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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell (shoulder) is "taking the next steps" in his throwing progression and threw off the mound to a standing catcher on Monday, per David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports. Snell is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, as the team is slow-playing his Spring buildup after he missed significant time in 2025 due to shoulder issues. However, it appears as though the 33-year-old is on track with the progression that the team has laid out for him. When healthy, Snell is one of the best pitchers in baseball. Across 1,158 career big league innings (222 starts), the veteran left-hander owns a 3.15 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 1,440 strikeouts, and two Cy Young Awards. However, Snell has thrown more than 128 2/3 innings just once since 2019 and seems likely to miss a chunk of time in 2026 as well. He profiles as a high-risk, high-reward fantasy SP3 heading into his second campaign with the Dodgers.

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Team Puerto Rico manager Yadier Molina said that Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios has received clearance to join the Puerto Rican team for the remainder of the World Baseball Classic, per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. Puerto Rico has already secured a spot in the tournament quarterfinals, which begin on Friday. Across 166 innings (31 games) in 2025, Berrios posted a 9-5 record with a 4.17 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 138 strikeouts. The 31-year-old reportedly dealt with a biceps tendon issue down the stretch of 2025 and was left off Toronto's postseason roster during its run to the World Series. However, Berrios has said he is fully healthy heading into 2026 and will have a chance to prove he is on the path to a bounce-back season at the WBC. The Blue Jays have enough pitching depth to potentially move Berrios out of the starting rotation if he struggles again this season, making him a risky starting pitcher option for fantasy managers.

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Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that starting pitcher Trey Yesavage will pitch in a Minor League game at the team's Spring Training complex on Wednesday, per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. Matheson reports that the plan is for Yesavage to pitch two innings, and that may make two additional Spring Training starts following his outing on Wednesday. Toronto is carefully managing Yesavage's workload after he threw 139 2/3 innings (including Minor League and postseason action) in 2025. Yesavage was a key piece of the Blue Jays' run to the World Series last season, posting a 35.8% strikeout rate and a 1.05 WHIP across 27 2/3 postseason innings. While the young righty's long-term upside appears to be sky-high, Toronto's apparent desire to hold him back from a full starter's workload may limit his 2026 fantasy value. Yesavage profiles as a high-ceiling, low-floor number three fantasy starter as Opening Day approaches.

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Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (back) is set to make the start in his team's Spring Training game on Friday against the Kansas City Royals, per Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports. Kelly was sidelined early in camp with a back injury, but he was able to make it through a live batting practice session this past Sunday and appears on track to progress to game action. The 37-year-old may not be fully built up to his normal pitch count in his first start or two of the season, but he should have a chance to be ready for Opening Day barring any setbacks. Across 184 innings (32 starts) split between the Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers in 2025, Kelly posted a 12-9 record with a 3.52 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 167 strikeouts. He is locked into a rotation spot in Arizona and projects as a quality late-round innings eater for fantasy managers.

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New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (hand) played four innings on defense in a Minor League Spring Training game on Tuesday, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Lindor is just under a month removed from surgery to repair a stress reaction in his left hamate bone. While the 32-year-old was able to play the field in a game, he has yet to progress to taking live at-bats. Per DiComo, Lindor said he is "100% optimistic" that he has a chance to be ready for Opening Day, although the veteran shortstop did not fully commit to a specific return date. Lindor has recorded four consecutive seasons with at least 680 plate appearances, so it would not be a surprise if he's able to make a quick recovery from surgery and avoid an early-season stint on the Injured List.

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The plan is for Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll (hand) to serve as the designated hitter in the team's Cactus League game on Wednesday against the Athletics, according to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. The 25-year-old former National League Rookie of the Year has healed quickly from surgery to fix a fractured hamate bone in his right hand in early February. Barring a setback once Carroll returns to game action, he should be ready for Opening Day later this month. It's great news for the Diamondbacks and fantasy managers who took Carroll as a top-10 fantasy outfielder already in drafts. The former 16th overall pick in 2019 is a two-time All-Star and contributes across all categories in fantasy. Carroll has led the league in triples in each of the last three years and was a 30-30 man in 2025 for the first time in his career.

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Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki is expected to open his second year in the big leagues in 2026 as a starting pitcher, per Jack Vita of the Los Angeles Times. "I don't see a world in which Roki Sasaki doesn't [open the season] as a starter," manager Dave Roberts said. Sasaki only appeared in 10 games (eight starts) in his first big-league season in 2025 during the regular season, allowing 18 earned runs on 30 hits (six homers) while walking 22 and striking out 28 in 36 1/3 innings pitched. The 24-year-old Japanese hurler then made nine appearances in the postseason as the Dodgers' closer, giving up just one earned run while recording three saves in 10 2/3 frames. He hasn't looked great in his two Cactus League starts, allowing seven earned runs while walking five and striking out five in 3 1/3 innings. Control continues to be the biggest issue for Sasaki, who could eventually be moved back to a bullpen role in 2026 when lefty Blake Snell (shoulder) makes his season debut.

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Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson (forearm) was hit on his right forearm by a pitch during a simulated game in camp on Tuesday and left early with a trainer for treatment, according to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News. It's unclear right now how serious Torkelson's injury is or if it will prevent him from being ready on Opening Day later this month. The 26-year-old former first overall pick in 2020 out of Arizona State hit 31 home runs for the second time in his career last season after clubbing only 10 long balls in 2024, and he added 78 RBI and 82 runs scored in 155 games played while slashing .240/.333/.456 in 649 plate appearances. There's always going to be swing and miss in Torkelson's game, but he cut back slightly on his whiffs in 2025 and showed more plate discipline. Fantasy managers should look at Tork as a power asset later in drafts as corner-infield depth.

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Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora stopped short of making it official but "strongly indicated" on Tuesday morning that infielder Caleb Durbin will be the team's starting third baseman on Opening Day later this month, according to Sean McAdam of MassLive.com. The Red Sox will most likely go with Durbin at the hot corner after they were unable to re-sign Alex Bregman in free agency in the winter. The 26-year-old Durbin played third base with the Milwaukee Brewers last year in his MLB debut, too, while finishing with a .256/.334/.387 slash line, .721 OPS, 11 homers, 53 RBI, 60 runs scored, and 18 stolen bases in 136 total regular-season games. Durbin finished third in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. He displayed great plate discipline, but fantasy managers should be concerned about his 4.0% barrel rate, 26.9% hard-hit rate, and 85.2 mph average exit velocity. Durbin doesn't have the high-end power to be more than a backup third base option in mixed fantasy leagues.

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The Detroit Tigers placed right-hander Troy Melton (elbow) on the 60-day injured list on Tuesday with elbow inflammation despite no rehab setback, according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. The move means that the earliest Melton can return in 2026 is on May 25. The 25-year-old has yet to resume throwing since suffering a right-elbow strain early in spring training last month. It's a big setback for the young pitcher after he looked good in his big-league debut for Detroit last year. Melton went 3-2 on the mound with a 2.76 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 36 strikeouts, and 15 walks in a small sample size of 45 2/3 innings over 16 outings (four starts). He showed even more upside as a key arm for the Tigers in the offseason, even if his strikeout rate from the minors didn't carry over. The expectation was that Melton would get a shot at a full-time starting role this year, but those plans could be changing because of his elbow injury.

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Kansas City Royals second baseman Michael Massey (calf) has a "low-grade" calf strain, manager Matt Quatraro told MLB.com's Anne Rogers on Tuesday morning. Massey tweaked it on a play in Cactus League action against the Los Angeles Dodgers last Friday, and it didn't improve, so the team had it checked out. He'll be out of game action for "hopefully just about a week." As long as the 27-year-old isn't out beyond a week, he'll still have a chance to be ready for Opening Day in late March. Massey isn't on the fantasy map in mixed leagues going into the 2026 campaign as more of a utility player for the Royals. The former fourth-rounder in 2019 played in only 77 games last year due to ankle, back, and wrist injuries for KC and slashed .244/.268/.313 with a career-worst .581 OPS, three home runs, 20 RBI, and 20 runs scored in 277 plate appearances.

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Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Lowe (oblique) will likely start hitting in minor-league games in spring training this weekend, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. Lowe can rack up at-bats in minor-league games, so the Angels are currently expecting him to be ready for Opening Day in late March. More oblique issues this spring have limited the left-handed slugger to only three Cactus League games as he gets ready for his first season in Anaheim in 2026. Lowe was a former 13th overall selection in 2016, but he just hasn't panned out in five major-league seasons, hitting .250/.306/.414 with a .721 OPS, 43 home runs, 170 RBI, 188 runs scored, and 79 stolen bases in 403 games played. He does have two 20-homer seasons and plenty of speed, but his recurring oblique injuries make him hard to trust as outfield depth in fantasy in mixed leagues. RotoBaller currently has Lowe ranked as the No. 67 fantasy outfielder.

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Washington Nationals outfielder Jacob Young (wrist) started swinging in camp on Tuesday, according to Jessica Camerato of MLB.com. Young is still considered day-to-day with a right-wrist contusion, with the Nationals' goal of making sure he's 100% healthy for Opening Day later this month. The 26-year-old has only been able to play in one Grapefruit League game so far this spring because of his wrist injury. In his third MLB season with the Nats last year, Young played in 120 games (364 plate appearances) and hit .231/.296/.287 with a career-worst .583 OPS, only two home runs, 31 RBI, 34 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases. The former seventh-round pick in 2021 out of the University of Florida is a speedster on the base paths -- he stole a career-high 33 bags in 2024 -- and is excellent on defense, but his lack of power and unclear playing time situation put him outside of RotoBaller's top-100 fantasy outfielders going into the 2026 season.

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New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (hand) is taking another step in his recovery from hamate-bone surgery in camp on Tuesday and is fielding ground balls with other Mets infielders, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Nothing is set in stone as far as Lindor's availability for Opening Day at the end of this month, but there remains optimism in the organization that the 32-year-old veteran All-Star will be ready to go. The fact that he has also progressed to hitting in the batting cage is definitely a good sign. The five-time Puerto Rican All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger winner is still one of the better fantasy options at the shortstop position despite his hand injury, and RotoBaller has him ranked at No. 5 at the position. Lindor had his second 30-30 season in the last three years in 2025, slashing .267/.346/.466 with an .811 OPS, 86 RBI, and 117 runs scored in a league-high 732 plate appearances.

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Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Shane Bieber (forearm) continues to throw on flat ground in camp, according to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. All of the reports on Bieber's throwing program in spring training have been good, but there's still no timetable for when he'll get up on a mound. The 30-year-old former American League Cy Young winner made his return from Tommy John surgery last year but then dealt with right-forearm fatigue late in the year as the Blue Jays made a run to the World Series. The two-time All-Star pitched well in his seven regular-season starts, allowing 16 earned runs on 34 hits (eight homers) while walking seven and striking out 37 in 40 1/3 innings. Bieber made five appearances (four starts) in the postseason, allowing nine runs (eight earned) while walking six and fanning 18 in 18 2/3 frames. He has already been ruled out for Opening Day, making him a tough sell in shallow mixed leagues as starting rotation depth.

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Toronto Blue Jays left-handed pitching prospect Ricky Tiedemann (elbow) resumed throwing in camp on Tuesday, per Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling. Once one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball, Tiedemann is now just trying to stay healthy after missing all of last year while recovering from Tommy John surgery on his left elbow. He was shut down late last month after feeling soreness in his surgically repaired left arm, but he has been cleared to resume throwing. Fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper formats can still dream on the former third-rounder's upside at the next level, but the bottom line is that he needs to prove he can stay on the mound for an extended period of time first. It's unclear if Tiedemann will be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season, but even if he is, he'll almost certainly begin the year at Triple-A Buffalo for more seasoning.

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Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers (hamstring) is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut on Saturday in the outfield against the St. Louis Cardinals, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. The Marlins have been cautious with their lone All-Star representative from a year ago, but barring a setback once he starts playing in games, Stowers should be ready for Opening Day at the end of the month. It's good news that he's not being eased back in as the designated hitter. The 28-year-old left-handed slugger broke out in his first full year with the Fish in 2025, hitting .288/.368/.544 with a .912 OPS, 25 home runs, 73 RBI, 61 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 457 plate appearances over 117 games played. Stowers squares the ball up regularly, which bodes well for his future in dynasty/keeper leagues, but durability is definitely a concern. Draft him as a No. 3 fantasy outfielder with upside.

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Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (finger) has still been able to do infield work in camp despite dealing with a fractured right ring finger that knocked him out of playing in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. The 28-year-old's status for Opening Day later this month will depend on how he progresses over the next couple of weeks. If Pena begins the year on the injured list, Carlos Correa will shift over to shortstop, allowing Isaac Paredes to play third base. Nick Allen would be another option to start at the 6 with Pena injured. The injury doesn't appear to be very serious, but it does make Pena a little less attractive as a low-end starting fantasy shortstop going into 2026. Pena was a first-time All-Star in 2025 in his fourth year in the league, slashing .304/.363/.477 with an .840 OPS, 17 home runs, 62 RBI, 68 runs, and 20 steals in his 125 games played.

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Houston Astros left-handed closer Josh Hader (biceps) threw around 15 pitches in his first bullpen session of the spring on Tuesday, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. "Speed is there, fastball is there, action is there, synched up. All positives," Hader said. However, when asked about whether he'll be ready for Opening Day later this month, he said, "We'll see." The 31-year-old hard-throwing southpaw entered spring training last month with left-biceps inflammation and also ended the year on the injured list in 2025 with a left-shoulder strain. It makes Hader a lot more risky as a top-shelf closer in fantasy baseball entering the 2026 season, and it also makes late-inning setup man Bryan Abreu worthy of a late-round flier for saves speculators in case Hader isn't ready for the start of the season. When healthy last year, Hader was still dominant, posting a 2.05 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 76 strikeouts, and 28 saves in 52 2/3 innings pitched.

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Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene (elbow) is expected to be sidelined for the next 14 to 16 weeks to remove bone chips and loose bodies in his right elbow. This will keep the team's ace sidelined through at least July. The hard-throwing right-hander underwent an MRI due to an elbow issue last week and will now face an extended absence. While he avoided a season-ending injury, he may only pitch in the second half. Last season, Greene logged only 107 2/3 innings due to groin issues, but was highly effective when on the bump. During this stint, the former top prospect held a 2.76 ERA with a stellar 0.94 WHIP. He struck out hitters at a 31.4% rate, placing him in the 93rd percentile among qualified pitchers. He also generated a strong 3.05 xERA with a .202 xBA. Given his current timeline, Greene's ADP is sure to continue to drop, as he was viewed as a borderline top-12 SP for most of the offseason. Greene now projects to carry high-end stash upside for most of the first half of the 2026 season.

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