Preseason Prep – March 11, 2026
Jesus Luzardo, SP, Phillies
Jesus Luzardo just signed a five-year, $135 million extension with the Phillies on Monday. That’s certainly a vote of confidence for the lefty by his club, and it makes sense after his 2025 performance. He posted a 3.92 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 216 strikeouts in 183.2 innings, going 15-7 with 18 quality starts. The ratios don’t look the best, but they were also significantly dragged down by a two-start stretch in late May/early June, where he allowed a combined 20 runs, 21 hits, and five walks in 5.2 innings. It was theorized that he was tipping his pitches in those outings, and his season as a whole would have looked much better without those starts. He has very good stuff, posting a 28.5% strikeout rate (86th percentile) and 30.8% whiff rate (87th percentile). Now locked in towards the top of the Phillies rotation, Luzardo should be drafted as a top-20 starting pitcher for 2026.
Gabriel Moreno, C, Diamondbacks
Gabriel Moreno spent much of 2025 injured, but he showed real improvement when on the field. He has always been one of the best contact-hitting catchers in the sport, with a .281 career batting average, but the power was always limited due to an extremely high groundball rate. However, that started to change last season. He decreased his ground ball rate from 49.6% to 39.4% and increased his pull air rate from 7.8% to 14.6%. These changes showed up in his home run totals, as he hit a career high of 9 in 83 games. That works out to a 16 home run 150-game pace, and along with an elite batting average, would give him a very similar profile to Yainer Diaz in 2024, when he was the third most valuable catcher in fantasy. Moreno can often times be drafted at the very end of the draft in 12-team or shallower one-catcher leagues, but he has the potential to become a standout option at the position if he carries over these new launch angles in 2026.
Hunter Brown, SP, Astros
Hunter Brown was one of the most dominant pitchers of 2025, posting a 2.43 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 206 strikeouts in 185 innings. That allowed him to finish as the fifth-best starting pitcher in 5×5 roto, but there are some signs of concern for 2026. He posted a 3.39 SIERA, which is a significant difference from his ERA, and he also posted similar SIERAs of 3.77 in 2024 and 2023. In those years, his ERAs were 3.49 and 5.09. I’m not saying to expect a 5.00 ERA from the ace, but a 3.50 mark is much more realistic than 2.50. Additionally, he made great strikeout gains in 2025 with a 28.3% strikeout rate, but his whiff rate graded out worse at 27.8%, and his first strike rate was a mere 55.7%, which ranked at the bottom of all qualified pitchers. Don’t expect Brown to be horrible in 2025, but a top-5 repeat seems unlikely. If you are drafting Brown, it’s best to do so around the SP 8-12 range instead.
Chris Sale, SP, Braves
Chris Sale missed a lot of time in 2025, but still showed he was one of the best pitchers in baseball when he was on the field. He posted a 2.58 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 165 strikeouts in 125.2 innings. He was just as dominant after his return from a fractured ribcage, as he struck out nine batters in five of his six starts to close out the season. His 32.4% strikeout rate ranked in the 95th percentile, while also posting an 87.2 mph average exit velocity (92nd percentile). The only concern about him is his age and health, as he’s now up to 36 years old, but it’s hard to pass up drafting Sale when he hasn’t shown even the slightest drop off in talent. After all, he was the National League Cy Young Award winner only two years ago.
Cole Ragans, SP, Royals
Cole Ragans had high expectations coming into 2025 after a dominant 2024, but ultimately didn’t live up to expectations. He posted a 4.67 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 61.2 innings and missed the rest of the year with a rotator cuff strain and groin tightness. However, his season wasn’t as bad as the ratios suggest. For one, he still posted an elite xFIP of 2.45 and a SIERA of 2.52, which both suggest he got extremely unlucky. On top of that, he managed to improve his already exceptional strikeout numbers, punching out 98. His 38.1% strikeout rate ranked second in all of baseball among pitchers who threw at least 60 innings, and that’s including relievers. The only thing holding Ragans down is injury risk, but you shouldn’t be worried about his on-field performance. If he stays healthy for all of 2026, he’s one of the few pitchers who have the same upside as Skubal, Skenes, and Crochet.
Isaac Paredes, 3B, Astros
Isaac Paredes was great in 2025 in his first year with the Astros, slashing .254/.352/.458 with 53 runs, 20 home runs, and 53 RBI in 102 games. It was unfortunate that an injury knocked him out for a big chunk of the season, as he was on pace to top 30 homers for the second time in his career. His success comes from his ability to pull the ball in the air, as his 38.5% pull air rate led the league. There’s no better place to do that than in Daikin Park, the home of the Astros, which has one of the shallowest left field walls. The concerning thing for Paredes heading into 2026 is playing time, as the Astros have Christian Walker, Jose Altuve, Jeremy Pena, Carlos Correa, and Yordan Alvarez set to man the infield and DH. This has suppressed Paredes’ ADP, however, I don’t think it should be as big a concern as people are making it out to be. Pena is already injured, which has Paredes set to start the year as the everyday third baseman, and it’s extremely unlikely that all of those veterans and injury-prone Yordan Alvarez stay healthy all year. Paredes has been working at first base, second base, and third, giving him the potential to gain triple eligibility if he shifts around enough throughout the season.
Kris Bubic, SP, Royals
Kris Bubic was a popular sleeper in 2025 after dominating towards the end of 2024, and he started to deliver on that hype. He posted a 2.55 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 116 strikeouts in 116.1 innings before suffering a rotator cuff strain that ended his season. However, he showed in the time he was healthy that he was the same pitcher he was at the end of 2024, but he isn’t being drafted like it heading into 2026. I understand a part of that is injury concern, but all pitchers are injury risks to some extent. Bubic excels at inducing weak contact, producing an 87.6 mph average exit velocity in 2025, which ranked in the 87th percentile. He’s currently being drafted outside of the top-60 starting pitchers, but he should produce much better than that as long as he can stay on the field.
Jackson Merrill, OF, Padres
Jackson Merril was one of the bigger disappointments after a successful rookie campaign in 2024, slashing just .264/.317/.457 with 16 home runs and one stolen base in 115 games. That’s a far cry from 2024 when he hit .292 with 24 homers and 16 steals. The youngster is one of the most polarizing players heading into 2025, with his name appearing frequently on both breakouts and busts lists. He dealt with several injuries throughout the year that could have very well hindered his performance, but he also doesn’t have much of a track record with just one season of success. The scariest part is the complete lack of stolen bases. While he may not have run due to a hamstring issue he experienced during the season, it’s not a guarantee that he gets back to running in 2026. He’s fast with a 79th percentile sprint speed, but that isn’t the type of speed that would make it a no-brainer for him to run often. If the Padres want to preserve his health, they may keep him reigned in on the basepaths moving forward.
Jose Caballero, 2B/3B/SS/OF, Yankees
Jose Caballero is oneof the most prolific base stealers in baseball, swiping a league-leading 49 bags in only 126 games last season. That describes his situation going into 2026, too, as his stolen base upside is immense, but he is also clouded with playing time concerns. Anthony Volpe will be starting the year on the injured list and is likely out until May, which does give Caballero locked-in playing time for at least for the month. With his speed, he could easily steal double-digit bases in that amount of time. Once Volpe returns, it will get tricky, so don’t draft Caballero expecting him to stick in your lineup every day for the full season. Also, don’t expect production anywhere else, as he hit only .236 with five homers last season. The final bright spot for his fantasy value is his position eligibility, as he can play second, third, shortstop, and outfield. It makes him especially valuable in deeper leagues where he can fit anywhere you need him throughout the year.
Victor Robles, OF, Mariners
Victor Robles was a bit of an unknown heading into 2025, as he was coming off a breakout 2024 where he slashed .307/.381/.443 with four home runs and 34 steals, despite an xBA of only .256. He was only healthy for 32 games in 2025, but definitely wasn’t the 2024 version of himself, as he hit just .245 with one homer and six steals. The batting average and power disappeared, but the one thing that he can be relied on for is stolen bases. Still only 28-years-old, he’s not some washed-up veteran, and will get another chance to stick in the Mariners outfield on an everyday basis, if he hits. However, a short-side platoon is more likely, especially if he struggles with the bat out of the gate.
Nolan Schanuel, 1B, Angels
Nolan Schanuel had a solid but boring 2025, slashing .264/.353/.389 with 64 runs, 12 home runs, and 53 RBI. He posted an elite 12.6% strikeout rate (93rd percentile) and 15.0% whiff rate (92nd percentile), along with a 93rd-percentile squared-up rate of 32.4%. His focus is to use the whole field and hit line drives, which limits his home run output, but it makes him a solid bet for batting average and on-base percentage, as he also held a great 10.5% walk rate. It’s important to remember that Schanuel is still only 24 years old, as he began his major league career in the same year that he was drafted. With the Angels clearly rebuilding, Schanuel is locked in for everyday at-bats at first base, making him a sneaky very late corner infield option in deep roto leagues.
Victor Scott II, OF, Cardinals
Victor Scott II is one of the fastest men in baseball, posting a 100th percentile sprint speed that ties for the second in the league. His pure speed could make him a potential 60+ stolen base threat, but unfortunately, his bat doesn’t get him on base nearly enough to achieve that. He hit .216 in 2025 and stole 34 bases, which is a reasonable expectation for 2026 as well. He posted a 26.0% hard-hit rate (2nd percentile) and .313 xSLG (1st percentile), which show little promise for any offensive improvement, but he is a fine pick very late in drafts if you’re desperate for steals.
Raisel Iglesias, RP, Braves
Raisel Iglesias re-signed with the Braves this offseason on a one-year, $16 million contract. This complicates the bullpen situation, as Atlanta also signed former Padres’ closer Robert Suarez. Comments from ownership suggest that Iglesias is still going to the closer, but we can never truly trust that until we see it play out ourselves once the regular season starts. Iglesias was certainly effective enough in 2025 to deserve to retain closing duties, as he posted a 3.21 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 29 saves. Suarez looming in the background makes Iglesias a riskier pick for fantasy and holds him outside of the top-10 relievers, but if he indeed is given the job and he maintains it all year, he’s almost a lock to outperform his ADP.
Pete Fairbanks, RP, Marlins
Pete Fairbanks is getting a change of scenery for 2026, as he signed with the Marlins on a one-year, $13 million contract. He was rock solid in 2025, posting a 2.83 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with 27 saves for the Rays. It’s a team downgrade for the righty, but that shouldn’t hurt his save chances too much. The Marlins weak offense should keep games close, and their lack of other talent in the bullpen basically cements Fairbanks as the closer, which can’t be said for many other options drafters will have to take a chance on for saves. He excels at avoiding barrels, posting a 4.8% barrel rate that ranked in the 93rd percentile. He is a great option as your second relief pitcher for fantasy.
Kyle Teel, C, White Sox
Kyle Teel had a promising rookie showing in 2025, slashing .273/.375/.411 with 38 runs, 8 home runs, and 35 RBI in 78 games. One of the most impressive things was his 12.5% walk rate, which showed he was not getting overwhelmed in his first taste of the big leagues. With a full offseason to settle in and prepare, I expect another step forward in 2026. The top prospect has been crushing it in the minors for years and brings an advanced approach at the plate that can provide an elite batting average and on-base percentage for a backstop, along with double-digit homers. He is a great pick if you wait at catcher in a one-catcher league, or is one of the better upside plays as a second catcher in two-catcher leagues. Injury Update: Teel appeared to pull his hamstring in the WBC game between Italy and USA last night.