Philadelphia Phillies outfield prospect Justin Crawford went 2-for-4 in his MLB debut. The team's No. 1 outfield prospect knocked two singles and scored a run off an Alec Bohm home run. Crawford broke camp as the team's starting center fielder and appears to be transitioning well to the major leagues. In camp, the former first-round selection held a .250/.291/.346 line with three stolen bases. Last summer, Crawford spent the entire campaign at Triple-A Lehigh Valley and performed at a high level, carrying a .334/.411/.452 line with 23 doubles, seven home runs, and 46 stolen bases. Fantasy managers should continue to view Crawford as a solid No. 4/No. 5 outfielder in standard category leagues, given his high-end contact skills and elite speed. He should remain penciled in as the team's center fielder for the foreseeable future.

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Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes is arguably the best pitcher in baseball and has been a hot topic in trade rumors. The New York Yankees reportedly offered four prospects for Skenes during the offseason. It wasn't enough as the Pirates didn't even listen to the offer, according to Jon Heyman. The 23-year-old star pitcher isn't a free agent until 2030, so there's no urgency for the Pirates to move the right-hander. The organization made multiple moves this offseason to add offense in an attempt to build a better team around Skenes. It's not shocking that they weren't willing to trade him with the organization actively trying to be competitive right now. The Pirates didn't even entertain an offer of four prospects, so it's unclear what they'd even consider for Skenes.

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Cincinnati Reds first base prospect Sal Stewart went 3-for-4 on Opening Day with two doubles. Despite facing Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet, Stewart filled the statsheet, hitting a double in his first at-bat against the Cy Young contender. Later in the contest, he would tally another hit off Crochet (a single) and would add his second double in the eighth inning. Stewart made his MLB debut late in the 2025 season and flashed high-end power during this short 18-game stint, hitting five round-trippers. During spring training, Stewart looked just as comfortable, carrying a .327/.450/.592 line with three home runs and four stolen bases over a 20-game sample. Fantasy managers should expect Stewart to remain a key part of the starting nine, seeing time at first, second, and third base. He remains a high-end corner infielder with five-category upside going forward.

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Cleveland Guardians top outfield prospect Chase DeLauter went 3-for-5 with two home runs during his MLB debut on Thursday evening. DeLauter wasted little time making an impact as he hit a solo shot off Seattle ace Logan Gilbert in the opening frame. Later in the ninth inning, DeLauter would hit his second long ball of the game (also a solo blast), this time off Seattle reliever Cooper Criswell. DeLuater turned in a dominant showing in spring training, posting a .459/.535/.838 slash line with three home runs and a 4:6 K:BB, which earned him a starting role on the roster. Given his incredible regular-season debut, DeLauter should remain a staple in the Cleveland lineup for the foreseeable future. He is a top waiver-wire target heading into Week 2.

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Cleveland Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee (shoulder) left Thursday night's Opening Day start on the road against the Seattle Mariners with trainer Jeff Desjardins before throwing a pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning with right-shoulder inflammation, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. Before leaving, Bibee had allowed three earned runs on four hits (three solo homers allowed) while walking two and striking out seven in five innings of work. The 27-year-old could go for imaging on Friday to determine the severity of his shoulder injury. Expect the Guardians to proceed with caution with their star pitcher early in the season, which means fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if Bibee goes on the injured list. Bibee posted a 3.61 ERA (3.83 FIP), 1.17 WHIP, 23.8% strikeout rate, and a 7.0% walk rate in 498 innings over 87 starts in his first three years in Cleveland. He came into the 2026 season just inside RotoBaller's top-50 fantasy starting pitcher rankings. Bibee will need to be stashed in all fantasy formats if he ends up going on the injured list.

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Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez picked up where he left off in 2025 with six shutout innings, no walks, and 10 strikeouts on Thursday in the team's 5-3 Opening Day win over the visiting Texas Rangers at Citizens Bank Park. Sanchez was masterful and allowed only three hits (one extra-base hit) on the day. The Rangers did hit some balls hard, but they didn't have anything to show for it and were unable to draw a single base-on-balls in the contest. The 29-year-old Dominican lefty has emerged as one of the best arms in baseball in the last couple of seasons. Sanchez was a first-time All-Star in 2024 and then backed it up by finishing second in the National League Cy Young race last year with a 13-5 record, career-best 2.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and a 212:44 K:BB in 202 innings over 32 starts. Not only does Sanchez have plenty of strikeout upside, but he also rarely walks hitters, making him an elite No. 1 fantasy starter. You'll want him in all lineups when he faces the Nationals in his second start of the 2026 season next week.

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St. Louis Cardinals infield prospect JJ Wetherholt continued a trend on Opening Day on Thursday of young prospects making an immediate impact for their ballclubs. The 23-year-old former seventh overall pick in 2024 out of West Virginia went 1-for-4 with the first home run of his big-league career, two RBI, and a strikeout out of the leadoff spot in the Cardinals' 9-7 come-from-behind victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. Wetherholt's home run got the team on the board off right-handed starter Drew Rasmussen. His other RBI came on a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning. Wetherholt slashed .306/.421/.510 with a .931 OPS, 17 home runs, 59 RBI, 82 runs scored, and 23 stolen bases in 109 games in 2025 at Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis. His power/speed upside and regular starter for St. Louis should make him an immediate contributor in mixed fantasy leagues in 2026 in his first full year in the Show.

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Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout looked like his old self in the team's 3-0 shutout win over the division-rival Houston Astros on Thursday on Opening Day. Trout led the way offensively for the Halos on a day where runs were at a premium, going 1-for-2 with a solo home run, three walks, and a strikeout. The 34-year-old 11-time All-Star and three-time MVP hit his home run off reliever AJ Blubaugh in the seventh inning to give his team a 1-0 lead at the time. Trout obviously has the skills to be a fantasy contributor across all categories, but he's also become much more of a risk as he enters his mid-30s due to injuries. He has played in under 100 games in three of the last five seasons. Trout hit 26 home runs and drove in 64 runs in 130 games in 2025, although he stole just two bases. It is very encouraging to see Trout steal a bag in the season opener. If he keeps it up and stays healthy, he'll be a major draft-day steal.

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St. Louis Cardinals right-handed reliever Ryne Stanek emerged with the team's first save chance in the 9-7 Opening Day win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday and delivered. The 34-year-old veteran made it interesting, though, walking three and striking out one in the one-inning outing for his first save of 2026. Manager Oliver Marmol did not name a primary closer going into the regular season and expects the situation to "solve itself." In addition to Stanek, Riley O'Brien, JoJo Romero, and Matt Svanson could all be involved in a closer committee early in the season. O'Brien pitched the eighth inning and picked up the win for St. Louis, allowing a hit and striking out two in 1 1/3 innings. O'Brien will probably end up getting most of the save chances for the Red Birds over the course of the season, as Stanek has always been more suited for a setup role, and he has only 15 career saves as he heads into his 10th major-league season.

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Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever Jordan Romano slammed the door shut on the Houston Astros in the 3-0 Opening Day win on Thursday at Daikin Park to earn his first save of the season. Romano allowed a walk and struck out one in his inning of work to complete the shutout for starter Jose Soriano, who earned his first win of 2026. All of Ben Joyce (shoulder), Robert Stephenson (elbow), and Kirby Yates (knee) are on the injured list to begin the year, so the 32-year-old Romano is the Angels reliever most likely to see the most save opportunities early on. Veteran left-hander Drew Pomeranz could also get a look from first-year manager Kurt Suzuki. If Romano is on your league's waiver wire and you could use a short-term saves option, Romano could be your guy. The Canadian hurler has had his share of struggles the last two years, but there's something to be said for his 114 career saves as he starts his eighth year in the majors.

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Detroit Tigers infield prospect Kevin McGonigle showed why he's the No. 2 overall prospect in baseball in 2026 in the team's 8-2 Opening Day win on Thursday over the hosting San Diego Padres at Petco Park. McGonigle went 4-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored to join Willie McCovey and Kirby Puckett as the only players in MLB history who had four hits in their big-league debut. The 21-year-old left-handed hitter profiles as Detroit's future starting shortstop, but he made the Opening Day start at third base, with Javier Baez at the 6. The former first-rounder in 2023 is one of the best pure-hitting prospects in baseball, and he put that on display on Thursday against the Padres. McGonigle slashed .305/.408/.583 with a .991 OPS, 19 home runs, 80 RBI, 68 runs scored, and 10 steals in three minor-league stops in 2025. He got his day started in the first inning with a bases-loaded double that scored two runs, and then he doubled off the right-field wall in his second at-bat. McGonigle's power/speed upside at a premier position makes him a potential future star in the making.

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Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Pavin Smith (elbow) has been scratched from the Opening Day lineup on Thursday evening against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers due to left-elbow soreness, according to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. The Diamondbacks don't believe that Smith's elbow injury is serious, so he could be right back in the lineup on Friday night in L.A. Tim Tawa will make the start at designated hitter in place of Smith for the Snakes versus Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Smith has earned regular at-bats in Arizona between first base and designated hitter after hitting .262/.357/.475 with an .832 OPS, 17 home runs, 64 RBI, and 62 runs scored in 147 games and 446 plate appearances over the last two seasons. However, he had a career-high 31.9% strikeout rate in 2025 and has just a .597 career OPS against left-handed pitchers. It's a limited fantasy ceiling for Smith.

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The Philadelphia Inquirer's Nick Vadala reports that Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm is suing his own parents, alleging that they mismanaged his finances. It wasn't weighing too heavily on Bohm during the Phillies' Opening Day win on Thursday over the Texas Rangers, as he went 1-for-3 at the plate with a three-run home run and a walk in the 5-3 victory. It's unfortunate that the 29-year-old is going through personal issues involving money with his own family, but it shouldn't negatively affect his performance on the field in 2026, in what is his seventh year in the big leagues. Bohm was a first-time All-Star in 2024 and has hit at least .280 in three of the last four seasons. The power just hasn't been there for a third baseman in fantasy, though, as Bohm's career high in homers came in 2023 with 20. Still, he's plenty useful for his high batting average and run production in one of the best lineups in baseball. Bohm has 90-plus RBI in two of the last three years.

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New York Mets outfield prospect Carson Benge had a major-league debut to remember on Thursday on Opening Day against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates in an 11-7 victory, going 1-for-3 with a solo home run, two runs scored, two walks, a stolen base, and two strikeouts. Benge's first big-league home run came off reliever Justin Lawrence in the sixth inning. The 23-year-old former 19th overall pick in 2024 out of Oklahoma State kept it going after a strong spring training in which he hit .366 (15-for-41) with an .874 OPS, no home runs, five RBI, five runs scored, and a stolen base in 14 Grapefruit League games. Benge will probably sit frequently against left-handed pitchers in his first full major-league season, which limits his ceiling in redraft fantasy leagues, but there's no denying his power/speed upside in dynasty/keeper leagues. It's a promising start for him for managers who were willing to take a chance on him in mixed leagues.

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The Chicago Cubs agreed with second baseman Nico Hoerner on an undisclosed six-year deal on Thursday, pending a physical, sources told Jesse Rogers of ESPN. Hoerner went hitless in four at-bats in the Cubs' 10-4 Opening Day loss on Thursday to the Washington Nationals, but the Cubs will lock up his stellar defense and strong contact skills as a hitter for the foreseeable future. It comes just after the Cubs locked up All-Star outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong to a six-year contract. Hoerner, a former first-rounder in 2018 out of Stanford, has hit a strong .284/.339/.389 with a .728 OPS, 33 home runs, 231 RBI, 333 runs scored, and 123 stolen bases in four seasons in Chicago since becoming the team's full-time starter at the keystone in 2022. It's not the power you're chasing when it comes to Hoerner -- he has just 36 homers in seven seasons -- but he's a counting-stat compiler with strong on-base skills who can hit for a high average.

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Milwaukee Brewers young right-hander Jacob Misiorowski was electric in the team's 14-2 Opening Day win on Thursday against the visiting Chicago White Sox. Misiorowski showed why he's one of the highest-upside young hurlers in the game by striking out 11 in five innings pitched. He allowed just one earned run on two hits while walking three. The only run that Miz allowed was a leadoff solo home run to infielder Chase Meidroth. The 23-year-old former second-rounder in 2022 out of Crowder College debuted in 2025 to a 5-3 record, 4.36 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 87:31 K:BB in 66 innings over 15 appearances (14 starts). He now already has three 10-strikeout games in his first 15 big-league starts, giving him tons of upside for fantasy managers. Misiorowski's second start of the 2026 season is expected to come next Wednesday, April 1, against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. He'll be a must-start in fantasy in that matchup.

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It was not the Opening Day that Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes was expecting on Thursday on the road against the New York Mets. Skenes took the loss and didn't make it out of the first inning, allowing five earned runs on four hits while walking two and striking out one in two-thirds of an inning. He was pulled after just 37 pitches in an eventual 11-7 loss. Most of the damage against Skenes came on a bases-loaded triple. It was just one of those days, and not even Skenes is immune to them. The reigning National League Cy Young winner and former Rookie of the Year will be well-rested for his second start of 2026, which will come next Wednesday, April 1, against the Cincinnati Reds. We think Skenes will bounce back just fine. He is already one of the most dominant starting pitchers in the league in just his third major-league campaign.

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Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe had a really nice debut with the Bucs in an 11-7 Opening Day loss to the New York Mets on Thursday, going 2-for-4 with two solo home runs and three RBI. Both of his home runs came off new Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta. It's nice to see for Lowe, who hit just 6-for-30 (.200) with no homers or RBI, six walks, and 12 strikeouts in 36 plate appearances over 13 Grapefruit League games in spring training. There's still a lot to like about the left-handed pop that Lowe can provide at the second base position, especially if he continues to hit near the top of the Pirates' batting order. However, the drawbacks are that Lowe is very injury-prone and that he has never hit lefties well (.695 career OPS). He's coming off his second career 30-homer season in 2025, though, and he's had at least 21 long balls in each of the last three seasons. The two-time All-Star's .326 career on-base percentage doesn't scream two-hole hitter.

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Cleveland Guardians left-handed pitching prospect Parker Messick is set to open the 2026 season with a spot in the team's big-league rotation. Messick made his MLB debut in 2025, recording a 3-1 record with a 2.72 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 38 strikeouts across 39 2/3 innings (seven starts). While the 25-year-old posted just a 23% strikeout rate in his first taste of the big leagues, he demonstrated more impressive swing-and-miss generation throughout his time in the minors. Across 98 2/3 Triple-A innings in 2025, Messick struck out 29.1% of the batters he faced. In 19 2/3 innings this spring, Messick recorded a 4.12 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 17 strikeouts. If Messick can hold a spot in the Guardians' rotation throughout 2026, he could emerge as a worthy waiver-wire target for fantasy managers.

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Seattle Mariners second baseman Cole Young made his MLB debut in 2025, hitting .211/.302/.305 with four home runs, 24 RBI, 24 runs scored, and one stolen base across 257 plate appearances. While Young's numbers at the plate amounted to well below-average production, it's important to remember that 2025 was just his age-21 season. Entering 2026, Young projects as Seattle's everyday second baseman and should have a second chance to establish himself as an everyday big-leaguer. Young put together an impressive performance in the Cactus League this spring, hitting .281/.349/.667 with six home runs and three stolen bases across 63 plate appearances. While Young recorded just one steal in the majors in 2025, he showcased more speed in his minor league career with back-to-back 20-plus steal seasons in 2023 and 2024. If he can take a step forward across the board with another year of development in 2026, Young could be a sleeper second base option off the waiver wire for deep-league fantasy managers.

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