Unless you happened to draft your fantasy baseball squad this morning, you probably require a little light roster maintenance ahead of Opening Day. Today, we’re offering priority pickups at every standard roster position, each of them available in at least 60% of Yahoo fantasy leagues. If you have holes to fill, we have options. Let’s get to work.
Connor Wong, C, Boston Red Sox (31% rostered)
Wong is the rare catcher who can give you average with a dash of speed, which distinguishes him from the crowd of 18-HR, .220 hitters at this spot. He reworked his swing last offseason, resulting in meaningful gains in terms of his K-rate, contact percentage and, of course, batting average. Wong has swiped 16 bags over the past two seasons, so he’s not a liability in any standard category.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand, 1B, Cincinnati Reds (39%)
Here’s a classic post-hype sleeper coming off an encouraging spring. A wrist injury derailed the expected 2024 breakout, but his power seems to have returned:
Encarnacion-Strand is just one year removed from a monster half-season at Triple-A in which he slashed .331/.405/.637 with 20 homers in only 67 games, forcing his way onto the big league roster. It may feel as if CES has been on the fantasy radar forever, but he’s still only 25 years old.
Kristian Campbell, 2B, Boston Red Sox (29%)
It hasn’t been a perfect spring for Campbell, but a late surge at the plate earned him a spot on Boston’s Opening Day roster, presumably as the team’s starting second baseman. Campbell was simply a monster last season across three levels, hitting .330/.439/.558 with 20 bombs and 24 steals, vaulting up the prospect ranks and ultimately winning Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year award. He’s one of a trio of elite high-level Red Sox prospects who are likely to make noise in the big leagues this season. Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer won’t be far behind.
Cam Smith, 3B, Houston Astros (28%)
Smith was the centerpiece prospect involved in the Kyle Tucker trade with Chicago, and he simply has not stopped hitting since he first put on the Astros uniform. He’s had a cartoonishly good spring, launching four bombs while hitting for average and delivering an outrageous 1.130 OPS. He’s looking like Houston’s opening day right fielder, which means he’s about to gain multi-position eligibility in our game.
[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for the 2025 MLB season]
It’s important to note that Smith has only made 20 plate appearances at Double-A and none at Triple-A, so he is well ahead of his expected timeline. It wouldn’t be much of a surprise if he struggled when facing regular season MLB pitching for the first time. Still, considering his silly upside, he deserves consideration as a what-if pickup.
Tyler Fitzgerald, SS/OF, San Francisco Giants (31%)
The fantasy community does not seem to entirely buy Fitzgerald’s surface-level stats from last season, because, if we did, this man would be almost universally rostered. He cleared the fence 15 times last year for the Giants over 96 games, swiping 17 bases and slashing a respectable .280/.334/.497.
Fitzgerald had plenty of good fortune on balls-in-play, however (.380 BABIP), and the Statcast batting data tells a complicated story. But he was at the top of the charts in terms of sprint speed last year and he’s set to open 2025 as his team’s everyday second baseman. As long as he doesn’t completely face-plant at the plate, he’s a good bet to reach 30 stolen bases this season.
Victor Scott II, OF, St. Louis Cardinals (19%)
There are three essential details for you to know about Scott:
-
He stole 94 bases over 132 minor league games back in 2023;
-
He’s had a huge spring for the Cards, hitting four homers, swiping five bags and batting .349;
-
Scott will open the season as his team’s starting center fielder.
If you can’t use a guy with 90-steal speed … well, wow. Great work by you at your draft. Scott should really be of interest to someone in nearly every mixed league.
Landen Roupp, SP/RP, San Francisco Giants (3%)
Roupp earned the fifth spot in the Giants’ rotation to begin the season after delivering a near-flawless spring, striking out 14 batters over 12.0 innings, issuing eight hits and just one walk. His career minor league numbers are absolutely outrageous: 2.50 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 250 Ks in 172.2 IP. Walks have been an issue in the past, but he’s stingy in terms of hits allowed and there are no obvious weaknesses in his arsenal. Roupp will do his home pitching in a favorable environment, too.
José Soriano, SP, Los Angeles Angels (11%)
I have a long-established fondness for Soriano, a right-hander with easy triple-digit heat and the cruelest breaking stuff.
José Soriano’s six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball today.
It’s no surprise to see Soriano use the splinker and knuckle curve with two strikes but we’ve seen him throw more four-seamers to finish off batters this spring, something he didn’t do much of last year. pic.twitter.com/xX5ZopUnl9
— Brent Maguire (@bmags94) March 18, 2025
If we can get a full, healthy season from Soriano, he has the potential to finish as a top-25 starter. He’s a ground-ball specialist with multiple weapons-grade pitches in the repertoire. Soriano will open his season against the White Sox on Sunday, so you can’t really ask for a more favorable matchup if you’re looking to stream.
Luke Jackson, RP, Texas Rangers (2%)
Well, we’ve had a few interesting recent developments in the Texas bullpen:
For those who like to read into things, Chris Martin pitched the eighth inning tonight for #Rangers, and Luke Jackson is currently pitching the ninth.
— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilsonTXR) March 25, 2025
I do, in fact, like to read into things, so this particular sequence of relievers is notable.
Bruce Bochy suggested in his postgame comments that Monday’s usage would be “pretty close” to what we’d see in the regular season. At this point, it certainly seems as if Jackson is the favorite for saves in Texas. We won’t make any guarantees about this team’s plans for the late innings, but Jackson has the traditional closer’s arsenal and experience in the role. He’s a priority for fantasy managers chasing saves.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Lamine Yamal on Lionel Messi parallels: ‘I don’t want to compare me with anyone’
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal says he does not want to be compared with anyone — “even less with Lionel Messi”.Yamal, 17, has drawn comparisons to the Argentine superstar as a fellow graduate from Barcelona’s La Masia youth academy and as a left-footed forward to burst onto the scene as a teenager.Yamal was speaking to the media on Tuesday ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Inter — exactly two years after he made his first-team debut for the club at the age of 15 years, nine months and 16 days. Messi, meanwhile, made his competitive Barcelona debut at the age of 17 years, three months and 22 days old in October 2004.Advertisement“I don’t compare myself with him,” Yamal told reporters when asked about Messi. “I don’t want to compare me with anyone, and even less with Messi. That’s something […]
Ze Survivora rovnou na stadion. Hejnová povede nejlepší českou překážkářku
Čtyřiadvacetiletá překážkářka dosáhla všech svých úspěchů pod vedením bývalého překážkáře Jindřicha Šimánka, s nímž se ale na přelomu roku rozešla. „S respektem mu chci poděkovat za jeho práci a celkový posun, který mé kariéře přinesl. Bohužel jsme se již delší dobu názorově rozcházeli a další spolupráce nebyla možná,“ přiznala.Přes halovou sezonu se Jíchová připravovala sama s pomocí Rudolfa Černého, bývalého kouče Barbory Špotákové, a svého partnera Martina Růžičky. Jméno své nové trenérky ještě nechtěla prozradit, ale všechny indicie směřovaly k české rekordmance a stříbrné olympijské medailistce Hejnové. Ta po rozmýšlení kývla.„Pro mě byla jasnou a jedinou volbou. Myslím, že je potřeba se učit od těch nejlepších. Má obrovské zkušenosti z největších závodů a její cit pro překážky pro mě bude velkým přínosem. Chtěla bych Zuzce poděkovat za její ochotu a za to, že mou nabídku přijala,“ prohlásila Jíchová.Hejnová je od loňského roku svazovou trenérkou sprintů a překážkových běhů, přesto si přes zimu […]
Chiefs heiress Gracie Hunt quickly forgets Cody Keith and introduces new mystery boyfriend to society
Gracie Hunt, the daughter of Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, turned heads last week as she publicly introduced her new romantic partner at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. The 26-year-old heiress and former Miss Kansas USA officially made her relationship public after months of speculation, marking a new chapter in her personal life following her split from former boyfriend Cody Keith earlier this year.Gracie Hunt escapes her dad and duties as she's spotted in the desert happy and party readyHunt, who attended the prestigious gala in Washington D.C. as a guest of Fox News, stunned in a striking red gown. Sharing several photos from the event on Instagram, Hunt described the evening as an "unforgettable honor." One of the pictures showed her smiling beside her date, who was dressed sharply in a tailored black tuxedo.Despite revealing his face, Hunt […]
Is Devin Williams Down to His Last Out as New York Yankees Closer?
Even as a longtime resident of the New York area, I get the eye-rolling over the air of superiority that accompanies so many things from and about the Big Apple. Everything here isn’t automatically bigger, better or more challenging, and people can be just as successful and satisfied in the careers of their choosing without ever stepping foot into Manhattan or its boroughs.Except for baseball closers. The final three outs of the game — already the toughest to get — are exponentially harder to record for those employed by the Yankees and Mets. And even if you are already among the best at what you do, it doesn’t count and it doesn’t matter until you do it here — over and over and over again. Right, Devin Williams? The embattled Yankees reliever was demoted from closer duties after giving up […]
‘Não me comparo com ninguém, muito menos com o Messi’, diz Yamal, do Barcelona
O atacante do FC Barcelona, Lamine Yamal, revelou nesta terça-feira que pretende deixar sua marca no futebol profissional — um caminho que já iniciou com apenas 17 anos e que atingirá um marco importante nesta quarta-feira, quando completará 100 partidas no jogo de ida da semifinal da Liga dos Campeões contra a Inter de Milão. — Não me comparo com ninguém, muito menos com o Messi, isso deixo para vocês. Não faz sentido. Tento aproveitar e trilhar meu próprio caminho. Não falei com ele — afirmou o jovem astro espanhol em coletiva de imprensa antes do confronto europeu. Referindo-se à sua juventude e à quantidade de jogos disputados, o atacante destacou o orgulho pelo feito: — Acho que poucos jogadores com a minha idade jogaram tantos jogos pelo Barça, e fico com isso. Valorizo ter a cabeça no lugar, estar […]
RMP se assusta com clube caloteiro no Brasil: “Flamengo que o diga”
RMP comenta sobre o futebol brasileiro. Foto: Reprodução Renato Maurício Prado, o RMP, não poupou palavras para criticar a presidência de Augusto Melo no Corinthians. O clube de Itaquera tem dívidas exorbitantes e há grandes chances de impeachment em breve. “A verdade é que a administração do Augusto Melo é um desastre desde o primeiro dia. Começa com a história da VaideBet, que está na polícia, acho que ele pode se ferrar com essa história. Ele parece um zumbi que já morreu e não sabe. Se a Gaviões da Fiel largar a mão, ele deita e é enterrado sozinho”, disparou o jornalista, no Uol. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “É inacreditável como esse homem ainda continua no cargo. O Corinthians tem tido presidentes horrorosos nos últimos anos, mas o Augusto Melo consegue ser o pior deles. E ele continua gastando sem parar, o […]
Related
Lamine Yamal on Lionel Messi parallels: ‘I don’t want to compare me with anyone’
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal says he does not want to be compared with anyone — “even less with Lionel Messi”.Yamal, 17, has drawn comparisons to the Argentine superstar as a fellow graduate from Barcelona’s La Masia youth academy and as a left-footed forward to burst onto the scene as a teenager.Yamal was speaking to the media on Tuesday ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Inter — exactly two years after he made his first-team debut for the club at the age of 15 years, nine months and 16 days. Messi, meanwhile, made his competitive Barcelona debut at the age of 17 years, three months and 22 days old in October 2004.Advertisement“I don’t compare myself with him,” Yamal told reporters when asked about Messi. “I don’t want to compare me with anyone, and even less with Messi. That’s something […]
Ze Survivora rovnou na stadion. Hejnová povede nejlepší českou překážkářku
Čtyřiadvacetiletá překážkářka dosáhla všech svých úspěchů pod vedením bývalého překážkáře Jindřicha Šimánka, s nímž se ale na přelomu roku rozešla. „S respektem mu chci poděkovat za jeho práci a celkový posun, který mé kariéře přinesl. Bohužel jsme se již delší dobu názorově rozcházeli a další spolupráce nebyla možná,“ přiznala.Přes halovou sezonu se Jíchová připravovala sama s pomocí Rudolfa Černého, bývalého kouče Barbory Špotákové, a svého partnera Martina Růžičky. Jméno své nové trenérky ještě nechtěla prozradit, ale všechny indicie směřovaly k české rekordmance a stříbrné olympijské medailistce Hejnové. Ta po rozmýšlení kývla.„Pro mě byla jasnou a jedinou volbou. Myslím, že je potřeba se učit od těch nejlepších. Má obrovské zkušenosti z největších závodů a její cit pro překážky pro mě bude velkým přínosem. Chtěla bych Zuzce poděkovat za její ochotu a za to, že mou nabídku přijala,“ prohlásila Jíchová.Hejnová je od loňského roku svazovou trenérkou sprintů a překážkových běhů, přesto si přes zimu […]
Chiefs heiress Gracie Hunt quickly forgets Cody Keith and introduces new mystery boyfriend to society
Gracie Hunt, the daughter of Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, turned heads last week as she publicly introduced her new romantic partner at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. The 26-year-old heiress and former Miss Kansas USA officially made her relationship public after months of speculation, marking a new chapter in her personal life following her split from former boyfriend Cody Keith earlier this year.Gracie Hunt escapes her dad and duties as she's spotted in the desert happy and party readyHunt, who attended the prestigious gala in Washington D.C. as a guest of Fox News, stunned in a striking red gown. Sharing several photos from the event on Instagram, Hunt described the evening as an "unforgettable honor." One of the pictures showed her smiling beside her date, who was dressed sharply in a tailored black tuxedo.Despite revealing his face, Hunt […]
Is Devin Williams Down to His Last Out as New York Yankees Closer?
Even as a longtime resident of the New York area, I get the eye-rolling over the air of superiority that accompanies so many things from and about the Big Apple. Everything here isn’t automatically bigger, better or more challenging, and people can be just as successful and satisfied in the careers of their choosing without ever stepping foot into Manhattan or its boroughs.Except for baseball closers. The final three outs of the game — already the toughest to get — are exponentially harder to record for those employed by the Yankees and Mets. And even if you are already among the best at what you do, it doesn’t count and it doesn’t matter until you do it here — over and over and over again. Right, Devin Williams? The embattled Yankees reliever was demoted from closer duties after giving up […]
‘Não me comparo com ninguém, muito menos com o Messi’, diz Yamal, do Barcelona
O atacante do FC Barcelona, Lamine Yamal, revelou nesta terça-feira que pretende deixar sua marca no futebol profissional — um caminho que já iniciou com apenas 17 anos e que atingirá um marco importante nesta quarta-feira, quando completará 100 partidas no jogo de ida da semifinal da Liga dos Campeões contra a Inter de Milão. — Não me comparo com ninguém, muito menos com o Messi, isso deixo para vocês. Não faz sentido. Tento aproveitar e trilhar meu próprio caminho. Não falei com ele — afirmou o jovem astro espanhol em coletiva de imprensa antes do confronto europeu. Referindo-se à sua juventude e à quantidade de jogos disputados, o atacante destacou o orgulho pelo feito: — Acho que poucos jogadores com a minha idade jogaram tantos jogos pelo Barça, e fico com isso. Valorizo ter a cabeça no lugar, estar […]
RMP se assusta com clube caloteiro no Brasil: “Flamengo que o diga”
RMP comenta sobre o futebol brasileiro. Foto: Reprodução Renato Maurício Prado, o RMP, não poupou palavras para criticar a presidência de Augusto Melo no Corinthians. O clube de Itaquera tem dívidas exorbitantes e há grandes chances de impeachment em breve. “A verdade é que a administração do Augusto Melo é um desastre desde o primeiro dia. Começa com a história da VaideBet, que está na polícia, acho que ele pode se ferrar com essa história. Ele parece um zumbi que já morreu e não sabe. Se a Gaviões da Fiel largar a mão, ele deita e é enterrado sozinho”, disparou o jornalista, no Uol. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “É inacreditável como esse homem ainda continua no cargo. O Corinthians tem tido presidentes horrorosos nos últimos anos, mas o Augusto Melo consegue ser o pior deles. E ele continua gastando sem parar, o […]
Be the first to leave a comment