MLB News
Mason Adams Diagnosed With Flex Strain
Chicago White Sox right-handed pitching prospect Mason Adams (shoulder) was diagnosed with a flex strain in his right elbow. He does not have a definite timetable. Adams exited Saturday's spring training contest due to discomfort in his elbow. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status but given this report, he will likely be sidelined for at least a few weeks. Adams was competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster but will now most likely begin the season in the minor leagues. Last summer, Adams began his campaign with Double-A and held a strong 2.44 ERA with a 1.05 WHIP across 103 1/3 innings. During this stint he tallied 101 punchouts with 19 walks. He was then promoted to Triple-A where he allowed 11 earned runs across 17 innings of work. When he returns to the bump, he should compete for an MLB debut later in the season.
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White Sox Release Joey Gallo
The Chicago White Sox released outfielder Joey Gallo. The White Sox signed Gallo to a minor-league contract earlier in the winter. During spring training, he went 2-for-20 at the plate. Last season, Gallo spent the campaign in Washington. Across 76 MLB contests, Gallo held a .161/.277/.336 slash line with nine doubles and 10 home runs. He drew walks at an impressive 12.3 percent rate but struck out at a high 39.2 percent rate. Gallo also generated a low .285 xwOBA with a .173 xBA. During the 2023 campaign, the 31-year-old logged 111 starts with the Minnesota Twins and posted a .177/.301/.440 line with 21 home runs. If Gallo does find a new club before Opening Day, he should not be targeted in any formats given his lack of consistency in the major leagues.
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Sean Burke Named Opening Day Starter
Chicago White Sox right-handed pitcher Sean Burke will get the starting nod on Opening Day against the Los Angeles Angels. The 25-year-old made his MLB debut late in the 2024 campaign and has already moved to the top of the rotation. During his brief 19-inning taste of the majors, Burke posted a 1.42 ERA with a strong 1.00 WHIP. He tallied 22 punchouts and held a modest 9.2 percent walk rate. He also generated a high 40.4 percent hard-hit rate with an 8.5 percent barrel rate, which suggests he may face some regression during the 2025 campaign. At the Triple-A level, the 25-year-old held a 4.61 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP across 64 1/3 innings. Across this stint, the Maryland product tallied 86 strikeouts and served up 36 walks. He should be viewed as a high-risk play in DFS and should only be started in deeper AL-only formats.
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Jung Hoo Lee Expected To Remain Sidelined For A Few Days
San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee (back) is expected to remain sidelined for a few more days. Lee was scratched on Saturday due to back soreness. It appears that this injury is still bothering him and the team will opt to exercise caution during the final weeks of spring training. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status in case he faces a setback. Lee made his MLB debut last season but it was cut short as he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury after 37 contests. During this brief stint, Lee held a .262/.310/.331 line. He generated a strong .278 xBA, which suggests that he could see some positive regression during the 2025 campaign. When healthy, Lee is expected to have an everyday spot in the starting nine and is a viable late-round option when looking to boost your batting average production.
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Max Kepler Exits Early On Sunday After Collision
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Max Kepler (undisclosed) exited Sunday's contest after colliding with the left field wall. He was replaced by Christian Arroyo. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as the team will likely provide an update after the contest. However, he was able to exit the game on his own power, which is a positive sign. Earlier in the winter, the Phillies signed Kepler to a one-year deal worth $10 million. When healthy, he will likely be on the strong side of a platoon in left field alongside Brandon Marsh. Last season, Kepler posted a .253/.302/.380 slash line with 21 doubles and eight home runs. He generated a modest .247 xBA with a .381 xSLG. If Kepler were to miss time early in the season, Marsh would likely have a full-time role in left field.
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Eiberson Castellano Could Win Bullpen Job
Minnesota Twins pitching prospect Eiberson Castellano could earn a spot in the Opening Day bullpen. Given the numerous injuries to Minnesota's bullpen, including Brock Stewart (knee), Justin Topa (shoulder) and Michael Tonkin (shoulder), Castellano could be a favorite to begin the season in the major leagues. Last season, the 23-year-old began the season by making his High-A debut and he was able to finish the campaign with Double-A. Across 63 1/3 innings at High-A, Castellano held a 4.12 ERA with a 1.33 WHIP. He tallied 86 punchouts and served up 20 walks. At Double-A, Castellano logged 40 1/3 innings to the tune of a 3.79 ERA and a strong 0.99 WHIP. At this level, the No. 13 ranked prospect in the system only served up nine free passes and tallied 50 punchouts. If he were to make the Opening Day roster, he will likely have a middle-relief role in the bullpen.
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Rockies Name Kyle Freeland Their Starter For Opening Day
Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black announced on Sunday that left-hander Kyle Freeland will start on Opening Day on March 28 against the Tampa Bay Rays on the road. It will be Freeland's fourth career Opening Day nod for the Rockies. While Freeland should go ignored in most mixed fantasy leagues in 2025, he could be worth a look as a cheap DFS play in his first start of 2025 against Tampa. The 31-year-old veteran southpaw only made 21 starts (113 1/3 innings) in 2024 due to injuries and had a second straight season with an ERA above 5.00 while also posting a 1.41 WHIP with 85 strikeouts and 26 walks. He can have the occasional solid performance, but Freeland has mostly been inconsistent in his time in Colorado and has given fantasy managers headaches in deeper leagues with his lack of command. He has a career 4.48 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with a below-average 17.2 percent strikeout rate.
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Royce Lewis Exits Early On Sunday
Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis (leg) exited Sunday's contest with an apparent leg injury. The infielder sustained this injury while running to first base. Fantasy managers should continue to keep a close eye on his status as the team will likely provide an update after the game. This is not a good sign as Lewis has had his fair share of injuries and could be in danger of missing time early in the 2025 campaign. Last season, the former first overall pick appeared in just 82 games and held a .233/.295/.452 slash line with 16 doubles and 16 home runs. He generated a strong 11.2 percent barrel rate with a 73.3 mph bat speed. However, he drew walks at a modest 8.6 percent rate and struck out at a high 22.8 percent rate. If Lewis were to miss time, fantasy managers should expect Willi Castro or Brooks Lee to see opportunities at the hot corner.
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Ramon Urias Expected To Return On Thursday
Baltimore Orioles infielder Ramon Urias (hamstring) is expected to return to the Grapefruit League lineup on Thursday against the division-rival New York Yankees after an off day on Wednesday, according to manager Brandon Hyde. The 30-year-old veteran has been dealing with some minor hamstring soreness of late but should be ready to go later in the week. If shortstop Gunnar Henderson (intercostal) is forced to open the year on the injured list, Urias would likely start at second base for the Orioles, with young infielder Jackson Holliday likely shifting to the 6. If all of Baltimore's infielders are healthy, Urias profiles as a bench player in 2025 who can fill in at second or third base when needed. The Mexican infielder hit .254/.322/.423 with 11 home runs, 37 RBI and 39 runs scored in 100 games in his fifth year with the team in 2024. Given his lack of playing time, Urias is only an option in AL-only leagues.
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Emmanuel Rivera Dealing With Sore Shoulder
Baltimore Orioles third baseman Emmanuel Rivera (shoulder) is dealing with a sore left shoulder at camp, according to MASN's Roch Kubatko. Rivera first felt his shoulder while swinging a bat in Dunedin on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays and will need a couple more days to recover, according to manager Brandon Hyde. It's not a serious injury for the 28-year-old, so it would be a surprise if he's not ready to go by Opening Day on March 27. When healthy, Rivera will merely be a backup option for the Orioles behind Jordan Westburg at third base and Ryan Mountcastle at first base in 2025. The Miami Marlins designated him for assignment last year after a rough season in which he hit .214/.294/.269. He was eventually claimed by the O's and hit .313 with four homers and 14 RBI in just 27 games to close out the year.
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Ronny Mauricio Won't Play In Spring Training Games
New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that infield prospect Ronny Mauricio (knee) will not play in a Grapefruit League game before spring training comes to a close. The skipper also said he "misspoke" earlier this spring when he said that Mauricio would probably play by mid-March. The 23-year-old had surgery to fix a torn ACL in December of 2023 and was unable to play at all last year after he had another surgery last August. He remains the recovery process and will get a delayed start to the 2025 campaign. When Mauricio is finally cleared to play in games, he'll most likely start in the minor leagues. While Mauricio was hitting the ball as hard as anyone in Triple-A before his injury in 2023, he's only a stash candidate in dynasty/keeper leagues. Until the young infielder can show better discipline at the plate, he'll be a boom/bust fantasy infielder.
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Nathan Eovaldi Named Opening Day Starter
Texas Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi will start the team's Opening Day game on March 27 against the visiting Boston Red Sox, manager Bruce Bochy announced on Sunday. It will be Eovaldi's fifth career Opening Day nod, and he'll also become the seventh pitcher in Rangers history to make consecutive Opening Day starts. The 35-year-old is not without injury questions, which is why he's ranked just outside RotoBaller's top-50 fantasy starting pitchers. Still, Eovaldi was respectable in his 29 starts for Texas in his second year with the team, going 12-8 with a 3.80 ERA (3.83 FIP), a 1.11 WHIP and 166:42 K:BB in 170 2/3 frames. Even though the two-time All-Star's 170 2/3 innings were his most since 2021, he still missed time with a groin issue and should be counted on for at least one stint on the injured list at some point, especially given his age. Eovaldi has a stable skill set and a decent floor for a back-end fantasy starter.
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Framber Valdez Will Start For Astros On Opening Day
Houston Astros left-hander Framber Valdez has been named the team's Opening Day starter on March 27 against the New York Mets, according to manager Joe Espada. Because Valdez doesn't have the high-end strikeout upside that other aces do, he's merely a low-end fantasy ace/high-end No. 2 option, and the 31-year-old Dominican southpaw will have a tough task on his hands in his first start of 2025. He makes up for his lack of strikeouts with an elite ability to induce weak contact, mainly in the form of ground balls. The two-time All-Star and former World Series champion went 15-7 in 2024 with a sharp 2.91 ERA (3.25 FIP) and a 1.11 WHIP with 169 strikeouts and 55 walks in 176 1/3 innings over his 28 regular-season starts. The veteran southpaw has also looked good this spring with a 2.53 ERA in his 10 2/3 innings, but Valdez only has one season of 200-plus K's.
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Spencer Strider To Make Spring Debut On Monday
MLB.com's Mark Bowman reports that Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider (elbow) will make his Grapefruit League debut on Monday and start against the Boston Red Sox. It's a positive step in the right direction for Strider, who made only two starts in 2024 before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery. The 26-year-old hurler will open the 2025 regular season on the injured list as he puts the finishing touches on his rehab, but barring a setback on his rehab assignment, he could make his season debut for Atlanta by the end of April. Strider was a first-time All-Star in 2023 and was one of the best pitchers in baseball, going 20-5 with a 3.86 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, a league-best 281 strikeouts and 58 walks in 186 2/3 innings over 32 starts. He also had over 200 strikeouts in 2022, but he's ranked as RotoBaller's No. 38 starting pitcher this year because he could the entire first month and may not be as sharp upon his initial return.
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Gleyber Torres Scratched With Quad Contusion
The Detroit Tigers announced that second baseman Gleyber Torres (quadriceps) was scratched from Sunday's Grapefruit League lineup against the Baltimore Orioles due to a right-quadriceps contusion. Andy Ibanez will take over at the keystone and hit third in the batting order. Torres' injury doesn't appear to be all that serious, so we're considering him day-to-day at this point. The Tigers added the 28-year-old infielder on a one-year, $15 million deal this offseason to operate as their starting second baseman after the team surprisingly made the postseason last fall. His fantasy stock is down going into the 2025 season, though, after he finished with a .257/.330/.378 slash line, .709 OPS, 15 home run, 63 RBI, four steals and 80 runs scored in 154 games in his seventh and final season with the Yankees. Torres was an All-Star his first two years in the big leagues but has been inconsistent since and is RotoBaller's No. 17 fantasy second baseman.
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Daulton Varsho Could Begin Season On Injured List
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) could begin the season on the injured list. Keegan Matheson of MLB.com noted that the outfielder is throwing at 120 feet and is viewed as "day-to-day." However, a "brief" stint on the IL is considered the "likeliest" outcome. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as the team will make a decision in the coming days. The 28-year-old has been deployed exclusively as a designated hitter during spring training and has yet to progress enough to take the field defensively. However, even if he did open the season on the injured list, he will likely not miss an extended period of time. Last season, Varsho appeared in 136 games for the Blue Jays and held a .214/.293/.407 line with 18 home runs and 10 stolen bases. When healthy, he should be viewed as a viable depth outfielder in category formats given his ability to hit for power and carry speed upside.
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Max Scherzer Set To Throw In Minor-League Game
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer (thumb) is set to throw in a minor-league game "in the next day or two." If Scherzer performs well, he should be on track to be ready for Opening Day. Earlier in camp, Scherzer was scratched from a start due to minor thumb soreness. However, given this report, it appears Scherzer should be in a good position to be ready for Opening Day. During the winter, the Blue Jays signed the right-hander to a one-year $15.5 million contract. Last season, Scherzer was limited by numerous injuries as he logged just 43 1/3 innings. He posted a 3.95 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP. In 2023, Scherzer tossed 152 2/3 innings with a 3.77 ERA and a strong 1.12 WHIP. Fantasy managers should view the 40-year-old as a solid late-round starting pitcher that should provide solid strikeout upside while improving your WHIP ratio.
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Christian Walker Should Be "Fine" For Opening Day
Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (oblique) is expected to return to spring training games this week and should be "fine" for Opening Day. Earlier in camp, Walker suffered an oblique injury but appears to be nearing a return. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status but given this report, he should be a full-go by Opening Day. In the offseason, the Astros signed Walker to a three-year $60 million contract. Last season, Walker held a .251/.335/.468 slash line with 26 doubles and 26 home runs across 130 contests. He tallied 72 runs and added 84 RBI. He generated an impressive .351 xwOBA with a 13.3 percent barrel rate. Fantasy managers should view Walker as a solid low-end No.1 first baseman as his power should translate well to the short left field in Daikin Park.
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Sonny Gray Starting On Opening Day
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray will get the nod on Opening Day against the Minnesota Twins. Gray enjoyed a strong debut season in St. Louis last summer and will operate as the top man in the rotation in 2025. Last season, Gray logged 166 1/3 innings to the tune of a 3.84 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP. He tallied an impressive 203 strikeouts and served up just 39 walks. His strikeouts were the fourth-most in the National League. He generated a solid 3.67 xERA with a .237 xBA which placed him in the 63rd and 53rd percentiles respectively. In addition, the 35-year-old generated whiffs at an elite 29.8 percent rate. Gray's sweeper (second-most used pitch) is his primary put-away pitch as it generated an elite 44.8 percent whiff rate. Facing the Twins, Gray will be viewed as a solid option in DFS given his strikeout upside.
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Yainer Diaz Returning On Sunday
Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz (illness) is returning to the starting lineup on Sunday afternoon. The primary backstop was dealing with an illness. Fantasy managers should expect the 26-year-old to operate as Houston's top catcher during the 2025 season. After appearing in 104 contests in 2023, Diaz logged a career-high 148 starts in 2024. Across this stint, Diaz posted a .299/.325/.441 slash line. His batting average was the fifth-highest mark in the American League. Diaz tallied 29 doubles and 16 home runs. He added 70 runs and 84 RBI. Under the hood, Diaz placed in the 97th percentile in xBA and 80th percentile in xSLG. In addition, Diaz held a 17.4 percent strikeout rate while generating hard hits at a strong 47.5 percent rate. Fantasy managers should view Diaz as a high-floor No.1 catcher in all formats.
3 hours ago
Mason Adams
• SP
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White Sox
