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Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (back) received cortisone and lidocaine shots in his back last week and was able to play catch on Sunday without issue, per Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. Gilbert reports that Kelly is "optimistic" he will be able to "pitch at the backend" of Arizona's rotation to start the season. The 37-year-old was traded by the Diamondbacks to the Texas Rangers at the 2025 trade deadline, but returned to Arizona in free agency this offseason. Across 184 innings (32 starts) split between the Diamondbacks and Rangers in 2025, Kelly posted a 12-9 record with a 3.52 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 167 strikeouts. It's not a great sign that he's dealing with back issues in spring, particularly given his age. However, it appears as though Kelly could avoid missing time, even if it requires him ramping up to a full workload in his first couple starts of the regular season.

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Throughout his big-league career to this point, Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno has had a difficult time staying on the field. Over the past two seasons, groin and finger injuries have limited the 26-year-old to just 660 plate appearances. However, when healthy, Moreno has proven himself to be a productive player. Across 309 plate appearances in 2025, he hit .285/.353/.433 with nine home runs, 40 RBI, 44 runs scored, and two stolen bases. Moreno owns a career batting average of .281 and a career strikeout rate of 16.9%, so he should remain a batting average asset for fantasy managers, particularly relative to his position. Moreno may never threaten 20 home runs, but he did improve his barrel rate to a career-best 7.1% in 2025. Still, Moreno's inability to stay healthy is a major red flag in his fantasy profile. RotoBaller currently ranks Moreno as the number 16 fantasy catcher heading into 2026.

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New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos posted a breakout season in 2024, slugging 27 home runs in 454 plate appearances and carving out a role in the middle of the Mets lineup. However, the 26-year-old came crashing back down to earth in 2025, slashing .233/.289/.413 with 17 home runs, 61 RBI, 44 runs scored, and one stolen base. Vientos also graded out as one of the worst defensive third basemen in the big leagues, making it more difficult for the Mets to stick with him through his relative struggles at the plate. New York added former Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette in free agency this past winter with the plan to move him to the hot corner, eliminating a pathway to playing time for Vientos. Vientos should be in the mix at designated hitter in New York, but he could find himself in a rotation with infielders Brett Baty and Jorge Polanco. If Vientos can get back to the 14.1% barrel rate he posted in 2024, he could force his way into everyday playing time at DH. However, there are holes in his profile that lead to playing time questions, making him a risky bet for fantasy managers heading into 2026.

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Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Noah Cameron burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2025, recording a 9-7 record with a 2.99 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 114 strikeouts across 138 1/3 innings pitched (24 starts). Cameron's ability to rack up whiffs left something to be desired for fantasy managers, as he posted just a 20.5% strikeout rate. The 26-year-old's underlying metrics also suggest that he could be in line for some regression in 2026, as he significantly outperformed his xERA (4.08) and FIP (4.18) in 2025. At the same time, Cameron logged significantly better strikeout numbers during his time in the minor leagues, recording a 27.8% strikeout rate across 128 2/3 innings split between Double-A and Triple-A in 2024. If Cameron can add some swing-and-miss to his repertoire in 2026, it could help mitigate the regression that may be coming for his ERA and WHIP. As an innings-eater at the back end of a fantasy pitching staff, Cameron has a chance to provide solid value in 2026.

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Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (elbow) has been cleared for "full go" on throwing and is eyeing a return to the big-league mound in either May or June, per Jared Wyllys of CHGO Sports. Steele is making his way back from elbow surgery, which ended his 2025 campaign last April. In 2024, Steele pitched to a 5-5 record with a 3.07 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 135 strikeouts across 134 2/3 innings (24 starts). The 30-year-old left-hander owns a career K-BB rate of 17.1% and posted a WHIP of 1.17 or lower in both 2023 and 2024. Upon his return, Steele should be locked into a spot in the Cubs' rotation, which will provide him a chance to rack up wins. Depending on the league format, fantasy managers will have to gauge how long they are willing to hold Steele through the early portion of the season. Still, Steele should be a quality fantasy starting pitcher once he makes it back to the mound for Chicago.

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Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo (abdomen) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Boston Red Sox. Basallo was forced to make an early exit during Thursday's game due to abdominal discomfort. He received a few days off to rest and is ready to return behind the plate on Sunday. The 21-year-old struggled during his 31 games with the Orioles last season. Despite some early struggles, the Orioles have confidence that Basallo can be their catcher of the future. He'll bat cleanup and start behind the plate against the Red Sox on Sunday.

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Miami Marlins starting pitcher Thomas White (oblique) will see his Spring Training come to an end after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 right oblique strain. White will be sidelined for 3-4 weeks, which means we won't see him again in camp. The 21-year-old is arguably the top prospect in the Marlins' farm system right now. He received an invite to Spring Training, but was always expected to begin the season in the minor leagues. He registered a 2.51 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and a 145/51 K/BB ratio across 21 starts in three different minor league levels last season. White should begin the year in Triple-A, but it wouldn't be shocking to see him in Miami at some point this season.

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Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski will compete for a starting rotation spot during Spring Training. He worked as a starter to begin the 2025 season, but ultimately shifted to the bullpen. Mlodzinski posted a 6.58 ERA, a .330 batting average against and an .858 OPS in six starts in March and April. He was demoted to the minor leagues and returned as an excellent reliever for the Pirates. He registered a 1.89 ERA over 47 2/3 innings in his final 20 appearances. Mlodzinski believes that success as a reliever gave him the confidence that he needed to become a successful starting pitcher. The Pirates do have a spot or two available at the back-end of the rotation, but multiple pitchers are vying for that spot. So far this spring, Mlodzinski has thrown two scoreless innings with three strikeouts.

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Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Jacob Melton (thumb) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Atlanta Braves. Melton was scratched from Thursday's lineup due to left thumb soreness. He received a few days off to rest and is now ready to play again. He's currently competing for a spot in the outfield on the Opening Day roster. Melton was acquired by the Rays earlier in the offseason in a three-team trade with the Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates. The 25-year-old struggled during his 32 big league games last season, but has plus speed and is normally someone who can make consistent contact.

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Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Keston Hiura (hand) was forced to make an early exit from Saturday's Cactus League matchup against the Chicago Cubs. Hiura exited immediately after taking a 97-mph sinker off his hand during the fifth inning of Saturday's contest. The severity of the injury is unknown, but Hiura is likely going to at least miss a few days. The 29-year-old is attempting to make the roster as a bench player, but has an uphill battle ahead of him. Hiura spent most of his time in Triple-A Albuquerque with the Colorado Rockies organization last season. He slashed .272/.369/.507 with 21 home runs and 67 RBI in 100 games. He hasn't seen significant big league action since the 2022 season with the Milwaukee Brewers.

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Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers (hamstring) underwent imaging after being scratched ahead of Saturday's game. The MRI has revealed that Stowers has suffered a minor hamstring strain. This sounds like a good diagnosis as far as hamstring injuries go. The Marlins expect Stowers to miss 1-2 weeks of action. Barring any setbacks, Stowers should be ready to go by the beginning of the regular season. The 28-year-old is coming off a breakout campaign with the Marlins last season. Stowers slashed .288/.386/.544 with 25 home runs and 73 RBI in 117 games. Assuming he's healthy to begin the season, Stowers should offer top-30 fantasy outfielder value.

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New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger (back) is dealing with an injury that could sideline him for a few days. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Bellinger's back went out on him. This is a similar issue to what Bellinger dealt with early last season. The Yankees aren't going to take any risks this early into camp. The plan is to give Bellinger a few days off before getting him back in the lineup as early as Tuesday. Bellinger signed a five-year, $162 million deal with the Yankees over the offseason. He's expected to be a key piece in the middle of the order this season. This sounds like a minor issue that should only sideline Bellinger for a couple of days.

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Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll (wrist) is likely going to be ready for Opening Day. On Saturday, D-Backs manager Torey Lovullo said he wouldn't be surprised if Carroll was back for the season opener. Carroll is currently recovering from a broken hamate bone in his wrist that he suffered earlier this month. It's hard to believe that Carroll would be ready by late March, but the organization has faith in a quick recovery. Carroll slashed .259/.343/.541 with 31 home runs, 84 RBI, and 32 steals in 143 games. Despite the injury, Carroll should still be viewed as a first-rounder in fantasy drafts.

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The Kansas City Royals agreed to an undisclosed deal with free-agent outfielder Starling Marte on Saturday, a source told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The deal is pending a physical. Marte is heading into his 15th season in the big leagues and shouldn't be expected to see regular playing time in Kansas City. At best, he'll serve as an outfield/designated-hitter option off the bench against left-handed pitchers. The 37-year-old two-time All-Star hit a solid .270/.335/.410 with a .745 OPS in 98 games with the New York Mets last year, but it came with only nine home runs, 34 RBI, 37 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in 329 plate appearances. Volume definitely isn't going to be there for Marte, even if he stays healthy. Marte hasn't played in over 100 games since 2022, when he was an All-Star for the second time in his career. Speed has always been Marte's biggest tool for fantasy managers, but he hasn't stolen over 30 bags since 2021.

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San Francisco Giants first baseman Rafael Devers (hamstring) is being withheld from all activity for the next two to four days due to left-hamstring tightness, according to Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News. The Giants scratched Devers from the Cactus League game on Friday, and now they will hold him out for a few more days as a precaution. The 29-year-old left-handed hitter should have time to get ready for Opening Day in late March, but only if he doesn't have any further setbacks once he returns to baseball activities. If he were to land on the injured list for the start of the 2026 regular season, first base prospect Bryce Eldridge would likely start at first base. Devers will have a full season at a very pitcher-friendly ballpark in 2026 in San Fran, but he still has a pretty solid floor as a top-10 fantasy first baseman. The three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger managed 35 homers with Boston and the Giants in 2025.

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Atlanta Braves superstar outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. looked to be in midseason form in Friday's Grapefruit League win over the Boston Red Sox, going 2-for-3 with a grand slam, three runs scored, two stolen bases, a walk, and a strikeout. The grand slam was Acuna's first spring homer, and it came in the third inning off minor-league pitcher Steven Brooks. The 28-year-old has already torn the ACL in his knee twice, but he's still worth the risk in all fantasy baseball drafts in the first round as a top-10 overall player. The Venezuelan outfielder hit .290/.417/.518 with a .935 OPS, 21 home runs, 42 RBI, 74 runs, and nine stolen bases in 95 games played last year. The five-time All-Star and former MVP hit 40 home runs, drove in over 100 runs, and stole 73 bases in 2023, and if he starts to run more again in 2026, he'll be worth every penny if he stays healthy.

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Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller (side) has been battling soreness in his left side in camp, and an MRI exam showed inflammation, according to Shannon Drayer. Miller, who has dealt with this same issue in the past, had a platelet-rich plasma injection and is being shut down for five days. Drayer adds that it's "very precautionary." If it were the regular season, Miller "probably wouldn't have reported the soreness." The 27-year-old reported soreness after his Cactus League outing on Thursday against the Cleveland Guardians. As long as Miller doesn't have any further setbacks with his side, he still has a chance to be ready for Opening Day in late March. Miller went on the injured list two separate times in 2025 due to elbow issues and made a career-low 18 starts, posting a career-worst 5.68 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and 74:34 K:BB in 90 1/3 innings. It's possible that he could eventually need surgery for the bone spur in his right elbow, making Miller a risk/reward late-round consideration in 2026 drafts for rotation depth.

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Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider pitched two innings against the Baltimore Orioles in his 2026 Spring Training debut on Saturday, allowing two hits and an earned run while striking out two and walking none. The 27-year-old averaged just 92.7 mph on his fastball in the first inning, which could be viewed as a bit of a red flag. However, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports that Strider is looking to "pace himself" this spring, and that he's more focused on regaining fastball shape than velocity at this point. Strider was one of the most dominant pitchers in MLB from 2022 to 2023, recording 485 strikeouts across 318 1/3 innings. However, elbow surgery knocked him out for almost all of 2024 and delayed his start to 2025. Upon his return last season, Strider struggled to regain his previous form and pitched to a 4.45 ERA and 1.40 WHIP across 125 1/3 innings (23 starts). At his best, Strider relies heavily on a dominant fastball/slider combination, so his ability to regain velocity over the course of the spring will be something for fantasy managers to monitor closely.

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Entering his age-33 season, San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts is not the player he once was at his peak. However, the veteran was still a useful hitter when healthy in 2025, hitting .263/.328/.391 with 11 home runs, 53 RBI, 63 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases across 552 plate appearances. Bogaerts is also locked into everyday playing time at or near the top of the top-heavy Padres' lineup, which could help him rack up counting stats. However, Bogaerts has not posted a barrel rate north of 7.0% since 2021, so his ability to consistently hit for power and drive in runs is limited. Injuries are also starting to take their toll. Bogaerts has missed at least 25 games in each of the past two seasons while battling shoulder and foot ailments. The durability question marks are particularly damaging for a player of Bogaerts' profile, as his path to fantasy production relies on his ability to be a compiler across the counting categories. Bogaerts checks in as RotoBaller's 26th-ranked shortstop heading into 2026.

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Across 588 plate appearances in 2025, Colorado Rockies outfielder Jordan Beck posted a .258/.317/.416 slash line with 16 home runs, 53 RBI, 62 runs scored, and 19 stolen bases. The 24-year-old recorded a concerningly high 29.2% strikeout rate, particularly considering that his 9.5% barrel rate and 38.4% hard-hit rate indicate that he carries middling power potential. However, playing his home games at Coors Field helped Beck to a .351 batting average on balls in play, which could keep him from being a drain on the batting average category for fantasy managers. As a right-handed hitter, Beck should also be a fixture in the middle of the Colorado lineup on an everyday basis as the team tries to figure out whether he should be one of the building blocks of the next competitive Rockies' team. With another year of MLB experience, Beck could work his way into being a 20-homer, 20-steal outfielder that fantasy managers can plug into their lineup and feel comfortable in, particularly when Colorado has a stretch of consecutive home games.

From RotoBaller