Oswaldo Cabrera, OF, NYY (CBS: 3% rostered, ESPN: 3% rostered): The broken foot suffered by DJ LeMahieu has created an opportunity for Oswaldo Cabrera, and he has seized the moment, going 7-for-13 with a pair of homers and five RBI in his first three games. It’s time that he was added in all formats!
Mark Canha, 1B/OF, DET (CBS: 17% rostered, ESPN: 11% rostered): Canha is far from a sexy pickup, but in deeper formats and as an Injury replacement coming off your bench, the power can help, and the BA should at the very least not hurt you. An ounce of prevention could prove to be that pound of cure.
Willi Castro, 3B/OF, MIN (CBS: 26% rostered, ESPN: 3% rostered): It was opening day for Royce Lewis, and he was 2-for-2 with a homerun. Then disaster struck in the form of a severely sprained quad. He’ll be shut down for a month and then reevaluated. The Twins look to be rolling with Willi Castro at third, and with 33 thefts last year in only 358 at-bats, he could prove to be a nice boost in the stolen base category.
Travis d’Arnaud, C, ATL (CBS: 31% rostered, ESPN: 4% rostered): Sean Murphy is dealing with an oblique injury and will probably miss 2 to 3 weeks. In the interim, the Braves have a solid option in Travis d’Arnaud. As recently as 2022, d’Arnaud hit 18 homers and should be a more than capable replacement.
J.D. Davis, 3B, OAK (CBS: 9% rostered, ESPN: 1% rostered): Two homers on Friday should have our attention. That, and he won’t be looking over his shoulder in Oakland. 15-to-20 homers are there for the taking.
Richard Fitts, SP, BOS (CBS: 1% rostered, ESPN: not rostered): Here’s a name for the Dynasty league player. Last year, Richard Fitts posted a 3.48 ERA with 163 strikeouts at Double-A. He only allowed 43 walks. He’ll be starting the season at Triple-A, so don’t be surprised when he gets the call at some point this season. For the price of a cup of coffee, he could be sitting at the ready on your Fantasy Minor League roster.
Mitch Haniger, OF, SEA (CBS: 31% rostered, ESPN: 10% rostered): An opening-day homer by Mitch Haniger must fuel hope that a bounce back is in order after two disappointing years. A 25-homer season could be in the cards if he can stay healthy.
Jordan Hicks, SP, SFG (CBS: 33% rostered, ESPN: 15% rostered): Hicks’s first start is now in the books, and five innings of a three-hit shutout ball with six strikeouts should be cause for some serious interest, and spending this evening.
Cade Horton, SP, CHC (CBS: 22% rostered, ESPN: 2% rostered): Justin Steele’s hamstring injury in his opener will likely cost him all of April, possibly longer. The Cubs quickly brought up Ben Brown, who was torched for six earned runs in 1 2/3 innings on Saturday. Will they keep him up? At some point, Cade Horton will arrive, the timing of which is unknown at this time, but getting him rostered sooner rather than later is recommended.
Jared Jones, SP, PIT (CBS: 50% rostered, ESPN: 11% rostered): The great Spring has now morphed into a great start to the regular season. The ten strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings combined with the 22 swings and misses recorded on 89 pitches is impressive. If he’s available in your League, strive to see that he’s not after this evening’s Waiver Wire run.
Trey Lipscomb, WAS (CBS: 3% rostered, ESPN: not rostered): Nick Senzel fractured his right thumb and is looking at a 3-to-4-week stint on the IL. The Nats will turn to the 23-year-old Lipscomb in the interim. A little pop with some speed should work well in NL-only leagues until Senzel’s return.
Seth Lugo, SP, KCR (CBS: 52% rostered, ESPN: 13% rostered): Over the past three seasons, Seth Lugo has produced a 3.50, 3.60, and 3.57 ERA, the last of which was in a starting capacity for the Padres. He got out of the gate with six scoreless innings of two hits and one walk. What more could one want from a #5/6 type starter?
Ryan Mountcastle, 1B, BAL (CBS: 53% rostered, ESPN: 10% rostered): After two disappointing seasons, Mountcastle has gotten out of the gate strong, going 3-for-6 with four RBI. Let’s hope for a bounce back from Mountcastle and the opportunity to be in the mix for what should prove to be plenty of counting stats in that high-powered O’s offense.
Victor Scott II, OF, STL (CBS: 47% rostered, ESPN: 9% rostered): If you regret that you didn’t draft Esteury Ruiz during draft season, you now have the opportunity for a second chance. Until, at the very least, Dylan Carlson returns from his sprained AC joint in his left shoulder, Scott will man center field and bring that world-class speed (95 SB in 2023) to the table.
Paul Skenes, SP, PIT (CBS: 74% rostered, ESPN: 19% rostered): It’s only a matter of time, and that time will come quickly. If you haven’t checked out Skene’s Saturday debut with Triple-A Indianapolis, do yourself a favor and give it a spy. Three innings of perfect ball with virtually every pitch in triple-digits is something one doesn’t witness every day.
The Closer Report
Jason Foley, RP, DET (CBS: 27% rostered, ESPN: 11% rostered): Alex Lange struggled to find home plate in his first outing, and it appears until the control resurfaces, Jason Foley will be working the ninth inning. It’s not like he’s unfamiliar with the role, having earned seven saves in 2023. This move by the Tigers could be long-term, so don’t be shy about spending some of that FAAB tonight.
Kevin Ginkel, RP, ARZ (CBS: 48% rostered, ESPN: 14% rostered): Paul Sewald suffered a Grade 2 oblique strain and will miss some serious time, probably over a couple of months. Kevin Ginkel will slide into the closer role and, based on his record from last year, four saves and a 2.48 ERA, should have no problems getting the job done until Sewald returns.
Jeff Hoffman, RP, PHI (CBS: 11% rostered, ESPN: 1% rostered): After a great spring, Jose Alvarado imploded in his first regular-season effort, allowing three hits and two walks in 2/3 of an inning and being charged with five earned runs. Alvarado probably won’t lose his job from this poor effort, but any continued struggles could find Jeff Hoffman working the ninth inning.
Griffin Jax, RP, MIN (CBS: 39% rostered, ESPN: 11% rostered): An opening day save followed up by a win on Saturday night is a good way for Griffin Jax to begin the ’24 campaign. Jax and Brock Stewart will be holding down the fort until the end of April and the return of Jhoan Duran.
Chris Martin, RP, BOS (CBS: 7% rostered, ESPN: 7% rostered): Kenley Jansen could not take the call Saturday, with a tight back being the culprit. Back injuries can linger, so finding a home for Chris Martin is a solid plan, especially if you are counting on Jansen to close out games in Boston this year.
Abner Uribe, RP, MIL (CBS: 42% rostered, ESPN: 7% rostered): We gave it our best shot last week, figuring Joel Payamps is probably first-in-line for Saves while Devin Williams spends time rehabbing his back. So how did it shake down? The first two save opportunities went to Abner Uribe and were successfully converted. It’s still likely a committee situation, but Uribe will be in the driver’s seat moving forward.
