MLB News

Zach Neto • SS • Angels

Zach Neto Expected to Return to Game Action on Tuesday

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto (wrist) will return to game action on Tuesday, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. It could either be a minor league game or the Angels' Cactus League game against the Cubs. Regardless of which it is, it appears his return from a sprained left wrist is nearly complete, which still puts him on track to be ready for Opening Day. The former first-round draft pick is coming off a strong 2025 campaign in which he produced a .257-26-62-82-26 stat line with a .337 wOBA and 116 wRC+ in 128 games. The 25-year-old is poised for another fantasy-friendly season, currently ranking as the fifth shortstop for fantasy at RotoBaller and No. 29 overall, which is right around his current ADP.

4 hours ago

Matt McLain • 2B • Reds

Matt McLain to Bat Second in the Cincinnati Lineup

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain will bat second in the lineup this season, per manager Terry Francona. The 26-year-old is scorching hot this spring, hitting .553 (21-for-38) with six home runs, a pair of steals, and a 5:4 BB:K. The former first-rounder showed a strong blend of contact, power, and speed potential in his debut back in 2023, but missed all of 2024 with a shoulder injury and was not nearly as productive in his 2025 return to the diamond (77 wRC+). Perhaps 2026 will look more like 2023, and if so, the right-handed hitter could end up being a value in fantasy drafts. He's the ninth-ranked second baseman at RotoBaller and is ranked No. 150 overall, while his ADP is closer to pick No. 200 over the last couple of weeks. McLain will hit in front of some big bats, including Elly De La Cruz, Eugenio Suarez, and Sal Stewart, adding to his fantasy appeal.

5 hours ago

Jackson Holliday • 2B • Orioles

Jackson Holliday to Progress to Live At-Bats This Week

Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday (hand) stated that he expects to take live at-bats during camp this week with the big league club, but is unsure whether or not he'll get a chance to see game action before the spring season is over. The 22-year-old is expecting to open the regular season with Triple-A Norfolk, although he does not believe his stay on the injured list will be a lengthy one. The former first-overall draft pick is recovering from hamate-bone surgery in his hand and has been making steady progress in his rehab. The left-handed slugger is looking to build on his 2025 season, which saw him produce a .242/.314/.375 slash line with 17 home runs, 17 steals, a .304 wOBA, and a 96 wRC+ in 149 games. Holliday could finish the year inside the top-12 at the second base position, but you can wait on him in drafts, going after pick No. 150 over the last two weeks.

5 hours ago

Chase Burns • SP • Reds

Chase Burns Possibly Starting the Year at Triple-A?

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Chase Burns was removed from his start this past Friday after throwing just 24 pitches. Manager Terry Francona has stated that Burns is fully healthy despite the early hook, and although that still seems to be the case, according to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic, the team "didn't like how Burns' arm was moving" during the outing, so they wanted to address it immediately. With just a week and a half left before the regular season gets underway, it sounds like the 23-year-old still has mechanical adjustments to make, and he may not be stretched out as much as other guys competing for rotations spots are, including Rhett Lowder and Brandon Williamson, so Burns could very well be ticketed for Triple-A to begin the season. The right-hander had an impressive debut in 2025 in which he posted a 4.57 ERA (2.65 FIP) and recorded 67 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings pitched, but starting the year in Triple-A would certainly dampen his fantasy outlook. For a pitcher that has been going fairly high in fantasy drafts the last couple of weeks (ADP 120 overall), managers who haven't drafted yet should take a more cautious approach and keep an eye out for any developments.

5 hours ago

Konnor Griffin • SS • Pirates

Konnor Griffin Trending Towards Making Opening Day Roster?

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect Konnor Griffin is one of just three non-roster position players remaining in camp with the big league club with just a week and a half left before the regular season begins. MLB's top-ranked prospect has made a solid case with his bat to crack the team's Opening Day roster, going 7-for-33 (.212) with five of his seven hits going for extra bases (one double, four home runs). Without having played a single game at Triple-A (and only 21 at Double-A), it remains to be seen whether the Pirates are ready to give the former first-round draft pick the reins at shortstop or if they think he needs to gain some additional experience at Triple-A Indianapolis. The 6-foot-3 slugger has all the tools needed to make an impact in the majors this season, it is just a matter of when that will be. With an ADP of around pick 143 in drafts since the beginning of March, fantasy managers believe it will be sooner rather than later.

6 hours ago

Zach Neto • SS • Angels

Zach Neto to Take Batting Practice on Monday

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto (wrist) hit some balls off a tee in camp on Monday and said he's going to take batting practice on the field later, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. Neto said "he's feeling good." The 25-year-old suffered a small sprain of his left wrist on a head-first slide in Cactus League action on Saturday and expects to miss just a few days. It's something to watch with Opening Day less than two weeks away, but for now, it looks like Neto dodged a bullet and should be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season at the end of the month. The former first-rounder (13th overall) in 2022 out of Campbell University has hit .241 (7-for-29) with a homer, five RBI, four runs scored, and two stolen bases in 12 spring training games this year. In his first two full major-league seasons, Neto has slashed .253/.318/.458 with a .776 OPS, 49 home runs, 139 RBI, 152 runs, and 56 stolen bases in 283 games. He's RotoBaller's No. 5-ranked fantasy shortstop heading into his third full MLB season.

8 hours ago

Nolan McLean • SP • Mets

Nolan McLean to Start World Baseball Classic Final for Team USA

New York Mets right-hander Nolan McLean will start the World Baseball Classic against either Italy or Venezuela on Tuesday for Team USA, according to Deesha Thosar of FOX Sports. In his last outing for USA in their loss to Italy last week, McLean allowed three runs in his two innings of work. Before leaving to play in the WBC, McLean had one Grapefruit League outing against the Houston Astros for the Mets and looked sharp, tossing four shutout innings with one hit allowed, one walk, and six strikeouts. The 24-year-old former third-round pick in 2023 out of Oklahoma State dominated in the minors last year on his way to making his major-league debut in New York. McLean continued to pitch well in the Show in his first eight starts (48 innings), posting a 2.06 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 57:16 K: BB. He's one of the best young arms in the game and is already ranked as a low-end No. 2 fantasy starting pitcher at RotoBaller as he heads into his first full year in the majors.

8 hours ago

Seranthony Domínguez • RP • White Sox

Is Seranthony Dominguez an Undervalued Source of Saves Heading into 2026?

Across 62 2/3 innings split between the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays in 2025, veteran relief pitcher Seranthony Dominguez recorded a 4-4 record with a 3.16 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 79 strikeouts, and two saves. Dominguez's performance was enough to earn him a two-year deal from the Chicago White Sox in free agency, where he is expected to be the team's primary closer. The 30-year-old is far from a perfect pitcher, as he posted an elevated 13.8% walk rate in 2025 and allowed an inflated 1.84 HR/9 as recently as 2024. However, Dominguez struck out 30.3% of the batters he faced in 2025 and should have a long runway as Chicago's primary option in the ninth inning. Dominguez also pitched well in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic this spring, allowing just three base runners and zero earned runs across four appearances. If he can keep his walk and home run rates in check, Dominguez could be an undervalued source of saves heading into 2026.

8 hours ago

Julio Rodríguez • CF • Mariners

Julio Rodriguez Remains Worthy of a First-Round Selection in 2026 Fantasy Drafts

Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez had fantasy managers a bit nervous early in 2025, as he was hitting .207 with four home runs at the end of April. However, the 25-year-old returned to his elite form the rest of the way, finishing the year with a slash line of .267/.324/.474 with 32 home runs, 95 RBI, 106 runs scored, and 30 stolen bases across 710 plate appearances. Rodriguez's barrel rate dipped below 10% for the first time in his career in 2025, but he also improved his strikeout rate to a career-best 21.4%. If he can merge the best aspects of his power and contact approaches in 2026, Rodriguez could take his game even higher. Even if he simply repeats his established norms, Rodriguez is a true five-category fantasy contributor who should continue to be a max-playing time outfielder as he enters the prime years of his career. Rodriguez is worthy of a first-round selection in fantasy drafts heading into 2026.

8 hours ago

Austin Riley • 3B • Braves

Austin Riley Looking for Resurgent Season After Injury-Marred 2025

After recording three consecutive 30-homer, 90-RBI campaigns from 2021 through 2023, Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley looked to have established himself as one of the best right-handed hitters in baseball. However, the 28-year-old has battled injuries and underperformance in each of the last two seasons, bringing some question marks to his fantasy profile. Core muscle issues limited Riley to just 447 plate appearances in 2025, across which he slashed .260/.309/.428 with 16 home runs, 54 RBI, 54 runs scored, and two stolen bases. His strikeout rate jumped to 28.6%, his worst mark since his rookie season in 2019. Still, Riley posted an elite 15.2% barrel rate and 50.2% hard-hit rate in 2025, and he is entering 2026 fully healthy. If he can kick the injury bug, Riley may return to the ranks of elite fantasy third basemen.

8 hours ago

Kenley Jansen • RP • Tigers

Does Kenley Jansen Still Have 20-Plus Save Upside in Detroit?

Across 59 innings with the Los Angeles Angels in 2025, veteran relief pitcher Kenley Jansen recorded a 5-4 record with a 2.59 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 57 strikeouts, and 29 saves. The 38-year-old landed a one-year deal with the Detroit Tigers this past winter, and looks like the favorite to open the year as the team's primary closer. While Jansen's top-line numbers remained strong in 2025, his strikeout rate dipped to a career-worst 24.4%, and he benefited from an 85.2% strand rate, well above his career average of 79.9%. In Detroit, he lands with an organization that has typically preferred to spread saves around to multiple players. Should Jansen falter, the Tigers also have a quality ninth-inning option waiting in the wings in Will Vest, who recorded 23 saves last season. Jansen's proven track record as one of the best closers of the 21st century should give him the leg up to begin the year, but he may have a short leash if his shaky underlying metrics from 2025 start to show up in his overall results in 2026.

8 hours ago

Aroldis Chapman • RP • Red Sox

Can Aroldis Chapman Maintain His Improved Walk Rate in 2026?

Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman was utterly dominant in 2025, recording five wins, 32 saves, and 85 strikeouts across 61 1/3 innings while pitching to a 1.17 ERA and a 0.70 WHIP. Chapman has always been an excellent source of strikeouts, and he delivered with a 37.3% strikeout rate last year. The more surprising aspect of his profile was his massively improved command. After posting four consecutive seasons with a walk rate of at least 14.5%, the 38-year-old slashed his walk rate to 6.6% in 2025, by far the best mark of his 16-season MLB career. It seems likely that Chapman's walk rate will regress towards his career norm to some degree in 2026. Still, he can remain an elite fantasy closer even if he allows free passes to somewhere around 10% of the batters he faces. Barring a complete collapse in his skills in his age-38 season, Chapman should have a chance to provide high-end fantasy production for the second straight year.

9 hours ago

Ben Rice • 1B • Yankees

Is Ben Rice Worthy of His Rising Price Tag in Drafts?

New York Yankees first baseman/catcher Ben Rice had a breakout season in 2025, slashing .255/.337/.499 with 26 home runs, 65 RBI, 74 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 530 plate appearances. The 27-year-old's underlying metrics fully supported his emergence, as he posted excellent barrel (15.4%) and hard-hit rates (55.8%). Rice is expected to be the Yankees' primary first baseman in 2026. Additionally, Rice also started 36 games behind the plate for the Yankees in 2025, giving him catcher eligibility across all fantasy formats in 2026 and massively boosting his value. However, New York also re-signed veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt over the offseason, which could eat into Rice's playing time against left-handed pitching. Rice posted a respectable .752 OPS against lefties in 2025, but Goldschmidt mashed southpaws to a .981 OPS. If Rice ends up sitting against left-handed starters, he may not end up logging enough playing time to fully justify his rising cost in drafts.

9 hours ago

Roman Anthony • RF • Red Sox

Roman Anthony a Top Breakout Candidate for 2026

Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony already looks like a potential superstar. Through a limited sample of MLB action (plus plenty of minor league data and even some World Baseball Classic experience), Anthony has quickly shown that he can be an elite hitter at the plate with an everyday role in the Red Sox' lineup. The former second-round pick made his MLB debut last summer and played 71 games in the majors for Boston. He wasted no time making an impact, slashing .292/.396/.463 with eight home runs, a 13.2% walk rate, a 27.7% strikeout rate, and 140 wRC+. While his strikeout rate was a bit high, we're not too concerned, especially since the ball-in-play metrics are terrific and he was just a rookie last year. Anthony has continued to show signs of major upside this spring, going 7-for-22 with two homers, four walks, and five strikeouts in a prominent role for the United States in the World Baseball Classic. The 2026 ZiPS projections have Anthony listed at 18 home runs and 125 wRC+, but given how last year and this spring have gone, we'd be willing to bet on even greater production from the 21-year-old. He ranks as the #15 outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.

10 hours ago

Ryan Helsley • RP • Orioles

Can Ryan Helsley Bounce Back in Baltimore?

Baltimore Orioles reliever Ryan Helsley is looking for a bounce-back campaign after posting disappointing results in 2025. Splitting time with the Cardinals and Mets last year, Helsley posted a 4.14 FIP with 10.13 K/9 and 4.02 BB/9 across 56 innings. While these weren't terrible numbers, it was still a subpar year relative to Helsley's standards, as he posted his worst FIP since 2020. The 31-year-old right-hander will look to get back on track as he plays for his third different team in less than 12 months. The Orioles gave him a two-year, $28 million contract that pencils him into the closer role. It's a familiar role for Helsley, who had 70 saves between 2024 and 2025, and it could result in him offering significant fantasy value on a potential contender this year. He currently ranks #9 among relief pitchers in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.

10 hours ago

Trevor Larnach • RF • Twins

Trevor Larnach Experiencing Left-Side Soreness

Minnesota Twins outfielder Trevor Larnach (side) was scratched from the lineup with left side soreness prior to Sunday's spring training game, according to Nick Nelson of Twins Daily. Manager David Shelton said the injury isn't currently serious enough to require imaging, but we wouldn't be surprised to see the organization exercise caution and keep him out of game action for a couple of days. Larnach stepped into an everyday role last year, slashing .250/.323/.404 across 142 games. He launched a career-high 17 home runs while posting a modest 9.3% walk rate and 21.5% strikeout rate. We expect Larnach to split time at designated hitter and the corner outfield spots in 2026, and he'll likely bat in the back half of the order.

11 hours ago

Gavin Stone • SP • Dodgers

Gavin Stone to Resume Throwing Soon

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Gavin Stone (shoulder) will begin playing catch next week, and he hopes to resume pitching from a mound within the next month, according to David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports. Stone has been shut down from throwing ever since he experienced a setback in his recovery earlier in spring training. The 27-year-old had been working his way back from a shoulder surgery that caused him to miss the entire 2025 season. While the setback took him out of the mix for an Opening Day roster spot, fans and fantasy managers should still be encouraged that Stone is recovering from the setback and continuing to make progress. The Dodgers would love to see him get back to his 2024 form, which included 25 starts, a 3.97 xERA, 7.44 K/9, and 2.37 BB/9.

11 hours ago

Marcelo Mayer • 3B • Red Sox

Marcelo Mayer Expected to Return on Tuesday

Boston Red Sox infielder Marcelo Mayer (knee) is "fine" and should return to the lineup on Tuesday, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. Manager Alex Cora told McCaffrey that Mayer had left knee soreness start to bother him prior to first pitch on Sunday, so the team scratched him from the lineup. He'll remain out of the lineup on Monday before getting back into his regular routine as a starter on Tuesday. All in all, this is very good news, especially given Mayer's injury history. He has already had four significant injured list stints in the last three years, including a months-long absence that sidelined him from July 2025 through the end of the regular season. Now, to further complicate the situation, he's also on the edge of the roster bubble, and it remains unclear if he'll open the 2026 season at Triple-A or the majors. Boston has locked in Caleb Durbin as its starting third baseman, but second base remains an area of mystery, with Mayer and Isiah Kiner-Falefa the top names in the mix. The fact that Mayer will return to the lineup on Tuesday will give him a few more opportunities to compete for a roster spot before spring training concludes.

11 hours ago

Connelly Early • SP • Red Sox

Connelly Early Holding his Own in Spring Training

Boston Red Sox left-handed pitching prospect Connelly Early has looked good so far at spring training as he competes for the final spot in the Boston starting rotation. Across 12 innings, the left-hander has held a 2.25 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP while striking nine hitters. He has allowed just three free passes. Early made his MLB debut in the second half of the 2025 campaign and posted a 2.23 ERA and 1.09 WHIP over his first 19 1/3 innings in the majors. During this impressive debut, he racked up 29 punchouts with a stellar 5.1% BB%. However, despite his high upside, Johan Oviedo is trending towards claiming the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation, which would send Early to Triple-A Worcester. Even though he will likely begin the season in the minor leagues, he should contend for a first-half return to Boston. He is worth stashing in deeper leagues ahead of Opening Day.

12 hours ago

Sal Stewart • 3B • Reds

Sal Stewart Showcasing Elite Potential in Spring Games

Cincinnati Reds infield prospect Sal Stewart has continued to play at an elite level during spring training and appears ticketed for a major role during his first full MLB season. Through 13 spring games, the team's top infield prospect has held a dominant .355/.487/.613 line with two home runs and four stolen bases. This is an excellent sign for Stewart as he looked just as comfortable during his first taste of MLB action last summer. Over his first 18 games in Cincinnati, Stewart held a .255/.293/.545 line with five long balls. Earlier in the campaign, Stewart hit 10 home runs while swiping four bags across a brief 38-game stint at Triple-A, showcasing his five-category upside. Given Stewart's ability to play at several positions, he carries elite breakout appeal heading into the 2026 season, as he should have an everyday role in the offense.

12 hours ago

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