Fantasy Baseball
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BaseballSix Opening Weekend takeaways
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Baseball10 notable numbers so far
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BaseballWeek 2 two-start pitcher rankings
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BaseballWeek 2 sleeper pitchers
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BaseballWeek 2 sleeper hitters
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BaseballWeek 2 Waiver Wire
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BaseballOpening Day overreactions
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BaseballFantasy baseball bold predictions
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BaseballOpening Day takeaways
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Player News
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Nick Lodolo CIN SP
Reds' Nick Lodolo: Making rehab start Thursday
20m agoLodolo (finger) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Daytona on Thursday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
As long as things go well in Thursday's outing, Lodolo will be set to make his season debut for the Reds next week in Miami. The left-hander is working his way back from a blister on his left index finger but was cleared for game action after throwing a successful bullpen session Sunday. When Lodolo is ready to rejoin the rotation, Brandon Williamson could be sent to Triple-A Louisville or the bullpen.
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Freddy Fermin SD C
Padres' Freddy Fermin: Yields to Campusano on Monday
25m agoFermin is not in the lineup for Monday's contest against the Giants.
Fermin and Luis Campusano have alternated starts at catcher in the first four games of the season for the Padres. It will be Campusano catching and batting ninth in Monday's series opener.
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Nick Castellanos SD RF
Padres' Nick Castellanos: Another start against righty
27m agoCastellanos will start at designated hitter and bat eighth in Monday's contest versus the Giants.
After yielding to Miguel Andujar at DH against lefties in the first two games of the season, Castellanos is now making a second straight start versus a righty. While Castellanos seems to have the early edge over Andujar in terms of playing time against right-handed pitching, there probably isn't a cemented hierarchy just yet. Gavin Sheets and Ty France are also vying for playing time in a crowded first base/DH situation for San Diego.
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Chase Meidroth CHW SS
White Sox's Chase Meidroth: Day off Monday
31m agoMeidroth is not in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.
With Meidroth getting the day off from the starting nine, Miguel Vargas will bat leadoff and play first base. Lenyn Sosa is getting the start at second base and batting fifth, while cleanup hitter Colson Montgomery kicks over to third base. Luisangel Acuna is batting ninth and playing shortstop. Through three games to begin the season, Meidroth is 3-for-10 at the plate with one double, one home run, one RBI, two runs scored and a 3:3 BB:K.
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Miguel Andujar SD RF
Padres' Miguel Andujar: Out of lineup againt right-hander
31m agoAndujar is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Giants.
Andujar started at designated hitter in each of the first two games of the season versus lefties. However, he's now sat two straight against righties in favor of Nick Castellanos. It's too soon to know how exactly the playing time between the two players will shake out, but early indications are that Castellanos is the preferred guy against right-handed pitching.
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Will Benson CIN RF
Reds' Will Benson: Getting another start versus righty
41m agoBenson will start in right field and bat seventh in Monday's game against the Pirates.
The left-handed-hitting Benson has started in right field both times the Reds have faced a right-hander, while the righty-swinging Noelvi Marte has held down the position against both lefties. Marte is not going to be a strict short-side platoon bat, but Benson looks to have the early leg up on him when it comes to playing time versus righties.
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Freddy Fermin SD C
Padres' Freddy Fermin: Yields to Campusano on Monday
25m agoFermin is not in the lineup for Monday's contest against the Giants.
Fermin and Luis Campusano have alternated starts at catcher in the first four games of the season for the Padres. It will be Campusano catching and batting ninth in Monday's series opener.
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Keibert Ruiz WAS C
Nationals' Keibert Ruiz: Swats first homer
2h agoRuiz went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in Sunday's win over the Cubs.
After bringing home Daylen Lile with a sixth-inning sacrifice fly, Ruiz belted his first homer of 2026 in the eighth, lifting a Hoby Milner changeup into the left-field bleachers at Wrigley Field. Ruiz hit just two homers over 68 games in 2025 while slashing a tepid .247/.277/.318, but the switch-hitting backstop is looking a little more lively at the plate to begin the current campaign.
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Drake Baldwin ATL C
Braves' Drake Baldwin: Supplies only offense in loss
3h agoBaldwin went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Royals.
The second-year backstop took John Schreiber deep in the eighth inning to ruin a combined shutout for Kansas City. Baldwin has started all three of Atlanta's game so far, two at catcher and one at DH, while going 3-for-11 with two solo shots, a third run scored and a 2:2 BB:K.
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Cal Raleigh SEA C
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Doubles Sunday
6h agoRaleigh went 1-for-4 with an RBI double in Sunday's 8-0 win over Cleveland.
Raleigh's sixth-inning double was his first extra-base hit this season. While he does have hits in back-to-back games, it's been a tough start to the year for Raleigh -- he's now 2-for-18 with 10 strikeouts through four games. While it's a safe bet that Raleigh will turn things around, some regression is certainly possible after the catcher's record-setting 2025 campaign, where he slashed .247/.359/.589 with 60 homers, 125 RBI and a career-low 26.7% strikeout rate across 705 regular-season plate appearances.
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Connor Wong BOS C
Red Sox's Connor Wong: Draws first start
6h agoWong started at catcher and went 2-for-3 with a double in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Reds.
Wong made his first start of the season, as Carlos Narvaez was given a breather. The former also made an appearance in Saturday's game and didn't have a good at-bat while striking out in the 10th inning. That was a stark reminder of the struggles he endured in 2025, when Wong batted .190 with a .500 OPS and lost the starting gig to Narvaez. As such, Sunday's two-hit effort was an encouraging sign for the backup catcher, who slashed .121/.216/.152 in spring training.
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Maverick Handley BAL C
Orioles' Maverick Handley: Exits Triple-A game due to ankle
19h agoHandley was removed in the bottom of the fifth inning of Triple-A Norfolk's 6-2 loss to Nashville on Sunday after being hit in the left ankle by a pitch, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Outrighted off the Orioles' 40-man roster during the offseason, Handley ended up sticking around in the organization and was expected to serve as catching depth at Norfolk in 2026. Handley will likely be sent in for further tests as the Orioles look to determine the severity of his ankle injury.
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Sal Stewart CIN 1B
Reds' Sal Stewart: Bat remains hot
7h agoStewart went 2-for-2 with a walk, a double and a run scored in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Red Sox.
There was no let-up for Stewart in the third game of the season. He's now had multiple hits and reached base at least three times in all three games, going 7-for-10 with three walks, zero strikeouts and more extra-base hits than singles. He also showed advanced baserunning Sunday, advancing to second base on a flyout to center field, which put him in a position to reach third base when the next batter singled to left field.
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Spencer Steer CIN 1B
Reds' Spencer Steer: Moving around as advertised
7h agoSteer started at first base and went 1-for-4 in Sunday's 3-2 win over Boston.
Steer made his first start of the season at first base after serving as the left fielder Thursday and Saturday. The plan announced this spring, when Steer started at five different positions, was that he would primarily play left field but could also slot in at various spots. In addition to his starting positions thus far, Steer also moved mid-game Saturday to first base and then third base. That roster flexibility helps manager Terry Francona navigate in-game situations, while also ensuring Steer gets a full game of plate appearances.
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C.J. Kayfus CLE 1B
Guardians' CJ Kayfus: Has issues in left field
8h agoKayfus started in left field and went 0-for-2 in Sunday's 8-0 loss to the Mariners. He was also hit by a pitch.
Kayfus made his second career big-league start in left field and it showed on a couple of balls that led to Seattle rallies. Both were hit by lefties that have strong pull tendencies, and Kayfus had to range far from the gap in left-center to make the plays but couldn't. "He was in the right position," manager Stephen Vogt said of Kayfus to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. "They had a couple of balls that found the line. It's a relatively new position for CJ. A couple of unfortunate plays that went their way. They made us pay for them." It was the first instance of Vogt's decision to have four-time Gold Glove winning left fielder Steven Kwan play center field. The position switch was designed to inject more offensive punch into the lineup at the outfield corners. One unfortunate night may not impact Vogt's decision, but continued issues in left field could result in a reduction of playing time for Kayfus.
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Yandy Diaz TB 1B
Rays' Yandy Diaz: Matches career high in hits
21h agoDiaz went 5-for-6 with a double and four RBI in Sunday's 11-7 win over the Cardinals.
Diaz couldn't be contained Sunday, matching his career high in hits while tallying his 10th career game with at least four knocks. The 34-year-old first baseman is coming out of the gates furiously, going 9-for-16 (.563) in his first three games while hitting safely in each outing so far as Tampa Bay's leadoff man.
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Munetaka Murakami CHW 1B
White Sox's Munetaka Murakami: Stays hot with another homer
22h agoMurakami went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored during the White Sox's 9-7 loss to the Brewers on Sunday.
Murakami continued his excellent start to his MLB career Sunday with a solo home run off Brandon Sproat in the second inning. All three of Murakami's hits through three games have resulted in solo homers, and he's also shown discipline at the plate with four walks across 13 plate appearances. The 26-year-old has clearly brought his power over from Japan, where he recorded 246 home runs over an eight-season span in Nippon Professional Baseball.
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Rhys Hoskins CLE 1B
Guardians' Rhys Hoskins: Idle Sunday
23h agoHoskins isn't in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.
Hoskins will sit down for a second consecutive game after going 3-for-6 with two walks and a run scored over the first two games of the series. Kyle Manzardo will start at first base while Hoskins sits, putting Jose Ramirez in the DH spot and Daniel Schneemann at third base.
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Xavier Edwards MIA 2B
Marlins' Xavier Edwards: Swipes first bag of year
3h agoEdwards went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base in Sunday's win over the Rockies.
It was the first steal of 2026 for the switch-hitting second baseman. Edwards is hitting lower in the order against left-handed pitching to begin the year, which could cost him occasional opportunities to take an extra base, but he's generated plenty on his own by going 4-for-11 through three games with three runs scored and a 0:1 BB:K.
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Brendan Rodgers BOS 2B
Red Sox's Brendan Rodgers: Back with Boston on MiLB deal
5h agoRodgers (shoulder) re-signed Friday with the Red Sox on a two-year, minor-league contract, Chris Hatfield of SoxProspects.com reports.
Rodgers is slated to miss the entire 2026 season while recovering from right shoulder labral revision surgery, but the minor-league deal will allow him to conduct his rehab under the supervision of the Red Sox's medical staff. If healthy heading into next spring, Rodgers will likely be given the chance to compete for a spot on Boston's Opening Day roster, but he'll turn 30 in August and could struggle to earn another another opportunity in the majors. Even before his shoulder surgery, Rodgers endured a disappointing, injury plagued 2025 campaign with the Astros in which he slashed just .191/.266/.278 with a 35.9 percent strikeout rate over 128 plate appearances.
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Luke Keaschall MIN 2B
Twins' Luke Keaschall: Used as No. 3 hitter
5h agoKeaschall went 1-for-4 with a walk in Sunday's loss at Baltimore and is hitting .182 (2-for11) this season. He's hit third in the batting order in all three games this season.
Keaschall may be better suited to hit leadoff in Minnesota's lineup due to his high OBP (.382 last season), but new Twins manager Derek Shelton went with a platoon of Austin Martin and Kody Clemens in the leadoff role to begin the season. While Keaschall plaeyd some outfield in spring training, he's only played second base so far this season.
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Brendan Donovan SEA 2B
Mariners' Brendan Donovan: Hot start with new team
16h agoDonovan went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and an additional run scored in Sunday's 8-0 win over the Guardians.
The 29-year-old utility man is off to a fast start in his new digs, recording two homers, four RBI, four runs scored and one stolen base across his first 14 at-bats with the Mariners. Donovan has hit leadoff in three games as opposed to sixth in the lineup in one contest, and his fantasy value should benefit if he continues to bat first going forward, which he should do against right-handed pitchers.
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Brandon Lowe PIT 2B
Pirates' Brandon Lowe: Homers in win
21h agoLowe went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and two walks in Sunday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Mets.
Lowe reached base four times, highlighted by a solo shot that put the Pirates up 2-1 in the third inning. The 31-year-old has now homered three times in as many games to open the campaign, reaching base in seven of his 14 plate appearances. He should see near-everyday run in the heart of the order and has topped the 20-homer mark in each of the four seasons in which he's played over 100 games.
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Tommy Edman LAD 2B
Dodgers' Tommy Edman: Participates in BP on Saturday
1d agoEdman (ankle) took on-field batting practice Saturday and is progressing well, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.
Edman is currently on the 10-day IL as he works his way back from the right ankle surgery he underwent in mid-November. Manager Dave Roberts had previously said the infielder/outfielder is likely to return in late May, though he indicated Saturday that there is a possibility Edman will be back sooner. When he does get back in action, Edman is slated to spend most of his time at second base, where he could start frequently.
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Noelvi Marte CIN 3B
Reds' Noelvi Marte: Sitting again versus righty
44m agoMarte is absent from the lineup for Monday's contest versus the Pirates.
Righty Braxton Ashcraft is taking the ball for the Pirates, marking the second time in two games versus righties in the early going that Marte has been on the bench in favor of the left-handed-swinging Will Benson. Marte has started in right field for both of the Reds' tilts against lefties. It's unlikely to be a strict platoon at the position, but it seems at this early stage of the season that Marte is behind Benson in the pecking order versus right-handed pitching.
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Deyvison De Los Santos MIA 3B
Marlins' Deyvison De Los Santos: Headed back to minors
1h agoThe Marlins optioned De Los Santos to Triple-A Jacksonville on Monday.
It was a two-day stint in the big leagues for De Los Santos, who is clearing out to make room on the roster for Leo Jimenez, who was acquired via trade from the Blue Jays on Sunday. With De Los Santos now back at Jacksonville, Connor Norby should operate as the Marlins' primary first baseman while Christopher Morel (oblique) is shelved.
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Bo Bichette NYM 3B
Mets' Bo Bichette: Struggling to begin Mets tenure
2h agoBichette went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in Sunday's extra-inning loss to the Pirates.
The 28-year-old infielder is already hearing boos from the fickle Citi Field faithful just three games into the year after going 1-for-14 with a 0:8 BB:K, with his lone RBI coming on a sacrifice fly. Bichette has also had a bumpy defensive adjustment to third base, committing one error and making a couple other errant throws to first. Bichette's track record -- he sported a career .294/.337/.469 slash line in seven seasons with the Blue Jays -- suggests there isn't much to worry about in the long run, but it could be a while before he gets comfortable in the New York pressure cooker.
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Deyvison De Los Santos MIA 3B
Marlins' Deyvison De Los Santos: Bangs out double in season debut
3h agoDe Los Santos went 1-for-2 with a double in Sunday's win over the Rockies.
The 22-year-old got the start at first base and hit eighth in the order against southpaw Jose Quintana, and he took advantage of the matchup with a two-bagger in his first big-league at-bat of the year. De Los Santos was called up when Christopher Morel (oblique) landed on the IL, but the Marlins have plenty of other options to handle first base, including left-handed hitters Griffin Conine and Liam Hicks as well as the righty-swinging Connor Norby. De Los Santos may be stuck in a short-side platoon role unless he slugs his way into more playing time, something that's not out of the question -- over 156 career games for Triple-A Jacksonville he's launched 24 homers, including one in the Jumbo Shrimp's season opener Friday.
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Andruw Monasterio BOS 3B
Red Sox's Andruw Monasterio: Enters as pinch hitter
6h agoMonasterio went 1-for-2 with a double in Sunday's 3-2 loss to Cincinnati.
Monasterio, who made his first appearance of the regular season, pinch hit for Marcelo Mayer in the seventh inning against a right-handed reliever and remained in the game at second base. The backup gave the Red Sox some hope in the ninth inning with a one-out double, but he was stranded there. With Mayer routinely hitting the bench against left-handers, Monasterio and Isiah Kiner-Falefa are positioned to be part of a platoon at second base.
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Isaac Paredes HOU 3B
Astros' Isaac Paredes: Drives in two runs Sunday
17h agoParedes went 2-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored during the Astros' 9-7 win over the Angels on Sunday.
Paredes gave the Astros an 8-6 lead with an two-run double in the eighth inning, which ended up being the winning runs for Houston. He went 0-for-7 with three strikeouts over the first two games of the series, but he turned things around over the final two contests, going 3-for-9 with one walk, four RBI and three runs scored. Paredes is looking to improve off his 2025 campaign, when he slashed .254/.352/.458 with 20 home runs and 53 RBI across 438 plate appearances.
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Chase Meidroth CHW SS
White Sox's Chase Meidroth: Day off Monday
31m agoMeidroth is not in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.
With Meidroth getting the day off from the starting nine, Miguel Vargas will bat leadoff and play first base. Lenyn Sosa is getting the start at second base and batting fifth, while cleanup hitter Colson Montgomery kicks over to third base. Luisangel Acuna is batting ninth and playing shortstop. Through three games to begin the season, Meidroth is 3-for-10 at the plate with one double, one home run, one RBI, two runs scored and a 3:3 BB:K.
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Jackson Holliday BAL SS
Orioles' Jackson Holliday: Hitless through two rehab games
5h agoHolliday (hand) has gone 0-for-6 with a walk and four strikeouts through his first two rehab appearances with Triple-A Norfolk.
Holliday didn't play in any Grapefruit League games after requiring surgery Feb. 12 to remove the fractured hook of the hamate bone in his right hand, so it's not especially surprising that he's looked rusty during the early stages of his rehab assignment. More importantly, Holliday has seemingly emerged from his first two minor-league games free of setbacks, so he should remain on track to rejoin the Orioles around mid-April once he stockpiles more at-bats and gets comfortable playing regularly again. Holliday played seven innings at second base Friday and eight Sunday, so he'll likely be cleared to play a full nine innings in the field during his next rehab game.
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Sergio Alcantara WAS SS
Phillies' Sergio Alcantara: Catches on with Philadelphia
5h agoThe Phillies signed Alcantara to a minor-league contract Friday.
Alcantara finalized his deal shortly before Triple-A Lehigh Valley's opener and went on to appear in two games during the affiliate's season-opening series, going 1-for-5 with a double, three walks and a stolen base. The 29-year-old has previously seen big-league action in parts of four seasons but will likely need the Philadelphia infield to be ravaged by injuries before receiving a call-up.
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Ezequiel Duran TEX SS
Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Contributes to win
8h agoDuran started at second base and went 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Phillies.
Duran entered the starting nine for the first time this season, replacing Josh Smith at second base against Philadelphia lefty Jesus Luzardo. There's been no indication Duran and Smith are in a strict platoon -- Smith started Opening Day against a lefty -- and Sunday's start could merely be manager Skip Schumaker keeping his bench players involved.
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Zachary Neto LAA SS
Angels' Zach Neto: Smacks another homer
17h agoNeto went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run during the Angels' 9-7 loss to the Astros on Sunday.
Neto gave the Angels a 6-4 lead in the fourth inning by blasting a two-run shot off Roddery Munoz. It was Neto's second home run of the season, and he'll finish the four-game series against Houston having gone 4-for-17 (.235) with one steal, five runs scored and three RBI.
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Vaughn Grissom LAA SS
Angels' Vaughn Grissom: Taking batting practice
18h agoGrissom (wrist) has been participating in batting practice and taking groundballs at the Angels' complex in Arizona, per MLB.com.
Grissom landed on the IL on March 24 (retroactive to March 22) due to a left wrist sprain. He seems to be progressing toward a return and isn't expected to miss extensive time. However, general manager Perry Minasian has indicated that Grissom will need a minor-league rehab assignment before being activated.
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Nick Castellanos SD RF
Padres' Nick Castellanos: Another start against righty
27m agoCastellanos will start at designated hitter and bat eighth in Monday's contest versus the Giants.
After yielding to Miguel Andujar at DH against lefties in the first two games of the season, Castellanos is now making a second straight start versus a righty. While Castellanos seems to have the early edge over Andujar in terms of playing time against right-handed pitching, there probably isn't a cemented hierarchy just yet. Gavin Sheets and Ty France are also vying for playing time in a crowded first base/DH situation for San Diego.
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Miguel Andujar SD RF
Padres' Miguel Andujar: Out of lineup againt right-hander
31m agoAndujar is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Giants.
Andujar started at designated hitter in each of the first two games of the season versus lefties. However, he's now sat two straight against righties in favor of Nick Castellanos. It's too soon to know how exactly the playing time between the two players will shake out, but early indications are that Castellanos is the preferred guy against right-handed pitching.
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Will Benson CIN RF
Reds' Will Benson: Getting another start versus righty
41m agoBenson will start in right field and bat seventh in Monday's game against the Pirates.
The left-handed-hitting Benson has started in right field both times the Reds have faced a right-hander, while the righty-swinging Noelvi Marte has held down the position against both lefties. Marte is not going to be a strict short-side platoon bat, but Benson looks to have the early leg up on him when it comes to playing time versus righties.
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Brenton Doyle COL CF
Rockies' Brenton Doyle: Getting breather Monday
1h agoDoyle is absent from the lineup for Monday's game in Toronto.
Doyle went hitless during the Rockies' season-opening series in Miami, so he'll get a day to unplug as the club opens a three-game set versus the Blue Jays. Jake McCarthy will slide over to center field and Troy Johnstone will start in right field Monday.
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Dairon Blanco TEX LF
Rangers' Dairon Blanco: Outrighted to Triple-A
2h agoThe Rangers Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com Blanco to Triple-A Round Rock on Monday, mmm reports.
He passed through waivers unclaimed after being removed from the 40-man roster last week. Blanco could decline the assignment since he's been outrighted previously, but it appears he plans to stick around in the organization as outfield depth.
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Jesus Sanchez TOR RF
Blue Jays' Jesus Sanchez: Belts first homer as Jay
3h agoSanchez went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run in Sunday's win over the A's.
The 28-year-old outfielder crushed a Luis Morales fastball to straightaway center field in the third inning, giving Sanchez his first long ball in a Toronto uniform. Sanchez has rotated starts with Nathan Lukes and Davis Schneider through the first three games of the season, but the former Marlin could end up as the preferred option against right-handed pitching, especially if the Blue Jays coaching staff can unlock more power from his bat. Sanchez has hit between 13 and 18 homers in each of the last five seasons, but his elite bat speed has teased more upside in that department.
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Nick Lodolo CIN SP
Reds' Nick Lodolo: Making rehab start Thursday
20m agoLodolo (finger) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Daytona on Thursday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
As long as things go well in Thursday's outing, Lodolo will be set to make his season debut for the Reds next week in Miami. The left-hander is working his way back from a blister on his left index finger but was cleared for game action after throwing a successful bullpen session Sunday. When Lodolo is ready to rejoin the rotation, Brandon Williamson could be sent to Triple-A Louisville or the bullpen.
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Dylan Cease TOR SP
Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Flashes more diverse pitch mix
3h agoCease has more confidence in his changeup this season and seems committed to broadening his arsenal, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
The right-hander has been essentially a two-pitch pitcher during his big-league career, throwing his two-seam fastball and slider over 40 percent of the time last season with the Padres, but in his first outing for the Blue Jays on Saturday, neither pitch reached that mark while his knuckle curve, two-seamer, changeup and sweeper all sat with usage rates between 7.8 percent and 10.0 percent. The changeup was especially impressive, as he's firmed it up a bit to give it more velocity and arm-side run but less vertical drop. The result was eight whiffs on eight changeups that averaged 83.7 mph, as batters sold out to try and meet his usual high-90s heat. "I'm going to keep fine-tuning it," Cease said. "Trying to find a little more consistency with command, but I like where it's at." With batters having more to think about than ever before when facing Cease, he struck out 12 batters in 5.1 innings -- setting a franchise record for Ks in a Blue Jays debut in the process.
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Spencer Strider ATL SP
Braves' Spencer Strider: Injury not viewed as serious
3h agoStrider (oblique) may not miss much more than the minimum amount of time, Thomas Harrigan of MLB.com reports.
During an appearance on MLB Network Radio on Sunday, Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos described Strider's oblique strain as "mild", and not as bad as the issue that cost Sean Murphy the first two months of 2024. "I think it will be sooner rather than later that you see [Strider] back," Anthopoulos said. The right-hander is first eligible to come off the IL on April 6, but it's not yet clear if he'll be ready by then. Strider himself missed about a month of action late in 2022 with an oblique issue.
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Zack Wheeler PHI SP
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Looks sharp in first rehab start
4h agoWheeler (shoulder) struck out three and scattered two hits and one walk over three scoreless frames in a rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Heading into the rehab start, the Phillies had planned for Wheeler to cover three innings or 50 pitches. The right-hander was even more economical than the Phillies had hoped, needing only 38 pitches to record nine outs in what was his first official game since Aug. 15, 2025. After undergoing thoracic outlet decompression surgery in September, Wheeler has had a fairly seamless recovery thus far and appears on track to return from the 15-day injured list around mid-April. He'll continue to build up his innings and pitch count in his next rehab start, which is set to come Friday versus Triple-A Durham.
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Martin Perez ATL SP
Braves' Martin Perez: Likely to start Tuesday's game
5h agoAtlanta selected Perez's contract from Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday.
The veteran left-hander is a good bet to start Tuesday's game against the Athletics, though Jose Suarez is also an option. Perez put together a nice Grapefruit League showing with a 2.84 ERA and 10:3 K:BB over 12.2 innings. He could hold down a spot in Atlanta's rotation until Spencer Strider (oblique) is ready to go.
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Slade Cecconi CLE SP
Guardians' Slade Cecconi: Velocity down Sunday
7h agoCecconi said Sunday that he woke up feeling under the weather, which resulted in diminished velocity, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Sunday's results were discouraging after Cecconi's preseason work suggested a pitcher about to take the next level. "I gave everything I had. Just all my velocities were down," Cecconi said. "Still, I think I executed pretty well. I think they got a few runs on some executed pitches and a few that weren't." His four-seamer averaged 92.3 mph, down two ticks from 94.3 it registered in 2025. In addition to reduced velocity, the right-hander also walked three and hit two batters. Cecconi will look to rebound this coming weekend against the Cubs.
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Andrew Kittredge BAL RP
Orioles' Andrew Kittredge: Set for rehab assignment
1h agoKittredge (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander developed inflammation in his right shoulder earlier this month, but it sounds like his stay on the 15-day injured list will be short if he avoids setbacks while out on assignment. Once healthy, Kittredge figures to occupy a top spot in the bullpen as a setup man ahead of closer Ryan Helsley.
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Carlos Estevez KC RP
Royals' Carlos Estevez: Evaluated for possible IL stint
2h agoEstevez (ankle) is likely to remain unavailable to pitch in Monday's game versus the Twins and will be evaluated for a possible stint on the injured list, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Estevez is still sporting a walking boot on his left foot as he recovers from an ankle contusion that he suffered when struck by a line drive Saturday. X-rays came back negative, but the Royals will consider an IL stint for Estevez if he hasn't made enough improvement following Tuesday's off day. Between the ankle injury and declining velocity that dates back to spring training, Estevez's standing as the Royals' closer is on shaky ground. Lucas Erceg notched a save for Kansas City in Sunday's win over Atlanta but could be unavailable Monday since he's pitched back-to-back days. Matt Strahm has also pitched each of the previous two days, so the Royals might have limited bullpen options Monday.
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Paxton Schultz WAS RP
Nationals' Paxton Schultz: Kicks off rehab assignment
4h agoSchultz (elbow) struck out two and allowed no hits and one walk over 1.2 scoreless innings in his first rehab appearance Saturday for Triple-A Rochester.
The appearance was Schultz's first since Feb. 28, after he had missed the final three weeks of the Grapefruit League due to right elbow inflammation. The 28-year-old will likely make at least another rehab appearance or two before returning from the injured list. While the Nationals will likely use him in lower-leverage spots initially once he's activated, Schultz could quickly move his way into a more prominent role if he pitches well early on, given the lack of established options in the bullpen.
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Enyel De Los Santos HOU RP
Astros' Enyel De Los Santos: Breezes through two rehab outings
5h agoDe Los Santos (knee) has tossed 2.1 scoreless innings while striking out one and allowing no hits or walks in two appearances for Triple-A Sugar Land since starting a rehab assignment Friday.
Through two appearances, the only blemish on De Los Santos' ledger has been a hit batsman, which came during his most recent outing Sunday. The right-hander opened the season on the shelf after he was out for most of spring training while recovering from a right knee strain, but he looks like he could soon be ready to rejoin the Houston bullpen. De Los Santos will be eligible for reinstatement from the injured list next week.
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Ryan Brasier TEX RP
Rangers' Ryan Brasier: Back with Texas on MiLB deal
5h agoBrasier re-signed Friday with the Rangers on a minor-league contract.
Texas had previously released Brasier on March 21 after he failed to secure a spot in the club's Opening Day roster, but after assessing his options as a free agent, he ultimately chose to stick around in the organization on another minor-league pact. The 38-year-old righty reported to Triple-A Round Rock and debuted for the affiliate Sunday, striking out one batter over 1.1 scoreless innings of relief.
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Cooper Criswell SEA RP
Mariners' Cooper Criswell: Grabs three-inning save
6h agoCriswell earned the save in Sunday's 8-0 win over the Guardians, allowing two hits while striking out five over three scoreless innings.
Criswell was sharp Sunday, limiting the Guardians to a pair of singles to close out Seattle's shutout victory, earning his second career save. The 29-year-old Criswell made the team as a long-relief option after posting a 2.51 ERA across 14.1 innings in spring training. While he may have a defined role in the Mariners' bullpen, don't expect Criswell to be a frequent source of saves. The right-hander has a career ERA of 4.42 with a 1.42 WHIP across 158.2 major-league innings.
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Yordan Alvarez HOU DH
Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Hot start to campaign
17h agoAlvarez went 1-for-2 with three walks, an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base in Sunday's 9-7 win over the Angels.
Alvarez is off to a nice start this season, going 4-for-13 with a home run and five walks through his first four games. Health will be key for the slugger in 2026, and he is slated to alternate between DH and left field. Alvarez was limited to 48 games last year, when he batted .273 with just six homers, 27 RBI and a .797 OPS across 199 plate appearances.
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Andrew McCutchen TEX DH
Rangers' Andrew McCutchen: Homers in Rangers win
21h agoMcCutchen went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer, a double and an additional run scored in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Phillies.
Making his second start this season, McCutchen extended Texas' lead to 5-0 with a three-run blast off left Jesus Luzardo, his first home run this season. The 39-year-old McCutchen is expected to fill the short side of a platoon with Joc Pederson at DH after making the team out of spring training as a non-roster invitee. Through three games, McCutchen is 4-for-9 with four RBI.
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Marcell Ozuna PIT DH
Pirates' Marcell Ozuna: Receiving breather Sunday
1d agoOzuna is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
The veteran slugger will receive the afternoon off after he started the Pirates' first two games of the season and went 1-for-9 with a walk. With Ozuna on the bench, Bryan Reynolds will cede left field to Jake Mangum and shift to designated hitter.
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Joc Pederson TEX DH
Rangers' Joc Pederson: In lineup against righty
1d agoPederson served as the designated hitter and went 0-for-1 with a walk in Saturday's 5-4 extra-inning win over Philadelphia.
Pederson, who was held out of the first game of the series with left-hander Cristopher Sanchez on the mound, got the start against righty Aaron Nola. As soon as lefty reliever Tanner Banks entered the contest, Texas manager Skip Schumaker sent Andrew McCutchen out to pinch hit for Pederson. It looks like DH will be strict platoon between the two.
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Giancarlo Stanton NYY DH
Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: Swats first homer Friday
2d agoStanton went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Friday in a 3-0 win over San Francisco.
Stanton provided the final run of the low-scoring affair with a 414-foot solo shot in the sixth inning. The slugger had a great spring, belting four homers in just 29 plate appearances, and he's gone 4-for-8 with a pair of RBI in his first two contests of the campaign. Stanton hasn't reached the 30-homer mark in a regular season since 2022, but that's largely due to a plethora of injuries that have cost him over 200 games across the past three years.
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Christopher Morel MIA DH
Marlins' Christopher Morel: Hits IL with oblique strain
2d agoThe Marlins placed Morel on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a left oblique strain.
Morel was in line to begin the regular season as Miami's primary first baseman, but an oblique issue caused him to be a late scratch from Friday's lineup, and manager Clayton McCullough said Saturday that Morel's injury will force him to miss roughly 4-to-6 weeks, per Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com. Deyvison De Los Santos was recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville in a corresponding move and figures to be in the mix at first base with Connor Norby until Morel returns.