Fantasy Baseball News

The Houston Astros have optioned reliever Enoli Paredes to Triple-A. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: The move is a little surprising considering Paredes owns a career 3.90 ERA including a 3.05 mark in his largest sample in the 2020 season. Paredes also turned in a 2.63 ERA with 12 saves across 50 appearances at Triple-A in 2022. The 27-year-old has allowed two earned runs with six strikeouts against just one walk across four innings this spring and will look to become the first reliever promoted in case of an injury to the Astros' bullpen.

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell has resumed full workouts as he works his way back from a hamstring injury. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Likely to be the Brewers' center fielder on Opening Day, the 24-year-old Mitchell will look to build on an impressive 28-game showing with the big club in 2022. After hitting a robust .341 in 20 Triple-A games, Mitchell hit .311 with one homer, eight steals, and an .832 OPS in 68 plate appearances with the Brewers. Expectations should be tempered, however, as he sported a .548 BABIP, 41.2% strikeout rate, and a .266 xwOBA that was nearly 100 points below his .365 actual mark. He hasn't hit for much power in the minors but should be a solid source of stolen bases in his rookie 2023 campaign.

Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon remains out of the lineup due to back soreness. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Blackmon has been out of the lineup since March 10 and while Blackmon doctors aren't overly concerned he will be out a few more days, at least. Once a high-end fantasy option, Blackmon's production has dipped in recent seasons despite appearing in at least 135 games in each of the last eight full MLB campaigns. He hit .264 with 16 home runs, four steals, and a .733 OPS across 135 games in 2022 but his 89 wRC+ was the worst mark of his career. At 36, Blackmon should be left until late rounds of drafts as his production continues to slide.

Connor Wong (hamstring) could play in a game by the end of next week. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Wong suffered a grade 1 hamstring strain on March 2nd but has made enough progress toward playing sooner than later. It's unclear if he will be ready for the start of the season.

Justin Turner could return to the starting lineup Monday. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Turner was hit in the face by a pitch two weeks ago but fortunately suffered no fractures. He did receive 20 stitches, but he resumed baseball activities a few days ago and could be ready for game action soon. The plan is for Turner to be ready for Opening Day, and he seems to be making good progress toward that goal.

Mike Baumann is currently transitioning to the bullpen and is ready to embrace the new role. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: The 27-year-old was the Orioles organization's co-pitcher of the year in 2019 but is currently behind six or seven starters on the depth chart. It's unclear what kind of role he would have in the bullpen, but he likely wouldn't be in the mix for many saves. He had a 4.72 ERA and 6.03 K/9 in 34.1 innings with the Orioles in 2022.

New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz has been telling people he aims to return in 2023 after tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee at the World Baseball Classic. (Source: Will Sammon on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Just 48 hours after his injury Diaz is taking an optimistic approach in aiming to return following a disastrous knee injury following Puerto Rico's win over the Dominican Republic Wednesday. Diaz dominated to the tune of a 1.31 ERA and an eye-popping 50.2% K% across 61 appearances in 2022, racking up 32 saves in the process. He's certainly a dynasty league stash while anything he could give the Mets this season would be welcomed by the club with open arms.

Texas Rangers pitcher Andrew Heaney struck out eight across five innings in a minors game Friday.

Fantasy Impact: The strikeouts continue to pile up for Heaney who's coming off a season where he struck out 35.5% of the batters he faced with the Dodgers across 16 appearances (14 starts) in 2022. Heaney has notched 11 punchouts in 7 1/3 innings of Cactus League action across three starts and added eight more in a Triple-A game Friday. However, he also owns a 4.91 ERA in Cactus League action while walking four in those 7 1/3 innings. Heaney should once again be an excellent source of strikeouts but contains both injury and performance risk considering his 4.56 career ERA while exceeding 18 starts just twice in parts of eight full MLB seasons.

Seattle Mariners utilityman Dylan Moore has been diagnosed with Grade 1 oblique strain after injuring himself in the batting cage on March 16. (Source: Daniel Kramer on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Mariners athletic trainers said Moore will be shut down from baseball activities for 2-4 weeks which obviously rules him out for Opening Day. Moore was originally set for Opening Day following abdomen surgery but obviously this ailment changes all of that. Moore hit .224 with six homers, 21 stolen bases, and an excellent 126 wRC+ in 2022, bolstered by a hefty 13.3% BB%. He also appeared at every position save for pitcher and catcher in the 2022 campaign.

Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers left Friday's game versus the New York Yankees after getting hit in the hand by a Domingo German pitch.

Fantasy Impact: Rogers stayed in the game to run the bases but was replaced by Andrew Knapp afterward. It's been a productive spring for Rogers who missed all of the 2022 season following Tommy John surgery. He's hitting .333 with three homers and a 1.248 OPS across 21 Grapefruit League at-bats while also adding a rare stolen base to his ledger. He's putting pressure on presumed starting catcher Eric Haase but will likely settle in behind Haase to begin the 2023 campaign.

New York Yankees pitcher Tommy Kahnle is expected the resume throwing after being shut down due to right biceps tendinitis. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: It's been a tough go for Kahnle who has made just 14 appearances over the last three seasons due to Tommy John surgery but managed to land a two-year deal in his return to the Yankees this winter. Kahnle didn't miss a beat despite the lengthy time off, tossing a 2.84 ERA along with a strong 23.9% K-BB% in 13 appearances spanning 12 2/3 innings with the Dodgers in 2022. Kahnle will be hard-pressed for saves and holds in a crowded Yankees bullpen in 2023.

New York Yankees catcher Jose Trevino hit off a tee Thursday, the first time he's done so since feeling discomfort in a contest on March 9. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Trevino said "it's something minor" and "I'm pretty optimistic about it right now" as he could return to game action either March 19 or March 21 while he's expected to be ready for Opening Day. The 30-year-old enjoyed a career year in 2022, hitting .248 with 11 home runs and a .671 OPS while appearing in 115 games. Trevino made his first career All-Star team while also taking him a Gold Glove a season ago as he should remain the 1A option behind the plate for the Bronx Bombers in 2023.

New York Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes is in line to start March 18 versus the Blue Jays as he works his way back from a groin injury. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: The groin injury cost Cortes Jr. World Baseball Classic participation and he's been labeled as the team's fifth starter to begin the season as he's behind other rotation members in camp. The southpaw dazzled to a stout 2.44 ERA across 28 starts with the Yankees last season, making his first career All-Star team in the process.

Baltimore Orioles pitcher DL Hall threw a two-inning simulated game Thursday as he works his way back from right lower lumbar discomfort. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: It's already been reported that Hall will not be stretched out as a starter in time for Opening Day but he said he felt good following Thursday's outing. Thirty of his 42 pitches went for strikes while he's hopeful to return to Grapefruit League action next week. MLB Pipeline's 97th-ranked prospect made 11 appearances (one start) with the O's in 2022, posting a 5.93 ERA in that time while he tossed a 4.70 ERA across 76 2/3 innings at Triple-A in 18 starts and 22 appearances.

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Lewin Diaz remains out of action as he deals with left shoulder inflammation. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: The 26-year-old was scratched from Tuesday's starting lineup after experiencing left shoulder soreness while swinging the bat prior to the contest against the Pirates. Diaz appeared in 58 games with the Miami Marlins in 2022 but struggled to a .169 average with five home runs, one stolen base, and a .512 OPS across 174 trips to the plate.

Baltimore Orioles first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn is nearing a return as he deals with right knee soreness. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Orioles skipper Brandon Hyde said O'Hearn performed full baseball activities Friday and also took batting practice. An MRI came back clean, the swelling has gone down, and O'Hearn could return to game action as soon as Saturday. The lefty-swinging 29-year-old was traded to the Orioles from the Royals this winter after hitting .239 with one homer and a .611 OPS across 67 games with Kansas City in 2022.

Toronto Blue Jays prospect Otto Lopez is listed as day-to-day with left groin soreness. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Lopez participated in the World Baseball Classic for Team Canada and went 5-for-17 (.294) with a triple and a home run in the tournament but is now dealing with left groin soreness back in Blue Jays camp. The 24-year-old utility player got into eight games with the big club last season, recording six hits and a walk alongside three RBI in 10 plate appearances. He also hit .297 with three homers, 14 steals, and a .793 OPS across 91 games at the Triple-A level.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin will not begin the season in the club's rotation, according to manager Dave Roberts. (Source: Bill Plunkett on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: For the first time this spring Roberts confirmed what many believed would be the case as he said Tony Gonsolin starting the season in the rotation "is not going to happen". The right-hander rolled his ankle coming off the field following fielding practice last week and it was reported his recovery would be a slow process, likely leading to an injured list stint to begin the season. It's a notable blow to the Dodgers as Gonsolin has turned in a tidy 2.51 ERA across 59 big-league appearances (51 starts) and hurled a 2.14 ERA across 24 starts a season ago.

The New York Yankees have optioned outfield prospect Jasson Dominguez to minor-league camp. (Source: Bryan Hoch on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The move to send the 20-year-old to the minors confirms there was nothing he could possibly have done to crack the big club's Opening Day roster this spring. Dominguez raked to the tune of a .455 average with four home runs, one stolen base, and a monstrous 1.565 OPS across 22 at-bats this spring. Dominguez also turned in a .306 average with six homers, 17 steals, and a .907 OPS across 40 games at High-A as a 19-year-old in 2022. His performance this spring could put him on the brink of a big-league promotion at some point during the 2023 campaign.

Detroit Tigers pitching prospect Jackson Jobe will miss at least the next 3-6 months after experiencing lumbar spine discomfort. (Source: Cody Stavenhagen on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Jobe, the third overall pick of the 2020 draft, will miss a good chunk of his second professional season with what the team says is lumbar spine discomfort. The 20-year-old right-hander pitched to a 4.52 ERA across 18 Single-A starts in 2022 before recovering to a 1.15 ERA across three outings at the High-A level. He was a controversial pick ahead of the likes of Marcelo Mayer and despite possessing elite raw stuff and spin rates this injury is a significant setback in what was supposed to be an important season for the youngster.