New York Yankees

Clarke Schmidt is expected to start the second game of the regular season for the Yankees. (Source: Joel Sherman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Schmidt has impressed this spring, and is now, with Luis Severino (lat) headed to the IL, in line for a spot in the Yankees' rotation. Schmidt's 5.28 ERA this spring appears questionable at first glance, but he has a nice 1.04 WHIP, .224 average against and 31.0 K% across 15 1/3 innings. The 27-year-old righty definitely carries some late-round appeal in fantasy baseball drafts following this development.

Luis Severino (lat) is expected to begin the regular season on the IL. (Source: Bryan Hoch on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Severino has been diagnosed with a low-grade right lat strain. The righty is now expected to be placed on the injured list. Clarke Schmidt is in line to take the mound for the Yankees' second game of the regular season in Severino's place.

New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodon said he felt good Saturday, a day after beginning his throwing program while he works his way back from a left elbow strain. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Signed to a lucrative six-year deal this winter, Rodon won't be available for Opening Day but it appears Friday was a step in the right direction. Rodon turned in a stout 2.88 ERA and a 26.1% K-BB% across 31 starts for the Giants in 2022. Despite a lengthy injury history, Rodon remains a high-end draft-and-stash candidate as he could return in mid-to-late April.

New York Yankees outfielder Harrison Bader will need about six weeks to return to game action after suffering a high-grade left oblique strain. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Bader injured his oblique on a March 8 swing and has performed rotational exercises in the early stages of his rehab. For what it's worth, Yankees skipper Aaron Boone said Bader is "doing better than we anticipated". It's a tough start for Bader who was set for everyday reps at center field in New York. He had a down 2022 season but has a solid combination of power and speed that would have made him a solid late-round look on draft day.

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.

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.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa is expected to see time in center field this season. (Source: Bryan Hoch at MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Kiner-Falefa has been getting some reps in center field at Yankees practice recently and the team intends to test him at the position in game situations by the end of the week. Kiner-Falefa started 131 games at shortstop for the Yankees last year, but he is expected to move around the field in a utility role in 2023.

New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo was scratched Sunday due to lower back discomfort. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Yankees skipper Aaron Boone categorized the ailment as a "cranky" lower back but the issue doesn't appear serious with no tests scheduled at this point. Rizzo missed time in the 2022 season after receiving an injection to treat his lower back and said it's an issue he'll need to manage for the remainder of his career. The 33-year-old re-signed with the Yankees after opting out of his contract this winter on the heels of a .224 average with 32 home runs across 130 games last season.

Rafael Ortega has a good shot for an Opening Day roster spot with the Yankees. (Source: Greg Joyce on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: According to manager Aaron Boone, Ortega was in the mix prior to Harrison Bader's injury. But now with Bader likely to start the season on the IL, his chances have seemed to increase. He slashed .241/.331/.358 with a 96 wRC+ in 2022 with the Cubs.

Lou Trivino is dealing with an elbow ligament strain and will start the season on the injured list. (Source: Brendan Kuty on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Trivino has appeared in just one game this Spring before being shut down with the ligament strain. The 31-year-old posted a 1.66 ERA in 21 2/3 innings pitched after being acquired from Oakland last season.

New York Yankees starter Frankie Montas could begin playing catch in the week of May 7 in his recovery from arthroscopic shoulder surgery in February. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Montas told the media he "for sure" expects to pitch this season and he wasn't 100% healthy when the Yankees acquired him at last year's trade deadline. Montas struggled to the tune of a 6.35 ERA across eight starts with the Yankees in 2022 and remains a no-go in fantasy baseball drafts this season.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone told the YES Network that youngster Oswaldo Cabrera will see time in center field. (Source: YES Network on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The Yankees are trying to get Cabrera as many at-bats as possible as he could realistically see time at every position on the field save for pitcher and catcher in 2023 with left field his clearest path to playing time. The 24-year-old impressed in his MLB debut last season, hitting .247 with six homers, three steals, and a .741 OPS across 44 contests. A combination of power, speed, and defensive versatility should enable him to approach 400 plate appearances in 2023.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Aaron Judge will begin playing some left field next week. (Source: Bryan Hoch on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Judge said he is willing to move to left field, a position he has never played in. He should see games in all three outfield positions this season.

Austin Wells underwent an MRI on Tuesday for a bone bruise in his right rib cage. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Manager Aaron Boone mentioned that Wells is "not doing much yet." He was making progress towards a return to activity but will await the results of the MRI to confirm if he is truly ready to go.

Michael King tossed two simulated innings Wednesday and states that he expects to be ready for Opening Day. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: King’s 2022 season ended in July after having season-ending surgery on his right elbow. The 27-year-old figures to return to the Yankees’ bullpen as an important piece in the later innings. In 34 games in 2022, King posted a 2.29 ERA with a 11.65 K/9 ratio in 51 innings pitched.

Ben Rortvedt underwent surgery on his left shoulder to address an aneurysm of his posterior artery. He is expected to miss about a month of baseball activities. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Rortvedt was apparently experiencing issues and was unable to catch a bullpen session as scheduled, which prompted the surgery. The 25-year-old catcher will likely lose some ground in battling Kyle Higashioka for the backup catcher duties behind Jose Trevino.

New York Yankees pitcher Luis Gil has been throwing from over 100 feet in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. (Source: Marly Rivera on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Gil underwent Tommy John surgery in May of 2022 after making just one appearance for the Yankees in addition to his six starts at the Triple-A level. He's been throwing from over 100 feet for a while and hopes to throw his first bullpen session early this spring. However, he's still without a timetable for a return as it appears sometime in June could be a baseline for a potential return to action.

New York Yankees reliever Ron Marinaccio expects to be ready for Opening Day after injuring his shin late last season. (Source: Bryan Hoch on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Marinaccio was placed on the IL with a stress reaction in his shin in October and never made it back for any of the club's postseason games. The 27-year-old was dominant in 2022, turning in a 2.05 ERA and 30.9% K% across 40 appearances and 44 innings pitched. The right-hander possesses big swing-and-miss stuff but will remain hard-pressed to get save opportunities in a deep Yankees bullpen.