Detroit Tigers pitching prospect Jackson Jobe has earned a spot in the rotation for the upcoming campaign after a spring season that saw him allow five earned runs in 12 1/3 inningspitched (3.65 ERA) on seven hits (four home runs) and four walks while striking out eight batters. The Tigers sent RHP Keider Montero to Triple-A and managerA.J. Hinch stated that veteran RHP Kenta Maeda will work out of the bullpen in 2025, freeing up the final spot for Jobe. The former third-overall draft pick spent most of last season at Double-A, although a left hamstring strain caused him to miss time in the middle of the season, but he was eventually promoted to Triple-A and ultimately made his MLB debut for the Tigers in September. The righty even made two relief appearances in the postseason for Detroit. The No. 5 prospectin baseball is armed with a strong four-pitch arsenal that includes a four-seamer that can touch triple digits at times. With his upside, the 22-year-old is worth rostering in all fantasy leagues especially given his low price tag in drafts, however, it's worth noting that he is only eligible at RP on Yahoo to begin the year.

New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (back) will return to the lineup on Saturday for the team's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies. The veteran was pulled from a game on March 17 due to back soreness but the team was hopeful he'd return this weekend. The 37-year-old will lead off for the Yankees on Saturday, a role he could see regularly this season when the team faces left-handed pitching according to manager Aaron Boone. The Phillies will deploy left-handed pitcher Jesus Luzardo on Saturday. The 7x All-Star owns a career .323/.423/.586 slash line against LHP, compared to a .279/.368/.488 against RHP. The former MVP has seen a dwindling batting average and power numbers the last couple of seasons with a corresponding increase in strikeout and chase rate but has been solid this spring, slashing .313/.389/.688 with three home runs. He's still a viable fantasy option as long as he's healthy and is expected to be ready for Opening Day at this point, although the days of being an elite producer are likely over.

DetroitTigers shortstop Javier Baez is penciled in as the center fielder for Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Braves. The Tigers will need a center fielder in the absence of Parker Meadows, who is expected to be out at least until May, but Baez does not seem like the answer with less than five innings of outfield experience on his MLB resume. Wenceel Perez was expected to fill in for the injured Meadows, but Perez is not in the lineup on Saturday. Trey Sweeney is expected to be the Tigers' shortstop this season, with Baez potentially filling in at third base and shortstop when needed, but playing some outfield hints at an all-around utility role. Currently only eligible at SS on Yahoo, the potential addition of 3B and evenOF could add some fantasy appeal, however, the 32-year-old bottomed out with a .224 wOBA and 43 wRC+ last season, so the appealwould be limited to deep AL-only leagues.

DetroitTigers outfielder Parker Meadows (arm), who has been shut down from throwing since Feb. 22 as a result of a nerve issue in his right arm, will require at least four more weeks of rest, according to manager A.J. Hinch. Meadows was expected to open the season on the injured list, but this pushes his timetable well beyond the 10-day window that was anticipated. A return sometime in May looks like the most optimistic outcome at this point. Wenceel Perez looks like the beneficiary of Meadows' absence.Last season, Perez slashed .242/.300/.383 with nine home runs, 37 RBI, and nine stolen bases across 112 games. With some ability to produce across categories and currently penciled in as the leadoff hitter for Detroit, the switch-hitter offers some fantasy value in deep leagues, at least while he's getting regular playing time.

New York Yankees right-handed pitcher Clarke Schmidt (shoulder) will begin the season on the injured list. The 29-year-old has been dealing with shoulder soreness during camp. However, given that he has begun to slowly build up his workload, fantasy managers should not expect him to miss too much time. While Schmidt is sidelined, Carlos Carrasco will likely join the starting rotation. Last season, Schmidt logged 85 1/3 innings of work with a 2.85 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He tallied an impressive 93 punchouts but held a high 8.5 percent walk rate. He generated a 3.78 xERA with a .225 xBA, which suggests he may face some regression when he returns to the bump in 2025. Fantasy managers should consider stashing Schmidt on an IR spot on their roster, as he should provide stable ratios with decent strikeout production when he returns to the rotation.