Every Monday, this column will break down the most popular waiver wire and free agent acquisitions of the weekend.

Fantasy baseball managers know that our game is the ultimate test of grit, grind, tenacity, and patience. Unlike fantasy football, where league titles can be won with minimal in-season activity, fantasy baseball leagues require incessant attention and activity. Particularly when it comes to free agent adds and drops. Real-life baseball managers are constantly adjusting batting orders, players are frequently optioned to and promoted from the Minor Leagues, and injuries occur almost daily. There’s no resting on our laurels. We must always stay vigilant with league news and notes and remain active on the waiver wire if we want to win our leagues.

Every week, I’ll dig into the top adds on the ever-popular Fantrax and in the NFBC Online Championship (OC), a national mid-stakes contest with 240 total leagues of 12 and a six-figure grand prize. Reviewing player adds between the two should provide us with a well-rounded perspective and barometer of the fantasy baseball marketplace.

Week 2 Overview

The hottest hitters of the week were Andy Pages (.583 – 2 HR – 7 RBI), Yordan Alvarez (.471-3-8), Oneil Cruz (.360-4-10), Ben Rice (.421-3-9), CJ Abrams (.333-3-10) and Drake Baldwin (.310-2-10). Luisangel Acuña was the only player with four stolen bases. Four consensus first round hitters have yet to hit a home run (Bobby Witt Jr., Ronald Acuña Jr., Julio Rodríguez and Fernando Tatis Jr.). Second-rounders Cal Raleigh and Nick Kurtz have yet to homer as well. It’s a long season, they will be alright. Of the 30 starting pitchers who made two starts in Week 2, 10% (three) earned two wins – Clay Holmes, Michael Soroka and Davis Martin. I’ve tracked two-start pitcher data the last few seasons, and that 10% rate is on par with average week over the last three seasons, usually hovering between 6% and 18% most weeks. Be wary about chasing wins with below-average starting pitchers this early in the season. As the data shows, locking in two wins without crushing the ratios is hard enough for above-average starters. Be particularly careful with mediocre or below-average 2x SPs whose first start is on a Tuesday. Sometimes weather will push their start back until the following week. Occasionally, those pitchers are pulled out of the rotation or demoted if they had a rough first start. Oftentimes, that is for the better to avoid further fantasy ERA/WHIP damage.

As we did last week, let’s review the top trending acquisitions for Fantrax (waivers) and the NFBC 12-team OC (blind bid FAAB).

Roster % is the current percentage of leagues rostering the player; +/-  is the percentage of leagues the player was added in the previous week

% Added is the percentage of leagues that added the player; AWB stands for average winning bid

Jordan Walker has been a disappointment since his rookie season. Despite positive offseason reports about adjustments made at Driveline, Walker struggled in spring training, and was mostly overlooked by NFBC 12-team drafters. I won’t take a victory lap after 10 days, but I would like to mention that Walker is one of my highest rostered hitters this season. Walker was the only player with a triple-digit AWB. Relievers Riley O’Brien and Gregory Soto, and Seattle’s SP5 Emerson Hancock came close. Hancock is now rostered in each of the 240 OCs. O’Brien and Soto are still available in two percent of leagues.

Relievers

It’s the second week in a row where we’re discussing the Cardinals bullpen. Hopefully, it will be the last time. Riley O’Brien had the highest ADP this winter and spring among Cardinals relievers, though a calf injury kept from joining South Korea for the WBC and his ADP began to drop while the ADPs of JoJo Romero and Matt Svanson rose. Veteran Ryne Stanek snagged the first opportunity and closed the game out, though he walked three batters. He then stumbled in his second chance two days later, and O’Brien saved the day. Last week, O’Brien further distanced himself from the pack with three clean innings in three appearances, with two saves. Meanwhile, Matt Svanson has struggled mightily in middle relief. JoJo Romero would like step up for the occasional save opportunity when a southpaw is needed.

Gregory Soto is well known for throwing heat. He saved 30 games for the Tigers in 2022 and has spent the last few seasons as a lefty setup man who walks opposing batters at an above-average clip (over 10%). Last Tuesday, assumed Pirates closer Dennis Santana pitched the eighth inning and Soto handled the ninth, though the Pirates scored two runs in the top of the ninth, so it wasn’t a save opportunity. The Pirates beat the Reds 8-3 again on Wednesday. Santana didn’t make an appearance, but Soto did so again in the ninth; again it wasn’t a save opportunity since the Pirates scored four in the ninth. A similar setup occurred on Friday as Santana pitched a clean eighth and Soto came in to close out the Orioles in the ninth, though he gave up a solo shot to Gunnar Henderson. The Pirates continued their late-game heroics on Saturday. With the game tied 3-3 going into the ninth, Santana stepped in to pitch a clean ninth, then Nick Yorke walked it off with a double to give Santana the win. Soto is the more dynamic of the two, but is less stable because of history with free passes. It’s possible Soto earns more opportunities going forward, though it will likely remain a committee for now. The only thing that can hold Soto running away with the gig is Soto himself.

Paul Sewald was picked up in 21% of Fantrax leagues. Oddly, the Diamondbacks clear-as-day closer is only rostered in 61% of leagues, likely because of the inclusion of 10-teamers, points leagues, and roto leagues where holds are used in addition to saves. Tyler Alexander was scooped up in many leagues, though he is more of a spec-add. He has earned the Rangers only two saves, but is not the clear ninth-inning man. This was originally expected to be a two-man committee with lefty Robert Garcia and righty Chris Martin. Garcia hasn’t been great and Martin has been awful. Martin may move into a setup role, though the Rangers do still need a righty to step up. Perhaps that will be fireballer Cole Winn, who I picked up for $5 in a 15-team league on Sunday. Mark Leiter Jr. might be the first guy dropped from NFBC leagues next week if his struggles continue. He blew the save on Saturday and isn’t even locked into the A’s job. Bryan Baker hasn’t earned a save for the Rays yet, but has been pitching in the highest-leverage spots with Garrett Cleavinger on IL and Griffin Jax struggling.

Starting Pitchers

Hancock, Randy Vásquez and Lance McCullers Jr. were three of the most popular SP acquisitions of the weekend. Hancock followed up his masterful Opening Weekend performance (nine punchouts in six hitless innings) with a solid outing (6.2 IP – 6 H – 1 ER – 0 BB – 5 K) on Saturday, though the Mariners were robbed of three home runs by Angels Jo Adell and lost 1-0. Hancock lines up for a home start (Astros) this week, then a road start against the Padres. He should be quickly snagged in any leagues where he is available, 10-teamers included.

Randy Vásquez had some offseason buzz in deeper formats despite a ridiculously low 15% career walk rate. Folks paying attention may have noticed a slight velocity bump from Vásquez this spring, which he parlayed into two six-inning gems — an 11:4 K:BB with just eight hits and one earned run allowed against the Tigers at home and the Red Sox in Fenway. He has been throwing his four-seam fastball, sinker and slider 1-2 mph faster than last season and boasts an impressive 15.5% swinging-strike rate, albeit in a two-start sample. He now gets the pleasure of facing the Rockies at home, who will be heading over to San Diego from the high elevation of Denver.

The Bryce Elder Experience returns for another tour, likely to yet again tease us before destroying our ratios. Elder had a few good starts last season, but the overall body of work was horrific. His 5.30 ERA ranked sixth-worst among starting pitchers with at least 150 innings pitched. Could this turn into his breakout tour? His pitch mix and velocity remains the same and there’s nothing in his profile that portends massive improvement. He threw six scoreless against the A’s in his first start and seven scoreless with eight punchouts in Arizona on Saturday. It’s enough to lure us into starting him at home against the Guardians this week. Color me dubious, nevertheless.

Hitters

Among the top hitter adds on Fantrax, Mauricio Dubón, Joey Wiemer and Kyle Isbel feel like the ones most likely to find their way back to the free agent pool next week. Dubón has some appeal in deeper formats since he’s on a great offense and offers several positions of eligibility (on Fantrax he’s 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, OF). Wiemer had a hot start but he’s a short-side platoon bat and is a massive batting average drag. Isbel and his bottom-of-the-order crew have been producing the bulk of the runs over the last week, but it’s only a matter of days before the production shifts to the top and the middle of the Royals lineup.

Rookie infielder Jose Fernandez has cooled off since his 2-HR Major League debut last week, though with Carlos Santana banged up, Fernandez should earn more playing time going forward. In his first four career starts, he has already played first base, third base and DH. Fernandez is shortstop eligible in NFBC and would need to play 10 games at first or third to earn that eligibility. The Diamondbacks have some tough matchups this week facing the Mets and the Phillies.

Mark Vientos and TJ Rumfield are the two most intriguing and potentially valuable hitter acquisitions of the week. Vientos is off to a hot start, hitting .476 in 23 plate appearances. He is playing every day since Jorge Polanco is playing through an Achilles issue and is not ready to play the field yet. The Mets will have to get creative when Polanco can play first base again, but Polanco never had before this season and we don’t know if they’ll revert to their preseason plan. Rumfield isn’t hitting the ball hard (84.3 EV, 32% HH), but he is slashing .345/.406/.586 with two dingers and has the hold on the strong-side platoon at first base. He is a stronger stream option with the Rockies expected to face seven righties this week.

Drop of the Week

It’s hard to imagine Roki Sasaki sticking in the Dodgers rotation much longer after his shaky outing against the lowly Nationals on Sunday (6 ER, 3 BB in 5 IP). Sasaki’s four-seam fastball has averaged 97 mph, but it’s generated a 20% whiff rate and a measly 5.6% strikeout rate. Between his quotes and body language, it is clear that he lacks confidence on the mound. Manager Dave Roberts has been extremely patient throughout Sasaki’s rough spring, but a little reset in the minors or a trip to the minors may be in the cards. There are too many terrific alternatives available in 12-team leagues to continue to ride the Sasaki train, at least for now.

Wake up, bro!

Carter Jensen spoke to the media about the situation.

“I don’t really have an excuse, nor should I” pic.twitter.com/pqq7DA8qEf https://t.co/fmuQlAAoEA

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 3, 2026

On the Agenda:

1. Closer Chaos
2. Various News and Notes
3. Streaming Pitchers

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This ball cares not about Kauffman’s outfield fences moving in.

Jonathan India belts a GRAND SLAM ‼️ pic.twitter.com/sFM2hoT8my

— MLB (@MLB) April 2, 2026

On the Agenda:

1. Closer Chaos
2. Quick Hits
3. Various News and Notes
4. Streaming Pitchers

Closer Chaos

Bryan Abreu SZN is back! (did it ever go away?)

Josh Hader’s placeholder in Houston was almost in need of a placeholder himself after a rough weekend — four earned runs in two appearances (1.1 innings) and a notable velocity dip, from 97 mph in 2025 to 93.2 mph on Sunday. He closed out Wednesday’s tilt by punching out three Red Sox, though he first allowed a pinch-hit homer to future Hall-of-Famer, Roman Anthony. Most importantly, Abreu’s fastball velocity averaged 96.

Up the leverage tree we go!

Jonathan Loáisiga locked down the victory for Zac Gallen and his new squad — no strikeouts and two hits allowed — not pretty, but he got the job done. Loáisiga earned the opportunity because new (old) closer Paul Sewald had pitched three of the last four days. He and Ryan Thompson are the primary setup men for Sewald with Kevin Ginkel shoved down the leverage tree due to his struggles. Meanwhile, A.J. Puk has been throwing multiple bullpen sessions as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. Puk is expected to return around June.

The chaos continues in the Rays bullpen as Griffin Jax allowed five runs (three earned) on three hits and a walk without getting a batter out. He has a 22.50 ERA in four appearances. Something is definitely wrong because he’s been a top five setup man since 2023. This technically isn’t closer chaos since Jax hasn’t been utilized in save situations. Roster Resource currently lists Bryan Baker as the team’s closer.

Quick Hits

Carlos Estévez was placed on the injured list with a foot injury. Lucas Erceg snagged his second save of the season on Wednesday and is about to run away with the job. “Toto, there’s no closer chaos in Kansas anymore!”

Carlos Rodón draft stashers like yours truly were frightened by a report on Tuesday that he felt tightness in his right hamstring. Rodón threw on flat ground and on the mound Wednesday, though he must still visit with team doctors to gauge the severity of this issue. We should know by the weekend if he is still on track to return in April or if this new injury will delay him into May.

The Triston Casas Saga continues as he has now been shut down with a left intercostal strain. Guess there will be more Tumblr posts in store.

baseball is really back triston casas is posting like he’s on tumblr pic.twitter.com/5sPpdBAjBH

— big headass bong yoda (@gummysalamander) March 26, 2026

Various News and Notes

Garrett Crochet was not happy with his performance.

That’s the kind of attitude you want from your ace. Got to respect the high standards. Yusei Kikuchi would call an outing of 4 ER on 6 H with 7 K an no walks a good day at the office.

Shea Langeliers is off to the races in his quest to wipe Cal Raleigh off the record books. This was his fifth homer in six games.

Justin Crawford walked it off for the Phillies — his third single of the game.

I would like to officially be the first one to share a fact that on one else knows — Justin is Carl Crawford’s son!!! <mutes comments section>

Streaming Pitchers

Pitcher for Today: David Peterson (LHP, New York Mets)

Peterson is always at risk of hurting our WHIP, but this is a good matchup against a Giants offense that can be neutralized by the veteran lefty. The key will be getting around Willy Adames. The current Giants roster has no home runs in 88 lifetime plate appearances against Peterson.

Other Options: None

With Blue Jays-White Sox postponed, there are only three games. The only sub-50% rostered pitcher on Yahoo on the slate besides Peterson is Taj Bradley and I do not recommend starting him in Kauffman against Kyle Isbel and company.

Pitcher for Tomorrow: Reid Detmers (LHP, Los Angeles Angels)

The Angels will be underdogs and the game won’t be played in that lovely pitchers’ haven in Seattle, but Detmers can carry momentum from his last start into this one. The Mariners most locked in hitters are lefties (Brendan Donovan, Luke Raley, Dominic Canzone) and righty Julio Rodríguez is going through it right now.

Other Options: Joe Boyle (RHP, Tampa Bay Rays)

Trades are the lifeblood of fantasy baseball home leagues. The conversations around them help keep us connected, engaged, and make our league more fun. Striking deals isn’t always easy. There are often hurt feelings around lopsided proposals, league-mates who value players differently, and that one guy who wants to veto everything. We can improve our fantasy squads with the waiver wire, but our collective hit rates are low. Quite often, those pickups backfire in the form of a hitter’s cold streak or a pitcher’s blowup, which inevitably leads to dropping the player. The one facet we have control of in home leagues is trading.

Managers are often emotionally tied to certain players – specifically, ones they’ve drafted or ones they targeted in drafts and missed. Also, we’re not all great at zooming out for a long-term view and not being stuck in the moment. Good analysis can be washed away by recency bias and small sample sizes. No one can force us to make a deal, so it’s the one element of the game we have some control over and can use proper value assessment and negotiation techniques to our advantage.

This column will recommend hitters and pitchers to attempt to sell-high or buy-low, and touch on trade strategies. No two leagues or two managers are the same. You know your league-mates best: what kind of deal they’ll scoff at, which player type they’re willing to deal or acquire, and how good their player and market valuation skills are. I’ll do my best to dig deep and present realistic opportunities. If there’s someone in your league who will swap their Josh Naylor (0-19 through five games) for a red-hot Joey Wiemer, it’s probably time to find a new manager for their spot, or a more competitive league. Early in the season is usually a great time to take advantage of a good deal, as we can potentially lean into targeting players who are off to slow starts. We can also use fandom to our advantage, specifically when we know a league-mate is a diehard fan of a specific Major League team and may be blinded by subjectivity.

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Every Monday, this column will break down the most popular waiver wire and free agent acquisitions of the weekend.

Fantasy baseball managers know that our game is the ultimate test of grit, grind, tenacity, and patience. Unlike fantasy football, where league titles can be won with minimal in-season activity, fantasy baseball leagues require incessant attention and activity. Particularly when it comes to free agent adds and drops. Real-life baseball managers are constantly adjusting batting orders, players are frequently optioned to and promoted from the Minor Leagues, and injuries occur almost daily. There’s no resting on our laurels. We must always stay vigilant with league news and notes and remain active on the waiver wire if we want to win our leagues.

Every week, I’ll dig into the top adds on the ever-popular Fantrax and in the NFBC Online Championship (OC), a national mid-stakes contest with 240 total leagues of 12 and a six-figure grand prize. Reviewing player adds between the two should provide us with a well-rounded perspective and barometer of the fantasy baseball marketplace.

Week 2 Overview

The 2026 season is only five days old, but we’d be lying if we said we weren’t already on tilt with certain players we love and have drafted. Wyatt Langford and Bo Bichette have started the season off slumping (1-14 each). Paul Skenes, Jesús Luzardo, Nathan Eovaldi, and Logan Webb have already set our ratios back, and I’m sure some would like to forget about what happened to Carlos Estévez on Saturday night (I’ll remind you: six earned runs). For every stud who has scorned us, there is a guy in the free agent pool who earned a save, twirled a gem, or hit two bombs over the weekend. Sometimes, a few of those players end up on our squads for the long haul and provide phenomenal value. Most of the time, though, these are players we’ll be throwing back into the FA pool with no roto life vest after they’ve fooled us and decimated our WHIPs and batting averages. Speaking of, where’s Kyren Paris playing these days?

Fantasy managers in the OC and on Fantrax were mostly in sync with the top targets and acquisitions of this past weekend. Let’s review the groups.

% Added is the percentage of leagues that added the player; AWB stands for average winning bid

Roster % is the current percentage of leagues rostering the player; +/-  is the percentage of leagues the player was added in the previous week

Closers

There are very few better feelings in fantasy baseball than scooping up a closer off waivers or free agency early in the season. Around this time last year, there were three big pickups – Emilio Pagán, Will Vest, and Luke Jackson. Pagán worked out splendidly, Vest earned 20+ saves. Jackson didn’t pan out, though he was racking up saves in the first month. Jordan Romano, Lucas Erceg and Cole Sands were the big three pickups of Week 2.

The closers job for the Angels was up in the air through most of the offseason. They signed veterans Romano, Kirby Yates, and Drew Pomeranz (a lefty). Robert Stephenson got hurt again, and Ben Joyce wasn’t quite ready, so it seemed like Yates was in the lead. Yates landed on the IL (knee inflammation) two days before the season. Romano took the bull by the horns coming off a strong spring (6 IP – 1 ER – 1 BB – 6 K), earned a clean on save on Thursday and pitched a scoreless ninth in a non-save situation on Friday. Market sentiment has been polarizing on Romano. He was added in 28% of Fantrax leagues and 80% of OCs with an average winning bid of $173, but there are many managers out there who are dubious on his ability to stay healthy. They also can’t forget about last year’s ratio reckoning (8.23 ERA, 1.45 WHIP in 42.2 IP). Will he hold the job all season? Nobody knows. That’s why we play the game. Yates is expected back soon, but isn’t likely to outright steal the job from him, unless it’s the perfect storm of Yates dominating while Romano is faltering. I’d bet on Romano holding the job down for at least the next two months.

The heavy Lucas Erceg waiver/free agent activity is a case of utilizing our fantasy instincts and common sense. Estévez overperformed his underlying metrics last season and was struggling with extreme velocity dips in the spring. Had Erceg not earned a save this weekend, I’m sure he would still be a popular acquisition, considering Estévez’s struggles. Erceg was a dominant high-leverage reliever for the Athletics in 2024 (22.1% K-BB, 13.8% SwStr). He was serviceable last season with the Royals, though his strikeout rate took a massive tumble from the previous season (28.5% to 19.3%), though he wasn’t at full health. Erceg is the top righty in this bullpen and has a good chance to run away with this job. Estévez has been a solid ninth-inning guy over the last few seasons, but is clearly not at full strength and he is now being evaluated for a possible IL stint. Erceg is the priority add in daily leagues with saves.

I can almost assure you that the Case of Who is the Twins Closer is far from being solved. Cole Sands earned the save opportunity on Saturday and closed it out. He walked one, struck out two and didn’t allow a run in their 3-1 win over the Orioles. On Thursday, lefty Taylor Rogers pitched the final inning (eighth) in a non-save opportunity. Rogers has much more closing experience, but his skills have been slowly dissipating over the last couple of seasons. Sands doesn’t have dynamic stuff nor is he a prototypical closer (sub-10% swinging strike rate in 2025), but he has plus control and a low career walk rate (6.9%). Sands could run away with the job, but I believe that new manager Derek Shelton will deploy Sands or Rogers situationally, depending on whether opposing lefties or righties are coming up in the ninth. Justin Topa could earn opportunities as well, but is behind Sands and Rogers in the pecking order for now.

Starting Pitchers

Emerson Hancock snuck up on the fantasy world with an impeccable outing on Sunday night – nine punchouts and no hits allowed over six innings. Social media was raving over his new sweeper and pitch mix changes as fantasy managers ran to their waivers to acquire and to increase their free agent bid amounts. Hancock had been inconsistent across 28 starts over the last two seasons, including several ERA-damaging outings of 5+ earned runs or more. Hancock certainly looked like a different guy on Sunday night. Will he be a top 20 SP? Probably not. Could this be his breakout season? Very possible. Bryce Miller is no lock to take Hancock’s rotation spot, let alone remain healthy for the season. If Hancock is pitching well when Miller returns, it’s likely that Miller is moved to the bullpen in a multi-inning capacity. One start is far too small of a sample to base strong stands around, but I’m happy to give a talented arm in Seattle the benefit of the doubt.

Kyle Harrison is rostered in most 15-team leagues. His roster rate in OCs was raised from 77% to 99% with a two-start week on tap against the Rays (home) and Royals (road). Harrison had a 20:4 K:BB with nine earned runs allowed in 14 spring innings. He developed a blister before the season started, but is ready to go for his Brewers’ debut. If this week goes poorly, expect to see him back in the free agent pool next weekend. I will be paying close attention to the details instead of just combing the box scores. Harrison and new teammate Brandon Sproat (disaster start on Sunday) are talented pitchers in a good organization and we shouldn’t judge them too harshly on small samples. On the flip side, they’ll have to earn their keep because Logan Henderson (in Triple-A) and Quinn Priester (expected to return in late-April) will be lurking.

Padres righty Randy Vásquez was a popular pickup on Fantrax after his strong outing against the Tigers on Saturday: 6 IP  – 2 H – 0 ER – 3 BB – 8 K. Vásquez posted a 3.84 ERA (5.51 xFIP, 5.43 SIERA) in 133.2 innings last season, most of them as a starter. He hasn’t been helpful in strikeouts (14% K rate since 2024), but his velocity uptick on Saturday’s start was significant (FB up from 93.4 to 95 mph). Fantasy managers with deep rotations should consider alternatives for this week since he faces the Red Sox in Fenway. We can start him  with confidence for his Week 3 start, at home against the Rockies.

Pirates RHP Carmen Mlodzinski is a guy to monitor in public and home leagues across the world of Fantrax, RT Sports, ESPN, CBS, and Yahoo. He opened last season in the rotation, but it was a rough run — a 5.67 ERA and 1.61 WHIP over nine starts. He was converted to a relief role, and excelled in it — 2.12 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 25.5% K, 6.3% BB in 59.1 IP. He punched out eight Mets in 4.1 innings on Sunday and lines up to face the Orioles at home this weekend.

Hitters

Guardians rookie Chase DeLauter is the hottest hitter in the Majors in the first half-week with four home runs in 17 plate appearances. His roster percentage is up to 94 on Fantrax and 78% on Yahoo. He is locked into the two-hole between Steven Kwan and José Ramírez for the foreseeable future.

Joey Wiemer has appeared in only 48 games since his 2023 rookie season with the Brewers when he hit 13 homers with 11 steals and a .204 average in 410 plate appearances. He earned a job in the Nationals outfield as a short side platoon bat. Wiemer has yet to record an out – six hits and two walks in eight plate appearances. Wiemer likely won’t start against righties often, though he earned one on Monday. Nevertheless, he feels like a flavor of the week we shouldn’t be prioritizing unless it’s a deep 18-teamer or NL-Only league.

Some hot pickups with potential staying power in 12-team leagues and higher are Nasim Nuñez (2B/WAS), Jordan Walker (OF/STL), Dominic Canzone (OF/SEA), and Owen Caissie (OF/MIA). Nuñez popped as a 25+ stolen base guy in projection models this season. Walker worked hard this offseason at Driveline to retool his approach at the plate, had a mediocre spring training, but is off to a strong start through his first three games – .400/.500/.900 with six runs scored and a 100.4 mph average exit velocity (albeit, a tiny sample). Canzone and Caissie are strong side platoon bats for their respective teams. Canzone smashed two dingers in Seattle’s first game. Caissie is 5-10 with a homer and a 25% barrel rate through his first three games. Daily leaguers can optimize matchups this week, but folks in weekly or half-weekly leagues should consider benching them. The Marlins are slated to face 2-of-6 southpaws and the Mariners 3-of-6, which projects their max games played this week at four (Caissie) and three (Canzone). Our shallower leagues should have a better outfielder to start this week.

Drop of the Week

Sadly, it’s Andrew Vaughn of the Brewers. He suffered a hamate fracture in his left hand is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Vaughn is worth stashing on your IL, or on the bench of 15-team leagues with a bench of eight or more. Otherwise, feel free to cut him and keep abreast of his return to pick him up in about a month or so.

Let’s get this party started!

Sorry, Oneil, you’re not invited.

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It’s time to start juggling lineups for the next 26.5 weeks!

Max Fried hurled 6.1 scoreless, two-hit innings in a 4-0 victory over the Giants. Every Yankee earned a hit, except for Aaron Judge, who went 0-5 with four strikeouts. Logan Webb punched out seven batters, but decimated the ratios of one fantasy manager in every league with six earned runs allowed over five innings. We get baseball on the television for most of the day, with 11 games on this official Opening Day.

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For my final article of the preseason, I decided to assign myself the difficult task of identifying my favorite fantasy pick from each Major League team. Some teams have several candidates, while others I have to hold my nose for (cough, cough, the Nats). You’ll see players from throughout the player pool, as my choices aren’t necessarily tied to their market value. They are players I have been targeting and drafting this winter and spring.

Here are the leagues I’m in this season:

• 22 NFBC Gladiators (roto, 15-team, 23 rounds, no bench)
• 7 NFBC Draft Champions (roto, 15-team, 50 rounds, draft and hold)
• 4 NFBC Online Champions (roto, 12-team, 30 rounds, with FAAB)
• 2 NFBC Main Events (roto, 15-team, 30 rounds, with FAAB)
• SCARF (EARTH industry league on NFBC; same setup as the Main Event)
• TGFBI (Justin Mason’s industry league on NFBC, same setup as the Main Event)
• FSGA Experts Champions League (14-team roto, partnered with colleague Joe Orrico)
• Tout Wars (roto, OBP instead of AVG, 15-team, draft and hold)

Yes, I love helping people win at fantasy baseball, but I also love to play it. You might think I’m crazy, but please note that only nine of them are FAAB leagues. The Gladiator is a hybrid best ball format where I don’t even have to set the lineups. I won’t even mention the 100+ best ball leagues I’m in on other sites. Again, no management is necessary – just draft and hope for production and good health luck.

Let’s get into it. Listed with each player is their current NFBC Online Championship and Yahoo average draft positions.

Toronto Blue Jays – Kazuma Okamoto, 1B/3B (NFBC: 196, Yahoo: 166)

Many older players from overseas have a difficult time adjusting to the Major Leagues. If spring training is any indication, Okamoto seems to be adjusting just fine (.316/.435/.632). He’s going to be an integral part of this offense. Oh, and Sporer loves him, too. Honorable mentions to Daulton Varsho (30+ homers if he stays healthy) and Cody Ponce 폰세, though his ADP has leaped over 100 spots over the last month.

Boston Red Sox – Roman Anthony, OF (50, 46)

I strongly believe that Anthony is a future Hall of Famer and that he will be a top 20 hitter in his first full season as the leadoff hitter for a strong Red Sox offense. Many fantasy analysts and managers believe that 2026 is the Year of the Breakout for Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela. Now imagine if Jarren Duran produces like it’s 2024, Trevor Story avoids fluky injuries, and Willson Contreras exceeds 600 plate appearances for the first time. That’s a lot of “ifs”, but with that pitching staff depth and bullpen, this could be a magical season in Fenway.

New York Yankees – José Caballero, 2B/3B/SS/OF (196, 189)

Most of the Yankees are fairly priced, but fully priced. The New York Fantasy Tax is a real thing – everyone knows proud New Yorkers get their guys. Caballero is a swipes maestro who has been working hard to improve as a hitter this offseason, and is eligible at almost every fantasy position. He’s a great hitter to bring into your lineup when someone in your starting lineup suffers a midweek injury or you need some stolen bases. An honorable mention to Carlos Rodón, who is one of my favorite mid-to-late-round stashes, and is on track to return well before Gerrit Cole.

Baltimore Orioles – Five-Way Tie

My rule of thumb for 2026 drafts, if you have any remaining: when in doubt, draft the Orioles hitter. In AL Bold Predictions on FTN, I prognosticate that the Orioles will be the fourth team in history to hit 300 home runs. I have a Gunnar Henderson–Pete Alonso 1-2 punch on several teams, and would happily do it again. Colton Cowser, Trevor Rogers, and Shane Baz are the other three O’s I’ve been targeting. Well, I guess I like their pitching too (just not their horrendous bullpen).

Tampa Bay Rays – Griffin Jax, RP (149, 198)

Cream rises to the top in real life, and often does in fantasy as well. After a rocky rookie season in 2021 (6.37 ERA in 82 innings, mostly as a starter), Jax has slowly turned into one of the best relievers in the game. Over the last two seasons, only two qualified relievers have a higher swinging-strike rate than Jax’s 18.3% – Josh Hader (20.8%) and Mason Miller (20.3%). With Edwin Uceta ailing and Garrett Cleavinger a lefty, it’s only a matter of time for Kevin Cash to let Jax run with the closer’s job, similar to Pete Fairbanks last year.

Cleveland Guardians – Chase DeLauter, OF (269, 198)

Not a team loaded with fantasy goodness, but DeLauter stands out. A healthy DeLauter is a fantasy pick with massive upside, though his price has been steadily rising – out of the 300s and up several rounds, due to a hot spring. Parker Messick is a strong end-game target, though I haven’t been able to land many shares. I wouldn’t be shocked if he out-earns last season’s Major League walks leader, Gavin Williams.

Detroit Tigers – N/A

No offense to Tiger fans, but they are not a very exciting group from a fantasy perspective. Of course, that doesn’t mean that managers won’t be able to squeeze out some fantasy profit from some of these players. Tarik Skubal is the best pitcher in baseball. I have not often been in a position to draft him – and when I have, I usually target the elite first-round hitter. Sadly, I have no Skubal shares. The move to Detroit is a great one for Framber Valdez, on paper, but I don’t have great vibes on him this season. Jack Flaherty can be spectacular in one start, and serve up a half-dozen earned runs in the next – I can’t stomach that volatility. Top prospect Kevin McGonigle made the team and will be an exciting player. This is one I likely missed the boat on – especially recently, as his price continues to soar. The best bangs for the buck are Dillon Dingler and Gleyber Torres, with ADPs in the mid-200s.

Kansas City Royals – Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B (77, 81)

I highlighted Vinnie P in my bold predictions article earlier this month, noting that smashing 40 dingers may not be quite so bold. Kauffman Stadium’s outfield fences are moving in being lowered, which should bode well for most of their hitters. In fact, there are quite a few 30+ HR candidates on the squad. Their pitching staff is solid, and the bullpen has been upgraded from last season. The Royals are my pick to win the AL Central.

Chicago White Sox – Austin Hays, OF (341, N/A)

Would you believe me if I told you that the White Sox player with the highest ADP this season is their new closer who has never been a closer for a full season and posted a 13.8% walk rate last season? I have a couple of Seranthony Domínguez shares, but I don’t feel great about it. I do feel good about a late-round Austin Hays, who should be an everyday hitter and respectable producer in the middle of their lineup.

Minnesota Twins – Matt Wallner, OF (297, N/A)

Wallner is an elite power hitter with some past oblique issues. But Wallner is only focused on the future, which involves soaking those obliques before sleep, and then smashing some baseballs. Wallner and his 16% barrel rate can produce a 30-HR, 85-RBI season as an everyday player for the Twins. Management doesn’t intend to platoon him at this time. Mick Abel has been flying up draft boards, but alas, I have not been able to sneak a share yet. Josh Bell has been a bargain all season (ADP 370), and it’s almost criminal to not click on his name in a draft where you need a CI with power.

The Athletics – Jacob Wilson윌슨, SS (201, 161)

There are so many A’s to choose from. We’re expecting the world from the likes of Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker, Tyler Soderstrom, Shea Langeliers, and even Lawrence Butler and his 94.3% healed knees. This is the type of offense that will keep opposing pitchers awake the night before the game, and give them nightmares in their sleep after the game. Wilson will play his part in disrupting Circadian rhythms as a potential .320-80-17-70-13 bat this season. The AL Batting Title goes through Mr. Wilson this year.

Houston Astros – Mike Burrows, SP (224, 207)

The former Pittsburgh Pirates’ prospect will find himself comfortable down in the Lone Star state. Thankfully, he won’t have to be the lone star in the rotation with ace Hunter Brown there. Some of us were witness to his official breakout, which occurred after the last All-Star break where Burrows produced a 3.27 ERA (3.19 FIP), 1.07 WHIP, 25.1% K, and a 6.4% BB in 10 starts and two multi-relief, piggyback spots. Burrows will make his official Astros debut on Friday against the Angels, as the pitcher slated second in his rotation.

Seattle Mariners – Brendan Donovan, 2B (265, 188)

We don’t only need stars to win fantasy baseball leagues, we need support roles as well. In this loaded lineup of stars, Donovan shall be the table-setter; the elite contact rate guy who provides above-average production, just not with a barrage of homers or bag thefts. “Better in real baseball” is what they say about Donovan. I wonder what they’ll be saying this October when the leadoff man scores triple-digit runs and establishes himself as the glue of this offense. Only time will tell and I’ll be ready to listen to the audio book on my long drive to Thanksgiving dinner.

Los Angeles Angels – Logan O’Hoppe, C (250, 196)

We need to set some thresholds for the Driveline guys, but keep it simple. Can we measure it simply? Like, if O’Hoppe hits 30 home runs, then it’s one point for Driveline, or something like that. For drafters in one-catcher leagues who are light in roto power categories and need to fill their catcher slot before the draft ends might be thrilled with the big bopper, who I am certain has another level of production marinating and ready to be served up in 2026. Wait, we forgot to cook! O’Hoppe will do just that with elite framework for those called third strikes. It’s rumored that LOH knows the ABS blind spot.

Texas Rangers – Jack Leiter, SP (239, 209)

Wyatt Langford and Corey Seager need each other. If one is hurt for a prolonged period, the other likely won’t earn or exceed their fantasy value. Both have been big targets, but the Langford price has skyrocketed with his red-hot spring, up to 33 in 12-team NFBC leagues. We saw glimpses of Leiter’s potential and dominance in his first full season and all said, “if only he could cut down on the free passes.” He’s been doing just that in the spring. If he could pull a Pivetta and dip that walk rate down to the 8-9% range, we’ll be laughing all the way to the roto bank.

New York Mets – Luis Robert Jr., OF (107, 144)

This was a tough one because this team is loaded with fantasy goodness. Robert Jr. is one of my highest rostered hitters. He’s had a rough few years filled with losing, multiple managers, and myriad of injuries. This is his fresh start. He’s an above average base-stealer, an excellent defender, and likely did not hit 38 homers in 2023 by accident. Devin Williams, Bo Bichette, Freddy Peralta, Francisco Alvarez, Jorge Polanco, and Marcus Semien are other Mets I’ve frequently targeted in drafts. It’s an offense we want to invest in, and they may very well break the curse in 2026.

Atlanta Braves – Ronald Acuña Jr., OF (5, 10)

Acuña produced the best roto season in history (2023) before Shohei Ohtani topped him the following season. With the Braves offensive band healthy and back together, sparks (and balls) should fly. The big issue, of course, is the pitching rotation. Their current “IL staff” with Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach looks better than the quintet the Braves are rolling out there to begin the 2026 season. I’ve drafted Acuña over Juan Soto at the 4-spot quite frequently this draft season, and even took him over Bobby Witt Jr. at the 1.03 in my latest draft. Austin Riley and Matt Olson have been targets as well.

Philadelphia Phillies – 3-Way-Tie: Cristopher Sánchez, SP (24, 27), Jesús Luzardo, SP (69, 81), Zack Wheeler, SP (110, 137)

I’ve had one rule with starting pitchers this winter: don’t leave a draft without a Phillies or Mariners arm. This was a nasty trio last season. Per our Player Rater, Sánchez was the overall SP6, Wheeler the SP14, and Luzardo the SP30. Luzardo’s value was slightly weighed down by his ratios (3.96, 1.22), though he ranked fifth in the Majors in strikeouts with 216.

Miami Marlins – Max Meyer, SP (256, N/A)

Though I have a few shares of Jakob Marsee, my favorite Marlins’ target has been Meyer. He only threw seven innings in spring, but they were filthy. He struck out 12, walked one, and did not allow an earned run. Meyer is incredibly talented, but has dealt with his fair share of injuries over the last few years. The key is that he is healthy now. Drafters have taken notice as his ADP has risen over 100 spots (to 257 in OCs) over the last two months.

Washington Nationals – N/A

My only true Nats’ target this winter was Harry Ford, who will undoubtedly crush in Triple-A while Keibert Ruiz keeps his job warm for him. It’s difficult to invest in a third-round James Wood, regardless of the obvious power and upside. His 221 strikeouts in 2025 were the third most ever, behind Mark Reynolds (223 in 2009) and Adam Dunn (222 in 2012). Top prospect Dylan Crews was just optioned to Triple-A, and CJ Abrams might need a chaperone for the evenings before road games, so he can be fully rested for a game of professional baseball. Don’t get me started on the pitchers and their closer committee, led by Clayton Beeter and his 17.3% walk rate last season. Though he’s moving in the right direction this spring (11.5% walk rate, yippee!) Though we all know that anything is possible in the Year of Our (Brad) Lord.

Milwaukee Brewers – Brandon Tie: Brandon Woodruff, SP ( 161, 131), Brandon Sproat, SP (323 ,N/A)

There’s something in the pitching water in Milwaukee, and we all want a taste. Woodruff was an early-draft-season target and Sproat more recently, since being traded to the Brewers. Let’s hope Woodruff can stay healthy and that Sproat can deliver on the promise and hype from his days as a New York Mets’ prospect.

Chicago Cubs – Nico Hoerner, 2B (99, 98)

I don’t always target an early second baseman this draft season, but when I do, it’s usually Hoerner around his ADP. It takes the proper power-heavy build through the first few rounds – one where Hoerner is the perfect complement with his assistance in three categories – batting average, runs, and stolen bases.

Pittsburgh Pirates – Konnor Griffin, SS (185, 191)

His price rose, and then it dropped. Now it’s reasonable, especially with us all aware of the Pirates’ front office’s tendencies of being cheap, maximizing service time, and keeping their top prospects down. Griffin is going to make an impact in the big leagues as soon as he is promoted, which I expect to happen sometime in early May. He is one of the few hitters worth stashing on shallow benches, especially if he is available in your last-minute drafts after 200 ADP.

Cincinnati Reds – Matt McLain, 2B (128, 182)

He was a star at UCLA, and a budding star in his rookie season with the Reds in 2023, though his .290 average was clearly inflated by an irregularly high BABIP of .385. He was mostly a bust as a top 100 pick last season, and was hovering in the 180-200 ADP range for most of the winter. Fast forward to this spring where he has been the hottest hitter on the planet (.529/.571/1.020), and suddenly his NFBC ADP is closer to 100. Folks who invested early are pleased. He will go through prolonged slumps and strike out a ton, but has massive upside and potential to out-earn even his current draft cost.

St. Louis Cardinals – Iván Herrera, UT/C (182, 167)

Herrera was an unassuming, slap-hitter in the minors, who gradually improved his power metrics every season since. Last year was the breakout, as he hit .284 with 19 dingers, flexing above-average power (91.2 EV, 11% BRL, 47.4% HH). Health is the biggest question mark, and the one risk with drafting him. I haven’t landed him in drafts as much as I would have liked – he’s my ultimate FOMO guy. Herrera should earn catcher eligibility sometime in late April or early May.

San Francisco Giants -Tie: Ryan Walker, RP (132, 189), Jung Hoo Lee 이정후, OF (300, 192)

Walker has flown under the radar for most of draft season because there hasn’t been much written about the Giants’ bullpen. His draft cost has been affordable because he wasn’t very good in his first full season as their closer. There isn’t much competition for the ninth-inning gig in San Francisco, and Walker has had a strong spring. Jung Hoo Lee is one of my “one year early” guys – my most rostered hitter last season. Moving back to his original position in the KBO (right field) should make him more comfortable. He won’t wow in any particular category, though he’s a sneaky candidate to hit over .300 this season.

San Diego Padres – Michael King, SP (136, 140)

I love Mason Miller as much as anyone, but I’ve haven’t been comfortable drafting him at his second-round ADP, outside of Gladiator contests back in December. King has been my favorite Padres’ target as a 10-round SP3 in 15-team leagues with the potential to help anchor my staff’s ERA and strikeout categories.

Arizona Diamondbacks – Jordan Lawlar, 3B (257, N/A)

Hello, my name is Vlad Sedler – President of the Jordan Lawlar Fan Club. We all have our biases, and Lawlar is one of my biggest. He’s a former top prospect with the potential for five-category contribution and will gain outfield eligibility soon. The knock on him can’t be ignored – the kid has not been able to stay healthy. If he does though, it’s Profit Central.

Colorado Rockies – Brenton Doyle, OF (166, 183)

The only Rockies player in the top 100 ADP is Hunter Goodman. If we scroll down a few rounds, the next man up is Brenton Doyle, who has been reasonably priced all draft season in the 160-200 ADP range. Doyle broke out in 2024 (82 R, 23 HR, 72 RBI, 30 SB), then had a rough follow-up in 2025 as he dealt with a family tragedy early in the season. He looked good after the All-Star break, hitting .282 with 8 HR and 9 SB in 56 games (207 PA), and has had a strong spring.

Los Angeles Dodgers – Kyle Tucker, OF (13, 11)

Saving my home team for last, we all know the fantasy juggernaut that the Dodgers are, though many of them are expensive – six of their players have average draft positions in the top 70. I do believe in a Mookie Betts bounce-back, though I usually target pitchers in his draft range and also usually have a shortstop by the time he’s a draft consideration around his ADP. I have more shares of Roki Sasaki than probably anyone in the NFBC, most from December and January non-FAAB leagues. I can be stubborn, but must also be realistic: he appears broken and unconfident, and may need a stint in the minors to help him. As for my top Dodgers target, that’s newcomer Kyle Tucker, who I believe will stay healthy, hit at least 30 home runs and make a run for the NL RBI crown.

Hope you’ve enjoyed my preseason content, and I look forward to serving you with good advice during the season. Opening Day is almost here, so let’s Play Ball!

“It’s been seven hours and fifteen days / since you took my drafts awayyyy”

Sinead O’Connor may not be a roto savant, but even she might agree that the best part of the fantasy baseball season is research-and-draft season. Every day, from February until Opening Day, is so incredibly thrilling – nonstop spring training news, draft rankings adjustments, and player pool deep-dives – there’s always some rabbit hole of research to go down. As we continue studying and gaining confidence in the fresh player pool and a new year’s ADP, more questions arise, and the more work there is to be done.

Whether in NFBC or best ball contests, high-volume early drafters subconsciously form bad habits in draft rooms. We get too comfortable targeting and drafting the same players over and over. Conversely, we avoid players who have burned us in previous seasons and those we have some subjective bias against. Rarely do we deep dive and reassess those players because we’ve already made up our minds. That’s why it’s crucial to explore every nook and cranny of a positional tier. We have all fallen victim to draft room paralysis, where a decision between several similarly ranked shortstops or starting pitchers becomes gut-wrenching when we’re on the clock. This preseason column aims to help with those tough calls. We will explore some of the most confusing ADP clusters, by position, beyond the simple “I need to boost my batting average, so I’m taking this guy.”

Let’s dive into these ADP pockets logically and systematically, reviewing four analytical components of the players within each cluster. Since this specific article’s topic is starting pitchers, the components have been slightly adjusted:

Health and Durability
Skills: Arsenal, Stuff, Velocity, Command, Control
Roto Ratio Expectations (ERA, WHIP)
Team Context: Defense, Bullpen, Run Support (Wins)

ADP Cluster: Round 16 Upside Starting Pitchers

These are starting pitchers drafted in Round 16 (ADP 180-192) in the NFBC Online Championship (OC) over the last four days (20 drafts).

• Kris Bubic, Kansas City Royals (ADP 188.7)
• Cade Horton, Chicago Cubs (189.2)
• Shane McClanahan, Tampa Bay Rays (190.2)
• Shane Baz, Baltimore Orioles (191.5)
• Tanner Bibee, Cleveland Guardians (192)

All in this cluster were highly touted prospects who offer massive fantasy profit potential this season. Horton, McClanahan, and Baz were all real-life former first round draft picks. Bubic and Bibee were top pitching prospects in their respective organizations at one time. Would we be surprised if one or two of them ended up as a top 10 SP in 2026? This is the range Bryan Woo (SP4) was drafted from last spring.

Health and Durability

McClanahan turns 29 next month, and Bubic will be 29 this summer. Bibee just turned 27, Baz turns 27 in June, and Horton will be 25 in August. Bubic and McClanahan are both southpaws.

Kris Bubic was drafted in 2018, made 10 starts in his rookie season (2020), then averaged 130 innings per season from 2021-2022, mostly as a starter with an ERA over 5.00. He had Tommy John surgery early in the 2023 season, and returned late in 2024, missing the majority of both seasons. Previously a starter, Bubic was a dominant reliever in the final two months of 2024, then officially broke out in 2025 (2.55 ERA, 1.18 WHIP in 20 starts) before getting shut down in late July for a left rotator cuff strain. Bubic is healthy heading into the 2026 season. This spring, he has allowed just one run with three walks and 10 strikeouts over three abbreviated starts (eight innings).

Cade Horton has an extensive and serious injury history. He tore his UCL before his freshman year at the University of Oklahoma in 2021. His 2024 season was lost due to a right shoulder strain that May and he did not pitch again until the winter. Last season, he dealt with finger blisters, fractured his right rib by (cough) coughing, and was shut down before the playoffs. Horton’s 118 innings last season was his first time over 90 ever. This spring, he tossed two scoreless innings in his first appearance (February 24), served up six runs and two walks in 3.2 IP on March 9, and struck out 10 with just one run and one walk in latest start earlier this week.

Shane McClanahan last pitched in the Majors in 2023. He missed his freshman year of college recovering from TJS (2016), missed 17 days with back tightness in July of 2023, and had his second TJS in August of that same year. In his final ramp-up start of camp last March, McClanahan suffered a nerve injury in his triceps, and had surgery on it in August. His fastball velocity in Sunday’s exhibition start (94.8 mph) was down (from his previous 97), but he looked dominant, punching out seven Pirates and didn’t allow a hit in 3.2 innings.

Shane Baz has spent more time dealing with or recovering from right elbow troubles than pitching, since being drafted in 2017. He underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery in March of 2022, returned in June, and went back on the 60-day IL the following month. In late September of 2022, he underwent Tommy John surgery. Baz missed all of  2023, and returned in May of 2024. He made 10 starts in Triple-A and 14 for the Rays. Last season, he managed to stay healthy, throwing 166.1 innings over 31 starts.

Tanner Bibee has had the least amount of arm troubles of the bunch. His only IL stint in three Major League seasons was in his rookie year (2023), missing 15 days with right hip inflammation. Bibee dealt with some shoulder tightness in 2024, and has had to leave starts early with severe leg cramps a few times in the last two seasons – an issue that has plagued him since his college days. Bibee has averaged 166 innings per season over the last three, while Baz, McClanahan, and Bubic have averaged 174.1 innings combined over that same span.

If there’s a cluster we don’t need to see health grades for, it’s this one. But if you’re curious, here they are, courtesy of Jeff Zimmerman, from Eno Sarris’ article at The Athletic. McClanahan does not have a health grade listed.

• Tanner Bibee – 96%
• Cade Horton – 83%
• Shane Baz – 74%
• Kris Bubic – 72%

Skills: Arsenal, Stuff, Velocity, Command, Control

Roto Ratio Expectations (ERA, WHIP)

With much of this group missing significant time over the last few seasons, it is difficult to compare recent results. I’ll combine skills and ratio expectations into one section here. For this cluster, I’m using ATC’s projections, since it is an aggregate model. Included in the table below are the pitchers’ current ADP and their ADP from February, over 66 NFBC OC drafts.

Bubic is a lefty who utilized a four-pitch mix last season (four-seam fastball, changeup, sweeper, slider), and occasionally threw a sinker. His four primary pitches were all plus offerings, though he doesn’t overpower opposing hitters (92.1 mph FB). Bubic produced a 24.4% strikeout rate and a 8.2% walk rate in his 20 starts – rates in line with his projections for 2026. He is more likely to produce a sub-4.00 ERA than a sub 1.20 WHIP. He allowed only six home runs in 116.1 innings (0.46 HR/9), a feat that would be difficult to repeat in a similar number of innings, particularly with Kansas City moving fences in.

Usually, a 1.4 differential between one’s ERA (2.67) and xFIP (4.27) in the prior season would push fantasy analysts and managers away and bucket a pitcher into the “lucky and due to regress” category. That’s not the case with Horton, who has held steadfastly with a 189 ADP since early February. His underlying metrics against lefties and righties were similar, though the one standout split was BABIP (.291 vs. LHHs, .219 vs. RHHs). He utilized his sweeper primary on righties (.171 BAA, 25.7% K), and his changeup more frequently against lefties (.115 BAA, 32.8% K). Horton averaged nearly 97 mph on his four-seam fastball. He was incredible at Wrigley Field (1.63 ERA, .251 wOBA). He generated league-average swings and misses (11% SwStr), but that mark hovered in the 14-15% range in the minors. Expect some improvement there closer to the 12-13% range in 2026.

Shane Baz has a similar ADP as last draft season. What has kept his ADP stable? Probably his poor ERA (4.87) in 2025, and slight market concern about making half of his starts in Oriole Park instead of Tropicana Field. That ERA was a nearly a full run higher than his xFIP (3.88) and SIERA (3.95), with the majority of the damage occurring at hitter-friendly George Steinbrenner Field (5.90 ERA, .355 wOBA), while posting respectable rates on the road (3.86, .303). He unloaded his four-seamer at a 44% clip close to evenly against righties and lefties with an average velocity of 97 mph. Baz did not fare well with a new cutter last season (.412 wOBA, 16% K), but he mastered his knuckle curve with a sharp downward bite that punched batters out at a rate of 35.2%. Baz developed a two-seam fastball in the offseason.

Tanner Bibee is the least “electric” of the group and has lost quite a bit of market confidence after a disappointing season (4.24 ERA, 1.23 WHIP) where draft helium took him as high as the fourth round of 15-team NFBC leagues last March. Going into last draft season, he was labeled as a dependable SP2 after an impressive first two years in the majors with a high strikeout rate (25.5%), low walk rate (6.6%), and one of only seven qualified pitchers between 2023 and 2024 with an ERA of 3.25 or lower. In 2025, Bibee greatly reduced his FB usage (from 43% to 28%), but that offering was still frequently mashed (47% hard-hit, .372 wOBA). He served up dingers at a higher rate (1.33 HR/9) than the past two seasons (.97) despite a six percent decrease in fly balls.

McClanahan last threw a regular season pitch in August of 2023 and is anxiously awaiting that first start in nearly three years. In his 74 career starts, McClanahan sports a 3.02 ERA (3.15 xFIP), a 1.10 WHIP, 28% strikeout rate and 7.1% walk rate. He will be under a strict innings limit this season, with a target of around 150. He is expected to make his Major League return in the Rays’ fifth game, which will be March 31 in Milwaukee.

Team Context: Defense, Bullpen, Run Support (Wins)

The Cubs defense is projected as one of the best in 2026, which is great for Horton. The Guardians (for Bibee) are expected to be strong defensively, and Progressive Field is an offense-suppressing environment.

The Rays moving back to their pitcher-friendly home stadium doesn’t move the needle much for McClanahan’s market price. If he’s on his A-game, where he pitches doesn’t matter.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards has been tougher on pitchers since they moved the walls in before last season. The HR Park Factor there last season was 121, second highest behind Dodger Stadium (137). Baz won’t stand a chance holding his HR/9 below 1.00, but can still produce a 4.00 ERA and at least a strikeout per inning. The O’s boast a powerhouse offense and should provide ample run support.

The walls moving in Kauffman Stadium shouldn’t impact Bubic’s HR rate as much as someone like his ace rotation-mate, Cole Ragans, but it might be too much to ask for a repeat of Bubic’s masterful, partial season. The Royals’ infield defense on the left side is bolstered by Bobby Witt Jr. and Maikel Garcia, but is questionable at the keystone with Jonathan India expected to move back there full time.

It is difficult to assess these bullpens and how they might move the needle on our valuations of starting pitchers in this cluster. The bullpen I’m most confident in is Kansas City’s. They added Matt Strahm in the offseason, hope to have a full season from Lucas Erceg, and have several other effective arms: lefties Daniel Lynch IV and veteran Bailey Falter, and righties John Schreiber, Nick Mears and possibly a new and improved Alex Lange. The Orioles’ bullpen is scary and include a couple of names even I’ve never heard of.

Recommendation (with target grade)

Talent-wise, this cluster of pitchers is an A-, but if we’re collectively grading them with durability in mind, the grade drops down to a solid B.

Cade Horton (B) is the pitcher who’s risen up my personal rankings the most since November. The more I dig in, the more I want to target him in drafts.

Tanner Bibee (B-)  is the most stable of the group, but with the lowest upside. Sometimes that’s a good thing in fantasy.

I’d love to see Shane McClanahan (B-) bounce all the way back. My main issue with him is his recent draft helium, which may soar into the top 120 overall with another solid spring outing.

Kris Bubic (B+) and Shane Baz (A-) are my two favorite targets in this group. The ride might be bumpy with Baz, but I believe 2026 will be his breakout season.

“Don’t it always seem to go, you don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone.”

Joni Mitchell may not be a roto savant, but even she might agree that the best part of the fantasy baseball season is research-and-draft season. Every day, from February until Opening Day, is so incredibly thrilling – nonstop spring training news, draft rankings adjustments, and player pool deep-dives – there’s always some rabbit hole of research to go down. As we continue studying and gaining confidence in the fresh player pool and a new year’s ADP, more questions arise, and the more work there is to be done.

Whether in NFBC or best ball contests, high-volume early drafters subconsciously form bad habits in draft rooms. We get too comfortable targeting and drafting the same players over and over. Conversely, we avoid players who have burned us in previous seasons and those we have some subjective bias against. Rarely do we deep dive and reassess those players because we’ve already made up our minds. That’s why it’s crucial to explore every nook and cranny of a positional tier. We have all fallen victim to draft room paralysis, where a decision between several similarly ranked shortstops or starting pitchers becomes gut-wrenching when we’re on the clock. This preseason column aims to help with those tough calls. We will explore some of the most confusing ADP clusters, by position, beyond the simple “I need to boost my batting average, so I’m taking this guy.”

Let’s dive into these ADP pockets logically and systematically, reviewing four analytical components of the players within each cluster.

• Playing Time (and Role)
• Health/Durability
• Skills/Categorical Contributions
• Context of Team Offense

ADP Cluster: Post-300 Outfielders

ADP from 17 NFBC 12-team Online Championships (OC) drafts over the last five days (March 12 – March 16)

• Jasson Domínguez, New York Yankees (ADP 304)
• Cam Smith, Houston Astros (308)
• Matt Wallner, Minnesota Twins (309.7)
• Cedric Mullins, Tampa Bay Rays (310.3)
• Carson Benge, New York Mets (310.5)
• Jung Hoo Lee 이정후, San Francisco Giants (310.8)

These outfielders are drafted in the Rounds 25-26 of OCs, typically as an OF5. For shallower 12-teamers with 23-25 rounds, some of these hitters may be early-season waiver targets. Carson Benge is the only one here without major league experience. Jasson Dominguez is rumored to start the season in the minors. Cam Smith, Matt Wallner, Cedric Mullins and Jung Hoo Lee are projected as everyday starters in their respective lineups. Domínguez, Smith, Wallner, and Mullins were all utilized as part of a platoon for parts of the 2025 season.

Playing Time (and Role)

For Jasson Domínguez, it’s a matter of when, not if. The former heralded prospect and top 150 ADP selection from 2025 has seen his 2026 draft stock fall over the last couple of months with expectations of starting the season in Triple-A. After all, the Yankees re-signed Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham, Giancarlo Stanton (the DH) is healthy (for now) and the great Aaron Judge mans right field. Manager Aaron Boone wants Domínguez to be playing every day, but that opportunity doesn’t yet present itself in the majors. Boone’s problem though is that Domínguez has been forcing his hand with exceptional production in spring training – .371/.395/.686, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 3 SB, 170 wRC+ in 38 plate appearances. Domínguez had a decent rookie season (.257/.331/.388, 58 R, 23-of-27 SB in 429 PA), but his playing time was reduced down the stretch and he essentially didn’t play in the playoffs.

For the last couple of months, RosterResource projected Cam Smith as a short side platoon outfielder. That designation has been shifted to full-time right fielder batting eighth on Opening Day. His RosterResource batting order projection will certainly influence his market price these next couple of weeks. What is more important for drafters is to solidify whether they’re buying or fading based on his profile, not projected playing time, because the latter could fluctuate all season like it did in his rookie year. Smith hit lefties better (130 wRC+, .191 ISO) than he did righties (75, .098), but the sample is a small one and not predictive. Jake Myers will be play centerfield, and the other two spots will be split between Smith and lefty bats Joey Loperfido (welcome back to Houston!) and Zach Cole. Smith played 132 games in right field last season.

Matt Wallner can absolutely mash and he may earn the opportunity for full-time at-bats in the context of a weaker lineup that needs him. In 97 plate appearances against lefties last season, Wallner actually had a higher wRC+ (118) than he did against righties (113 in 295 PA) as well as a similar ISO (.247 vs. RHP, .267 vs. LHP). So far this spring, he is hitting .294 with two homers, a stolen base, and a 14.6% walk rate, through 41 plate appearances.

Cedric Mullins signed with the Rays in December in what will the first Opening Day in his career that he doesn’t don an Orioles uniform. A left-handed hitter, Mullins has avoided being platooned for most of his career, but experienced a little bit of it the last two seasons. We expect the Rays to include him in their lineup against both lefties and righties, though if he struggles, this outfield room is loaded with alternatives, including recently acquired rookie prospect, Jacob Melton. Mullins is 31 and has never been an elite defender in center,  posting negative UZR’s in all but one season. Mullins dealt with a back flare-up a couple of weeks ago, but appears healthy now. Through his first nine spring games, Mullins has two homers and a swipe.

Carson Benge is the sweet-swinging, lefty-batting, first-round selection of the Mets in the 2024 draft. He is having a strong camp (.367/.406/.433) and is projected to crack the Opening Day roster. Though he will likely begin the year on the strong side of a right field platoon with slick defender, Tyrone Taylor.

Jung Hoo Lee was a KBO star who signed a 6-year ($18.8M AAV) deal with the Giants two years ago, missed most of the 2024 season with injury, and produced mediocre results in 2025. Lee played 147 of 149 games in centerfield last season, but is being moved back to his original position from his KBO days (right field), primarily because of the offseason acquisition of Harrison Bader. Lee was a better hitter against righties (118 wRC+) than lefties (77) last season, though new manager Tony Vitello will likely start him every game. If Lee happens to stumble against lefties around a time when Luis Matos or Jerar Encarnacion heat up, it’s possible for Lee to fall into a platoon, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

Health/Durability

None of the outfielders in this cluster have current injuries to worry about, but most of them have had their fair share of injuries over the years.

Cedric Mullins – The oldest of this group (31), Mullins has had a few lower-body related injury stints over the last few seasons. He missed time with a right hamstring strain last spring and missed over a month with a right groin strain in May of 2023.

Jasson Domínguez – He tore his UCL at the end of the 2023 minor-league season and had Tommy John surgery. He suffered a left oblique strain in the summer of 2024 and missed a couple of games (no IL stint) in June of 2025 with a left thumb contusion.

Jung Hoo Lee – He remained relatively health in his South Korea days, though he broke his ankle and missed half the 2023 season. The following year, his first in the Majors, he dislocated his shoulder crashing into an outfield wall in mid-May and underwent season-ending surgery. He tweaked his ankle in the WBC last week, but it turned out to be a minor issue.

Matt Wallner – He missed five weeks early last season after suffering a left hamstring strain. He also dealt with oblique strains in each of the past two seasons. Not surprising considering the big dude swings hard and carries a big stick.

Carson Benge missed his first season of college at Oklahoma State after an elbow injury caused him to undergo Tommy John surgery. His injury was pitching-related, and the two-way player shifted his focus to hitting and playing the outfield.

Cam Smith does not have an injury history other than minor nicks and bruises.

The two who I’d slightly ding fantasy value for their health and durability are Mullins and Wallner.

Skills/Categorical Contributions

Matt Wallner is in a class of his own here because of his prolific power. Some slight data manipulation here, but Wallner’s 16.1% barrel rate is tied with Mike Trout’s for seventh in the majors among hitters with at least 900 plate appearances since 2023. The guys ahead of him: Aaron Judge (26.2%), Shohei Ohtani (21.5%), Giancarlo Stanton (19.1%), Kyle Schwarber (17.7%), Juan Soto (17%), and Oneil Cruz (16.2%) – elite company, indeed. Wallner hit 22 home runs in 104 games (392 PA) last season, and has 30+ HR upside if he can stay off the IL. His batting average won’t be helpful, but he may throw in a few stolen bases and is one of the rare late-round boons for fantasy squads that might be power deficient.

Cedric Mullins had that magical 30-30 (HR-SB) season in 2021. In his past four seasons, he has swiped at least 30 bags twice, and has averaged 16.5 home runs. He has been a batting average killer though – .228 since 2023. A fair expectation for Mullins in his first season with the Rays would be 12-15 homers, 25 stolen bases, 100-130 R/RBI (combined) and another season with a sub-.240 average.

Jung Hoo Lee has the highest batting average upside of the cluster. He hit .319 in his first 30 games of 2025, went through a rough three-month stretch from May through July (.218), then hit .306 from August 1 until the end of the season. He is capable of hitting .290+ over a full season. His only positive roto category contribution was runs scored (73 in 150 games). He is a solid floor contributor, but you won’t see many projection models bless him with anything more than 10 HR and 10 SB. His allure lies within his potential batting average contributions.

Jasson Domínguez, Cam Smith, and Carson Benge are the three young, upside guys. All would project for double-digit homers and swipes with 500+ plate appearances. Dominguez’s distribution would lie higher on the SBs, though he is capable of 20-plus homers if he earns consistent playing time. Domínguez sported a 49.6% hard-hit rate and stole 23 bases on 28 attempts in 429 plate appearances last season. Smith and Benge have 20-HR, 15-SB potential though neither is likely to get there in 2026. Benge is certainly intriguing as a toolsy prospect with the eventual possibility of being a five-category contributor. Note that he only has 103 plate appearances at Triple-A and he struggled there (.178/.272/.311) after crushing it with a .300+ AVG and .400+ OBP in 92 games at High-A and Double-A.

Context of Team Offense

The best team context here is Domínguez’s with the Yankees, but that is if he is able to earn consistent playing time. Wallner’s team context is sneaky as a middle of the order power hitter, though his counting category contributions hinge on Byron Buxton, Luke Keaschall and Royce Lewis staying healthy, which may be asking a lot. Based on home parks, divisions and other hitters in the lineup, the other four from this cluster have a neutral context.

Verdict (with value grades, A-F)

Jasson Domínguez (A-) may have been overpriced in the 125-150 ADP range last season, but he is being greatly undervalued this draft season, at half the cost, because of lack of role clarity. Dominguez is pushing to crack the Opening Day roster and deserves it, but it would be better if he got the reps in Triple-A. Make the low-cost investment in Dominguez late in your drafts if your roster doesn’t have a bench stash already, and you believe that his everyday role with the Yankees is simply a matter of when.

Jung Hoo Lee (B+) won’t wow us in any category other than potentially batting average. He has a high floor and could easily outproduce his draft cost with another 600+ plate appearances. Perhaps he surprises us with a bit more than what models are projecting.

Matt Wallner (B+) is the ideal power-boost option towards the end of drafts, specifically for folks whose roster construction feel light on power after 20 rounds. I’m less worried about a platoon split than oblique issues or other ailments resurfacing.

Cam Smith (B) and Carson Benge (B-) have the widest range of potential outcomes. Spending a chunk of the season isn’t off the table for either of them, but less so for Smith. Benge rocked a 81% contact rate, and despite last season’s struggles with consistency at the plate in Triple-A, he is less likely than Smith to tank us in the batting average category. Smith could fall into a platoon with Loperfido or Cole, but this is unlikely to happen for a prolonged time period.

Cedric Mullins (C+) may seem like a sneaky and savvy late-round option due to his HR-SB upside, but Tropicana Field is a downgrade from Oriole Park and his projected batting average is a massive detractor to his overall projected value.