Hey friends, welcome to the third year of my weekly column (first year on Fantasy Pros)!

The goal of this column for us to give you the most fantasy relevant information all in one place for a variety of league types to hopefully be your one stop shop, or at least the shop you have to hit on the way to all the other shops for fantasy baseball information from news, to lineup and roster notes, injury updates, waiver recommendations for different lead types, prospect rankings, moves we made and a weekly deep dive into something relevant.

We hope you enjoy! Please subscribe to the Fantasy Aceball podcast and follow me on Twitter @fantasyaceball for more fantasy goodness!

• Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Assistant
• Fantasy Baseball Trade Tools
• Weekly Fantasy Baseball Content
• MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet

Fantasy Baseball Roundup

Fantasy Baseball Lineup & Roster Notes

• Baltimore Orioles:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • No Jackson Holliday (who hit a bomb in his first AAA AB of the season)… yes, Colton Cowser
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Urias and Mateo vs. Jackson Holliday
    • Cowser / Hays platoon? We will find out Saturday against Griffin Canning.
    • Mullins leading off against righties, can he rebound?
  • Rotation Notes:
    • Keep an eye on Bradish and Means news
  • Pen Notes:
    • Kimbrel v Cano… can Kimbrel stick it?
• Boston Red Sox:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • Rafaela forced the issue and hit a triple on Opening Day
  • Lineup Notes:
    • O’Neil hitting ahead of Casas?
    • Wilyer Abreu on the bench
    • Rafaela in CF instead of second…
  • Rotation Notes:
    • How will this rotation make it through the season? Depending on Pivetta, Houck and Whitlock
  • Pen Notes:
    • Jansen was healthy and nailed a save on Opening Day.
• Chicago White Sox:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • Crochet pitching opening day and had a very strong start.
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Benintendi / Moncada leadoff depending on pitcher handedness
    • Fletcher / Pillar RF platoon
  • Rotation Notes:
    • Appears Nastrini will be the fifth starter, but won’t play until the second time through the rotation.
  • Pen Notes:
    • Kopech v Brebbia as closer
• Cleveland Guardians:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • No Manzardo and no DeLauter
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Florial and David Fry platoon…ewww
  • Rotation Notes:
    • Carrasco in the rotation with Gavin Williams on the IL
  • Pen Notes:
    • Nada
• Detroit Tigers:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • JHM snubbed again?
    • Manning in AAA
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Parker Meadows leading off vs. righties, 9th vs. lefties
    • Kerry Carpenter platoon
  • Rotation Notes:
    • So many guys… what’s going on..
    • Skubal looked like a killer first time out.
  • Pen Notes:
    • Lange v Foley v Shelby Miller
• Houston Astros:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • Joey Loperfido didn’t make the roster as a super utility.
  • Lineup Notes:
    • The only team projected to have the same lineup vs. both righties and lefties.
  • Rotation Notes:
    • Urquidy is out (elbow) and Ronel Blanco (strong spring) is in
  • Pen Notes:
    • Will Pressly steal saves from Hader? How many?
• Kansas City Royals:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • Nada.
  • Lineup Notes:
    • MJ Melendez looks to be in a platoon
    • How often will Fermin start at C and Salvy at DH?
  • Rotation Notes:
    • Alec Marsh in the 5th SP spot
  • Pen Notes:
    • Will Smith v James McArthur
• Los Angeles Angels:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • No meaningful additions via FA to help Trout.
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Rendon at leadoff and Aaron Hicks hitting second… poor Mike Trout.
  • Rotation Notes:
    • Watch Jose Soriano if someone in the rotation struggles.
  • Pen Notes:
    • How long is Estevez closing?
• Minnesota Twins:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • How are they all still healthy? Juju transferred to Reds?
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Will Julien play against lefties? Platoon with Farmer?
    • Jeffers C1
    • Kirilloff / Margot platoon
  • Rotation Notes:
    • Can Varland not give up homers?
  • Pen Notes:
    • Jax looks like the closer with Stuart at setup after game one.
• New York Yankees:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • Luis Gil as the 5th starter!
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Gleyber leading off
    • Oswaldo Cabrera at 3B with LeMahieu out, or Jon Berti (who they just acquired)
    • Grisham D vs. Verdugo O
  • Rotation Notes:
    • Watch the young guys, Will Warren and Chase Hampton in the minors.
  • Pen Notes:
    • Depth behind Holmes is lacking..
• Oakland Athletics:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • Hernaiz makes the team at 3B instead of SS
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Esteury Ruiz is not starting against righties..
      • Bleday / Ruiz platoon
    • Taking cues from the Giants
      • Noda platoon
    • Gelof, Rooker and Brown are the only every day guys
    • Hernaiz didn’t start Opening Day, but started game 2
  • Rotation Notes:
    • Joe Boyle walks the world and still wins the 5th starter gig
  • Pen Notes:
    • How long until Miller is closing?
• Tampa Bay Rays:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • N/A
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Is Brandon Lowe really getting platooned with Mead? Grand Slam Friday night.
    • Richie Palacios starting vs. righties / Rosario platoon… Palacios looking good.
    • Harold Ramirez playing every day?
    • When is Caminero time??
  • Rotation Notes:
    • Tyler Alexander is not long for this world as a starter…
  • Pen Notes:
    • Nothing new
• Texas Rangers:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • Wyatt Langford!!!
    • Seager and Jung are healthy
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Carter hitting 4th and Langford 6th
    • Jared Walsh / Ezequiel Duran platoon
    • Adolis to DH
  • Rotation Notes:
    • Will Lorenzon jump right into the rotation or does he need ramp up?
  • Pen Notes:
    • LeClerc v Robertson (no closer named by Bochy)
      • LeClerc in the 9th and Robertson in the 10th of game 1
• Toronto Blue Jays:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • Danny Jansen hurt makes Kirk the full-time catcher to start
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Justin Turner at cleanup is studly value
    • How much PT for Davis Schneider? (only against lefties?)
  • Rotation Notes:
    • How long until Ricky Tiedemann makes the team?
    • Alek Manoah… is he toast?
  • Pen Notes:
    • Yimi Garcia closing to start the year…
      • Swanson IL (forearm) for two weeks?
      • Romano could be out longer (elbow)
• Arizona Diamondbacks:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • Elvis Andrus released…
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Platoon: Joc hitting fifth against righties… Grichuk sixth against lefties (when healthy)
  • Rotation Notes:
    • How long until we see Jordan Montgomery join the rotation and take the Tommy Henry spot?
  • Pen Notes:
    • Kevin Ginkel likely to close while Sewald is out
• Atlanta Braves:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • Rey Lo wins the 5th starter spot
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Kelenic and Duvall platoon
    • Michael Harris hitting ninth against lefties?
  • Rotation Notes:
    • When do we see AJSS?
  • Pen Notes:
    • Nothing new.
• Chicago Cubs:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • No PCA
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Tauchman / Cooper platoon
    • Busch / Wisdom platoon
  • Rotation Notes:
    • Taillon to start the year on the IL… Javier Assad in the rotation for now.
  • Pen Notes:
    • Neris save chances?
• Cincinnati Reds:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • Injury bug hit hard
  • Lineup Notes:
    • India at full-time leadoff
    • Benson playing full-time?
    • Fraley 3rd/ 4th vs. righties
    • Steer and Candy in the mix for counting stats, let’s keep an eye on where they hit.
    • Is Nick Martini going to be an April thing?
  • Rotation Notes:
    • Keep an eye on Lodolo’s health
  • Pen Notes:
    • N/A
• Colorado Rockies:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • Jake Cave trade (4th OF)
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Blackmon in a platoon, leading off vs. righties
    • Tovar 7th against RHP, 1st against LHP
  • Rotation Notes:
    • Stay away
  • Pen Notes:
    • Stay away… Justin Lawrence
• Los Angeles Dodgers:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • No Miguel Vargas
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Heyward / Chris Taylor platoon
    • Is Outman in a platoon with Kike?
    • Lux / Rojas platoon
  • Rotation Notes:
    • 5 man for now… until Sheehan returns
    • Enough SP in the pen for pen games (Hurt, Grove, Yarbrough, Knack)
  • Pen Notes:
    • Phillips safe for now
• Miami Marlins:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • Max Meyer – 5th starter
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Jesus Sanchez playing every day?
    • Why isn’t Jazz hitting higher?
    • Traded Jon Berti (oddly) to the Yankees on Wednesday.
    • Avisail Garcia… gross
  • Rotation Notes:
    • Will be interesting to watch the rotation…
      • Can Puk start?
      • Can Rogers stay healthy?
      • Can Weathers keep it up?
      • Can Meyer go 5-6 innings?
  • Pen Notes:
    • Tanner Scott control questions…
      • Nardi and Bender in the wings
• Milwaukee Brewers:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • No Tyler Black
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Joey Ortiz to start daily with Mitchell out
  • Rotation Notes:
    • Next in line, Ashby or Gasser? (Gasser hurt?)
    • Who moves for Miley, Ross or Junis?
  • Pen Notes:
    • Megill in the 7th, Payamps in the 8th and Uribe in the 9th
• New York Mets:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • Jd Martinez signing
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Can Baty make it happen?
  • Rotation Notes:
    • Not as bad as you think…especially when Senga comes back
    • Severino / Megill / Manaea upside
  • Pen Notes:
    • Nothing new with Diaz back!
• Philadelphia Phillies:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • Spencer Turnbull in the rotation for injured Taijuan Walker
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Marsh / Merrifield platoon
  • Rotation Notes:
    • How long until we see Mick Abel?
  • Pen Notes:
    • Will Hoffman, Seranthony or Kerkering (sick or hurt?) take the closer role at some point? Alvarado was destroyed on Friday.
• Pittsburgh Pirates:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • Jared Jones makes the team and Henry Davis is starting catcher
    • Triolo starting at 2B, Peguero is out
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Davis playing catcher most days with Grandal out
    • Cutch in the top half of the lineup
    • Suwinski likely still in a platoon
  • Rotation Notes:
    • How long until we see Paul Skenes.
  • Pen Notes:
    • Nothing new.
• San Diego Padres:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • Graham Pauley on the bench
    • Jackson Merrill starting in CF
    • Where is Tommy Pham?
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Tyler Wade / Eguy Rosario platoon
    • Xander leading off vs. righties, Kim vs. lefties
    • Cronenworth hitting third vs. righties
    • Machado looks healthy at the plate
  • Rotation Notes:
    • Waldron as the five over Brito.
  • Pen Notes:
    • Robert Suarez for now… Yuki when healthy?
• San Francisco Giants:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • Ahmed vs. Luciano battle at SS
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Wade / Flores platoon at 1B
    • Conforto hitting third vs. righties and fifth vs. lefties still
  • Rotation Notes:
    • Blake Snell rounds off a nice rotation
  • Pen Notes:
    • Hicks or Winn to the pen when Cobb is back?
• St. Louis Cardinals:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • Victor Scott made the roster and stole a base in his first game.
  • Lineup Notes:
    • Nootbaar to leadoff or hit third when he returns?
  • Rotation Notes:
    • Zack Thompson starting for Sonny Gray
  • Pen Notes:
    • Kittridge backup closer?
• Washington Nationals:
  • Roster Surprises:
    • Jesse Winker playing every day?
    • Joey Gallo playing every day?
    • Eddie Rosario in CF?
  • Lineup Notes:
    • What year is it… all these has-beens..
    • When will we see Wood and/or Crews?
  • Rotation Notes:
    • Eww
  • Pen Notes:
    • Will Harvey grab the closer role from Finnegan?

Fantasy Baseball Injury Notes

• SS Royce Lewis (Twins) – Had an injury scare on Opening Day, getting pulled after hitting a homer earlier in the game and sending him to get an MRI on his quad. He landed on the 10-day IL and it’s TBD when he’ll return to Minnesota.
• 2B Matt McLain (Reds) – Had shoulder surgery for a torn labrum and is expecting to return at some point this season. O’Hoppe had this same injury last year, suffering the torn shoulder on April 20th, he had surgery on April 25th and returned to the Majors on August 18th, just under 4 months after the surgery. Based on this timeline, we might see McLain just after the trade deadline.
• SS Jordan Lawlar (Diamondbacks) – Is undergoing surgery on his right thumb, which will keep him out of minor league action for 8-10 weeks.
• SP Max Scherzer (Rangers) – Placed only on the 10 day IL, which means the Ranger are expecting a May return now from Scherzer, making him a stellar bargain now in most fantasy leagues wherever he was taken.
• SP Justin Steele (Cubs) – Steele went down with what appears to be a hamstring injury on Opening Day in the 5th inning.
• C Sean Murphy (Braves) – Sean Murphy strained his oblique on Friday and was almost immediately placed on the IL. Oblique strains tend to have differing timelines, but I would expect 4-8 weeks.
• 3B Rafael Devers (Red Sox) – Devers was scratched from the second game of the season with a sore shoulder, hopefully it’s not a Matt McLain situation.
• 2B Gleyber Torres (Yankees) – Torres was removed from Friday night’s game after getting hit in the hand, we will find out how serious it is in the coming day or two, keep an eye out for news.

Tim’s Top Waiver Wire Adds (12-Team Leagues)

Under 50% Owned (CBS)

Last Year (Week 1): Zack Eflin, Joey Wiemer, Austin Meadows, Justin Steele and David Peterson (good hit rate on SPs)

1. OF Victor Scott II (Cardinals) 46% owned – Scott fell backwards into the starting CF job thanks to his buddy Jordan Walker taking out Dylan Carlson just before Spring Training ended, but it’s a good thing for fantasy owners and for the Cardinals because Scott brings elite defense and speed to the table and depending on how much he is able to reach base, he could be a fantasy game changer in the steals department. He’s currently hitting 8th though and there is no guarantee he sticks around when Nootbaar, Edman and Carlson return – but he has a chance and could run with it.
2. RP Abner Uribe (Brewers) 39% owned – Uribe was already the best pitcher in the Brewers pen behind Williams and the Brewers turned to Uribe for their first save in 2024, so it looks like he is slated to be the closer over Payamps and Megill with WIlliams on the shelf. Go get him while you can!
3. SP Luis Gil (Yankees) 42% owned – Gil had an insane Spring Training and always had some insane stuff when he was healthy, now he has a chance to run with it since he’s finally healthy.
4. C Luis Campusano (Padres) 49% owned – Campusano is underrated after a very strong second half in 2023 and should get a ton of playing time and could surpass guys like Ruiz and Moreno now that he’s the full-time starting catcher in San Diego.
5. OF Jake Fraley (Reds) 44% owned – With all of the Reds injuries, Fraley is likely slated for more playing time than originally thought this spring and with health, he should vie for a potential 20/20 season. He will still probably play in a platoon, but he hits high enough against righties to still get decent counting stats.
6. 3B Eugenio Suarez (Diamondbacks) 46% owned – Suarez will be hitting in the middle of the order for the NL champs and should rack up a ton of RBI if nothing else. We could see an increase in the power numbers as he moves out of Seattle.
7. SP Jared Jones (Pirates) 49% owned: Jones had a slick spring and earned not only the #5 spot in the rotation, but the fourth spot. I expect a little more than a K per 9, with some inconsistencies and around a 4.20 – 4.50 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP or so.
8. 2B / SS / 3B / OF Luis Rengifo (Angels) 39% owned – Part of Rengifo’s value is that he plays so many positions and is the perfect bench guy in almost any league, but he also has a nice stick and should hit around .260 with close to 20 homers and 10 steals.
9. SP Max Meyer (Marlins) 32% owned – Meyer was a former top 10-20 prospect and now that he’s healthy, we could see him finally break out. I expect limited innings, but maybe we see something similar to what Eury Perez put up innings-wise for the Marlins in 2024.
10. RP Griffin Jax (Twins) 36% owned – Jax should close for the next 4-6 weeks or so for the Twins as Duran recovers from an oblique injury. Get some waiver saves while you can.

Tim’s Top Waiver Adds (15-Team Leagues)

Under 30% Owned (CBS)

Last Year (Week 1): Liam Hendriks, Yainer Diaz, Will Benson, German Marquez, Robbie Grossman (good hit rate on hitters)

1. SS Zach Neto (Angels) 24% owned – Neto is back, he’s healthy, he had a strong spring and I expect him near the top of the lineup sooner, rather than later. He could be an underrated source of value in your MI spot.
2. SP Tylor Megill (Mets) 24% owned – Megill has revamped his arsenal this offseason, he has health, he has a starting pitcher gig with a long-ish leash and he’s coming off a strong spring.
3. SP Ryan Weathers (Marlins) 14% owned – Weathers racked up a ton of strikeouts this spring and looks like the next Marlins reclamation project. It’s worth a gamble to see if the strong spring translates to the regular season.
4. OF Michael Conforto (Giants) 27% owned – Conforto is hitting third or fourth in any lineup construction and despite the power sinkhole that is San Francisco, he could hit close to 20 homers and put up some nice counting stats for cheap.
5. OF Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) 23% owned – Pederson will at least be hitting fifth against righties, though it would be nice to see him work in full-time playing time. He’s another guy (like Suarez) who should benefit from moving to a better team with a better lineup and a better ballpark.
6. RP Matt Brash (Mariners) 12% owned – Brash is on the IL, but should be back soon and is maybe the best setup man in baseball. If you want a ton of cheap Ks from a reliever slot, go stash Brash.
7. SP Nick Nastrini (White Sox) 7% owned – Nastrini is another great name to stash, he had a very strong spring (with the exception of one bad game) and looks to have won the fifth starter spot for the Chi Sox, but they won’t need him until the second time through the rotation due to their scheduled days off.

Tim’s Top 10 Re-Draft Prospects (not promoted yet)

Last Year (Week 1): Grayson Rodriguez, Brandon Pfaadt, Sal Frelick, Curtis Mead, Endy Rodriguez, Gavin Stone, Francisco Alvarez, Bo Naylor, Oswald Peraza, Taj Bradley

1. 3B Junior Caminero (Rays)

• 2023 A+/AA: .324/.384/.591, 31 HR, 5 SB
• 2023 MLB: .235/.278/.353, 1 HR
• Age: 20
• ETA: Early May
• fScores: 103 fContact, 74 fDiscipline, 113 fPower, 97 fSpeed, 57 fDurability
• Comp: Ronald Acuna w/o the wheels
• Prime Skills: Probably the quickest bat speed in the minors, the hit tool is ridiculous and now the power is catching up. He could be one of the best hitters in baseball sooner rather than later.
• Ranking Explanation: I’m giving the edge to Caminero over Holliday, because I like his power and think he ends up the better fantasy player long-term. They will come up close enough together that I’ll still go Caminero.

2. SS Jackson Holliday (Orioles)

• 2023 A/A+/AA/AAA: .323/.442/.499, 12 HR, 24 SB
• Age: 20
• ETA: Late April
• fScores: 107 fContact, 133 fDiscipline, 91 fPower, 91 fSpeed, 53 fDurability
• Comp: Wander Franco
• Prime Skills: Quick bat that can reach all fields, but projects out more as a line drive and doubles hitter than a big power bat. Holliday has ridiculous Kwan-esk plate discipline. Not the fastest runner, but could steal 15-20 bags at the major league level in a season.
• Ranking Explanation: Holliday had a strong spring and already hit a homer in his first AAA game, he’s close, but I think the power and speed will be more like 10/10 or 15/15 this season in the majors.

3. OF Chase DeLauter (Guardians)

• 2023 Rk/A+/AA: .355/.417/.528, 5 HR, 6 SB
• Age: 22
• ETA: Late April
• fScores: 106 fContact, 122 fDiscipline, 113 fPower, 82 fSpeed, 28 fDurability.
• Comp: A raw, LIGHT Bryce Harper (or lefty Matt Holliday)
• Prime Skills: He’s shown a really strong hit tool and has some unrealized power in his small sample size at the minor league level. The pull power from his college days is tantalizing. Coming off injury, we just need to see some health from this doubles machine.
• Ranking Explanation: DeLauter is the biggest riser in my rankings, I had been behind the curve on him vs. guys like the Welsh who have been all over him for a long time, but I might be the highest on him now after doing his fScores. I just hope the Guardians don’t ruin him like they have most of their top hitting prospects, he has higher upside than Manzardo for fantasy, however he’s a bit more blocked and the injury concerns are a bit higher. By all rights, he should have been up on Opening Day.

4. SP Paul Skenes (Pirates)

• 2023 College: 122 2/3 IP, 209 Ks, 20 BBs, 1.69 ERA, 0.75 WHIP
• 2023 Rk/A/AA: 6 2/3 IP, 10 Ks, 2 BBs, 5.40 ERA, 1.05 WHIP
• Age: 21
• ETA: Mid-May
• fScores: 45 fPDurability, 111 fStuff, 104 fControl, 112 fERA
• Comp: Justin Verlander
• Prime Skills: Skenes is more curve than slider, but his fastball is insane and his command is impeccable, especially the fastball. He throws high heat and has shown he’s durable and consistent. He has a good shot to spend most of 2024 at the major league level.
• Ranking Explanation: Skenes is the best pitching prospect in baseball already (unless you count Yoshi Yamamoto – which I think is cheating). He’s about the only one who seems to be a guarantee to succeed in a world where some of the top pitchers come out of nowhere and the top pitching prospects fade into the never. He should be up relatively early, starting in AAA. They just need to build him up, the skills are already there to be a stud major league starter.

5. SP Ricky Tiedemann (Blue Jays)

• 2023 Rk/A/AA/AAA: 44 IP, 82 Ks, 23 BBs, 3.68 ERA, 1.23 WHIP
• Age: 22
• ETA: Early May
• fScores: 49 fPDurability, 121 fStuff, 96 fControl, 167 fERA
• Comp: Dodgers Andrew Heaney mixed with Jesus Luzardo
• Prime Skills: Tiedemann was a huge breakout last year and has a really nice fastball – slider combo. His changeup plays great off the slider, which is probably his best pitch. He’s a tunnel master who has a short arm / side arm funky delivery from the left side which makes his slider even tougher to pick up. He does have bullpen risk.
• Ranking Explanation: Despite the pen risk, his stuff is pretty ridiculous and a ton of the pitching is so volatile that I’m still willing to rank a guy with killer stuff close to the majors higher than guys further away that look to be safer starters longterm. I hope he can stay healthy and isn’t just the next Nate Pearson.

6. 1B Kyle Manzardo (Guardians)

• 2023 AAA: .237/.337/.464, 17 HR, 1 SB
• Age: 22
• ETA: Mid-May
• fScores: 96 fContact, 122 fDiscipline, 109 fPower, 65 fSpeed, 59 fDurability
• Comp: Joey Votto
• Prime Skills: Manzardo is a professional hitter with great contact skills and super star level plate discipline skills already. He could walk into the Majors day 1 and avoid being overwhelmed. He also has easy 25 homer power and should produce to at least a league average 1B in his first season with the odds of performing better than that in points leagues thanks to the plate skills.
• Ranking Explanation: Manzardo had an injury plagued 2023, but post Guardians trade he bounced back strong and tore up the Arizona Fall League. The power is trending up as well and even though he should be a regular 25 homer guy, with the trending increase of power he could have some 30 homer seasons in his peak.

7. OF Jakob Marsee (Padres)

• 2023 A+/AA: .274/.413/.428, 16 HR, 46 SB
• Age: 23
• ETA: Early – Mid 2024
• fScores: 95 fContact, 140 fDiscipline, 80 fPower, 197 fSpeed, 54 fDurability
• Comp: Ripped Christian Yelich with more air on the ball
• Prime Skills: Nice compact lefty swing with some reach, the dude has all fields power and hits around the yard, which will allow him to beat the shift. The speed is legit and he could reach for a number of 15-30 seasons in his prime with stellar plate skills.
• Ranking Explanation: I’m a sucker for Marsee and thought he would be the one to break camp instead of Merrill. I still think if the Padres don’t sign Pham, we should see Marsee sooner rather than later – Profar should not be starting.

8. SP Nick Nastrini (White Sox)

• 2023 AA/AAA: 114 2/3 IP, 139 Ks, 54 BBs, 4.08 ERA, 1.31 WHIP
• Age: 24
• ETA: Early August
• fScores: 66 fPDiscipline, 114 fStuff, 92 fControl, 109 fERA
• Comp: Jose Berrios / Jack Flaherty mash up with worse control
• Prime Skills: Nastrini has a classic four pitch mix of fastball, changeup, slider and curve and all are average to above average offerings, without one pitch that really stands out. I like the change and the curve. The change some movement and he mixes it in well and uses it for punch outs, whereas the curve is the nastiest pitch, while the fastball is kind of just average.
• Ranking Explanation: The stuff is above average across the board and he mixes his pitches in well, but he walks too many guys and will likely struggle when he first comes up unless he can get the walk rate down closer to 8%. He’s going to end up being mid rotation starter and should be up as soon as the White Sox make a second turn through the rotation.

9. SP Christian Scott (Mets)

• 2023 A/A+/AA: 87 2/3 IP, 107 Ks, 12 BBs, 2.47 ERA, 0.86 WHIP
• Age: 25
• ETA: Mid-May
• fScores: N/A
• Comp: Zack Wheeler super light (basically a Wheeler fastball / slider without the other pitches)
• Prime Skills: Scott has a rising fastball he just smokes guys with up in the zone as a big righty that averages 95-96 on the pitch. Scott has fantastic command and pins the fastball wherever he wants it, playing it off a slider, but he fastball is his K pitch.
• Ranking Explanation: This dude is underrated as a college guy who spent time in the pen in 2022 and had an excellent year in 2023 as a full time starter. He has a full time starters arsenal, but needs to build up the innings. I believe he debuts in the first half of 2024, but it might take an injury and five to ten starts at AAA first.

10. OF James Wood (Nationals)

• 2023 A+/AA: .262/.353/.520, 26 HR, 18 SB
• Age: 21
• ETA: Mid-2024
• fScores: 104 fContact, 103 fDiscipline, 117 fPower, 126 fSpeed, 58 fDurability
• Comp: Lefty Aaron Judge
• Prime Skills: Light tower power from the left side of the plate. He has a home run swing if we’ve ever seen one and has the biggest power upside of the top 10, even more than Wyatt Langford and Junior Caminero due to the huge 6′ 7″ frame.
• Ranking Explanation: Wood has MLB ready tools, but he does have holes in his swing due to his enormous size and needs to find more consistency before he’s ready for the full time transition to the big leagues in order to avoid the up and down. The Nationals are priming for 2025, rather than 2024 anyway, but if he rakes he should come up around when Elly De La Cruz came up in 2023. Wood had a killer spring and pushed as hard as he could to make the Opening Day roster and would have for a competing team, but the Nationals just aren’t in a rush to push him.

Honorable Mention: OF Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs), SS Colson Montgomery (White Sox), SP Cade Horton (Cubs), 1B/2B/3B Tyler Black (Brewers), SP Drew Thorpe (White Sox), SP Robby Snelling (Padres), 2B/OF Joey Loperfido (Astros), 3B Coby Mayo (Orioles), OF Drew Gilbert (Mets), SP David Festa (Twins), SP Jacob Misiorowski (Brewers), SP Carson Whisenhunt (Giants), OF Andy Pages (Dodgers), SP Chase Petty (Reds), 2B/SS Jett Williams (Mets), OF Blake Dunn (Reds), SS Brooks Lee (Twins), SP Ty Madden (Tigers), SP Hurston Waldrep (Braves), 2B Thomas Saggesse (Cardinals), OF Dylan Crews (Nationals), SP Tekoah Roby (Cardinals), SP Chase Hampton (Yankees), SS Carson Williams (Rays), 2B/OF Luisangel Acuna, OF Sterlin Thompson (Rockies), OF Jordan Beck (Rockies), SP Mason Black (Mets), 1B Tyler Locklear (Mariners), SP Carlos F. Rodriguez (Brewers), 3B/OF Justyn Henry-Malloy, SP/RP Ben Brown (Cubs), SP Cristian Mena (Diamondbacks), 2B Connor Norby (Orioles), SP Mick Abel (Phillies), SP David Vasil (Mets), SP Gordon Graceffo (Cardinals), SP Will Warren (Yankees), OF Jacob Melton (Astros), SP/RP Wilmer Flores (Tigers), 2B Justin Foscue (Rangers), SP Jake Eder (White Sox), SP Richard Fitts (Red Sox)

Graduated (this week): OF Wyatt Langford (Rangers), OF Jackson Chourio (Brewers), SS/OF Jackson Merrill (Padres), OF Victor Scott II (Cardinals), 2B/3B Colt Keith (Tigers), SP Jared Jones (Pirates), SS/3B Darrell Hernaiz (Athletics), 3B/OF Graham Pauley (Padres), RP Clayton Beeter (Yankees)

Graduated (this year): N/A

Moves I Made This Week

• • CBS Memorial Magazine League (12 Team 5×5 Roto):
    • Added Griffin Jax for $3
    • Added Tanner Houck for $0
    • Added Andrew Heaney for $0
    • Added Jared Jones for $0
    • Added Adam Duvall for $0
  • CBS NL Only Analyst League (12 Team 5×5 Roto):
    • Added Randall Grichuk to the IL
    • Added Andrew Kitridge for $0
    • Added Mike Tauchman for $0
  • TGFBI (15 Team 5×5 Roto):
    • N/A

• Fantasy Aceball Invitational (16 Team Ottoneu H2H Points):

• • • Added Mike Soroka for $4

• Ottoneu Podcaster’s League (12 Team Ottoneu 5×5 Roto):

• • N/A

Please find more of our work by listening to the Fantasy Aceball podcast on Apple Pods and Spotify and follow me on Twitter @fantasyaceball.

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio