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Alek Thomas ARI CF
Diamondbacks' Alek Thomas: Drives in three in loss
6m agoThomas went 2-for-3 with two doubles, a walk, three RBI and one stolen base in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Dodgers.
Thomas did some damage from the No. 8 spot in the order in this contest to avenge his 0-for-3 performance to open the season Thursday. The outfielder looks to be the early favorite for time in center field, though he and Jordan Lawlar made swap between left and center at times. Thomas went 10-for-31 (.323) with six extra-base hits in spring training, and if he can keep the bat hot earlier in the year, he should find himself in an everyday role. He slashed .249/.289/.370 with nine home runs, 19 doubles, three triples, 38 RBI, 51 runs scored and seven stolen bases over 469 plate appearances in the 2025 regular season.
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Ketel Marte ARI 2B
Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte: Lifts solo shot
10m agoMarte went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Dodgers.
Marte had lower-leg soreness late in the spring, but he's been good to go at second base for the first two games of the regular season. He went 0-for-4 on Thursday, but he was able to make a positive impact Friday with his solo shot off Emmet Sheehan in the third inning. Marte has racked up a total of 89 homers over the last three seasons, making him a premier power option at a very thin position in fantasy. That said, he'll have fewer RBI chances from the leadoff spot, where he's hit in both games so far, and he hasn't logged double-digit stolen bases since 2019.
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Ryne Nelson ARI SP
Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson: Struggles in third inning
14m agoNelson allowed four runs on two hits and three walks while striking out four over 4.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Friday.
Nelson didn't give up much, but the Dodgers strung together a rally in the third inning. Alex Freeland tagged him for a solo home run and Mookie Betts added a three-run blast. Nelson threw 50 of 83 pitches for strikes in his season debut after working to a 3.18 ERA and 23:2 K:BB across 17 innings over five starts in spring training. He was a pleasant surprise in 2025 with a 3.39 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 132:41 K:BB over 154 innings across 33 appearances (23 starts) in the regular season. Nelson looks to be set as a full-time starter in 2026 and could eat his fair share of innings, but he doesn't have a lot of strikeout potential after a 7.7 K/9 last year. He is projected to make a home start versus Atlanta next week.
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Kyle Tucker LAD RF
Dodgers' Kyle Tucker: Logs first steal
20m agoTucker went 1-for-3 with a walk, one RBI, a stolen base and one run scored in Friday's 5-4 win over the Diamondbacks.
Tucker has settled into the No. 2 spot in the lineup, nestled between Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts. With at least 25 steals in three of the last four regular seasons and no less than 22 homers in any of the last five years, Tucker should bring balanced production in his first campaign with the Dodgers. He's 2-for-7 with two walks and two RBI through two games so far, and he should be a big source of counting stats in one of the most potent offenses in the majors.
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Alex Freeland LAD SS
Dodgers' Alex Freeland: Homer, double in win
22m agoFreeland went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a double and a second run scored in Friday's 5-4 win over the Diamondbacks.
Freeland made his first start of the season at second base after Miguel Rojas got the nod at the keystone for Opening Day. Over 97 regular-season plate appearances in 2025, Freeland posted a .190/.292/.310 slash line with two home runs, six RBI, 10 runs scored and a stolen base. He'll have an extended audition early in the season while Tommy Edman (ankle) is on the shelf. With the Dodgers' outfield mix set and Edman likely to see his time at second base once healthy, Freeland will need to perform well to stick around on the major-league roster as a potential utility bat. Hyeseong Kim is also in the mix for time at second base, which could make it difficult for Freeland to carve out enough playing time to help in most fantasy formats.
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Mookie Betts LAD RF
Dodgers' Mookie Betts: Lifts three-run homer
27m agoBetts went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Friday's 5-4 win over the Diamondbacks.
Betts gave the Dodgers a short-lived lead in the third inning with his first homer of the season. The 33-year-old is 2-for-8 with four RBI and one strikeout over his first two games of the season. Betts is operating as the Dodgers' everyday shortstop for the second year in a row. He's looking to bounce back from a somewhat difficult 2025 regular season, in which he posted a career-worst .732 OPS with 20 home runs, 82 RBI, 95 runs scored and eight stolen bases over 150 contests. He should get some positive regression, as his .258 BABIP last year was also a career low, though gains in luck could be partially offset by some age-related drops in production.
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Shea Langeliers ATH C
Athletics' Shea Langeliers: Cracks two solo homers
4h agoLangeliers went 3-for-4 with two solo home runs during the Athletics' 3-2 loss to the Blue Jays on Friday.
Langeliers provided the Athletics all of their offense on Opening Day, with the All-Star catcher blasting solo home runs in the fourth and ninth innings off Kevin Gausman and Jeff Hoffman, respectively. It was Langeliers second multi-homer game since 2025 and the seventh in his four-year major-league career. The 28-year-old catcher is looking to build off his strong 2025 campaign, when he posted a .861 OPS with 31 home runs, 72 RBI and seven steals across 523 plate appearances.
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Freddy Fermin SD C
Padres' Freddy Fermin: Takes seat in second game
10h agoFermin is not in the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Tigers.
Fermin was behind the dish for Thursday's opener, but he will yield to Luis Campusano for the second game of the series. The playing time between the two catchers this season will likely tilt slightly toward Fermin.
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Drake Baldwin ATL C
Braves' Drake Baldwin: Draws start at DH versus lefty
11h agoBaldwin will start at designated hitter and bat second in Friday's opener versus the Royals.
Per Mark Bowman of MLB.com, Atlanta manager Walt Weiss noted Thursday that he planned to use Baldwin at DH and Jonah Heim at catcher against left-handed pitching, and that's how things are set up Friday against Royals southpaw Cole Ragans. The left-handed-swinging Baldwin had virtually even splits in his rookie season, slashing .299/.358/.460 against lefties and .267/.336/.472 versus righties. Being used in the DH slot on days he doesn't catch is a big boost to Baldwin's outlook for counting stats.
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Braxton Fulford COL C
Rockies' Braxton Fulford: Summoned from minors
12h agoThe Rockies recalled Fulford from Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
He's taking the roster spot vacated by Mickey Moniak (finger). Fulford was beaten out by Brett Sullivan for the No. 2 catcher job in Colorado but will wind up making the Opening Day roster after all. With three catchers available, the Rockies could give Hunter Goodman more time at designated hitter while Moniak is shelved.
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William Contreras MIL C
Brewers' William Contreras: Drives in three
13h agoContreras went 1-for-3 with two walks, a double, three RBI and a run scored in Thursday's 14-2 win against the White Sox.
The 28-year-old carried a hot bat during spring training with three homers and a 1.025 OPS in eight Cactus League games, and he carried over that success into Opening Day. Contreras came to the plate with the bases loaded in the second inning Thursday and cleared them with a double, and he followed with a single and a run scored in the sixth. His offensive production dipped last year with a .754 OPS in 150 regular-season games while playing through a left middle finger fracture, but Contreras is positioned to produce something closer to his career .805 OPS in 2026 now that he's healthy.
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Francisco Alvarez NYM C
Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Goes yard on Opening Day
15h agoAlvarez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Thursday's win over the Pirates.
The 24-year-old catcher went back-to-back with rookie Carson Benge in the sixth inning off Justin Lawrence. Alvarez has been slowed by injuries the last couple seasons and hasn't come close to the 25 homers he launched in his first full big-league season in 2023, but he could be ready to put things together in 2026 if he can stay in the lineup.
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Ty France SD 1B
Padres' Ty France: Drawing start at first base
10h agoFrance will start at first base and bat seventh in Friday's game versus the Tigers.
After the lefty-swinging Gavin Sheets started at first base Opening Day against southpaw Tarik Skubal, the Padres will go with the right-handed-hitting France versus lefty Framber Valdez. San Diego is expected to give Sheets plenty of run at first base against lefties this season, but France and Nick Castellanos will also be in the mix at the position.
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Ben Rice NYY 1B
Yankees' Ben Rice: Not facing lefty
13h agoRice is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Giants.
After going 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored Wednesday, Rice will take a seat Friday afternoon against southpaw Robbie Ray. Paul Goldschmidt will draw the start at first base.
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Jac Caglianone KC 1B
Royals' Jac Caglianone: Idle against southpaw
14h agoCaglianone isn't part of the starting lineup for Friday's game against Atlanta.
The lefty-hitting Caglianone will dodge a matchup with Chris Sale on Friday, allowing Starling Marte to draw the start in right field. Caglianone and Marte are expected to platoon to begin the season, but Caglianone could earn looks against left-handed pitching with a strong start.
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Ryan O'Hearn PIT 1B
Pirates' Ryan O'Hearn: Productive in Pirates debut
1d agoO'Hearn went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored Thursday against the Mets.
O'Hearn took Tobias Myers yard in the sixth inning to tally his first home run of 2026 as well as with the Pirates. O'Hearn led off the final frame with a single and came around to score his second run of the contest. He started in right field and hit fifth in the order, and he should continue to hold a prominent role in Pittsburgh's lineup against right-handed pitchers.
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Jonathan Aranda TB 1B
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Clubs Opening Day homer
1d agoAranda went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional RBI in Thursday's 9-7 loss to the Cardinals.
The left-handed-hitting Aranda managed to take southpaw Matthew Liberatore yard for his first long ball of the season. The first baseman hit third in his season debut, which should help his fantasy upside while occupying a premium lineup spot. Aranda was a strong four-category producer when available for the Rays in 2025, batting .316 with 14 homers, 59 RBI and 56 runs scored over 370 regular-season at-bats (106 games).
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Munetaka Murakami CHW 1B
White Sox's Munetaka Murakami: Homers in MLB debut
1d agoMurakami went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and two walks in Thursday's 14-2 loss against the Brewers.
Murakami made a great impression in his big-league debut, reaching base three times and launching a 384-foot solo shot to lead off the ninth inning for his first career MLB home run. The 26-year-old also showed strong plate discipline, drawing two walks in the contest and looking comfortable at the plate on a day when Brewers pitchers recorded 20 strikeouts. The homer, which he pulled into the right-field corner, offered an early glimpse of the power that Murakami showcased in Japan, where he hit 246 home runs across eight seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball.
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Ketel Marte ARI 2B
Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte: Lifts solo shot
10m agoMarte went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Dodgers.
Marte had lower-leg soreness late in the spring, but he's been good to go at second base for the first two games of the regular season. He went 0-for-4 on Thursday, but he was able to make a positive impact Friday with his solo shot off Emmet Sheehan in the third inning. Marte has racked up a total of 89 homers over the last three seasons, making him a premier power option at a very thin position in fantasy. That said, he'll have fewer RBI chances from the leadoff spot, where he's hit in both games so far, and he hasn't logged double-digit stolen bases since 2019.
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Andres Gimenez TOR 2B
Blue Jays' Andres Gimenez: Powers Jays to Opening Day win
4h agoGimenez went 2-for-3 with a walk, a two-run triple and an RBI single in Friday's 3-2 win over the Athletics on Friday.
Gimenez gave the Blue Jays their first runs of the 2026 season in the fifth inning, when he belted a two-run triple off Luis Severino. Gimenez followed that up with an RBI single in the ninth, which brought Kazuma Okamoto home to give Toronto the Opening Day victory in front of a home crowd. It's been a busy start to 2026 for Gimenez, who played a key role in Team Venezuela's triumph in the World Baseball Classic over Team USA. He saw his slash line drop last year in what was his first campaign with the Blue Jays but will look to get back to the kind of form he had in 2022 with the Guardians, when he recorded an .837 OPS with 20 steals, 17 homers and 69 RBI in 557 plate appearances.
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Edouard Julien COL 2B
Rockies' Edouard Julien: Starting at DH in opener
12h agoJulien will start at designated hitter and bat eighth in Friday's opener in Miami.
The placement of Mickey Moniak (finger) on the 10-day injured list will free up some at-bats at DH and in the outfield for the Rockies. Julien will get the first crack at DH, though the spot is likely to be a revolving door. The 26-year-old was acquired from the Twins over the offseason.
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Brendan Donovan SEA 2B
Mariners' Brendan Donovan: Homer, double in Mariners debut
18h agoDonovan went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a double in Thursday's 6-4 loss to the Guardians.
Donovan got the Mariners offense going in his first regular-season at-bat with the team, as he led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run off Tanner Bibee, tying the game at 1-1. Donovan picked up where he left off in spring training, when he slashed .413/.491/.543 across 57 plate appearances. The 29-year-old is expected to open the year as Seattle's primary third baseman and leadoff batter.
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Daniel Schneemann CLE 2B
Guardians' Daniel Schneemann: In Opening Day lineup
20h agoSchneemann started in center field and went 1-for-2 with a run scored in Thursday's 6-4 win over Seattle.
Schneemann, a utility infielder that has added outfield to his resume since arriving in the majors in 2024, was a mildly surprising addition to the Opening Day lineup over Angel Martinez and prospect CJ Kayfus. Any of the three would have had a platoon advantage against Seattle righty Logan Gilbert, as Kayfus and Schneemann hit left-handed and Martinez is a switch hitter. A report from the National Daily indicates manager Stephen Vogt used Schneemann because of his experience and the matchup against the pitcher. However, Schneemann entered the game hitless over three career at-bats against Gilbert. Given the hot spring Martinez turned in and the fact that Steven Kwan saw time in center field often during spring training, Schneemann is not expected to be close to an everyday player there.
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Nick Gonzales PIT 2B
Pirates' Nick Gonzales: Knocks in two
1d agoGonzales went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored Thursday against the Mets.
Gonzales started at third base and hit eighth to begin the new season. He did his damage in a late rally for Pittsburgh in the ninth inning, as he doubled in two after splitting a pair of outfielders in right-center field. Gonzales should continue to play nearly every day at third base for the time being, though his outlook could change once Konnor Griffin is in the majors.
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Deyvison De Los Santos MIA 3B
Marlins' Deyvison De Los Santos: Joining big club
3h agoThe Marlins are expected to recall De Los Santos from Triple-A Jacksonville on Saturday, Kevin Barral of FishonFirst.com reports.
De Los Santos failed to make the Opening Day roster after going 4-for-14 in the Grapefruit League, but he's now due to join the big club one game into the Marlins' season. His call-up could indicate a trip to the IL is coming for Christopher Morel, who was scratched from Thursday's lineup with an oblique strain. If that's the case, De Los Santos may make a few starts at first base in Miami.
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Kazuma Okamoto TOR 3B
Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto: Game-winning run in MLB debut
4h agoOkamoto went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored during the Blue Jays' 3-2 win over the Athletics on Friday.
Okamoto took his first major-league base in the fifth inning with a walk before being brought home on a two-run triple by Andres Gimenez. Okamoto's single in the seventh was the first hit of his MLB career, and after getting on base again in the ninth, he crossed home as the game-winning run on a single from Gimenez. It was a promising start for Okamoto, who joined the Blue Jays on a four-year, $60 million contract in the offseason after a successful stint in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
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Colt Keith DET 3B
Tigers' Colt Keith: Not starting Friday
8h agoKeith is out of the lineup for Friday's game against San Diego.
The ascension of Kevin McGonigle has nixed Keith's opportunity to land a regular role at third base. While the Tigers found a spot for Keith at designated hitter on Opening Day, the 24-year-old is out of the starting nine Friday as Gleyber Torres serves as the DH and Zach McKinstry plays second base. McGonigle, after going 4-for-5 in the opener, is manning third once again.
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Isaac Paredes HOU 3B
Astros' Isaac Paredes: In lineup again Friday
10h agoParedes will bat third and DH in Friday's game against the Angels.
Paredes started at third base on Opening Day due to the absence of Jeremy Pena (finger), and even with Pena back in action, Paredes remains in the lineup. Houston will move Yordan Alvarez to left field to avoid a same-handed matchup between Joey Loperfido and Halos starter Yusei Kikuchi. While Paredes may not have an everyday role, he could force his way into the lineup if his bat gets hot.
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Rafael Devers SF 3B
Giants' Rafael Devers: Lingering hamstring tightness
13h agoGiants manager Tony Vitello said Friday that Devers has started at designated hitter in the first two games of the season in part because of lingering tightness in his left hamstring, John Shea of The San Francisco Standard reports.
Devers first tweaked his hamstring in late February, and Vitello said there's "still little bit of a feeling in there." The skipper noted that Devers is capable of handling first base, if necessary, but it sounds like the club could keep him in the DH slot for a bit longer as a precaution. Casey Schmitt has started at first base in each of the Giants' first two contests.
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Brady House WAS 3B
Nationals' Brady House: Starts season with bang
15h agoHouse went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and a second run scored in Thursday's win over the Cubs.
The 22-year-old third baseman also struck out twice, but the contact he did make was extremely hard -- House scorched a single to center field in the fourth inning that left his bat at 106.7 mph, before crushing a first-pitch fastball from Jacob Webb in the ninth that had an exit velocity of 110.8 mph as it soared over the right-field wall. House was batting third for the Nationals on Opening Day against left-hander Matthew Boyd, and while he might slip down the lineup against righties, he'll retain a spot in the heart of the order on an everyday basis if he unlocks his power in 2026.
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Alex Freeland LAD SS
Dodgers' Alex Freeland: Homer, double in win
22m agoFreeland went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a double and a second run scored in Friday's 5-4 win over the Diamondbacks.
Freeland made his first start of the season at second base after Miguel Rojas got the nod at the keystone for Opening Day. Over 97 regular-season plate appearances in 2025, Freeland posted a .190/.292/.310 slash line with two home runs, six RBI, 10 runs scored and a stolen base. He'll have an extended audition early in the season while Tommy Edman (ankle) is on the shelf. With the Dodgers' outfield mix set and Edman likely to see his time at second base once healthy, Freeland will need to perform well to stick around on the major-league roster as a potential utility bat. Hyeseong Kim is also in the mix for time at second base, which could make it difficult for Freeland to carve out enough playing time to help in most fantasy formats.
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Cole Young SEA SS
Mariners' Cole Young: Belts three-run homer
1h agoYoung went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in Friday's 5-1 win over the Guardians.
Young was held hitless Thursday, going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts to start the season. He bounced back with a go-ahead blast in the fourth inning Friday, which is the fifth homer of his young major-league career. The second baseman launched six homers and added 18 RBI over 19 games in spring training, so there's some power potential, though he'll likely be negatively impacted by playing half his games at T-Mobile Park. He posted a .607 OPS, four homers, 24 RBI, 24 runs scored and one stolen base over 257 plate appearances during the 2025 regular season. Young looks to have a clear path to at-bats versus right-handed pitchers this season, and a strong start to the season could make him a near-everyday player.
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Jeremy Pena HOU SS
Astros' Jeremy Pena: In lineup Friday
11h agoPena (finger) is leading off and playing shortstop Friday against the Angels.
Pena was held out on Opening Day, but he's back in action for game No. 2. His return to the lineup pushes Carlos Correa to third base, while Isaac Paredes moves to DH and Yordan Alvarez fills left field. Pena sustained a fractured finger March 4.
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Yiddi Cappe MIA SS
Yiddi Cappe: Cut loose by Marlins
11h agoThe Marlins released Cappe on Friday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Cappe received a $3.5 million bonus from the Marlins during the 2020-2021 international signing period, but he didn't develop as hoped, slashing just .250/.296/.354in five seasons. The 23-year-old reached the Double-A level for the first time in 2025, playing in six games for Pensacola.
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Casey Schmitt SF SS
Giants' Casey Schmitt: Another start at first base
14h agoSchmitt will start at first base and bat seventh in Friday's game versus the Yankees.
Schmitt started at first base against lefty Max Fried in the opener and is now back at the position versus righty Cam Schlittler for the second game of the season. Meanwhile, Rafael Devers is again at designated hitter and Jerar Encarnacion is on the bench. Schmitt will likely need to get off to a hot start to remain an everyday player, but it's clear he's at least the preferred defensive option at first base for new manager Tony Vitello.
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Nasim Nunez WAS SS
Nationals' Nasim Nunez: Swipes first bag of year
15h agoNunez went 0-for-2 with a walk, a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base in Thursday's win over the Cubs.
Getting the start at second base and batting seventh, Nunez made an immediate impact with his speed when he drew a one-out walk and stole second in the sixth inning before scoring on a Ben Brown wild pitch. Nunez came into the season with 17 steals in 20 attempts over 90 big-league games in a utility role, giving him significant stolen-base upside if he hits enough to hang onto a starting spot at the keystone for the Nats.
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Alek Thomas ARI CF
Diamondbacks' Alek Thomas: Drives in three in loss
6m agoThomas went 2-for-3 with two doubles, a walk, three RBI and one stolen base in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Dodgers.
Thomas did some damage from the No. 8 spot in the order in this contest to avenge his 0-for-3 performance to open the season Thursday. The outfielder looks to be the early favorite for time in center field, though he and Jordan Lawlar made swap between left and center at times. Thomas went 10-for-31 (.323) with six extra-base hits in spring training, and if he can keep the bat hot earlier in the year, he should find himself in an everyday role. He slashed .249/.289/.370 with nine home runs, 19 doubles, three triples, 38 RBI, 51 runs scored and seven stolen bases over 469 plate appearances in the 2025 regular season.
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Kyle Tucker LAD RF
Dodgers' Kyle Tucker: Logs first steal
20m agoTucker went 1-for-3 with a walk, one RBI, a stolen base and one run scored in Friday's 5-4 win over the Diamondbacks.
Tucker has settled into the No. 2 spot in the lineup, nestled between Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts. With at least 25 steals in three of the last four regular seasons and no less than 22 homers in any of the last five years, Tucker should bring balanced production in his first campaign with the Dodgers. He's 2-for-7 with two walks and two RBI through two games so far, and he should be a big source of counting stats in one of the most potent offenses in the majors.
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Mookie Betts LAD RF
Dodgers' Mookie Betts: Lifts three-run homer
27m agoBetts went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Friday's 5-4 win over the Diamondbacks.
Betts gave the Dodgers a short-lived lead in the third inning with his first homer of the season. The 33-year-old is 2-for-8 with four RBI and one strikeout over his first two games of the season. Betts is operating as the Dodgers' everyday shortstop for the second year in a row. He's looking to bounce back from a somewhat difficult 2025 regular season, in which he posted a career-worst .732 OPS with 20 home runs, 82 RBI, 95 runs scored and eight stolen bases over 150 contests. He should get some positive regression, as his .258 BABIP last year was also a career low, though gains in luck could be partially offset by some age-related drops in production.
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Chase DeLauter CLE RF
Guardians' Chase DeLauter: Smacks third homer
1h agoDeLauter went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 5-1 loss to the Mariners.
DeLauter has gone 4-for-9 with three homers over the first two games of the season. All of the long balls have been solo shots so far, but he's already matched his homer total from 14 spring games. It's a great first impression for the outfielder at the major-league level after three injury-plagued campaigns in the minors, including just 42 contests between rookie ball and Triple-A in the 2025 regular-season. DeLauter's bat will help him stay in the lineup a fair amount, especially against right-handers, but his ability to stay healthy is the X-factor as to how his rookie season will unfold.
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Luke Raley SEA RF
Mariners' Luke Raley: Goes yard again Friday
1h agoRaley went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 5-1 win over the Guardians.
Raley provided some insurance in the sixth inning with his second homer in as many games to begin the year. He went deep just four times in 219 plate appearances during the 2025 regular season, adding a .630 OPS, though he had 22 homers over 455 plate appearances in 2024. Playing time will be crucial for Raley's success, and he has the early edge for at least a strong-side platoon role in right field. Victor Robles and Rob Refsnyder are in the mix to see the majority of the time versus lefties.
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Aaron Judge NYY RF
Yankees' Aaron Judge: Cracks two-run shot
5h agoJudge went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run during the Yankees' 3-0 win over the Giants on Friday.
Judge's 2026 campaign got off to a horrid start Wednesday, when he struck out four times in five plate appearances. He struck out another two times Friday, but the three-time AL MVP gave the Yankees the lead for good in the sixth inning, when he belted a two-run home run off Robbie Ray. Judge has won AL MVP honors in each of the last two seasons, and he's looking to become the fourth player in MLB history to hit 50 or more home runs in three consecutive seasons.
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Ryne Nelson ARI SP
Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson: Struggles in third inning
14m agoNelson allowed four runs on two hits and three walks while striking out four over 4.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Friday.
Nelson didn't give up much, but the Dodgers strung together a rally in the third inning. Alex Freeland tagged him for a solo home run and Mookie Betts added a three-run blast. Nelson threw 50 of 83 pitches for strikes in his season debut after working to a 3.18 ERA and 23:2 K:BB across 17 innings over five starts in spring training. He was a pleasant surprise in 2025 with a 3.39 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 132:41 K:BB over 154 innings across 33 appearances (23 starts) in the regular season. Nelson looks to be set as a full-time starter in 2026 and could eat his fair share of innings, but he doesn't have a lot of strikeout potential after a 7.7 K/9 last year. He is projected to make a home start versus Atlanta next week.
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Emmet Sheehan LAD SP
Dodgers' Emmet Sheehan: Chased in fourth inning
37m agoSheehan allowed four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six over 3.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Diamondbacks on Friday.
Sheehan's season debut wasn't great, as Arizona was able to work his pitch count up early. He gave up an RBI double to Alek Thomas in the second inning and a solo home run to Ketel Marte in the third. Sheehan was pulled in the fourth when Thomas was set to come back up to the plate, but reliever Jack Dreyer gave up a two-run double to tack on more runs to Sheehan's line. Sheehan had some troubles in the spring with an 11:6 K:BB across 10.2 innings while pitching to a 5.91 ERA, but he was able to earn a rotation spot anyway. The right-hander is likely on a short leash, though he may stick as a starter if the Dodgers go to a six-man rotation at some point. Sheehan will look to rebound in his next projected start, which is tentatively lined up to be on the road versus the Nationals next week.
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Framber Valdez DET SP
Tigers' Framber Valdez: Quality start in team debut
1h agoValdez allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits and a walk while striking out five over six innings in a no-decision versus the Padres on Friday.
Valdez's first big-league appearance in anything other than an Astros uniform went well, as he delivered a quality start despite giving up plenty of contact. Valdez threw 63 of 83 pitches for strikes in this outing, though he left the game with the Tigers down 2-1 before the offense got him off the hook with an eighth-inning rally. The veteran southpaw pitched to a 3.66 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 187:68 K:BB over 192 innings across 31 regular-season starts in 2025. He has the potential to be a workhorse for Detroit -- he's covered at least 170 innings in four straight seasons. That volume has value, especially since he tends to post strong ratios as well. He's projected to make his home debut for the Tigers against the Cardinals next week.
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Michael King SD SP
Padres' Michael King: Steady in no-decision
1h agoKing allowed one unearned run on one hit and four walks while striking out six over five-plus innings in a no-decision versus the Tigers on Friday.
King pitched fairly well despite throwing a modest 46 of 82 pitches for strikes in his season debut. The 30-year-old had some trouble with free passes, which is a carryover from spring training, when he walked seven batters over 17.2 innings while pitching to a 10.19 ERA. His control was fine last year with a 3.2 BB/9 over 73.1 innings across 15 regular-season starts, but he also had a 9.3 K/9 that was his worst since his 2021 campaign as a swingman with the Yankees. King battled shoulder and knee injuries late in 2025, but he looks healthy to start 2026. He is projected to make his second start of the campaign on the road in Boston.
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Gavin Williams CLE SP
Guardians' Gavin Williams: Wild in loss
1h agoWilliams (0-1) allowed three runs on two hits and six walks while striking out seven over five innings to take the loss Friday versus the Mariners.
Williams threw just 49 of 89 pitches for strikes in a wild performance. The Mariners didn't take full advantage of his free passes, allowing him to escape with a mediocre start instead of a bad one, and the seven strikeouts are a silver lining. Williams had a 4.58 ERA over 17.2 innings in spring training, but he also posted a 19:2 K:BB. Expecting him to rein in the walks might be asking too much -- he had a 4.5 BB/9 in the 2025 regular season, but that didn't stop him from maintaining a 3.06 ERA over 167.2 innings. Williams will look to rebound in a tough matchup on the road versus the Dodgers in his next projected start.
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George Kirby SEA SP
Mariners' George Kirby: Sharp in season debut
1h agoKirby (1-0) allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out six over six innings to earn the win Friday over the Guardians.
The lone blemish on Kirby's line was a solo shot by Chase DeLauter in the first inning. Kirby pitched to a 3.77 ERA over 14.1 innings across four starts in spring training, and his 11:5 K:BB was an unusual showing of shaky command. The right-hander had a 4.21 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 137:29 K:BB across 126 regular-season innings in 2025. Kirby should offer strong command and plenty of bounce-back potential in 2026, which is already off to a good start after his strong season debut. He's lined up for a home start versus the Yankees next week.
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Edwin Diaz LAD RP
Dodgers' Edwin Diaz: Converts first save
32m agoDiaz walked one and struck out two over a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Friday's 5-4 win over the Diamondbacks.
Diaz was able to pitch around a one-out walk to Alek Thomas, who stole second but was stranded there. In the 2025 regular season, Diaz came up short of the 30-save mark for the second year in a row with the Mets, but his move to the Dodgers in the offseason gives him significant upside to get back to that threshold in 2026. While he is the clear closer to begin the year, any extended struggles by Diaz could see Alex Vesia or Tanner Scott work their way into the mix for ninth-inning work in what should be a deep bullpen for the two-time defending champions.
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Kenley Jansen DET RP
Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Strikes out side for save
43m agoJansen struck out three batters in a perfect inning to earn the save in Friday's 5-2 win over the Padres.
The Tigers earned the lead with an eighth-inning rally, and Jansen did his job in the ninth, throwing 10 of 11 pitches for strikes. Jansen did well on a bad Angels team last year, racking up 29 saves while pitching to a 2.59 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 57:19 K:BB over 59 innings. Jansen doesn't have the elite strikeout numbers he used to, but he's still capable of closing, and he should get plenty of opportunities with a Detroit team that will challenge for the top spot in the AL Central. Will Vest and Kyle Finnegan are veteran options to step into the ninth inning if necessary, but Jansen figures to get the majority of the save chances as long as his performance is good.
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Jeff Hoffman TOR RP
Blue Jays' Jeff Hoffman: Blows Opening Day save chance
4h agoHoffman (1-0) blew the save but came away with the win in Friday's game against the Athletics. He allowed one run on one hit while striking out four across one inning.
Hoffamn was deployed in the ninth inning to preserve the Blue Jays' 2-1 lead. He struck out the first batter he faced before yielding a solo home run to Shea Langeliers. Hoffman struck out each of the next three batters faced (one reached base on a wild pitch), and he ended up coming away with the win after Andres Gimenez drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the frame. It wasn't the start to the season that Hoffman was hoping for, given that he blew the save opportunity in Game 7 of the World Series against the Dodgers in November. He's still considered the Blue Jays' top closer, but guys like Yimi Garcia (elbow) and Louis Varland could get their fair share of save opportunities if Hoffman shows signs of struggle this season.
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David Bednar NYY RP
Yankees' David Bednar: Earns first save of 2026
5h agoBednar came away with the save in Friday's 3-0 win against the Giants, when he issued one walk and zero hits in a scoreless ninth inning.
Bednar was brought in for the ninth inning to protect the Yankees' three-run lead. He yielded a two-out walk to Matt Chapman but was able to close things out after getting Rafael Devers to ground out. After a rocky start to the 2025 season for the Pirates (which saw him spend a few weeks in the minors before returning in late April), Bednar enters 2026 as the top closer option for the Yankees. He finished the 2025 regular season with the Bronx Bombers and logged 10 saves (in 13 attempts) with a 2.19 ERA and 0.93 WHIP over 24.2 innings.
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Peter Lambert HOU RP
Astros' Peter Lambert: Reunites with Astros
7h agoLambert signed a minor-league contract with the Astros on Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The Astros released Lambert on Tuesday after informing him he hadn't made the Opening Day roster, but the 28-year-old right-hander will return to the organization after testing the free-agent market. He will begin the year as bullpen depth at Triple-A Sugar Land.
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Hunter Strickland LAA RP
Angels' Hunter Strickland: Returning to Angels
8h agoStrickland signed a minor-league contract with the Angels on Friday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Strickland gave up one earned run over five innings this spring with the Angels, and after exploring his options in free agency, he'll now return to the organization. The 37-year-old righty has turned in a 3.30 ERA and 1.12 WHIP over 95.1 innings since he originally joined the Halos in 2024, and he could be welcomed back into the big-league bullpen if he bounces back nicely in Triple-A from the season-ending shoulder injury he suffered last July.
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Christopher Morel MIA DH
Marlins' Christopher Morel: Scratched with oblique strain
9h agoMorel was scratched from the lineup for Friday's game against the Rockies due to a left oblique strain, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Morel is set to undergo further evaluation, after which the Marlins will have more information regarding his status. In the meantime, Connor Norby will fill in as Miami's first baseman while Owen Caissie enters the lineup as the designated hitter.
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Andrew McCutchen TEX DH
Rangers' Andrew McCutchen: Starts against lefty
1d agoMcCutchen started at designated hitter and went 1-for-2 with a double in Thursday's 5-3 loss to the Phillies.
McCutchen got the start against Philadelphia lefty Cristopher Sanchez but was removed the moment a right-hander entered the game. The lefty-batting Joc Pederson pinch hit for McCutchen in the seventh inning. Those two are expected to make up a DH platoon to start the season.
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Luis Torrens NYM DH
Mets' Luis Torrens: Set as No. 2 catcher
2d agoTorrens has claimed a spot on the Mets' Opening Day roster, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The 29-year-old gives New York a reliable option behind Francisco Alvarez, who has had some trouble staying healthy so far in his MLB career. Torrens slashed .226/.284/.345 in 283 plate appearances last season with five homers and 29 RBI.
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Mark Vientos NYM DH
Mets' Mark Vientos: Absent from Opening Day lineup
2d agoVientos is not in the lineup for Thursday's opener versus the Pirates.
With right-hander Paul Skenes on the bump for the Pirates, the Mets will go with Jorge Polanco at first base and the left-handed-hitting Brett Baty at designated hitter. The right-handed-hitting Vientos is unlikely to be a strict short-side platoon bat, but he could sit regularly against tougher righties.
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Andrew McCutchen TEX DH
Rangers' Andrew McCutchen: Added to roster
2d agoThe Rangers selected McCutchen's contract from Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday.
Despite remaining unsigned through the first couple weeks of spring training, McCutchen was able to hit the ground running after joining the Rangers on a minor-league pact. Over nine games in the Cactus League, McCutchen slashed .429/.556/.714 with one home run and a 6:5 BB:K across 27 plate appearances en route to securing his spot on the Opening Day roster. The 39-year-old is likely to fill the short side of a platoon at designated hitter with the left-handed-hitting Joc Pederson, though McCutchen may occasionally see action in the corner outfield.
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Mitch Garver SEA DH
Mariners' Mitch Garver: Added to roster
2d agoThe Mariners selected Garver's contract from Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday.
Garver re-signed with Seattle as a non-roster invitee after camp opened and beat out Jhonny Pereda and Andrew Knizner for the backup catcher job. The 35-year-old will see some starts at catcher on days Cal Raleigh serves as the designated hitter, but Garver's playing time should be fairly limited.