It is vital to look at important fantasy baseball storylines and aspects this week to be ahead of the curve and gain an edge on your league mates. We have 20 such fantasy baseball storylines for you to monitor. This guide will help you navigate the waiver wire, pinpoint potential streamers and more.
- Fantasy Baseball Trade Analyzer
- Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Assistant
- Fantasy Baseball Lineup Assistant
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
20 Fantasy Baseball Things to Watch
1. Schedule Notes
- Zero teams play just five games this week.
- The following teams play seven games this week:
- Atlanta Braves vs. ATH, at ARI
- New York Mets at STL, at SF
- Arizona Diamondbacks vs. DET, vs. ATL
- San Francisco Giants at SD, vs. NYM
2. Baseball
In the early part of the season, managers get overanxious and want to make moves that they shouldn’t. There is a time to make moves when something actionable is happening, but for the most part, you do not want to overreact.
You should mostly just sit back and enjoy the games. If a player seems worth picking up, don’t go overboard because there is such a small sample of stats that it is often not enough information to make a real determination.
3. Lineups
One of the actionable things we should be looking at is lineups. If there is someone unexpected batting at or near the top of a lineup, we should take note of that.
The higher they bat in the order, the more plate appearances that player can get. If a player is hitting at the top of the lineup regularly, they will have value.
4. The Dodgers’ Rotation
With Blake Snell out for a while and Roki Sasaki struggling, the Dodgers’ rotation isn’t as strong as it normally would be. Typically, they run a six-man rotation to protect their pitchers, but they can’t right now, given their issues.
This opens the door for someone like Justin Wrobleski or Ben Casparius to be a multi-inning reliever who vulture wins. The Dodgers will employ them in high-leverage situations. Depending on their usage, we might want to pick them up as sneaky wins targets.
5. The Reds’ Rotation
With the Reds being down both Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo to start the season, they will turn to Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder and Brandon Williamson.
All three have had good prospect pedigrees, but both Burns and Lowder have dealt with injuries over the last year. We need to see how they are used and whether the Reds will be careful with them early on in the season.
6. The Royals at Home
The Royals moved in their fences, which is music to their hitters’ ears. This could be very beneficial for a home park that has hurt power in the past, but also could hurt their pitchers. We are getting a full week in Kansas City, so it is important to see what kind of impact this has.
7. Brandon Woodruff (SP – MIL)
Brandon Woodruff is coming off an injury-shortened season where he was fantastic on the mound, but he was only able to throw 64.2 innings in 2025.
Woodruff dealt with a lat issue this spring, which limited his spring training playing time. We need to watch and see how the Brewers will use him early and if he can stay healthy.
8. Athletics Closer Chaos
The A’s have not named a closer yet and have several options, including Michael Kelly, Hogan Harris, Scott Barlow and Justin Sterner.
Barlow is the one with previous closing experience, but Sterner has the most upside. We need to see what the A’s will do.
9. Angels Closer Chaos
With Kirby Yates hitting the injured list (IL) with a knee injury, the Angels are running out of options for the ninth inning. Both Drew Pomeranz and Jordan Romano have closing experience, and Romano did get the first opportunity.
We need to see if this is a committee or if Romano will get a chance to hold the job while Yates is out.
10. Diamondbacks Closer Chaos
The Diamondbacks did not go out and spend money to shore up the back end of their bullpen. They did bring in Paul Sewald, who has closing experience.
Arizona also has Ryan Thompson and Kevin Ginkel, who have earned save opportunities in the past. We need to watch and see who emerges or if this becomes a committee.
11. Pirates Closer Chaos
The Pirates have said that Gregory Soto will get some work in the ninth inning, but will that be matchups-based, and will he have to share the role with Dennis Santana, or will Soto have the job to himself?
12-14. Streaming Options
Joe Boyle (SP, RP – TB) at MIN
Joe Boyle looked good in his first start and has a fantastic matchup against a bad Twins team.
Eric Lauer (SP, RP – TOR) at CWS
Eric Lauer pitched very well against a good Athletics offense and now gets a bad White Sox team
Emerson Hancock (SP, RP – SEA) at LAA
Emerson Hancock was fantastic in his first start, relying on a new fastball that looked great. He gets a nice matchup versus a bad Angels squad.
15-20. Two-Start Options
Ryan Weathers (SP – NYY) at SEA, vs. MIA
I have reservations about Ryan Weathers, but that has everything to do with health. He has yet to pitch 100 innings a season, and I don’t trust that he will this season. However, that is a problem for later. Weathers is extremely talented and healthy right now.
Kris Bubic (SP – KC) vs. MIN, vs. MIL
Similar to Ryan Weathers, I do not have much faith that Kris Bubic can stay healthy for an entire season. However, he is healthy now, and he showed last year that he is a fantastic pitcher when on the mound.
Jack Leiter (SP – TEX) at BAL, vs. CIN
Jack Leiter has amazing stuff, but he can struggle with command and control. He looked pretty good this spring and could be primed for a breakout this season.
These are scary matchups versus two offenses that should be pretty good this season. I would probably roll with him in deeper leagues, but in shallower formats, you should have better options.
Kyle Harrison (SP, RP – MIL) vs. TB, at KC
Kyle Harrison was traded to Milwaukee in the offseason and looks like a new pitcher. He added a new pitch, and the results were impressive, posting a 24% K-BB%. He has two good matchups this week and should be in most lineups outside of shallow formats.
Braxton Ashcraft (SP, RP – PIT) at CIN, vs. BAL
Braxton Ashcraft has great stuff and looked good in spring training, but he has two tough matchups. Going to Cincinnati can be very scary. At least the Orioles game is at home.
Luis Castillo (SP – SEA) vs. NYY, at LAA
Luis Castillo has been a top-50 pitcher every year of his career. Sure, the skills are beginning to decline, but he puts up great volume with good ratios and is protected at home.
Castillo has a difficult start to the week, but an easier matchup to wrap it up, so you are starting him in most formats.
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