Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly's (back) live batting practice session in camp on Saturday was scratched due to mid-back tightness, and he will undergo testing in the next 24 hours, manager Torey Lovullo told Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. It's an ominous sign for a 37-year-old veteran, but we'll know more about the severity of his injury soon. Kelly began the 2025 campaign in Arizona before being traded to the Texas Rangers to close out the season. He was better with the D-backs in 22 starts, posting a 3.22 ERA (3.58 FIP) and 1.06 WHIP with 121 K's and 38 walks in 128 2/3 innings. In Texas, he had a 4.23 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 46:10 K:BB in 10 starts. Kelly knows how to command the baseball, but he lacks a ton of fantasy upside because of his lack of strikeout upside, and home runs have also been an issue. Depending on the severity of his back injury, he could fall off the radar in mixed fantasy leagues entirely entering the 2026 regular season.

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The Minnesota Twins announced that right-hander Joe Ryan (back) was scratched from his start in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Boston Red Sox due to lower-back tightness on his right side, according to Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic. We'll have a better idea of the severity of Ryan's back injury in a day or two, but hopefully it's nothing serious enough to put him on the injured list to start the 2026 season, especially after the Twins already lost ace Pablo Lopez (elbow) for the season due to Tommy John surgery. The 29-year-old finally stayed healthy through the 2025 season and made 30 starts, going 13-10 with a career-best 3.42 ERA (3.74 FIP), 1.03 WHIP, and a 194:39 K:BB in a career-high 171 innings pitched. Despite not lighting up the radar gun, Ryan induces plenty of whiffs and has excellent control. As long as his back injury doesn't jeopardize the start of his 2026 season, Ryan should be viewed as a top-20 fantasy starting pitcher.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers claimed outfielder Jack Suwinski off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, a source told Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Suwinski could be back on waivers before the start of the 2026 regular season, as he's out of minor-league options and is likely to face an uphill battle to make the Dodgers' Opening Day roster out of spring training. The 27-year-old center fielder has hit under .200 in his four big-league seasons in Pittsburgh and slashed just .147/.281/.253 with a career-worst .534 OPS, three home runs, 10 RBI, 15 runs scored, seven steals, and 57 strikeouts in 178 plate appearances over a career-low 59 games in 2025. Suwinski has decent plate discipline, but he has simply been overmatched by big-league pitchers, especially the last two seasons. If he sticks around with the Dodgers, he'll provide minor-league outfield depth at Triple-A Oklahoma City.

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Once a former top prospect with the Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Andrew Vaughn was demoted to Triple-A while still with the White Sox organization in the middle of 2025. A mid-season trade to Milwaukee provided the 27-year-old with a second chance, and he took advantage of the opportunity. Across 254 plate appearances with the Brewers, Vaughn hit .308/.375/.493 with nine home runs, 46 RBI, and 26 runs scored. With a career 46.5% hard-hit rate, Vaughn has always carried intriguing underlying numbers, so the change of scenery may have been all he needed to unlock his potential. Heading into 2026, Vaughn should have a chance to lock down the starting first base job in Milwaukee. While he's not a speed threat, Vaughn has the chance to provide fantasy managers with four-category production and comes at a reasonable average draft position of pick 284.

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After emerging as a high-level fantasy contributor in 2024, Colorado Rockies outfielder Brenton Doyle came crashing back down to Earth in 2025. Across 538 plate appearances, the 27-year-old hit .233/.274/.376 with 15 home runs, 57 RBI, 57 runs scored, and 18 stolen bases. With a career 28.1% strikeout rate and a questionable eye at the plate, Doyle carries significant batting average risk for fantasy managers. However, he remains an intriguing power/speed threat even after his down year in 2025. Doyle's barrel rate rose from 10.5% in 2024 to 10.8% in 2025, and his hard-hit rate jumped from 41.1% to 44.6%. He also has the benefit of playing his home games at the hitter-friendly Coors Field, which could help his batting average on balls in play improve from the .289 mark he posted in 2025. While the Rockies once again project to be one of the worst teams in baseball, Doyle's excellent defense in center field should keep him in the lineup every day and help him rack up counting stats. With an average draft position of pick 157, Doyle could be a buy-low candidate for fantasy managers to target heading into 2026.

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Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty struggled throughout most of the 2025 season, finishing the year with an 8-15 record, 4.64 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 188 strikeouts across 161 innings pitched (31 starts). With a 27.6% strikeout rate, the 30-year-old still provided fantasy managers with plenty of whiffs. However, his walk rate jumped from 5.9% in 2024 to 8.7% in 2025, and he allowed a 10.3% barrel rate, the worst mark of his career. Flaherty has an established issue with allowing home runs, as he has logged a HR/9 of 1.29 or worse in each of the past two seasons. If his walk rate continues to climb towards the double-digits, he may have a difficult time keeping his ERA to a manageable number. Detroit owes Flaherty $20 million in 2026, so his spot in the rotation should be secure as long as he stays healthy. Flaherty's ability to rack up strikeouts gives him fantasy appeal as long as he remains in a high-volume role. However, Flaherty has posted an ERA north of 4.60 in two of his last three seasons and represents real risk in the ERA and WHIP categories for fantasy managers.

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After a breakout 2024 campaign, Baltimore Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser battled through an injury-marred 2025 season that saw him post underwhelming numbers across the board. Thumb, rib, and head injuries limited Cowser to just 92 games, and he hit .196/.269/.385 with 16 home runs, 40 RBI, 36 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases. When healthy, Cowser profiles as an intriguing power/speed threat for fantasy managers. He posted an excellent 14.1% barrel rate in 2025 and upped his stolen base total from nine in 2024 to 14 in 2025 despite playing over 60 fewer games. However, swing-and-miss is a major issue. The 25-year-old recorded a 35.6% strikeout rate in 2025 and owns a 32.3% strikeout rate across nearly 1,000 career MLB plate appearances. As a left-handed hitter, Cowser may also lose playing time against same-handed pitching, given Baltimore's crowded outfield depth chart. With a current average draft position of pick 249, Cowser profiles as a high-floor, low-ceiling outfield option for fantasy managers heading into 2026.

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Tampa Bay Rays first baseman/designated hitter Yandy Diaz had an excellent season in 2025, hitting .300/.366/.482 with 25 home runs, 83 RBI, 79 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 651 plate appearances. Diaz has established himself as one of fantasy baseball's best sources of batting average, particularly relative to his position. He's hit .291 across almost 3,500 plate appearances since joining the Rays in 2019, and has hit .296 or better in three out of the last four years. Diaz logged a 52.4% hard-hit rate while striking out in just 14.1% of his plate appearances in 2025, so he appears to have plenty left in the tank as he enters his age-34 season. Where he might regress is in the power category, as Tampa Bay will move back into Tropicana Field for the 2026 season after playing its home games at the hitter-friendly Steinbrenner Field last year. 18 of Diaz's 25 home runs came at home in 2025, and he's hit more than 14 bombs just twice in nine big-league seasons. Still, Diaz has proven himself to be a reliable producer and should be locked into everyday playing time in Tampa Bay in 2026.

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Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart is playing second base and batting cleanup in the team's first Spring Training matchup of 2026 on Saturday against the Cleveland Guardians. Stewart, who made his Major League debut as a 21-year-old in 2025, played both corner infield spots in his first stint with the Reds. However, it appears as though the team is shifting him to the right side of the infield heading into 2026, as he's reportedly taken reps at both first and second base so far this spring. The Reds have Matt McLain locked in as the everyday second baseman, but McLain has dealt with injuries throughout his MLB career. Stewart could eventually settle in as the team's regular first baseman, but Cincinnati also has veteran first baseman/outfielder Spencer Steer to work into the lineup. Still, Stewart's positional versatility should help him get regular playing time, even if it's spread across multiple positions. He currently ranks as RotoBaller's #22 fantasy first baseman and carries an average draft position of pick 207.

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Detroit Tigers infield prospect Kevin McGonigle is starting at shortstop and is hitting second in the team's Grapefruit League opener on Saturday against the New York Yankees, according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. The Tigers have moved McGonigle around to third and second base in camp to increase his chances of making the Opening Day roster, but shortstop remains the focus for the 21-year-old long-term, and it's his clearest path to regular playing time in the big leagues in 2026. McGonigle is the consensus No. 2 prospect in baseball, behind only the Pirates' Konnor Griffin, due to his elite ability to make contact and drive the ball with authority. Javier Baez and Zach McKinstry are better suited for utility roles than for regular duties at the 6, so if McGonigle handles himself well in spring training games, he's likely to win the starting job at short. He hit .305/.408/.583 with 19 home runs and 10 steals in 88 games in three minor-league stops last year and should be drafted in all single-year fantasy leagues.

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New York Mets infielder Bo Bichette is starting at third base and batting third in the team's Grapefruit League opener on Saturday against the division-rival Miami Marlins, according to Max Goodman of NJ.com. Despite the injury to Francisco Lindor (hand) that could keep him sidelined to start the 2026 season, the Mets will keep Bichette at the hot corner. The 27-year-old former second-rounder in 2016 had an injury-plagued year for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2024 but bounced back nicely and led them to the World Series last season, slashing .311/.357/.483 with an .840 OPS, 18 home runs, 94 RBI, 78 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 139 regular-season games (628 plate appearances). The move to Queens should be good for his run production near the top of a strong lineup, and as long as he stays healthy, he should provide around 20 long balls. Adding third base eligibility will help, too. RotoBaller has Bichette ranked as the No. 14 fantasy shortstop to begin 2026.

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Toronto Blue Jays infielder Kazuma Okamoto is starting at third base and batting sixth in the team's Grapefruit League opener on Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. The Blue Jays will get Okamoto as many at-bats in spring training as they can before the 29-year-old reports to Team Japan for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Third base is his job to lose as he enters his first year in the major leagues, especially since Toronto could use Addison Barger more in the outfield with Anthony Santander (shoulder) potentially missing all of 2026. The biggest question is whether Okamoto's power will translate to MLB immediately. He hit at least 27 home runs in each of his first seven seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, but he only managed 15 in 2025 due to an elbow injury. Still, his combination of contact and power skills makes him intriguing near the heart of the Blue Jays' batting order.

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Free-agent infielder Ramon Urias is in agreement with the St. Louis Cardinals on a one-year, $2 million contract on Saturday, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Urias will have a $1.5 million salary in 2026 with a $500,000 buyout on a 2027 mutual option. The deal also includes $2 million in incentives based on plate appearances. The 31-year-old veteran will give the Cardinals infield depth behind JJ Wetherholt at second base and Nolan Gorman at third base this year. The Mexican infielder is coming off one of his worst offensive seasons, slashing .241/.292/.384 with a .675 OPS, 11 home runs, 44 RBI, 33 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 112 total games played with the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros. Urias is mostly valuable for his glove and doesn't offer much of a skill set for fantasy managers. You can avoid him in all mixed leagues in 2026.

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New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said the designated hitter spot will be in play "big" time as the team tries to keep infielder Jorge Polanco healthy in 2026, according to Chelsea Janes of SNY. Mendoza also expects infielders Mark Vientos and Brett Baty to get playing time at first base when Polanco is the DH. The Mets are also slow-playing the 32-year-old switch-hitting Dominican early in Grapefruit League games. Polanco has played in 100-plus games in six of his 12 seasons in the big leagues, although he did manage to play in 138 contests while hitting .265/.326/.495 with an .821 OPS, 26 home runs, 78 RBI, 64 runs scored, and six steals for the Seattle Mariners last year. Marcus Semien will be locked into Polanco's primary position at second, so most of his at-bats figure to come as New York's DH. Fantasy managers need to expect Polanco to miss time due to injury in 2026, but when healthy, he hits the ball hard and has solid pop with second base eligibility.

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Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that he sees outfielder Roman Anthony as the team's leadoff hitter this year, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. True to his word, Cora put Anthony in the leadoff spot for the team's Grapefruit League opener on Saturday versus the Minnesota Twins. It's not a huge surprise after the 21-year-old former top prospect hit atop Boston's order after making his major-league debut last year. Before an oblique strain cut his season short late in the year, Anthony was as advertised, slashing .292/.396/.463 with an .859 OPS, eight home runs, 32 RBI, 48 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 257 at-bats. The Red Sox could move Anthony down in the batting order when they face left-handed pitchers, but even so, he has the upside of a top-10 fantasy outfielder going into his first full season in the majors. Anthony became one of just two Red Sox players to have 20-plus extra-base hits and 25-plus walks in their first 52 career games, joining the legendary Ted Williams.

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Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that right-handed reliever Edwin Uceta was diagnosed with shoulder inflammation and a slight impingement in his right shoulder, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Uceta got a cortisone shot, and the plan is for him to start throwing next weekend. Topkin writes that Uceta could be cutting it close to be ready for Opening Day on March 26. The 28-year-old figures to be squarely in the mix for save chances in Tampa alongside Griffin Jax and Garrett Cleavinger this year after posting a 3.79 ERA (3.69 FIP), 1.17 WHIP, one save, a career-high 103 strikeouts, and 27 walks in 76 innings for the Rays in 2025. He was even better the year prior with a 1.51 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and a career-high five saves. Uceta was one of just five relievers last season to reach 100 K's.

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MLB.com's Sonja Chen suggests that Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar and four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani is fully expected to begin the 2026 regular season in the starting rotation, but he has limited time to build up as a pitcher while representing Team Japan exclusively as a hitter in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. The Dodgers could use someone like Justin Wrobleski in long relief behind Ohtani as they build up his pitch count early in the season. The 31-year-old didn't make his debut as a pitcher for the Dodgers last year until June after recovering from Tommy John surgery, and L.A. eased him in slowly. Ohtani had a 2.87 ERA (1.90 FIP) and 1.04 WHIP with 62 K's and just nine walks in 47 innings over 14 starts during the regular season. His upside will be limited on the mound early on in 2026 as he's being eased in, but once he's fully stretched out, Ohtani should at least be a solid No. 2 starter in fantasy.

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Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Ben Joyce (shoulder) threw a successful bullpen session on Friday. According to Jeff Fletcher, Joyce looked good and was able to mix in secondary pitches as well. The 25-year-old is currently on track to be ready by Opening Day. He's working his way back from a torn labrum that required surgery in May of last year. The Angels are hopeful that Joyce can be an impactful late-inning reliever for them this season. In 2024, Joyce registered a 2.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a 33/14 K/BB ratio across 31 games. The 25-year-old could be the closer of the future, assuming he's able to tap into his full potential.

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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto is scheduled to take the mound versus the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday. This is likely going to be his only start before he joins Team Japan for the World Baseball Classic. Yamamoto probably won't pitch long during Saturday's game, but at least fans will get to see him face a few batters. The 27-year-old is coming off a fantastic 2025 campaign with the Dodgers. He posted a 2.49 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and a 201/59 K/BB ratio across 30 starts with the Dodgers last season. Yamamoto is a top-five fantasy starting pitcher heading into the 2026 campaign.

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The Baltimore Orioles claimed infielder Bryan Ramos off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday. Ramos was claimed off waivers by the Cardinals from the O's earlier this month. Now, Ramos will head back to Baltimore for the second time this offseason. The Orioles need extra depth with Jordan Westburg (elbow) set to open the regular season on the injured list. Ramos has played in 36 big league games with the Chicago White Sox over the last two seasons. Last season, Ramos slashed .216/.309/.396 with 16 home runs, 51 RBI, and 13 stolen bases in 105 games in Triple-A Charlotte. His overall numbers don't scream everyday third baseman, but he at least gives the Orioles another option at the hot corner.

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