MLB News
Derek Law Will Not Be Ready For Opening Day
Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Derek Law is not expected to be ready for Opening Day. According to Spencer Nusbaum of the Washington Post, Law believes he will be placed on the 15-day IL to begin the season. Law has been slowly increasing his workload during camp after battling an elbow injury last season that has continued to linger. Last season, the 24-year-old held a 2.60 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP. Across this stint, Law tallied just 76 strikeouts but showed strong command as he served up walks at a solid 6.6 percent rate. He also generated an elite 3.8 percent barrel rate and a 35.2 percent hard-hit rate. When Law returns to action, fantasy managers should expect him to be a reliable source of holds, as he tallied 17 last season, typically pitching in the seventh inning.
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Jaden Hill Optioned To Triple-A
The Colorado Rockies have optioned right-handed pitching prospect Jaden Hill to Triple-A Albuquerque. Hill was competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster, but given his struggles during camp, the Rockies will have him continue his development in the minor leagues. In camp, Hill logged eight 1/3 innings to the tune of a 6.48 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP. The LSU product made his MLB debut last summer and held a high 5.06 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP across 10 2/3 innings. During this limited stint, he generated a strong 3.01 xERA with a .205 xBA, which suggests he should face some significant positive regression when he returns to the majors. Last summer, he held a 4.57 ERA with a 1.43 WHIP across 45 1/3 innings split between Double and Triple-A. Hill should contend to return to the Colorado bullpen later in the summer.
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Alan Roden Remains In Mix For Roster Spot
Toronto Blue Jays outfield prospect Alan Roden is firmly in the mix to make the Opening Day roster. With Daulton Varsho (shoulder) set to open the campaign on the injured list, the Blue Jays may give one of their top prospects a look at the major leagues. Through spring training, Roden has posted an impressive .367/.429/.733 slash line with two doubles and three home runs. He has held a 4:10 BB:K with one swiped bag. Last season, Roden opened the campaign at the Double-A level and eventually reached the top level of the minor leagues. Across his first 71 contests with Triple-A Buffalo, Roden posted an eye-catching .314/.406/.510 slash line with 15 doubles and nine home runs. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his stats, as he could be worth a look as a late-round pick in deeper formats.
1 hour ago
Janson Junk Sent To Minor-League Camp
The Miami Marlins have assigned right-handed pitcher Janson Junk to minor-league camp. Junk was in contention for a spot in the starting rotation with Ryan Weathers (forearm) sidelined but fell short. Across 10 1/3 innings in the Grapefruit League, Jung posted a 5.23 ERA with a 1.06 WHIP. He tallied 10 punchouts and served up four free passes. Across 40 career innings in the major leagues, Junk has posted a 6.75 ERA with a 1.78 WHIP. Last season, he logged just eight innings with the Milwaukee Brewers. The 29-year-old spent most of his season at the Triple-A level, where he held a solid 3.58 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP across 60 2/3 innings of work. During this stint, he tallied 54 punchouts and served up 21 walks. Fantasy managers should expect Junk to return to the majors later in the summer as a depth option but will not carry fantasy value given his low strikeout upside.
1 hour ago
Keaton Winn Optioned To Triple-A
The San Francisco Giants have optioned right-handed pitcher Keaton Winn to Triple-A Sacramento. Winn was competing for a spot in the starting rotation but ultimately fell short. Across five innings in the Cactus League, Winn allowed two earned runs and held a modest 1.40 WHIP. Last summer, the 27-year-old logged a career-high 55 2/3 innings to the tune of a 7.16 ERA with a 1.37 WHIP. During this stint, Winn tallied 48 strikeouts and posted an 8.4 percent walk rate. He generated a high 5.56 xERA, which placed him in the third percentile among qualified pitchers. However, he was able to generate ground balls at an impressive 50.9 percent rate. With Winn opening the season at Sacramento, fantasy managers should expect Hayden Birdsong, Kyle Harrison, and Landen Roupp to continue to compete for the No. 5 spot in the rotation.
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Ian Hamilton Starting The Season On The Injured List
New York Yankees relief pitcher Ian Hamilton (infection) will open the season on the injured list. Hamilton has begun to increase his workload and recently made his spring debut, which suggests he should not face an extended absence. Last season, Hamilton tossed 37 2/3 innings in the Yankee bullpen and held a 3.82 ERA with a 1.65 WHIP. During this stint, Hamilton tallied 41 punchouts but held a modest 8.6 percent walk rate. However, he generated an elite 3.8 percent barrel rate and a strong 37.1 percent hard-hit rate, which suggests he may face some positive regression in 2025. He also tallied 11 holds operating primarily in a high-leverage role. While Hamilton remains out, fantasy managers should expect the Yankees to deploy Luke Weaver as the primary setup man, with Fernando Cruz also seeing high-leverage work.
1 hour ago
Donovan Walton Starting The Season At Triple-A
New York Mets infielder Donovan Walton will begin the season with Triple-A Syracuse. Walton signed a minor-league contract with the Mets earlier in the winter. However, with the injuries to Nick Madrigal (shoulder) and Jeff McNeil (oblique), Walton had a path to earn a spot on the big league roster. However, given the modest .176/.317/.294 slash line he held during spring training, the Mets will have him begin his campaign at the top level of the minor leagues. Through 70 career games in the MLB, Walton has posted a .174/.222/.305 line with 11 doubles and four home runs. However, across 231 career games at the Triple-A level, the Oklahoma State product has held a .287/.370/.454 slash line with 49 doubles and 26 long balls. With Walton opening the season in the minor leagues, fantasy managers should expect Brett Baty and Luisangel Acuna to see most of the time at the keystone.
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Spencer Torkelson In Position To Make Opening Day Roster
Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson has continued to impress in spring training and has put himself in a good position to make the Opening Day roster. Torkelson has been one of the most consistent bats in the Detroit lineup during camp, as he has posted a strong .302/.364/.581 slash line with four home runs. He held a 4:10 BB:K and swiped one bag. In addition to his improving bat, Torkelson has begun to see time in right field, which has only improved his chances of making the Opening Day roster. Throughout the start of his professional career, Torkelson has exclusively only played at first base. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, as he could open the season as a depth option on the roster. Last season, he posted an underwhelming .219/.295/.374 line with 10 home runs. If he continues to impress, he could eventually carve out time as first base behind Colt Keith, at right field, or even as a designated hitter. He is worth taking as a late-round flier in AL-only formats.
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Clarke Schmidt Will Start Season On Injured List
New York Yankees right-handed pitcher Clarke Schmidt (shoulder) will begin the season on the injured list. The 29-year-old has been dealing with shoulder soreness during camp. However, given that he has begun to slowly build up his workload, fantasy managers should not expect him to miss too much time. While Schmidt is sidelined, Carlos Carrasco will likely join the starting rotation. Last season, Schmidt logged 85 1/3 innings of work with a 2.85 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He tallied an impressive 93 punchouts but held a high 8.5 percent walk rate. He generated a 3.78 xERA with a .225 xBA, which suggests he may face some regression when he returns to the bump in 2025. Fantasy managers should consider stashing Schmidt on an IR spot on their roster, as he should provide stable ratios with decent strikeout production when he returns to the rotation.
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Jerar Encarnacion Diagnosed With Fractured Hand
San Francisco Giants outfielder Jerar Encarnacion (hand) has been diagnosed with a fractured left hand, according to the team. Encarnacion recently fractured his hand while attempting to make a diving catch in a Cactus League game and will now be forced to miss at least the next couple of weeks, and possibly more. It's a tough blow for the Giants and the 27-year-old Dominica, who was hitting .302 (16-for-53) with two home runs, seven doubles, 14 RBI and four runs scored in 20 games played this spring. Encarnacion should still have a big role for San Francisco when he's healed, primarily as their designated hitter, but this news certainly puts a damper on what had been a rising fantasy value. With Encarnacion sidelined for the foreseeable future, veteran Wilmer Flores might be the biggest beneficiary for DH at-bats to open the season in San Fran.
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Masataka Yoshida Won't Make Opening Day Roster
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) will start the 2025 season at Triple-A Worcester as he continues to build out his throwing program as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery. Specifically, Yoshida won't play in the WooSox's opening home series but will likely join the team in Jacksonville on April 1. This had been the expectation for a while for the 31-year-old lefty hitter after he had surgery last October to fix a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He was able to make nine starts in the Grapefruit League and hit a solid .321 in 28 plate appearances, but he's not ready to throw, which is an issue now that Rafael Devers is opening the year as Boston's primary designated hitter. Even when Yoshida is return to make his 2025 debut for the BoSox, his playing time is likely to be limited as a platoon option in left field.
2 hours ago
Colin Poche Makes Nationals Opening Day Roster
The Washington Nationals selected the contract of left-hander Colin Poche on Saturday, adding him to their 40-man roster ahead of Opening Day next Thursday. Poche wasn't anything special during his 4 2/3 innings in the Grapefruit League this spring, giving up four earned runs, but the 31-year-old veteran southpaw will give the Nats some experience in their bullpen to begin the year. In a likely middle-relief role in Washington, Poche isn't going to have much fantasy appeal at all, although he did have a solid 3.27 ERA (4.16 FIP), a 1.13 WHIP, 10 saves, 158 strikeouts and 59 walks in 156 2/3 innings over 174 relief appearances for the Tampa Bay Rays over the last three seasons. He's also added 17 wins and 65 holds since the start of the 2022 season, so don't count him out as an under-the-radar contributor in holds leagues.
2 hours ago
Danny Jansen Dealing With Rib Injury
Tampa Bay Rays catcher Danny Jansen (rib) has been unavailable for the last few days in spring training due to a rib-muscle pull, but manager Kevin Cash is hoping that they can get him back in the Grapefruit League lineup for one of the final two spring games or Wednesday's intrasquad game. "We're trying to just manage it and keep him off the field for a couple days," Cash said. "He's in a really good spot." The 29-year-old hasn't played since Wednesday, and his availability for Opening Day next Thursday is now up in the air. It would be a shame if he's not ready, as Jansen has gone 8-for-25 with two home runs, four RBI and six runs in 11 Grapefruit League games. When healthy, Jansen is expected to be Tampa's primary backstop, but he's no stranger to missing time due to injuries in his career. If he's not ready by the end of next week, Ben Rortvedt will jump into the No. 1 catching spot.
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Spencer Steer To Open Season On The Injured List
The Cincinnati Enquirer's Gordon Wittenmyer reports that Cincinnati Reds corner infielder/outfielder Spencer Steer (shoulder) will open the season on the injured list. While Steer's shoulder injury isn't considered serious -- he played in a minor-league game on Thursday -- the Reds are playing it safe and holding him out to open the 2025 regular season. The 27-year-old was initially shut down due to his ailing shoulder in late February, and he just hasn't had enough at-bats to be trusted in the starting lineup early on. However, barring a setback on a minor-league rehab assignment to start the year, Steer should definitely make his season debut in the big leagues by the end of April. With Steer opening on the IL, the biggest beneficiary to open the regular season is likely to be Austin Hays in left field.
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David Hamilton Appears To Be Odd-Man Out At Second Base
Boston Red Sox infielder David Hamilton, who was considered the front-runner for the starting second base job earlier in spring training, now appears to have lost out on the job to prospect Kristian Campbell, who is making his second straight start at the keystone in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays. "We have a pretty good idea of what we're going to do (at second). We just have to be patient," manager Alex Cora said Friday. Campbell, Hamilton and Vaughn Grissom had been competing at second in camp, with Grissom being optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday. It's expected that Hamilton will make the roster as a utility infielder if he loses out to Campbell. "There's a pretty good chance he's going to be on the team," Cora said of Hamilton. In AL-only leagues, Hamilton may be worth stashing for his speed.
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Kristian Campbell Getting The Start At Second Base On Saturday
Boston Red Sox prospect Kristian Campbell is starting at second base and is batting leadoff for Saturday's Grapefruit League game. It's the second straight day that Campbell is starting at the keystone, suggesting that he may be the favorite to open the 2025 regular season as the starter at second over David Hamilton. Manager Alex Cora said that he has a "pretty good idea of what we're going to do" at the position, but the club has yet to make their plans official to the media. Hamilton is expected to make the Opening Day roster, but it will likely be as utility infielder. The 22-year-old Campbell broke out in the minors in 2024 with a .329/.437/.551 slash line with 20 home runs and 24 steals in 115 games over three different levels. He should definitely be rostered in dynasty/keeper leagues, but fantasy managers in deep-mixed and AL-only leagues may want to temper expectations in his rookie season, especially in the power department.
2 hours ago
Casey Mize Appears Locked Into Rotation Spot
Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize appears set to open the season in the team's Opening Day starting rotation after the team optioned pitchers Keider Montero and Ryan Kreidler to the minors on Saturday morning, according to The Athletic's Cody Stavenhagen. Additionally, top pitching prospect Jackson Jobe will be in the rotation to begin the year. Veteran Kenta Maeda will start in the bullpen, while Alex Cobb (hip) is expected to miss at least the first month. Mize, 27, looked great this spring with a 1.13 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 18 strikeouts and seven walks in 16 Grapefruit League innings. The post-hype prospect was the first overall pick in the 2018 draft, but so far he's disappointed due to injuries and with a 4.36 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 226:85 K:BB in 291 innings for Detroit. Mize is worth the low cost in AL-only leagues to see if he can finally put it all together.
2 hours ago
Javier Baez Starting In Center Field On Saturday
Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez is penciled in as the center fielder for Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Braves. The Tigers will need a center fielder in the absence of Parker Meadows, who is expected to be out at least until May, but Baez does not seem like the answer with less than five innings of outfield experience on his MLB resume. Wenceel Perez was expected to fill in for the injured Meadows, but Perez is not in the lineup on Saturday. Trey Sweeney is expected to be the Tigers' shortstop this season, with Baez potentially filling in at third base and shortstop when needed, but playing some outfield hints at an all-around utility role. Currently only eligible at SS on Yahoo, the potential addition of 3B and even OF could add some fantasy appeal, however, the 32-year-old bottomed out with a .224 wOBA and 43 wRC+ last season, so the appeal would be limited to deep AL-only leagues.
2 hours ago
Parker Meadows Needs Four More Weeks Of Rest
Detroit Tigers outfielder Parker Meadows (arm), who has been shut down from throwing since Feb. 22 as a result of a nerve issue in his right arm, will require at least four more weeks of rest, according to manager A.J. Hinch. Meadows was expected to open the season on the injured list, but this pushes his timetable well beyond the 10-day window that was anticipated. A return sometime in May looks like the most optimistic outcome at this point. Wenceel Perez looks like the beneficiary of Meadows' absence. Last season, Perez slashed .242/.300/.383 with nine home runs, 37 RBI, and nine stolen bases across 112 games. With some ability to produce across categories and currently penciled in as the leadoff hitter for Detroit, the switch-hitter offers some fantasy value in deep leagues, at least while he's getting regular playing time.
3 hours ago
Paul Goldschmidt Returns To The Lineup On Saturday
New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (back) will return to the lineup on Saturday for the team's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies. The veteran was pulled from a game on March 17 due to back soreness but the team was hopeful he'd return this weekend. The 37-year-old will lead off for the Yankees on Saturday, a role he could see regularly this season when the team faces left-handed pitching according to manager Aaron Boone. The Phillies will deploy left-handed pitcher Jesus Luzardo on Saturday. The 7x All-Star owns a career .323/.423/.586 slash line against LHP, compared to a .279/.368/.488 against RHP. The former MVP has seen a dwindling batting average and power numbers the last couple of seasons with a corresponding increase in strikeout and chase rate but has been solid this spring, slashing .313/.389/.688 with three home runs. He's still a viable fantasy option as long as he's healthy and is expected to be ready for Opening Day at this point, although the days of being an elite producer are likely over.
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