Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami is slated to have a starring role to begin his debut season in the major leagues and could emerge as one of the game's top power hitters. Murakami has spent his entire professional career overseeing in the NPB and consistently flashed elite power. He enjoyed his best season back in 2022 when he launched an eye-catching 56 home runs. Since 2023, Murakami has hit at least 30 home runs in two seasons and was on pace to meet that mark once again in 2025, but he only appeared in 56 games. However, in this short stint, Murakami hit 22 long balls while holding a .273 AVG. The lone knock on his profile is his high strikeout rate that has sat above 28.0% in each of his last three seasons. In spring training, Murakami held a .276/.323/.448 line with a home run, but struck out at a 25.8% rate. While his value could drop in points leagues that punish high strikeout hitters, he does draw walks at an impressive rate, which can offset his strikeout totals. Given that he is slated to see an everyday role in the Chicago starting lineup, the rookie slugger possesses 30-HR upside if he can make a quick adjustment ot major-league pitching. He is worth starting in all 12+ team leagues in the opening week of the season.

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Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto was an intriguing mid-to-later-round corner infielder in drafts and could emerge as a start-up option early in the season. Okamoto is slated to have an everyday role at the hot corner in Toronto, joining one of the game's most potent lineups. Okamoto has spent his entire professional career with the NPB. He battled injuries during the 2025 season but was productive when on the field, posting a .327/.416/.598 line with 15 home runs over a short 69-game stint. The previous season (143 games), the 29-year-old held a .280/.362/.501 line with 27 home runs. He has more than held his own in spring training, posting an impressive .316/.435/.632 line with three doubles, one home run, and a 4:3 K:BB. Given his projected playing time and previous career success, Okamoto has the potential to emerge as a must-start third baseman in all leagues early in the season. He is worth starting in Week 1 as a high-end corner infiedler but could see his ceiling rise quickly.

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New York Mets right-handed pitching prospect Nolan McLean enjoyed a strong showing in his first taste of MLB action last summer and is well-positioned to take the next step in his first full season. McLean opened the 2025 campaign with Double-A, but needed only 26 1/3 innings before earning the call to Triple-A Syracuse. With Double-A, McLean struck out 30 hitters while holding a 1.37 ERA. At Triple-A, McLean continued to find success, striking out 97 hitters over 87 1/3 innings while posting a 2.78 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. This dominant play earned him a late-season ticket to Queens, where he carried this momentum, logging 48 innings to the tune of a 2.067 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. He struck out 57 hitters and allowed walks at an 8.5% rate. McLean is slated to remain in the starting rotation in 2026 and is set up well to emerge as one of the game's top emerging starting pitchers, given the consistent success across all levels he enjoyed in 2025.

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Minnesota Twins top infield prospect Kaelen Culpepper is set to begin the 2026 regular season with Triple-A St. Paul. Culpepper will open the campaign just one step away from the major leagues, which will set him up for an early 2026 debut. Culpepper joined the Twins as the 21st overall selection in the 2024 Draft out of Kansas State. Last summer, Culpepper split his time between High-A and Double-A. At High-A, the infielder carried a .293/.385/.479 line with nine home runs and 15 stolen bases. At Double-A, the 23-year-old took a slight step down, carrying a .285/.267/.460 slash line with 11 home runs and 10 stolen bases. If Culpepper continues this trajectory with St. Paul, he should join Minnesota before the All-Star break. He is worth monitoring in deeper formats for now and could emerge as an early-season top stash candidate.

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The Los Angeles Angels placed right-handed reliever Kirby Yates (knee) on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with left-knee inflammation, retroactive to March 22, according to the team. In addition to Yates, the Angels also placed right-handed reliever Ben Joyce (shoulder) on the 15-day IL and right-hander Robert Stephenson (elbow) on the 60-day IL, leaving the back end of their bullpen very thin for the start of the 2026 regular season on Thursday against the division-rival Houston Astros. The Angels are hoping that Yates will be able to return when eligible on April 6, but in the meantime, expect the Halos to mix and match in the ninth inning with Jordan Romano and Drew Pomeranz. It's probably a situation to avoid for fantasy managers, unless you're desperate for saves in deeper leagues. When Yates returns, he could be the team's preferred saves option until Joyce can make his 2026 season debut. Romano might be the slight favorite over Pomeranz, with 133 career saves, and the fact that he looked much sharper in spring training.

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MLB.com reports that Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Zac Veen (knee) is day-to-day with a right-knee contusion that he injured while sliding to make a catch in the outfield during a spring training game on March 9. Veen hasn't played since, putting his status in question for Opening Day on Thursday. Before his injury, the 24-year-old former ninth overall pick in 2020 was hitting .250 (5-for-20) with two home runs, four RBI, and two runs scored in 11 Cactus League games this spring. He looked overmatched in his first taste of the big leagues in 2025, going 4-for-34 (.118) at the plate with a homer, two RBI, one steal, two walks, and 14 strikeouts in just 12 games played. Veen hasn't lived up to expectations in the minors the last two years, either, although he transformed his body in the offseason and is jacked. It remains to be seen if it will solve his strikeout issues. We'd expect Veen to start the year either on the injured list or at Triple-A Albuquerque. For now, he's a stash in dynasty/keeper formats, but we should see him back in Denver sooner than later in 2026.

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The Los Angeles Angels have placed starting pitcher Alek Manoah (finger) on the 15-day injured list due to a fingernail issue, per Jack Janes of The Sporting Tribune. Had he been healthy, Manoah may have broken camp as a member of the Angels' Opening Day starting rotation, particularly with fellow Angels starter Grayson Rodriguez (arm) also opening the year on the injured list. The 28-year-old Manoah is attempting to resurrect his career in Los Angeles after being waived by the Toronto Blue Jays last September. Manoah finished third in the American League Cy Young vote while pitching for Toronto in 2022, but has battled injuries and ineffectiveness ever since. He opened the 2025 season rehabbing an elbow injury and never made it to the big leagues, finishing the year with a 3.96 ERA and 1.53 WHIP across 38 2/3 minor league innings (10 starts). Manoah struggled mightily in Cactus League action for the Angels before getting injured, allowing 14 walks and five home runs across 15 1/3 innings pitched. Manoah will need to show a sustained run of both health and production before he's worthy of fantasy consideration in the majority of league formats.

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Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo (finger) will open 2026 on the injured list due to a blister on his left index finger, per Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Lodolo enjoyed a breakout season in 2025, posting a 9-8 record with a 3.33 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 156 strikeouts across 156 2/3 innings (28 starts). However, the 28-year-old has battled injuries throughout his career and is no stranger to finger ailments specifically, which caused him to miss time in both 2024 and 2025. Without Lodolo and star right-hander Hunter Greene (elbow) to open the year, the Reds will likely be relying on starting pitchers Rhett Lowder and Brandon Williamson at the back end of their rotation. Lodolo's current ailment may not ultimately cause him to miss much time, but his continued issues with blisters are a red flag for fantasy managers to be aware of.

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ESPN's Jeff Passan reports that the Chicago Cubs extension agreement with outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is worth $115 million over six years and will start in 2027. Passan also notes that the deal does not include a club option, allowing Crow-Armstrong to hit free agency ahead of his age-31 season in 2033. The 24-year-old enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2025, hitting .247/.287/.481 with 31 home runs, 95 RBI, 91 runs scored, and 35 stolen bases across 647 plate appearances. Crow-Armstrong's profile is not without flaws, as he walked at just a 4.9% rate in 2025 and owns a .591 OPS across 284 career plate appearances against left-handed pitching. Still, Crow-Armstrong's elite center field defense guarantees him playing time, and his combination of power and speed provides him plenty of fantasy upside. The Cubs' financial commitment to Crow-Armstrong should only strengthen his already stellar dynasty outlook.

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The Los Angeles Angels have placed second baseman Vaughn Grissom (hand) on the 10-day Injured List to open 2026, per Jack Janes of The Sporting Tribune. Janes reports that Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said Grissom is "progressing well" from the hand injury he suffered in a Cactus League game in mid-March. Grissom spent all of the 2025 season in the minor leagues, hitting .270/.342/.441 with 13 home runs, 48 RBI, 69 runs scored, and nine stolen bases across 418 Triple-A plate appearances as a member of the Boston Red Sox organization. If healthy, Grissom might have had a chance to challenge veteran journeyman Adam Frazier for the starting second base job with the Halos. Upon his return, Grissom will likely be battling Frazier and utility infielder Oswald Peraza for a spot on the Angels' active roster. However, Grissom should remain off the radar of fantasy managers for the time being.

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Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said the team will mix-and-match platoon partners this season for left-handed hitting infielder Marcelo Mayer, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive. While Mayer will serve as the team's primary second baseman to start the year, it appears as though veteran infielders Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Andruw Monasterio will both be used in place of Mayer when Boston faces a left-handed starting pitcher. The 23-year-old Mayer made his MLB debut in 2025, slashing .228/.272/.402 with four home runs, 10 RBI, and 20 runs scored across 136 plate appearances. However, he had just four hits in 26 at-bats against southpaws in the majors and posted a .638 OPS against left-handed pitching during his time at Triple-A. From a fantasy perspective, Mayer losing playing time against lefties will hurt his ability to rack up counting stats. Still, avoiding his weakness against same-handed pitchers could improve his batting average and lead to a better overall line in his time in the lineup.

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San Francisco Giants outfielder Harrison Bader (hamstring) is back in center field and will bat in the two-hole for Tuesday's exhibition game against the Sultanes de Monterrey, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. It's the first time that Bader will play in a game this spring since last Friday due to left-hamstring tightness. Barring a setback on Tuesday, the veteran outfielder will be ready to go for Opening night on Wednesday against the visiting New York Yankees. The 31-year-old had a career-best .796 OPS, a .277/.347/.499 slash line, 17 home runs, 54 RBI, 61 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases in 501 plate appearances over 146 games with the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies in 2025. But beneath the hood, he had poor exit velocities and hard-hit rates, leading to a .223 expected batting average and a .364 expected slugging percentage. Fantasy managers deploying Bader as outfield depth in 2026 should expect some regression, especially at hitter-friendly Oracle Park.

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With Luis Garcia Jr. moving to first base full-time in 2026, Washington Nationals infielder Nasim Nunez is locked in as the team's starting second baseman to begin the year, according to MLB.com's Jessica Camerato and Paige Leckie. Nunez is a former Rule 5 draft pick who has never seen consistent playing time. The 25-year-old former second-round pick by the Miami Marlins in 2019 is a switch-hitter who has played in 90 games the last two years in D.C., slashing .238/.329/.343 with a .672 OPS, four home runs, 14 RBI, 27 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases in 170 total plate appearances. In 89 innings played at the keystone in 2025, Nunez didn't commit a single error, and he even made seven starts at second and six at shortstop during spring training. He may not be an upgrade over Garcia offensively at second base, but he certainly will be with his glove. If anything, Nunez could be an asset in NL-only fantasy leagues as a depth middle infielder for his speed.

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Colorado Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer confirmed on Tuesday that the team optioned right-handed reliever Seth Halvorsen to Triple-A Albuquerque, according to Kevin Henry of The Denver Gazette. The move means that right-hander Victor Vodnik will most likely open the 2026 season as the favorite for saves in the Rockies' bullpen. Halvorsen led Colorado in 2025 with a career-high 11 saves in just his second major-league season, but he also had an ugly 4.99 ERA (5.20 FIP) and 1.56 WHIP with 36 strikeouts and 21 walks in 39 2/3 relief appearances. Things snowballed for him in spring training, as he allowed 12 earned runs on eight hits (one homer) while walking 12 and striking out only four in five innings pitched in Cactus League action. Halvorsen will surely get another shot at high-leverage work in Denver at some point in 2026, but for now, fantasy managers in single-year leagues can avoid him. In fact, steering clear of the Rockies' bullpen in fantasy leagues is a good strategy in general.

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MLB.com reports that New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (hand), who is recovering from a stress reaction in his left hamate bone, is likely to be ready for Opening Day on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Lindor made his Grapefruit League debut in spring training on March 15, which was 4 1/2 weeks after he had hand surgery on Feb. 11, and he's scheduled to play in each of the team's last two spring training games. Fantasy managers should be stoked that Lindor is on track for Opening Day, but he'll be greeted with a very difficult matchup in Game 1 on Thursday against reigning National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes. Coming off a hand injury against one of the most dominant pitchers in the game will have fantasy managers in DFS avoiding the five-time All-Star if he's in the starting lineup, as expected. Overall, Lindor is one of the best shortstops in the game on one of the best teams in baseball. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 4 shortstop, behind only Bobby Witt Jr., Gunnar Henderson, and Elly De La Cruz.

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The Miami Marlins, who are dealing with a rash of injuries to their outfielders, are signing free-agent outfielder Austin Slater to an undisclosed one-year big-league deal on Tuesday, according to Craig Mish of Sports Grid. Slater became a free agent last week after opting out of his deal with the Detroit Tigers. The 33-year-old veteran will give the Fish plenty of experience, a trusted glove in the outfield for late in games, and a solid bat against left-handed pitchers. He spent the 2025 season (his ninth in the big leagues) with the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees, hitting just .216/.270/.372 with a .642 OPS, five home runs, 13 RBI, and 22 runs scored in 65 games played. Kyle Stowers (hamstring) and Esteury Ruiz (oblique) won't be ready for Opening Day, perhaps giving Slater an opening to serve on the short side of a platoon in Miami early on. Slater has a .787 OPS with 30 of his 45 career home runs against southpaws in over 1,000 plate appearances.

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New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) threw 17 of his 26 pitches for strikes in 1 2/3 innings on Tuesday in his second outing of spring training, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. Cole threw a scoreless frame in his spring debut last week against the Boston Red Sox as he makes his way back from Tommy John surgery with an internal brace that he had last March. The 35-year-old veteran and former American League Cy Young winner will not be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season this week, but the Yankees are hoping he can make his return by late May. He only threw 10 pitches in his first outing, but he managed to top out at 98.7 mph on the radar gun, signaling that things are going pretty well in his rehab. Cole can be a difference-maker for fantasy pitching staffs when healthy, but he'll be a much riskier commodity in 2026 after missing all of last year. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 65 fantasy starting pitcher.

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Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger) played light catch in camp on Tuesday for "maybe 15-20 throws," according to Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer. Lodolo said he doesn't know what the plan will be going into Opening Day on Thursday, and that the team is "working on it." He said the blister issue on his finger was OK, but didn't "sound particularly enthused." Beginning the 2026 regular season on the injured list is still in play for Lodolo as he recovers from a blister on his left index finger that forced him from his Cactus League outing on Sunday. If the 28-year-old does start in the IL, he will hopefully only miss a short amount of time to begin the year. If Lodolo begins the year in Cincy's Opening Day starting rotation, his first start of the year will be a risky one for fantasy managers this Saturday against the Boston Red Sox. With high-end strikeout upside, the former TCU standout is a must-roster pitcher in all fantasy formats in 2026.

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Colorado Rockies outfielder/first baseman Tyler Freeman (back) will start the 2026 regular season on the 10-day injured list due to lower-back inflammation, according to Kevin Henry of The Denver Gazette. Freeman dealt with back issues this spring, and the setback he had last week means he won't be ready for Opening Day this week. The 26-year-old's back injury isn't considered very serious, though, so the hope is that he has a minimal stay on the IL and makes his season debut early in April. Freeman, a former second-round pick in 2017 by the Cleveland Guardians, played in 110 games in his first year in Denver in 2025 and hit an impressive .281 (106-for-377) with two homers, 31 RBI, 50 runs, and 18 stolen bases in 428 plate appearances. He's a contact over power-oriented hitter, limiting his fantasy appeal to mostly NL-only leagues as a utility man in Colorado once he's healthy. In addition to having limited power, Freeman probably won't be of much help away from hitter-friendly Coors Field, either.

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The Detroit Tigers optioned infield prospect Jace Jung to Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday, according to the Detroit Free Press' Evan Petzold. For now, Jung will operate as third base depth for the Tigers in the minors. The 25-year-old former 12th overall pick in 2022 out of Texas Tech has played in 55 total big-league games with the Tigers in the last two years and has hit just .190 (24-for-126) with no homers, six RBI, 22 runs, no steals, 22 walks, and 45 strikeouts in 149 plate appearances. He looked pretty bad at the plate in his first stint with Detroit in 2025 before finishing in a better spot with the lumber. Issues making contact at the plate have been a big concern for Jung, the younger brother of Rangers third baseman Josh Jung. He will need to make some notable improvements with the Mud Hens at Triple-A before getting a shot in the majors again in 2026. Jung is a hold in dynasty/keeper leagues right now, with many managers likely considering selling low on him.

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