12 mins agoHouston Astros manager Dusty Baker all but confirmed on Tuesday that outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) will start the 2023 season on the injured list. Brantley had surgery on his right shoulder last August and has been taking it slow during spring training. He also missed some valuable time in camp while he was away from the team tending to a personal matter. There is no timetable for when the 35-year-old will make his season debut, which hurts his already low fantasy value heading into 2023. Brantley makes a lot of contact, doesn't strike out much and can contribute a valuable batting average, but he does little else for fantasy managers. And on top of it, he's now an injury risk at his age.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Houston Chronicle - Chandler Rome

15 mins agoHouston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut on Thursday, according to manager Dusty Baker. Alvarez has yet to play in a spring game while battling through left hand soreness in camp, but he's ready to go now and should be ready for Opening Day, barring a setback once he gets into a game setting. The 25-year-old left-handed slugger is one of the most dangerous hitters in the league when he's healthy, but fantasy managers have to be a bit more skeptical about taking him in the top 10 in the first round of drafts after he dealt with soreness in both of his hands last year as well. If he looks like his normal self this weekend in Grapefruit League games, it would ease a lot of concerns.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Houston Chronicle - Chandler Rome

25 mins agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly has been confirmed as the starter for Team USA against Team Japan on Tuesday night in the World Baseball Classic final. Kelly's last outing in the WBC came last Wednesday against Team Colombia, when he allowed two runs in three innings of work. The 34-year-old right-hander will draw another tough matchup in the first ever meeting between these two teams in a WBC final. Kelly keeps hitters guessing with four different pitches and relies on weak contact, as he's not a big strikeout guy on the mound. He also relies on command, so he'll need to be spot-on to have success against a tough Japanese lineup on Tuesday night.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB Network - Jon Morosi

31 mins agoSan Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish, who was originally scheduled to start against Team USA in Tuesday night's World Baseball Classic championship game, will no longer get the nod. Instead, it will be left-hander Shoto Imanaga toeing the rubber for Japan. Even though Darvish won't get the start, he could be available for an inning out of the bullpen, as well as Shohei Ohtani. Darvish's lack of innings during the WBC has been an area of concern for the Padres, which means he could be on a strict innings/pitch limit early in the 2023 regular season for the Friars. The 36-year-old had one of the best seasons of his career in 2022 in SD and should enter drafts this spring as a strong No. 2 target on the mound.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball America - Kyle Glaser

36 mins agoBoston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas (finger) was scratched from Tuesday's Grapefruit League game with left fifth finger pain and is considered day-to-day. The injury isn't too serious, and the Red Sox expect Casas to return to spring action in a day or two. Fantasy managers won't need to worry about the 23-year-old not being ready for Opening Day at the end of March. The young first baseman is having a great spring, hitting .341 (14-for-41) with three doubles, two home runs, seven RBI and nine runs scored in 15 Grapefruit League games. Casas will be Boston's primary first baseman in 2023, and the 6-foot-4, 252-pounder and has huge raw power, which will play well at Fenway Park.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Jen McCaffrey

12 hours agoCincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo turned in another strong spring performance in Monday's 10-0 Cactus League win over the Angels. The 25-year-old lefty tossed 6 innings, allowing three hits and three walks with eight strikeouts. Lodolo has garnered a good deal of fantasy hype and had an encouraging rookie season, going 4-7 with a 3.66 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 29.7% strikeout rate in 19 starts. He has followed that up with a great spring, posting a 1.93 ERA through four starts. Fantasy managers are banking on Lodolo to be a higher-end fantasy option this season, with an average draft position of 135.--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

12 hours agoColorado Rockies manager Bud Black said Monday that he is not concerned about closer Daniel Bard's struggles throughout the World Baseball Classic. The 37-year-old has a massive 43.20 ERA over three games with Team USA; however, Black is not concerned that Bard may be experiencing the yips as he has previously in his career. Bard was a solid fantasy closer in 2022, earning 34 saves with a 1.79 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 28.2% strikeout rate. It is worth noting that Bard did not pitch from 2014-2019 due to struggles with throwing and pitches his home games in Coors Field, which may be of some concern to fantasy managers. Despite this, he appears to have solid job security entering the season and does possess strikeout upside, making him a worthwhile mid-tier closer option to start the season.--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Kyle Newman - Denver Post

12 hours agoThe Colorado Rockies optioned third baseman Nolan Jones to Triple-A Albuquerque on Monday, per the Communications Department's Twitter account. The 24-year-old, who was acquired from the Guardians in November had batted just .186 in 43 spring at-bats. However, he has intriguing power potential and can play first base and outfield. Jones will not start the season with the Rockies, but his multi-position skills could help him eventually re-join the team, especially if he hits well in Triple-A. Jones' power in Coors Field could be a fantasy asset, but fantasy managers will have to wait on that possibility for now.--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Colorado Rockies Communications Department - Twitter.com

12 hours agoWashington Nationals starting pitcher Patrick Corbin said Monday that he is "as confident as I've ever been" this spring. It showed in Monday's 3-2 win over the Mets, as Corbin pitched six innings of one-run ball, allowing five hits and no walks with five strikeouts. The veteran has compiled a respectable 3.86 ERA over 14 innings this spring with 13 strikeouts and a 1.14 WHIP. While the Nationals sound cautiously optimistic about Corbin's performance to this point, it has been several seasons since he has been a higher-end fantasy option, yet alone a mediocre one. Fantasy managers should wait to see extended success from Corbin before thinking of trusting him.--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Mark Zuckerman - MASNSports.com

12 hours agoLos Angeles Angels starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval looked sharp for Team Mexico in Monday's 6-5 semifinal World Baseball Classic loss to Team Japan. The 26-year-old got the start and pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing four hits and a walk with six strikeouts. Sandoval has been an intriguing option so far in his career and took a big innings jump in 2022, logging 148 2/3 IP over 27 starts. He compiled a stellar 2.91 ERA with a 1.34 WHIP and a 23.7% strikeout rate. Sandoval is currently being drafted at about pick 214 overall despite the promise he has shown, making him a solid value for fantasy managers to target in drafts.--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

12 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers infielder Luis Urias had a solid game at the plate for Team Mexico in Monday's 6-5 semifinals World Baseball Classic loss to Team Japan. Urias played second base and went 2-for-4 with a single and a three-run home run. The 25-year-old hit .278 in the WBC but has hit just 2-for-14 during the rest of the spring. Urias slashed a lackluster .239/.335/.404 with 16 home runs and 47 RBI in 2022, but he can play second, short, and third base, which should help him get routine playing time. Urias' multi-position eligibility and the lineup he hits in make him worth a look in deeper roto leagues.--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

13 hours agoBoston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida played a huge part in Team Japan's come-from-behind 6-5 victory over Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic semifinal on Monday evening. Yoshida went 3-for-4 with a game-tying, three-run home run, a run scored and a walk to help Japan advance to the championship game on Tuesday against Team USA. The 29-year-old will play in one more game for his country in the WBC before rejoining the Red Sox for his first major-league season after signing a five-year, $90 million deal. Yoshida is unlikely to be as good as he was in Nippon Professional Baseball, but he does make a lot of contact and rarely strikes out, so he could have a solid batting average floor. He will be an everyday player in Boston, but he doesn't have a strong glove and lacks a ton of power upside.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

14 hours agoTeam Japan manager Hideki Kuriyama won't rule out Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani being available to pitch in relief in a potential championship game against Team USA in the World Baseball Classic final on Tuesday. First, Team Japan must come from behind to beat Team Mexico in the semifinals on Monday night. The 28-year-old two-way star would probably only pitch an inning in relief on Tuesday if Japan advances to the championship. If it weren't for New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge breaking the American League single-season home run record last year, Ohtani likely would have taken home AL MVP honors. Ohtani is RotoBaller's top-ranked fantasy starting pitcher.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Marly Rivera

14 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers left-hander Julio Urias was removed from Team Mexico's active roster because he won't pitch again in the World Baseball Classic, but he remains with the team as they play Team Japan in the semifinals on Monday night. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Urias is expected to start Friday's Cactus League game. The 26-year-old southpaw has pitched well for both Team Mexico and for the Dodgers this spring and appears to be in midseason form with Opening Day looming in 10 days. Urias is expected to start on Opening Day for the Blue at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and he'll be a fantasy ace that is a must-start each time he toes the rubber.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett

15 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Daniel Hudson (knee) said that he will begin the 2023 season on the injured list. The right-hander has been working his way back from a torn ACL from last June. He has been able to face live hitters a few times, but it appears his knee is still bothering him. The Dodgers will develop a new timetable for Hudson to get back on the mound. Until then, Brusdar Graterol and Evan Phillips figure to be the favorites for the closer role in Los Angeles.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Fabian Ardaya