Brice Matthews Making Season Debut in Center Field on Friday

Houston Astros infielder/outfielder Brice Matthews will make his 2026 debut on Friday against the visiting Los Angeles Angels and left-hander Yusei Kikuchi at Daikin Park. Per MLB.com, Matthews is starting in center field and will bat ninth in the lineup. With Matthews in the lineup, Jake Meyers will retreat to the bench against a left-hander. […]

Yordan Alvarez Shifts to Left Field on Friday

Houston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez, who was in the designated hitter spot on Opening Day on Thursday, will shift to left field on Friday against the Los Angeles Angels and left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, according to MLB.com. With shortstop Jeremy Pena (finger) back, Carlos Correa is shifting to third base, pushing Isaac Paredes to DH. Alvarez […]

Austin Slater Batting Leadoff for Marlins on Opening Day

Miami Marlins veteran outfielder Austin Slater is starting in right field and is batting leadoff for the Fish on Friday on Opening Day against the visiting Colorado Rockies and left-hander Kyle Freeland, according to MLB.com. The Marlins signed Slater just last week after they knew that All-Star outfielder Kyle Stowers (hamstring) would start the year […]

Mickey Moniak Placed on 10-Day Injured List Due to Sprained Finger

Colorado Rockies outfielder Mickey Moniak (finger) has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a sprained right ring finger, per Rockies beat writer Thomas Harding. Catcher Braxton Fulford has been recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque to take Moniak's place on the Rockies' active roster. Moniak had a breakout season in his first year with […]

7 High-Impact Prospect Fantasy Baseball Breakouts, Stashes

Even though we are just a few days into the 2026 season, it is never too early to begin stashing high-end breakout prospects. Last season, managers saw Nick Kurtz get the call early and make a massive impact, becoming a league-winner. In this piece, we will spotlight seven high-end prospects who are quickly approaching the […]

Eric Cross' Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups - Hitters and Pitchers (Week 1)

Welcome back to another season of fantasy baseball content here on RotoBaller. This is my fourth season with the RotoBaller family, and I'm excited to be back writing this waiver wire article every Friday, along with my Top 25 Prospects to Stash article on Mondays. Even though the season is only two days old, it's […]

Willi Castro Projected for Everyday Playing Time in Colorado Entering 2026

After signing a two-year deal with the team over the offseason, Colorado Rockies utility man Willi Castro is expected to serve as the team's primary third baseman to open 2026. Across 454 plate appearances split between the Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs in 2025, Castro hit .226/.316/.366 with 11 home runs, 33 RBI, 58 runs […]

Updated Waiver Wire Rankings - Fantasy Baseball Pickups Include Chase DeLauter, Jordan Romano, Kodai Senga, Sal Stewart, Cam Smith, Jack Leiter

Opening Day has finally arrived! Most fantasy baseball leagues have drafted, but it's never too early to start reviewing the waiver wire. At RotoBaller HQ, we kick off our mid-week waiver wire series for leagues that allow daily moves with our updated mid-week fantasy baseball waiver rankings for Week 1 -- March 25  through March […]

Jac Caglianone on Bench Versus Lefty on Opening Day

Kansas City Royals left-handed-hitting outfielder/first baseman Jac Caglianone will start on the bench for the team's Opening Day game on Friday against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park with left-hander Chris Sale on the mound. The Royals aren't going to have Caglianone face one of the nastiest left-handers in the game to begin his first […]

MLB DFS Picks for 3/27/26: Daily Fantasy Baseball Strategy and Tips For FanDuel, DraftKings

I don't know about you all, but I am so glad that baseball is back. Yesterday was a ton of fun, and although Matthew Boyd put a damper on my day with his one inning of destruction, we got a lot of things right. As I mentioned yesterday, there are many important factors at play […]

MLB Home Run Player Prop Bets Today: Best Hitter HR Props (3/27/2026)

Welcome back, RotoBallers! After an awesome Opening Day, baseball feels so back. On the first full day of baseball, 28 different players hit a home run to deliver big wins on their home run props. I'm excited to jump back into home run props this season, trying to identify which players have the best chance […]

Jason Heyward Announces his Retirement

Outfielder Jason Heyward officially announced his retirement from professional baseball on Friday on MLB Network. Heyward played 16 years in the major leagues with the Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, and Houston Astros. The 36-year-old helped the Chicago Cubs win the World Series in 2016 and was […]

Kyle Stowers Doing Baseball Activities

Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers (hamstring), who began the 2026 season on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 1 right-hamstring strain, threw, hit, and ran during a workout on Wednesday as he builds up his workload and intensity, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. The plan is for the Marlins to reassess Stowers […]

Giancarlo Stanton Collects Two Hits

New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton got the season started the right way during Wednesday's Opening Day matchup versus the San Francisco Giants. Stanton went 2-for-4 with two singles and an RBI in the 7-0 win over the Giants. It was a nice beginning to the season for the oft-injured slugger who is hopeful to […]

Sal Frelick Goes Deep on Opening Day

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick got the season started with a bang on Thursday. Frelick made some noise with a two-run home run off Tyler Gilbert in the fifth inning. He would finish his day 1-for-3 with a homer, two RBI, and two walks in the blowout win over the Chicago White Sox. This was […]

Alec Burleson Collects Three Hits on Opening Day

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Alec Burleson came ready to hit during Thursday's Opening Day matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays. Burleson went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk during the 9-7 victory. The Cardinals moved on from multiple key hitters this offseason, which allowed for Burleson to move into the three-hole on […]

Dominic Canzone a Top Pickup After Two-Homer Game

Seattle Mariners outfielder Dominic Canzone came ready to play on Opening Day. He went 2-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs during Thursday's loss to the Cleveland Guardians. Canzone took right-hander Tanner Bibee deep in the second inning and blasted a 444-foot homer off Shawn Armstrong in the seventh inning. He started at designated […]

Justin Crawford Knocks Two Hits in MLB Debut

Philadelphia Phillies outfield prospect Justin Crawford went 2-for-4 in his MLB debut. The team's No. 1 outfield prospect knocked two singles and scored a run off an Alec Bohm home run. Crawford broke camp as the team's starting center fielder and appears to be transitioning well to the major leagues. In camp, the former first-round […]

Chase DeLauter Launches Two Home Runs, Emerges as Top Waiver-Wire Target

Cleveland Guardians top outfield prospect Chase DeLauter went 3-for-5 with two home runs during his MLB debut on Thursday evening. DeLauter wasted little time making an impact as he hit a solo shot off Seattle ace Logan Gilbert in the opening frame. Later in the ninth inning, DeLauter would hit his second long ball of […]

Mike Trout Homers, Steals a Bag in Opening Day Win Over Houston

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout looked like his old self in the team's 3-0 shutout win over the division-rival Houston Astros on Thursday on Opening Day. Trout led the way offensively for the Halos on a day where runs were at a premium, going 1-for-2 with a solo home run, three walks, and a […]

Carson Benge Goes Deep in MLB Debut in Win Over Pirates

New York Mets outfield prospect Carson Benge had a major-league debut to remember on Thursday on Opening Day against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates in an 11-7 victory, going 1-for-3 with a solo home run, two runs scored, two walks, a stolen base, and two strikeouts. Benge's first big-league home run came off reliever Justin Lawrence […]

Jordan Lawlar Starting in Left Field for Arizona on Opening Day

Arizona Diamondbacks infield/outfield prospect Jordan Lawlar is officially an Opening Day starter in 2026, batting ninth and playing left field for his team's first game of the season against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lawlar has long been considered one of the Diamondbacks' top prospects, but he's struggled with injuries and hit just .182/.257/.288 with a […]

Mike Tauchman Undergoes Knee Surgery on Thursday, Expected to Miss Six Weeks

New York Mets outfielder Mike Tauchman (knee) underwent surgery on the meniscus tear in his left knee on Thursday, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman reports that Tauchman is expected to be sidelined for "six weeks before returning to play," so it appears as though Tauchman avoided a full meniscus repair, which […]

Evan Carter Sitting Against Lefty on Opening Day

Texas Rangers left-handed-hitting outfielder Evan Carter will take a seat on the bench on Thursday for the team's Opening Day contest against the Philadelphia Phillies and left-hander Cristopher Sanchez at Citizens Bank Park, according to MLB.com. Wyatt Langford is moving to center, while Sam Haggerty will make the start in left field and bat ninth […]

Chandler Simpson Absent From Opening Day Lineup

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson will start Opening Day on Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals on the bench, according to MLB.com. The Rays will roll with Ryan Vilade (batting second) in left field, Cedric Mullins (batting eighth) in center field, and Jonny DeLuca (batting sixth) in right field against Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore. […]

Justin Crawford Batting Ninth in MLB Debut on Thursday

Philadelphia Phillies rookie outfielder Justin Crawford is starting in center field and batting ninth for the Phillies in his major-league debut on Thursday on Opening Day against the visiting Texas Rangers and right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, according to MLB.com. Crawford earned a spot on the team's Opening Day roster after hitting .250 (13-for-52) with no homers, […]

Miguel Andujar the DH and Batting Fifth on Opening Day

San Diego Padres outfielder Miguel Andujar is serving as the designated hitter and will bat fifth for the Padres on Opening Day on Thursday against the visiting Detroit Tigers and left-hander Tarik Skubal, according to MLB.com. Fantasy managers setting DFS lineups will want to avoid Andujar against the reigning American League Cy Young winner. In […]

Matt Wallner Starting Against a Lefty on Opening Day

Minnesota Twins left-handed-hitting outfielder Matt Wallner is in right field and is batting fifth on Opening Day on Thursday against the Baltimore Orioles and left-hander Trevor Rogers at Camden Yards, according to MLB.com. At least to begin the season, the Twins plan to play Wallner every day, even though he has just a .641 OPS […]

Taylor Ward in Leadoff Spot in Orioles Debut

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Taylor Ward is starting in left field and will bat in the leadoff spot in his debut with the team on Opening Day on Thursday against the visiting Minnesota Twins and right-hander Joe Ryan, according to MLB.com. In his career against Ryan, Ward is hitless in six at-bats with an RBI. At […]

Luisangel Acuna Gets Nod in Center Field on Opening Day

Chicago White Sox outfielder Luisangel Acuna is starting in center field and is batting ninth on Opening Day on Thursday against the Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander Jacob Misiorowski at American Family Field, according to MLB.com. Acuna joined the Pale Hose this offseason and will operate as the club's regular center fielder to begin the 2026 […]