Thu, Mar 20th 5:39am EDT
By Nicholas Rodriguez
Zack Gelof will undergo x-rays on his right hand as a precaution after getting hit by a pitch in Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Guardians. (Source: Martin Gallegos on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Manager Mark Kotsay said after the game that Gelof was going to be pinch-run for after the at-bat in which he was hit by a pitch. He believes the x-rays will come back negative. The results will help determine Gelof's availability for the rest of spring training and Opening Day.
Thu, Mar 20th 5:28am EDT
By Nicholas Rodriguez
Ronel Blanco exited Wednesday's outing against the New York Mets after being hit by a line drive on his wrist. (Source: Chandler Rome on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Blanco stated that the ball just grazed his wrist and that he’s fine. He left the game due to his pitch count, not the injury. This is a relief for fantasy managers, as it seems he avoided any serious injury.
Manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that he hopes to have Paul Goldschmidt back in the lineup Friday against the Detroit Tigers. (Source: Gary Phillips on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Goldschmidt will go through baseball activities on Thursday, and if he has no setbacks, he should be ready to play Friday. The 37-year-old is having a fantastic spring, slashing .313/.389/.688 in 36 plate appearances.
Kyle Wright is scheduled to face hitters for the first time this spring in a live batting practice. (Source: Anne Rogers on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Wright is coming off a lost 2024 season due to shoulder surgery and will face live hitters for the first time, marking an important step in his recovery. While there’s no clear timeline for his return, he still needs time before being ready to pitch in the big leagues.
Wed, Mar 19th 9:51pm EDT
By Nicholas Rodriguez
Alec Marsh pitched in a minor league game Wednesday, his first competitive action since arriving at camp with shoulder tightness. (Source: Anne Rogers on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Marsh is working his way back from shoulder tightness, making his first game appearance of the spring. His status for Opening Day remains uncertain.
Mark Leiter (back) threw an 18-pitch live batting practice session Wednesday, per team updates, feeling ready for Opening Day after his last outing on March 6. (Source: JackCurryYES)
Fantasy Impact: Leiter’s 18-pitch live BP Wednesday marks his return from a back issue since March 6, eyeing the Yankees’ Opening Day bullpen pending one or two more spring games. His confidence grows. Fantasy managers in deep leagues should roster him, expecting the righty’s arm to secure a relief role for New York early in 2025 if he clears final hurdles.
Zach Dezenzo is being seen by doctors to make sure he doesn't have concussion. (Source: Brian McTaggart on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Dezenzo left Tuesday's game early after getting struck by a ground ball on the side of his face on an attempted diving play at first base. He is expected to be back in the lineup on Thursday.
Kaleb Ort is scheduled for a bullpen session on Thursday. (Source: Brian McTaggart on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Ort is continuing to work his way back from a left oblique injury that came up a month ago. His status for Opening Day remains uncertain.
Robert Gasser (elbow) has reached flat-ground throwing at 120 feet in his Tommy John rehab, per team updates, with mound work as his next milestone. (Source: Adam McCalvy)
Fantasy Impact: Gasser’s 120-foot flat-ground throws mark a step in his Tommy John recovery, targeting an August or September return to the Brewers. His mound progression looms. Fantasy managers in dynasty leagues should stash him, expecting the 25-year-old lefty’s arm to bolster Milwaukee’s rotation or bullpen late in 2025 if his rehab stays on track for a impactful return.
Zach Brzykcy (quad) is set to start the season on the injured list, per team updates, with a lingering right quad injury limiting him to one spring outing. (Source: Mark Zuckerman)
Fantasy Impact: Brzykcy’s right quad injury, restricting him to a single spring appearance, lands him on the Nationals’ IL with an unclear return timeline. The 25-year-old reliever’s recovery stalls. Fantasy managers in deep dynasty leagues might stash him, hoping the prospect’s arm bolsters Washington’s bullpen later in 2025 if he regains health and earns a call-up opportunity.
Cade Cavalli (elbow) is set to begin the season on the injured list, per team updates, despite being healthy post-Tommy John surgery from March 2023. (Source: Mark Zuckerman)
Fantasy Impact: Cavalli, limited to 8.1 innings over two years after March 2023 Tommy John surgery, skips Grapefruit League play as the Nationals ease him back, eyeing a post-All-Star role. His buildup is gradual. Fantasy managers in dynasty leagues should stash him, expecting the 26-year-old’s arm to bolster Washington’s rotation in the second half of 2025 if managed well.
Andrés Chaparro (oblique) will begin the season on the injured list, per team updates, with an MRI last week confirming a left oblique strain for the Nationals infielder. (Source: Mark Zuckerman)
Fantasy Impact: Chaparro’s left oblique strain, verified by last week’s MRI, sidelines him for weeks, costing him the Nationals’ final bench spot he’d been vying for. His season debut delays. Fantasy managers in deep dynasty leagues should stash him, expecting the 25-year-old’s bat to push for a midseason call-up if he recovers fully and earns a role in Washington’s infield later in 2025.
Yordan Alvarez is back in the Astros lineup on Wednesday. (Source: Brian McTaggart on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Alvarez was scratched from the Astros lineup on Tuesday. It was considered a precautionary move, and he is back in the lineup one day later.
Ronny Mauricio (knee) will stay in St. Lucie for extended spring training when the Mets break camp, per team updates, focusing on a cautious recovery from surgery. (Source: Anthony DiComo)
Fantasy Impact: Mauricio’s knee surgery sidelined him all 2024, but with no setbacks, he’ll build up in St. Lucie, eyeing Triple-A Syracuse and a Mets second base role later in 2025. His 2023 .248/.296/.347 line, 2 HR, and 7-for-7 steals in 26 games hint at upside. Fantasy managers in dynasty leagues should stash him, banking on his power-speed potential midseason.
Julio Rodriguez was at the Mariners complex hitting in the batting cage on Wednesday. (Source: Ryan Divish on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Rodriguez has been battling an illness after he was scratched from the lineup on Monday. He remains day-to-day.
Pirates’ Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Jared Jones, imaged for right elbow soreness, awaits a second opinion, per team updates, with spring pitching ruled out. (Source: Alex Stumpf)
Fantasy Impact: Jones’ sore elbow, imaged and pending a second opinion per Wednesday’s update from Tomczyk, likely lands him on the Pirates’ IL, with surgery a looming worry despite cautious optimism. More clarity soon. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues should roster him cautiously, hoping for a minor issue, but bracing for a longer absence if Pittsburgh’s young righty needs significant recovery time in 2025.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Clarke Schmidt (shoulder) won’t reach 75-80 pitches by Opening Day, per team updates, eyeing Thursday’s live BP session. (Source: JackCurryYES)
Fantasy Impact: Schmidt’s shoulder recovery, with Thursday’s live BP next, won’t hit 75-80 pitches for the Yankees’ April 3 start versus the Diamondbacks, per Boone’s cautious Wednesday stance—Carlos Carrasco and Will Warren may step in. His delay could be short. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues should roster him, expecting a quick return to bolster New York’s rotation if setbacks are avoided early in 2025.
Austin Slater (oblique) will start in right field and bat leadoff in Wednesday’s Cactus League game against the Brewers, per team updates, after a swift rehab. (Source: Chicago White Sox)
Fantasy Impact: Slater’s left oblique strain, pegged for 2-3 weeks by Will Venable on March 5, cleared up fast, with Monday’s live BP leading to his first start since March 1 Wednesday. His 9 spring at-bats grow toward Opening Day. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues should roster him, eyeing his chance for more starts against righties in a thin White Sox outfield.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) threw to 90 feet but remains far from outfield-ready, per team updates, post-labrum surgery. (Source: Christopher Smith)
Fantasy Impact: Yoshida’s .321 average and .785 OPS in 9 DH starts over 28 spring plate appearances shine, but Tuesday’s 90-foot throws lag, with Rafael Devers set as Boston’s DH, likely IL-bound due to outfield limits. The 31-year-old needs rehab games. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues should stash him, expecting his bat to boost the Red Sox once cleared midseason.
Jorge Lopez is scheduled to throw a "light" bullpen session on Wednesday. (Source: Mark Zuckerman on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Lopez has not pitched since March 10 due to a left hip issue. If all goes well on Wednesday, he could be ready to pitch in a game in a few days.
