Jose Negron of DK Pittsburgh Sports reports that the Pittsburgh Pirates aren't expected to have a designated closer going into the 2026 regular season. Manager Don Kelly said that right-hander Dennis Santana will get a lot of time in the ninth inning, but "he won't be the only one." "Gregory Soto has closed, we've got guys on the back end that can handle it with the stuff they have," Kelly said. Santana is still probably the best fantasy bet for saves in the Steel City, but Soto and Isaac Mattson could also see opportunities, especially if Santana hits a rough patch at any point. The 29-year-old Dominican had a strong 2.18 ERA (3.21 FIP), 0.87 WHIP, a career-high 16 saves, 60 strikeouts, and 17 walks in 70 1/3 innings in a career year with the Bucs in 2025. Santana saw 10 of the team's final 12 save chances last year after they traded away David Bednar. This news further cements the fact that Santana remains a risky fantasy closer despite the fact that he's the favorite for saves to begin the year.

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When asked who might be the Los Angeles Angels' primary closer this year, The Orange County Register's Jeff Fletcher said, "probably" right-hander Kirby Yates. Drew Pomeranz and Jordan Romano are other options for saves in Anaheim to begin the 2026 season, but Yates feels like the favorite going into this week, with both Ben Joyce (shoulder) and Robert Stephenson (shoulder) sidelined by injuries. The 38-year-old veteran had a rough season with the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, posting a 5.23 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 41 1/3 innings, but he had 33 saves as a second-time All-Star in 2024 as a member of the Texas Rangers. Yates also led the league with a career-high 41 saves back in 2019 with the San Diego Padres. Yates' fantasy appeal is rising for managers that need help with saves, but he will be on a short leash with the Angels in the closer's role, and he could quickly shift to a late-inning setup role once Joyce and Stephenson get healthy.

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Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler (shoulder) threw 29 pitches in two innings on a back field in camp on Monday in a simulated game against low-level minor-league hitters with no outfielders and the catcher calling balls and strikes, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Wheeler "let it rip in the second inning" and was happy with the results. He will be with the team in Philadelphia on Opening Day this week and remains on schedule to come off the injured list to make his 2026 debut at some point in April. Wheeler had surgery last September to fix venous thoracic outlet syndrome, which is why he did not pitch at all during spring training this year. His fantasy ADP has continued to rise this spring with positive reports continuing to come in during his rehab. The 35-year-old veteran is a three-time All-Star and has been a fantasy ace for most of his six seasons in Philly. Wheeler is more of a risk in 2026 coming off a unique injury, but the upside is tantalizing if he can return to his pre-injury form.

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New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the team is likely to begin the 2026 campaign with a four-man starting rotation, and right-hander Luis Gil will not be one of the four, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, and Ryan Weathers will be the Yankees' four starters in the rotation to begin the year. Gil will remain behind in Tampa to throw live batting practice on Wednesday, according to pitching coach Matt Blake. New York is considering optioning Gil to the minors to begin the year, but if they don't, Blake said he'd be comfortable using Gil in a piggyback role. The 27-year-old Dominican had a 4.66 ERA with six homers allowed, five walks, and 24 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings pitched in six Grapefruit League starts. It's unclear if Gil will be summoned to start when the Yankees finally need a fifth starter on April 11 against the Rays. Gil was the American League Rookie of the Year in 2024, but he only made 11 starts in 2025 due to injury and was much less dominant on the mound.

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St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Kyle Leahy will open the 2026 regular season in the team's starting rotation, according to Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He'll be joined in the rotation by Matthew Liberatore, Michael McGreevy, Dustin May, and Andre Pallante. Leahy's first start of the year won't be an easy matchup for fantasy purposes, as he'll face the New York Mets at home on March 30. The 28-year-old former 17th-rounder in 2018 out of Colorado Mesa University has made just one career start (last year) in 98 career appearances since breaking into the league in 2023 in St. Louis, so fantasy managers should expect workload restrictions after he threw 88 innings in the majors in 2025. Leahy had a lackluster 4.58 ERA in Grapefruit League play in 17 2/3 innings pitched, but he did strike out 20 and walk five. The last time Leahy was a full-time starter was in 2022 at Double-A, when he held a 5.23 ERA.

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Milwaukee Brewers shortstop prospect Jesus Made is set to open the 2026 season at Double-A Biloxi, per Francys Romero of Beisbol FR. The 18-year-old Made is widely considered one of the very best prospects in all of baseball. He made it to Double-A in 2025 after starting the year in Single-A, but logged just 24 plate appearances with Biloxi and will return to the level to open 2026. Across 525 plate appearances split between three levels in 2025, Made slashed .285/.379/.413 with six home runs, 61 RBI, 81 runs scored, and 47 stolen bases. If he tears the cover off the ball in the minors early in 2026, there is an outside shot Made could earn a late-season promotion to the big leagues. More likely, he will be in the mix for a role in Milwaukee in 2027 as he hits his age-20 season and has a bit more time to develop his ability to hit for power.

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Cincinnati Reds corner infield prospect Sal Stewart could be one of the few young players whom veteran Reds manager Terry Francona entrusts to regularly bat in the cleanup spot, speculates Reds beat writer Charlie Goldsmith. The 22-year-old Stewart made his MLB debut in 2025, hitting .253/.295/.543 with five home runs in just 58 plate appearances. It appears the team is planning for him to play a prominent role in 2026, and he turned heads by hitting .333 with three home runs and four stolen bases across 54 Cactus League plate appearances this spring. Stewart seems likely to open the year as Cincinnati's starting first baseman, although he could also rotate through designated hitter with Reds veterans Eugenio Suarez and Spencer Steer. If Stewart can stick in the middle of the Cincinnati lineup, he could provide positive value across all five categories for fantasy managers in 2026.

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Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect Andrew Painter has made the team's starting rotation to open 2026. Once considered one of the very best prospects in all of baseball, Painter posted a ridiculous 38.7% strikeout rate across 103 2/3 minor league innings as a 19-year-old in 2022. However, he missed the entirety of both 2023 and 2024 due to Tommy John surgery. Painter struggled upon his return to the mound in 2025, recording a 5.26 ERA and 1.55 WHIP with 111 strikeouts across 106 2/3 innings at Triple-A. The soon-to-be 23-year-old logged a 2.31 ERA and 0.77 WHIP across 11 2/3 innings this spring, but he also recorded just eight strikeouts. Still, Painter's performance was enough for him to win a role with the big-league club to open 2026. Phillies' ace Zack Wheeler (shoulder) could return to the team's rotation as soon as late April, which could mean Painter's MLB time is limited. On the other hand, Painter may simply need to out-pitch Phillies veteran right-hander Taijuan Walker, who owns a 4.88 ERA and 1.43 WHIP across 480 innings over the last three seasons for Philadelphia.

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Tampa Bay Rays second baseman/outfielder Gavin Lux (shoulder) is being placed on the Injured List due to a right shoulder impingement, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. It's not entirely clear at this point how long Lux is expected to be sidelined, but he will likely miss at least the first few weeks of the 2026 season. Across 503 plate appearances with the Cincinnati Reds in 2025, Lux hit .269/.350/.374 with five home runs, 53 RBI, 49 runs scored, and one stolen base. The 28-year-old owns an impressive 10.1% walk rate for his career and drew free passes at an 11.1% clip last season. However, Lux's lack of power (5.1% career barrel rate) and speed (20 career stolen bases) drastically limits his fantasy value. If this shoulder injury further impacts Lux's bat and/or affects his already questionable defense, Lux's fantasy viability could fall even further. In his absence, Ben Williamson and Richie Palacios could form a platoon at second base for Tampa Bay.

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Tampa Bay Rays utility man Richie Palacios has made the team's 2026 Opening Day roster, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Topkin reports that Palacios will replace second baseman/outfielder Gavin Lux (shoulder), who will start the year on the Injured List with a right shoulder impingement. The 28-year-old Palacios logged just 48 MLB plate appearances in 2025 but performed well, hitting .333/.396/.451 with one home run, three RBI, 10 runs scored, and four stolen bases. In a more representative sample size of playing time in 2024, Palacios slashed .223/.346/.318 with five home runs, 21 RBI, 46 runs scored, and 19 stolen bases across 319 plate appearances. His ability to line up nearly anywhere on the diamond gives him a chance at regular playing time. When in the lineup, he could be a sneaky source of speed for fantasy managers. With Lux sidelined, Palacios could land on the big side of a platoon at second base with Rays infielder Ben Williamson.

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Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider (oblique) will start the 2026 regular season on the injured list with an oblique strain, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Strider will not pitch in his scheduled final exhibition tune-up on Monday in the Grapefruit League against the Pittsburgh Pirates. With the 27-year-old starting on the shelf, Jose Suarez will take his rotation spot to begin the season, with pitching prospect Didier Fuentes beginning in the bullpen. Oblique injuries are hard to predict, but the good news for fantasy managers is that Atlanta expects Strider to make his season debut in a couple of weeks. Strider was a first-time All-Star in 2023, when he won 20 games and led the league in strikeouts (281), FIP (2.85), and strikeouts per nine innings (13.5), but he had an internal-brace procedure on his elbow in 2024 and did not look the same while pitching to a 4.45 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and 9.4 K/9 in 23 starts in 2025. Strider's velocity has been down this spring, but otherwise he's looked good with 11 strikeouts and two walks in 8 1/3 innings.

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Baltimore Orioles outfield prospect Dylan Beavers (knee) is progressing well through his knee injury, according to Andrew Golden of The Baltimore Banner. Beavers has been sidelined since Friday after being scratched from a spring training game due to a sore knee. While his status for Opening Day remains uncertain, the young outfielder's progress is a positive sign that he could be cleared in time. In spring training, the former 33rd overall pick has held a .212/.235/.485 slash line with one home run over a short 11-game stint. Beavers made his MLB debut last summer and flashed solid power upside over his first 35 games, launching four home runs and swiping two bags with a .775 OPS. If Beavers is unable to suit up on Opening Day, managers should expect Tyler O'Neill to get the starting nod in right field.

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Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitching prospect Trey Yesavage (shoulder) is set to start a minor league game on Wednesday. The budding ace will begin the regular season on the injured list and is slowly increasing his workload. Yesavage has yet to take the mound this spring, but he will take the next step in his recovery on Wednesday. Yesavage made his MLB debut later in the 2025 season and posted a 3.21 ERA and 1.43 WHIP over his first 14 innings. In the postseason, the former 20th overall pick took the next step, striking out an impressive 39 hitters over 27 2/3 innings. Managers should continue to monitor Yesavage's status, as he may not have a lengthy stint on the injured list. When he does return, managers should expect him to claim a spot in the starting rotation, but his innings could be limited, which will hinder his overall upside.

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New York Mets outfield prospect Carson Benge is projected to be the team's Opening Day right fielder. Following the injury to Mike Tauchman (knee), the rookie seems destined to claim the starting right field job when the Mets face the Pirates later this week, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Benge has enjoyed a strong showing in spring training, posting a .366/.435/.439 line with an. 874 OPS wth a 8:4 K:BB over 14 games. Even though Benge has yet to take an MLB at-bat, the former first-round pick enters the week as the clear favorite to earn the right field job. Last season, Benge logged 114 games across High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A, and carried an overall .281/.385/.472 line with 125 home runs and 22 stolen bases. He is emerging as a top late-round sleeper candidate.

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According to DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Pirates left-handed pitching prospect Hunter Barco has made the Opening Day roster. However, the team has yet to decide on Barco's role for the start of the season. In the minor leagues, he developed as a starter, but during his first taste of MLB action last summer, he came out of the bullpen. In spring training, Barco logged 9 1/3 innings to the tune of a 2.89 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP. In 2025, Barco logged only three innings in the majors but did not allow a run and struck out three hitters. In the minor leagues, he logged 99 1/3 innings with an impressive 2.81 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Managers should continue to monitor his usage, as he could have some streaming upside if given spot starts throughout the summer.

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The Milwaukee Brewers have optioned left-handed pitching prospect Robert Gasser to Triple-A. Gasser was in the mix to earn a role on the Opening Day roster but came up short in the competition. Across 12 1/3 innings this spring, the southpaw held a high 5.11 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, with a 14:4 K:BB. Even with Brandon Woodruff (lat), Kyle Harrison (finger), and Quinn Priester (wrist) dealing with injuries, the Brewers will opt to send their No. 17-ranked prospect to the minor leagues. Gasser logged just 5 2/3 innings in the majors in 2025 and made his debut back in 2024, when he tossed 28 innings to the tune of a 2.57 ERA. Fantasy managers in deeper 15+ team formats should continue to monitor his status as he could return to Milwaukee in the near future, given the current state of their rotation.

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San Francisco Giants first base prospect Bryce Eldridge went 2-for-3 with a home run during an exhibition game on Sunday. The team's top hitting prospect was left off the opening Day roster but turned in a nice showing over the weekend. During spring training, Eldridge continued to showcase his power, hitting four doubles with a home run, but struck out 19 times over 40 at-bats and will head to Triple-A Sacramento to further his development. Last season, Eldridge spent a brief 10-game stint in San Francisco and held a modest .100/.297/.179 line. He spent most of his season with Triple-A, where he carried a .249/.322/.514 line with a .836 OPS, over a 66-game stint. Managers should continue to monitor his progression at Triple-A, as he could be in the mix for an early return to San Francisco.

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Philadelphia Phillies right-handed reliever Daniel Robert (chest) was released from the hospital on Sunday and is feeling OK after a cardiac event in the morning at BayCare Ballpark, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. The 31-year-old veteran collapsed on the pitcher's mound following his first bullpen session since October, when he suffered a cardiac event during another bullpen session. Over the winter, he had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator placed near his chest. He boarded an ambulance under his own power. "It was very scary, but he's fine," manager Rob Thomson said. In just his second major-league season in 2025, Robert allowed seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits (two homers) while walking 10 and striking out 15 in 13 innings over 15 appearances out of the bullpen for the Phils. It's safe to say that Robert will not be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season as he tries to get his cardio situation under control.

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It was announced on Saturday that Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect Konnor Griffin would not be on the team's Opening Day roster, and on Sunday, Milb Central reports that Griffin will start the year at Triple-A Indianapolis. It was looking like the 19-year-old phenom might become the first teenager to start on Opening Day since Ken Griffey Jr. did it back in 1989. He hit just .171 (7-for-41) in 16 Grapefruit League games, but Griffin also had four home runs, nine RBI, a stolen base, five runs scored, and a .749 OPS this spring. The former ninth overall pick in 2024 impressed his teammates with his physicality and his maturity in spring training. In three minor-league levels in 2025, Griffin excelled with a .333/.415/.527 slash line, .941 OPS, 21 home runs, 94 RBI, 117 runs scored, and 65 stolen bases in 122 games played. Griffin can do it all on the diamond and should be up in Pittsburgh for his major-league debut sooner than later in 2026. Even though he'll start in the minors, fantasy managers should be stashing the potential once-in-a-generation talent.

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Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (arm) is going to open the season on the 15-day Injured List. Rodriguez is reportedly dealing with general soreness that will keep him sidelined to start the year. He's basically dealing with dead arm that will hopefully only keep him sidelined for the minimum of 15 days. Jack Kochanowicz and Ryan Johnson have been named the final two starters with Rodriguez out. Rodriguez hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2024, with him missing all of last season due to elbow issues. When healthy, Rodriguez has posted good numbers, but the arm issues make him difficult to trust as a long-term fantasy option.

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