Paul

DeJong

It’ll most likely be J.C. Escarra, Paul Goldschmidt, Amed Rosario and Randal Grichuk in bench roles for the Yankees to open the season. Cabrera has hit .234/.295/.346 with 20 homers and 15 steals in 949 plate appearances for the Yankees since 2022. Schuemann was acquired from the Athletics in a trade last month and projects as a utility infielder at the highest level.

Cabrera is going through drills and appears to be moving well, but has not practiced sliding yet and has not appeared in any spring games. Cabrera is set to begin the season as a utility player off the bench, so if he were to start the year on the injured list, that would open up a chance for Amed Rosario to see more playing time and Paul DeJong, Zack Short, Braden Shewmake, or Jorbit Vivas, who all have no minor league options, to make the Yankees Opening Day roster

Domínguez enters a pivotal spring training without a clear avenue to regular playing time after New York re-signed veterans Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham earlier this offseason. The 23-year-old former top prospect could potentially wind up back at Triple-A to continue his development by playing everyday. These situations have a way of sorting themselves out but it’s clear that Domínguez will offer minimal fantasy appeal in a reduced role at the highest level. Here is the full lineup: Domínguez (LF), Aaron Judge (RF), Ryan McMahon (3B), Paul Goldschmidt (DH), Seth Brown (1B), Paul DeJong (SS), Spencer Jones (CF), Max Schuemann (2B) and Ali Sánchez (C).

DeJong, 32, appeared in 57 games for the Nationals in 2025, slashing a meager .228/.269/.373 with six homers, 23 RBI and a 70/11 K/BB ratio across 208 plate appearances. He’ll function as extra infield depth for the Bombers and can be ignored for fantasy purposes.

The rookie has hit just .224 in 48 games since the All-Star Break with two home runs, 19 runs scored, 17 RBI, and three steals. He is presumably the favorite to start at third base for Washington in 2026, given his draft pedigree, but the team will need to see some improvement from him in the off-season. Paul DeJong will get the start at third base on Wednesday.

After giving several guys off Sunday, the Nationals are back with more of their core lineup today, with the exception being that Paul DeJong is again starting over House. Prior to yesterday, House had started five straight games at third and nine out of 10. DeJong, though, doubled twice yesterday, which apparently earned him the nod. House is batting .239/.253/.339 in 241 plate appearances as a 22-year-old rookie. Statcast thinks he’s been pretty unlucky, what with his 47% hard-hit rate, but he wouldn’t seem to have locked up a spot for 2026.

The 22-year-old budding superstar will get a rare night off with left-hander Ryan Weathers toeing the slab for the Marlins. Paul DeJong will function as the team’s designated hitter and will bat seventh on Thursday evening in Miami.

DeJong is now 12-for-39 in 10 games in August with five home runs, eight runs scored, 11 RBI, and one steal. He had been splitting time at third base with Brady House, but got the start at first base on Sunday and could see more work there now that Nathaniel Lowe is no longer with the team. We saw DeJong get hot for a stretch last week, and he has enough power to remain fantasy-relevant in deeper formats while he’s swinging it well.

DeJong has seven hits, including two homers, the last three days, raising his OPS from .617 to .723. We wouldn’t say that’s a good thing for the Nationals if it causes him to get a bunch of playing time over younger guys, but maybe it won’t come to that.

DeJong smacked an RBI single off of Justin Verlander in the fourth inning that extended the Nationals’ lead to 5-0. He also added a run-scoring knock off of Spencer Bivens in the sixth that made it 6-0. On the season, the 32-year-old infielder is now hitting .243/.287/.393 with three homers, 12 RBI and four swipes in 115 plate appearances.