Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers (hamstring) has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring strain and will open the 2026 regular season on the injured list, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. Stowers had left Friday's game early with hamstring tightness, and he's now expected to miss 3-4 weeks. That's a crushing blow for the Marlins, given that Stowers was projected to be their No. 3 hitter and everyday left fielder. He was spectacular at the plate last season, slashing .288/.368/.544 with 25 home runs, 73 RBI, and 149 wRC+. Injuries have been the biggest obstacle in his career so far, and now, he's going to be sidelined for Opening Day in 2026. Griffin Conine, Javier Sanoja, and Heriberto Hernandez will likely platoon in left field until Stowers is able to return in mid-to-late April.

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The Philadelphia Phillies have signed relief pitcher Tim Mayza to a one-year deal, according to Jeff Skversky of FOX29. Mayza had already been in camp with the Phillies, but he had asked to be released from his minor league contract. Ultimately, the Phillies wanted Mayza on their Opening Day roster, so they brought him back on a major league contract. It's a rewarding outcome for the veteran reliever after he posted a 3.75 xFIP with 10 strikeouts and two walks across 8.1 innings of work in spring training. He offers the Phillies' bullpen a reliable veteran left-handed presence. Philadelphia's bullpen is projected to open the year with four lefties and four righties.

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Atlanta Braves right-handed pitching prospect Didier Fuentes has made the Opening Day roster as a reliever, but Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports that the 20-year-old will eventually return to the minors to be stretched out. According to Bowman, the Braves want Fuentes "to spend the first couple weeks as a long reliever for Atlanta and then go to Triple-A Gwinnett to work as a starter." That's some deflating news for Braves fans and fantasy managers, as Fuentes is an appealing prospect who delivered nine scoreless innings this spring. The former international free agent out of Colombia has made just one professional relief appearance in the minors since 2023, so it's somewhat perplexing that the Braves are going to temporarily convert him to a reliever, just to send him back to Triple-A and stretch him out. Regardless, this news delays any potential fantasy breakout for Fuentes. Fantasy managers will have to exercise a little more patience.

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Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Matt Bowman has opted out of his minor league contract following a scoreless spring training, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post. Bowman didn't pitch in the majors from 2020 through 2022, but he came back in 2023 and has made big-league appearances every year since then. He had been particularly effective this spring, allowing zero runs over 5.1 innings of relief work with two walks, six strikeouts, and a 50% ground ball rate. He also maintained a 0.00 ERA while pitching for Israel in the World Baseball Classic. Presumably, Bowman was told he didn't make the Twins' Opening Day roster, so he's hitting the open market in hopes of finding a better opportunity elsewhere.

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San Diego Padres starting pitcher Walker Buehler has officially made the Opening Day roster, manager Craig Stammen confirmed to radio host Sammy Levitt. This doesn't come as much of a surprise, as Buehler had put together an impressive spring training. Through three starts (11.2 innings) in the Cactus League, he maintained a 2.98 FIP with 10.03 K/9, 3.09 BB/9, and a 42.9% ground ball rate. Presumably, he'll end up in the No. 5 starter role, putting him in line to make his Padres regular-season debut on Tuesday, March 31, against the San Francisco Giants. Buehler was roughed up to the tune of a 5.45 ERA across 23 outings in Boston last year, but he latched on with the Phillies near the end of the season and enjoyed much better results. Across 13.2 innings with Philadelphia, he posted a 0.66 ERA with eight strikeouts and six walks.

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Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias had good things to say when asked about his confidence in corner infielder Coby Mayo, according to Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun. "We're very fortunate to have Coby Mayo right behind Jordan Westburg. He's a promising young player. He's got a great opportunity ahead of him, and I think he's ready," Elias said. Not only is regular third baseman Jordan Westburg (elbow) expected to be out until some point in May, but Mayo has been raking in spring training. The 24-year-old came into Saturday's Grapefruit League action hitting .412 (14-for-34) with two home runs, three doubles, 12 RBI, three runs scored, and a stolen base in 37 plate appearances. The former top prospect will enter his third year in the majors as Baltimore's starting third baseman, giving him a huge opportunity to turn things around after hitting .201/.285/.349 with a weak .634 OPS, 11 home runs, 28 RBI, 34 runs scored, and a 106:31 K:BB in 102 games in his first two major-league seasons. Mayo's fantasy stock in both single-year and dynasty/keeper leagues is on the rise given Westburg's injury situation.

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Detroit Tigers outfield prospect Max Clark will begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Toledo, according to Nicholas Kohloff of Woodward Sports. This should come as no surprise to anyone after Clark struggled in big-league spring training this year with a .111 average (2-for-18) with an RBI, two walks, five strikeouts, and multiple miscues on defense in 10 Grapefruit League games. The 21-year-old former third overall pick in 2023 has yet to play above Double-A in the minors, so the Tigers would like to get him some more seasoning and see if he can't mature some more before he makes his major-league debut under the bright lights. With High-A West Michigan and Double-A Erie last year, Clark hit .271/.403/.432 with an .835 OPS, 14 home runs, 67 RBI, 85 runs scored, and 19 stolen bases in 111 total games. Per MLB Pipeline, he's the Tigers' No. 2 prospect and the 10th overall prospect in the sport. Clark lacks elite power upside, but all his other tools are top notch. If he continues to play well in the minors in 2026, we could see him in the big leagues in the second half of the upcoming season.

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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan has been informed that he made the Opening Day rotation, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. This does not come as much of a surprise, as Sheehan started 12 of his 15 appearances last season and also made two starts this spring. He was highly effective over his 15 outings last year, posting a 2.93 FIP with 10.92 K/9 and 2.70 BB/9. Ardaya notes that Sheehan's exact spot in the rotation hasn't been confirmed, but we would project him in the No. 4 role ahead of Roki Sasaki. If so, that role would be temporary, as he'd presumably fall back a slot when Blake Snell (shoulder) returns to action. We wouldn't be surprised to see the Dodgers roll out a six-man rotation once that happens.

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Chicago Cubs outfielder Michael Conforto has been informed that he will make the Opening Day roster. The Cubs will need to add Conforto to the 40-man roster after signing him to a minor-league deal this offseason. The veteran outfielder slashed .241/.290/.345 with one RBI in 11 games this spring. He hasn't been lighting it up with his bat, but the Cubs could use an extra outfielder with Seiya Suzuki (knee) expected to be placed on the injured list. He'll likely platoon with Mike Shaw in right field until Suzuki is ready to play. Conforto is coming off an ugly season with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025. There's little reason to believe he'll be a reliable contributor after slashing .199/.305/.333 in 138 games last season.

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Baltimore Orioles third baseman Jordan Westburg (elbow) has already been ruled out for Opening Day and is looking at an extended absence. O's general manager Mike Elias told reporters on Saturday that he expects Westburg to be sidelined into May. Westburg is currently working his way back from a partially torn UCL in his elbow. It sounds like Westburg is progressing well right now, but still has a long road ahead of him. His absence figures to mean increased playing time for Coby Mayo at the hot corner. Also, Blaze Alexander and Jeremiah Jackson could see more at-bats while Westburg is sidelined. Fantasy managers holding Westburg on their IL might be waiting until sometime in May to get anything out of him.

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Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (knee) won't be ready to play in time for Opening Day. Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed the news on Saturday that shouldn't really shock anyone. Suzuki is currently recovering from a PCL sprain in his right knee that he suffered during the World Baseball Classic. The Cubs have until Wednesday to decide if they want to place Suzuki on the 15-day injured list or carry him on the bench to begin the season. The expectation is that Matt Shaw and Michael Conforto will split up the time in right field until Suzuki is ready to play. Once healthy, Suzuki should be a solid fantasy contributor after blasting a career-high 32 home runs with the Cubs last season. Fantasy managers should check back in a few days for another update on Suzuki.

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Seattle Mariners infielder Colt Emerson has been reassigned to minor league camp on Saturday. It's not a huge surprise that Emerson won't make the Opening Day roster. The 20-year-old didn't have a great shot with Cole Young playing extremely well right now. Across 18 games, Emerson slashed .268/.340/.488 with two home runs and eight RBI during his time in Spring Training. The Mariners feel that the former first-round pick still needs some time to develop in the minor leagues. He earned a promotion to Triple-A Tacoma last season, so he figures to begin the year there. It wouldn't be shocking to see Emerson playing in Seattle at some point during the 2026 season.

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New York Mets outfielder Mike Tauchman (knee) was forced to make an early exit from Saturday's Spring Training contest against the Houston Astros. Tauchman exited the contest due to a left knee injury and will undergo an MRI, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. He joined the Mets as a non-roster invitee and had a good chance at securing a spot on the 26-man roster. Now, it's unclear if Tauchman will even be available for Opening Day. If he misses time, Carson Benge would likely open the season on the big league roster. Tauchman slashed .263/.356/.400 with nine home runs and 40 RBI in 93 games with the Chicago White Sox last season. The 35-year-old could be a platoon option for the Mets, but isn't someone worth rostering in basically any fantasy formats.

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Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres (back) "will be good to go" for Monday's Grapefruit League contest against the Colorado Rockies, according to Rogelio Castillo of Tigers ML Report. Torres had been scratched from the Tigers' lineup on Saturday due to lower back tightness, but it sounds like the injury isn't serious and won't require him to miss any additional time. All in all, this bodes well for Torres' availability on Opening Day against the San Diego Padres. He has been a productive hitter for the entirety of his MLB career, including 2025, when he slashed .256/.358/.387 with 16 homers, a 13.5% walk rate, a 16.1% strikeout rate, and 113 wRC+. In addition to being the Tigers' starting second baseman, Torres projects as the club's No. 2 hitter this year.

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Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Keegan Akin (thigh) injured his adductor while warming up in the bullpen during Saturday's Grapefruit League contest against the Philadelphia Phillies, according to Jake Rill of MLB.com. Manager Craig Albernaz said that he doesn't know the severity of the injury, and the team wanted to be cautious. At this point, it's unclear whether the injury will threaten his spot on the Orioles' 26-man roster to open the season. The left-hander is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he posted a 3.41 ERA across 64 appearances. Compared to his 4.94 FIP, the ERA indicates that Akin may have been somewhat lucky. He'll presumably work to improve his results on the mound after surrendering 4.69 BB/9 and 1.42 HR/9 last year.

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Washington Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli concluded a terrific stretch of spring training games on Saturday. Cavalli tossed five shutout innings with three hits, zero walks, and one strikeout against the New York Mets. His final Grapefruit League stat line includes four starts, 14 innings, one run, zero earned runs, four hits, two hit batters, one walk, and nine strikeouts. Outside of the low strikeout rate, it was a phenomenal spring for Cavalli, who will start for the Nats on Opening Day after MacKenzie Gore was traded away. In his first real taste of MLB action last year, Cavalli made 10 starts with a 3.93 xFIP, 7.44 K/9, 2.77 BB/9, and a 54.8% ground ball rate. He ranks #77 among starting pitchers in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.

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Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Burrows (calf) exited Saturday's Grapefruit League contest after a ground ball deflected off his lower left leg. Burrows told Chandler Rome of The Athletic that the ball hit his left calf, and he will be fine. It sounds like Burrows exited the game as a precaution, and the decision was made easier by the fact that he had already thrown 77 pitches. The right-hander remains in line to break camp as a key piece of the Astros' starting rotation. He is currently projected as the club's No. 4 starter, putting him on track to make his season debut Sunday, March 29, against the Los Angeles Angels. Burrows is coming off a solid 2025 campaign in which he went 2-4 with a 3.86 xFIP, 9.09 K/9, and 2.91 BB/9 across 23 outings (19 starts).

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Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (back) will open the season on the 15-day injured list, manager Torey Lovullo told Alex D'Agostino of Diamondbacks on SI. The move was widely expected, but now confirmed by the Snakes' skipper as he announced the team's Opening Day rotation. Kelly entered camp as the Diamondbacks' projected No. 1 starter before dealing with the back issue. Now, he'll open the year on the IL. Lovullo didn't offer a timetable for his return, but the starter could pitch in a game as soon as April 7, if the team chooses to backdate his IL placement. Missing only 12 days would be a decent outcome for Kelly, who is looking to build on an impressive 2025 campaign that included a 3.76 FIP, 8.17 K/9, and 2.35 BB/9.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates have assigned top infield prospect Konnor Griffin to minor league camp earlier on Saturday. The top prospect in the sport was in serious consideration to crack the Opening Day roster but will instead begin his 2026 campaign in the minor leagues. Even though he has yet to take a Triple-A at-bat, Griffin held his own in camp and was nearly named the team's Opening Day shortstop. Across 16 spring training games, the former first-round pick held a modest .173 AVG but hit four long balls with one stolen base. Last summer, Griffin made his professional debut and held an elite .333/.415/.527 line with 21 home runs and an eye-catching 65 stolen bases across 122 contests split between Low-A, High-A, and Double-A. Fantasy managers should expect Griffin to potentially begin the regular season with Triple-A and may only need a brief taste before reaching the Steel City. He is a top stash candidate in all formats ahead of Opening Day.

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Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Braxton Ashcraft put up quality numbers across 26 games (eight starts) in his first taste of the big leagues in 2025, posting a 4-4 record with a 2.71 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 71 strikeouts across 69 2/3 innings. The 26-year-old appears to be locked into a full-time rotation role heading into 2026, and he could be on the verge of a breakout campaign. Across 13 1/3 innings this spring, Ashcraft has recorded 16 strikeouts while allowing just one walk. He also did a nice job limiting hard contact in his MLB appearances in 2025, allowing just a 38.5% hard-hit rate and posting a 0.39 HR/9. For fantasy managers searching the late rounds of drafts for starting pitchers with upside, Ashcraft could be a name to target.

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