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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Bobby Miller (shoulder) threw off a mound on Tuesday for the first time this spring. Per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, it was only about 10 throws, although it was not off the rubber, and the catcher was standing. The right-hander has been dealing with right shoulder soreness, which has slowed his ability to get up to speed this spring. So long as there are no setbacks, the 26-year-old should be ready by Opening Day, however, it could be with Triple-A Oklahoma City, not Los Angeles. The former first-rounder is being viewed as a reliever this season after splitting time as both a starter and reliever in 2025 while spending most of the campaign at Triple-A. The 6-foot-5 hurler struggled to a 5.66 ERA and 1.56 WHIP last year, and didn't show much better splits as a reliever compared to his time as a starter. With a 14.9 percent walk rate in 2025, he'll need to get his command under control before working his way back to the major leagues.

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Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Hunter Gaddis made his spring debut this past Friday, striking out two while allowing no hits or walks in the one-inning outing. However, the right-hander experienced mild forearm tightness following the appearance. According to manager Stephen Vogt, the 27-year-old went for imaging that "came back clean," and will be reevaluated on Thursday before being built back up. Sounds like a minor injury, and it doesn't appear to put his status for Opening Day in doubt for now. The 6-foot-6 hurler had a strong season for the Guardians in 2025, striking out 73 batters in 66 2/3 innings of work on his way to a 3.11 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and the second-most holds in all of baseball with 35. For fantasy managers looking for some ratio help, Gaddis could be a worthwhile roster addition, especially in the event something were to happen to the Guardians' closer, Cade Smith, as Gaddis could potentially be the one to step into that role.

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The Major League Baseball Players Association plans to challenge the league's intention to suspend outfielder Jurickson Profar for 162 games after a second violation of the league's performance-enhancing drug policy in the last year, a source told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The 33-year-old Profar was suspended for 80 games in his first year in Atlanta in 2025, and now he's looking at missing all of 2026 and forfeiting all of the $15 million he was scheduled to earn. It is highly unlikely that the 162-game suspension will be overturned, so fantasy managers need to cross Profar off their cheat sheets for upcoming drafts. It's a big blow to Atlanta's lineup, as Profar was expected to serve as the primary designated hitter this year while potentially hitting second in the batting order behind outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr.

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Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis (side) is back in the starting lineup for Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Tampa Bay Rays, starting at third base and batting leadoff. Lewis missed a bit of time in spring training after reporting tightness in his side last week, but an MRI exam was clean, and he's back in action this week. The Twins weren't going to take any chances with the oft-injured 26-year-old this early in camp. Lewis played in over 100 games for the first time in 2025 in his fourth year in the majors, but he disappointed by hitting .237/.283/.388 with a career-low .671 OPS, 13 home runs, 36 runs scored, 52 RBI, and a career-high 12 stolen bases in 403 plate appearances. Fantasy managers should consider Lewis a top-10 fantasy third baseman because of his ability to carry a roster with high-end power when he's on, but durability concerns for the former first overall pick put him on the low end of the top 15 at his position.

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New York Yankees outfield prospect Spencer Jones is now swinging like Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, according to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic. After reviewing last year's film, Jones quickly found that his swing wasn't getting started until it was too late. The 6-foot-7 left-handed slugger "began constructing his swing in a way that attempted to resemble" Ohtani's, especially in the lower half. Jones expects the offseason changes to stick as he attempts to finally break into the big leagues in 2026. The 24-year-old former first-rounder has seen results this spring, hitting .300 (3-for-10) with three homers, four strikeouts, and two walks. Jones has elite power upside, can play all three outfield positions, and also runs the bases well. However, he tends to have a lot of swings and misses. Jones hit 35 homers and drove in 80 runs in 116 games in the minors in 2025, but he also struck out 35.4% of the time. He also had an in-zone contact rate of just 72%.

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Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain is seeing the baseball as well as any hitter early in spring training. The 26-year-old former first-rounder went 2-for-2 with two home runs, six RBI, three runs scored, and two walks in Monday's Cactus League game against the Chicago Cubs. McLain enters Tuesday's action with a .571 batting average (8-for-14) with three homers, nine RBI, seven runs scored, three walks, and only one strikeout in five games played. Injuries have been a big part of McLain's story so far in his big-league career, and he struggled to a .220/.300/.343 slash line, .643 OPS, 15 homers, 50 RBI, 73 runs, and 18 stolen bases in 147 games in his second year in the Show in 2025. McLain had an .864 OPS and 127 OPS+ as a rookie in 2023, though, and is looking like a nice late-round sleeper target at the second base position in 2026.

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New York Mets right-hander Nolan McLean (illness) is scheduled to start for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic on March 10 against Italy, but he's now "day-to-day" due to a recent illness, USA manager Mark DeRosa told reporters on Monday. McLean was experiencing vertigo-like symptoms, but he's feeling better now. The 24-year-old threw a side session a few days ago and is scheduled to throw some more in camp on Wednesday. If he continues to improve, he'll likely take the hill against Italy, but DeRosa won't push the young hurler. McLean is one of the top young arms in baseball after going 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 48 innings over his first eight major-league starts last year. He should be ready in plenty of time for the start of the 2026 regular season after pitching for Team USA. McLean should already be rostered in all dynasty/keeper leagues, and he'll have SP2 upside in redraft leagues going into his first full MLB season.

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Chicago White Sox catcher Edgar Quero has looked impressive on both sides of the ball so far this spring, and the switch-hitter is tied for the Cactus League lead with nine RBI and nine hits after going deep against Chicago Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga on Sunday. MLB.com's Scott Merkin writes that Quero's "diligent offseason work focused on strengthening all areas of his game," but change with his swing "came especially within his hips." "Try to rotate a little better with my load, in my back hips, and it's working right now. Both sides, same thing. I figured it out in the offseason, and now it's working," Quero said. The 22-year-old Cuban backstop hit .268/.333/.356 with five homers, 17 doubles, and 36 RBI, but he hit .357 with an .851 OPS in 137 plate appearances versus lefties. The White Sox don't have a set DH, so both Quero and Kyle Teel could rotate time at DH if the Sox want to keep their bats in the lineup.

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Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar is facing a 162-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug for the second time in the last year, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Profar becomes the sixth player in MLB history to receive a 162-game suspension for PED use, and he will forfeit the entirety of his $15 million salary and be ineligible for the 2026 postseason. He also won't be allowed to play for the Netherlands in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Profar was suspended 80 games on March 31 of last year for human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone that can encourage testosterone production. After his return in July of 2025, Profar hit .245/.353/.434 with 14 home runs and 43 RBI while playing left field in Atlanta. Profar was set to mostly be a DH in 2026, but now that he's out for the year, the Braves could use catcher Drake Baldwin more in that spot once Sean Murphy (hip) returns from injury. Fantasy managers will obviously want to remove Profar from their draft boards.

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The Miami Marlins announced on Tuesday that they reassigned left-handed pitching prospect Thomas White (oblique) to minor-league camp. White was already not expected to open the 2026 regular season in Miami's big-league starting rotation, and that was confirmed when the 21-year-old was diagnosed with a strained oblique muscle in spring training. White will most likely start the year at Triple-A Jacksonville, but he could be one of the first options for an open rotation spot in Miami this year. In three minor-league stops last year, White was impressive, going 4-3 with a 2.31 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 145 strikeouts and 51 walks in 89 2/3 innings over 21 starts. The 6-foot-5 southpaw needs to improve his control, like many young pitchers, but if he does, White has top-of-the-rotation potential at the big-league level.

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Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer said he'll be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season and is completely past his thumb issues, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. "I feel good. I feel healthy. I just want to pitch," Scherzer said. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer signed a one-year, $3 million deal to return to Toronto last week, and he confirmed he'll make his Grapefruit League debut on Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies. The eight-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young winner missed three months last year with thumb issues and had a career-worst 5.19 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 82 strikeouts in 85 innings over 17 starts during the regular season. Scherzer had a 3.77 ERA with 11 K's and six walks in 14 1/3 innings over three playoff starts. Scherzer is no longer the dominant pitcher he was in his prime, and he's hard to recommend in mixed leagues with durability concerns in a hitter-friendly home ballpark.

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New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (hand) played catch on Monday in camp, and the hope is he's able to take batting practice on Wednesday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman writes that it "seems like a good sign" for the notoriously quick-healing Lindor to reach his goal of being ready to play on Opening Day. The 32-year-old All-Star will do defensive drills and other baseball activities on Tuesday as he works his way back from hamate bone surgery. If Lindor isn't quite ready for Opening Day at the end of this month, he should miss minimal time going into April, barring a setback. The Puerto Rican veteran has reached the 30-homer mark in each of the last three seasons and has 30-plus steals in two of the last three years, making him a clear top-10 fantasy shortstop on one of the best teams in baseball.

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Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Burrows landed with his new team as part of a three-team swap this offseason, and the team sees him as an "upside play" who can jump into their rotation right away. The Astros saw an opportunity to adjust his pitch mix a little bit and add in a two-seam fastball. The early returns have been very positive for Burrows, who has pitched five scoreless innings in his first two Grapefruit League outings, striking out six with two walks and two hits allowed. He went 2-4 with a 3.94 ERA, 4.00 FIP, and 97 strikeouts in 97 MLB innings with the Pirates last year, but the Astros could help unlock even stronger results from the 26-year-old righty this season. He's going at the end of drafts in most formats but is worth considering as a deep-league sleeper with considerable upside. The team has several starting pitching options to consider for the rotation, but they are high on Burrows, who seems to be on his way to earning a spot in the Opening Day rotation. At his extremely low ADP, Burrows is bursting with sleeper potential.

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Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet can be a first-round pick in almost all fantasy baseball formats, and is the No. 10 overall player in RotoBaller's rankings coming into the year. He's the second-highest starting pitcher on the board behind only Tarik Skubal. Crochet put up dazzling numbers last year with a 2.59 ERA, 2.89 FIP, and 1.03 WHIP over 205 1/3 IP in 32 starts. It was his second straight season with 32 starts, and he set a new career-high in innings and strikeouts. He also looked strong in the postseason with an 11-strikeout outing against the Yankees. While pitching his home games at Fenway Park did lead to a few more homers, he continued to limit damage by holding opponents to a .216 batting average and allowing a career-low 37.3% hard-hit rate. Crochet will look to build on that success in 2026 and can serve as the ace of your fantasy staff, just like he will for the Red Sox this year.

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Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Casey Mize finally had a healthy season in 2025, and the No. 1 overall pick from the 2018 MLB Draft has his best season in the majors. He went 14-6 in his 28 starts with a 3.87 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 3.89 FIP, while totaling 139 strikeouts over 149 innings. Mize doesn't pick up enough strikeouts to be an elite starting option, but he should open the season as the Tigers' fifth starter behind Tarik Skubal, Framber Valdez, Jack Flaherty, and Justin Verlander. With a good lineup behind him, he can be a solid source of wins, ERA, and innings if he stays healthy again this season, which will be his last year before becoming a free agent for the first time in his career. He is currently ranked as RotoBaller's No. 104 starting pitcher, but his ADP (average draft position) has him even lower than that, so if you need a late-round depth option to help round out your staff, Mize has a high floor with enough upside to make him a good value consideration, especially if you have high-strikeout, high-risk options elsewhere in your rotation.

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