
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Alex Cobb (hip) received an epidural injection to further aid in his recovery process. The right-hander is set to play catch tomorrow. Cobb is already expected to miss the start of the regular season and could face a more extended absence if he cannot be built up. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he works his way back from hip inflammation. Earlier in the offseason, the 37-year-old signed a one-year contract worth $15 million. Cobb was expected to open the season in the rotation, but with this injury, his absence will leave a spot open for at least a month. During camp, Matt Manning, Kenta Maeda, Casey Mize, and Ty Madden are expected to compete for this role. Last season, Cobb was limited to just 16 1/3 innings of work and could open this season on the injured list.



Detroit Tigers right-handed pitcher Ricky Vanasco (hip) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday. The 26-year-old is working his way back from a labral tear in his right hip. Vanasco signed a minor-league deal with Detroit earlier in the offseason. He underwent hip surgery in the offseason but has begun playing catch and will now look to take the next step in his recovery. The right-hander made his MLB debut last season and held a 6.75 ERA with a 0.75 WHIP across four innings of work. Through 40 1/3 innings at Triple-A last summer, the former 17th-round selection posted a 2.45 ERA with a 1.51 WHIP. He tallied 48 punchouts but served up 30 free passes. When he is cleared for action, fantasy managers should expect Vanasco to compete for a bullpen role.


Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Addison Barger (hand) is expected to return to the lineup on Wednesday. Barger went through a normal day of work on Tuesday and is on track to return to action on Wednesday. Barger exited Sunday's spring training contest earlier after being hit by a pitch on his hand. He went for X-rays, but the results were negative. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during camp, as he will likely continue to compete for a role at the hot corner. The 25-year-old made his MLB debut last season and posted a .197/.250/.351 line across 69 games. He hit seven home runs and swiped two bags. He is currently slated to be the No. 2 option at third base behind Ernie Clement. However, a strong spring could push him into a more significant role.


Washington Nationals starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore is set to make his spring debut on Saturday. The Nationals will play in split-squad games against the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals that day. Gore has yet to pitch in a spring training game but has remained active on the mound. He threw two innings against live hitters earlier this week and noted that everything feels "normal" and that he is on the "same schedule as everybody." Gore is expected to serve as the ace of the rotation once again. Last season, the southpaw held a 3.90 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP across 166 1/3 innings of work. He tallied an impressive 181 punchouts but had a high 8.9 percent walk rate. He also generated a modest 4.50 xERA and a .252 xBA, which placed him in the 39th and 31st percentile. Fantasy managers should view Gore as a late-round target when looking to bolster their rotation and increase their strikeout production.


San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Kyle Harrison is expected to make his Cactus League debut on Friday against the Brewers, although Logan Webb will be the starter for that game and Harrison will follow. Harrison is anticipated to work as the fifth man in the rotation for the Giants to start 2025 but has yet to live up to some lofty strikeout potential he flashed in the minors. The southpaw boasted a 37.4 percent strikeout rate in the minors but owns just 22.5 percent in the majors, which is slightly below league average. On the flip side, some command problems he displayed in the minors with high walk rates have been improved at the big league level, coming in at a 7.8 percent walk rate through 31 career starts for San Francisco, slightly better than league average. The former third-round draft pick carried a 3.69 ERA (3.88 FIP) and a 1.28 WHIP into August last year (18 GS), but fell apart over his final six starts to the tune of a 7.76 ERA and 1.58 WHIP before being shut down for the final month due to right shoulder inflammation. He'll look to get back on track in 2025, but his spot in the rotation feels tenuous, so he'll need to get off to a good start. As such, the lefty's ADP sits well outside the top 300 picks, so he should only be considered in deeper league fantasy drafts.
