March 22, 2026
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher
Nick Lodolo (blister) was pulled from his Cactus League start on Sunday due to a blister on his left index finger, according to Charlie Goldsmith of FOX19 (via radio broadcaster Tommy Thrall). Lodolo was clearly dealing with discomfort, as he threw just 10 pitches (four strikes) before exiting. He allowed two runs, including a homer, without recording a single out. It's too early to tell whether the blister might impact his availability for the Reds' opening series against the Boston Red Sox. The Reds' projected No. 2 starter is looking to build on a strong 2025 campaign in which he went 9-8 with a 3.66 xFIP, 8.96 K/9, and 1.78 BB/9. Lodolo currently ranks #30 among starting pitchers in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: Charlie Goldsmith
March 22, 2026
Cleveland Guardians first baseman
Rhys Hoskins has made the team's Opening Day roster, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post. The eight-year MLB veteran was in camp with the Guardians on a minor league contract with a non-roster invite. He appeared in 90 games for the Milwaukee Brewers last year, slashing .237/.332/.416 with 12 home runs, an 11.6% walk rate, a 27.7% strikeout rate, and 109 wRC+. He has posted above-average wRC+ numbers every year throughout his career, as well as this spring. Evidently, the offensive output was enough to earn him a spot on Cleveland's 26-man roster, and he'll have a chance to carve out a large workload as the team's projected designated hitter, batting fifth.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jon Heyman
March 22, 2026
Colorado Rockies right-handed pitching prospect
RJ Petit (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery with an internal brace on the right elbow, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com. The operation was performed on Friday by Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas, and it will result in Petit missing the entire 2026 regular season. It's a crushing blow for the 6-foot-8 right-hander, who was initially trending toward making his MLB debut this year after being selected off the Detroit Tigers' roster in the Rule 5 draft. He posted a 2.74 ERA with 12.91 K/9 and 3.91 BB/9 across 23 innings at Triple-A last year. The Rule 5 eligibility restrictions will apply to Petit in 2027, when he's activated from the 60-day injured list. In the meantime, Colorado will have another decision to make regarding which pitcher will take Petit's spot on the 26-man roster for Opening Day.
--Andersen PickardSource: Thomas Harding
March 22, 2026
New York Yankees catcher
J.C. Escarra will open the regular season in a backup role behind
Austin Wells, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
Ben Rice did appear in Sunday's spring training game behind the dish, but he's expected to spend most of 2026 at first base, leaving Escarra as the natural No. 2 backstop option. The 30-year-old made his MLB debut in pinstripes last year, slashing .202/.296/.333 with an 11.2% walk rate, a 14.3% strikeout rate, and 79 wRC+ across 40 big-league games (98 plate appearances). He didn't have the best batted ball results, but he posted solid discipline numbers and was significantly above average behind the dish with 3.9 framing runs and 3.3 defensive fWAR.
--Andersen PickardSource: Bryan Hoch
March 22, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitcher
Carmen Mlodzinski has made the starting rotation out of camp, according to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Manager
Don Kelly said that Mlodzinski will open the year in the No. 3 spot, putting him in line to start on Sunday, March 29, against the New York Mets. Mlodzinski split the last three years between the Pirates' bullpen and rotation, ultimately logging a career-high 99 innings of work last year. Across those 99 frames, he posted a respectable 3.33 FIP with 8.09 K/9, 2.45 BB/9, and a 47.5% ground ball rate. If he sticks in the rotation for a while, he could end up commanding some fantasy consideration in deeper leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: Colin Beazley
March 22, 2026
The Washington Nationals have acquired infielder
Jorbit Vivas from the New York Yankees in exchange for right-handed pitching prospect Sean Paul Linan, according to Andrew Golden of The Baltimore Banner. Vivas logged 66 plate appearances as a rookie last season, slashing just .161/.266/.250 with a 7.6% walk rate, a 19.7% strikeout rate, and 52 wRC+. He showed slight improvement at the plate this spring with 85 wRC+. The 25-year-old finds himself near replacement level on defense, splitting time between second and third base. He was out of options, so this move suggests that the Yankees were looking for a way to recoup any sort of trade compensation, rather than simply designating him for assignment. Headed back to New York is Linan, a 21-year-old who signed with the Dodgers out of Colombia back in 2022. He was sent to Washington in last summer's
Alex Call trade. Linan made 19 appearances (15 starts) in the minors last year, posting a 3.22 FIP with 12.34 K/9 and 3.84 BB/9. He impressed in the lower levels of the minors but was roughed up during a brief stint in Triple-A.
--Andersen PickardSource: Andrew Golden
March 22, 2026
Seattle Mariners catcher
Mitch Garver has made the Opening Day roster, according to Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports. He won the backup catcher job over
Andrew Knizner, who is expected to be designated for assignment. Garver, 35, enters his third season with the Mariners and his 10th in the majors. He slashed .209/.297/.343 with 86 wRC+ at the plate last year, and he hasn't posted positive defensive fWAR since 2021 (2.0). Depending on how the Mariners manage
Cal Raleigh's workload, we could see Garver come close to matching his 2025 total of 290 plate appearances. Raleigh played roughly three-quarters of last season behind the dish, with the remaining one-quarter comprising days off or designated hitter appearances.
--Andersen PickardSource: Shannon Drayer
March 22, 2026
The San Francisco Giants have granted the release of left-handed pitcher
Joey Lucchesi, according to Justice delos Santos of The Mercury News. After the Giants signed
Ryan Borucki yesterday, it became clear that Lucchesi would not make the team, so he asked to be released. The southpaw should find an MLB opportunity elsewhere. Not only did he maintain a solid 3.97 FIP over 38.1 innings last year, but he also amassed three innings of work with one earned run, two strikeouts, and zero walks this spring. The 32-year-old will now have a few days to search for a new job before Opening Day arrives on Thursday.
--Andersen PickardSource: Justice delos Santos
March 22, 2026
New York Yankees first baseman/catcher
Ben Rice was deployed behind the plate for the first time this spring on Sunday, per MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. Rice is expected to be New York's primary first baseman in 2026, but he came through the minors as a catcher and caught 36 games for the Yankees in 2025. With
Austin Wells locked in as the team's starter behind the plate and
J.C. Escarra on the Opening Day roster as the backup, Rice may not see much time at catcher early in 2026. Still, it's noteworthy that Rice may not be limited to just first base and designated hitter in the minds of the Yankees' decision-makers. With veteran first baseman
Paul Goldschmidt on the roster, Rice may be limited to a big-side platoon role unless the team trusts him to take reps behind the plate against left-handed pitching.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
March 22, 2026
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Dontayvion Wicks continues to face an uphill battle to earn consistent volume ahead of the 2026 season. While the departure of
Romeo Doubs in free agency initially seemed like it might lead to more opportunities for Wicks, the latest reporting indicates that 2025 first-round pick
Matthew Golden will benefit most from Doubs' departure. As a result, the Packers are expected to proceed with
Jayden Reed,
Christian Watson, and Golden as their top three receivers, leaving Doubs still buried in a depth role. He didn't do a whole lot to help his case in 2025, catching just 30 passes for 332 yards and two touchdowns across 14 games. All of those numbers set new career lows for the Virginia product. Now 24 years old, Wicks is heading into a contract year but remains an unappealing option in most redraft and dynasty leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
March 22, 2026
A first-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Philadelphia Phillies outfield prospect
Justin Crawford has made the team's 2026 Opening Day roster and has a chance to emerge as the Phillies' long-term answer in center field. Across 506 plate appearances at Triple-A in 2025, Crawford slashed .334/.411/.452 with seven home runs, 47 RBI, 88 runs scored, and 46 stolen bases. Crawford posted an exceptionally high 59.4% ground ball rate in the minors last year, so he is almost certain to be a negative in the power categories for fantasy managers. However, the 22-year-old has elite speed. If he can turn enough ground balls into hits to stick in the Phillies' everyday lineup, Crawford could easily rack up 30-plus stolen bases as a rookie. His profile comes with some extreme strengths and weaknesses, but Crawford has a clear carrying tool that makes him an intriguing late-round target for fantasy managers.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 22, 2026
The Carolina Panthers have signed tight end and special teamer
Feleipe Franks, according to NFL reporter Jordan Schultz. Franks was a standout quarterback in college, totaling 18 touchdowns and just four interceptions in his final NCAA season at Arkansas in 2020. He also had 31 touchdowns and six interceptions as a sophomore at Florida in 2018. He ended up signing with the Falcons as an undrafted free agent and made one appearance before converting to tight end in 2022. He joined the Panthers in 2024, then returned to the Falcons in 2025. Now, he's back in Carolina for 2026. He has just one catch and two rushing attempts since becoming a tight end, so we expect the vast majority of his contributions to come on special teams next year. He has no fantasy relevance.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jordan Schultz
March 22, 2026
The Kansas City Chiefs are a potential landing spot for free-agent defensive end Cameron Jordan, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN.com. Defensive lineman Chris Jones recently posted on social media, floating the idea of the Chiefs signing Jordan, and Taylor confirms Kansas City is indeed a "possible destination." Jordan is nearing the end of his career at 37 years old, but he remained highly productive last season with 10.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and 47 tackles. The 15-year NFL veteran has spent his entire career so far in New Orleans, so a shift to the Chiefs would be quite significant. He'd give Kansas City a clear upgrade on the defensive line, opposite George Karlaftis, especially as the Chiefs look to get back into the NFL playoffs after finishing below .500 last year.
--Andersen PickardSource: Nate Taylor
March 22, 2026
After missing the entire 2024 season with a shoulder injury, Cincinnati Reds second baseman
Matt McLain managed to log 577 plate appearances in 2025. However, the 26-year-old had his struggles at the plate, slashing .220/.300/.343 with 15 home runs, 50 RBI, 73 runs scored, and 18 stolen bases. McLain struck out in 28.9% of his plate appearances while also recording a middling 7.7% barrel rate. Now nearly two years removed from his shoulder troubles, McLain is starting to show signs of a breakout. He has dominated Cactus League action to a .529/.571/1.020 slash line with seven home runs across 56 plate appearances. If McLain can get back to the 10.8% barrel rate he posted as a rookie in 2023, he could emerge as a legitimately high-end power/speed threat relative to his peers at second base. McLain's impressive spring should have him rising up draft boards, and he has the type of high-upside profile that could be worth gambling on for fantasy managers.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 22, 2026
Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com writes that "it'll be a while" before the Jacksonville Jaguars' backfield dynamic gains any clarity. Jacksonville lost
Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency and replaced him with
Chris Rodriguez Jr., who will compete for the lead-back role with
Bhayshul Tuten. Although it might seem like Tuten has an early leg up on the competition because of his familiarity with the Jaguars' offense, we must also acknowledge that Jacksonville deliberately went out and paid Rodriguez $10 million, so they want to get him involved. He also has a connection to head coach Liam Coen, who was his offensive coordinator at Kentucky in 2021. The Jaguars are no strangers to complicated backfields. They entered last season with no clear frontrunner between Etienne, Tuten, and
Tank Bigsby. The good news is that there are now only two names in the mix, instead of three. Still, it sounds like it will be a while before we gain any clarity in this backfield. Both Rodriguez and Tuten should be viewed as low-end RB3/flex options, and whichever player wins the starting role will jump to the low-end RB2 tier given how strong Jacksonville's offense looked last year.
--Andersen PickardSource: Michael DiRocco
March 22, 2026
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher
Kris Bubic had a breakout start to the 2025 season, posting an 8-7 record with a 2.55 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 116 strikeouts across 116 1/3 innings (20 starts). However, the 28-year-old lefty's season was cut short after he suffered a rotator cuff injury in late July. Bubic is now healthy and has been impressive so far this spring, recording a 0.75 ERA and 14 strikeouts across 12 Cactus League innings. While Bubic's fastball isn't overpowering, he still struck out nearly one batter per inning in 2025 and did a good job limiting the long ball with a 0.46 HR/9. Bubic has never logged more than 130 innings in a season and is coming off a shoulder injury, so fantasy managers may be wise to limit their expectations for his workload. Still, Bubic could be an undervalued source of quality starting pitcher production in the later rounds of drafts heading into 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 22, 2026
New York Mets outfield prospect
Carson Benge is reportedly on the verge of being named the team's Opening Day starter in right field after turning heads with his Spring Training production. Across 43 Grapefruit League plate appearances, the 23-year-old has hit .368/.442/.447. Benge may not offer much in the power category, as he has yet to homer this spring and hit just 15 long balls across 519 minor league plate appearances in 2025. However, Benge showed an advanced understanding of the strike zone and some speed in the minors, posting a 13.1% walk rate and a 17.7% strikeout rate while swiping 22 bags in 2025. If the lefty-swinging Benge does indeed make New York's Opening Day roster, he could start the year on the big side of a platoon. Still, Benge's well-balanced profile at the plate makes him an intriguing late-round target for fantasy managers entering 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 22, 2026
The Green Bay Packers will likely bring in an external addition to fill the backup running back role in 2026, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Schneidman writes that he doesn't expect
MarShawn Lloyd or
Chris Brooks to be the No. 2 option behind
Josh Jacobs in Week 1. He mentioned free agents
Kareem Hunt and
Michael Carter as potential candidates, but he also wrote that he expects the Packers to select a running back in the 2026 NFL Draft. "My best guess is they pick someone in the middle of the draft to be this year's backup and maybe even a future No. 1," Schneidman wrote. This year's draft class is notably thin at the running back position, so it's possible that Green Bay will have to overpay a little to select a running back that they believe can make an impact in the NFL. Jacobs is under contract through 2027, but his contract is structured to allow the Packers to cut him next season with minimal cap penalties, if they desire. As a result, it makes sense for Green Bay to add a promising rookie at the position.
--Andersen PickardSource: Matt Schneidman
March 22, 2026
Across 151 2/3 innings (29 starts) in 2025, St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher
Matthew Liberatore recorded an 8-12 record with a 4.21 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 122 strikeouts. While Liberatore's numbers do not jump off the page, the 26-year-old was recently named the Cardinals' 2026 Opening Day starter and appears likely to be entrusted as an innings-eating workhorse this season. Liberatore has also had an impressive Spring Training. Across 15 innings of Grapefruit League action, he's 1.80 ERA and 0.80 WHIP with 19 strikeouts and just two walks. Liberatore owns an 18.9% career strikeout rate, so the 33.9% rate he's posted this spring is sure to regress. Still, if he can boost his strikeout rate from the high teens to the low twenties, Liberatore's profile becomes much more attractive to fantasy managers. In the very late rounds of drafts, Liberatore could be worth taking a flier on heading into 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 22, 2026
After trading quarterback
Justin Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason, the New York Jets still need a veteran backup QB for
Geno Smith.
Carson Wentz re-signed with the Minnesota Vikings, and the Philadelphia Eagles acquired
Andy Dalton from the Carolina Panthers. Options are dwindling, but ESPN's Rich Cimini writes that the 32-year-old
Cooper Rush could be in play after the Baltimore Ravens recently released him. Re-signing
Tyrod Taylor is another option, but the 36-year-old is injury-prone. Other free-agent QBs include
Joe Flacco and
Russell Wilson. A trade can never be ruled out, but the asking prices remain high around the league. Rush is an eight-year NFL veteran who spent his first seven years with the Cowboys before going 34-for-52 for 303 yards, no touchdowns, and four picks in four games (two starts) for the Ravens in 2025. Taylor replaced Fields as the starter last year in New York but played only six games (four starts) due to injuries and was lackluster, completing 59.7% of his pass attempts for 779 yards, five touchdowns, and five interceptions.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
March 22, 2026
The Los Angeles Rams are interested in bringing back veteran free-agent quarterback
Jimmy Garoppolo, but the market for him is fluid, according to Nate Atkins of The Athletic. If the Rams don't retain Jimmy G, they could opt for another trusted veteran to back up
Matthew Stafford, or they could look to the NFL draft to find both a backup and an heir apparent to replace Stafford once he retires. It's unlikely that the Rams will use the No. 13 overall pick in the first round in this year's draft on a QB when next year's draft appears to be much stronger at the position. The 34-year-old Garoppolo has appeared in just four games and has made one start for the Rams in his two seasons with the team. Since the start of the 2023 season, Garoppolo has attempted just 210 passes for 1,539 yards, nine touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in eight games (seven starts). He has completed 67.4% of his passes in his 12-year NFL career, though, and he remains one of the most experienced backup QBs in the league.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Nate Atkins
March 22, 2026
The Los Angeles Rams had one of the top wide receiver duos in the league last year in
Puka Nacua and
Davante Adams. Nacua led the league with 129 catches, and Adams led the NFL with 14 touchdowns. However, The Athletic's Nate Atkins writes that the position is a "sneaky need on this roster for the present and the future." There isn't much depth behind Nacua and Adams, who each missed three games in 2025 due to injury. He goes on to say that a receiver "looks like a strong spot for the No. 13 pick in the draft," but the Rams could also fill the need with a Day 2 selection. Any receiver in this year's draft who also offers abilities as a return man on special teams "should shoot up the Rams' draft board." Right now,
Jordan Whittington and
Konata Mumpfield are the No. 3 and 4 wideouts for L.A. behind Nacua and Adams, so if the Rams add to the position in April's draft, those two pass-catchers would be affected the most in terms of battling for playing time in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Nate Atkins
March 22, 2026
The Athletic's Nate Atkins believes that Los Angeles Rams tight end
Terrance Ferguson's first offseason in an NFL strength program should lead to a "significant uptick" in the former second-rounder's 39% snap share and 25 targets from his rookie campaign. The Rams leaned into three-tight-end sets for the first time under head coach Sean McVay in 2025 and had the highest rate in the league. It's clear they plan to run that approach back after re-signing veteran
Tyler Higbee this offseason. Ferguson should help to offset the Rams' lack of depth at receiver behind
Puka Nacua and
Davante Adams.
Colby Parkinson is the Rams' third TE who will continue to be involved in the rotation. Ferguson, 23, finished his first year in the league with 11 receptions on 25 targets for 231 yards and three touchdowns in 14 regular-season games. He battled through a hamstring down the stretch, which hurt his playing time, but he could be a bigger part of a high-scoring Rams' offense in 2026. Still, with both Higbee and Parkinson involved, Ferguson's fantasy ceiling will be limited.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Nate Atkins
March 22, 2026
New York Yankees starting pitcher
Will Warren emerged as a rotation staple in 2025, recording a 9-8 record with a 4.44 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with 171 strikeouts across 162 1/3 innings (33 starts). While the 26-year-old had a few notable blowup outings that impacted his ratios, Warren also led all rookies in strikeouts and proved he could handle a full season's worth of a starter's workload. With Yankees starters
Gerrit Cole (elbow) and
Carlos Rodon (elbow) both on the Injured List to open 2026, Warren has a rotation spot in New York locked up to start the year. He has also recorded strong numbers so far this spring, pitching to a 1.77 ERA and 0.74 WHIP while allowing just three walks across 20 1/3 Grapefruit League innings. If Warren can do a better job limiting start-ruining damage while maintaining an above-average strikeout rate in his second full MLB season, he could easily outperform his current average draft position of SP95.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 22, 2026
With running back
Travis Etienne Jr. no longer in town, the Jacksonville Jaguars could be eyeing a timeshare in their backfield in 2026 with
Bhayshul Tuten and newcomer
Chris Rodriguez Jr. ESPN's Michael DiRocco writes that "it'll be a while before it's determined what the workload share between Tuten and Rodriguez will be." Behind Tuten and Rodriguez is second-year back
LeQuint Allen Jr., seven-year veteran
DeeJay Dallas, and
Ja'Quinden Jackson, an undrafted rookie free agent in 2025 who spent all of last year on the practice squad. Tuten, a fourth-rounder last year, ran for 305 yards and five touchdowns while catching 10 passes for 79 yards and two scores as a rookie. Rodriguez had 4.8 yards per carry and ran for 500 yards and six rushing touchdowns in 2025 with Washington. He had 920 yards and 10 TDs in mostly a reserve role in his three years in D.C., which makes him the Jags' most experienced back. He also has experience in head coach Liam Coen's offense after working with him in 2021 at Kentucky. DiRocco writes that could make Rodriguez "an early leader to be the Jags' No. 1 back" going into the summer.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Michael DiRocco
March 22, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder
Daulton Varsho's 2025 season was marred by injury, as he started the year on the Injured List due to offseason shoulder surgery and then missed 52 games in the middle portion of the season with a hamstring strain. However, the 29-year-old posted a quietly excellent season in the time he was on the field. Across 271 plate appearances, Varsho slashed .238/.284/.548 with 20 home runs, 55 RBI, 43 runs scored, and two stolen bases. Varsho recorded an elite 15.3% barrel rate in 2025 and has backed up his power surge by slugging five home runs in 50 plate appearances so far this spring. Varsho also struck out in 28.4% of his plate appearances in 2025, so his batting average is likely to be a negative in his profile. Still, if Varsho can continue to slug at the rate he did last season and avoid injury, he could easily threaten the 30-homer mark while racking up counting stats in an above-average Toronto lineup.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 22, 2026
The Athletic's Daniel Popper thinks that Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Ladd McConkey could have a bounce-back season in 2026 in offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's offense. Popper also believes that for McConkey to bounce back, the Chargers need to avoid re-signing veteran
Keenan Allen, who led the team in targets and catches in 2025. McConkey and Allen both thrive in similar areas of the field, so in the absence of Allen in McDaniel's offense, McConkey could become a fantasy football stud again. Popper sees McDaniel maximizing McConkey's "shiftiness and yards-after-the-catch ability" with pre-snap motion and linebacker manipulation. The 24-year-old former second-rounder in 2024 out of Georgia caught 82 of 112 targets for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games in his rookie season, but he fell to a 66-789-6 line in 16 games in 2025. With more targets and a focus on the offense under McDaniel, McConkey definitely can become a strong WR2 for fantasy managers going into his third year in the NFL.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
March 22, 2026
In recent seasons, Houston Astros relief pitcher
Bryan Abreu has established himself as one of the better high-leverage arms in all of baseball. Across 71 innings in 2025, the 28-year-old recorded three wins and seven saves while pitching to a 2.28 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 105 strikeouts. Despite his dominance, Abreu has never worked as a full-time closer in Houston, limiting his fantasy value in traditional rotisserie scoring formats. However, Astros closer
Josh Hader (biceps) is set to open 2026 on the Injured List, providing Abreu a chance to work in the ninth inning. Hader is not expected to miss too much time, so Abreu's time in the closer role in Houston could be brief. Still, Abreu profiles as an extremely valuable arm for as long as he's racking up saves. If Hader suffers a setback or struggles upon his return, Abreu could emerge as a high-end fantasy reliever in 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 22, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher
Cody Ponce has not pitched in an MLB game since 2021. Nevertheless, Toronto signed the 31-year-old right-hander to a three-year, $30 million contract over the winter after Ponce dominated the KBO in 2025. Across 180 2/3 innings (29 starts) for the Hanwha Eagles, Ponce recorded a 17-1 record with a 1.89 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 252 strikeouts. With Blue Jays starters
Shane Bieber (forearm),
Trey Yesavage (shoulder), and
Jose Berrios (elbow) all set to open 2026 on the Injured List, Ponce is locked into a rotation role in Toronto to start the year. He's been effective in a limited sample size this spring, recording a 0.66 ERA and 0.80 WHIP with 12 strikeouts across 13 2/3 innings pitched. Ponce should not be expected to replicate the prodigious strikeout rate he produced in Korea last season. However, he could emerge as a solid innings eater with upside and may be worth targeting in the later rounds of fantasy drafts heading into 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 22, 2026
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher
Mick Abel won a spot in his team's starting rotation to open 2026 with an impressive performance in Grapefruit League action. The 24-year-old recorded a 2.00 ERA and 0.83 WHIP with 23 strikeouts across 18 innings pitched. Abel was one of the key pieces the Twins received from the Philadelphia Phillies in last year's trade deadline deal for star reliever
Jhoan Duran. However, Abel struggled in a small sample size in 2025, posting a 6.23 ERA and 1.51 WHIP with 39 strikeouts across 39 innings split between Philadelphia and Minnesota. Walks have been a persistent issue for Abel to this point in his career. He recorded a 10.1% walk rate across 98 1/3 minor-league innings in 2025 and never recorded a single-digit walk rate in any of his four minor league seasons. Still, Abel logged an impressive 28.6% strikeout rate in the minors in 2025. If he can keep his walk rate under control, Abel could be an undervalued source of strikeouts for fantasy managers in 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
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