Players Trending Up & Down for Every MLB Team (Fantasy Baseball)

MLB Spring Training is when every player is in the best shape of their life, hitters have made swing adjustments and added muscle to their physiques, pitchers have all gone to Driveline or Tread Athletics and have new and improved pitching arsenals and velocities and players get hurt or pull a muscle two days into camp. Let’s dive into fantasy baseball players trending up and down for each and every MLB team this spring.

Spring Training Players Trending Up & Down (Fantasy Baseball)

I highly recommend reading my article on spring training stats that matter for fantasy baseball before reading this article to provide some context in regards to minimum qualifications for statistics to stabilize. It will also help you understand there is not much we can learn from hitters in spring training, outside of playing time with the A team. All we can look for in pitchers are gains in velocity, new pitches or better pitch shapes that may lead to improved strikeouts (look at stuff+, SwStr% and strikeout rate), none of which have stabilized as of yet this spring.

I also recommend listening to my podcasts at the Fantasy Aceball podcast with Mike Kurland as we go over major roster or playing time battles to monitor. From here, let’s take it around the horn.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks had a split game on March 6th. Jordan Lawlar played with the A squad over the B squad; however Geraldo Perdomo played on March 3rd and March 5th, so maybe this was just a test to see how he gels with the squad. Both of them are only playing at shortstop.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has been hitting third a lot this spring with Josh Naylor hitting fourth, it could be a big counting stats year for him. It should be noted this is only against lefties, as Randal Grichuk has been getting a decent chunk of playing time against righties.
There are 42 qualified starting pitchers based on innings to be on the pitching leaderboards. Zero are Diamondbacks, but Zac Gallen looked sharp in his one start.
Pavin Smith looks like he will end up a bench bat. Trey Mancini is 4-for-10 batting this spring.

Athletics

There were offseason reports Brent Rooker would get outfield reps this year, but he has yet to play in the outfield this spring.
Tyler Soderstrom has started three games at catcher this spring.
Colby Thomas has had zero starts this spring. The main benefactors so far in the outfield for playing time against Seth Brown have been Miguel Andujar and Denzel Clarke, with a little Esteury Ruiz sprinkled in.
Andujar and Lawrence Butler have had strong spring starts. Butler is the real deal. Both are in the top 10 of wRC+ this spring.

Atlanta Braves

Jurickson Profar is expected to lead off until Ronald Acuna returns, which also means Michael Harris is likely hitting sixth.
Drake Baldwin has started two out of four games since Sean Murphy got hurt.

Baltimore Orioles

Keep an eye on the Grayson Rodriguez injury situation. It could also leave the door open for Cade Povich, who is rocking a 33.3% strikeout-to-walk rate (K-BB%) in five innings.
Cedric Mullins has been back at leadoff this spring, swapping with Jackson Holliday while Gunnar Henderson is out.
Coby Mayo has been getting a decent chunk of reps at first base.
Adley Rutschman looks back on track this spring.

Boston Red Sox

Kristian Campbell has been getting more time in left field than at second base this spring. He also has been getting more reps with the B squad than the A squad.
Garrett Crochet has 14 strikeouts and 5ive walks in 6.1 innings this spring.

Chicago Cubs

Matt Shaw has been hitting fifth with Dansby Swanson hitting sixth, which is very interesting.
Michael Busch and Miguel Amaya are off to strong starts this spring.

Chicago White Sox

Mike Tauchman looks like he should end up with regular playing time in an outfield spot. He has been hitting as high as third in the lineup.
Brandon Drury looks like he could be starting at first, while Miguel Vargas could be starting at third and Jose Rojas at second.
Chase Meidroth might win the starting shortstop job out of camp, despite a lackluster start to the spring.

Cincinnati Reds

The Reds like Sal Stewart, who has been getting middle-of-the-order reps with the B team.
Austin Hays could be in for a big rebound year if he’s hitting fifth with Spencer Steer out. Hays seems to be winning the playing time battle against Jeimer Candelario and Gavin Lux.
Hunter Greene has an over 30% strikeout rate so far this spring.

Cleveland Guardians

Carlos Santana and Kyle Manzardo have rarely shared a lineup card this spring with Santana hitting third and getting the majority of reps with the A squad.
Poor Chase DeLauter. He can’t catch a break.
I like Gavin Williams this season.

Colorado Rockies

The Rockies want Jordan Beck to be the guy. He has been playing with the A team and hitting sixth regularly. It should also be noted Zac Veen has also been getting starts with the A team.

Detroit Tigers

Spencer Torkelson has started three of the last four games (all against righties) and looks to have a regular role for the Tigers at first base or designated hitter

Houston Astros

All indications are that Yordan Alvarez will hit second, Yainer Diaz will be hitting third and Christian Walker will hit fourth.
Zach Dezenzo has been playing in right field pretty regularly this spring. He could starter rather Chas McCormick.
Shay Whitcomb was very impressive in two in-person viewings.
Isaac Paredes and Yainer Diaz were both locked in when I saw them in person.

Kansas City Royals

The Royals pitchers have been dealing this spring:
- Cole Ragans has a 31.3% K-BB%
- Kris Bubic has a 25.9% K-BB%
- Daniel Lynch has a 22.2% K-BB%
- Noah Cameron has a 17.2% K-BB%
Maikel Garcia has been spending time in center field this spring, which is interesting in the event Kyle Isbel and Drew Waters don’t work out.

Los Angeles Angels

Christian Moore has been playing with the B team, rather than the A team, through the last week.
Kevin Newman will start at shortstop until Zach Neto is back.
Tim Anderson has been playing in center field a bit this spring.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Tommy Edman has played second base rather than center field in two of his last three games, leaving an opening for Andy Pages to have meaningful playing time this season.
James Outman has been playing just as much as Andy Pages in center field. However, I doubt both guys make the Opening Day roster.

Miami Marlins

Agustin Ramirez has only started two of the last six games for the Marlins. He is unlikely to break camp with the Opening Day roster.
Griffin Conine has been in the top half of the lineup in three of the last four games.

Milwaukee Brewers

Garrett Mitchell has started just as many games as Jackson Chourio this spring.
Caleb Durbin has started nine games this spring — five of which have been at third base and four at second base.
Tyler Black has only started three games — two of which were at first base.
The big question is when will Brandon Woodruff be ready? He’s supposed to make his first appearance next week.

Minnesota Twins

Harrison Bader has hit first or second in the lineup in three of the last five games.
Trevor Larnach has hit cleanup in three of the last four games, including one against lefty Chris Sale.

New York Mets

Jesse Winker started four of the last five games and has been in the top half of the lineup for all of them, including against lefty Shane McClanahan.

New York Yankees

Will Warren has had a stellar spring so far with a 32.1% K-BB%.
Oswaldo Cabrera has started in all of the past four games, including three starts at third base.

Philadelphia Phillies

Alec Bohm has been hitting third in most of his starts.
Kyle Schwarber appears to be slated as the cleanup guy for 2025.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Nick Yorke is healthy and has started three of the last four games, including one start at first base.
Tommy Pham has been a top-two hitter all spring and is slated for a big role — at least to start the season.

San Diego Padres

Tirso Ornelas has started two of the last three games in the outfield, including playing with the A team in a split-squad game on March 4th.
Oscar Gonzalez has started eight games for the Padres this spring. He has had a nice spring despite getting a helping hand from good batting average on balls in play (BAPIP) luck.

Seattle Mariners

Rowdy Tellez seems slated for a big role with the Mariners this year, playing in five of the last six games. This means Luke Raley could see more time in the outfield than at first base.
Ben Williamson has been getting a lot of run at third base with the A squad the last week.

San Francisco Giants

Landen Roupp has had a fantastic spring with a 35.7% K-BB% through 8/1 innings.
Jung Hoo Lee appears slated to be the three-hole hitter with Willy Adames hitting second, Matt Chapman hitting fourth and Heliot Ramos hitting fifth.

St. Louis Cardinals

Victor Scott is having another electric spring and should be in the conversation to start in center field for the Cardinals on Opening Day; Lars Nootbaar is not great defensively in center.
It’s telling that JJ Wetherholt is still with the big league squad and playing with the top guys. He should be up by the end of the season.
Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman have both looked bad again this spring.

Tampa Bay Rays

Curtis Mead is having a ridiculous spring and should be a lock to break camp at this point, even if he is just a super utility bench bat.
Chandler Simpson has not been starting the last week, which could mean he’s on the outside looking in toward breaking camp.

Texas Rangers

Joc Pederson started a game at first base this week, which is fun.
Jack Leiter is having a strong spring with a 24.1% K-BB% in eight innings.
Alejandro Osuna has started two of the last four games this spring. He could be a nice deep league play.

Toronto Blue Jays

Surprise, surprise. Daulton Varsho might be healthy to start the season. That would be a huge win for anyone who bought low.
George Springer has been regularly hitting cleanup this spring.
Joey Loperfido is still out, but Nathan Lukes has started two of the last three games for the Jays in the outfield.

Washington Nationals

Michael Soroka is looking like a good signing with a 33.%3 K-BB% in seven innings this spring.
CJ Abrams and Dylan Crews have been trading off as the leadoff hitter throughout the last week.
Juan Yepez has been playing a little outfield, which gives him a but of fantasy juice considering the Nationals traded for Nathaniel Lowe and signed Josh Bell.

Please follow me on X @fantasyaceball, on YouTube @TheTimkanak and subscribe to the Fantasy Aceball podcast for more great content throughout the season. More of my written work can be found here on FantasyPros.

Articles MLB MLB News Strategy Jordan Lawlar Geraldo Perdomo Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Josh Naylor Randal Grichuk Zac Gallen Pavin Smith Trey Mancini Brent Rooker Tyler Soderstrom Colby Thomas Seth Brown Miguel Andujar Denzel Clarke Esteury Ruiz Lawrence Butler Jurickson Profar Ronald Acuna Michael Harris Drake Baldwin Sean Murphy Grayson Rodriguez Cade Povich Cedric Mullins Jackson Holliday Gunnar Henderson Coby Mayo Adley Rutschman Kristian Campbell Garrett Crochet Matt Shaw Dansby Swanson Michael Busch Miguel Amaya Mike Tauchman Brandon Drury Miguel Vargas Jose Rojas Chase Meidroth Sal Stewart Austin Hays Spencer Steer Jeimer Candelario Gavin Lux Hunter Greene Carlos Santana Kyle Manzardo Chase DeLauter Gavin Williams Jordan Beck Zac Veen Spencer Torkelson Yordan Alvarez Yainer Diaz Christian Walker Zach Dezenzo Chas McCormick Shay Whitcomb Isaac Paredes Cole Ragans Kris Bubic Daniel Lynch Noah Cameron Maikel Garcia Kyle Isbel Drew Waters Christian Moore Kevin Newman Zach Neto Tim Anderson Tommy Edman Andy Pages James Outman Agustin Ramirez Griffin Conine Garrett Mitchell Jackson Chourio Caleb Durbin Tyler Black Brandon Woodruff Harrison Bader Trevor Larnach Chris Sale Jesse Winker Shane McClanahan Will Warren Oswaldo Cabrera Alec Bohm Kyle Schwarber Nick Yorke Tommy Pham Tirso Ornelas Oscar Gonzalez Rowdy Tellez Luke Raley Ben Williamson Landen Roupp Jung Hoo Lee Willy Adames Matt Chapman Heliot Ramos Victor Scott Lars Nootbaar JJ Wetherholt Jordan Walker Nolan Gorman Curtis Mead Chandler Simpson Joc Pederson Jack Leiter Alejandro Osuna Daulton Varsho George Springer Joey Loperfido Nathan Lukes Michael Soroka CJ Abrams Dylan Crews Juan Yepez Nathaniel Lowe Josh Bell

About Author

Tim Kanak

@fantasyaceball

I have a Broadcast Journalism degree from the University of Missouri and reported sporting news for the local NBC affiliate. I also have a Masters from UCF. I own and operate multiple construction businesses in South Florida and in my free time write about fantasy baseball and podcast; including creating the fScores. Find me via the Fantasy Aceball Podcast, here on Fantasy Pros or on FWFB. Twitter @fantasyaceball.