The Houston Chronicle's Matt Kawahara writes that Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena has been working on his plate discipline leading into the 2025 season and lowering his chase rate. In 1,842 regular-season plate appearances in his three years in the big leagues with Houston, Pena has only walked 90 times compared to 375 strikeouts in 443 games. He has still managed to be a productive shortstop for fantasy managers because of the volume, but he hasn't really been able to improve on his rookie season in 2022 in which he hit 22 home runs in 136 games. The 27-year-old Dominican did have a career-high 20 stolen bases last year and also cut down on his strikeout rate. If he's able to work more walks in 2025, he could give fantasy managers more help in the batting-average department. But with minimal power at the 6, Pena is ranked as the No. 19 fantasy shortstop at RotoBaller.

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (back) left Thursday's Grapefruit League contest against the Philadelphia Phillies with what the team is calling lower-back tightness, per the Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin. Before being pulled, Caminero struck out in both of his plate appearances. Although the Rays may just be being extra cautious with one of their best young players in spring training, fantasy managers everywhere are holding their breathe that one of the most popular breakout players for 2025 will be alright. The 21-year-old is ranked as the No. 7 fantasy third baseman this year despite having played in only 50 major-league games for the Rays the last two seasons. Caminero won't be immune to more growing pains this year, but the upside is undeniable for his raw power in his first full season in the big leagues. Check back for an update on the severity of Caminero's back injury soon.

Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez's average sinker velocity last year was at 94.5 mph, but he sat at 96 to 99 mph with the pitch in his first start this spring thanks to added weight on his 6-foot-5 frame, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Sanchez was an All-Star in 2024 and posted a 3.32 ERA in 181 2/3 innings, and Passan thinks the 28-year-old southpaw could just be getting started as one of the best lefties in the game. The Phillies' starting rotation is downright scary with Sanchez joining a group that includes Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez and Jesus Luzardo. Sanchez was a fantasy sleeper heading into last season, and although more people know about him now, he's still undervalued. He had a below-average strikeout rate (20.3%), but he made up for it with a 5.8% walk rate and elite 57.4% ground-ball rate. Sanchez is absolutely worth taking as your No. 4 fantasy starting pitcher.

Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (illness) was scratched from his scheduled Cactus League start on Thursday against the Kansas City Royals due to flu-like symptoms. Right-hander Ben Brown, who is competing for a spot in the Opening Day starting rotation, will replace Steele. It's not a big deal for Steele, and he should be ready to make his third start of the spring in a couple more days. In his first two Cactus League appearances, the 29-year-old southpaw has allowed two earned runs on four hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out seven in five innings pitched. Steele broke out in 2023 but got off on the wrong foot last year due to a hamstring strain that caused him to miss a month. He also had a forearm injury late in the year. Steele's fantasy upside is limited because of his lack of strikeout stuff, but his fastball-slider combination generate plenty of weak contact. Consider him a solid target as a No. 3 fantasy starting pitcher.

ESPN's Jeff Passan writes that Kansas City Royals first base prospect Jac Caglianone will get repetitions in the outfield this year and could find himself playing corner-outfield spot to accelerate the timeline for his major-league debut to potentially this summer. As things currently stand, the Royals have a logjam at first base with Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez sharing the position. Last year's sixth overall pick out of the University of Florida only had 126 professional plate appearances last year with High-A Quad Cities, so he definitely could use more minor-league seasoning, but the 22-year-old left-handed slugger is an imposing presence (6-foot-5, 250 pounds) and hit a 115.4 mph home run in his first spring training game. Caglianone struck out only 20% of the time at High-A last year but also had only two bombs. He'll surely be on the fast track for the Royals, but those in single-year fantasy leagues can hold off for now.