rate in his last 37 plate appearances. Cole brings some intriguing power and speed to the table, but issues making contact could prevent him from reaching his true potential at the next level. Cole slashed .279/.377/.539 with 19 homers and 18 steals in 97 games in 2025 at Sugar Land. The left-handed-hitting outfielder is a fine stash in dynasty/keeper leagues, and we should be seeing him again in 2026 at the major-league level in a platoon outfield role.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
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