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New York Mets right-hander Clay Holmes will rejoin the Mets in what manager Carlos Mendoza said was a difficult decision for him. Holmes needs to stay built up and will pitch in a Grapefruit League game on Friday. Holmes got his arm built up well ahead of the other pitchers early in spring training this year because he knew he'd be pitching for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. He was ready for his opportunity, as he retired the first eight Great Britain hitters he faced, including a stretch of five straight strikeouts. The 32-year-old veteran finished his outing for USA by allowing just one baserunner and striking out six to earn the victory. Fantasy managers and the Mets are hoping Holmes can take another step forward as a full-time starter in 2026 after he went 12-8 with a 3.53 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 129:66 K: BB in a career-high 165 2/3 innings over 33 outings (31 starts) last year in his first season with the Mets.

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Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Daniel Palencia is one of the best closer options to grab once the elite options are off the board, since the 26-year-old is locked in as the team's primary closer and had lots of breakout potential. Palencia had 22 saves in 54 games last year and posted an impressive 2.91 ERA, 3.08 FIP, and 61 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings. He went just 1-6 but added six holds while converting 22 of his 25 save opportunities. Palencia should get the save opportunities for a team expected to be one of the best in the National League, and the 26-year-old could easily be a top-10 closer this season, making him a great value at his current ADP as around the 15th relief pitcher off the board.

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New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (hand) will once again play four or five innings in the field at shortstop in a minor-league game in Port St. Lucie on Thursday. The All-Star shortstop is working his way back from surgery to repair a stress reaction in his left hamate bone. He is still working towards a return for Opening Day, but he has yet to take live at-bats and has not had an official return date set just yet. He has been extremely durable, logging over 150 games and at least 685 plate appearances in each of the last four seasons with 25+ homers and 15+ stolen bases each season. His recovery is progressing well, but he still has several steps before a full return to action.

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New York Mets infielder Jorge Polanco has never played a professional inning at first base, but the plan is for Polanco to play first base "more often than not," according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Polanco could gain 1B eligibility in most leagues early in the season, which could make him a very valuable and versatile utility player. Last year, Polanco posted a .265/.326/.495 triple-slash with an .821 OPS, 26 home runs, 78 RBI, 64 runs scored, and six stolen bases for the Mariners. He will be hitting in the heart of a solid batting order this season, and has nice upside as his current ADP. He already has 2B and 3B eligibility in most formats, so adding 1B will allow more flexibility in roster constructions.

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Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (shoulder) continues to build up towards his return and threw 36 pitches in two simulated innings on Tuesday in his fifth bullpen session. According to manager Rob Thomson, Wheeler is getting close to throwing live batting practice. There's still a chance that he could appear in a spring training or minor-league game before the end of spring training. Wheeler continues to work towards an April return, which could make him a top starting pitcher again this season. He remains an injury risk, but all signs so far have been positive that he'll be back in the Phillies' rotation sooner rather than later. He can be a fantasy ace when healthy, so keep a close eye on his recovery as it progresses.

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Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson (forearm) was diagnosed with a right-forearm contusion after he was hit by a pitch during a simulated game in camp on Tuesday, according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Torkelson exited with a trainer after he was hit by a fastball from reliever Burch Smith. "It was scary," manager A.J. Hinch said. "It's going to happen, whether it's a game or a practice game. From what I know, from afar, we've avoided anything major." The 26-year-old former first overall pick was held out of Wednesday's Grapefruit League contest against the Minnesota Twins as a precaution, but he could be back in action soon. Torkelson hit 31 home runs for the second time in the last three years in 2025, bouncing back from a 10-homer campaign in 2024. Strikeouts are always going to be part of Tork's game, but the high-end power upside is nice for corner-infield depth in fantasy baseball leagues.

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Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (hand) was forced to leave Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Pittsburgh Pirates early in the eighth inning after he was hit by a pitch on his right hand, according to Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun. Fortunately, X-rays on his right hand came back negative, according to the team. With an off day coming in spring training on Friday, Mountcastle could be back in the lineup on Friday, although it wouldn't be a surprise to see the O's give him a couple of days off. The 29-year-old right-handed slugger's fantasy stock is on the decline going into the 2026 season after he dealt with more injuries and disappointing play in 2025. Mountcastle slashed .250/.286/.367 with a career-worst .653 OPS, only seven home runs, 35 RBI, 34 runs, and three steals in 89 games played. With the addition of All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso, Mountcastle could be facing a drop in playing time, with a DH role his only clear path to at-bats.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Wednesday that right-hander Zac Gallen will make his fourth career Opening Day start on the road against the World Series-champion Los Angeles Dodgers on March 26. Gallen is the obvious choice for the D-backs after re-signing this offseason, especially with Merrill Kelly (back) dealing with an injury in spring training. The 30-year-old veteran won't be a popular DFS play on Opening Day against the best lineup in baseball, but he could make for a nice value pick later in fantasy baseball drafts as he looks to bounce back from a career-worst 4.83 ERA (4.50 FIP) that he had in 33 starts (192 innings) last year in Arizona in his seventh year in the league. Gallen has looked sharp in his first two Cactus League starts this year, tossing four shutout innings while walking none and striking out five.

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Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller (oblique) cut short his first full-effort bullpen session in camp on Wednesday due to "discomfort in the area," having been told not to push through it if he felt anything, according to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. Miller is still cleared to play catch and will target another touch-and-feel bullpen session in the coming days. The 27-year-old has been dealing with left-oblique inflammation since late last month. The fact that he's still being bothered by it has put his availability for Opening Day in late March in question and dropped him on fantasy draft boards. Miller, a former fourth-rounder in 2021 out of Texas A&M, made two separate trips to the injured list last year due to right-elbow issues, and he was unable to recover. He had a career-worst 5.68 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with 74 punchouts and 34 walks in 90 1/3 innings over his 18 starts. Injury concerns have dropped Miller to No. 78 in RotoBaller's fantasy starting pitcher rankings going into the 2026 season.

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Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel (hamstring) has been diagnosed with a right-hamstring strain and could end up missing four to six weeks, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Officially, Teel has a Grade 2 hamstring strain that he suffered while running out a double in Team Italy's upset win over the United States in the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday. The 24-year-old left-handed-hitting catcher will drop out of the WBC and will most likely start the 2026 regular season on the injured list as a result. It will mean more catching duties for Edgar Quero to begin the year for the White Sox. Teel's injury should also free up more playing time at designated hitter for Lenyn Sosa. When he's past his hamstring injury, Teel should be in Chicago's lineup regularly after hitting .273/.375/.411 with a .786 OPS, eight homers, and 35 RBI in his first 78 major-league games in 2025. His injury shouldn't change the fact that he's a high-end No. 2 catcher target in fantasy drafts with upside for more going into his first full MLB season.

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Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Quinn Priester (wrist) will visit with a specialist in Dallas on Thursday as he seeks answers about the lingering soreness in his right wrist, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Priester hasn't pitched in a Cactus League game this spring because of the injury, but he has been throwing to keep his arm in shape. It's an injury that the 25-year-old also dealt with late last season. At this point, it's unlikely that Priester will be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season later this month, and a timetable for when he might make his season debut probably won't be known until after he sees a specialist. The former first-rounder by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019 had a league-best .813 win-loss percentage in his first year in Milwaukee, going 13-3 with a 3.32 ERA (4.01 FIP) and 1.24 WHIP with a career-best 132 K's and 50 walks in 157 1/3 innings over his 29 outings (24 starts).

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Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Logan Henderson (elbow) is scheduled to "throw a mound session" on Thursday. The right-hander experienced mild elbow soreness last week and hasn't pitched in a Cactus League game since March 4. Assuming Thursday's session goes well, the 24-year-old is expected to return to game progression on Sunday, which should still put him on track to be ready for Opening Day. The Brewers' seventh-ranked prospect debuted last season and showed well in his limited sample, recording a 1.78 ERA (3.20 SIERA), 0.99 WHIP, and a 25.3 percent K-BB% in five starts (25 1/3 innings pitched), but isn't necessarily a lock to begin the year with the club. If he doesn't suffer any setbacks and can break camp in the rotation, the 6-foot hurler could be a real value pick based on his ADP, which is well after pick 200.

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Tampa Bay Rays reliever Griffin Jax could be the early favorite for the closer role in Tampa Bay once the regular season gets underway. The right-hander was superb for the Twins from 2022 through 2024, but despite an elite 36.4 percent strikeout rate (29.8 percent K-BB%) in 50 appearances for Minnesota in 2025, the 6-foot-2 hurler recorded a 4.50 ERA through the end of July and was shipped to Tampa, where he posted a 3.60 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, while maintaining a strong 31.8 percent strikeout rate. All in all, the former third-round draft pick finished the season with 99 strikeouts in just 66 innings pitched between Minnesota and Tampa Bay, registering 98th percentile or better strikeout, whiff, and chase rates. With Edwin Uceta (shoulder) expected to begin the season on the injured list, Jax's only real competition for the role might come from Garrett Cleavinger, who was fantastic in 2025 as well, but who is a left-hander and may be deployed more opportunistically. Manager Kevin Cash has not committed to any particular reliever just yet, and may end up going for a closer-by-committee approach, but Jax has the prototypical stuff to grab hold of the role and keep it for the entire season, making him an attractive target who is currently being drafted after the likes of Dennis Santana and Ryan Walker.

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Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish made his third Grapefruit League start on Wednesday, tossing five scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out two in the outing. Although fewer than one strikeout per inning is not what we've grown accustomed to from the right-hander, his stuff was clearly working, and notably, the velocity on his fastball topped out at 97.5 mph; the 6-foot-3 hurler's high in his first two Grapefruit League outings was 95.9 mph. It should only reinforce that the 29-year-old appears to be fully recovered from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in 2024. The New Mexico State product looked sharp in his return to the mound last August, pitching to a 2.53 ERA (2.63 SIERA) and 1.03 WHIP while recording an elite 29.4 percent K-BB% in six starts. It has pushed his price tag up in fantasy drafts, going as the 27th pitcher off the board since the beginning of March, but he may still return value if he can continue to pitch at such a high level.

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Houston Astros reliever Bryan Abreu appears to be in a position to take over as the team's closer to begin the year. Houston's regular closer, Josh Hader (biceps), threw his first bullpen session of the spring on Tuesday, but manager Joe Espada has already ruled the veteran out for Opening Day. Abreu has been both durable and effective for the Astros over the last four years, recording a 2.30 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 23.9 percent K-BB% during that span. Hader is not expected to miss too much time, so Abreu's hold on the closer role should only be temporary, but given Hader's lengthy injury history and Abreu's ability to perform, there could be opportunities for additional save chances throughout the year. Bump Abreu up draft boards slightly, as the early-season save chances added to his ability to lower ratios while providing plenty of strikeouts should only bolster the 28-year-old's fantasy relevance.

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Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Trey Yesavage faced some of the Jays' minor leaguers on Wednesday, totaling 35 pitches in the two-inning simulation. The right-hander is slowly being brought up to speed this spring as a result of throwing 139 2/3 professional innings last season, way more than he accumulated in any season during his time in college at East Carolina, although it's unclear what is next in his progression. The 6-foot-4 hurler was a key piece in the Jays' run to the World Series last year and struck out 55 batters in just 41 2/3 innings pitched, but as good as he looked, the team is going to try to ensure that they don't pile too many innings on the youngster's arm. Unfortunately for fantasy, that will likely limit the former first-rounder's ceiling in 2026, making him more of a No. 3 fantasy rotation piece. Still, the 22-year-old appears to be fairly valued in drafts, going right around his RotoBaller rank of 158 overall.

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Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe (lower body) was removed from the team's lineup for its Spring Training game on Wednesday due to lower body tightness, per DK Pittsburgh Sports. Lowe was originally scheduled to bat second and play second base against the Baltimore Orioles, but is now expected to go through a normal practice session at the team's Spring Training facility. Injuries have been a persistent issue throughout Lowe's time in the big leagues, as he's cracked 600 plate appearances just once in eight MLB seasons. Pittsburgh may be simply being overly cautious with the veteran infielder, as the Pirates traded for Lowe this past offseason and he projects as a key hitter in the middle of the team's lineup. Across 553 plate appearances with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2025, Lowe hit .256 with 31 home runs, 83 RBI, 79 runs scored, and three stolen bases. Still, any injury situation for Lowe warrants attention from fantasy managers.

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Houston Astros infielder/outfielder Brice Matthews is among the players that MLB.com's Brian McTaggart lists as having a "strong case" to make the team's Opening Day roster. A first-round pick of Houston's in 2023, Matthews made his MLB debut in 2025 and hit .167/.222/.452 with four home runs, nine RBI, 6 runs scored, and one stolen base across 47 plate appearances. Matthews posted strong numbers across 498 plate appearances in Triple-A, slashing .260/.371/.458 with 17 home runs, 64 RBI, 70 runs scored, and 41 stolen bases. However, the 23-year-old posted a 27.9% strikeout rate in the Minors and a 42.6% rate in a small sample size at the big-league level. If he cracks Houston's Opening Day roster, Matthews would likely open the season in a utility role. Still, his power-speed profile gives him some fantasy upside.

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Tampa Bay Rays first baseman/designated hitter Yandy Diaz (hand) is scheduled to return to Spring Training game action on Friday, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Diaz has been out a little over a week due to soreness in his left hand, but it appears as though the issue is not overly serious. Across 681 plate appearances in 2025, Diaz slashed .300/.366/.482 with 25 home runs, 83 RBI, 79 runs scored, and three stolen bases. The 34-year-old has little to prove in Spring Training, so it would make sense if Tampa Bay were taking the stance of being overly cautious with its veteran slugger. Assuming he can return to full health, Diaz should be locked into an everyday role at the top of the Rays lineup in 2026. With a career batting average of .290, Diaz profiles as a reliable corner infield bat for fantasy managers.

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Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Dennis Santana posted a breakout season in 2025, collecting a 4-5 record with a 2.18 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 60 strikeouts, and 16 saves across 70 1/3 innings pitched. The 29-year-old emerged as Pittsburgh's primary ninth-inning option down the stretch of 2025 after the Pirates traded veteran closer David Bednar to the New York Yankees at the trade deadline. Heading into 2026, Santana looks set to get the first shot as Pittsburgh's primary save-earner. Santana's numbers are almost certain to regress from the outlier marks he posted in 2025, as he was buoyed by an unsustainably low .211 opponent batting average on balls in play. Santana is also not an elite strikeout pitcher, as he posted a 22.2% strikeout rate in 2025 and owns a career mark of 22.1%. However, Santana has now posted consecutive seasons with a WHIP of 1.09 or better and may have the trust of the Pirates organization. If he can do enough to maintain the closing job in Pittsburgh, Santana could be an undervalued source of saves for fantasy managers in 2026.

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