Kevin Newman is batting ninth and starting at shortstop for the Angels on Monday against the Cardinals.

Fantasy Impact

Newman is 0-for-6 at the plate to start the season. He will be looking for his first hit against Miles Mikolas and St. Louis.

Kevin Newman holds an edge to open the season as the Angels’ shortstop while Zach Neto (shoulder) recovers, per team reports.

Fantasy Impact

Newman’s ahead of Tim Anderson and Scott Kingery for the gig, thanks to a locked-in contract and the group’s best glove—Neto’s out for Opening Day, though his absence could stretch from a week to a month. Newman hit .278/.311/.375 with three homers across 111 games for Arizona last year. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues might grab him for early at-bats, but his light bat caps the upside until Neto’s back.

Kevin Newman is in the starting lineup for Arizona Monday.

Fantasy Impact

Newman will start at second base and bat eighth against the Giants. He is hitting .282, with three home runs, and 28 RBI this season.

Kevin Newman is in the starting lineup for the Diamondbacks Monday.

Fantasy Impact

Newman will start at second base and bat eighth against the Giants. He is hitting .282, with three home runs, and 28 RBI this season.

Kevin Newman went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in the Diamondbacks' 11-5 loss to the Astros.

Fantasy Impact

Newman's performance, highlighted by his third homer of the season, provided a silver lining in an otherwise disappointing game for Arizona. With a batting average of .282 through 104 games, Newman continues to be a reliable source of average and occasional power, though his modest totals in home runs and stolen bases limit his upside in standard fantasy formats. His consistent contact skills are evident, but fantasy managers should temper expectations for significant contributions in power and speed categories.