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Lawrence Butler • RF • Athletics

Lawrence Butler Sitting Out Again Sunday

Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's contest against the Toronto Blue Jays. Butler started Opening Day but hasn't played since then. It's unclear if his absence is related to his pre-season knee injury or the fact that the A's have faced a left-handed pitcher on back-to-back days. Butler went 0-for-3 in his lone appearance back on Friday. He's coming off a suboptimal 2025 season in which he slashed .234/.306/.404 with 21 home runs, 22 stolen bases, and 96 wRC+. It will be interesting to see if Butler comes off the bench Sunday and if he gets into the lineup against Braves right-hander Bryce Elder on Monday. If not, it will be safe to assume that his knee injury is lingering into the regular season.

Yesterday

Shea Langeliers • C • Athletics

Shea Langeliers Hot to Begin Season, Hits Grand Slam in Loss on Saturday

Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers is showing his high-end power early in 2026, homering for the third time in just the second game in Saturday's extra-inning loss to the hosting Toronto Blue Jays. Langeliers went 2-for-4 with a grand slam, one walk, and a strikeout in the team's 8-7 loss at the Rogers Centre. In Friday night's 3-2 loss to Toronto, Langeliers hit two solo homers to carry the A's offense. He's feeling it at the plate early on this year after hitting a career-high 31 long balls and driving in 72 in 123 games in 2025 in his third full season in the majors. The 28-year-old also had seven stolen bases and a .277/.325/.536 slash line with an .861 OPS in 523 plate appearances. Langeliers hit 82 home runs and drove in 215 runs from 2023 to 2025 and appears headed for a possible second straight 30-home run season for the A's.

Yesterday

Shea Langeliers • C • Athletics

Shea Langeliers Hits Two Home Runs on Opening Day

Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers flexed his muscles in the 3-2 Opening Day loss to the hosting Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, going 3-for-4 with two solo home runs and a strikeout at Rogers Centre. Langeliers was the A's only source of offense on a night where Toronto right-hander Kevin Gausman was nearly unhittable. Gausman only gave up one hit (the homer to Langeliers) and struck out 11 in six innings. Langeliers hit his second home run of the day in the top of the ninth inning off closer Jeff Hoffman to tie the game at two apiece, but the Blue Jays came through in the bottom half of the ninth frame to walk it off. The 28-year-old backstop hit .277/.325/.536 with a career-high .861 OPS, 31 home runs, 72 RBI, 73 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in 523 plate appearances and 123 games in 2025. Langeliers has 82 home runs in his three full MLB seasons and has high-end power for the weak catching position. Coming into the 2026 campaign, Langeliers was an easy top-five fantasy catcher. His two-homer game on Opening Day is further proof.

2 days ago

Nick Kurtz • 1B • Athletics

Nick Kurtz at Leadoff on Opening Day for A's

Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz is batting leadoff for the A's on Opening Day on Friday on the road against the Toronto Blue Jays and right-hander Kevin Gausman, per MLB.com. Kurtz is already considered one of the best hitters on the team after debuting in 2025 and looking like a seasoned veteran with a .290/.383/.619 slash line, 1.002 OPS, 36 home runs, 86 RBI, and 90 runs scored in 489 plate appearances over 117 games played. The A's want to get Kurtz as many at-bats as possible per game, although he's likely to be down in the batting order when the team faces a left-handed pitcher. Kurtz hitting leadoff regularly will get him more at-bats for his fantasy managers, too, although it will take away plenty of RBI opportunities from the left-handed slugger. He's an elite power bat and entered 2026 as RotoBaller's top-ranked fantasy first baseman. The 23-year-old had one hit in two at-bats against Gausman last year.

2 days ago

Leo De Vries • SS • Athletics

Leo De Vries to Start 2026 Season at Double-A

Athletics shortstop prospect Leo De Vries will start the 2026 regular season at Double-A Midland, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. The big return that the A's got in the Mason Miller trade, De Vries is the A's top prospect and the No. 4 overall prospect in all of baseball at MLB Pipeline. He's the No. 4 shortstop prospect, behind Konnor Griffin, Kevin McGonigle, and Jesus Made. The 19-year-old switch-hitter looked like the real deal this spring, hitting .426/.460/.723 with a 1.183 OPS, three home runs, 12 RBI, 10 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 18 Cactus League contests. De Vries is obviously still young, but if he continues to perform like that in the minors early this year, he could quickly make his way to Triple-A Las Vegas and potentially the big leagues by the end of 2026. With Jacob Wilson locked in at shortstop, De Vries' future at the big-league level could be at second base. De Vries, who is a must-roster in all dynasty leagues, doesn't have elite speed, but he still has the potential to be a high-end starting fantasy shortstop in time.

3 days ago

Jamie Arnold • P • Athletics

Jamie Arnold Ticketed for Double-A Midland to Begin 2026

Athletics pitching prospect Jamie Arnold will begin the season at Double-A, per Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. The Athletics' first-round pick in the 2025 Draft (11th overall) did not debut professionally last season after being selected, so this will be his first taste of pro ball. The left-hander was invited to big league camp this spring, but pitched just three innings in the Cactus League, although he did manage to rack up four strikeouts during that time. The 6-foot-1 hurler struck out 33.9 percent of batters faced in his final year at Florida State while walking just 7.7 percent. The Athletics' second-ranked prospect is already 22 years old, so if he shows well at Double-A, a quick call to Triple-A could be in the cards this season, and a September debut would not be out of the question. He's a name to remember later this year, and could be part of the A's rotation in 2027.

5 days ago

Gage Jump • SP • Athletics

Gage Jump Will Head to Triple-A Las Vegas to Start 2026

Athletics pitching prospect Gage Jump will begin the season at Triple-A Las Vegas, per Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. The Athletics' third-ranked prospect made a good impression this spring, allowing just two earned runs in 9 2/3 innings of work (1.86 ERA), with a 1.24 WHIP and a 7:3 K:BB, but has yet to pitch above Double-A during the regular season. The southpaw made 20 of his 26 appearances at Double-A in 2025, posting a 3.64 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and a 16.8 percent K-BB% (86 strikeouts) over 81 2/3 innings pitched. With a good showing at Triple-A, the 22-year-old could be up in the big leagues by midseason, so fantasy managers in redraft leagues will want to keep an eye on his progress as the lefty could provide some reinforcement for pitching-needy staffs once the injuries to fantasy starters start to pile up. The LSU product has seen an uptick in velocity on his fastball and has a deceptive delivery, along with three secondary pitches that could produce at least a K per inning whenever he gets the call.

5 days ago

Tyler Soderstrom • LF • Athletics

Tyler Soderstrom Back in Cactus League Lineup

Athletics first baseman/outfielder Tyler Soderstrom (knee) is starting in left field and will bat cleanup for the A's in Friday's Cactus League game against the Chicago Cubs. Soderstrom was hit by a pitch on the knee on Thursday in a spring training game, but he'll be right back in the lineup on Friday and should be just fine for Opening Day next week. The 24-year-old left-handed slugger is one of the A's interesting young hitters in a hitter-friendly ballpark in Sacramento. The former 26th overall pick in 2020 broke out in 2025 with a .276/.346/.474 slash line, .820 OPS, 25 home runs, 93 RBI, 75 runs scored, and even eight stolen bases in 624 plate appearances and 158 games played in his third season in the major leagues. Adding to his fantasy intrigue is the fact that he'll have first base and outfield eligibility in 2026. Soderstrom is ranked as RotoBaller's No. 23 fantasy outfielder and as the No. 11 fantasy first baseman. His power from the left side plays in all formats as a regular middle-of-the-order hitter for the A's.

Mar 20

Lawrence Butler • RF • Athletics

Lawrence Butler Returns to the Outfield on Friday

Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler (knees) is making the start in right field and will bat leadoff in Friday night's Cactus League game against the Chicago Cubs. Butler made his spring training debut on Tuesday as the designated hitter but will now return to the outfield after having surgery on his left knee in the offseason. The 25-year-old has also battled tendinitis in his right knee. Butler broke out in 2024 with 22 homers and 18 RBI in 125 games in his first full season in the major leagues before slashing .234/.306/.404 with a .710 OPS, 21 home runs, 63 RBI, 22 stolen bases, and 83 runs scored in 152 games played in 2025. He obviously has the potential to put up another 20-20 season in the bandbox in Sacramento, but ultimately, his 2026 value will depend on how his knees hold up over the course of the season. RotoBaller has Butler ranked as the No. 41 fantasy outfielder because of his power/speed upside, but plenty of swing and miss and injury concerns make him more volatile than others around the same price.

Mar 20

Zack Gelof • 2B • Athletics

A's Option Zack Gelof to Triple-A

The Athletics optioned infielder Zack Gelof to Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, according to the team. The A's will give Gelof a little more time to dial in his swing in the minors after he returned late to spring training this year after recovering from surgery to fix a dislocated right shoulder in the offseason. The 26-year-old former second-round pick in 2021 out of the University of Virginia hit .278 (5-for-18) in spring training with a double, RBI, five runs scored, three walks, and four strikeouts in six Cactus League games. Gelof appeared to be the second baseman of the future for the A's after his rookie season, but he led the league in strikeouts in 2024 and has struggled to stay healthy the last two years. In his three MLB seasons, Gelof has hit just .225/.287/.397 with a .684 OPS, 33 home runs, 88 RBI, 112 runs, and 40 stolen bases in 237 games. The A's aren't giving up on Gelof just yet, but he's going to need to prove it to regain playing time at the big-league level in 2026, and he must first stay healthy.

Mar 20

Tyler Soderstrom • LF • Athletics

Tyler Soderstrom is Fine After Getting Hit by a Pitch

Athletics outfielder Tyler Soderstrom (knee) was forced to make an early exit from Thursday's Spring Training contest against the Seattle Mariners. Soderstrom was pulled out of the game as a precaution after getting hit by a pitch in the knee. According to Martin Gallegos, Soderstrom is going to be fine going forward, so fantasy managers don't have anything to worry about. It's possible that the A's hold him out for a few days, but this shouldn't be a long-term issue. The 24-year-old looks to continue his success in 2026 after posting a strong season at the plate in 2025. Soderstrom slashed .276/.346/.474 with 25 home runs and 93 RBI across 145 games. He's currently sitting around 83.7 ADP, which seems fair given his success last year and his overall upside.

Mar 20

Jacob Wilson • SS • Athletics

Jacob Wilson Having Forgettable Spring at the Plate

Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson, who finished second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2025, is having a forgettable spring training, hitting .229 (8-for-35) with a home run, five RBI, three runs scored, and one stolen base in 39 plate appearances over 14 Cactus League games going into Thursday's action. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too concerned with the results. The 23-year-old former sixth overall pick in 2023 out of Grand Canyon University had an excellent first full year in the big leagues in 2025, slashing .311/.355/.444 with an .800 OPS, 13 home runs, 63 RBI, 62 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 523 plate appearances over 125 games played. Wilson doesn't have a ton of power, but he does make elite contact and is one of the hardest hitters to strike out -- he fanned just 39 times in 486 at-bats last year. A fractured forearm didn't help Wilson finish strong last year, but there's still a lot to like with him as a No. 2 fantasy shortstop for his high average and counting stats in one of the most hitter-friendly ballparks in the league in Sacramento. RotoBaller has Wilson ranked as the No. 18 SS.

Mar 20

Luis Severino • SP • Athletics

Luis Severino to Start for A's on Opening Day

Athletics right-hander Luis Severino will make the Opening Day start for the team this year in Toronto at the Rogers Centre against the Blue Jays next Friday, March 27, manager Mark Kotsay told Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. It will be Severino's second straight Opening Day assignment with the A's and the third of his career. Severino's fantasy stock is on the decline after he went 8-11 with a 4.54 ERA (4.11 FIP) and 1.30 WHIP with 124 strikeouts, and 50 walks in 162 2/3 innings over 29 starts in his first year in Sacramento. At home at Sutter Health Park, Severino went 2-9 with a 6.01 ERA, really struggling to keep the ball in the yard at the hitter-friendly band box. The 32-year-old Dominican isn't a bad pitcher -- he's made two All-Star teams -- but his upside is limited in a tough pitching environment as he gets closer to the end of his career. He's been more volatile than ever for fantasy managers the last three years of his career, and he's fallen to the No. 139-ranked starting pitcher at RotoBaller. In DFS, we wouldn't recommend Severino on the road against the reigning American League-champion Blue Jays.

Mar 19

Lawrence Butler • RF • Athletics

Lawrence Butler on Track to Return Tuesday?

Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler (knees) was seen running the bases at the team's spring training facility in Mesa on Sunday. Mart n Gallegos of MLB.com reports that the A's are "looking at Tuesday for his first game playing outfield" during 2026 Cactus League action. Butler hasn't played yet this spring, but it sounds like he's getting close. The Athletics will be pleased to get him back ahead of Opening Day, kicking off a potential bounce-back campaign. Butler posted a modest .710 OPS with 96 wRC+ last year, but on a more positive note, he delivered a 20-homer, 20-steal campaign with 4 OAA and 1 FRV in the outfield. He currently ranks as the #41 outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for the 2026 season.

Mar 15

Brent Rooker • RF • Athletics

Brent Rooker Demonstrating Power Amid Strikeout Issues

Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker has continued to produce impressive stats at the plate this spring training, headlined by four home runs through just 35 plate appearances. The 31-year-old has turned into one of MLB's most impressive power hitters, producing 30 homers in each of the last three seasons, so we shouldn't be too surprised by his power output so far. Nevertheless, it's encouraging to see him mix in other base hits amid the home runs, as he owns a .324/.343/.765 slash line during Cactus League play. The biggest red flag for Rooker this spring has been his discipline numbers. He currently owns a 2.9% walk rate and a 31.4% strikeout rate, neither of which will be acceptable during the regular season. We expect power hitters to have above-average strikeout rates, but ideally, Rooker will get back down to last year's walk and strikeout rates of 9.3% and 22.2%, respectively. Volatility is common during spring training, so managers should expect Rookier's discipline numbers to improve while maintaining his power when the regular season arrives.

Mar 14

Shea Langeliers • C • Athletics

Can Shea Langeliers Repeat 2025 Breakout in 2026?

Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers took his game to new heights in 2025, hitting .277/.325/.536 with 31 home runs, 72 RBI, 73 runs scored, and seven stolen bases across 523 plate appearances. The 28-year-old had already established himself as one of the better power-hitting catchers in the two years prior, hitting 51 combined home runs between 2023 and 2024. He emerged as a more complete hitter last season by dropping his strikeout rate to 19.7%, a significant improvement from his career average of 26.1%. Langeliers sacrificed a bit of hard contact for the improvement, as his barrel rate dropped from 12.8% to 11%. However, the Athletics' move to Sacramento and the extremely hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park helped offset any negatives for Langeliers. He also should be locked into a prime position in the heart of an improving Athletics lineup, helping him rack up counting stats. Even if Langeliers' batting average regresses a bit towards his career norm in 2026, he should still profile as one of the best hitters at his position for fantasy managers.

Mar 12

Zack Gelof • 2B • Athletics

Zack Gelof Making Cactus League Debut on Monday

Athletics second baseman Zack Gelof (shoulder) is making his Cactus League debut on Monday in spring training against the Cincinnati Reds, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. Gelof is serving as the designated hitter and will bat fifth for the A's. The 26-year-old is just now making his spring debut after having surgery in September of last year to fix a dislocated left shoulder. Gelof hit .174/.230/.272 with a career-worst .502 OPS, two home runs, seven RBI, and 12 runs scored in only 30 games in 2025 in his third year in the big leagues because of injuries. He hit .231/.294/.412 with 31 home runs, 81 RBI, and 39 stolen bases in his first two MLB seasons, but he led all of baseball with 188 strikeouts in 547 plate appearances in 2024. When healthy, Gelof will compete for a spot in the A's everyday lineup, but given his late start this spring, he's more likely to begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Sacramento.

Mar 9

Leo De Vries • SS • Athletics

Leo De Vries Crushes Two Home Runs on Sunday

Athletics shortstop prospect Leo De Vries went 2-for-4 with two home runs and six RBI during their victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday afternoon. The team's No. 1-ranked prospect (and MLB.com's No. 4-ranked prospect) enjoyed a massive breakout game. Overall, through 11 spring training games, De Vries has gone 10-for-26 with three stolen bases and the aforementioned two long balls. The young shortstop joined the Athletics ahead of last year's trade deadline in the deal that moved top right-handed closer Mason Miller to San Diego. Last season, De Vries logged 118 games (shared between High-A and Double-A), where he posted a .255/.355/.451 line with an .806 OPS, 15 HRs, and 11 SBs. If he continues this pace, De Vries could join Triple-A Las Vegas before the All-Star break.

Mar 9

Leo De Vries • SS • Athletics

Leo De Vries Exits Early on Saturday

Athletics shortstop Leo De Vries (illness) was removed early during Saturday's Spring Training contest against the San Francisco Giants. De Vries was pulled out of the game due to illness, which was likely dehydration. Luckily, this sounds like something minor that shouldn't keep De Vries sidelined for long. The expectation is that he'll be back in the lineup within a day or two. The 19-year-old is viewed as one of the top prospects in the league. He made it to Double-A last season and is likely going to open the 2026 season there or in Triple-A. There's a chance that De Vries makes his MLB debut in 2026, but that depends on how he performs in the minors. Regardless, the future is extremely bright for the youngster.

Feb 28

Tyler Soderstrom • LF • Athletics

Tyler Soderstrom Off to Strong Start This Spring

Athletics first baseman/outfielder Tyler Soderstrom went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's Cactus League win over the Texas Rangers, and he's gone 3-for-7 with two RBI, two runs, a walk, and a strikeout in his three spring games. The 24-year-old left-handed slugger is part of the A's exciting mix of young players. He signed a seven-year, $86 million contract extension in December after slashing .276/.346/.474 with a career-high .820 OPS, 25 home runs, 93 RBI, 75 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in 624 plate appearances over 158 games played in his first full season in the big leagues in 2025. With Nick Kurtz locked in at first base, Soderstrom will be the A's regular in left field going into the 2026 campaign. His batted-ball metrics indicate his breakout was for real, especially as he made more contact.

Feb 27

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