4 hours agoSeattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford (foot) is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Saturday. This comes after Crawford was scratched ahead of Friday's game due to foot soreness. It sounds like a minor issue, but the team wants to do additional testing to make sure it's not anything serious. The expectation is that Crawford should be fine heading into Opening Day. Although, fantasy managers will have to check back after the MRI for more information.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Ryan Divish

4 hours agoLos Angeles Angels infielder David Fletcher (abdominal) was scratched ahead of Saturday's Cactus League matchup. This was a precautionary move as the Angels aren't taking any chances in their final game of the spring. It sounds like the 28-year-old is dealing with abdominal tightness. That being said, Fletcher should be fine in a few days, but the team will likely give another update on him soon. It doesn't appear that Fletcher is in danger of missing Opening Day.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Fletcher

4 hours agoToronto Blue Jays first baseman Brandon Belt (illness) has been scratched ahead of Saturday's Grapefruit League contest. It sounds like the veteran slugger is dealing with a stomach bug. That being said, Belt could very well sit the next day or two in order to rest. However, it sounds like Belt should be fine in time for Opening Day. Regardless, Belt won't be anything more than a late-round flier at this point in his career.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Kaitlyn McGrath

5 hours agoHouston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker (ankle) is expected to make his return to the lineup on Sunday. The left-handed slugger is recovering from a minor ankle injury that he suffered during the World Baseball Classic. The expectation was that Tucker would return this weekend, barring any setbacks. Tucker should be fine for Opening Day, which means fantasy managers can feel fine about drafting Tucker this weekend in drafts.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Brian McTaggart

5 hours agoHouston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown (back) is scheduled for a bullpen session on Sunday. The right-hander resumed throwing on Friday after being scratched from his start on Wednesday due to a back issue. It sounds like the 24-year-old should be ready in time for Opening Day. The expectation is that Brown is going to open the season as the fifth starter in Houston. He has looked good this spring and should be on the radar in most fantasy formats.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Brian McTaggart

5 hours agoTampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco (quad) was scratched from the lineup ahead of Saturday's Grapefruit contest. It sounds like this was a precautionary move by the team, so fantasy managers might not need to worry. The team is calling it right quad soreness, so they will likely give Franco a few days off to rest. The switch-hitting slugger should be fine in time for Opening Day. The organization is considering him day-to-day, so fantasy managers should check back for another update on his status.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Marc Topkin

5 hours agoChicago Cubs starting pitcher Hayden Wesneski has been named the fifth-starter heading into Opening Day. He was competing with Adrian Sampson for the final spot in the rotation. The right-hander has been excellent this spring. He's allowed just six runs (four earned) on 13 hits with a 22/6 K/BB ratio across 12 innings. The 25-year-old looked solid during his brief time with the Cubs last season. He posted a 2.18 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 33 innings last season. Wesneski could be worth a look as a late-round option in deep leagues.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Paul Sullivan

10 hours agoBoston Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello (forearm) threw three innings for Double-A Portland on a back field on Friday and gave up one run while striking out four. Bello tossed 42 pitches (24 for strikes). He will continue to ramp up his workload in minor-league games before the team activates him from the injured list as early as mid-April. The 23-year-old experienced right forearm tightness in the first week of spring training, prompting Boston to shut him down. The Dominican hurler made his MLB debut in 2022 and had a 4.71 ERA (2.94 FIP), 1.78 WHIP and 20.5 percent strikeout rate in 57 1/3 innings over 13 outings (11 starts). The stuff is there for Bello to be attractive in mixed leagues, but he'll need some fine-tuning.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

10 hours agoBoston Red Sox right-hander Garrett Whitlock (hip) threw four innings in a minor-league game on Friday, tossing 63 total pitches (40 for strikes) and is expected to pitch Opening Day for Triple-A Worcester on March 31. There's a chance he could pitch for the Red Sox as soon as the second series of the regular season against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but manager Alex Cora hasn't made a decision on that yet. Boston is taking things slowly with the 26-year-old after he had surgery on his hip last September, but he's making good progress and should make his 2023 debut sometime in April. There's a lot to like about Whitlock's profile, but he probably won't be as dominant as a starter as he was as a reliever in 2022, and he's also likely to have workload restrictions.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Ian Browne

11 hours agoBoston Red Sox third baseman/designated hitter Justin Turner looked to be in midseason form in the team's Grapefruit League game on Friday against the Atlanta Braves, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI, a run scored and a strikeout in the 9-8 win. Turner missed some time this spring after being hit in the face by a pitch and requiring 16 stitches, but he returned to the field earlier this week and will be ready on Opening Day next Thursday, March 30. The 38-year-old veteran right-handed slugger is now hitting .368 (7-for-19) with a homer, three RBI, six runs and a stolen base in nine games played. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Turner's power to suddenly rebound in 2023, and injuries could be a problem, but he still makes for a useful corner infielder with great on-base skills and plate discipline.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

11 hours agoBoston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida went 0-for-2 with a walk in his return to Grapefruit League action in Friday's loss to the Atlanta Braves. Yoshida returned to the team in camp after being away with Team Japan for the World Baseball Classic. The 29-year-old left-handed hitter looked great in the WBC, going 9-for-22 with two home runs and a tournament-leading 13 RBI. Boston signed him to a five-year, $90 million deal in the offseason, and he's expected to open his first big-league season as the cleanup hitter in Beantown. Yoshida's best asset is his ability to make a lot of contact and get on base often due to excellent plate discipline. Those looking to draft him this weekend should expect modest power in his first taste of big-league pitching in 2023.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

11 hours agoWith New York Yankees right-hander Luis Severino (lat) likely to begin the 2023 season on the injured list with a low-grade lat strain, manager Aaron Boone said that Jhony Brito could end up being the team's fifth starter. The 25-year-old Dominican right-hander has yet to pitch in a regular season big-league game. He had a strong 2.96 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 91 strikeouts in 112 2/3 innings over 26 appearances (23 starts) in 2022 with Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The team's No. 27 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, has shown a modest strikeout rate in the minors and probably won't draw much interest in the short term in mixed leagues if he does indeed open the year in the rotation. Brito throws hard, but his offspeed pitches could use more seasoning.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NJ Advance Media - Brendan Kuty

11 hours agoSeattle Mariners manager Scott Servais said that shortstop J.P. Crawford (foot) will have X-rays on his foot on Saturday. Crawford fouled a ball off his foot in the batting cages on Friday but still took part in a full workout afterward. As a precaution, the team scratched him from the Cactus League lineup. We should know more on whether the 28-year-old will need to begin the season on the injured list by the end of this weekend. In his fourth year with the M's in 2022, Crawford slashed .243/.339/.336 with a .675 OPS, six home runs, 42 RBI and 57 runs scored in 145 games played. He's more of a defense-first player, but Crawford can provide a decent average and on-base numbers as a middle infielder in deeper leagues. But his lack of power and speed at a premium position doesn't make him all that attractive in mixed leagues.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Seattle Times - Ryan Divish

11 hours agoAtlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II (back) has returned to the team's Grapefruit League lineup on Saturday against right-hander Bailey Ober and the Minnesota Twins. Harris is starting in center field and batting fifth in the order. The 22-year-old was scratched from the lineup on Friday with back tightness, but it was nothing serious and he'll return to the field a day later. After a fantastic rookie season in 2022 for Atlanta, he has gone 9-for-38 (.237) with a double, triple, two home runs, four RBI, four runs scored and two stolen bases in 14 Grapefruit League contests. Last year's National League Rookie of the Year struck out 24.3% of the time, but he also squared the ball up regularly when he did make contact. There could be some growing pains for Harris in 2023, so don't overpay drastically, but this is a player with high-end upside in all categories.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

11 hours agoThe New York Yankees haven't made a decision yet on whether shortstop prospect Anthony Volpe will be on the Opening Day roster, according to manager Aaron Boone. A report surfaced on Friday that Volpe, who is hitting .277 (13-for-47) with five doubles, three homers, five RBI and five steals this spring, has support from "high-level voices" in the team's front office to make the roster. The 21-year-old prospect has put himself in prime position to open the 2023 season as the team's starting shortstop, while fellow prospect Oswald Peraza has struggled. Volpe is a hit over power prospect whose bat is far superior than his glove. Fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues should already have him stashed, but he's also rising up draft boards in single-year formats with his play this spring.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch