MLB Player News

It appears to be a routine maintenance day for Contreras, who has started seven of the team’s previous eight games behind the plate. It’ll be veteran journeyman Jose Lobaton getting the call behind the dish on Saturday afternoon in his place. The 29-year-old backstop should be back for Sunday’s series finale at Wrigley Field.

Reynolds didn’t have any runs or RBI, though, as he was removed for a pinch-runner before Tony Blanco Jr. came around to score in his place in the fifth. Reynolds might be a little underrated for fantasy purposes at this point, in part because he’ll have an improved supporting cast this year. He definitely figures to top last year’s marks of 68 runs scored and 73 RBI in 654 plate appearances.

Keller’s velocity was pretty much at his 2025 norms, and he went without allowing a hard-hit ball today. He’s been pretty much written off as a mixed-league starter at this point, and there are some good reasons for that. Still, his ballpark is favorable and he’s due some more offensive support this year; if he could get his strikeout rate back up, he wouldn’t be hopeless.

Jax did give up a single to Jhostynxon Garcia along the way. Still, that’s an excellent spring debut for someone who should be the leading candidate for saves in Tampa Bay. He’s one of our favorite RP picks this year.

Yohan Ramírez put a slider on a tee for him, and Melton treated it exactly like he should have. The assumption has been that Melton is starting the season in the minors, since he’s behind Cedric Mullins on the depth chart in center, but the Rays’ situations in the corners are weak enough that Melton should be a threat for a starting spot with a strong spring. He’s the team’s second most intriguing outfielder for fantasy purposes, and he’s probably a better player than the No. 1 guy on that list (Chandler Simpson).

Drake issued a pair of walks, and one of those free passes came around to score in the first inning off a fielder’s choice. Acquired in the deal that sent Merrill Kelly to Texas, Drake is one of the best pitching prospects in the Arizona system, and if he can throw consistent strikes, he has a chance to be a fantasy-relevant starter in the coming years.

Manoah did walk a pair, but he didn’t allow a hit while keeping the D-backs from putting any runs on the board. The 28-year-old is not all that long removed from being one of the better right-handed starters in baseball, but everything has gone wrong since 2022. Weirder things have happened, but fantasy managers should be taking a wait-and-see approach before even considering Manoah in fantasy leagues.

The injury occurred when Eeles colidded with Enrique Bradfield Jr., with Bradfield Jr. able to stay in the game. Eeles was acquired in the deal for Alex Jackson from the Twins this November, and is likely just a depth piece in the minors to begin — and likely end — 2026.

Rea gave up an RBI single to Will Brennan while allowing two more hits with one walk and two strikeouts before exiting. The 35-year-old will be stretched out this spring, but there’s a very good chance he’s going to open the 2026 season in Chicago’s bullpen.

Ray did issue a pair of walks and gave up a hit, but he was able to keep Chicago off the board. The left-hander struggled at the end of the year, but still put up a solid 186/73 K/BB while working 182 1/3 innings with a 3.65 ERA in his first season with the Giants. There will be clunkers, but Ray’s ability to miss bats is still among the best.

Schwartz’s homer made it a 6-1 game before the Yankees for a three-run homer off their own from Kenedy Corona in the bottom of the eighth. It was Schwartz’s first homer in 11 spring games dating back to 2023. The 26-year-old, a fourth-round pick out of UCLA in 2021, missed some time with injury and struggled in Double-A last year, so he’s probably facing the end of his Mets career if he doesn’t get off to a strong start this year.