MLB News

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Mick Abel turned in his second strong spring performance this past Sunday, allowing no earned runs on one hit and no walks while striking out six over three innings of work. Combined with his spring debut, the right-hander has yet to allow a run and just three hits while walking none so far and striking out a total of 11 through six innings pitched. The former-first round draft pick was consistently throwing his four-seamer over 97 mph in his latest outing, topping out at 98.9 mph and generating six whiffs (55 percent) on 11 swings on that pitch in the process. Abel had a rough go of it during his first taste of the majors last year, posting a gaudy 6.23 ERA and 1.51 WHIP in 10 appearances (eight starts) between Minnesota and Philadelphia, although his last start of the 2025 showed what he is capable of, when he struck out nine in six innings of shutout ball. The 24-year-old will likely begin the season with Triple-A, but if he continues to show well, he could be the first name called when the Twins need rotation help. Although he's not draftable in most leagues, Abel is a name to monitor as he's shown flashes of dominance in the minors with a 28.6 percent strikeout rate at Triple-A in 2025.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll (hand) has progressed from swings off flips/tee toss to more typical batting practice swings, manager Torey Lovullo told Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. Carroll is recovering from surgery for a broken hamate bone in his right hand, but he appears to be getting close to facing live pitching in camp. If the 25-year-old continues to make good progress and avoids any setbacks, there's still a chance he could be ready to play on Opening Day on March 26 against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers. The two-time All-Star and former National League Rookie of the Year bounced back in 2025 after a down year in 2024, slashing .259/.343/.541 with an .883 OPS, career-high 31 home runs, a league-leading 17 triples, 107 runs scored, and 32 stolen bases in 143 games. Carroll's hand injury isn't ideal going into the regular season, and it could sap him of some power, but he's still considered a top-10 fantasy outfielder at RotoBaller.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton went 0-for-2 with a walk in Tuesday's World Baseball Classic (WBC) game, where the U.S. won 15-1 over the San Francisco Giants squad. Importantly, Buxton also stole a base, showing that his veteran wheels are healthy and ready for the regular season. Despite having played in the most games in 2025 since the 2017 season, the two-time All-Star still missed time due to various ailments, including a concussion, a rib injury, and a knee contusion, resulting in 126 games played in all. Still, it was a very productive campaign, slashing .264/.327/.551 with 35 home runs and 24 steals, culminating in a .367 wOBA and 136 wRC+. Heading into the 2026 season healthy, the 32-year-old looks like a real value at his current draft day price tag, going around pick 95 on Yahoo!, while RotoBaller ranks the 2025 Silver Slugger award-winner at 65 overall.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (back) is slated to throw a bullpen session on Thursday, per manager Torey Lovullo. The veteran has been on a throwing program, tossing from up to 60 feet as recently as Tuesday, and the bullpen session is the next step in that process. At some point, he'll face live hitters and eventually make his spring debut if he does not experience any setbacks. For now, he's optimistic about being ready for Opening Day, and the 37-year-old is coming off a solid 2025 campaign in which he recorded a 3.52 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and struck out 167 batters in 184 innings pitched. A 3.95 SIERA points to some possible regression, and at pick 205 in Yahoo! leagues, he looks a bit pricey, especially given his RotoBaller rank of 262 overall, but if you can scoop him up later than his ADP, the right-hander could be a decent back-end fantasy rotation piece.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler (back/lat) will make his spring debut this Friday in a start against the Tampa Bay Rays, according to manager Aaron Boone. The 6-foot-6 hurler had been dealing with left lat/mid-back discomfort earlier in camp and has been working his way back up to game action. It's good news as the former seventh-round draft pick should be ready for Opening Day, although Boone had previously indicated that Schlittler may not be fully stretched out by then, possibly getting to about 70 pitches early on in the year. The 25-year-old had a breakout campaign in 2025, recording a 2.96 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and a 17.4 percent K-BB% over 14 starts. He's going around pick 128 in Yahoo! leagues, right around his RotoBaller rank of 134, although a slightly diminished ceiling to begin the season may depress his value a bit more.

Baltimore Orioles right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge (shoulder) is dealing with right-shoulder inflammation in camp, according to Jake Rill of MLB.com. Manager Craig Albernaz said the team is going to be cautious and that Kittredge is "possibly a low probability" to be ready for Opening Day in late March. It means that Kittredge will most likely open the 2026 regular season on the injured list for the O's. In his lone Grapefruit League appearance, the 35-year-old veteran allowed three runs (two earned) on one hit (a homer) while walking one and striking out one in just one-third of an inning pitched. Kittredge didn't make his season debut last year until late May after having surgery on his left knee, but hopefully, he won't miss that much time in 2026. He had a career-best 30.8% strikeout rate and 5.3% walk rate last year, proving that he still has the skills to succeed as a high-leverage reliever. When healthy, he's expected to be the setup man to closer Ryan Helsley in Baltimore.

Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Walker Jenkins (hamstring) was among six players that the team reassigned to minor-league camp on Wednesday, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Jenkins was never realistically expected to make the big-league roster out of spring training, and that was especially true after he suffered a Grade 1 left-hamstring strain last weekend. The 21-year-old is a good bet to make his major-league debut for the rebuilding Twins this year, though. The Twins' top prospect, per MLB Pipeline, hit .286/.399/.451 with an .850 OPS, 10 home runs, 34 RBI, 56 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases in 84 total games at four different minor-league levels in 2025. There's no doubt that Jenkins can hit, but injuries have been an issue for him the last two years. The former fifth overall pick in 2023 might need to prove he can stay healthy over the course of the season before the Twins consider him for a call-up later in 2026.

New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger (back), who has been dealing with some back soreness in camp the last few days, took live batting practice on Wednesday and came out of it fine, according to Erik Boland of Newsday. Bellinger is scheduled to return to the Grapefruit League lineup on Thursday afternoon against the Minnesota Twins. In three spring training games before his back injury, the 30-year-old two-time All-Star and former MVP went 4-for-9 (.444) with an RBI and a run scored. Barring a setback, he should be ready to rock on Opening Day later this month for the Yankees. Bellinger is considered a top-25 fantasy outfielder going into his 10th year in the big leagues after slashing .272/.334/.480 with an .813 OPS, 29 home runs, 98 RBI, 89 runs scored, and 13 steals in 152 regular-season games in 2025 in his first year in the Bronx.

Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw will begin to play more outfield over the next two weeks in spring training, according to Bruce Levine of the Marquee Sports Network. Levine reported in mid-February that Shaw is expected to start in right field in Chicago this year against left-handed pitchers, with outfielder Seiya Suzuki moving to designated hitter on those days. The 24-year-old didn't exactly play well in his first exposure to big-league pitching in 2025, slashing .226/.295/.394 with a .690 OPS, 13 home runs, 44 RBI, 57 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases in 437 plate appearances over 126 regular-season games. Shaw will be in more of a super-utility role in his sophomore season. The role won't help Shaw's case to rack up counting stats in fantasy, but it could make him more productive overall at the plate. Shaw's fantasy stock has fallen going into 2026, but he's still worth consideration as corner-infield depth late in drafts, and he should eventually have outfield eligibility.

Updating a previous report, Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene (elbow) said he has no damage to the UCL in his right elbow, according to Charlie Goldsmith of FOX 19. Greene pitched through some elbow soreness late last year and admitted that he has bone spurs in his arm, but he believes his UCL is intact. We will know for sure once the results of his MRI exam come back. The 26-year-old had an injection in the offseason and felt fine before dealing with more discomfort this spring. Even if Greene doesn't have UCL damage, which would be great news, he could still be a candidate to open the 2026 season on the injured list. Greene, a former second overall pick in 2017, was an All-Star in 2024 and is a top-15 starting pitcher in fantasy when healthy. In his fourth year in the majors in 2025, he went 7-4 with a 2.76 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 132:26 K:BB in 107 2/3 innings over 19 starts. Greene has ace upside, but he's yet to make 30 starts or reach 200 innings in a single season.

New York Mets right-hander Nolan McLean (illness) is no longer dealing with vertigo-like symptoms and will throw roughly 50 to 55 pitches or four innings in a simulated game in camp on Wednesday, according to Laura Albanese of Newsday. As long as the vertigo-like symptoms don't return for McLean, he should be cleared to pitch for Team USA against Italy in the World Baseball Classic on March 10. In his Grapefruit League debut last week against the Houston Astros, the young right-hander looked great, striking out six over four scoreless innings. The 24-year-old former third-rounder in 2023 out of Oklahoma State looked great in his MLB debut last year, too, going 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA (2.97 FIP), 1.04 WHIP, and 57:16 K:BB in 48 innings over his eight starts. There's a lot to like about the former two-way player as he heads into his first full MLB season locked into New York's starting rotation. Treat him as a high-end No. 3 starter/low-end No. 2 starting pitcher in fantasy drafts.

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene (elbow) is dealing with a right-elbow injury and will undergo an MRI exam, according to Charlie Goldsmith of FOX 19. Greene won't throw until at least next Tuesday and is now in danger of not being ready for Opening Day at the end of March. The 26-year-old's elbow issue dates back to the final five or six starts from last year. He received an injection in the offseason and felt fine, but the discomfort has returned this spring. Greene said that he knows he has bone spurs in his elbow, but there's no UCL damage. In his Cactus League start on Saturday, he gave up four runs on five hits in just one inning of work. He has one of the best arms in the game and is currently ranked as RotoBaller's No. 10 starting pitcher in fantasy, so losing Greene for a chunk of time to begin the season would be a big blow to the Reds and Greene's 2026 value.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Emmet Sheehan (illness) "figures to be a leading candidate" for one of the final two spots in the team's Opening Day starting rotation this year, but he's a bit behind schedule in camp after dealing with a sickness, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. Along with Sheehan, River Ryan and Justin Wrobleski are candidates to open the year in L.A.'s rotation. The 26-year-old Sheehan is very intriguing for mixed-league starting fantasy rotations after going 6-3 last year with a 2.82 ERA (2.93 FIP) and 0.97 WHIP with 89 strikeouts and 22 walks in 73 1/3 innings over 15 regular-season appearances (12 starts). Sheehan should make his Cactus League debut soon, and he still has time to get ready for Opening Day in late March. The former sixth-rounder has No. 3 starter upside in fantasy; the only problem is that he's not a lock to stick in the rotation all year long.

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Brady Singer had a tough time at the office in his Cactus League debut on Monday night against the Chicago Cubs, allowing five earned runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out one in two innings of work. Singer threw 46 pitches in the outing but was able to generate just one swing and miss. The 29-year-old is heading into his second year in Cincy after going 14-12 with a 4.03 ERA (3.98 FIP), 1.24 WHIP, and 163:60 K:BB in 169 2/3 innings over 32 starts in 2025. He should once again be a valuable back-end starter for the Reds in 2026, although he's tougher to get behind in fantasy in one of the more hitter-friendly ballparks in the big leagues. The key to Singer's success is his sinker, which he will need to keep the ball out of the air in Cincy. His career 22.1% strikeout rate doesn't give him much fantasy upside either, which is why he's ranked just inside the top 100 starting pitchers at RotoBaller.

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich is penciled in for his Cactus League debut on Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Yelich isn't injured at all, but the Brewers weren't in a rush to put the 34-year-old veteran with a history of back injuries on the field right away this spring. The three-time All-Star and former MVP hit .264/.343/.452 with a .795 OPS, 29 home runs, 103 RBI, 88 runs scored, and 16 stolen bases in 644 plate appearances over 150 regular-season games in 2025 in his seventh year in Milwaukee. It was the first time that Yelich reached 20-plus home runs since 2019 and only the second time in his 13-year career that he had over 100 RBI. Yelich could have outfield eligibility in some fantasy leagues, but he will primarily serve as the DH for the Brew Crew in 2026 in an effort to keep him healthy. He's no spring chicken and comes with plenty of durability concerns, but when healthy, Yelich is a consistent run producer with a solid floor. He's ranked as RotoBaller's No. 28 fantasy outfielder.

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Quinn Priester (wrist) might not be ready for Opening Day later this month as a precaution after last year's wrist discomfort, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. The Brewers have chosen to slow-play Priester this spring, which is why the 25-year-old has yet to pitch in a Cactus League game in spring training. Priester's wrist injury isn't a concern, though, which is the good news. The only thing that might delay him from making his 2026 debut is the fact that he might not be fully built up by then. Priester, a former 18th overall pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019, was great for the Brew Crew last year in his first season with the team, going 13-3 with a 3.32 ERA (4.01 FIP) and 1.24 WHIP with a career-high 132 strikeouts and 50 walks in 157 1/3 innings over 29 outings (24 starts). He has limited strikeout upside and will likely be due for some regression in 2026, but Priester is a rising late-round target for starting pitching depth in mixed leagues.

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said that left-handed closer Josh Hader (biceps) could throw a bullpen session next week, according to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. Hader came into spring training last month with left-biceps inflammation and has been limited to throwing on flat ground so far. The move to throwing off a mound is a big step for the 31-year-old, but it doesn't necessarily ensure that he'll be ready to go by Opening Day in late March. Fantasy managers need to keep in mind that the hard-throwing southpaw also missed the last seven weeks of the 2025 regular season due to a left-shoulder strain. Typically an elite closer in fantasy, Hader's stock is falling due to injury concerns going into the 2026 campaign. Meanwhile, Bryan Abreu has become a popular late-round target as the likely ninth-inning replacement if Hader begins the year on the injured list.

Houston Astros infielder Isaac Paredes will make his first Grapefruit League start at first base on Tuesday night, according to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. Manager Joe Espada said Paredes' practice "work around the base has been good -- holding runners, scoops, all that." Paredes will move back to third base for his next start. The Astros are moving the 27-year-old around the diamond at third, second, and first this spring to try to find additional ways to get him into the starting lineup regularly. Carlos Correa is the primary third baseman, while Jose Altuve is moving back to second full-time in 2026, leaving Paredes without a permanent defensive home. If he isn't traded before Opening Day, Paredes may serve in more of a utility infield role. The two-time All-Star hit 20 home runs in only 102 games last year in his first season in Houston, and he has plenty of pop in his bat, but his fantasy value will remain limited as long as he stays with the Astros.

Boston Red Sox infielder Brendan Rodgers (shoulder) got discouraging MRI results back on his injured shoulder, prompting him to seek a second opinion. The 29-year-old is expected to see Dr. Neal ElAttrache, but manager Alex Cora has already stated that he anticipates that the right-handed slugger is going to need surgery. The former first-rounder was competing for a roster spot this spring, however, it looks like he'll begin the season on the injured list. While the veteran offers some decent pop that could make him interesting for fantasy, he's off the radar until he returns to the big league lineup.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (back) is throwing from out to 60 feet, per manager Torey Lovullo. The veteran is dealing with a back injury, but played catch on Sunday, and this is a continuation of a throwing progression that would next get him into a bullpen session. The 37-year-old is optimistic about being ready for Opening Day and would likely join the backend of the Arizona rotation when the season opens if all goes to plan. The right-hander tossed 184 innings in 2025, posting a 3.52 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 167 strikeouts (15.9 percent K-BB%). With an ADP of around pick 200, Kelly is being taken at the back end of most drafts, so it is worth monitoring his progress to make sure he stays on track.