Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski has made the starting rotation out of camp, according to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Manager Don Kelly said that Mlodzinski will open the year in the No. 3 spot, putting him in line to start on Sunday, March 29, against the New York Mets. Mlodzinski split the last three years between the Pirates' bullpen and rotation, ultimately logging a career-high 99 innings of work last year. Across those 99 frames, he posted a respectable 3.33 FIP with 8.09 K/9, 2.45 BB/9, and a 47.5% ground ball rate. If he sticks in the rotation for a while, he could end up commanding some fantasy consideration in deeper leagues.

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Seattle Mariners catcher Mitch Garver has made the Opening Day roster, according to Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports. He won the backup catcher job over Andrew Knizner, who is expected to be designated for assignment. Garver, 35, enters his third season with the Mariners and his 10th in the majors. He slashed .209/.297/.343 with 86 wRC+ at the plate last year, and he hasn't posted positive defensive fWAR since 2021 (2.0). Depending on how the Mariners manage Cal Raleigh's workload, we could see Garver come close to matching his 2025 total of 290 plate appearances. Raleigh played roughly three-quarters of last season behind the dish, with the remaining one-quarter comprising days off or designated hitter appearances.

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The Washington Nationals have acquired infielder Jorbit Vivas from the New York Yankees in exchange for right-handed pitching prospect Sean Paul Linan, according to Andrew Golden of The Baltimore Banner. Vivas logged 66 plate appearances as a rookie last season, slashing just .161/.266/.250 with a 7.6% walk rate, a 19.7% strikeout rate, and 52 wRC+. He showed slight improvement at the plate this spring with 85 wRC+. The 25-year-old finds himself near replacement level on defense, splitting time between second and third base. He was out of options, so this move suggests that the Yankees were looking for a way to recoup any sort of trade compensation, rather than simply designating him for assignment. Headed back to New York is Linan, a 21-year-old who signed with the Dodgers out of Colombia back in 2022. He was sent to Washington in last summer's Alex Call trade. Linan made 19 appearances (15 starts) in the minors last year, posting a 3.22 FIP with 12.34 K/9 and 3.84 BB/9. He impressed in the lower levels of the minors but was roughed up during a brief stint in Triple-A.

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New York Yankees first baseman/catcher Ben Rice was deployed behind the plate for the first time this spring on Sunday, per MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. Rice is expected to be New York's primary first baseman in 2026, but he came through the minors as a catcher and caught 36 games for the Yankees in 2025. With Austin Wells locked in as the team's starter behind the plate and J.C. Escarra on the Opening Day roster as the backup, Rice may not see much time at catcher early in 2026. Still, it's noteworthy that Rice may not be limited to just first base and designated hitter in the minds of the Yankees' decision-makers. With veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt on the roster, Rice may be limited to a big-side platoon role unless the team trusts him to take reps behind the plate against left-handed pitching.

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The San Francisco Giants have granted the release of left-handed pitcher Joey Lucchesi, according to Justice delos Santos of The Mercury News. After the Giants signed Ryan Borucki yesterday, it became clear that Lucchesi would not make the team, so he asked to be released. The southpaw should find an MLB opportunity elsewhere. Not only did he maintain a solid 3.97 FIP over 38.1 innings last year, but he also amassed three innings of work with one earned run, two strikeouts, and zero walks this spring. The 32-year-old will now have a few days to search for a new job before Opening Day arrives on Thursday.

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A first-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Philadelphia Phillies outfield prospect Justin Crawford has made the team's 2026 Opening Day roster and has a chance to emerge as the Phillies' long-term answer in center field. Across 506 plate appearances at Triple-A in 2025, Crawford slashed .334/.411/.452 with seven home runs, 47 RBI, 88 runs scored, and 46 stolen bases. Crawford posted an exceptionally high 59.4% ground ball rate in the minors last year, so he is almost certain to be a negative in the power categories for fantasy managers. However, the 22-year-old has elite speed. If he can turn enough ground balls into hits to stick in the Phillies' everyday lineup, Crawford could easily rack up 30-plus stolen bases as a rookie. His profile comes with some extreme strengths and weaknesses, but Crawford has a clear carrying tool that makes him an intriguing late-round target for fantasy managers.

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After missing the entire 2024 season with a shoulder injury, Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain managed to log 577 plate appearances in 2025. However, the 26-year-old had his struggles at the plate, slashing .220/.300/.343 with 15 home runs, 50 RBI, 73 runs scored, and 18 stolen bases. McLain struck out in 28.9% of his plate appearances while also recording a middling 7.7% barrel rate. Now nearly two years removed from his shoulder troubles, McLain is starting to show signs of a breakout. He has dominated Cactus League action to a .529/.571/1.020 slash line with seven home runs across 56 plate appearances. If McLain can get back to the 10.8% barrel rate he posted as a rookie in 2023, he could emerge as a legitimately high-end power/speed threat relative to his peers at second base. McLain's impressive spring should have him rising up draft boards, and he has the type of high-upside profile that could be worth gambling on for fantasy managers.

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Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Kris Bubic had a breakout start to the 2025 season, posting an 8-7 record with a 2.55 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 116 strikeouts across 116 1/3 innings (20 starts). However, the 28-year-old lefty's season was cut short after he suffered a rotator cuff injury in late July. Bubic is now healthy and has been impressive so far this spring, recording a 0.75 ERA and 14 strikeouts across 12 Cactus League innings. While Bubic's fastball isn't overpowering, he still struck out nearly one batter per inning in 2025 and did a good job limiting the long ball with a 0.46 HR/9. Bubic has never logged more than 130 innings in a season and is coming off a shoulder injury, so fantasy managers may be wise to limit their expectations for his workload. Still, Bubic could be an undervalued source of quality starting pitcher production in the later rounds of drafts heading into 2026.

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New York Mets outfield prospect Carson Benge is reportedly on the verge of being named the team's Opening Day starter in right field after turning heads with his Spring Training production. Across 43 Grapefruit League plate appearances, the 23-year-old has hit .368/.442/.447. Benge may not offer much in the power category, as he has yet to homer this spring and hit just 15 long balls across 519 minor league plate appearances in 2025. However, Benge showed an advanced understanding of the strike zone and some speed in the minors, posting a 13.1% walk rate and a 17.7% strikeout rate while swiping 22 bags in 2025. If the lefty-swinging Benge does indeed make New York's Opening Day roster, he could start the year on the big side of a platoon. Still, Benge's well-balanced profile at the plate makes him an intriguing late-round target for fantasy managers entering 2026.

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Across 151 2/3 innings (29 starts) in 2025, St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Matthew Liberatore recorded an 8-12 record with a 4.21 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 122 strikeouts. While Liberatore's numbers do not jump off the page, the 26-year-old was recently named the Cardinals' 2026 Opening Day starter and appears likely to be entrusted as an innings-eating workhorse this season. Liberatore has also had an impressive Spring Training. Across 15 innings of Grapefruit League action, he's 1.80 ERA and 0.80 WHIP with 19 strikeouts and just two walks. Liberatore owns an 18.9% career strikeout rate, so the 33.9% rate he's posted this spring is sure to regress. Still, if he can boost his strikeout rate from the high teens to the low twenties, Liberatore's profile becomes much more attractive to fantasy managers. In the very late rounds of drafts, Liberatore could be worth taking a flier on heading into 2026.

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New York Yankees starting pitcher Will Warren emerged as a rotation staple in 2025, recording a 9-8 record with a 4.44 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with 171 strikeouts across 162 1/3 innings (33 starts). While the 26-year-old had a few notable blowup outings that impacted his ratios, Warren also led all rookies in strikeouts and proved he could handle a full season's worth of a starter's workload. With Yankees starters Gerrit Cole (elbow) and Carlos Rodon (elbow) both on the Injured List to open 2026, Warren has a rotation spot in New York locked up to start the year. He has also recorded strong numbers so far this spring, pitching to a 1.77 ERA and 0.74 WHIP while allowing just three walks across 20 1/3 Grapefruit League innings. If Warren can do a better job limiting start-ruining damage while maintaining an above-average strikeout rate in his second full MLB season, he could easily outperform his current average draft position of SP95.

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho's 2025 season was marred by injury, as he started the year on the Injured List due to offseason shoulder surgery and then missed 52 games in the middle portion of the season with a hamstring strain. However, the 29-year-old posted a quietly excellent season in the time he was on the field. Across 271 plate appearances, Varsho slashed .238/.284/.548 with 20 home runs, 55 RBI, 43 runs scored, and two stolen bases. Varsho recorded an elite 15.3% barrel rate in 2025 and has backed up his power surge by slugging five home runs in 50 plate appearances so far this spring. Varsho also struck out in 28.4% of his plate appearances in 2025, so his batting average is likely to be a negative in his profile. Still, if Varsho can continue to slug at the rate he did last season and avoid injury, he could easily threaten the 30-homer mark while racking up counting stats in an above-average Toronto lineup.

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Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Cody Ponce has not pitched in an MLB game since 2021. Nevertheless, Toronto signed the 31-year-old right-hander to a three-year, $30 million contract over the winter after Ponce dominated the KBO in 2025. Across 180 2/3 innings (29 starts) for the Hanwha Eagles, Ponce recorded a 17-1 record with a 1.89 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 252 strikeouts. With Blue Jays starters Shane Bieber (forearm), Trey Yesavage (shoulder), and Jose Berrios (elbow) all set to open 2026 on the Injured List, Ponce is locked into a rotation role in Toronto to start the year. He's been effective in a limited sample size this spring, recording a 0.66 ERA and 0.80 WHIP with 12 strikeouts across 13 2/3 innings pitched. Ponce should not be expected to replicate the prodigious strikeout rate he produced in Korea last season. However, he could emerge as a solid innings eater with upside and may be worth targeting in the later rounds of fantasy drafts heading into 2026.

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In recent seasons, Houston Astros relief pitcher Bryan Abreu has established himself as one of the better high-leverage arms in all of baseball. Across 71 innings in 2025, the 28-year-old recorded three wins and seven saves while pitching to a 2.28 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 105 strikeouts. Despite his dominance, Abreu has never worked as a full-time closer in Houston, limiting his fantasy value in traditional rotisserie scoring formats. However, Astros closer Josh Hader (biceps) is set to open 2026 on the Injured List, providing Abreu a chance to work in the ninth inning. Hader is not expected to miss too much time, so Abreu's time in the closer role in Houston could be brief. Still, Abreu profiles as an extremely valuable arm for as long as he's racking up saves. If Hader suffers a setback or struggles upon his return, Abreu could emerge as a high-end fantasy reliever in 2026.

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Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Mick Abel won a spot in his team's starting rotation to open 2026 with an impressive performance in Grapefruit League action. The 24-year-old recorded a 2.00 ERA and 0.83 WHIP with 23 strikeouts across 18 innings pitched. Abel was one of the key pieces the Twins received from the Philadelphia Phillies in last year's trade deadline deal for star reliever Jhoan Duran. However, Abel struggled in a small sample size in 2025, posting a 6.23 ERA and 1.51 WHIP with 39 strikeouts across 39 innings split between Philadelphia and Minnesota. Walks have been a persistent issue for Abel to this point in his career. He recorded a 10.1% walk rate across 98 1/3 minor-league innings in 2025 and never recorded a single-digit walk rate in any of his four minor league seasons. Still, Abel logged an impressive 28.6% strikeout rate in the minors in 2025. If he can keep his walk rate under control, Abel could be an undervalued source of strikeouts for fantasy managers in 2026.

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Veteran relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel has been told he will not be on the New York Mets' Opening Day roster, per Mike Puma of the New York Post. Kimbrel signed a minor league deal with New York over the offseason in hopes of earning a role in the team's bullpen, but it appears he will start the year on the outside looking in. Across six appearances this spring, the 37-year-old recorded a 4.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and five strikeouts. While Kimbrel has extensive experience as a high-leverage reliever, command has become an issue for him in recent seasons. He posted a 14.3% walk rate across a limited 12-inning sample size in 2025 and a 13.4% walk rate across 52 1/3 innings in 2024. Kimbrel's closing experience makes him a candidate to earn some ninth-inning work wherever he lands, but he profiles better in middle relief at this point in his career.

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Utility man Dylan Moore and the Philadelphia Phillies agreed to an undisclosed major-league deal on Saturday, league sources told Will Sammon of The Athletic. Moore triggered the opt-out clause in his previous contract earlier this week, but he's now back with the organization and is expected to be on the team's Opening Day roster. The 33-year-old veteran recently fouled a ball off his foot during spring training, but it wasn't serious, and he should be fine for Opening Day on Thursday. The former seventh-round pick by the Texas Rangers in 2015 out of Central Florida will mostly be a bat off the bench for the Phillies in 2026, limiting his fantasy appeal to deeper leagues for his speed primarily. Moore struggled with a .201/.267/.374 slash line, .642 OPS, 11 home runs, 25 RBI, and 14 steals in 2025 with the Mariners and Rangers, but he did have a career-high 32 stolen bases in 2024 and is worth a bench stash in NL-only leagues for his speed on the basepaths.

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Free-agent left-hander Ryan Borucki and the San Francisco Giants agreed to an undisclosed one-year major-league deal on Saturday, sources told Robert Murray of FanSided. Borucki drew strong interest around the league over the winter and eventually signed with the Chicago White Sox before opting out after not being added to the Opening Day roster. The 31-year-old veteran threw six scoreless innings in the Cactus League with the White Sox with eight strikeouts and one walk in six appearances before he opted out of his deal with Chicago. The veteran southpaw will give the Giants another lefty in their bullpen. He has eight years of big-league experience and a 4.28 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 19.7% strikeout rate, and 8.9% walk rate in 187 appearances (21 starts) in his career with the Toronto Blue Jays, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Seattle Mariners. Borucki had a 4.63 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 35 innings with Pittsburgh and Toronto a season ago.

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New York Mets outfielder Mike Tauchman (knee) is dealing with a meniscus tear in his left knee and will require surgery, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. Tauchman will begin the 2026 season on the injured list and, at the very least, will miss the first month of the year. If the 35-year-old veteran needs a full trim of his meniscus, it will be a much longer absence for the veteran outfielder. It's a tough way for Tauchman to begin his tenure in New York after he was hitting well in spring training, going 7-for-29 (.241) with a homer, three doubles, six RBI, and five runs scored in 13 Grapefruit League games. Tauchman was likely ticketed for a platoon role, at best, in right field with the Mets to begin the season if he wasn't injured. His injury should open up more consistent playing time for outfield prospect Carson Benge. Tauchman has double-digit home runs in just one of his eight major-league seasons, and it came all the way back in 2019 with the Yankees.

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Houston Astros manager Joe Espada hasn't ruled out shortstop Jeremy Pena (finger) from being ready for Opening Day next week, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Pena will hit again on Sunday in camp as he tries to get himself ready for Thursday's game against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels. The 28-year-old suffered a fracture in the tip of his right ring finger while playing in an exhibition game for Team Dominican Republic in the lead-up to the World Baseball Classic. Pena was cleared to swing a bat with both hands on Friday, though. The next step will be for Pena to face live pitching, and it's unclear if there is enough time for the team to clear him to play on Opening Day. If Pena isn't ready for Thursday, it shouldn't be long before he's cleared to return to his duties as Houston's starting shortstop. Despite the injury, Pena is still in play as a low-end starting fantasy shortstop. He was a first-time All-Star in 2025, slashing .304/.363/.477 with an .840 OPS, 17 homers, 62 RBI, and 20 steals in 125 games played.

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