Opening Day 2026-March 25, 2026
Baseball is back!
Max Fried-Yankees-SP
Max Fried went 6.1 IP and gave up 0 ER on 2 H, 1 BB, and 4 K’s against the Giants. Fried is coming off a big first year in New York. He was 19-5 with a 2.86 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. His success was fueled by a strong strikeout-to-walk ratio (24% K and 6% BB). Fried is able to neutralize Yankee Stadium’s short porch in right field by being a lefty and keeping the ball on the ground (52% GB). He remains one of the game’s top fantasy options because of the high likelihood of wins and strong ratios.
Logan Webb-Giants-SP
Logan Webb went 5 IP and gave up 7 ER on 9 H, 1 BB, and 7 K’s against the Yankees. Webb is coming off another strong season. He was 15-11 with a 3.22 ERA and 1.24 WHIP across 207 IP. Webb continues to be one of the true workhorses left in the game. He has thrown 190+ in four straight seasons and 200+ in the last three. This past season, he showed improved skills (26% K and 5% BB). The increased strikeouts came from a slight change in his pitch mix. He threw more cutters and fewer changeups. Webb is the perfect combination of strikeouts (26% K), good control (6% BB), and above-average ground balls (53% GB). He doesn’t have the elite ceiling of Skubal, Skenes, and Crochet, but he is one of the “safest” bets on the pitching side despite today’s rough start.
Jose Caballero-Yankees-SS
Jose Caballero was 1-4 with 1 R and 1 RBI against the Giants. Caballero is expected to be the Yankees’ starting shortstop until SS Anthony Volpe returns sometime in May. Volpe is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and did not play well last year (.212 AVG with 19 HR, 65 R, 72 RBI, and 18 SB), so there is an opportunity for Caballero to make a case for increased playing time when he does return. Caballero hit .236 with 5 HR, 52 R, 36 RBI, and 49 SB in 370 PA. He is going to be a major source for steals in the first month, and if he can get 500 PA, he could be in the conversation for the league lead in steals. He’s not going to hit for a high average, but if he can repeat his .339 OBP from last year, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to steal bases. It doesn’t hurt that the Yankees’ lineup will continue to be one of the better in the game.
Ben Rice-Yankees-1B
Ben Rice was 1-4 with 1 R and 1 BB against the Giants. He is heading into the season as the Yankees’ starting first baseman. This is important because he doesn’t have to earn a roster spot or worry about bouncing between first and catcher. Rice is coming off a breakout 2025 season (.255 AVG with 26 HR, 74 R, 65 RBI, and 3 SB). The production was strong, and the underlying skills were excellent as well. He has strong plate skills (9% BB and 19% K) and hit the baseball very hard (15% Barrels and 56% Hardhit). Rice also benefits from playing half his games in Yankee Stadium. His combination of hard contact (15% Barrels), fly balls (42% FB), and home park could mean 35-40 HR for Rice. He is an older breakout (27 years old), but the skills look strong.
Matt Chapman-Giants-3B
Matt Chapman was 0-3 against the Yankees on Opening Night. Chapman hit .231 with 21 HR, 76 R, 61 RBI, and 9 SB in 535 PA last year. He is coming into the season healthy and ready to go. He is in his age 33 season, but the core skills still look solid (13% BB, 24% K, and 10% Barrels). The Giants’ lineup isn’t going to be great, but it should be better with a full season of Rafael Devers and the additions of Luis Arraez and Harrison Bader. Chapman plays above-average defense, so as long as he is healthy, he is going to be in the lineup every day. This is important because a 600+ PA season gets him closer to 25-30 HR instead of 20. Either way, Chapman is a very solid option at third base for 2026.
Trent Grisham-Yankees-OF
Trent Grisham was 1-5 with 2 RBI against the Giants. Grisham is expected to be the Yankees’ leadoff hitter most nights. He got 406 of 581 of his PA from the leadoff spot last year. Grisham turned in a very good year for the Yankees. He hit .235 with 34 HR, 87 R, 74 RBI, and 3 SB. He showed improved contact (24% K) to go along with excellent on-base skills (14% BB and .348 OBP). Grisham isn’t going to hit for a high average, but getting on base and hitting for power in a lefty-friendly park does wonders for his fantasy value. He could threaten 30+ HR and 100+ R if he gets the majority of his at-bats in the leadoff spot.
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